DIY Disney Themed Toddler Pants

I have a passion for sewing. Baby and toddler sewing is so quick, it's almost irresistible for me. I also happen to have a kid with extremely sensitive skin, so souvenir clothes require washing before wearing, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Making and taking our own is a perfect solution.

Here I used Anna Maria Horner's Quick Change Trousers pattern from Handmade Beginnings. I love this pattern because it's reversible. Those of us who have experience with kids in the parks know that sometimes, a reversible pant can save a photo op! Theme parks seem to have a way of throwing dirt on my kids without them even knowing it. This way, I don't have to carry multiple outfits into the park, and a mess truly is just a quick change to a clean pant. It's a win-win.

If you are an avid sewer, or fabric collector, these may even be a very budget friendly project. The smaller sizes requires under a yard for the main fabric, and the bottom patch can be made from less than 1/2  a yard easily. It was a great stash busting project for me!

I have had very good luck finding Disney licensed fabrics at JoAnn's, including what you see here, Winnie the Pooh, Phineas and Ferb, and Princess & Fairies galore! But don't think you have to spring for the licensed stuff. You can easily find fabric that calls to mind Disney without the branding (especially when those fabrics are in the parks). I have found fish/shark fabric in a Finding Nemo color scheme, generic pirate fabric (bottom right), little people dressed as you might find them in It's A Small World (top right), and non-Disney fairy tale illustrations. I've even used holiday fabric for the reverse when we were going to be in Disney over Halloween or Christmas. Use your imagination and take some time to browse. If you find it difficult to get to a store without a child nipping at your heels, Etsy has some terrific finds and you can browse those stores from the comfort of your own home. Etsy has it's own bonus as well: you can find fabrics there that aren't sold in the US (or wherever you're cottage is located). I love Japanese prints and there is definitely a Disney market in Japan. Sometimes you can find really unique fabric that's worth the time and cost of ordering.

And because some of you will ask, the licensed onsies were found at Walmart for under $5.00 each. The other two I made using the Silhouette SD. Stay tuned for tutorials on how to make your own Disney onsies. Until then, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

DIY Upcycled Tigger Earbud Case

I love technology. I'll be the first to admit I have a crush on Apple. And I don't know WHAT I would do without my iPhone. Seriously. I'd be so lost without it. But I have a love/hate relationship with earbuds. Cute? Yes. Small? Most definitely. Uncomfortable? Almost every pair. A hot, tangled mess in the bottom of my handbag/diaperbag/minivan console? Always. That is, until now. I saw this idea on Pinterest (where else?), and was smitten.  No more tangled mess? Count me in!

In this case, I already had this orange jewelry case (which held a beautiful turquoise bracelet around the time Minnie was born. Nice work Mr. Photos From The Parks!) I decided to use it instead of a glasses case. It was extremely easy to alter - I simply drew the tiger stripes on with a fine point brown Sharpie marker. I looked up images of tiger stripes on Google images to get an idea of what I wanted. It was seriously just that easy. Once I removed the cardboard jewelry insert, it was exactly the right size for the earbuds.

I originally envisioned this as part of a Pooh & Friends gift basket of sorts, but as I was adding Tigger stripes to this case, I realized there are a couple other ways that this could be relative to Disney. If you have an Animal Kingdom lover in the house, this becomes a perfect accessory for them. Or, if you happen to have more of a Classics lover in the house, well, this could be part of a Jungle Book package, referencing Shere Khan. And finally, if you have a Princess Jasmine aficionado, then this is all about her Rajah. Plenty of ways to spin this DIY for Disney.

Most importantly, now I know where my earbuds are and that they are untangled and user friendly. And if you don't already know how to wind them up like this, check out this super easy tutorial. It's a little bit life-changing in itself. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!