Ruffly Duvet Tutorial

As promised here is a closer look at these ruffly duvet covers.

The old comforters looked like this, they don't exactly go with the new

decor and we couldn't find one we liked that fit the budget. (The very small budget)

AND when Beth over at the Stories of A-Z posted her new anthropology duvet cover, here, I was in love!

Two BIG problems though. Anthropology doesn't make this cutie in zebra stripes and it was not in the budget.

So I decided to take a crack at re-creating one.

I gathered fabric. For this project I needed lots of big wide pieces of fabric so I used mostly sheets from Ross. The black fabric I found on the bargain table at Jo Ann's.
I measured the width of the old comforter and cut my fabric strips twice as long, so there would be lots of ruffly gathers. All of the strips needed to be pieced together to be long enough.

To determine the length I measured how long the old comforter was and randomly chose lengths for each strip until they equalled the length of the comforter. uh... that's confusing. It went something like this:

Old comforter = 84 inches long

White strip #1 = 18" wide

black strip #1 = 6" wide
zebra #1 = 24" wide

white strip #2 = 5" wide

black strip #2 = 13'" wide

zebra strip #2 = 10" wide

White strip #3 = 8' wide

Total = 84 inches

I then added 1 inch to the width of each strip for seam allowance.

Next sew a gathering stitch along both the top and bottom of each strip.

*Hint: This project takes a TON of thread so I used colors I already had that I didn't have plans for. I stopped sewing and made a break mid way across each strip, to make gathering easier.

Pull up the bobbin thread to form gathers

Then measure the top and bottom of each strip and adjusted the gathers to just the right width.

I got out Stanley (my tape measure) for this because he's long enough and holds nice and still.

With right sides together sew each strip together until you have something like this.

We thought this ruffly couture could even pass as an elegant frock!

Now for the back. I purchased a solid black flat twin sheet from Wal-Mart for less than $4.00.

Cut it to exactly the same size as the ruffly top and sewed them right sides together, around all four sides. I left a 24 inch opening on one of the long sides so I could turn it right side out.

Now for the old comforter.

I sewed a 3/4" button on all four corners

Then sewed elastic loops on the corners of the duvet cover. You want the loops to fit the buttons nice and snug so sew them a little smaller than the buttons.

Slide the buttons inside the elastic loops.

Then turn it right side out.

I don't plan on taking the cover off to wash it so I whip stitched the opening closed.

If you do need to be able to take it off you could definitely make a zipper or button closure.

And there you have it! It's ruffly, fluffy and so cozy!

I spent $22.00 to make each one.

I Just Can't Wait ANY Longer!

The girls room isn't completely finished, but I can't wait
to show you how it's coming!

First

Here's a quick peak at what it used to look like:

Always a mess, no where to put anything... kinda cute, but always a mess.

I took the stained dresser out of their room (I'm saving it for a future project) and painted the red one black.

While we were painting the walls and un-bunking the beds we used the living room as a storage room. Thank goodness for an extra place to stash stuff!

Eek! How embarrassing! I'm so sorry to everyone who saw my house looking like this!

After MANY weeks of hard work... here is what we have so far:

Sorry about the glare from the sun... I am not a photographer.

The bedspreads are more like duvet covers. I took the old comforters and made a new cover for them... more about these in a future post.

I added some felt flowers to pillows we purchased at Ross.

I wanted the art in their rooms to be super chic. I painted black frames right
on the wall, taped a picture of each girl inside the frame and held it in place with Plexiglas, tacked down by decorative nails. I finished off the look with fabric flowers hot glued

to the Plexiglas.

I painted each girls name above their picture, making sure to add lots of swirlies.
(I thought my daughter would LOVE this, instead she asked if I was running out of paint when I did the swirls)

Tissue paper pom poms... I've never met one I didn't like!

And now for.........

THE CLOSET!

I'm super excited about this part!

I know, the green buckets aren't working very good...

My dad helped with the built-in. I drew a picture... with crayons... and he made it happen!

I have to admit that my dad has never lost his super hero cape. He can do ANYTHING!

The mirrored doors were a little bit of a challenge. Good thing dad knows his way around a router.

Behind the doors lies the girls' clothes, in buckets.

Sign above the closet.

More black scroll lines.

Ooooh, I almost forgot about the black chandy. No chic girly room is complete without one!

And with that begins the list of projects that still need to be finished......

nothing major.... just....

The ceiling needs to be painted white, it still has mural clouds on it.
The chandelier needs some more light bulbs, and prisms.

The desk.... I have stewed over this the WHOLE time. I think I've finally decided to paint it white, with black trim... stay tuned.

The gap between the bookshelves and the desk will be filled with a post with hooks to hang ALL THOSE CRAZY BAGS ON.

I want to make something like my shabby coat rack.

I know you didn't notice all the bags before, because I took them out of their room to take pictures!

My girls LOVE their bags, so they need a proper home.

The kitchen (that my dad made)

needs a hutchy thing above it... that is still in the planning phases.

That high chair was built by my dad when I was like... I dunno 3 or something.

Again, sorry for the glare, the next picture I take of this will be done in the

evening.

Anyway, the dresser needs drawer pulls, badly.

The green buckets need to be zebra-fied, the black and white bins need labels, cuz I can't even remember what's in which bin.

So not much left to do, right?

It's been a ton of fun to work on and the girls LOVE it!

I'm linking up with:

Domestically Speaking's 38th Power of Paint Party

and

and

Girly Luau Birthday Party

Today was my daughters 9th Birthday Party.

We had a flip floppin' pool splashin' good time!

What a fun group of girls to party with!

ALOHA!

Fruity centerpiece

Beachy table center piece

Paper pom poms in fun bright colors. Imperfectly Beautiful has a great tutorial on how to make them.

Sandy beach flip flop cupcakes

Moist chocolat cake and rich chocolate buttercream...my kind of cake!

I used my Texas Sheet cake recipe (minus the original frosting) to make these cupcakes. It is currently my absolute most favorite way to make chocolate cupcakes!

Texas Sheet Cake

In a medium mixing bowl combine:

1 C butter (melted)

1 C water

1 tsp vanilla

Add:

2 eggs

1 C sour cream

2 C sugar

1/2 C cocoa powder

Mix until well combinded then add:

2 C flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Whisk until smooth. (Sometime I add chocolate chips now.)

Scoop into cupcake wrappers. Bake at 350 for about 16 minutes.
Cool and frost with chocolate buttercream.

Chocolate Buttercream

In mixer combine:

1 C softened butter

2 lbs powdered sugar

1/2 C cocoa powder

2 tsp vanilla
1/2 C milk

Slowly mix together, then turn mixer up to med high and whip for 2 minutes. If the frosting is too thick add more milk, if it's too thin add more powdered sugar.

Sneak Peak!

The girls and I decided it was time to let their room

grow up a little.

They had this cute cupcake/princess/treehouse mural...

(That I never finished! Check out those flower stems without their blooms, how embarassing!)

So the funny little mural got slathered with primer
and with the help of two very handy painters...
We now have a start to something fun!

I can't wait to finish up a few more projects and show you the big reveal!

To Blog or not to blog...

I have wrestled with that question since... well it looks like
since April Fools Day!! I'm sorry for abandoning this little
blog. If ya'll don't mind, I think I would like to keep sharing!

MANY of you fabulous and supportive readers have asked for these
two recipes...soooooooooo... I'm gonna give em' to ya. Enjoy!

Berry Cheesecake

and

The Kitchen Sink

Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes:

Cupcakes:

1 white cake mix
1 cube butter (melted)
1 C whole milk
3 eggs

Combine all ingredients and mix for 2 minutes. Batter should be light and fluffy.

Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes. Let cool completely.

While cooling prepare filling:

1 box raspberry danish dessert (junket brand, I get it at Winco...if there isn't a Winco near you I have also been able to find it at Albertson's)
1 bag frozen raspberries, (I often use the tri berry blend from Costco, about
2 1/2 C)

Prepare danish dessert according to the pie filling directions on the box. Add frozen berries to danish dessert, do not thaw. Let sit until cooled.

Prepare Cheesecake Mousse:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 small boxes cheesecake pudding
1 C water
1 C whipping cream or pastry pride (I buy pastry pride at Smart and Final or Cash and Carry)

Combine sweetened condensed milk, water, and pudding. Beat for 2 minutes, set aside. Whip the whipping cream or pastry pride. Fold into pudding mixture. Place in piping bag fitted with extra large round tip, or use a ziploc brand, ziploc bag with the corner snipped off.


Assembly:

Using a melon baller scoop out center of cupcake. Fill with berry filling until it is even with the top of the cupcake, but don't over fill. Pipe cheesecake mousse around the berry filled hole. Don't cover it up. I go around twice. Add another teaspoon of berry filling to center of cheesecake mousse.

That's it!





Now for my absolute FAVORITE concoction ever:




The Kitchen Sink


1 chocolate or vanilla cake mix
1 cube butter melted
1 C whole milk
3 eggs

Combine all ingredients, beat for 2 minutes. Bakeat 350 for 13-15 minutes.

Caramel filling:

This should be done ahead of time because it is quite time consuming.

Place an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk (with the label removed) in a pot of boiling water. Cover with a lid, reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Check water every once in a while to make sure it's not evaporated and still gently bubbling.
Remove from heat and let cool. If you do this step the day before just let it cool in the unopened can. If you are in a little bit of a rush open the can and poor the contents into a pie pan.

Scoop out center of cupcakes with a melon baller. Place caramel filling in a ziploc bag and snip off a corner. Pipe into each cupcake.

Whipped Chocolate Ganache layer:

I also do this ahead of time so it can properly cool.

In microwave safe bowl place 1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips (use the best kind) and 2 C whipping cream (not whipped). Heat in microwave at 50% power for one minute, stir, repeat, until chocolate is completely melted. Use a whisk to thouroughly combine the melted chocolate and cream until it is smooth and shiney. Let cool completely. (If you leave it at room temperature this can take a couple hours, I usually put it in the fridge for about and hour.) When cooled whip with an electric hand mixer. (It should look like slightly runny chocolate whipped cream) If it overwhips it will be grainy. According to Martha Stewart you can re-melt it, cool it again and re-whip it. I've never done that so I don't really know. Just don't over whip it.

Place whipped ganache in a gallon size ziploc bag, snip a corner and pipe a single layer (once around the cupcake) covering up the caramel filling.

Whip some Pastry Pride (from Smart and Final or Cash and Carry). You'll probably need about 2 cups of the liquid pastry pride. (I never measure, I just dump it in)

I pipe the cream on with a huge star tip.

Toast some pecans and coconut with your broiler, sprinkle them on top, nuts first then coconut.

Grab a glass of milk and one of these babies, relax and enjoy! If you worked this hard to make a Kitchen sink cupcake you deserve the break!

And every bite is just. so. worth.it.

Enjoy!