Three Sisterz Guest Post: Valentines Gifts

Hello--Three Sisterz here. Allison asked us to guest post this week because her computer is in the shop being fixed (tear). Shhh.....don't tell her BUT we're secretly thrilled to be here (no matter what the reason)! We're really getting in the mood for Valentine's Day and this post is Part I in a series of V-Day inspired posts we're doing. Hop on over to Three Sisterz on Monday for Part II.

We love to give little Valentine gifts to special people (daughters, nieces and nephews) but sometimes get stumped with what to give. If you get stumped too here's an idea to get you started... it won't break your bank... and then YOU can improvise!

First, we started with this darling polka dot bowl that we picked up at Pier 1 Imports in the clearance section. It was part of a set that cost about $3. You can also find lots of little containers at JoAnn's, Michaels, Target, etc. Then we added a Three Sisterz headband wrapped in a cellophane bag but you could add a small box of chocolates, a gift card, heart shaped earrings, conversation hearts, matchbox cars, playmobil figures, anything personal for your sweetheart. We tied it with our favorite grosgrain ribbon and added a handmade gift tag for extra goodness.

Gift tags? We did a Christmas tag tutorial a few weeks back. Here's our Valentines version!

Supplies:

cardstock, stamps from JoAnn's dollar bins,

stamp pads, scissors, hole punch,

any color ribbon that coordinates with cardstock and a cellophane bag

**Side note: Etsy has some ADORABLE and unique stamps. You can do a search under handmade for "Valentine rubber stamps" and find some handmade stamps that you won't find anywhere else. My favorite stamp seller is Nikoart. Her little critters would make a great addition to your Valentine gift card. I just love her owl, bunny, fox and hedgehog. Can't you just imagine a bunny stamp with the words, "Some bunny loves you!" on your gift card??!! So sweet!

Here are the stamps, stamp pad and bowl.

Stamp evenly on the cardstock, leaving room to cut them out. Then cut them out in circles and squares, with regular scissors and pinking shears. Love that zig zag edge!

Sign your name on the front or back of the card. Put a hole punch in the corner, slip ribbon through.

Put your gift in the cellophane, tie it up, add your personalized tag to it and you're done!

Now, wouldn't these handmade onesies make a cute gift for your little sweetheart?

You can find them in our Etsy shop.

Thank you to Allison for having us! Hope to see you over at Three Sisterz.

Bean Bag Tutorial

I recently made bean bags for the first time for a little niece of mine that was turning one.

I thought they would be a fun gift for her, and pretty simple to whip up. I already had some sweet cupcake material on hand, and some white flannel with pink polka-dots from Ella's Baby Quilt.

First, I gathered all of my materials. (Enough material for four bean bags.)

• 4 squares of 6" x 6" fabric for the tops of the bags

• 4 squares of 6" x 6" fabric for the bottom

• 8 squares of 5" x 5" fabric (anything you have lying around and nothing fancy because it is for the inner bean bag pouch)

• beans (I found Navy beans on sale in my grocery store for $.78 a bag, I used two bags and a half a bag for each bean bag)

First sew the four inner pouches. I don't sew these right-sides-together and flip, there isn't any point as they won't be seen. I sewed the inner bags just so that there wouldn't be a choking hazard if for some reason the baby was able to break open an outer bag. SAFETY FIRST!

I sew all the way around the bag, leave a 2" hold for filling the bag with the beans; fill and sew closed.

Next I sew the outer pouches by sewing right sides together, 1/4" all the way around leaving a good sized gap to turn inside out and also to be able to stuff the inner bag inside the outer bag.

Turn them inside out and press seams flat.

Stuff the inner pouches inside the outer trying to line up corners.

Sew a seam 1/4" from the edge all the way around the bag, sewing shut the opening as you go. I sewed over the opening twice.

Repeat for the last three and you're done!


So cute!


And homemade, with love, and original!


Now go make some for that little cutie patootie in your family!

This post is a part of the following link parties:

ayy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWargylecopy-1.jpg" />

Tell Me Tuesday #10

Is it Tuesday already? Amazing. The week has flown by. I was really excited to see that we had 49 entries in last week's Tell Me Tuesday link party here at Vintage Pollyanna!


As I promised, if we hit 50 I will host a giveaway to celebrate!

And thanks to so many of you who left me comments about my job possibilities. I was actually scheduled for an interview this morning but it has been rescheduled to the fact that we ARE GETTING EVEN MORE SNOW TODAY (because last week's 23 inches wasn't enough). HA! Good thing I love the snow!

Now on to some of my faves from last week. Let's start with this Alphabet Wall from Girl in Air:


She was inspired to try this by some other bloggers, and I think hers turned out wonderfully! Beyond just painting or decoupaging the letters, she used some really interesting approaches like yarn wrapping. Fun!

I love it when a tutorial includes two crafts for the price of one, and this Snap Hair Clip and Display Card Tutorial from The Life of Jennifer Dawn does just that!


The ribbon wrapping part of the clip looks involved but the result is fabulous!

And my last fave from this past week is the amazing process I have never seen before called Acetone Transfer. You can see the idea here on Sarracino's blog where she describes how she made these display tags.


I think I really enjoy these tags because the feel is antiqued and romantic.

Nice job everyone, and if I featured you, please grab a button!




<div align="center"><a href="http://www.vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com" title="Vintage Pollyanna"><img src="http://fototime.com/F7F4492745B9E36/standard.jpg" alt="Vintage Pollyanna" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And hey, be sure to come to the Vintage Pollyanna Facebook page and say hello!

Now on to the party!

Christmas Stockings from Vintage Quilt Remnant

Some how in the hustle and bustle of Christmas I forgot to blog about some stockings that I made for my Dad and my sister Amy. They were coming to spend Christmas day here in Connecticut. I wanted them to have some stockings hanging on the mantle, and so I got to work thinking about how to make them.

Ten years ago I ordered velvet stockings from Pottery Barn for Chris and I. As our children joined our family, I added a stocking for each of them. I decided to take a look at one of them and try and copy the design.


I actually went and bought fabric for them initially--I purchased fabric that had a vintage feel to it, and I was going to go with a quilted look. When I got home and laid the fabric out to begin the project, it hit me that I had a nice vintage red and white quilt remnant from my Dad in my stash.


Wouldn't it make a perfect stocking, I thought!

The process took me a few hours--I haven't ever really sewn anything quite as involved as a stocking, and it takes some figuring out about how to add the lining and the cuff, and how to put all of the pieces together and sew them correctly so that when the whole project is turned it is right.


Sure there is some damage, but it just adds to the lovely vintage look, don't you think? The cuff is just the reverse side of the quilt; I thought that the sewing was so beautiful against the aged white that it would look really sweet as the cuff.

I could kick myself that I didn't take photos of both of the stockings, the details of the lining and the backs. The back I made from a piece of green flannel that was my Mom's. I thought it was important to incorporate a little bit of her into these stockings. Comforting.

Anyhow, I wanted to post about these before it was too late. Now I want to make four more for Chris, James, Ella and I for next year!

I am linking up at the following parties:

The Shabby Nest
Chic on a Shoestring
My Romantic Home
A Few of My Favorite Things

Happy Weekend!

A

200 Followers and Blog Awards!

Vintage Pollyanna hit 200 followers today!!!! Gosh, that AND 23" of snow? What could be better! Thanks so much to all of my followers for supporting me, and taking this journey with me. I appreciate each and every one of you!


Speaking of appreciation, I need to say thank you t the ladies over at Three Sisterz for awarding me the Inspiring Blogger Award!



Talk about inspiring--it was way back in November of 2009 that I met Flannery, one of the Three Sisterz, (who was also my neighbor at the time) and we began to chat about Three Sisterz and their business. Over the course of a few weeks I helped her and her sisterz with a new blog design and some thoughts about marketing and promotion and BAM! Look at them now! If you love fresh and sweet children's clothing with a classic twist you must RUSH over there now and see what they are up to.

Oh, and they have the most adorable Vintage Valentine's onesies in their Etsy store right now:



S.W.O.O.N.!!!

So, as recipient of the Inspiring Blogger Award, I need to pay it forward and pass this on to three bloggers that I feel deserve the same recognition!

First and foremost I must pass the award on to Katie at Eye Spy D.I.Y.


Though fairly new to blogland, Katie's blog is chock full of fun and quirky tutes that I just rave over. I was lucky to find Katie when she began posting in the Vintage Pollyanna Tell Me Tuesday Link Party. (Have you entered yet? Come on, what are you waiting for?) Go Visit Katie--she just posted a fabulous check book cover tute!

Next up, I must pass this award on to Stephanie at Built to Last.


I know I have mentioned her before, but I have been reading her blog since I began my personal blog, Under A Shady Tree 3 and a half years ago. I have followed Stephanie for the last three years and I consider her a true Bloggy friend. She was really there for me, as much as one can be virtually when I lost my Mom, and her words of kindness and thoughtful gifts came at a time when I really needed them Thank you, Stephanie!

And last but not least, I give the Inspiring Blogger Award to my dear friend Alice at The Sight of Morning.


Like Stephanie's blog, I began reading Alice's in 2007 and was immediately hooked. The sentiments, the photographs, the artwork she shared, LOVELY. But more than anything, I think her writing is what I love the most.

A friend once asked me to think about the phrase "Freedom is running easy in harness" when writing. I know he meant that I have a tendency to fill my sentences with unnecessary prose, and sometimes staying on track and picking my steps purposefully so that each.word.has.impact. is important. That is the way I feel about Alice's writing. Her prose is seemingly simple, but oh so powerful. Go and see for yourself. You will enjoy her blog so much, I am sure.

So now, if I have given you this award and you feel like passing it on, please do so, with the following things kept in mind:

--Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award

--Award 3 deserving Bloggers and share how they inspire you

--Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

Isn't Blogland wonderful? Community, camaraderie, shared triumphs and failures, the opportunity to make new friends, cherish old memories and dream about the future. What could be better?

Thanks for reading today!

Tell Me Tuesday #9

It's that time of the week again--time for Tell Me Tuesday here at Vintage Pollyanna!


But before we get started, I want to share with you this photo I took the other morning. I was up early and my little girl, Ella, said "Moon, Mommy! Moon!" and she pointed out the window. I looked, and sure enough, saw a sliver of moon way up high above the treetops. I raced for my camera and . . .

*click*


It was a beautiful moment, one of the times that I call a gift. Just a simple moment in time, holding my daughter's hand and looking at the moon through her wide eyes.

I tell you this because my life feels a little out-of-balance right now since I lost my consulting job. I find myself at a crossroads. Do I go back to work full-time, (I am interviewing this week for a DREAM JOB) or do I stay at home and consult (those jobs are hard to come by) or do I really concentrate on the blog and sponsorships as a primary income?

As far as the latter is concerned, I want to say thanks to a few people, including the ladies at Three Sisterz, Tracie at Cleverly Inspired, and Marian at Miss Mustard Seed. I have been asking questions and soliciting feedback like crazy and these women have been very helpful. THANKS!

In the end, that moment and that photograph really helped me to clear my mind, prioritize, look up, and B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Does that mean I have come to a conclusion? Heck no, but it's a great photo, right?

Let's get back to the party and talk about my faves from last week. Here's a FABULOUS Card Wallet Tutorial from Katie over at Eye Spy DIY. The fabric is so adorable, and the step-by-step instructions are great. I may be trying this one!



I have to make these cute Upcycled Organizers from Yesterday on Tuesday. I think the one that is made with sweater material is my favorite! Malia's photography is gorgeous, too.


But my fave from last week? Just out of sheer madness? The choice is clear, these Faux Metal Wall Art pieces from Suzy's Artsy Crafty Sitcom are the winner. Why do you ask? Sure they are beautiful, but wait until you read the tutorial and find out that these are made from TOILET PAPER TUBES!


Seriously. That Suzy. I think she might be a little nuts. She is also pretty new to my party, so I am excited to have such a talent joining us!

If I featured you as a fave, please grab my button for your blog and CONGRATS!


<div align="center"><a href="http://www.vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com" title="Vintage Pollyanna"><img src="http://fototime.com/F7F4492745B9E36/standard.jpg" alt="Vintage Pollyanna" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Now on to the party!

We had 35 entries last week and the number keeps growing! Share the link party on Facebook, tell your friends, and feel free to blog about it if you want--the exposure helps us to keep the inspiring ideas flowing!

Be sure to grab a button and include it in your post, and leave me a comment to let me know how you found me.

<div align="center"><a href="http://vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com/" title="http://vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://fototime.com/DC00757D3FF4563/standard.jpg" alt="http://vintagepollyanna.blogspot.com/" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups (on a Vintage Plate)

Ha, don't you love my title? Truth be told, not every single thing that I blog about is vintage or antique.


I guess you could say that this recipe for Peanut Butter Cups is technically vintage, since I remember my Mom making them as a kid--but at least I photographed them on an antique plate so as not to be too far out of bounds of my blog's theme.

I was at a friend's house last weekend and she had put out a great array of Christmas cookies for us all to sample. One of the cookies made me think of the Homemade Peanut Butter Cups that my mom made as a kid. Well, they weren't really cups, more like shards. They are made in a pan and they have to be broken apart. I have seen them made in cups as well, but i wanted exactly what my Mom had made, and I think this recipe is it!

Peanut Butter Cups

2 sticks margarine
1 package graham cracker crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
2 1/3 cups confectioner's sugar
12 oz bag of chocolate chips

First, melt the margarine on the stove top. I think my Mom might have used butter, in fact I don;t ever remember her using margarine, but I wanted to keep true to this recipe. The end result was great, but I might try butter next time anyway.


Add the confectioner's sugar, graham cracker crumbs and peanut butter to the pan. I had a box of grahm cracker crumbs, and I use about 3/4 of it. I thought a whole box would be a bit dry. I also added another half cup of peanut butter.


Mix it in the pot with the melted margarine and it looks like this. Try really hard at this point not to sample it. (But that was impossible for me.)


Spread the mixture in a pan.


Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. Follow the instructions on the package.


Spread the melted chocolate on to the peanut butter mixture and chill in the fridge until set.


Bust into pieces and serve.


I enjoyed this last night with a nice cup of hot coffee and watched three episodes of Mad Men. HEAVEN!

If you have made this recipe in the past and have some alterations to it, let me know. If you make it because you read the recipe on my blog, come back and leave me a comment about how it turned out.

And THANK YOU to my friend for bringing a little bit of nostalgia about my Mom back to me!