This weeks theme for Project Run and Play is Candy Inspired. I will admit I was completely lost on this one until it came to me one night. I was going to make a dress inspired by “Grampa’s Candy”. You see, my Father-in-law passed away a few weeks ago and he ALWAYS carried Life Savers around with him. He actually carried them around in a white sock and would ask the kids “Who wants a candy?” and the kids would all go running up and reach into Grampa’s sock to get their candy. It is one of our favorite memories of him and it just seemed fitting to sew a dress inspired by “Grampa’s Candy” for this week.
You know them as Life Savers, but in this house they are known as “Grampa’s Candy”.
To make the dress: I used some men’s XL white t-shirts for the top of the dress and for the circle skirt underneath. The skirt underneath is the base for all the ruffles. The ruffles are made from a thin white knit that I purchased from Walmart for $1 a yard. I actually love how the fabric is wrinkly as it resembles the wrinkles in the candy wrappers. And yes, a circle skirt since they are circular candies.
I used the same thin white knit around the sleeves and neckline.
It is a very simple design and nothing inventive but I wanted a dress that can act as a layering piece.
It is starting to get cooler here and this way I can add one of their favorite summer tee’s over it and they have a new outfit. I am all about getting as much use out of their clothes as I can.
And with it being made of knit fabric it is super comfy. I even tried it under a few pinafore dresses and some of their summer dresses that are sleeveless and it looks super cute! All of the ruffles give the other dresses a lot of volume.
And as you can guess it is a great dress for twirling.
I happen to love the dress alone too. There is something about kids in white that I just love!
We sure do miss that Grampa of ours! Thank goodness for sweet memories of minty candies!
Here is the shiny milk jug I started with. I purchased it from Walmart for about $7. 
Take your sandpaper and scratch the entire surface. Make sure you take your time and get all of the little spots around the edges.
Now take your metal piece and either submerge it in vinegar or keep wiping vinegar over it. I just took an old rag and soaked it in vinegar and every half-hour or so wiped more vinegar onto the jug. Towards the end once it was reacting, I took the vinegar soaked rag and layed it right on top of the jug. This definitely sped up the aging process. About 4 hours later my jug was aged.
For the pink dress I did not stray too far from the pattern. I just made the dress a little wider then the pattern called for and added the ruffle trim and ribbon trim piece at the top of the yoke like I did in the blue dress.
It feels really great to be creating for these little girls of mine again.
I sure have missed it! 
They simply grab a chore card from the front pocket, complete the chore and then move the chore card to the back pocket. When the front pocket is empty they have completed all of their chores. 
Any of you use a chore chart? Do you give rewards? Please I would love to know!
One night my son asked me for a plastic Walmart bag to carry all of his show and tell items in. Of course instead of giving him a plastic Walmart bag I made him a show and tell bag. As I sat there sewing the bag my hubby chuckled and said “You know, all he wanted was a plastic Walmart bag.” Of course I knew that. I also knew that I wanted to give a special show and tell bag instead. It was just something I wanted to do. The next morning when he asked for the Walmart bag I handed him this one instead. I received the biggest hug and was “the bestest mom in the world.” That right there made it all worth it! Every Wednesday when he packed up his show and tell bag he thanked me for making it for him. Funny how something that I made for him to make him feel special, in turn makes me feel special.
He is already looking forward to show and tell again this year…and already wondering which day it will be!
