*Featuring* Hand-Stamped Jewelry

Looking for some personalized jewelry?  Check out Becca Winslow's etsy shop for hand-stamped jewelry that can be customized for you!

You can also follow Becca on her Facebook page to get shop updates.

I think this necklace is adorable and very "springy"!

Saffron Leaf with Tree Pendant

Ruffle Shirt

I decided to make this shirt from Make It and Love It.  I took a shirt I bought for $5 at Wal-Mart last year.  The scoop neck was too low to wear without an undershirt, and the sleeves were too long.  And I was just really tired of it not being much to look at-- especially since it had stretched and also shrunk in places in the wash.

After following these directions, I had a short sleeve, ruffled tee-- for an adult!  I used the sleeves I cut off to make the sleeve trim and to make the ruffles.

Now I can wear it without worrying about the neckline, and it's perfect for spring!

Sorry it's not a great shot of the finished product!  My husband and I will have to work on our photo/modeling skills.

I think I can get a few more *new* shirts out of this project!

Make a Pillow Out of a Bag (& More!)

Bag to Pillow

I bought this bag almost 10 years ago from GAP.  I loved the car print and the fact that I could fit textbooks and notebooks in it for school.  I haven't used the bag very much in several years.  I'm trying to clean out purses and decide if I should refashion them or donate them.  This bag was put in the refashion pile.

I cut the bag (through the front and back pieces of material) with a straight line.  Then I just simply stitched the opening closed!  I left a hole big enough to stuff the bag then I finished sewing.  I did a zigzag seam to match the green seam.

This pillow will be going to my brother.  He has a Camero (different year model than the one on the bag) and just moved into a larger house-- he needs stuff to decorate with!

Mommy Wallet

This wallet will soon be mailed to a friend that just had her second baby boy.  It's the perfect size to tuck in a gift card and great to throw in a diaper bag.

Wine Bag

I used the same material as the wallet to make this wine bag.  I think it could also be used to hold silk flowers!

What projects are you working on?

All Things French

My husband surprised me with this necklace from Urban Outfitters last week.  Awfully sweet of him.  We met in French class and are both francophiles, so it's very fitting.  It's the little things that make me :) (smile)!

P.S. I totally bought this ^ long sleeve shirt (and four more) at Wal-Mart for $3 this weekend.  They're so soft and long enough that I can bend over without worrying about my backside peeking out!

Baby Shower Gifts

*Please excuse the poor quality photos.  My small camera is about to fritz out, so the images are less than par :(

Today my husband and I have baby showers to attend.  That's right-- my husband has a baby shower to go to.  Our friends are having twin girls, and there are two showers.  The guys have their own shower for diapers and wipes.  The girls have a shower at the same time, and I've got lots of goodies that I've made!

First up: I made a burp cloth designed after homemade by jill's burp cloth tutorial.  It was super easy!  I used stain resistant cloth that I got at Hancock's.

Next: Matching shoes that followed stardustshoes tutorial.  These things are too adorable!  I want some in my size!

This post has a (better) shot of the shoes I made for another baby girl on the way.

Last: Onesies inspired by Under the Sycamore.  Since I needed to make two of these, I wanted to do different designs.  Since the librarian glasses are very "smart", I thought the aviator glasses would be a good opposite and evoke "coolness" :).  These turned out really cute, I think.  I used faux leather for the glasses, and the onesies were $3 each from Wal-Mart.

Well, time to get ready for the shower.  I hope the mommy likes the outfits for her girls!

Etsy Spring Finds *Featuring CAST

I don't know about you, but I have been wishing for spring for months now!  I need the sunshine and warm breeze!  To transition us from winter to spring, here are a few items that will add a pop of color to our spring wardrobe.  All of these items are from CAST members' etsy shops.

*CAST- Christian Artists Street Team

1) Upcycled Denim and Tulle Flower from Teri Daughter of the King
2) Upcycled Easter Eggs from Chocolate Dog Studio
3) Love as He loves you necklace from Teapots and Robots
4) Sophisticated Blue Sterling Silver and Glass necklace from ck silver
5) Little Girl's Poncho in Mint Green from Joyful Handknits
6) Knit Baby Earflap hat from Baruch's Lullaby
7) Vintage Linen Apron from sammysgrammy
8) Sea Spray Silk Scarf from Julie's Silk N Style Shop
9) Celebrating You bookmark from Crochet by Anastasia

Go check out these shops for more spring ideas!


Marla, Plain & Small- etsy shop

Happy St. Patty's Day! (Janome style)

I'm covered in green day today-- no pinching allowed!

It's been fun to browse blogs today to see how everyone is celebrating St. Patrick's Day.  There are lots of fun craft ideas out there!  Last night I sat down and tackled a few sewing projects.  I even stayed up an hour past my usual bedtime!  I'll be posting about some of the projects in the next few days.

Today I just wanted to brag on my sewing machine and recommend it to anyone looking for an easy-to-use machine.  For Christmas my parents gave me the Janome 3128.  It's the perfect size for my work space, and runs beautifully (making buttonholes is super easy!).  My Janome and I have become great friends!

Even the Janome is dressed in green!

Does anyone else have the same machine?

Anniversary Present for Mom & Dad

Last week my parents celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary.  As a present, I made the piece below.

I used a scrap piece of wood that was literally sitting around the house.  I had my husband cut it to size and sand it.  Then I gave it a gel stain.  I have never stained anything in my life.  I just followed the directions on the can-- it was easy peasy!  The chandelier, lamp shades, birds, and cloud are all cut from scrap material.  The birds tails are cloth beads cut from fabric trim.  I used Mod Podge to glue them on and then put Mod Podge on the top of the material to keep it from fraying.  I wrote on the back of the wood instead of on a greeting card that might get misplaced.

My inspiration came from Susan Mahan's piece Empty Nest.

*Update: My project was featured on Mod Podge Rock's Twitter and Facebook!  Thanks MPR!

Dessert Ideas- Guilty & Guilt-Free Options

Guilty Option- Cake Balls

I had leftover cake mix and icing from a dessert from last week and leftover almond bark from Christmas (I don't know how it didn't get used earlier!).  So I cleaned out the pantry and made this little treat that I've only eaten and never made.

You could use any cake mix, but I had half a box of red velvet, so that's what I used.  Make the cake according to the box and bake.  When the cake cools, crumble it with a fork.

You could use any icing, but I had half a tub of cream cheese icing that I used.  Empty the icing into the pan and mix throughout the cake.

Next (no picture here; my hands were too messy!), take the cake/icing mixture and roll it into small balls.  This is messy!  The smaller the balls, the easier they are to manage and dip.

Once the balls are rolled, dip them into melted almond bark.  This can be tricky, because the cake balls can crumble.  The key is to dip while the almond bark is the right temperature.  As you can see in the picture below, my cake balls don't look very pretty.  I walked away to tend to grilling burgers, and my almond bark got a little sticky.  But no matter how they look, they're yummy!  I also made my cake balls a little too big.

I'm not sure how many treats this will make.  It depends on the size of the balls you make up, but I know that just half a cake mix made a lot!

Guilt-Free Option- Asian crepes

My husband came up with the name because I used wonton wrappers to make these fruity pastries.  Once again, I was using what I had around the house.

I keep wonton wrappers in the fridge for several recipes.  Hungry Girl has a ton of ideas of what you can make with these things.  I had four wrappers left, so that's how many pastries I made.  I used Laughing Cow low-fat cheese wedges and Amish black raspberry jam.  You just use what ever fruit topping you want and even change out the cheese.

Place half a cheese wedge on the wrapper and a dollop of jam.  I recommend mixing the two together so you get a taste of both when you bite into it.  Brush some water (I used my finger) on the edges of the wrapper; this will be your seal.

Bring up each corner together to seal.  Do this to all four corners.

Seal all four corners to together and any part of the wrapper that's sticking out.  Use a little water to help seal it.

Bake at 350 degrees until edges are brown.  I think I baked these for about 10 minutes.

I know this is a terrible picture of the finished product!
My husband loved these.  I thought they were yummy, but I might try some different combinations next time.

Let me know what yummy treats you make with items in your pantry!

Good Tunes for FREE

If you're looking for a good song to listen to while crafting, check out the free download of Matt Wertz's song Sing My Lonesome here at Nike Women.  It's only for a limited time!

P.S. I love Kurt Halsey artwork.

St. Patty's Day Is Around the Corner

This weekend I started getting out my spring decorations.  I went ahead and put out my Easter decor, because it's all just so cute and never gets to sit out for long!

If you're like me, St. Patrick's day decorating snuck up on you.  I have a wooden four leaf clover hanging on a plant on my front porch, but that's all I have!  Better luck decorating next year (get it, luck, four leaf clover...lame, I know).

So if you are decorating and need a few ideas, here are some things I found on etsy that are all adorable!

1) Irish Moss Hand Painted Wine Glasses from MarysWorkshop

2) Peridot Vintage Earrings from Dalim

3) St. Patty's Day Gift Tags from FreshLemonBlossoms

4) St. Patricks Day Irish Elf Hat from RagamuffinDesign

5) Apple Green Bag from BayanHippo

6) St. Patrick's Day Vintage Bingo Card Holder from WeeLittlePapers

I love spring!

Let me know how you like to decorate for St. Patrick's Day!

Winner of Giveaway & FREE Download & Etsy Discount!!!

It's so beautiful outside today that I just have to share the sunshine!

First up, the winner of this week's giveaway! (drumroll, please)  The free digital photo goes to Julie, Silk N Style!  Julie, you can go to my etsy and pick out your favorite picture.  Leave me a comment letting me know which photo you want and how you want it customized.  I'll also need your email address, and I'll get that sent your way!

Today everyone is a winner!  Here is a free download for all:

It's not available on my etsy-- It was made just for you guys!  To download click on the picture to enlarge it; then, right click, and click "save as".  You can use it as a desktop wallpaper or print it off as much as you like!  Please just don't sale it in any way.

This picture was taken in Honduras on the small Garifuna island of Miami.  I ate one of the best meals of my life sitting on this beach.  I also LOVE Emily Dickinson; she warms my heart.
I hope this photo brightens your day in some way. :)

Want more (I told you I was soaking up this sunshine!)?!?  Go to my etsy shop and buy any digital photo for HALF OFF!  Convo me with which picture you want, and I'll make the price adjustment before you purchase it.  This offer goes through Monday.

Have a great weekend!

www.marlagraces.etsy.com

GIVEAWAY MONDAY!

It's Monday.  The first day of the week.  The first day of March.  Spring is almost here!  Today feels like a fresh start and the chance for new beginnings (it's hard to think otherwise when the daffodils are starting to bloom!).  So let's celebrate all things fresh and new and budding with a giveaway!

The prize: A digital photo in my etsy shop-- even the collages count!
Bonus: The winner receives a digital copy of a photo, and I'll customize it with your favorite scripture verse, quote, saying, or no text at all!  You get to pick which photo too!

How to enter: (1) Follow this blog (2) Go to my etsy shop and pick out your favorite picture (3) Leave a comment on my blog and list your favorite picture


So head on over to marlagraces.etsy.com and get to lookin'!  There are 24 photos to choose from!

The contest will end Friday, March 5 (in celebration of Alice in Wonderland being in theaters!).  All entries must be submitted by 12:00 noon central time.  I'll announce the winner Friday afternoon!