Leapster Cartridge Rollup

I was tired of seeing these laying around everywhere.Not like they're cheap (unless you get them on Craigslist, but still).

This is what I came up with.
The first try was ok, but I was afraid the games would all fall out the top when rolled up.

Then I got to thinking about it and this worked a lot better.
I wish I would have seen the Leapster Cartridge Wallets beforehand, but couldn't ever find anything to hold all of the games around Christmastime. I thought they just didn't have anything out there...not so.

This one is so much cuter though!

I wanted something that 1) held all of the games or I could make 2 to hold them all and 2) something where they could see the games so they didn't have to take every.single.game. out to find what they wanted.

Here's how I did it.
I'm on a "use what I have in my craft closet to make things" type of deal, so I had to be creative. It ended up working in my favor b/c I wouldn't have thought of this material for the transparent part.

I cut up this bag I was using to hold other craft items. It's a hard mesh...that's the only way I know to describe it. I was planning on using some sort of plastic, but I think this was better.

I cut 2 pieces of coordinating fabric 22 1/2" X 4 1/2". I cut the mesh into 3" X 4 1/2" pieces. I used 1/4" seam for everything.

I used the binding off of the mesh bag I cut up to finish the tops of the little pockets.
After I sewed the binding on the pockets, I spaced them out on top of one my pieces of material (right side up) and pinned them in place. It ended up being about 1 1/4" between each pocket.
Then I stitched down the middle of each pocket and across the bottom of each pocket. I added a piece of elastic at the bottom to keep the roll together when it's closed up. Place the other piece of fabric on top so right sides are together and sew around all but the top edge. Leave that open so you can turn it.
*This is from the 1st attempt, but wanted to show you how I put the elastic in and material together before sewing around it.

After you turn it right side out you can go along the edge and stitch a finishing stitch if you desire (and close up your opening). If you want to do this, you will want to cut your pieces of fabric 23" X 5" and your pockets 3" X 5" to give enough room.

The finished product rolled up.
Linking up at

Dress Redo: Frumpy to Cute

You know how it is when you're trying to pick something out to wear and your closet full of clothes has nothing to offer? My first thought is I'm just a spoiled American, but after that thought I had a great idea.

While I was on the hunt for a dress to wear to a wedding I came across a garage sale find from last summer (I think about $4). It looked like a cute dress until I put it on. Since I wasn't going to go buy a dress and friends' dresses were not working, I had to do something.

I changed this frumpy dress into something I thought was cute.

*Frumpy*
*Less Frumpy*Yeah, I didn't really get a great picture of it, but you get the idea.

What I did:
Cut off the sleeves.
Hemmed the top to make it a strapless dress.
Added elastic to the inside under the arms to make it stay put.
Added a ruffle around the top (made out of the sleeves).
Took in the sides to fit me a little better.
And used the sash to make the belt around the waist...it ties in the back.
The bottom part stayed the same...since you can't really see it.

There is always potential in your closet.
I like it. Now I have my eye on another dress to cut up.

A Little Spray Paint

One of my favorite ways to make something look pretty (besides using hot glue or Mod Podge) is spray paint.It makes everything look better.
I paid 70 cents for this thing and it's just a cute centerpiece for my table for now.
Of course filled with flowers picked by my girls.

Little Piggies

After 2 beautiful ceramic piggy banks being dropped on the floor and shattering, I finally resorted to the plastic piggy banks.

My girls all had to have pink so we also had to find a way to tell which was which (besides the half peeled sticker on the side).

I decided to go with their middle names and to match their room. I used Mod Podge to stick some cut out letters from my Cricut on the sides.
I didn't think about how low the letters would end up due to the pig's ear, but it works since they sit up high on a bookshelf.But their best features are that they cost $1 each and they can't break. Once again, yea for Dollar Tree.