a Matchy Match Easter

I got away with another year of matching dresses for Easter.

I wasn't planning on it, but fell in love with this rainbow seersucker. The next thing I knew I was buying five yards of it.

Lydia's dress was a nightmare. I have a hard time drafting my own sleeve patterns so I decided to use a vintage pattern. The pattern had the cutest pictures on the front, but didn't sew up anything like the pictures. I think it will be the last time I use a vintage pattern. I had to unpick, recut and resew it several times to get the fit I wanted.

Kate's dress started out as Clairs, but became Kate's when I realized the bodice fit her better than Clair. This may be one of the only benefits of sewing for more than one girl.

Clair's dress was my favorite and by far the easiest to make. She loved the way it twirled.

They loved being different but still matching.

I wanted so badly to make ties for the boys but simply didn't have time. I barely got the dresses done, sewing a zipper in late the night before.

I'm sure we look super cheesy to many, but I can't help myself. I blame my mom.

I'm linking to Girl Inspired and Here

Celebrating Easter

Decorating Easter Eggs is one of my all time favorite things to do. My siblings and I could spend hours decorating dozens of eggs. It's really fun to feed off of each others creativity. Unfortunately the majority of them were out of town this weekend and I was left to decorate alone with my kids. 

We've tried almost every technique there is when it comes to egg decorating.  The new trick this year was using an iridescent egg kit. 

Speaking of eggs...

I had to make some in the form of cake balls. I'm a total addict. They are so yummy.

My daughter and nieces helped out, so they were super quick to make. 

And speaking of cake...

Check out this amazing coconut cake my mom made. You can't tell in the picture, but it's huge, like three times the size of a normal cake and it was soooo good. 

With all the fun of yesterday, I'm especially excited to focus on this today.  

Happy Easter!

SPRING banner- free printable

Even though it is freezing in our neck of the woods, I am so ready for spring. I thought I would cheer myself up by doing my part to welcome spring. 

So today, out came the spring and Easter decor. Naturally, I needed a spring banner to go with it. 

I really love the colors and the scroll detail. I kept it simple so anyone could print it and make their own. 

Download the banner here:

*make sure you print in the landscape paper setting. 

letters S and P

letters R and I

letters N and G

After printing the letters on three pieces of white card-stock, I matted them with some coordinating scrapbook paper. 

Then I cut slits in the sides with a razor.

 I threaded my ribbon through the slits,

and that is it, it's ready to hang. 

Let me know if you have any questions or problems. 

Check out THESE super cool parties I like to link to.

The Stories of A2Z

Easter Pails

I bought these buckets in December. They were plain and only 25 cents because they were missing handles. Of course I could pass them up.

I painted each bucket a little different and personalized them with names.

I sewed two strips of felt together and hot glued them inside for the handle. They've been swung around quit a bit already and I think they'll stick.

They're just the right size. If they run out of room they have enough.

Happy Easter!

Candy Easter Bunnies

Did easter sneak up on anyone else? I've been so busy, I didn't realize it was this weekend. I'm hoping I'll have time to do some things with the kids before it gets here.

For now I thought I would share these candy bunnies we made last year. I made them from memory. My grandma made one for me as a kid. She used baby food jars. I didn't have any last year, but have tons this year. I think they would work with any small container.

The ears are made out of those pipe cleaners that are skinny then fat, and skinny again. Am I making any sense? My kids gave them away to some of their friends. You know how I feel about keeping the kids crafts around.