more from junk bonanza

I'm late in posting my junk bonanza treasures from this year, but I wanted you to see the goodies I found.  This book is large and was $5.  I can think of hundreds of cute things it might be used for in the future!  The problem will be picking a project and sticking with it.  I tend to hold on to things because of all the good uses they might have and then I accumulate toooo much stuff like this!  Maybe one of these days I'll open an etsy shop and then I'll be forced to use what I have. 

my bag

This is my new favorite bag.  It's a wall calendar from 1982, you know the ones that grandma had hanging on her wall?  I got it at a thrift store for 50 cents.  The strap is one of my grandpa's ties.  My sister and I raided his closet when we visited this summer!  It's lined and is basically reversible.  There are also 2 pockets on the inside.

It just so happens that I found 8 more of these calendars at the Junk Bonanza! score!  A special one was for a friend, and the rest are waiting to be turned into all sorts of things.  

Kate's dresser

Kate needed a dresser and I found this one for $5 at a yard sale.  It is in good condition but obviously needed some paint!  Kate was very anxious to help me with this project.

First we took it apart and sanded all the drawers and drawer pulls and the body of the dresser.

Even Isaac "helped' us by overseeing our work.  

The dresser needed 2 coats of paint.  I turned Kate loose with the roller on the backside of the dresser where it really didn't matter.  She loved having the freedom to paint her dresser.

She did a really good job!

Kate's bag

Ella got her bag 2 years ago and now it's Kate's turn!  Kate "has been waiting her WHOLE life to go to Cubbies".  She's so cute and just loves church and her friends and especially her Cubbies class.  Ella's bag  (which now holds her Sparks book) fits her personality so well.  When I made it there was no question as to what fabric I would choose on my shelf.  That bright polk-a-dot print just jumped out at me.  This time I wanted to make a bag for Kate that would fit her personality as well.  It was a lot harder for me to come up with.  She's more complicated.  If you think I'm crazy for putting so much thought into this you just don't know me! :)  It had to be perfect, perfectly Kate.  So, here are a few pics of Kate's church bag.

The bear is here to show that the front blue section is a pocket.

Rag garland

I was recently asked to make the garland below for a baby shower for this special little guy.  The last picture shows it hanging in his room now with ABC cards that spell out his name.  I've made several before for other occasions and they are fun fun fun!

matching dresses

These are the first matching dresses I've made for the girls.  I chose a super easy pattern- no zippers or buttons.   The girls love them- especially how long they are.

nap mat makeover

Ella's going to K-5 this year.  Her nap mat needed a makeover!  Here's what we came up with.

It's basically a large tight fitting pillowcase with ties at the end.

With the ties it will be easy to remove and wash when necessary.

It is still easy to fold and looks so much cuter!

Here she is with her designer nap mat on her first day of school!