Gift Review One of Many....

One of the COOL things about being a CEM Member is GETTING FREE STUFF! We are such a helpful, awesome, group of gals... that a few of our girls are/were "knocked up" and we thought it would be awesome to send them all gift baskets... so they can use and review our handmade items.

They were ALL totally stoked about it, including the gifters! So, here is the first in a series of reviews for one of our Basket Gifts... This one was for A Girl basket (we had 2 girl baskets) This review is of Ali Bug Bows

ENJOY!

Since I've never had a girl before I actually have never seen this type of headband before. The band is super soft and super stretchy. This one should last through many, many growth spurts! What's especially neat about this one is that the bow is actually not part of the headband but a separate clip, allowing you to exchange it for a different one.

Ali Bug Boutique sent a second bow in a different color with this one already! Since the babies in my family tend to be somewhat bald I figured our little one couldn't wear her bows anytime soon but with this clever headband/clip combo our little baldie will be stylin' from the get go!

I love the brown and pink color combination on this clip! It's another item from Ali Bug Boutique Bows and I know this item will make my life so much easier. In fact I am already using it!

We don't actually 'do' pacifiers but I love it already. We cloth diaper and so I carry a pretty big diaper bag with me whenever I go anywhere. It's roomy but it's like a black hole for car keys and other small things. I am using this paci clip as a leash for my car keys in my diaper bag and it works great! Even though the paci clip is really light weight (perfect for the original use intented!) the clip itself is very dependable and makes it a breeze to retrieve my keys in a stylish way. You know it's going to keep the paci securely attached if it can hold car keys.

Thank You, Ali Bug Boutique Bows!

The Fruitiest Fruit, is a Marshmallow!! A PINK marshmallow!

Congrats to PinkMarshmallow for winning our "Fruit" Contest with her entry of the Cherry Applique Lounge Set:


Here is an applique lounge set complete with tiny coordinating mary janes :)






I mean what an adorable outfit, and idea for that matter! What expecting mother wouldn't love this as a shower gift? And what little punk princess wouldn't love wearing it??

Here are some other things that are fantastic from Pink's Etsy Shop!



Sk8er Boi and Nascar Fan Checkered Shoes

How Adorable!!! Little Lace up shoes for your little one to race off in!!!




Custom Sassy Momma Gauzey Lounge Set

These are the first of these I've seen on Etsy, and I really hope they do well for miss Pink!

Thanks for taking a look at our weekly featured artist!!!

Be sure that as you click the artists on the right of our blog, you'll be amazed at every shop you see!

This weeks featured artist: AeBaby!!

This weeks featured artist is: Aebaby!

Her entry was the adorable Blossom Purse for Little Girls!
Congratulations!!!! Here are just a few of her listings. Stop by her cute Etsy shop and say hello!!

Ae Baby

A Boutique for Mom and Baby

Featured artist of the week: MiaBella!

Congrats to miabella for her EasterBella entry in our #16 Easter theme.

MiaBella Designs

EasterBella......

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Here are more items from her cute shop!! stop by her shop and say hello!!!!

GEt it together with Marie's Custom Boutique

4 Inch Layered Boutique Hairbow Bow

Size 5 6 Girls Dads Shirt Dress or Tunic White with Pink Gingham

Mary Jane Infant Shoe Set Custom Gift Bag

I'm feeling blue, Vivi Lu!

Vivi Lu Designs is our winner of the theme contest BLUE, and is our weekly featured artist!

She won the contest with her entry:



Here are some more wonderful things from her shop that I promise will not leave you feeling blue!!!


Boutique Capelet


Boutique Crochet Hat and Booties



Boutique Spring Hat


Boutique Custom Hat and Capelet

Stop by Vivi Lu Designs and check out all the fantastic things she has for girls there! You'll be glad you did!!!

CEM LOVES Sweet Treats for Little Feet!

The winner of The Theme LOVE, is : Pink Marshmallow ! Congratulations!

She won with her entry:
Infant Tiny Hearts Shoes


After wandering through Pink Marshmallow's feet boutique, I found all kinds of things for baby, and kids too! Just check out these beautiful baby feet!


Black White and Red with Hearts, Infant Shoes

Not only does PInk Marshmallow have things for infants, she also carries Custom shoes for kids too!


Custom, Scotty Dog Boutique Shoes




Gingham Cherries, boutique shoes

And I saved my favorite for last:



Skull and Crossbone, Boutique Flip Flops

We really have a group of talented women here at CEM, and I am amazed at every theme contest!

Flower incased TuTu tutorial by Rockerchic

Flower incased TuTu Tutorial:

This tutorial and tutu is one that I made up, so it isn't "by the book". You may find better ways to make the same thing with better results....
Here is how I make them:

Buy about 3 or 4 colors of tulle. 3 or 4 yards each... it depends on how full you want the tutu.

lay the layers on the floor...still folded in half as they were on the bolt. Lay down one layer, then keep putting the others on top. When they are all layed straight... fold the layers in half lengthwise. Then pin them so they will remain straitht when sewing.

You can either at this point: make a waistband from another fabric and sew it to the top of the tulle... or just sew about an inch below the top fold to make a casing for elastic or ribbon.

When your done sewing your casing you can thread the elastic or ribbon through. Sew the elastic together or you can tie the ribbon... (the ribbon wiast is adjustable).

Then.. the top layer of tulle should still be folded at the bottom... you can cut the fold out of the OTHER layers of the skirt but KEEP THE TOP LAYER FOLDED we will use this to put our flowers in.

When you have done that... you should have your flowers or whatever you'd like to put in your skirt ready... you can put silk flowers, ribbon, bows, bells, well... anything you can think of...

Place the items in the top layer through the back that is open... they will move around but you should place them in the area you would like them to be. When you have done that.... take clear polyester thread or light fishing line and hand sew the top layer together in the back to prevent the flowers from falling out.
At this time you can sew the other layers together by hand or choose to leave them seperated in the back... either way the skirt will still function properly.

When you have sewn everything up... this should be what the finished product looks like:









If you guys want to try these, and need help... just ask! I will be glad to help you out!!!