Kentucky Derby Easter Egg in Food Network Magazine

How do you represent Kentucky with an Easter egg? With a Kentucky Derby Chick, of course!

I was extremely honored to be invited to contribute the Kentucky egg for Food Network Magazine's United States of Easter Eggs feature in their April 2018 issue. 

Kentucky is many great things, of course, but I have traveled many places and know for sure that Kentucky is definitely one great thing to almost all across America and beyond: horses and the iconic Kentucky Derby. I created this little egg as a representation of that beloved culture.

To create the Kentucky Derby Chick, I enlisted the help of my crafty better half, Craft E Magee, and we experimented with a few techniques to give us the perfect hat shape and size for an egg. Then, we did on a smaller scale what we've done together many times on a larger scale. we created the derby flair with feathers, silk flowers, and tulle. You can see the full tutorial on making the hat here: DIY Mini Kentucky Derby Hat.

Look at all of these fabulous eggs representing The United States! I am astounded by the creativity of fellow craft bloggers. You can see each egg with links to all participating designers at foodnetwork.com/eastereggs.



Which state egg is your favorite? It's hard for me to have a clear favorite when there are so many great designs!

Happy egg creating, DIY'ers!

~julee~

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DIY Mini Kentucky Derby Hat

Sure, Kentucky Derby hats are notoriously big and loud, and perhaps (with all due respect), a tad bit ostentatious. If you're in the stands at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, your hat better be blocking someone else's view of the track or you're doing it wrong.

So, if that's the case, you're probably wondering why you would ever need to make a mini Kentucky Derby hat. Well, I have a few ideas. For a doll, maybe, or even say, to top an Easter egg. Maybe you just like cute mini sized things. Whatever your reason, I'm going to show you how easy it is to make your own extravagant hat in a small size package.

For the hat itself, you'll need to gather some supplies: cardboard (I used a shirt box), a round glass or other object as a template, cotton stuffing or cotton balls, pencil, scissors, and a glue gun.

The circle size for the hat brim will depend on what size hat you want to make. Using the glass, trace a circle on the cardboard. Cut the circle, and then make a slit to cut a small circle from the center.

Overlap and glue the slits together on the brim piece to create a curve for the brim. (The bigger the overlap, the bigger the curve, or wave.)

Cut a half-inch wide strip of cardboard long enough to fit the center circle cutout. Glue the strip to the center cutout. Now you will have the two pieces of the hat and you will cover each of these with fabric separately.



For the brim, cut a circle of fabric large enough to cover the entire cardboard piece. Pull the fabric up tight and glue around as you go. Unless you use a stretchy fabric, you will create a pleated look. If you don't want a pleated look, use a stretchy fabric.

For the hat top, glue the cotton to the flat top piece and then cover with fabric the same way as you covered the brim: pull up tight and glue to the inside center.

Now, glue the top and brim pieces together. If it doesn't look perfect, don't stress. We're going to use embellishments to create a flawless look.

Now that you've got a complete hat, it's time to decorate. Kentucky Derby hats are traditionally decorated with lots of big colorful flowers and feathers. There's no right or wrong when it comes to embellishments, and the more, the better! I've chosen to use tulle, a silk flower, and a variety of feathers.

I used the tulle to create a band around the hat. (Hint, this also hides any unsightly flaws created when gluing the top and brim together.) Play around with your flowers and feathers until you get the look you want and use hot glue to secure everything in place.

That's it! A small Kentucky Derby hat big on traditional revelry!

Happy hat making, DIY'ers!

~julee~

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Make It: Derby Fascinator

Making a stunning hair piece or fascinator isn’t as complicated as you might think.  With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner (also known around here as our favorite day to wear crazy stuff on our heads), I’ve put together these very basic steps to help you create a simple and gorgeous hair accessory. 

Fascinator Tutorial

1) Gather your supplies.  I’ve used tulle netting, a variety of feathers, silk flower, small piece of felt, and a hair clip.  You will also need hot glue.  You can purchase all of these items at a craft store.  2)  If you’re making a larger hair piece, you will use the felt as your base.  Glue it on to your preferred type of hair clip.  This makes it easier to get all of your pieces glued to the clip.  3) Before gluing anything, lay down your pieces to try out a look that you like.  Build your fascinator in this order:  netting, feathers, flower.  4) Use hot glue to secure everything in its place.  5)  Trim any pieces as necessary.  Here, I’ve trimmed my netting into a point.   You may need to trim your felt base or feathers.  6)  Clip into your hair, beautiful lady!

Here is a smaller fascinator.  I’ve used a silk flower, rhinestone, and feather.  I then used hot glue to secure the pieces to my hair clip. 

These are just the basics to get you started.  If you would like a more bold hair piece, consider using a larger flower, additional netting,  more and bigger feathers, sprigs of rhinestones…whatever you love.  Play around with different options until you get a look that you love.

Happy fascinator making, DIY’ers!

~julee~

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Make It: Kentucky Derby Photo Booth Props

Photo booths are the one trend that I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of.  I’m pretty much of the mindset that every party needs one.  Goofy pictures + goofy props = goofy good memories. 

And I’m totally down with that.

The biggest party day in Louisville is right around the corner (that’s Derby Day for my non-local readers), so I’ve created a couple of additional photo props you can add to your mustaches-on-sticks:  A mint julep cup and a derby hat.  Because, right?  No Kentucky Derby party is complete without these.

Kentucky Derby Photo Prop Tutorials

Download the free photo prop template HERE and you’ll receive:  Talk bubble, male derby hat, female derby hat, mustache, bow tie, neck tie, glasses, and mint julep cup.

Cut your talk bubble out of black poster board and you can use chalk to write and erase messages. 

To make the (female) derby hat:  You’ll need hat TEMPLATE, cardstock, scissors, glue, ribbon, silk flowers, feathers or other embellishments, and a stick such as a bamboo skewer or popsicle stick.  1)Download the free template.  Print directly onto heavy cardstock or print then trace and cut from heavy cardstock.  2) Glue on your strip of ribbon.  3)  Glue on feathers.  4) Glue on silk flowers.  5) Glue stick on back.  6) Snap fancy photos.

To make the mint julep:  You’ll need cup and mint leaves TEMPLATE, cardstock, scissors, glue, silver glitter, and a stick such as a bamboo skewer or popsicle stick.  1)Download the free template.  Print directly onto heavy cardstock or print then trace and cut from heavy cardstock.  2) Brush glue over the cup in a very thin layer so your paper doesn’t warp.  3) Sprinkle on glitter.  4) Attach the mint leaves.  5)  Glue stick on back.  6)  Snap outrageous photos.

Happy party planning, DIY’ers!

~julee~

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Hello, Friday

  

Hello Friday.  Hello amazing week that was jam packed with so much excitement and busyness.  Hello crafty morning with WDRB in the Morning and the most fun gig I have ever had.  Hello meeting up with my fellow DIY gals and listening to inspiring talk on creating your own Maker Movement.  Hello Kentucky Derby fever in the city and acceptably crazy Derby headwear from The Hanger.  Hello gorgeous spring weather and a fabulous day at Flea Off Market seeing my favorite talented ladies. 

Hello you.

~julee~

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Insta-Friday: Friday Favs

  

I love Evon-Von's post on her favorite things this week, so I thought I would play along for a Friday Favs.  Here are a few of my favorite things from this week, captured on my phone:

~An awesome night at the balloon glow; just one of the many many many Kentucky Derby festivities we’ve got going on around here.

~Sunshine! Vitamin D! A new skirt! My most favorite shoes in all the land!

~The hubs brought home cheddar and caramel popcorn from Garrett Popcorn in Chicago.  This is one of my favorite indulgent treats ever.  Initially, this mixture of flavors might sound gross, but it tastes like a sweet/salty party in your mouth.  For realz.

~The very best part of my week?  I wrapped up my next-to-last semester of college.  One more to go!  One more to go! One more to go!

I’m linking up this week with Life Rearranged.

What are your favorite things this week?

~julee~

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Derby Hats: Workshop Recap

While the rest of the country might be going about their business as usual, it’s Kentucky Derby week here in Louisville.  This is pretty much our excuse to stretch out the most exciting two minutes in sports into a city-wide two week celebration.  When you celebrate the horses in these parts, a lady has two choices in headwear attire:  go big, or go home. 

This week D.I.Y. Louisville joined with Craft E Magee to host our first ever Derby Hat Workshop.  Getting together with a wonderful group of ladies and piecing together big, fancy hats and fascinators should be tops on any Derby lover’s list.

I love that each of these headpieces has their maker’s personality. 

The workshop was a lot of fun;  We made new friends, ate delicious cupcakes, and laughed our way through deciding which way to turn our feathers and at what point too many accessories became too much.  (Never too much, in Kim’s opinion!)

  

If you weren’t able to attend our workshop but would like to know how to make your own Derby hat, Craft E Magee has very generously made a video tutorial showing all of the pieces you need, along with steps and tips to add accent pieces and build your hat. 

A big thanks to our friend Liz (Craft E Magee) and all of the ladies who joined our workshop!

~julee~ & -kim

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Derby Hat Workshop

The D.I.Y. Louisville gals are partnering up with Craft E Magee and we’re having a Derby Hat Party you won’t want to miss!  Spots are still available, email us at diylouisville@gmail.com today!

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Derby Hat Workshop: Local Event

D.I.Y. Louisville is partnering with Elizabeth Magee of Craft E Magee to host a Derby hat workshop!

No Derby festivity is complete without a Derby Hat, and we are going to teach you how to make your own!

For $30 we will provide everything you need to make your own Derby hat or fascinator at this workshop on Monday, April 30. By the end of the evening you will have your very own hat or fascinator that you can proudly wear to all of your Derby weekend events!

Monday, April 30, 2012
6pm – 8pm
Iroquois Library, 601 W. Woodlawn
Cost: $30 (for supplies)

This promises to be a night full of fun, laughs, refreshments and wonderfully festive headwear. You don’t want to miss it!

Reservations to this event are a MUST. For your convenience, we have set up an easy pre-pay option via PayPal. Email Julee at diylouisville@gmail.com for more info on payment and reservations.

Space is limited, so make your reservation TODAY!

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Home of Fast Women and Beautiful Horses

Wait.  Strike that.  Reverse it.  (Or not.) 

It’s our claim to fame, and we embrace it with the strength of ten-thousand thoroughbreds.  I’m talking, of course, of the Kentucky Derby. 

Despite the recent uncertain weather, topped out Ohio River and flooded streets, the town is all abuzz as we get ready to celebrate our two-minutes in the spotlight.  And no Kentucky woman in the spotlight would be caught at any Derby soiree without her fancy Derby hat.



Luckily for our friend and D.I.Y. Louisville member Craft E Magee, she’s all ready for her close-up at Churchill Downs.  Using sun hats she purchased at Target for $2.50 and fancy supplies from her crafting stash, she turned plain hats into these stunning trackside showpieces.


Check out her full posts for her hats HERE and HERE.

I love these so much, I might have to plan a Derby party just so I’ll have an excuse to make my own!  Thanks, Craft E Magee, for sharing your hats with us!

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