A Terrific Tea Towel Apron Tutorial

Our summer is moving full steam ahead and slowly we are checking off our
"things to do this summer" list.
One thing we have been working on lately (which I LOVE!) is recipes for my girls.
I bought them each their own recipe box with strict instructions that they couldn't put any recipes in the box that they hadn't eaten and didn't LOVE.
They are basically starting their own 30 meal plan with all their favorites.
I love that they can keep adding recipes over the years and when they head off to college they already have recipes they know they can make and enjoy.
Hopefully there will be some happy memories of home that go with those recipes. :)

Since we are baking and trying new recipes we thought it would be fun for the girls to make their own aprons.
There are a million adorable apron patterns out there but we wanted an apron simple enough for the girls to totally make themselves and this is what we came up with...


THE TEA TOWEL APRON!
I know... it's VERY exciting...

It is made from tea towels (duh) and it was seriously so easy to make!!

All you need is:
-1 tea towel (2 if you want to add pockets to it)
Mine were 24X14inches and I got them at Tuesday Morning in a pack of 3 matching towels so I can make 2 aprons with pockets out of the pack.
- 6-8ft of Ribbon (I used 7/8in grosgrain)
-matching thread

I used an apron my MIL made for the girls a few years ago as a pattern for the top but you could just hold it up to the person and sketch with a fabric pen where to cut it.

Fold the raw edge over, pin it, and sew it.

For the straps that tie around back we cut 2- 26inch pieces of ribbon and sewed one on each side of the apron.

For the strap around the neck we used an 18inch piece of ribbon and sewed it at a bit of an angle to the top of the apron.

We added another stripe of ribbon to the top of the apron just for cuteness.

My girls wanted 3 pockets so we cut a 5inch piece of the coordinating tea towel and since they were both the exact same size we just marked where they wanted the pockets and sewed the fabric right across the front then I measured and stitched up the front to make 3 pockets.

And that's it!

The Terrific Tea Towel Apron! :)

There she is... a chandelier redo and one very happy nannygoat.

I've been keeping an eye open for my "diamond in the rough".

Checking yard sales... goodwill... thrift stores.

Finally found her here.

I saw another lady eyeing her but I swooped in and grabbed her quick as a wink.

She was a mere $15.00!

A little spray paint primer (best invention ever!).

Then I spray painted her with Krylon's "Celery" which is a light creamy green color.

Yum.


The Chandelier was missing the candlesticks that cover all the electrical so I made my own.
I bought a plastic tube at Home depot and cut it into five little "candlesticks" then I use hot glue to give it the look of dripping wax... perfect.

Finally, I spray painted the candles white so they looked like this...

We knew we wanted to swag the light so that it hung over the bed in my 9-year-old daughters room so we bought a "Swag kit" from Home Depot with extra long cord and chains.

I made a simple chord cover to soften things up a bit.

So pretty.

But, not quite there yet.

So, I added little lampshades...

MMmmmmm.... there we go.

BEFORE

AFTER

What do you think?

Ask and you shall receive

I am so glad you all liked my little Spool Dolls! I think they are so fun TOO!!

These are slightly different than the original ones I showed you. I used candle cups on these ones instead of the spools and painted the bodies with a design. For the previous shown dolls I painted the body and then Mod Podged paper on them.

Either way... Fun, Cute and Easy!

Here it goes:

As for the request to see all of the dolls, here they are!

There was 1 more head in the pkg than there was bodies, so I started a little African American doll but never finished it. That is the one you can see part of the head on a picture above. I used the end of the brush and did messy dots all over for the hair and it was looking really cute, I will have to finish it eventually.

Adjustable Headband

I am all about keeping my hair out of my face these days. So instead of putting it in a pony every day I have reverted to headbands.

I LOVE this one because unlike every other one I've tried it doesn't give me a headache 2-3 hours in.

To make your own you will need: 1 yard of ribbon, hot glue gun and plasctic cord spots with 2 holes (I bought these ones at JoAnns, I would like to also purchase them in white and clear but they don't carry those colors there... I will have to keep on the look out)

I put a thin bead of hot glue along the center of the ribbon so it doesn't slip out of my hair. I stopped 4-ish inches from both ends as to get just the majority of the ribbon that will be on my hair. (does that make sense?)

Put the ends of the ribbon through the holes in the stopper.

Loosen or tighten to comfort! Easy Peasy!!

Baby asleep, no makeup, pj's, bleach trays= time to craft.