Pattern Give Away Alert! From Ghunsawn Marinda Etsy Shop!

I feel truly blessed when designers of doll clothing trust me with their patterns and allow me to not only test and try out their patterns but also let me give one away to my readers. Ghunsawn Marinda Etsy Shop owner and designer has kindly lowed me to do this with her Oodles pattern.

This pattern offered in her Etsy shop for $5.00 gives you pattern pieces you can use to create 3 different tops, 4 dresses and even a night gown! A great value in this easy pattern! Click here to see pattern listing.


How to enter: Any of my readers who would like to be entered in the random draw for this PDF pattern  please visit Ghunsawn Marinda's Etsy Shop by clicking here and let me know which of her patterns you are most impressed by via email at karenmowen@gmail.com with PATTERN IN THE SUBJECT line. This give away will run from today May 31, 2014- June 7th. Winner will be chosen at random and emailed the PDF Prize. Contest Void where prohibited. 
Check out Ghunsawn Marinda's Etsy Shop and her patterns by clicking any of the highlighted words in today's post.
Thank you Ghunsawn for this wonderful opportunity!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment her or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

A Quick Home Spa Visit! An Our Generation Doll Rescue and Repair

The other night one of my son's young friends called to ask if I could give her doll a make over. I was delighted! Her doll is an older Our Generation doll who has been very loved. I knew this hair make over needed the Heads Up Detangler from TwinPinesofMaine I use this product now daily on my dolls and love the results.

 I used the detangler straight letting it soak into the dolls very dry split hair and I also used it in a spray bottle. I used the wire wig brush from American Girl, and started by combing the ends and working my way to the top. *When you have an OG doll or a Springfield Doll a wire wig brush is not the best idea, if you can get a plastic brush your dolls hair will be less likely to split. But this head needed the strength of the wire brush.
After her hair, I used the Formula 911 also from Twin Pines Of Maine, on her face, ears, arms and legs.

That helped remove the ink and surface dirt from her vinyl and it worked like a charm!
This doll originally had her hair up so I decided to style her hair and make a bow.

 

This is where a well stocked craft box comes in handy! I grabbed my ribbon, buttons from Buttons Galore and More, as well as a gem stone and my Aleene's Glue from ilovetocreate.com and in less then two minutes I made this fun and easy hair bow to match the dolls eyes and summer dress!

I then repeated the button pattern on the summer dress as embellishment. I was even able to deliver the doll back to her owner in time for a quick play before bed time. I was thrilled with how this make over turned out and honored to be asked to help with it.

You can check out my Instagram account by clicking here to see what daily dolly things I get up to, and I would love to follow you! So please visit me and follow along.

 As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

My $5 My Twin Doll Rescue! My Yard Sale Gem!

This past Saturday, I stopped at a yard sale for charity and found this very loved and old My Twin Doll. The seller wanted $5 for her and I quickly agreed! Even in the shape she was in I knew she was worth more then that $5 to a child who will love her.

Some people rescue dolls for money, some rescue to collect,  I rescue to find the doll no one wants and turn her into a doll a child will love. I think my nieces will fight over this one.

 

Here she is before, her nose and forehead had dark scuff marks and her arms were grimy but her legs, protected by the tights she was wearing were in perfect condition.

 

To clean up a rescue doll you really need a few good tips and some great products. I use Heads Up Detangler from Twin Pines Of Maine,
I put it in a spray bottle and use it on all my dolls hair and it was a "God Send" on this poor dolly's wig. 
For her body I used Formula 911 also from Twin Pines of Maine    
The 911 can be diluted which I do for surface cleaning but on stubborn stains  I used it straight on the cloth and on the dolls vinyl. I was thrilled with how easily the marks came off with a cloth and straight Formula 911.

 

Her wig was a challenge for sure but with the detangler and starting from the bottom and working my way to the top of her wig I am thrilled with how her hair and wig turned out. 

Her hair brushed out was amazing and so long!

 Once her wig was combed out I had to find away to re attach her wig and I asked Char what she thought about which of my adhesives I should try and I am so glad she recommended Aleen's Fabric Fusion Peel and Stick Tape. This was so easy to use and it was the perfect size to run along the old glue line and hold the wig in place! You can find Aleen's Fabric Fusion Peel and Stick Tape from ilovetocreate.com
I think all dolls are worth a second chance don't you?

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Madelon's Brilliant Mini Doll Camp Idea!

Madelon has a great eye for all things Dolly related and I love this idea for a tent for Mini dolls! Madelon bought a food dome from Target and has turned it into a tent for the mini dolls!

 

At $9.99 these are a great find and they are metal! Madelon says you can draw a tent "flap" on one side if you like or just pretend.

 

Lots of play potential here!

 

It also comes in blue!

 Paired with a container from yesterday's post.

Keep your eyes out for fun every day items you can turn into doll play camp items!

Thank you Madelon for these fun finds! 

As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Office Depot Mini Containers Help Mini Doll's Get Ready for Camp Doll Diaries

 

Madelon has found a fun way to get ready for the Mini dolls to get ready for Camp Doll Diaries! Check out these fun containers she got at Office Depot for $5

 

The colors fit right in with our Camp colors!

 

Now I wish we had Office Depot in Canada!

The containers are easy to open and so much dolly storage!

 Mini Molly is packing already! So much fun!

Thank you Madelon for this fun find!

As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Happy Birthday To Samantha and Happy Memorial Day!

 

Happy Birthday Samantha!

Thank you to Madelon for this photo and Thank you also to the men and women and their families who work so hard and give so much for the freedom we enjoy. 

Many blessings to them on this Memorial day. 

With Our Thanks,

Karen Mom of Three and Team

As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

 

Purchase With Purchase! American Girl Has Out Done Themselves! A Madelon Fun Find!

While in the DC store Madelon found, photographed and shared with me the new Beach Dress and Hair Accessory offered as the Purchase with Purchase for $16 when you spend $50 or more in store at the American Girl Store.

 

Honestly this dress makes me want to buy this doll too! I love the way it looks on her and her hair is just too much cuteness! She looks like my niece Thea!

 

I see this photo and I want to yell, "just take my money already!" I love this doll too, in this outfit I am even more in love with her!

So girly and fun!

 Check it out with the cute hair extension!

Look at it on this red headed beauty!
This Purchase with Purchase summer outfit has my thumbs up! I hope that The Canada stores will soon get Purchase with Purchase outfits like these! Thank you Madelon for these photos and for sharing them with us today!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

A New Look To The Cafe At The American Girl Store In DC!

Madelon has been a Godsend to me over the years and this week while I have been dealing with family medical stuff Madelon has kept my in box full of wonderful Dolly news and ideas so this week is going to be very heavy on the Madelon input side! I am so excited to share new photos from the New Look at the American Girl store in DC.

Madelon says and I agree that she loves the sophisticated look of the new Cafe!

The mirror says "little bites. big delights"

This is my sisters and I enjoying lunch at the Seattle Store for my birthday a few years ago. It was so much fun. Great food and great service. Next time I want to go for their tea!

I love popping into the cafe and bistro at American Girl in Seattle and I would love to try out all the Bistro's and cafe's. I wish our Vancouver store had one but down stairs we do have a Starbucks so that is fantastic!
Please share with us your memories of the Cafe or Bistro in a comment, email or in photos, we would be happy to share your fond memories here!
Thank you Madelon for everything you do to help me write this fun blog and for all your wonderful ideas!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

3 Fun Medical Outfits On Etsy

Some of you know in the last few weeks I have spent a lot of time at the hospital for a family medical emergency, even staying over night with one of my sons. I have such respect for those nurses and doctors who make it their life's work to help others, So today I am sharing some of my Etsy favorites for Dolly Medical Outfits with you.
The first one shown above is from Quest 4 Craft Etsy Shop. This is a fun 5 piece set offered at $25, why I love it is the print is the perfect size for 18 inch dolls. To view it yourself in shop, click here

I have chosen this outfit to share next because this outfit on Kit looks just like my son's pediatrician!
this is a 2 piece outfit including jacket and pants and is offered at $19 from DeColoresDollFashion

Connies Play Place has a fun surgical set offered at $18.50 Click here for shop and listing. 
These are only some of the fun outfits for dolls you can find on Etsy. These are three of my favorites, I hope to hear from many of you about your favorites, feel free to post links to your favorites below.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com  

Yay My Camp Doll Diaries Buttons Have Just Arrived In The Mail!

I am so excited the Camp Doll Diaries Buttons have arrived in the mail!

These are from the Doll Diaries Etsy shop and a package of 4 is offered on line for $4.00!

There are lots of fun items in the Doll Diaries Etsy Store just for Camp 2014! These are sold exclusively through the Doll Diaries Etsy Store! You can click here to see the Camp Exclusives!
I am so excited for camp and have been working on some great crafts to share with you all! Now Camp Doll Diaries is offered all summer long on Doll Diaries and the team is hard at work with some really fun activities for you and your dolls. Their are already free printable's and doll fun on Doll Diaries.

I can not wait to see who is joining me for Camp this year! Leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com and let me know if you are excited!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

It Is Sad To Say Good Bye To 4 Loved Characters and Dolls From The American Girl Line....

If you have not heard already I just got the news that American Girl is discontinuing Ivy, Ruthie and Marie Grace and Cecile.
This saddens and frustrates me as a doll lover and consumer. I hate to see the bidding wars and the hurt feelings of young girls who love these dolls and can not afford to add them to their doll families.  When the retirement news comes out, everyone rushes to purchase and put a away these dolls in hopes of making money off of parents who did not know or did not get them in time and I hope American Girl has enough to make it through the holiday season. What do you guys think? I also have mixed feelings about Samantha being reintroduced into the line. I would love to know what you think. Please share your comments and ideas below. Does this announcement make you want to run out and buy all 4 dolls?
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

American Girl Doll Summer Wardrobe Give Away!

 Come check out this amazing give away! I made an outfit for the give away (Look for Ivy in the drop waist floral tea dress) and there is so many wonderful items in this contest!  Tell All Your Friends!!!

Here are the contributors!
Laura Kelly's INKlings - Patriotic Outfit   SewsNBows - Pet Set & Outfit

Darlin Girl Creations - Snoopy Outfit   Tickie's Treasures - Vintage Outfit

123 Mulberry Street - Outfit & Hat   A Bee Line - Beez Shoes

Jazzy Doll Duds - Romper Outfit   Karen Mom of 3 - Floral Outfit

  Gina's Craft Corner - 4 Bags   Aunt Sissy Originals - Patriotic Outfit

Once Upon a Sewing Machine - 2 Outfits   2 Crochet Hooks - Bedding Set

  GiGi's Doll Creations - Patriotic Outfit   Jessie's Girl Clothing - Polo Outfit 

Pickled Okra - Reversible Outfit   Meatloaf and Melodrama - Flower Outfit

Doll It Up - Tutu Set   The Graceful Rose - 2 Dresses

Cats Meow - Floral Dress   The Real Thing with the Coake Family - Dress Form

The Tip Toe Fairy - Skirt Set   Camelot's Treasures - Shorts Outfit

Enter the giveaway using the Giveaway Tools entry form below.

18+ yrs, US & Canada Only. Official Rules at bottom of the entry form.

Bonus entries unlocked after required entry.

The more entries, the better chance you have of winning.

Entry-Form

This giveaway was coordinated by Diana of Diana Rambles.
Find out more by Clicking Here
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Etsy Swim Suits For All My Favorite Dolls!

 

My niece is having a pool party for her birthday this week and it got me to thinking about dolly swim suit season and sharing some of my Etsy Favorite's With you. 

Check out 2Dragonladies Etsy Shop and this Hearts 4 Heart's suit! Offered at $8 you can view it's listing by clicking here 

 

I loved the polka dots on this suit by FullofCrafts

 

for $22.95 it also included the wrap! Click here for shop and listing.

My niece Hannah would love this suit it is sparkly green and so cute with the ruffle, offered at only $8 from if Dolls Could Dream Etsy Shop

Back to polka dots again, I just love them! Check out this fun set 2 pcs suit, visor and ball included! Click here for WeeWhimzyWardobe Etsy Shop this set offered at $12!

For my lovely readers who are talented with a crochet hook come check out this pattern from CrochetGarden! I love the ruffles don't you? Image all the fun colors you could make this suit in! Click here for Etsy Shop and Pattern Listing.

For those of you who sew check out this new pattern from CreateKidsCouture Etsy shop offered at $5 by clicking here.
I can not wait to see all your wonderful summer photos and posts! Did you know you can find me on Instagram?  I would love it if you could join in the fun come see me at http://instagram.com/oneminutedollchats
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com