put a bow on it - pillow slipcovers

Last month, Midori Ribbon contacted me about making a craft out of their ribbon. Because I am a boy mom, I don't have a lot of practice with ribbon- but I accepted and I'm so glad because these aren't just any ribbons -These are nice ribbons. They let me pick which ones I wanted the receive in the mail. Isn't real mail always fun?

 My favorite is this Dupioni Silk in Dandelion. 

I knew I wanted to make a few throw pillow slipcovers. These slipcovers couldn't be easier. I started with some fabric that was cut to the same size as my pillow form for the front and a few inches longer for the back. 

Then take the back piece and cut it in half right down the middle. Fold and press the sides down twice and then sew those up to create two hems. I did this for both of my pillows.

For the fronts I just used ribbon two create the designs. First up, I made some smashed flowers. There isn't an exact science to sewing "smashed flowers" but I started with the "leaves" - I made long loops and pinned them down. Then I started just smashing the silk ribbon in the center and worked outwards folding the ribbon over as I went. I also used a lot of pins. Then I just sewed in the same messy swirled pattern making sure to catch the "leaf loop" too. 

  Front number one.

Piece the pillow together by placing the right sides together and lining up the edges of the back. This will mean the two sides on the back will overlap and that's what you want. 

Sew that all the way around, then clip your corners and flip.

Stuff your pillow form in there and you are done. I might never make a "real" throw pillow again :) 

For the second pillow I used my other favorite ribbon the Black and Cream Ascot.  I made a free hand bow and left long tails while it was still attached to the spool. 

Once I got it where I liked it, I cut the bow from the spool,  placed it on the front of my pillow and pinned it down. 

Then I sewed around the perimeter of the bow and made sure to sew around the inside "knot" too. 

I marked the white thread on the black stripes with permanent marker so it looks more uniform. 

I sewed the pillow the same way as before. Meet my new favorite:

I love how they both turned out!

So do you have a lot of ribbon expertise? Also do you love pillow slipcovers as much as I do? Anything that means no hand sewing is for me :) 

Instagram and Vine Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Instagram + Vine Blog Hop! If you're new here, the Instagram + Vine Blog Hop is a party where you link up your Instagram and/or Vine accounts, find and follow new friends, and be continually inspired by what you see in your feeds! No need to have a blog, just an Instagram and/or Vine account! How to PLAY:

1. Follow your HOSTS:

Kimberly | Instagram: @anightowlblog | Vine: anightowlblog 

Emily | Instagram: @mrsemshhh | Vine: emily emshwiller 

Angie | Instagram: @blogali | Vine: Little Inspiration

2. Follow your CO-HOSTS:

Amy | Instagram: @amy_cbandbp

You can find Amy here: 

Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

 ***

Taylor | Instagram: @taylormadeblog

 You can find Taylor here: 

Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

3. Link up your Instagram Web Profile:

Just link up your new Instagram Web Profile (http://instagram.com/username) -OR- your web viewer of choice in the linky below!

Note: this URL will not let you choose a profile pic from your feed, so be sure you have a picture you can upload from your computer if you use it! If you get a "Error: The requested URL returned error: 500" error that just means it can't find a picture to use NOT that your link is bad. Just click on "Direct Image URL" if you have one or "Upload from Computer". If you still have trouble, try sticking with Followgram or Webstagram to upload your profile.

4. NEW! Link up your Vine Username and/or Video!

Add your Vine username (so folks can find you) to the list below! Or link up a Vine video so we can see your cinematography at work! This is new, so there aren't web profiles just yet, but hopefully they'll be out soon! How do you find your video link? If you post your video on Facebook or Twitter, you will be given a URL that looks like this: "http://vine.co/v/bJegq22datT." Just link that up below with your username so we can find you! If you don't have a URL to one of your videos, simply link up your blog URL, but make sure the title is your Vine username so we can find you!

5. Check out and follow a few fellow Instagram or Vine friends.

Tell folks you follow that you found them through the Hop!

6. Spread the word!

Tweet about it, share it on Facebook or post about it on Instagram!

Tweet

Now let's link up!

Moonlight & Mason Jars Monday - Week 11

Welcome to week #11 of the Moonlight & Mason Jars Link Party!

First & foremost let's announce our FIVE featured blogs who linked up last week:

1.

Filing Fabric @ The Thinking Closet
2. Spy Equipment Gift @ The Princess and Her Cowboys
3. Pinwheel Lunch Reception @ The Love Nerds
4. Modpodge Alphabet Magnets @ Whistle & Ivy
5. Patriotic Wood Shim and Starfish Flag @ Craftiments

Congrats to our featured blogs!
We have pinned these projects to our Group Pinterest Board:

Now it's your turn to link up...

What is Moonlight & Mason Jars?
We are 5 BLOGS that have come together at 5PM (CST) every Monday night for a little "show and tell". Link up anything to our link party that you have created or written yourself and it will show up on all FIVE of our blogs! Please don't link up any items for sale.

Each week we will choose 5 of your projects to feature at the next Link Party. We will also pin our 5 featured projects it to our group Pinterest board next week. Trust us, we know how busy Mondays can be so we leave the party open all week. The party closes at midnight on Sunday!

1. Display our link party button (or text link) on your post or somewhere on your site. You will find them at the very bottom of this post.
2. Visit all 5 of our blogs & follow us in some way (Twitter, RSS, Facebook, etc.)
3. Visit as many fellow partiers as you can and leave comments. That's what makes it fun!
4. If you have been featured, please display our featured button on your post.

We can't wait to see all of your amazing projects!

Here's the latest & greatest from your Moonlight & Mason Jars hostesses.

What a Choke! How To Cook an Artichoke, a Newlywed Blunder

1. Lemon Crinkle Cookies
2. Awesome Day in NYC

The Crafters Bash

Fresh Peach Dump Cake

{Tech Tuesday} Tech Gifts for Dad

Now for this week's link party:

<div align="center"> <a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-125-x-125.png" alt="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="Moonlight & Mason Jars - Monday Night Link Party"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-250-x-250.png" alt="Moonlight & Mason Jars - Monday Night Link Party" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="The Newlywed Pilgrimage" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-250-x-250-Featured.png" alt="The Newlywed Pilgrimage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Moonlight & Mason Jars Monday - Week 10

Welcome to week #10 of the Moonlight & Mason Jars Link Party!

First & foremost let's announce our FIVE featured blogs who linked up last week:

1. Tomato, Cucumber and Mozzarella Salad Quickie @ I Got This Martha
2. Easy Ice Cream Sandwiches @ Hold the Office
3. DIY Pottery Barn Bird Dish @ Anderson + Grant
4. County Fair Party @ Michelle Lea Designs
5. Color Blocked Bobby Pins @ The Thinking Closet

Congrats to our featured blogs!
We have pinned these projects to our Group Pinterest Board:

Now it's your turn to link up...

What is Moonlight & Mason Jars?
We are 5 BLOGS that have come together at 5PM (CST) every Monday night for a little "show and tell". Link up anything to our link party that you have created or written yourself and it will show up on all FIVE of our blogs! Please don't link up any items for sale.

Each week we will choose 5 of your projects to feature at the next Link Party. We will also pin our 5 featured projects it to our group Pinterest board next week. Trust us, we know how busy Mondays can be so we leave the party open all week. The party closes at midnight on Sunday!

1. Display our link party button (or text link) on your post or somewhere on your site. You will find them at the very bottom of this post.
2. Visit all 5 of our blogs & follow us in some way (Twitter, RSS, Facebook, etc.)
3. Visit as many fellow partiers as you can and leave comments. That's what makes it fun!
4. If you have been featured, please display our featured button on your post.

We can't wait to see all of your amazing projects!

Here's the latest & greatest from your Moonlight & Mason Jars hostesses.

How to Make your own Flower Food

1: Moving Day
2: 1st Day at MSLO
3: Brooklyn Bridge Park
4: NYC 1st Week!

Star Gazing Party - Star Food Picks

Life Is A Ride Embroidery Hoop Art

{Trendy Tot Tuesday}: Link Up with Kelly, Lindsay and Megan

Now for this week's link party:

An InLinkz Link-up

<div align="center"> <a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-125-x-125.png" alt="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="Moonlight & Mason Jars - Monday Night Link Party"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-250-x-250.png" alt="Moonlight & Mason Jars - Monday Night Link Party" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars" title="The Newlywed Pilgrimage" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/MMM-250-x-250-Featured.png" alt="The Newlywed Pilgrimage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>