Fabulously Frugal Fall Fashion Challenge Week 1: The White Challenge

Who says you can't wear white after Labor Day?  Definitely not us!  Here is the inspiration for our first challenge:  The White Challenge!

Source                                                              Source

Source                                                       Source

Bonus Accessory:

Source

Here is a reminder of the rules:

• Recreate a similar outfit head-to-toe.  This can mean that you recreate 1, 2, 3 or all 4 of the looks featured this week.
• Create your very own look inspired by the photos we have posted
• Use the bonus accessory in your completed look
• Create an outfit inspired by the bonus accessory

This is where the FRUGAL part comes in.  The looks you create must be made up from:

• Garments/accessories you find at a thrift store/consignment store/yard sale/etc.
• Garments/accessories you already own.
• Garments/accessories you create.

You have until this Friday to recreate the outfit(s) and blog about them. Make sure to tell us where you found the pieces and how much (little) you spent on them. Don't forget to add the button below to your blog post, and we would LOVE if you became a follower.

Come back to AquaSeventy6 on Friday to see how we have recreated the looks, as well.  You are invited to add the link to your blog post on our comments section and the following week we will feature our favorite looks on our site and our Facebook and Twitter pages

Don't have a blog, but you still want to join in?  NO PROBLEM!!  Create your look, upload the photos to a share site (ie: Photobucket) and add the link, as well as the purchase/cost details, in our comments section on Friday for a chance to have your look featured.

<center><a href="http://aquaseventy6.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="AquaSeventy6" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/YManes24/aquaframesmall.jpg"/></a></center>

Never Forget

On this 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, we at AquaSeventy6 send our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of those who gave their lives on that day, and those who subsequently have given their lives fighting to prevent future attacks.  We know you are still hurting and still healing. We are still hurting and healing. 

To all of the soldiers and first responders who risk their lives daily for our safety and freedom, we honor you today and every day.  We will always remember.  We will NEVER FORGET.

Announcing the Fabulously Frugal Fall Fashion Challenge!

Is anyone else ready for fall?!? It's our favorite time of the year here at AquaSeventy6.  The cool air, the falling leaves...until now all of that has been a fantasy.  As you know, we are two Native Floridians who just recently moved to cities that have--get this--SEASONS!

In the past, we would have had to wait until November, December or even January to bust out our scarves and boots.  Because of this, our cool weather wardrobe is what you could call limited. 

Enter our favorite site: Pinterest.  For weeks, a slew of gorgeous fall outfits have been popping up everywhere on the site. We have been inspired to revamp our entire wardrobe.  That, of course, comes with a price.  So we came up with a fantastic idea that will help us be fashionistas on a budget, and we are challenging you to do the same.

Join us in the Fabulous Frugal Fall Fashion Challenge.

Here's how it works:

Each Monday, AquaSeventy6 will post 4 related fall looks from our Pinterest boards plus a bonus accessory.  You are challenged to do (at least) one of the following:

• Recreate a similar outfit head-to-toe.  This can mean that you recreate 1, 2, 3 or all 4 of the looks featured that week.
• Create your very own look inspired by the photos we have posted
• Use the bonus accessory in your completed look
• Create an outfit inspired by the bonus accessory

Here is where the FRUGAL part comes in.  The looks you create must be made up from:

• Garments/accessories you find at a thrift store/consignment store/yard sale/etc.
• Garments/accessories you already own.
• Garments/accessories you create.

You have until Friday of that week to recreate the outfit(s) and blog about them. Make sure to tell us where you found the pieces and how much (little) you spent on them. Don't forget to add the button below to your blog post, and we would LOVE if you became a follower.

Come back to AquaSeventy6 on Fridays to see how we have recreated the looks, as well.  You are invited to add the link to your blog post on our comments section and the following week we will feature our favorite looks on our site and our Facebook and Twitter pages


Don't have a blog, but you still want to join in?  NO PROBLEM!!  Create your look, upload the photos to a share site (ie: Photobucket) and add the link, as well as the purchase/cost details, in our comments section on Friday for a chance to have your look featured.

 The Fabulously Frugal Fall Fashion Challenge begins this Monday, September 12, and will run for 6 weeks.  By the end of the challenge you should have an extensive, albeit inexpensive fall wardrobe. 
ARE YOU IN?? 

<center><a href="http://aquaseventy6.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="AquaSeventy6" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/YManes24/aquaframesmall.jpg"/></a></center>

Magnet Board Revamp

One of the reasons I love fabric is because it is so versatile. You can create or embellish an endless amount of items with glorious fabric. Even a boring old magnet board.



This is what it looked like before.



This project is so simple, you are most likely going to roll your eyes.
All I did was cut my fabric one inch larger than my board, fold around to the back of my board and secure it with hot glue. God bless the hot glue gun!



It was so fast and easy, I even made one for the kids!



There you have it; plain ole magnetic boards turned colorful and unique!

Creating with Ucreate!

Happy Labor Day!  Here at AquaSeventy6, Autumn and I have been soaking up the very last minutes with our kiddos before we send them off to school.

We are also in the process of designing a super fun challenge for our readers (and ourselves!)  More information to come later this week.

This afternoon, while browsing through the many blogs that I follow, I came across Ucreate Crafts' September "Create With Me" Project. The Tohoku Tote was originally featured on I Am Momma Hear Me Roar and sold for charity.  Now it is available for all of us to create and share.

After perusing the pattern I decided to give it a shot.  Best case scenario, I'd have something to blog about today.  Worst case, my daughter would have yet another piece for her "land of misfit purses" collection.  I am glad to say that it came out pretty great!

 The main fabric is a remnant piece of home decor fabric I found at Joanns many months ago.  The lining is a lined curtain panel I bought at Goodwill last year for $2

I have to admit, I will probably remove the bow.  I don't really think I made it the right way and I can see the hand stitching which really bugs me.

 I love the pockets.  I made a bigger one for my keys and a divided one for my cell phone and lip gloss.  I put the clasp on a little too high, and so it was a little hard to stitch around it.  You can see that my top stitching around the opening isn't as professional as I would like.

All in all, this bag came out pretty darn cute and is a great size!  Thanks to Ucreate for this fun group project!

Fall Fashion DIY: Infinity Scarf

Happy Friday, gang!  Can you believe it's September already? 

In Florida, the school year usually begins mid-August. The concept of starting after Labor Day is quite foreign to me, as is waking up to temperatures in the low 60s this early in the year.  The fact that the local pool CLOSES on Labor Day wigs me out.  Back home, the beaches are still warm well into October.  Virginia is still the South, right? :)

Even so, after spending the week shopping for school supplies, meeting teachers, and touring campuses I am ready for fall!
One of my favorite fall accessories is a scarf.  A couple of years ago I purchased my first infinity scarf (which is basically a tube a fabric connected on both ends.)  I loved it so much that I wore it everyday, which of course means I took it off somewhere (restaurant? sister's house? grocery store? movies?) never to be seen again.


I decided to try to make my own infinity scarf, and here is what I came up with.

I didn't photograph a step-by-step on this because to be perfectly frank, I didn't know what the heck I was doing. I made so many mistakes that I nicknamed this the "Dingbat's Infinity Scarf".

I love how versatile this scarf can be!

You can wear it so many different ways!

 Leaving out my trial and error this is what I did:

• Cut 2 pieces 12" x 54" of your favorite fabric
  
• Sew together one of the short ends on each (right sides together) to make a 12" x 108" strip.
  
• Fold the short length in half (right sides together) and sew along the long side.
• Turn the tube inside out (like a sock).
• Fold in and press a seam on one of the open ends
  
• Tuck the other short ends into the folded end and top stitch them together
  

I won't deny that those are the worst instructions ever.  I am positive that there is a MUCH easier way to do this, so if you figure it out, let me know!  Even so, I am loving my new infinity scarf.  I can't wait until it is cool enough to sport it out!

Toddler Boy Bermuda Shorts

Warning: the posing in the following picture is quite fierce. If you are not prepared, please step back from your computer, take a deep breath and try again later.



I made my (almost 4 year old!) son some surfer-style bermuda shorts. He calls them his rockstar pants!


back view


I used quilting cotton, which concerned me a bit that they would be too flimsy. So we took them for a test drive. He: wrestled, did some sweet knee slides and kicked some sizzlin' hot breakdance moves - shorts still IN TACT at the end! He is like a pint-sized crash test dummy for clothes.

They were super fun and easy to make, so I am pumped to make some for my smaller dude and some friends!