Face Painting

First design ever done.

One year I picked up a "character make-up kit" from Walmart on clearance after Halloween. The kit was under a dollar and came not just with some paints but with a little instruction book for three different face designs.


That was the beginning of what has become a little hobby for me, to the benefit of my children. During this last summer I would paint their faces once a week. We would go on Pintrest for them to find a picture, then I would try to recreate it.


I am in no way an artist...I need to get that out in the open. My kids love to tell me what an artist I am, but that is far from the truth. I have never been very good at drawing. I get very frustrated with symmetry. If I can get the right side to look awesome, chances are the left will not look as good.


(Keeping the previous thought in mind...) My kids LOVE that they can come to me and ask for a face design. When we go to a new animated movie, they usually come to me for a design directly related to what we are about to see.

For Despicable Me 2

Painting their faces has taught me a few things:
1. I do not have to be perfect. The design can be a little off and still look great! (Which has bleed over into other parts of my life.)
2. If you can do something small to make your kids smile, do it. My kids love going out when I have painted their faces and telling complete strangers that their mommy did it.
3. There will always be people out there better than you and that is OK. (Some of the pins I have found have blown my mind.)
4. Just try. I have not attended any face painting classes or even painting classes, but it is really fun just to try. (And this is not about only face painting.)

Hope I have inspired you to try something...maybe face painting!!! This is my Pinterest board with face painting ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/yadiwyatt/face-painting-ideas/

Thanks for stopping by,
Yadira

Quick Pillow/ Stuffy Tutorial

I was in Walmart the other day. I was looking at some t-shirts when my little one got hold of one that had Kai-lan on it. Of course, the t-shirt was a size 6 and my daughter is 19 months. She just hugged on it and would not let it go.

That of course gave me an idea when I got home. I made her a Kai-lan pillow out of the t-shirt. I was surprised by how cute it came out and how quickly I got done. Here's how.


Need:
t-shirt
sewing machine
stuffing


Here is the t-shirt I started with:

Turn the t-shirt inside out and pin it together.

I traced a line around the image about half an inch away. This was my sewing line. I pinned along the line so that the shirt did not move. Then just sew, but make sure to leave an opening so that you can turn the shirt inside out. (the picture below is of the shirt sewn.)

Next cut away the excess shirt. I left a little less than half an inch. Also be sure you clip into the excess, being careful not to cut a stich, so that the curves are smooth when you turn it inside out. I forgot to take pictures of this step or when I turned it inside out.

Once it is inside out, stuff and then stitch your opening closed. My little one loved it so much, she took her nap with it.

The whole process took me less than half an hour. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am very new to sewing so if I can do it, anyone can!!


Thanks for stopping by!!