Easy No-Sew Applique Tutorial

As I have mentioned in previous posts, it is "birthday season" around here.  My daughter's 12 little friends all have their birthdays within a month of each other.  Well this weekend is the grand finale of all the birthday festivities!

This weekend my friend Danica's little guy, Roaran, will celebrate turning 2 and will finally join his friends in the "2" club!  She is planning an awesome "Thomas the Train" party that I'm sure will be amazing.  She wanted to jazz up his basic train overalls to make them "Thomas" themed and I agreed to help her out with this little project.

This is a simple, inexpensive no-sew (or a little bit of sewing if you want) project.  This would be perfect for your child's jeans, a little jacket, a t-shirt or anything you are wanting to add something to, just to make it a little bit more special.

Easy No-Sew T-Shirt Applique Tutorial

Supplies:

1 pair overalls

1 T-Shirt (whatever theme you like....Thomas, Elmo, Dora, Mickey Mouse)

Fusible Web (WonderUnder or any other brand)

Scissors

Iron

Thread

Directions:

Start with your basic overall.  Danica picked out this super-cute classic train overall.

She then found this "Thomas" shirt at a local children's resale shop in town.  It's a cute shirt, but she (and I) didn't care too much for the fact that it was a tank-top and looked a little too plain for a birthday boy.

I cut the "Thomas" and the wording off of the t-shirt as close to the edge as possible.

I then cut fusible interfacing out to match the shape of each of the cut-outs from the t-shirt.

I ironed the interfacing to the back-side of each of the t-shirt applique pieces (follow the directions for whatever brand of interfacing you use).  Then I took the paper off of the back of the appliques.

I placed the applique pieces where I thought they would look best and ironed them into place. 

I appliqued the picture of Thomas on the front pocket of the overalls and the "Thomas and Friends" onto the back-side.

You can stop after you have ironed on your applique, but I like to take it a step further.  I stitched around each applique piece after ironing, just to increase durability.  If you know anything about toddler boys, they are super-rough on their clothes so this is a good idea if you plan on having your little one wear these after the party.

The nice thing about using knit t-shirt material for the applique is that you don't have to worry about the edges fraying like you would with regular quilting cotton.

Hopefully Danica will be "guest" posting about her fabulous "Thomas" party in the coming weeks!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The next time you are out at a garage sale or resale shop, look around for t-shirts that could be deconstructed for their applique potential.  Maybe your child likes Elmo or Diego or Barney or simply look for t-shirts that have pretty flowers or designs.  This Thomas shirt was not particularly special, but once I took it apart and added it to the overalls, it became just that!!

Dream Big

We should be reminded of this every day... What are your dreams?

See more inspirational prints here.

Also, a HUGE thank you goes out to Marianne at Haven and Home

for featuring my watercolors today!

Chincoteague Sunset Rentals

Are you looking for a relaxing vacation? Leave your busy schedule behind and enjoy the southern hospitality of Chincoteague Sunset Rentals.

Sunset Bay Villa #207 is a beautiful home overlooking the marina and the Chincoteague Bay. The decorating is elegant and bright.

The open floor plan offers plenty of space for entertaining and a view

of the Chincoteague Bay from the kitchen.

The master suite has a private bath with jacuzzi tub, separate shower and double vanity, a view of the Chincoteague Bay and access to your private balcony.

There is a separate laundry room with full size washer and dryer, 2nd bedroom, 2nd full bathroom and a sunset view from the cheerful den.

If you are noticing some familiar artwork on the walls like the famous "red crab" and "hosta prints", that is because my Mom owns this condo! We are going on Friday to visit, and I will post more pictures when I return.

This Villa sleeps 8, (Master 2-D/2nd bdrm 1-Q/Den 1-D Sleeper Sofa / Livingroom 1- Q Sleeper Sofa) ~ Satellite Tv's ~ Living room 37" with DVD player, Master bedroom 22", Den 19" ~ Wireless Internet (for you bloggers!)

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Mention Bright, Bold, and Beautiful and receive a complimentary

Red Crab print upon your arrival!

Paisley in Paris

If you are like me, you are always scrambling to buy a birthday card at the last minute in the nearest convenience store! Take a peek at my lovely sponsor,

Paisley in Paris. Stock up on some cute cards so you are prepared for the next occasion. Dio has fun and original cards, invitations, stickers,

address labels, and handcrafted gifts.

Would you like to be a sponsor of Bright, Bold, and Beautiful?

Please e-mail me for rates: laura.trevey@gmail.com

Can You Read This?

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs?

Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

image credit

Bright Ideas: Creative Easter Eggs

I found these creative ideas for your Easter eggs in Readers Digest. With a little glitter, grosgrain ribbon and acrylic paint, look what you can create!

Be sure to download BB&B on your iPhone iPad or iTouch today.

Go to the iTunes App Store and Search: Bright Bold and Beautiful

Mo

re ways to follow BB&B

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Sun Kissed

How about some warm yellow hues...

I am loving these fun prints and this beautiful bag!

bag, you are my sunshine

The Cottage Mama is in the Mommyhood!

I'm so excited that Shannon over at luvinthemommyhood.com has posted this lovely feature/interview about my family, myself and my etsy shop "The Cottage Mama".  Yes, that's right, I have an etsy shop!  I know I haven't officially talked too much about my shop here on the blog, but I just recently got some inventory listed and I'm open for business!! 


I am doing a giveaway for a $25.00 gift certificate to my shop over at luvinthemommyhood.  I would love if you would head over to luvinthemommyhood, check out the interview and enter to win!!  You will also learn lots more about "The Cottage Mama".  While you're over there, take a few minutes to poke around Shannon's blog - she has some wonderful projects, ideas, and gorgeous pictures!

If you would like to keep updated with "The Cottage Mama" become a fan on facebook.  Click here to become a fan!

Reading is Sexy

What are you reading? Have you read Barefoot? It's one of my favorites!

photo via flickr

Villa in Ocean's Twelve

Remember the villa they filmed in the movie Ocean's Twelve? It is actually a 19th century Villa on the banks of Lake Como in Milan, Italy. Gorgeous right?

(Of course I am talking about George :)

More Entertainment posts and More ways to follow BBB

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Neutral vs Bright Colors

When choosing colors for your interiors, do you lean more towards neutrals

or bright colors?

Other popular either/or posts:

wedge vs stiletto

bare legs vs hose

coffee vs tea

ski vs beach

Bright Ideas: Bull dog clips

How do you organize your stuff? I like to have plenty of bull dog clips around to group items together and even attach to the wall.

photo via livingetc

Vogue 1947

A classic, "Vogue" 1947 cover by John Rawlings

More Vogue posts and More ways to follow BB&B

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Beautiful Living : Laundry Rooms

I would be so much better at keeping the laundry organized if my room looked like these... Great ideas for shelves, bins, and hooks to keep you organized.

Don't you love the bathing suit art on the wall? Who says you can't put

artwork in the laundry room!

More Beautiful Living and More ways to follow BBB

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coastal living, martha stewart, house to home

Have a Lovely Pink Cupcake Sunday

Well, I survived the 10K race yesterday! Yippeee.... Today I will rest, maybe paint a little and eat some pink cupcakes :) Have a lovely Sunday!

artwork by Stephanie Levy

New Modern Kitchen Design Ideas with White Cabinets

Stosa is an Italian kitchen manufacturer, which offers as modern as traditional models of very high quality. This year Stosa has enriched its modern kitchen range by four new beautiful collections. Among these collections you could find an awesome kitchen solution for a black and white kitchen design. This modern kitchen is a model from Bring collection. The main idea of this kitchen design is a play of contrasts and asymmetric shapes. Its cabinets with non standard shape add the originality and at the same enlarge the storage space. The kitchens from this collection are also available in other different colors and in natural wooden finish.