Prudent Project Round-Up


Top: Natalie from Leopard or Polka Dots made some Wristlet Key Fobs | Brooke at Oh Beau made some stunning Christmas Stockings | Woot at Wootabix made some sweet birdie Pants

Middle: Meghan made some Sugar Body Scrub | Rosh at Roshey’z Craftworld made a 40’s Inspired Sun Cap | And even though the season has past, just had to share the “dark fairy” costume Genevieve made using our Tinkerbell Fairy Costume Tute

Bottom: Lizann made some Quick & Pretty Makeup Bags | Amy at The Tea Cup and Saucer also made a sweet Stocking | and Jen made a DIY Nursing Cover which her husband kindly modeled for us!

Let these ladies know what you think of their projects in the comments and give them a facebook “like.” We want to see your pictures too, pretty please! Join us on Flickr, hang with us on the Prudent Baby Facebook Page, or send them to us via the Prudent Baby Contact Form. Your “As Seen On Prudent Baby” Button is down there on the left. Danke!

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FRIDAY {SURPRISE} PRIZE


Let’s do this so I can get this pretty little package off before “the big man” slides down the chimney. And no, I’m not talking about childbirth. HA! Sorry, gross.

This weeks winner is…
Rallitodeluna who said on our Crayon Roll DIY…
Brilliant! I was thinking through the mechanics of this the other day, but for a toy car roll up “garage” of sorts (for my little girl nonetheless! Girls drive cars too!)… I’m gonna use your instructions, less thinking for me! Yay more brain cells for the little one on the way!

Love that your girl loves cars. I’m inspired to give my girlies some matchbox fun now! They do love Legos! Let us know if you make that car-roll! It sounds awesome.

Send us your email address using the contact us form and we will get the ball rolling. You have 5 days to contact us before your prize is passed on to a new lucky winner.

For this week, we have 5 silver vinyl snowflakes that I made on my Silhouette Digital Cutting Machine. (which I love so, thank you Silhouette!) I put mine on the windows for a little White Christmas in Texas but you can use them as a stencil for glass etching or whatever you wish! And FYI, if you are lucky enough to have a Silhouette, all vinyl is currently 10% off at checkout with the code “prudent.”

And all you have to do is leave the best comment of the week. Go for it! Is a Silhouette on your Christmas list? or… How’s the weather? Might you have a White Christmas where you live? We did last year but I hear it was a once in a lifetime thing.

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Link Love


 Gorgeous DIY wreath from Today’s Nest

We have been trying to think of a way to incorporate fabric (we{heart}fabric) into ornaments so these Simple Christmas Felt Ornaments make us very happy.

Make these Simple Cedar Branch arrangements practically for free! I want a dozen for my mantel.

These free holiday downloads for entertaining and gift giving come in four gorgeous themes and did we mention they are free?

ALSO

This cute ruffle stocking would make an adorable side-kick for our ruffled tree skirt.

A handmade cardboard castle that would be the star at any winter season birthday party! How fun!

Giving up on finishing those Christmas Cards? Someecards.com has some hilarious holiday messages for those with an edgy sense of humor.

When I haven’t been crafting this week, I’ve been online shopping! So to round out this week’s link love, here are a few (non-handmade) gifts I’ve had my eye on for the kids. Some of them are just a fantasy. How about you? Are you finished? Any good gift ideas for the kiddos 18months-4years? Share and you might win that pretty fat-quarter up there!

The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer Hello Kitty Chainstitch Sewing Machine

Plan Toy Chalet Doll House with Furniture

 My First Piano

Doll High Chair and Crib

Green Toys Teas Set Beauty & the Beast: A Pop-up book of the Classic Fairy Tale

Anything from Toys from the Past. Love.

Fruits and Veggies. These are plastic (dread) but soooo nice.

Melissa and Doug Trunki Around the World with Mouk First Book of Sushi eeBoo Counting Birds Wall Cards

And the list could go on! Hmn, looks like I need some less spendy options, off to look at the facebook stocking suffer ideas you all left Jaime. If you haven’t “liked” us yet (but do like us) why not join the party?

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Prudent Advice in the Wall Street Journal!

Books for the Pickiest Personalities in Your Life
Just a week until Christmas and you’re plumb out of gift ideas for some of the tough customers in your life? Consider something deeply retro: a book….

The Young Mother
Prudent Advice: Lessons for My Baby Daughter, a Life List for Every Woman, by Jaime Morrison Curtis.

The crafts editor at PrudentBaby.com, Ms. Curtis wrote this book for her own daughter, Scarlet Jane, who is still a tot herself. One might ask if a newbie mother should be giving the rest of us advice, but Ms. Curtis manages to include plenty of tough, honest wisdom, such as, “Sometimes it’s just not about you,” and “Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s just fine.”

There’s more! Read the rest of the article at The Wall Street Journal, or pick up a copy of today’s print edition… like I just did!

I. Am. Speechless.

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Modern Prairie Dress Tutorial


AAACK!  This is so embarrassing, my attempt at modeling, HA.  Go easy on me in the comments.  Soooo… here is a new Hot Mess Mommy tute, for what I am calling the Modern Prairie Dress.

I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder as a kid, but that’s not really relevant. After the maxi-dress incident, I wondered if I could make a long dress that was just a bit more flattering.

Did I succeed? You will be the judge of that.

HAHAHA that’s me!  Maybe you should wash your hair and put on makeup before you try to photo shoot yourself!  But anyway, this dress was made with three yards of cotton lawn and one afternoon with no childrens around.  Get the full Modern Prairie Dress Tutorial after the jump!

And remember that any comment you leave this week could win you that Alexander Henry fabric.  Maybe you want to mock me?  I can take it.
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Giveaway: Signed Copy of Prudent Advice!


I’ve got a copy of Prudent Advice here with your name on it! Or the name of your daughter, or friend, or mom – it’s up to you.

Yes, that’s my baby daughter!  Isn’t she the cutest? Maybe she can sign it too.

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post with your best piece of holiday advice. Mine is for those of us who can’t be with our families on the holidays:

#213 Create a sense of family wherever you are.
Find people to love, and love them unconditionally.

But I still firmly believe in this, this, this piece of advice from Jacinda, and especially this. We are looking forward to your advice, whether it be about preparing a meal, buying gifts, the holiday spirit, or just staying sane.

Leave your comment anytime between now and midnight next Tuesday, December 21st. Tweet, stumble, or facebook the giveaway and leave us another comment letting us know each time for an additional entry. Become a fan of Prudent Advice on Facebook here and leave a comment letting us know for another entry. Come back every day for new entries. I will send the book anywhere in the world so international readers, this one is for you too! We will select a winner via random.org and announce next week here on PB.

XOXO!

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Winner: The Best of America’s Test Kitchen 2011


For this giveaway we asked you to tell us the best thing that you cook. While I read the comments I was shamed as my twelfth crock pot canned meal percolated, and I also drooled a little on my keyboard. But without further ado, the randomly selected winner is…

CountryMamaintheCity who said I love to cook, but my most popular dish is my pasta salad and shared the giveaway on FB for extra entry!

Awesome lady! I love pasta salad. Go ahead and use the Prudent Baby Contact Form to send us your address and we’ll send your prize off! Everyone else, there is still time to pick up a copy of The Best of America’s Test Kitchen 2011 before the holidays, and more giveaways to come soon!

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How to Sew a Crayon Roll


The crayon roll may not be a new idea, but it is a good one!  I whipped one up during nap time as a birthday party gift, delivered along with a coloring book.  I made a few more as little stocking stuffers for the nieces and godchildren in my life.  Easy-peasy.

In a different set of fabrics, one of these babies would make a perfect boy gift as well.

Get the full Crayon Roll Tutorial after the jump…

And remember to leave a comment for another chance to win this week’s surprise prize, that Alexander Henry fat quarter!
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