Two-Tone Banister Update

Not such a huge fan of oak so I covered my old Banister with two colors of paint.  I started sanding this baby down thinking I was going to stain it like my cabinets, but it was taking way to long!  I saw an ad in the mail that inspired me to paint it with these two different colors.  These colors go great in my home.  They match my kitchen cabinets, kitchen table, bar stools, and chairs perfectly.  I have the two-tone chairs and bar-stools so I love the look this adds to the kitchen.

You'll need:

-1 quart dark (really dark) brown interior paint

-1 quart black interior paint

-paint brush

-fairly small paint brush

-Mineral Spirits

-Kilz oil based primer

-paint tape

-1 quart Polyurethane finish

Start by taping off your banister. Apply 2-3 coats of the Kilz oil based primer.  When you're done with the primer you'll need to pull out the Mineral Spirits and soak your brush in it to clean it out.

With a smaller brush, paint a couple of coats of the black paint onto the top and bottom edges of the Spindles in your Banister.  Now, apply 2 coats to the middle of the Spindles so they are completely covered.

Apply 3 coats of your dark brown paint to the rest of the Banister.  When dry, cover everything with your Polyurethane finish.  It's a good idea to apply about 5-6 coats on the spots you'll touch quite often.

I love the way this turned out!!!

Cinderella Toddler Swim Suit Cover Up

This pattern is fairly similar to the Snow White Toddler Swim Suit Cover Up.  

You'll need:

-1 white towel

-1 light blue towel

-2 snaps & snap attachment tool

-matching thread

-1/4" stretch band

-scissors

-sewing machine

Cut from your two towels pieces similar to these in the picture below

I followed a 3T dress' measurements.

Sew a 1/4" hem on the ends of the white sleeves (there should be 2).  And sew the top and bottom edges together (where I have added black lines in the picture below).

Cut a strip down the back side piece about 6" long.  Sew on an edge of the towel to each side.  Also, sew the top shoulders and sides under the arm pit together (while inside out).

 Attach your snaps to these white pieces with your snap tool.

Pin and sew on both sleeves.  On the ends of each sleeve, sew on a stretchy band to create a gathered and poofy sleeve look.

Fold in half each white piece separately.  On each side of the half, pin and sew 3 darts.  Make sure to trim the excess underneath off so you won't sew such a thick piece to your bottom skirt with the ruffles.  Measure each piece to make sure their tips touch one another and don't over lap when attached to the blue bottom piece of the cover up.

Now pin and sew on both white pieces to the blue bottom of the cover up.  As you sew these pieces on, don't forget to fold over about 6 pieces on the front and the back so you'll create a ruffled look.  This is why the bottom blue piece is so wide by almost double.

Turn inside out and pin and sew the bottom piece to the top piece making sure your ruffles are in place.

And you're finished.