DIY *No sew* camera strap cover tutorial

So, I've been wanting a cute little camera strap cover for my new camera but I didn't really want to spend $20-$25 on one so I decided to make one myself!  Only I don't have a sewing machine so it had to be 'no sew.'  :)
This is such an easy project that I'm sure I do not even need to give a 'tutorial' but I'm gonna just for fun and because I haven't done one in a while!

I got some of this...

Then I measured the length of the wide part of my camera strap and 'hemmed' both sides (left and right) of my material with the heat n bond.

(please ignore my gross looking ironing board and crappy instructional photos...)

Then I hemmed the bottom of the material so that I would have a finished edge. 

I folded the material over the width of the strap and added another strip of heat n bond to the seam and cured it with the iron. Easy as pie!

I added a little flower I made from ribbon and it was finished!  I love how it adds a little personality to my camera ;)

I had fun making this during Hayden's nap time today, it had been too long since I had done some crafting!

**Update**

I love that this post has been so popular and pinned so many times on Pinterest but PLEASE respect my work and don't sell my design.  I did this tutorial so that people could make a cute strap cover for themselves, not so others could profit from my idea ;)  Thank you for understanding!!

If you would like to purchase one of these strap covers, they are now available in my Etsy shop HERE for just $10.25!

p.s. I'm linking up!

The Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday

Just a Girl

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

This is what happens when your little guy doesn't get his afternoon nap...

He passed out on the couch (actually in my lap and I moved him to a more comfortable position) tonight and he never does that!  I am going to have to get him up soon and put a diaper on him...he still has his underwear on and that could spell disaster for my couch...

p.s. I added a bunch of new pics to my photoblog if you wanna have a looksy ;)

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

I Heart Faces~Slice of Life

I love lifestyle photography because it captures real moments and real life.  This weeks challenge on I Heart Faces is "Slice of Life."  Here is a slice of our life:

My husband and son reading a book together.  I love that I captured my hubby nuzzling up to my little man :)

This photo was entered into the I Heart Face photo challenge here
All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Photographer in Training

A boy after my own heart... ;)

He loves to play with my old point & shoot.  He holds it up to his face and says "cheeeese!"  Adorable. 

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Toddler Bed

We finally coverted Hayden's crib to a toddler bed since he started climbing out of it (we were afraid of him getting hurt.)

Normally he has about 3 more monkeys, a baby elephant ("awnee") and a pillow pet on his bed in addition to the sock monkey (the giant bear doesn't sleep with him, I just threw it up there) but the monkeys and pillow pet were getting a "baf" in the washer when I took these...

I am planning to re-decorate and give him a big boy room but I want to wait to do that until we move (if that ever happens...)  Anyway, I am planning to get him a twin size bed when I re-decorate.  But, this little bed will do for now.  He doesn't really like to stay in it, but we are working on that ;)

He loves to have a bed that he can play on...

He wanted to give it a good cleaning ;)

Someone is sleepy...

Goodnight, baby ;)

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

It's the age everyone dreads...

Hard to believe that this little guy is almost two...

(like the booger and mouthful of animal cracker? ;)

Back to my story...  My little man is almost two.  And with that comes a desire for independence that tests this mommy's patience!  He also has a new favorite word..."mine."  Ugh!!!  I honestly don't know where he learned that word since Jeff and I don't go around saying "mine!" all the time, but I guess he picked it up from somewhere and he likes to say it. Often. 

There are many, many things I do love about this age.  He is learning something new every day and always amazing me with how stinkin smart he is!  I love his personality and all the sweet and funny things that he says.  But he can definitely throw a tantrum!  We strive to discipline him in a way that will teach him what is appropriate behavior while keeping in mind that he is a toddler.  While I understand that he is a young child, I cannot allow him to be undisciplined and act however he wishes.  Children thrive on discipline and structure so I just have to remind myself that a disciplined child is a happy child.  And that is what I want most for Hayden, for him to have a wonderful, happy childhood.

He adds so much joy and laughter to our lives and I love him more than I ever imagined possible.  I remember being pregnant with him and dreaming of what he would be/look like.  I would smile to myself every time I felt him kick.  Now I feel like the luckiest mommy in the world when I look at him.  He is such a wonderul gift from God and I am so thankful for the past (almost) two years of motherhood He has blessed me with.

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

"Grandma's" last day here...

My mom is leaving tomorrow (well, technically today since it is after midnight!)  I wanted to get some images of her with Hayden before she left so we had a little session out in the beautiful weather today.  I really love the sunny, hazy look of them!

Caught some yummy flare in this one ;)

More yummy flare ;)  And yes...my kid is a nail biter :-/

Isn't my mom beautiful?

Visits from family never last long enough :(

What a handsome devil ;)

Speaking of Hayden...he now can climb out of his crib even though its on the lowest setting and I removed the bumper (and the fact that he is one short dude.)

I think we will be converting this crib to the toddler bed very soon...

Also, an early birthday present arrived for me today. To say I am excited would be a complete understatement...

Thanks to some birthday money from my grandma, the (hopeful) sale of my current camera and a contribution from my hubby (thanks to our tax refund) I took an opportunity to purchase a used Nikon D300 from a pro photographer that was upgrading and got a great deal.  I am anxious to learn this new gadget as it is quite a bit different from my beginner dslr.  What a fun investment/b-day gift!  :)

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Spring, we welcome you with open arms!

Today could only have been described in one word: gorgeous!  My mom, Hayden and I took full advantage of the beautiful weather and spent some time outdoors.  It was a wonderful day :)

He was happy to just swing, swing, swing today ;)

He liked the 'big boy' swing better...

Not sure exactly what he was doing with that crazy tongue, ha!

He finally got to ride his little quad that he got for Christmas :)

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Snack Time

He started out with a spoon...

But, I guess he decided to use his hand to make sure he got it all...

I feel sad that I haven't been posting much lately, but hopefully I will get back into the blogging groove soon ;)  We just have a lot going on right now and it's made it difficult for me to concentrate on much else.  Taking photos helps take my mind off things, though :) 

My mom is here visiting and we had an early birthday celebration for me today.  Hayden helped me blow out the candles (practicing for his big day in a couple months!!!)

I opened gifts from mom that included camera accessories (can't go wrong with that!) clothes and a much needed cooling pad for my laptop.  No more burning legs for me ;)

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

I Heart Faces~Sun flare

This week's challenge is sun flare.  Me and sun flare are not exactly bff so I wasn't super thrilled about coming up with a suitable image to enter...  I mean, I TOTALLY looooooove sun flare, I'm just not super skilled at catching it sometimes ;)
Well, the sun was hiding behind the clouds a lot today and so I went with an image I took at a maternity session.  It's not crazy sun flare, but it's there :)
(I had to edit this post because originally, I used a photo of just the belly and later realized I needed to include a face!  I mean...it is iheartfaces!)

http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/03/sun-flare-photo-challenge/

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now

God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as You mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”

And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth


The words of this song come so easy until you actually go through a storm.  Then, suddleny the words are difficult.  I ask myself if I could say these words if the unthinkable had happened.  I don't think that I could.  Yet, God still chose to intervene.  So, why do I not trust that He will continue to intervene and protect?  Why is my head filled with worry?  Why am I so scared of what could still happen? 

Lord, help my unbelief.  Help me to trust You with everything.

To everyone that is praying for us, thank you so much.  We appreciate it more than you know.  I'm sorry that I have to be so vague and unspecific but because of the nature of our situation, I cannot give details.  Thankfully, God knows the details.  Every detail.  And He is working, I just have to remind myself of that (like every 5 minutes.)  


All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!

Macrolicious Monday

So, today I received some new photog. gear in the mail!!!  Yay! :)  I have been interested in macro photography for a while but macro lenses are just a tad pricey, starting at about $700.  Then, I discovered I could get the same effect at a much cheaper price with these lovely extension tubes!  Sa-weet! 

I had so much fun playing around with them today and took lots of shots...of random things...

Ultra-closeup of my baby's eyelashes

The rose that my oh-so-sweet hubby brought me a couple days ago

lovely (and tasty) kiwi fruit

random ball made of sticks...

my beautiful rings

pinecone

I have to say that macro photography is more difficult than I thought and is going to take some practice for sure!  I am excited to enter this whole new world of up-close-ness ;)

On a much different (and more serious) note, I would ask that you all say a little prayer for us if you think of it.  We received some unsettling/disturbing news today but I am unable to go into detail about the nature of it.  We definitely covet your prayers and know that it's all in God's control.  We have already seen His hand in this situation and know that He is working.

This verse has helped me today:

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee..." Psalm 56:3

All photos taken by Kristen (blog author) unless otherwise stated. Do not copy/save or print without permission. Thank you!