Paparazzi Jewelry Review

** This is a sponsored post.  I have been compensated with product from this company in return for a full and honest review.  All opinions herein are my own.** We're checking in from our summer break because a really fun company (one that I am a big fan of!) contacted us to do a review.  If you haven't heard of Paparazzi Jewelry yet, you NEED to know all about it. Paparazzi  is a fairly new company that sells cute and trendy jewelry and accessories for only $5!  There are fun items for women of every age, and their products include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, headbands, hair clips, and more.   A great part of this company is their "Starlet Shimmer" line, which is geared towards younger girls and includes bracelets, rings, earrings, and headbands. You can purchase the jewelry through direct sales associates, whom I've often found at craft fairs or hosted parties.  Another great option is purchasing online, which is a lifesaver for people like me.  I have three kids and two of them are boys that hate shopping.  So, going online to buy cute jewelry is awesome!  If this sounds like an option you'd be interested in, check out Paparazzi Accessories at www.DebsJewelryShop.com Some of my favorite items are this Blue Turquoise Necklace

This awesome Silver Flower Ring

And this Gold Circle Cuff

Now, if you need to earn some extra income, becoming a Paparazzi Consultant is a great business opportunity!  Here are a few great reasons to work with Paparazzi: 1.  All the items are $5!  That is a great selling point.  You can't buy jewelry anywhere for cheaper.  Women can afford it and they LOVE the selection! 2.  This company is still fairly new!  It's possible to be the only consultant in your area.  That means you'll have great demand when people find out you sell jewelry for only $5!  It's also a great way to build a team and be a leader. 3.  You get 45% commission!  That means for each piece you sell, you make $2.25.  That's going to add up FAST!  And, when people join your team, you make 5-10% of what they purchase through the Paparazzi website.  It adds up quickly as well! You can sell Paparazzi just about anywhere:  Home parties, office visits, basket parties, fundraisers, boutiques, fairs and festivals, in retail stores, at your home, and even by trade!  I personally own quite a few pieces of Paparazzi jewelry, and I love how they add a little style to my wardrobe.  I can't say they last forever, as I've had a few break after several months of wearing them, and one of the rings did tarnish quickly.  Still, for $5, I'm thrilled to find fashionable and affordable pieces to complement my wardrobe. I always get excited when I find someone selling them, and am sure you will have the same experience. So, if you're looking to make ends meet, or just bring in a little extra money for your family, consider becoming a Paparazzi Consultant.  I've heard nothing but good things from anyone who has worked with this company.  Good luck, and enjoy! Connect with us! You can find us here:

Poppy Play Dress: 30 Days of Sundress Series

Welcome Melly Sews readers!  I'm thrilled to be part of the 30 Days of Sundresses!  I hope you'll take a few minutes and look around my blog when you're done checking out my sundress.  My sister Laura and I love making all sorts of things and sharing them with you- so there is bound to be something fun you'll like!

Today I am sharing the Poppy Play Dress.

This is based on a Simplicity Pattern- Pattern A1647.

There are some amazing seamstresses coming up in this series- and while I love to sew, I would not call my self amazing.  I need a pattern to work from or I am hopeless!  I know many of you readers are the same.  So, check out the pattern and get to work!

If you are an amazing seamstress, this pattern is quite simple to replicate on your own.  It consists of a front curved bodice, two straps that are gathered at each end and in the middle, a straight elastic-back bodice, and of course, a skirt front and back.  Both the front and back bodices have facing.

Because this dress is based on a pattern, I'm not going to give you a step by step tutorial.  The directions found in the pattern are easy to follow (which you know isn't always the case!)  So here is a basic overview, along with some spots I wanted to make sure to show in pictures.

First off, measure your child.  My daughter is 8 years old, but is so tall and skinny that I had to cut a size 6, then add length to each skirt piece.  I also chose to shorten the straps by about an inch to make it higher in the front.  

Once your pieces are cut, start assembling them per pattern instructions.  The front skirt is gathered, then attached to the bodice front.

The bodice back is then assembled.  When you are finished, you'll have your straps sewn nicely in between the bodice back and the back facing.  Following the pattern directions, sew casing for the elastic.

This pattern requires two elastic pieces.  Have you ever tried to feed a 2nd piece of elastic through a casing when it is already bunched up?  Don't!  Do them both at the same time!  I attach a safety pin to the ends of my elastic

then carefully feed both pieces of elastic through the casings together.  

I pull on one, then the other.  When you get to the end, baste the elastic in place.

Sew the bodice back to the skirt back.  I know, I know- in the pattern you're supposed to do this BEFORE you do the elastic.  But I wanted just a slight gather in the back as well, so I pinned the bodice back to the back skirt at the notches, then pulled the bodice back taut as I sewed them together.

Worked great! :)

Now this part is a little tricky to visualize.  We need to attach the straps before we add the front facing.  Right sides together, pin the straps to the bodice front, matching small dots.  This is what it should look like.  I didn't feel the pattern was very clear telling you which side of the bodice the straps should be placed.

Sew the straps in place.  Then add the front facing to the bodice front on top of the straps- right sides together.  Sew, flip facing out, and understitch.  (All directions in pattern).

Then, you're supposed to flip the front facing OVER the back of the dress before you sew up the side seams.  My poor little non-seamstress brain could not figure out the purpose of this craziness!  It took me some time to figure out that DUH- your facing needs to be sewn into the side seams too!  So just trust the directions and do what they say.  Novel concept, right?

Just make sure to match up the notches in the facing with the ones in the side of the bodice pieces.   Then sew up those side seams.

The last thing to do is fit the dress, make adjustments, and hem.  I wanted the sundress to be just above her knees, so I gave it the smallest rolled hem possible.

I love how it turned out.  This is a quick project, and she'll be able to play in it all summer long.

Then when fall comes (assuming it still fits my quickly-growing daughter!) she can transition the dress with a little shrug and boots.

Thanks for listening to my thoughts on this pattern.  This is a great place to start if you want a cute sundress but are still working on your sewing skills.  I also have plans to use the bodice and strap pieces, but make a maxi skirt for the bottom!  It should be really cute!

Have a wonderful week and don't forget to visit Melly Sews again tomorrow to find out what the next awesome dress will be!

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