Easter Photo Props

Since we didn't do Christmas photos in 2011 or get birthday photos done in February, we decided to go to an Easter Mini Session hosted by Danette Kay Photography to catch up.  This means I'm completely ready for Easter, as far as Melodi's outfit goes with a dress, decorated basket, and hat.

My first instinct when looking at buying clothes for Melodi online is to go to JCPenney's website because I'm partial to Penney's.  Of course the one I liked was only available online and I didn't have time to have it shipped.  My next thought was about a gift card I had in my purse for Sears.  I will definitely have to start shopping at Sears more for cute dresses because they had a lot to choose from.  Since I had found an idea I liked at Penney's I went into Sears looking for the same design and had a few choices that were similar to the dress I found at Penney's.

JCPenney Dress

Sears Dress

This is the first Easter (even though it's her third) that Melodi is walking by herself so she gets a real Easter basket.  I wanted to find a plain basket that would be easy to decorate each year to match her outfit.  Target had the basket in several colors so I decided on a white one over the brown one.  I wove two layers of fuchsia tulle that I had on hand and two ribbons (one solid green, the other pink with white pokadots) through the weave of the basket and finished it off with a bow.

Recognize the grass?  It's from the Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party we had for Melodi in February!  I love having supplies on hand to make a project more cost efficient.  We did put some eggs in the basket for the photo shoot, and we're lucky to have found some in the "right" colors.  I went to JoAnns, Target, and Walmart in order to find eggs that would work, I probably could have stayed closer to home by going to Hobby Lobby but it was Sunday so they were closed.

For Melodi's hat I had one of those crocheted hats on hand that was the right color to match her dress.  I based my design off a Lollitop that Melodi received from a friend at Easter last year.  This was another project that I had just about everything that I needed on hand.  The only thing I had to buy was dowels to make the curly ribbon and thicker white ribbon to weave through the hat, I didn't even have to buy starch since hubby spray starches his blues shirts.  The bow (directions below, sorry no step by step pictures) is a removable hair clip that can be used on the hat, on a headband, or in Melodi's hair.

I had a blast doing these projects and it is always nice having a hubby that support my crazy crafting crazes.

Steph's Curly Bow Directions
Materials

Ribbons
Dowels
Clothes pins
Spray starch
Alligator clip
Hot glue
Needle and thread

Steps

1. Wrap dowels with ribbon and secure each end with a clothes pin.  Do not overlap the ribbon.
2. Spray starch on each ribbon wrapped dowel.  Place on a foil lined baking sheet.
3. Bake at 275 degrees F for 25 minutes.  Let cool and remove from dowel.
• While baking the ribbon cover the alligator clip with ribbon using hot glue.
4. Trim ends at an angle since they didn't get sprayed with starch.
5. Cut ribbon into smaller sections, 3-4 inches each.
6. Stack ribbon holding the centers together.
7. Put a small stitch into the center and secure.
8. Hot glue the bow onto the covered alligator clip.

Sources
Adapted from several pins and web search directions.  Some starch and bake, others just bake, and of course there is little consistency with baking temperatures or times.

• Glorious Treats
• Notes from the Patch  

There is one more (from a general how to site) that I remember looking at but I can't find right now, and it's time for bed, so goodnight and I will try to find it tomorrow.

Halloween Ladybug

There is a huge craze about tulle tutus for toddler girls right now.  Visit Etsy and there are numerous different ways that "tutu" is being taken.  ((I'll get my process and pictures up shortly.))