Quick Update About Blog Website

Hi All,

So it's been a year since I've purchased my website domain and I seeing my trend of blogpost and less than 110% dedication I've had for SimplyPinspirational I've decided to not renew the web domain.  Starting 4/10/14 you will no longer be able to access this website via www.simplypinspirational.com and will have to access it through http://simplypinspirational.blogspot.com.  So please make sure to note any changes you need to make on your end.  My Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts will remain the same although I cannot promise the same amount of activity I've had in the past.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyPinspirational
Instragram: instagram.com/simplypinspirational
Twitter: @pinspirational

On another note, I'll take this time to introduce you to a new direction that I'm moving in.  If you haven't noticed already, I've started posting more and more in my Instagram feed of sewing projects.  I've played around with the idea of changing SimplyPinspirational into a sewing/pinning kind of website instead of Pintrest, but I felt like my new life adventure needed a new name.  So I now introduce to you RPG Adventurers *tah-dah-dah-dah!*

It was a team name that my boyfriend and I started last summer while playing Capture California and it just kind of stuck and I can't think of anything better or more fitting. :)  

So please give my new social media account some love. :D

http://instagram.com/rpgadventurers

https://twitter.com/RPGAdventurers**

**So a little disclaimer about the twitter account.  This account was used heavily last year while playing the outdoor social media game Capture California.  You can check out some nice scenery and a geeky flag and weapons we made while we hiked and explored all around CA, but not much besides that.

Joann's #BIGCraftChallenge on Instagram

I should have posted this earlier since we're already halfway through the month, but in case you guys didn't already know, Joann's is having a contest on Instagram this month which they're calling the "BIGCraftChallenge". The contest is going on for the whole month of March in honor of National Craft Month.  5 lucky winners will get a $250 gift card for Joann's. The challenge is to take a photo of the required item for that day and post it onto your Instagram account with "#BIGCraftChallenge" in the comment section. Each day that you post and use the hashtag you'll be entered into the drawing for the gift card. Good luck everyone!

Dapper Day 2014 @ Disneyland

Ahh...Dapper Day has come and gone and I'm still dreaming about how much fun I had and all the wonderful outfits I've seen.  After spending so much time dreaming, planning, and working on my Dapper Day dress (some WIP photos found here) I can't believe the day has come and gone so quickly.  The park was crowded but I had a great time ooooing and awwwing over everyone's outfit.  The only thing I regret about Dapper Day was not waking up early enough to get into the park (parking was a nut house) and not being able to go with a big group.  Most of my photos are of my boyfriend and I so I apologize for the lack of variety in dapper outfits, but hopefully you'll enjoy my photos regardless.  :)  All photos are my own personal photos unless otherwise credited.

Wanted Flynn Rider for looking dashingly dapper.  (Fun fact, he actually put the outfit together himself!  The only thing I had a hand in was the bowtie that I had sewn for him as a gift for Christmas)

Oh look, I found a floating lantern at Disneyland!  

I'm really happy with the way my dress turned out considering it's the first full dress I've ever sewn.  I used the Retro Butterick B4790 pattern for the dress and had help altering it to fit.  Then I fussed with the dress until it was a design to my liking.  I also hand stenciled and painted out the design on the front of the dress.  It took forever but it was worth it!  Hat was purchased at the dollar store (thank goodness they're stocking for Easter already) along with some fake flowers and then I used some left over fabric to create the extra dapper touch.  

Dapper Day Dress WIP

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been MIA after the Christmas season. Work started to pick up and I've also been busy planning my Dapper Day outfit. For those of you unfamiliar with Dapper Day check them out at www.dapperday.com. It's an unofficial event at Disneyland where guest attend in their finest 1950s attire. This event was inspired by the vintage Disneyland posters where you see all the guest attending the parks in their Sunday best.

I've been working with my friend and her mother in law to manipulate an already existing pattern into a dress of my size. Unfortunately I don't have a super skinny waist so there were a lot of inches to be added to the pattern.

Note to self, tracing paper is your friend when you don't fit a pattern exactly.

Yo-Yo Flower Christmas Tree

Have you ever made a yo-yo flower?  I learned how to make one earlier this year thanks to this pin here.  It's so simple to make and super cute!  And who would have thought you can turn a bunch of yo-yo flowers into a christmas tree?  My friend's mom had one on her fireplace mantel and I just couldn't get over how cute it looked!  She was gracious enough to make me a pattern as well as give me some green fabric to make my very own.  

Here's what you'll need:

• 12 in diameter circle pattern
• Scrap fabric in shades of green or solid colors
• Empty thread spool (that will be the tree stump)
• Wooden stick (You can pick one up at your local craft store.  I got mine at Hobby Lobby)
• Scissors/thread/needle
• Polyester filling (optional)

Start by cutting out your pattern on your fabric.  My pattern paper was a little short of 12 inches so I worked with what I had and then rotated the pattern on the fabric since that's the beauty of a circle! 

Once you finished cutting out your 12 in fabric circle you can now cut/trim your pattern to the 11 in circle pattern.

Repeat the process of cutting the circle pattern.

Continue these steps until you reach your 3 inch circle.

Next make a yo-yo flower out of each circle.

Make a little snip at the bottom center so that you can place it on top of the wooden stick.  Put the wooden stick in through the center of the spool so that the spool supports the stick standing.  Stack largest to smallest to create the tree shape.  You can also stuff the yo-yo flowers with polyester filling to make it extra fully, but that's optional. 

Make a little star or find a trinket to put on top and then done!  It's the perfect little center piece for your holiday party!

Don't have time to make a whole tree?  Try this alternative mini yo-yo tree ornament.  String a jingle bell to the center of the lace or string to act as your stopper and then stack the yo-yo flowers through to make your own mini tree.

DIY Pillow Box

I'm making a lot of different little gifts this year for Christmas and thought that the best way to wrap them was to put them into a pillow box!  And I searched on Amazon and all over the internet for cute christmas themed pillow boxes and didn't find any so I hit myself on the forehead and thought why don't I just make my own??  I googled a DIY pillow box project and found it on ItryDIY.com here.  This was time consuming but I feel great about how each of the little boxes turned out!  I definitely recommend this if you need a small box to wrap up your gifts.

What you'll need:

• 1 pad of scrapbook paper of your choosing (Heavier cardstock works better)
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Dull edge (of scissors or butter knife)
• CD or something round
• Double sided tape or Zots 
• Pen

New Curtains!

I have new curtains!! Huge thanks to my friend for hooking me up with really nice curtain fabric!  It makes a world of a difference now.  I can actually sleep in in the morning and I have a lot more privacy at night now.

Before.... 

After!

Here are a few photos of how I sewed the curtains.  I didn't have a pattern but I did take a look at my friend's curtain and tried to reverse engineer it in my head and I think it turned out okay.  :)