Masquerade Ball Judges & Sponsors

It's time to meet your Judges and Sponsors!!!

Judges and sponsors for what you ask???? Why the Masquerade Ball of course! What is the Masquerade Ball?   Check out this post to find out! Then come back and see the judges and sponsors and see what you can win!

I have been working on my Masquerade Ball for months. Judges and Sponsors are ready and excited. Do you want to meet them??? All of these ladies are some of my favorite Bloggers. If you don't know them you need to. Please be sure to check out there blogs! Now its time to remove the Masks and introduce your judges!

My Sister's Suitcase

Holly & Nat are wonderful friends of mine. I truly value their friendship. These ladies are amazing bloggers, crafters and DIY-ers. I love there fresh take on crafting and there originality. EVERYTHING on there blog is fantastic. Be sure to check them out. You won't be sorry.

Emily at 52 Mantels

If you haven't been to 52 Mantels, you must see. Emily has a new Mantel every week. Yes that's right, EVERY WEEK. Just thinking about it makes me tired. She is amazing, a new mantel, home decor and a link party every week. This blog has it all. I love to visit and see what she is up to. You should to!

Bonnie & Trish @ Uncommon Designs

Bonnie & Trish are two sister in laws who team up to share their ideas and amazing skills with the world. They have a weekly link party on Wednesdays and Pintrest boards to make you drool. Whether they are refashioning or decorating there home for the holidays you are sure to find lots to love over at Uncommon Designs.

Rachel @ Family Ever After

Rachel has a crazy fun blog.  She sews, paints, crafts and has something new going on her blog every month.  Giveaways, monthly sew along or just quirky posts that you will love.  My favorite was the day she dressed up like a pioneer. Remember to head over and see what Family Ever After is all about!

Megan @ Brassy Apple

Megan is a total Refashionista!  She even has her own show on  My Craft Channel called Re-Fashion it.  She takes old clothes from your closet and makes amazing new clothes for you to wear.  I love her fun DIY projects and how she involves her kids.  Brassy Apple is one of the first blogs I stalked.  You should too.

So if you don't know any of these ladies blogs, you really should. Please go check out there blogs.  They are fantastic.

Are you ready for the Prizes?? My Sponsors have been so great to work with.  I am truly grateful for there willingness to support the Masquerade Ball this first year.

First Prize

Fat Quarter Shop

Facebook

CeCe Caldwell Paint

 Second Prize

 Fabricnest.com

Pick Your Plum

Facebook / Twitter

Third Prize

Sassy Steals

 Facebook 

 Plaid

Facebook / Twitter

So there you go. What a great group of Sponsors.  I am so excited to see what you all create.  Tomorrow come the contest guidelines.  Be sure to come back and check them out then get crafting.  I am so excited to see what you create!  Need a little inspiration?  Check out My Masquerade Magic Pin board for costume, party and decor ideas.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.freetimefrolics.com" title="Free Time Frolics"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/cosettescloset/attending150.jpg" alt="Free Time Frolics" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

You are all invited....First Annual Masquerade Ball

Come one, come all.....

 

  I have 4 little monsters of my own and I love to make costumes for them.  I have always wanted to enter a costume contest where the costumes are all handmade. I decided last year after Halloween that people make the greatest Halloween costumes.  All of you have some Mad skills. 

So last year after blogging my first Halloween I decided the blog world needed a Masquerade Ball.  A fun event to  link up and  share your homemade creations with the world.   And after all your hard work you deserve a pat on the back and maybe a prize. Right???

 Well starting tomorrow you will get to meet your fantabulous judges.  They are all amazing Crafters, Bloggers, Seamstresses, Diy-ers, Refashionistas and so much more. Can you guess who they are???

Then Thursday I will give you all the details and prizes.  Be sure to come back to check it out. 

I am so excited to see what you all come up with.  Be sure to tell your friends and family.  Everyone is invited. 

Need some "Pin" tastic ideas for Halloween???  I have been pinning all year and have some great ideas in My Pintrest boards.  Head over and check out my Masquerade Magic board.  Costumes, parties and food ideas. You are sure to be inspired!

 Don't forget to add the "I'm attending" button to your blog.

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.freetimefrolics.com" title="Free Time Frolics"><img src="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab68/cosettescloset/attending150.jpg" alt="Free Time Frolics" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

A little love in the Master Bedroom

Mandi over at Vintage Revivals is having an Epic room Make over.  Oh how I need this.  Our bedroom is sad, sad and tan. Boring and brown. I tried to decorate it but never completed it. Our home was a foreclosure and we have done a lot of work. New carpet, paint and appliances.  But that was as far as we got.  We ran out of money. Other rooms have taken priority.  You know the ones people see when they walk in your house. So that means the master bedroom is low on love..... Boring, drab, the dumping spot for laundry, kids toys and the catch all. Do you want to see??? So I made this little video to share.  My room needs Mandi! I even wrote a song just for you Mandi.  I figured it was the thing to do!

I know this is a low budget film. Don't knock it. I spent $10 on garage band and i movie. It was 10 o'clock at night. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Our bay/ french door are kind of stupid. Only one opens.  They window don't open either.  I made these curtains to block out the light and add a little color to the room.

In this picture there is a remnant of the last owners TV wall stand. They painters did not even remove it before they painted. How lazy of them.  But know my leftover paint has changed colors so I can't really fix it.

Not quite sure what to do with this shelfy thing.  It is about 3 feet by 12 feet.  It has electrical outlets for lighting.  My husband thinks its a great place for and hammock.  What do you think???

They say your bedroom should be a retreat.  A place to relax and get away and share a little {Love}.  Mandi as you can see there is not much {Love} in this bedroom.  Its cluttered and boring.  I need you!!! Mandi here are the reasons you should come to Idaho! 1. We need a little more {LOVE} in the bedroom. You can help {wink wink} 2. Idaho is Awesome!  And close to home. The days are warm and the evenings are cool. 3. I am a seamstress, painter, sander, stenciler wantabe and baker.  My skills are at your disposal. 4.  I have an extra room for you and Hailee to crash in.  You even get your own bathroom.  Or a hotel just minutes from my home. 5. I have a cute group of Idaho bloggers that will claw (Literally) the door down to meet and decorate with you.  I may have to set up security! So you see not only will you save my bedroom you will have groupies too! They would be so happy to meet you! 6.We grow great potatoes. 7. My husband would appreciate any help you can give to our bedroom. He would love for you to set the mood. 8. My husband said I am Queen Nerd for singing you a song.  I told him it took king of the Nerds to make me the Queen! I did it just for you! 9.My room needs a little Mandilicious-ness.  Please come!!!!!!! Phaaaaaleeeeeease come to my house!

Best Ever, No Fail Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

It's been a while since I had a recipe on the blog.  I though it would be fitting to have this recipe today.  My kids are back in school!!! Yeah!I love being on a schedule. In celebration of the first day of school I thought my Best ever, No fail Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe was in order! These little lovelies are the best!  Just ask my kids.   I win Mother of the day when I make these yummy little treats.  They are kind of our go to treat for parties, picnics or just a family night treat.  Everyone loves them, I think you will too.

Flower Clusters DIY

Have you seen all those beautiful flower clusters people wear in there hair?  I for one love them but not there expense.  Beautiful flowers with frills and feathers.  There are lots of tutorials out there for fabric flowers.  Most of them are pretty much the same so I won't get into that.  But to cluster them together with other things is an art.  After much trial and error I think I have learned a few things I can share so lets get started.

1. Buy satin that 100% polyester. The satin edges will burn to a nicer finish.
2. Burn the edges of your flowers before you sew them together. This gives them a more naturals fuller look.
3. Hand stitch your petals together.  No matter what any one says Hand stitching is better than hot glue.
4. Be brave and play with color combinations. You never know what will catch your eye and look great.

Start with cutting your flower petals. You will need 10 to 12 petals for each flower. Depending on how full you want them. Burn the edges of each petal. This will stop fraying and make them look more like a petal.

 Start to place your petals together. Spread them out like you are holding cards in a game.

If you need to add a stitch to the center.

Continue to add petals until you have a flower shape.  Add a few stitches to the center to secure.

 While you are securing your flower you add some beads to the center of your flower.

After adding your beads decide what you want your finished cluster. Add tulle, ribbon, lace or feathers. Cluster your flowers close together. I like to add my lace or tulle as my base of the flower cluster.  Set your flowers together and play with how you place them. sometimes I cluster my flowers are walk away for a minute to see if I still like it when I come back. Once your ready glue them with hot glue into place.   Add a clip or headband.  

These examples are made with feathers, tulle, and satin. The leaves are made with satin.  Cut in the shape of leaves and the edges are burned.

This one has a base of gathered lace with the flowers on top.  The centers of the flowers are folded satin. with pearls stitched into them. I used this one in with my little miss' Christmas skirt

Sometimes after I have clustered my flowers I like to add vintage buttons or a few extra beads.  Theses examples are a headband and corsage sash I made for a wedding. I used rolled and ruffled flowers. 

Whatever you choose play with color combos and different textures.  You never know what will make your flower clusters perfect.