You're NEVER Too Old To Play Dress Up! Guest Post by Spoken Melody

Greetings, fellow bloggers! Melody here, guest writer extraordinaire! Today I'm sharing a few sneak-peaks at the DIY COSTUMES I'll be posting over at the Nerdy Nanny preceding one of my favorite holidays: Halloween!!! You're hostess here at fresh juniper gets a kick out of some of the notions I've had as far as get-ups go. Being the super-nerd that I am, I dress up for any excuse I can think of. Movie premieres, Fancy Dress parties, themed soirees, conventions of all sorts, you name it!
Usually I end up battling the age old question everyone deals with on almost a weekly basis: "What should I wear???" The more passionate you are about a character, the more detail you tend to want in your costume. Someone dressed as Batman at a frat party could wear a t-shirt, towel cape, and boxers with black socks and think he's the bee's knees. Someone dressing as Batman for a comic book convention or movie premiere would probably spend either a plethora of time or money on getting the most realistic costume together as possible. It all depends on your own standards. You'll be your own worst critic in the end, anyway.

That being said, here are a few images from future blog posts to look out for.

Star Trek - TNG Vulcan Starfleet Captain (Female)
-this one will feature tutorials on two types of pointy ears AND the make-up for those perfect Vulcan eyebrows.

A Very Potter Musical - Draco Malfoy (as portrayed by Lauren Lopez)

This tutorial will include tips for wigs and hair pieces - as well as advice on staying in character.

For those of you Disney fans - my family did a theme year a while back, Peter Pan! But we were short on characters so I expanded into the character world of Tinker Bell and went as the ever-fashionable Rosetta. This post may actually be a two-post adventure... DIY Fairy Wings, DIY Flower Petal Skirt with costumer's satin, DIY Maple Leaf Wrap, and DIY Boot Covers.

Children's Costumes - DIY Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf

 

This tutorial will include sewing a basic hooded cape, a no-sew tutu, attaching a hood to a onesie, and tips on working with faux-fur. Also a little advice on how to make lasting memories for young children at Halloween.

DIY Onesie Baby Wolf Costume Tutorial by The Nerdy Nanny

ALL IN ALL ---

The best advice anyone will ever give you in costuming is this. Wear what you want. If you don't see the joy in portraying a character, you won't put any effort into a good costume, and you'll just be wasting time. If you choose to dress as something/someone you really really admire or enjoy, the entire process will be a grand adventure.

If you have any requests on particular DIY costume pieces that you don't see listed here, feel free to request it in the comments and I'll do my best to cover everything in the Halloween Countdown.

UPDATE:  DIY Beautiful Mask Makeovers by The Nerdy Nanny

 

Dish Towel Tutorial - August Edition: Little Birdies and Lace - 12 Months of Pretty Kitchen Towels

It is such great fun designing and sharing the new Kitchen Towels.

August Edition Kitchen Towel

Fresh juniper's Dish Towel Tutorial - August Edition - 12 Months of Pretty Kitchen Towels is fanciful and unique, yet it blends well with the entire series. I'm in love with the cute little floral bird appliques. Flowers and birds are also key elements in the design of the Kitchen Curtains and the July Dish Towel. 

Dish Towel Tutorial - July Edition - 12 Months of Pretty Kitchen Towels

The blue broadcloth ruffle was made using fabric remnants from the valance of the new  Kitchen Curtains.

Kitchen Curtains Tutorial - Give Your Kitchen Window A Fresh New Look!

The blue ruffle and red grosgrain ribbon trim in the August Edition also match the May Dish Towel.

Dish Towel Tutorial - May Edition - 12 Months of Pretty Kitchen Towels

Each design has the name of the corresponding month embroidered on it somewhere. This month "AUGUST" is embroidered on the ruffle.

As I mentioned earlier, the top is embellished with red grosgrain ribbon just like the May Dish Towel. 

Underneath the red ribbon is a bit of Vintage Lace Trim.  

DIY Vintage Lace Trim - Upcycle Your Lace Tablecloth or Curtains!

The trim was made from a lovely crocheted lace tablecloth HUBBY and I purchased in Mexico on our honeymoon way back in 1986.  This trim is also used on the Kitchen Curtains valance.

 

Kitchen Curtains Tutorial - Valance

The May Dish Towel Tutorial gives instructions on making dish towels from plain muslin fabric. It doesn't take much at all to make a set of two towels.  I made a whole dozen with just four yards of 44" width muslin.

If you have an old lace dress, tablecloth, curtain panel, etc. that you'd like to use for your trim, instructions are given here: DIY Vintage Lace Trim - Upcycle Your Lace Tablecloth or Curtains!
If you don't have vintage, just use new lace.  It should be approximately one to two inches wide and long enough to go across the entire top of your dish towel.

Lay the lace across the top of the towel, then lay the ribbon in place atop the lace near the edge.  Pin the lace and ribbon together in place on the towel.  Machine stitch across the top edge of the ribbon.  Then machine stitch across the bottom edge of the ribbon.  Run a short row or two of stitches across the left and right sides of the towel, ribbon, and lace to hold them together securely and keep the ribbon from fraying.

Pin the ruffle in place across the bottom of the towel and machine stitch or serge, right sides together.

Fold over minimal hem, press, and stitch. The tutorial for adding this ruffle is in the May Dish Towel Tutorial.

I found the template for the cute little birdie applique here:  Country Living Magazine Free Printable Bird Template.  They used the same template to make denim skirt pockets.  Just download the free template, print, and cut it out.  

With your fabric folded in half, right sides together, place the birdie on top , pin, and cut it out. Pin your birdies, facing each other and parallel to each other, at the bottom of the towel above the ruffle.  Topstitch near the outside edges all the way around each bird.  For fun, I drew simple wings on my birds with a fabric pencil, then used a contrast colored thread to topstitch over the lines on the drawing.

If you get inspired to make your own creative dish towels, please leave a comment telling me about it.  Have fun!

 

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SHOW-licious Home Decor: Craft Showcase Party #47

The 52 Week Money Saving Challenge - Week #34

Welcome to Week #34 of The 52 Week Money Saving Challenge.  This week we save thirty-four dollars. Our total saved to date is five hundred ninety-five dollars.

I hope you've had a wonderful summer.  I've been busy as a little beaver, and I've got some exciting and wonderful things coming up to share with you very soon, including a brand new giveaway!  Stay tuned!!

For a free printable Challenge chart, check out Stuck At Home Mom's 52 Week Money Challenge.

If you're new to the Challenge, welcome aboard! You can start with thirty-four dollars this week and add a bit extra each week if you want to catch up with us. Alternatively, you could begin this week as Week #1 with one dollar.  Whatever works best for you is fine. Happy saving!