The Crafty Little Cupcake Recommends: Sew and Stow

We all know about my library addiction, which is closely followed by my Amazon addiction. I got Sew and Stow from the library a week ago, and I now have the best intentions to get organized with all of the crafty projects within those pages.

Honestly, who knows how much I'll be able to get done this summer... especially with all the cute projects that keep popping up. Perhaps I'll aim for one a week... But this is definitely going on my list!

Tea Cup Clutch

As if I need another project, but this clutch is SO cute. I never would have thought to use an ordinary object like a teacup saucer to make a interesting, textured clutch.

The Object Project, where you can find the tutorial for this adorable clutch, uses everyday objects to make adorable patterns.The creativity for this just astounds me.

As soon as I find a good tweed to use, you can be sure I will post this project! I can't wait to get started... I might just have to go fabric shopping tomorrow!

Brought to you by the color Orange

I bought a beautiful orange dress last week, and it has sparked a frenzy. The dress is light and breezy and perfect for summer, and I'm now loving the color orange.

I've never been a fan of orange, growing up in Knoxville, Tennessee-- home of the Big Orange-- orange has never really been my favorite color. This dress, however, and the deep orange (almost red-ish) color almost embodies summer for me.

Inspired as I was, I went searching for more orange, to brighten up this blog, and guess what? I'm not alone in my new-found love. There is actually a lot of orange out there, but I had never seen it, due to my Big Orange color blindness.

So, brought to you by the color orange, I present... orange.



[from left to right]
clutch, rose pillow, cupcake stand, flower brooch.

New Felt Flower Love!

I have been lazy about blogging lately. It's not that I haven't been crafting but more that I haven't been photographing-- I haven't gotten around to making a good light box. And I feel that it is not fair to deprive you of photographs of beautiful things, mine or others.

Now, however, I have photos, and I am putting them to use! I made a few new felt flower variations, and I am dying to show them to you!

I've used the same method as the last time, but I've used a few different items and changed up the patterns.
The first slip on flower is just two purple daisies layered on top of each other with a small four-petaled flower in the middle. Underneath, are two leaves that I have stitched with a contrasting green. I also stitched a complimentary fushia in the center of the flowers to add a pop of color and used the same shade to attach a vintage button. I made this for the little girl down the street who loves purple, but I think with a few variations, the same could work in an adults hair as well.
The second variation, still with felt, is a single white daisy with a smaller fabric daisy-- in a reproduction 1930's print-- and a smaller four-petaled flower on top. All this is secured to the base with a vintage button. You can find an easy way to cut a cute daisy here, on Nest Decorating. I've done nothing special to treat the fabric, and I'm hoping the edges will wear for a nice shabby-chic result.

I absolutely love the way this head band looks. And I think my next project will be one made from all fabrics, which should produce a lighter effect for summer. Plus, it's a great way to get rid of some of my scraps!

Crafty Little Cupcake recommends Lilluxe

This blogger and jewelry designer has really caught my eye. The jewelry at Lilluxe is eclectic, vintage and eco-friendly. The designer uses materials that are vintage, handmade, or recycled that she has gathered from vintage stores, flea markets and thrift stores.

Her unique designs are just the right mix of vintage, chic and simple. Her whimsical blog is inspirational and truly beautiful. And her Etsy store is pretty great too! More than that, Sarah is such a sweetie.

I've, of course, made a few purchases from Lilluxe, and I am so in love with my new jewelry. Seeing such beautiful jewelry has inspired me to A: start wearing jewelry again and B: start making my own eco-friendly creations!

So, I definitely recommend checking out both Sarah's blog and her adorable Etsy shop.

Mother's Day Crunch??

One of my new favorites, Schlosser Designs, offers some great, free card designs to download and print! This is a great mother's day card, especially if you are in a crunch, and you can even customize the text on the file. If it gets down to midnight Saturday and you are meeting your mom for breakfast Sunday-- well, first, shame on you-- but check out this sweet card on Schlosser Designs.

Why do you build me up, Buttercup?

After seeing this bag on Made by Rae, and downloading the free pattern, I definitely need to make another trip to Joann's. And this comes just in time, because my other purse is getting holes. I really just wear them until they wear out.


The pattern doesn't look too difficult, and you can just print it right out on your printer. As soon as I get mine made, it will be up here, but I thought I'd let you in on it now!! So, check it out at Made by Rae.

LollyChops rocks my socks

Okay, I have been avidly following Cupcake Week on LollyChops --one of my new favorites. I also would like to have her design skills. It would be wicked awesome.

And today's post, of course, were free cupcake embroidery designs! They are so sweet! I really don't need another project to do--especially with the lame hand, which has now blistered--, but I really want to make some tea towels or something...

LollyChops is also awesomely smarter than me, because she made the tops and bottoms separate, thus interchangeable. For the pdf downloads, find your way to LollyChops. I would definitely check out the cupcake awesome-ness, even if you have terrible embroidery skills like mine!!

The Crafty Little Cupcake recommends: Nest Pretty Things

Nest Pretty Things is one of my favorite shops to browse through on Etsy. I'm a little afraid to make an order, because I just want everything. Her jewelry designs are fabulous, quirky, cute, and just-kitschy-enough. And the photography on her store is just beautiful.

Her blog has also become a recent favorite of mine.In fact, I just added it to my RSS feed.
So, if you want my advice, check out Nest Decorating, and if you like what you see, find your way to Nest Pretty Things, the store on Etsy.

Vacation Weekend Mishaps

Hello everyone! I suppose I am taking sort of a vacation this week before I get back into the grind of work. It's been lackluster, really, all three days of it, as I have been sick for about a week.

I also burnt my hand last night making spaghetti. It was an honest mistake, more a lack of muscle than anything. And I was only trying to not melt a water bottle in the sink with boiling hot spaghetti water while I drained it.

Yes, I know. How dumb am I? Next time I will just melt the bottle instead of staging a rescue mission. And now, Charlie [my boyfriend] is afraid to let me into the kitchen alone. Honestly, I just wanted to make muffins!! From a box!!! Nothing dangerous about that. Unless you are me apparently...

But even in my half handicapped state--I burned the index finger on my right hand... It is making things difficult-- I am ready to get back to crafting. I already have things in my mind to do... As soon as I can!