{DIY} Skinny Jeans

Okay, so I have to admit, I am a little late on this SKINNY JEANS craze. I only just bought my first pair about a month ago...

I guess its because I am super picky about how jeans fit and how the material feels!!

Lucky for me I found an awesome pair of black ones at Target and fell in love! 

(CONFESSION: I loved them so much, I actually bought myself a second pair...in the same color. 

Don't Judge Me!)

And since I haven't lost all that darn baby weight that continues to follow me around, I am not going to fork out a lot of money on a nice pair that I really want just yet.

So why not just revive an old pair of jeans I have laying around. It's a WIN/WIN for me, no money spent and I already know how they fit, so no stress there! 

(And another plus, the jeans I am using I didn't pay a penny for!! YAY for hand me downs!!)

 Enough of me rambling, lets get down to business.

{Items Needed}

Jeans needing a "Skinny Update", mine were bootcut

Scissors

Pen (I used a disappearing fabric pen)

measuring tape

Sewing Machine

Seam Ripper (Just keep it handy in case you miss measure, 

like I did 3 times....)

Try your jeans on, inside out, and pinch the jeans around your ankle where you would like them to fit to make your new inseam.

I did the same up the knee area too where they started to flare out, that way the snug in the knee and aren't baggy. I marked both areas with my pen and also measured to make sure both points on each leg were the same distance from the old inseam. **Keep in mind that when you sew you are going to loose at least a 1/4 to a half inch of room, so measure accordingly. I did not do this and when I went to try my jeans on I could not get my feet threw the new hole. Luckily I tried them on before I cut off the extra fabric. And that is where your seam ripper will come in handy. **

I connected the knee mark and the ankle mark I made to create my new inseam line. Now time to sew!

Now just sew the new seam line. 

*As you can tell from the picture, I had to adjust the opening area for not allowing that extra 1/4 in*

After you have tried them on to double check their fit and you are sure that is how you are going to want them, cut off the extra fabric. A about 1/4 from the new seam.

Then as close to the edge as you can, your going to want to run a zig-zag stitch down to help keep the edges from fraying.

And TA-DAA!! You now have a pair of Skinny Jeans! 

Even though I had to redo the seam like 3 times, after its all said and done it was pretty simple. Just a little time and patience.

Now enjoy those "New" Jeans!!

Heidi Toevs Photography

I am finally getting my photography blog all set up!! 

I made a "Button" for it too!! I am on a roll!

 I am in the process of getting it all up to date with all my recent stuff and figure out how to link both this blog and my photography blog together...

Hope you enjoy it!

Heidi Toevs Photography

Fourth of July...2012

July 4, 1776... The day our beautiful country declared it's Independence!

And here we are, 236 years later...still Independent. Although it hasn't been the easiest... 

We've fought battles, witnessed disasters, and experienced tragedies.

But we still stand as One United Country.

A country that I am so proud to call HOME!

I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!

Every year, My AMAZING friends Karen & Stephen, put on a fabulous BBQ. They invite all their friends and family to celebrate the Fourth of July and also to show their Gratitude to our awesome Veterans & Active Service Men & Women. (Their son is currently serving in the Marines).

 There are fun games, GIANT water slides and kiddie pools, an abundance of ICE cold refreshments and the yummiest food (all homemade might I add). And ending the day by taking drive down the road, all the Polaris' decked out in their Red White & Blue parked on top of a vacant lot, watching the lights explode in the Sky! Oohs and Aahs!!

 And  remembering why we are all here... To remember those who have lost their lives, those who have fought for our Freedom, and all that continue fight so that we can sit on top of this hill and feel so safe and loved surrounded by family and friends.

This year to add to the fun festivities of the day, I offered up doing a Vintage Red White & Blue Themed Photo Booth. It took many {DIY} projects and a few thrifty purchases, but I think that it came together better than I could have imagined!!

I took some burlap, some white lace that I dyed with Tea and stapled them to 2in x 1in x 6ft piece of wood and hung it up on to a shed. Hung up my Fabric Fourth of July Banner. Made some of those fun Tissue Balls (definitely need to perfect making those). And set up a fun vintage chair that I found on Craigslist. I was pretty proud of myself for pulling this together!

Now it was time to get this show started!! Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and even got a little silly and dressed up with the photo props that I made and bought (I purchased a bunch of Fourth of July items from Michael's when they had everything at 50% off!)

I definitely want to do this again and try out different themes and find more funky photo props to add to the silliness!!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures that were taken, hope you enjoy!!

This little guy was my BIGGEST FAN!! You will see why as you continue...

I actually took a picture!! This is one of my AWESOME Friends Jen!!

This was one of my favorite pictures of the day...

If you would like to see more of these fun pictures, check out my photography page on
 Facebook, Heidi Toevs Photography.
I will also try to get these up on my photography blog soon too,
Heidi Toevs Photography.

Thanks!!

{DIY} Fourth of July Fabric Banner

So this post is a little late, seeing as today is the 7th. But better late than never, right!?

I have been wanting to make one of these banners that I have been seeing every where. They are so cute and add something special to what ever event they are being hung at.

So what better time to make one, to help celebrate the Fourth of July. I was doing a photobooth for a friends party and it was perfect to hang on the backdrop.

What makes this even better, it's SUPER easy!

I cut out triangles that were about 7 1/2 in on top and 8 in down both sides (You can do as many as you want, I made sure I had enough to do a front and back for one triangle piece) and then I whipped up this funky shape to use in between each triangle...you can do pretty much what ever shape or nothing in between... And you are also going to need some Double fold bias tape in a coordinating color. I grabbed 3 just to be safe, I used one 3 yard piece for each section I made.

To keep with in the Fourth of July theme, I painted of course, Red White & Blue! I use your basic fabric paint and let dry.

Now pin the front (painted triangle) to the back (plain triangle) and then I folded my little funky piece in half and pinned everything in place. Then sewed up the sides! On the triangles I didn't worry about sewing the top because it is going to get sewn shut once added to the bias tape.

Now insert your pieces into the bias tape, leaving enough room at each end of the tape to use to tie up. I sewed all the way threw the tape closing up the end pieces as well.

Now that it's all sewn together, hang and ENJOY and of course CELEBRATE!!!

I really love how it turned out!! Definitely plan on making more in the future and will be pulling this back out next year!

***Stay tuned for my post on how I put together my Photo Booth that I used the Banner for, plus some fun photos that were taken!!***

{Party Time} Ladybug Theme

For my daughter's 2nd birthday, I decided to go all out! And as you can tell, Ladybugs were the theme of choice!!

I used flower pots with a styrofoam ball stuck on top and hot glued moss on top. To give it a fun grassy look.

I used tons of red and black candies and snacks to 

stick with the colot scheme.

These little Ladybug Cake Pops were my favorite part of the party!

I used a BabyCakes cake pop maker to make the cake balls (super easy, and their recipes weren't bad)

I then melted red candy melts to dip the cake balls in and decorted them with black buttercream 

frosting.

This cake was thrown together at the last minute by my best Friend Chelsey, who is a cake queen!!

I think it came out pretty cute for all the troubles it was giving us!

For the party favors, I sent every one home with a small mason jar filled with Ladybugs to 

add to their gardens. The kids got such a kick out of it. 

We had a ton left over, so I let L have at it and release them...All over herself!

 This little guy must have been so stoked!!

{Homamade} Brown Sugar

We have been out of brown sugar for awhile now. The Hubs was actually upset about this yesterday because he made oatmeal, and according to him "It's just not the same!"

Tonight I am making meatloaf, and of course the sauce calls for BROWN SUGAR! Well that means its time to get all Betty Crocker!

2 tbsp Molasses

1 cup sugar

Combine in bowl and mix well with fork.

Voilà!! Super yummy and easy!!

Recipe found on Food.com