Felted Acorns Craft

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! I thought I would squeeze in one last fall themed post before it is no longer seasonally appropriate. Today, I'm going to share a kid-friendly craft of felted wool acorns.

There are many different tutorials on how to make these on the internet. You can follow this full tutorial written by Nicole for Catch My Party.

What you need:
Wool roving (found in most craft stores in the needle crafting section)
Acorn caps
Warm, soapy water
Glue (I used hot glue)

The basic idea is to agitate the wool by rolling it between your hands using the warm, soapy water to speed up the felting process.

Once you have a dense ball of felted wool, just let it dry out, then glue it into your acorn cap.

There are many possibilities when it comes to decorating with your acorns. I have simply scattered them on the dining table, and I've also just kept them out in a small dish. Just be warned: cats think these make great toys to bat around. So, maybe that is another use for them.

And I figure, if you are out of time for making these this fall, you could also turn these into adorable ornaments for your Christmas tree. You could even use them to decorate holiday packages.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving, I know I'm looking forward to it!

Succulents in Pumpkins Thanksgiving Centerpiece DIY

Christmas is just around the corner, but Thanksgiving isn't over yet. I was inspired by an article I saw in Sunset Magazine about planting succulents in a pumpkin for a decorative display. I love succulents, I just can't get enough of them, so this was right up my alley. I think these would look great as a centerpiece for a beautiful Thanksgiving table, but if you don't want to bring them indoors, they would also be lovely on your front porch to welcome your guests for Thanksgiving dinner.

I used two different pumpkins that I grew this year. I didn't carve any of them for Halloween, so I turned them into my succulent planters.

I cut into the tops of them, just like how you would when you are carving a jack-o-lantern. Then clean all of the goop out (my least favorite part). You can save the seeds for roasting or to plant for next year.

 Fill them part way up with cactus and succulent soil, then start arranging your succulents. I usually play around with the arrangement while they are in their containers until I find a layout I like, then just start planting them in the soil. After they are in, I fill in any gaps with a little more soil.

And as a finishing touch I like to add a layer of gravel or pebbles over the top of the soil. I was thinking you could even tuck some dried moss in and around the rim of the pumpkin so you don't see any of the exposed flesh. I didn't have any on hand, so I just left it at the gravel layer.

I recommend not leaving these indoors for too long, so you don't end up with a mess on your dining room table. After Thanksgiving is over you can replant the succulents into another pot, or you could plant the whole thing right in the ground, the pumpkin will break down and feed your succulents over the coming months.

I hope that everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving, but I plan to pop in one more time before then with one last fall craft, then we can shift our focus on to the Christmas season.

We're Loading Up in Time for Christmas!!

Hi All!  Make sure to check out our store - click the "Hey Little, Little Shop" icon to the right - because we've been busy adding new items!  It's never too soon to start your Christmas shopping, and our accessories are perfect as gifts and stocking-stuffers! 

Christmas Card Special from Hey Little, Little!

Welcome to November!  The Christmas season is officially off and running.  Red cups at Starbucks, decorations galore at Costco, and advertisements for Black Friday are already underway.  All of which mean it is time to start thinking about those seemingly mandatory but oh-so-fun Christmas cards! 

With so many options to choose from, we've decided to compile a list of Christmas card ideas ranging from incredibly easy to creative do-it-yourself cards.  

1) If you're considering personalized family photo cards, now is the time to schedule that photo-sesh!  Overwhelmed by the thought of getting the family together in coordinating outfits and smile-worthy attitudes?  Don't be!  Here are some tips from my friend Marlene (whom I deemed the photo pro):

"I'm not sure I qualify as a pro at taking family photographs (you should see my family's outtakes!), but we have had A LOT of family photo sessions! Here are a few things that have worked for my family.

1. Start thinking about outfits right away! I choose our colors based on how I plan on using the pictures. When I knew I wanted to order a huge canvas enlargement for our living room, I choose colors that would match in my house. When I wanted a picture of the kids for the bedrooms, we all wore colors that coordinated with their room decor. I'm not even kidding. Once I know what colors I want then I start looking for the one stand out outfit. If I get in a bind, one or two of us can be neutral tones and throw in a color accessory.

Marlene and her Beautiful Family
Photo by Moments Captured Photography

2. Timing is everything! With two little ones, I plan our sessions for times they will be most rested. 4:30 in the afternoon usually works best for us. That way I know they will have taken a nap! We once made the mistake of a session right at 3:00 in the afternoon. We had to wake them from naps and it was not pretty.

3. Pack distractions. A good photographer should pack a rattle or toy to entertain kids, but don't count on it. I always try to pack a favorite loud toy to get the kids to look at the camera. A whistle, squeaky duck….

4. Relax! Some of my favorite pictures came from sessions I thought were flops. The kids were whiny, it was cold, I don't even remember them looking at the camera. But in the midst of it we just kind of threw our hands up and said "oh well", and had fun. We got some of the best "real" shots! On the flip side, we once took extended family pictures that my mom had wanted for 10 years. There was so much pressure for them to be just right. The pictures all look fake and awkward.

Photo by Moments Captured Photography

5. Bribe the kids. I'm not sure if I should admit this, but I always pack a bag of treats. I've done jelly beans, yogurt covered raisins, smarties, any small candy I can say "Just smile for this picture and then you can have one more!"

6. Lastly, choose your photographer wisely. Get recommendations from friends and find someone you feel comfortable with. This is especially important when kids are involved. Make sure the photographer is someone who will engage the kids. It doesn't hurt for them to have lots of patience either."

Our daughter
Photo by Moments Captured Photography

Love the pictures you see?  These were taken by Christina from Moments Captured Photography.  She does AMAZING work.  Fun to work with, creative, and flexible!  Check out her website for more information.  I (and Marlene) highly recommend her for your family photos!

Our Christmas 2012 Card
Made on cardstore.com
(With our own photos) 

Once the photos are done, check out one of these sites:

• Cardstore.com is currently doing 50% off holiday cards, plus free shipping with a purchase of $30 or more.  They have tons of styles to choose from, and they will send the cards directly to your family and friends (which in my opinion is the hardest part!)!

• Already signed up on snapfish.com, shutterfly.com, or costco.com? They all have incredible deals, too! 

2) Feeling creative?  Have a little extra time to spare?  Then why not try your hand at making your own Christmas cards! Babble.com has a really cute compilation of 10 DIY Christmas Cards.  My favorite is the Reindeer Thumbprints because it looks fairly easy and can involve the whole family!

Reindeer Thrumbprints Card from Babble.com

3) Feeling creative but don't want to bust out your craft supplies?  In the past, I've bought a card making kit that came with blank cards, decorative cut-outs, and craft paper.  We found an adorable kit on Kim's Card Kits.  This kit has so many components, it truly turns out handmade.  They've made it easy to get your craft on, without having to spend the time and effort to buy the components separately.  How about a family craft night to assemble them, complete with apple cider and haystacks?

Christmas Cheer Card Kit
Makes 12 Cards, $22.00

4) Just want to get those cards out with as little effort as possible (we won't tell!)?  We love all the boxed cards at World Market!  Here's our favorites:

                  

                        Merry Christmas Boxed Holiday Card
                          Set of 15, $9.99

Owls on Branch Boxed Holiday Card
Set of 15, $12.99

We're so excited about this season and all that it brings!  We hope this list give you some different ideas for getting those Christmas cards out.  If you have any other ideas, we'd love to hear them, so please comment below :)

Fall is in the Air

It's officially fall! I don't know what it is about fall that just makes me want to hunker down and work on some crafts. So, I decided that I would gather together some fun fall crafts that can be done as an adult (like myself) or with your little ones.

As a kid, I always loved gathering leaves. I think it might have been the novelty of it. As a born and raised California girl the leaves only fall off of certain trees, and some of the ones that do just get brown and crunchy. So, depending on where you live, you might not be as excited to gather leaves, but leaves can be great for some seasonal crafts. It also gives you an excuse to explore your yard or neighborhood and enjoy the nice fall weather.

Once you have gathered some leaves, there are many possibilities for them. Pressing them in a book or a flower press first will make them last longer without crumbling to pieces. Then you can make a cute bunting to adorn your house like this one from Simple as That the Blog.

Or you can use a paper punch on the leaves for whatever may strike your fancy, like in this post from Elise on Grow Creative. You could even combine this with the bunting idea for some fun shapes.

I love the creativity this next craft can ignite, and it can also be educational. Martha Stewart shows how to make a leaf alphabet. I think the different animals you can make out of various leaf shapes are so cute.

Maybe you don't have any pretty leaves in your yard (like mine), you can sponge or finger-paint some of your own. Check out this tutorial from Sharilyn at lovelydesign.

You can also make your own leaves out of paper. Check out this tutorial on mmmcrafts. I love the little hole punches in the leaves to mimic the look of real leaves.

Stay tuned for more craft ideas. I'm even going to share some that I've made myself. Now, go out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather while you gather some leaves!

This Little Fishy

Hi All!!  We are excited to announce another boutique that is now carrying Hey Little, Little!  This Little Fishy in Avila Beach is a charming boutique carrying high quality brands such as Tea Collection and Petunia Pickle Bottom.  When you head to the beach, make sure to check them out!  You are sure to fall in love! Don't forget about the Avila Beach Farmer's Market that continues through September on Fridays from 4:00-8:00pm.

This Little Fishy

468 Front Street

Avila Beach, CA 93424

Picture Courtesy This Little Fishy

The Spotted Whale

Come check out our booth at The Spotted Whale Consignment Sale in San Luis Obispo on September 14 & 15th! Make sure to register for the event - it's free to do on their website. Also, if you become a consignor, volunteer, or vendor, you get to shop the pre-sale on Friday night! I've found so many great deals at this event in the past! 

We will have a wide variety of our headbands and clips available to purchase, in sizes XS to L.  

It's Not All About the Benjamins...

So you know that tree that money grows on?  I've been searching for it for years, but have come to the conclusion it just simply does not exist.  Our parents weren't lying after all.  Who needs it anyway.  A tree like that would just contribute to inflation, and then we'd be no better off.  Okay, refocusing...Over the years, I have learned to be content with what I've been given, and have found that materialistic possessions mean little.  That being said, we still have needs, err many of those needs can be better categorized as wants, and I've learned that you have to decide what you'll spend the buco bucks on and what you'll save on.  Even items that I was willing to spend money on (for those of you who know me, my splurge is premium jeans), I have found ways to save.  

So here we are - our first official blog post - It's Not All About the Benjamins.  It's all about the "how can I get exactly what I want but for a price I really want to spend."  This is doubly important when you have children.  Once you start perusing the children's stores and online market place, you realize just how stylish you want your child to be, and then quickly realize that spending $40 on a pair of shoes that will be "so last season" before the season's over (not because they went out of style, but because you can no longer squeeze your child's rapidly growing foot into them) is simply not worth the $40 you paid.  Trust me, I know this well.

So here is a tried-and-true list of ways to not brake the bank, but keep you and your kids clothed and looking swank for less than the oh-so-often outrageous retail prices:

1) Sign up for designer discount sites such as Zulily, Steals, MyHabit, and HauteLook.  Signing up is free, and they feature deep discounts on brands you crave!  From infant to kids to women's to home goods, you will find brands like Toms, See Kai Run, Tea, Joe's, Paige Denim, Spanx, and so many more for much less than you'd pay at the stores.  Shipping can be a little pricey, so keep that in mind, although www.myhabit.com ships free no matter how small the order.

2) Search out traveling consignment sales.  Not only can you find great deals on pre-owned items, you can list your own no-longer-needed items and make some extra money.  The Spotted Whale and Moo La La sales are two such events that travel through our neck of the woods.  I've found brands such as Cake (an upscale line from Petunia Pickle Bottom) and Tea for a fraction of what they retailed.

The Spotted Whale 

September 13-15, 2013

669 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo

3) Check out your local consignment stores.  Sure, these can seem a bit pricey, but here and there you can find a great deal.  I scored a Petunia Pickle Bottom Cross Town Clutch for only $30!!  And it was virtually brand new!  

Central Coast Consignment Stores:

Merry Go Round, San Luis Obispo

Kids 'n Things, Santa Maria

4) Don't underestimate yard sales!  My cousin-in-law/good friend Nicole is an absolute pro at finding high-end, super stylish brands at garage sales.  I ask her all the time "Where did you get that [top, dress, outfit for Eden]?" and she'll often say "At a yardsale!"  So I asked her what her secrets are to successful yardsaling and this is what she said:

• Scope out large yard sales and annual sales, as well as sales that advertise having baby and children items and moving sales.  Craigslist is a great resource for finding upcoming garage sales.
• Going early to the sale will ensure the most selection, but the highest prices, while going later will give you the best prices but second picks.  
• If you find a whole bundle of items, you can make an offer for less than buying items individually, but still be respectful of what you offer, remembering that paying $2 or $3 for an item is still much less than you'd buy it new for.  
• Never buy something that you wouldn't pay full price for, because this ensures that you actually love the item and you're not just buying it because it's a steal.  Also, if you buy items just because it's a great deal, you'll run out of money before finding that perfect item later on!
• Know the appropriate retail prices of items you are looking for.  $2 for a pair of used boys board shorts may seem pricey to some, but if you knew that these same Billabong board shorts retailed in the stores for $30, then you'd jump all over them!
• Buy clothing in the off season, accounting for the fact that your child will be bigger by then.
• Lastly, my favorite tip from Nicole, leave the kids at home so that you can shop distraction free and avoid coming home with "3 train sets and some cheap McDonalds toys you didn't know that you needed." Hahaha!!

5) Remember Ebay?  It's still going strong and with a little searching, you can find some great deals! I recently bid on and won an adorable pair of Gap sandals for my daughter, that I'm even envious of!  They were about half of what I would have bought them new, and although they were "used" they appear to be brand new.  Plus, it was free shipping!  Another item that I was "watching" had expired with no bids, and since I hadn't bid in time to win, I emailed the seller to see if they'd re-list them with a "buy it now" price of the opening bid.  They did, and I bought them immediately.

Well, I hope some of these tips have helped!  Let us know how you like to save on duds by commenting below!!  Also, what's been your most prized steal?!

Custom Headbands and Clips!

Did you know that you can order custom headbands and clips from Hey Little, Little?!  Just let us know what style and colors you are looking for, and we will be happy to create it for you!  Have a style in mind that you haven't seen on our website?  Tell us about it and we will do our best to replicate it!  We love to stretch our creative minds :)

This particular headband was made to match the accent color for family photos.  Isn't she the CUTEST model!!  And of course we love how the headband turned out!

New Summer Promotions!

Hey all! We have a new promotion going on. Turn your daughter into a Hey Little, Little model by sending us a picture via email of her wearing a Hey Little, Little item, and receive 20% off your next online purchase! We love to share pictures of our customers wearing our products, so she could show up as a model on our Hey Little, Little site, our Shop, Twitter, Pinterest, or Facebook!  We will send you the coupon code upon receiving the photo. And who knows, maybe this will be the start of her professional modeling career?

Also, who can decide on only one headband?!  Buy more and save more!!  Buy 2 headbands or clips online, and save $2.  Use coupon code BUY2SAVE2.  Buy 3 headbands or clips and save $3.  Use coupon code BUY3SAVE3.

Find us locally!!

We are so excited to announce that our headbands are now being sold at Eco Bambino in San Luis Obispo, CA.  For those of you who have been to Eco Bambino, you can imagine why we are so excited!  The store is stocked with incredible baby items!  For those of you who have not been there before, go check it out!

Eco Bambino

863 Monterey Street,

San Luis Obispo, California, 93401

If you live in Santa Maria, CA, remember you can also find us at Sandbox Kids / Wildflower Women in the Santa Maria Town Center Mall!  Also an incredible store!  We love all their products! 

Sandbox Kids

 118 Town Center East D44

Santa Maria, California, 93454

New items being added!

Click "Shop" to see our new items!!  

Have a little girl and want to accessorize her outfits?  Perfect!  Need a gift for a baby shower?  They'll love one!  Getting married and want your flower girl to shine?  Pick the colors to match your wedding!  Throwing your daughter's birthday party and want a unique party favor for her friends?  We've got you covered!! 

Summer is in the air! It's time to deck your cutie out with an adorable skinny elastic headband! With so many summer activities coming up, you'll definitely want your little one to be camera ready (not to mention headbands always help to avoid those "he is so cute!" moments).  

5 Things We'll be Doing this Summer (Get the Cameras Ready):

1) Hitting the beach! We are so thankful to live on the central coast, where the beach is basically our backyard, but oddly enough, we don't make it there often until Summer hits.  Summer and beach are basically synonymous, right?  Just bought my daughter a little retro style bathing suite and of course the must-have accessory will be a skinny headband!  Don't forget to be sun-ready - here is a great link on keeping your little one safe in the sun: Babycenter.com Sun Safety.

2) Hiking the local trails!  Who says you can't look cute while roughing it outdoors?  Even if we don't carry along the point-and-shoot, we'll have our camera phones - can you say Facebook?!  Here's a great little list of Central Coast hikes: Central Coast Day Hikes.  Our favorite is Reservoir Canyon, but be prepared, it's a pretty decent hike!

3) Family photos!  Time to take advantage of the longer days and fit it time for family photos!  We just had ours done, and of course we will share some as soon as their ready.  We are so excited to see how they turned out!  Little Miss Thang sported her headband - can't imagine her without one since she's been wearing them since she was born!

4) Weekend vacations!  Perhaps Disneyland, or Yosemite, or just a quick jaunt to Solvang.  Who knows?!  But what I do know, there will be lots of picture opportunities!  

5) Barbecuing in the backyard!  Long days and beautiful weather inspires us to spend more time outside, and what better way to spend some simple but oh-so-meaningful time together than to cook dinner outside.  It's the simple things that count, right?  Moments like these create lasting memories for our kids.  Why not finish it off with a homemade popsicle?!  We love these recipe ideas: Allrecipes.com Popsicle Recipes.

Spring 2013 Felt Flower Headbands!

These felt flower headbands are so amazingly cute.  They are perfect for spring and summer, and really add a little something to every outfit!

Check out some new styles!

We're really getting rolling here at Hey Little, Little.  We've got some new styles and many more to come, so keep checking in!

One of our new favorites for Spring is the Bohemian Braided Headband.  It's got a stretchy braid paired with a fun shabby flower.  So far we've got it in cream with an orange, brown, and cream flower, or pink with a navy blue and pink heart flower.  We can do several other combinations, so let us know what you're looking for!

Welcome to Hey Little, Little

We are having so much fun creating different styles of headbands and clips for your little ones. Keep coming back to see what we are working on next.