A Wednesday Afternoon

Blogging (and Pinterest)

2011-11-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I just wanted to say thanks for following my little blog and for the sweet comments. I've realized that I just can't take the time to blog. So, I won't be posting anything else on here. I will leave the blog up so that the few tutorials that I did will still be available to those who would like to use them. You can find me on Pinterest here: pinterest.com/luvyrnaybor. If you need an invite to Pinterest, leave me a message with your email and I'd be happy to send you an invitation.
Thanks again for reading this blog! :)

Make a Memory {EVERYDAY} Day 3

2011-06-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Our Make a Memory {Everyday} activity today was shadow puppets. I got the idea from The Usborne Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do.

I folded rectangles of cardstock in half, then punched a hole and cut out a mouth shape. Then, the kids drew monsters around the faces and we cut them out and taped a straw to the bottom of each.

We tried using them for shadow puppets, but the kids had more fun using them as regular puppets behind the kitchen counter. :)

Make a Memory {EVERYDAY} Day 2

2011-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

We made mystery paintings on Day 2 of Make a Memory {Everyday}. I found this idea on Doehler Days. Ours didn't turn out quite as cute as hers, but my kids thought I was pretty clever. As they were painting, my oldest said, "How are you doing this, Mom?!". I just traced pictures from coloring books with a white crayon. When they painted over the crayon with watercolor paints, the pictures appeared.

Fish:

Yoda:

R2-D2

Very easy and very fun!

Make a Memory {EVERYDAY} Day 1

2011-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

We spend a lot of time at the local libraries and check out A LOT of books. So, for the first day of our Make a Memory {EVERYDAY}, we made book bags. There are a number of small towns in the area where we live and each town has it's own public library. We enjoy going to 3 different libraries and participating in their Summer Reading Programs. However, it can get overwhelming to keep track of books from 3 different libraries. For the main library that we go to, I purchased a folding plastic crate on wheels. We take our cart to the library with us, fill it up with books, and bring it home. Then, we keep all the books in the cart in our living room, making it super easy to gather the books when it's time to go take them back to the library.

We don't check out as many books at the other two libraries we frequent (and 3 carts would be quite excessive). So, we made a special bag for each of the other two libraries and we keep the books and library card for those particular libraries in the bags. To make the bags, I cut rectangles out of a heavy weight cream fabric. Then, the kids colored pictures on the rectangles with permanent markers (I didn't want to spend the money on fabric markers and figured that permanent markers would work just as well). Then, I made the fabric with their pictures on it into pockets.

I found this great red and white polka dot outdoor canvas for an awesome price (1 1/2 yards for $5.03!) at Walmart and thought it would be perfect for book bags.

I made simple, boxy bags and added the pockets on the outside. We keep our library cards in the pockets, so they're always ready to go when we head to the library. The kids are very proud to have their artwork displayed on our new book bags!

Make A Memory {EVERYDAY}

2011-06-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Nikki's Summer Diary over at Whimsy Love to make a memory everyday with my kids. She planned something fun to do with her girls every day during Summer break and she does a great job documenting it on her blog. I always have a long list of ideas of things that I want to do with the kids, but I sometimes have a hard time getting them done. So, I decided to plan out enough activities for the Summer and gather all the supplies and instructions into one file folder basket. That way, each day we can just pull out a file folder and everything is ready to go. I'll be posting all of our activities on here.

Here's our basket, all ready to go!

And an extra box of supplies that didn't fit in the basket:

Kristine McKay has an awesome free e-book with Summer fun ideas. You can find it here. In addition to our everyday activities, I also made an "I'm Bored" jar with her free printable. My kids don't generally say "I'm Bored" all that often. They seem to think they have to say the "b" word to draw something from the jar. So, I think a name change is in order for ours! :) Thank you, Kristine, for the awesome idea! We used a hot cocoa mix container and Mod Podged some fabric to the outside.

Stay tuned for all of our "Make a Memory Everyday" projects.

The Schoolhouse is Almost Finished!!

2011-06-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Life has been very busy for us as we've been working to finish the remodel on our old schoolhouse. We're at the point where we were able to move in, but there's still some more work to be done. Soon, I'm hoping to share finished pictures and decor projects. For now, here's some more pictures of the process.

We replaced all of the windows in the house. So, I'm sure you'll be seeing a lot of projects with these treasures:

Paint in the Master Bedroom:

Magnetic paint primer in our schoolroom:

Paint in the Kitchen/Living/Dining Room:

Paint in our boys' bedroom:

Under tile heating in the basement:

I'll be sharing a lot more pictures SOON, I promise! :)

Lord Build Me a Cabin: Thoughts on our Remodel Project

2011-03-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

I feel the need to share some of my thoughts on our schoolhouse remodel project. In the process of our remodel, I've spent a lot of time thinking, dreaming, and planning. I've had a lot of fun doing so and sharing our progress with others. However, I want people to know that our ultimate goal isn't to have a big fancy house that looks like it should be in a magazine. Our ultimate goals are to reduce our debt and to use our home to the glory of God through intentionally raising our children and opening our home to others. In this day and age, there seems to be a great desire for everything to look perfect and to have a certain trendy look to it. It seems to me as though there is a feeling of superiority if we eat organic food or live in perfect magazine/catalog houses with all the right styles and design, when there are people who are starving and homeless. Not that there is anything wrong with eating healthy or having a beautiful home. In fact, those can be very good things. We just need to remember what's really important: are we going to find our identity in those things, or in Christ? It's easy to get caught up in the temporary things of this world, but I want to have an eternal focus. I want our home to be comfortable and inviting, not perfect. I know this is a random post, and I'm not a great writer, but I wanted to share some of my thoughts. Please know that I'm not trying to preach, just simply share what's going on in my heart and mind. As the song says, "I don't want a fine mansion on earth's sinking sands. Lord build me just a cabin in the corner of Glory Land."

Schoolhouse Remodel In Progress Pictures

2011-03-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

As promised, I wanted to share some of the pictures of our schoolhouse remodel in progress. You can see the before pictures here. These pictures are of some of the work that has been done over the last 2 months.

Lathe and plaster were torn off all exterior walls and wood floors were sanded down:

This wall paper was a fun surprise:

The exterior walls and the new walls were all framed and all new electrical was added:

Spray-in insulation was added to all exterior walls:

All of the plumbing was replaced, which meant digging up the concrete in the basement:

New drywall on walls and ceilings throughout the house:

Bedrooms, bathroom and hallway were built into one of the classrooms:

The staircase was sanded down (this picture was taken when only the bottom set of stairs had been sanded):

My husband has accomplished a lot in two months, and there's still a lot more to do. I will be posting more on individual rooms soon.

A gift for my favorite Valentine

2011-02-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day to you all!!

My husband is an electrical contractor, so when I saw this idea for a Valentine lightbulb over at Design Sponge, I knew it would be the perfect gift for him. I decided to add a little picture of us, which was much more challenging than I imagined, but I'm glad I did.

Here's how it turned out:

Old Schoolhouse

2011-02-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

In my post yesterday, I mentioned the old schoolhouse that my husband and I recently purchased. We have decided that we would like to rid ourselves of mortgage debt within the next few years. That really isn't a possibility for us with the size of our current mortgage. So, we started looking around at some properties with one main requirement in mind, it had to be *cheap*. That's when I stumbled upon this amazing property that was being sold for next to nothing. We were able to purchase it last month and we hope to move into it in a couple more months. It was a WPA building built in the 1930's. It hasn't been used as a school since the 1950's, so there is A LOT of work to be done. Fortunately, I have a totally amazing husband who is more than capable of taking on a big project on a small budget. Our goal is to make this a nice home for our family while spending as little money as possible. :)

Here's a few before pictures of the house:

The stairs:

Large Classroom:

Closet in Classroom:

2nd Large Classroom:

The basement:

The back of the building:

Remodel in progress pictures coming soon.

I'm Back (I think)..... and Some Felt Food

2011-01-31T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hello! I don't know if anyone is still reading this blog, considering I haven't posted anything on here for more than a year. Where have I been? That's a great question. I don't really have any reason for not posting, I guess I've just been caught up in the important job of raising a family. :) Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to start posting a little more regularly. I plan on posting a few of the projects I've done over this last year. Also, I'm hoping to share some pictures and projects from the old schoolhouse my husband and I recently purchased and we're remodeling for our home. In the meantime, here's some felt food for you.

This felt food was a lot of fun to make for our niece's birthday.

PIZZA

Would anyone be interested in a tutorial for the pizza or the tacos?

TACOS: With meat, cheese, salsa, and sour cream

QUESADILLA:

Juice Pouch, Bag of Chips, and Banana:

Pancakes with syrup and butter and Eggs:

PASTA:

Sugar cookie baking set:

Blog Design Giveaway

2010-01-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the amazing giveaway happening over at Designer Blogs? Head over there for your chance to win a blog makeover!

Oatmeal Apple Coffee Cake

2010-01-12T12:20:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been a long time since I joined Tempt my Tummy Tuesday. I made this yummy coffee cake this morning and thought others might enjoy the recipe.

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup sugar

1cup oats

1/2 cup oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped

Mix dry ingredients together. Add remaining ingredients. It will be very thick! Bake in a greased 8"x8" pan or a large, deep pie dish at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Enjoy! This really is delicious!!

Don't forget to head over to Blessed With Grace for other wonderful recipes.

Vinyl Record Bowls

2010-01-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

This is hardly an original idea, but I thought it would be fun to share with you how I made bowls out of old vinyl records. They make great gifts and they're super simple and easy.

You will need:

A vinyl record (check your local thrift store)

An oven safe bowl and cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Turn bowl upside down and place on cookie sheet. Place record on top of bowl and heat in oven for about ten minutes.

The record will get really droopy around the bowl. Remove from the oven (don't forget the oven mitts!).

Turn the bowl right side up and put the record inside, gently shaping it.

Let it cool. Now you have a fun bowl!

That was so easy, you should make a few for your friends or that hard to buy for teenager.

Just a note: It's probably not a good idea to place food in these bowls, unless it's wrapped (such as candy).

Advent Devotions & Jesse Tree

2009-12-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

There are some wonderful ideas all over the blogosphere for Jesse Trees.

Here's what we're doing this year.

I printed the free templates from Tired, Need Sleep (you can find them here). Then, I colored the pictures and mounted the devotions onto cardstock and laminated them. The tree is made out of scrapbooking paper and has magnets on the back so it can stick to my refrigerator. The picture circles also have magnets on the back of them. Each day, as we do the devotions, we add a magnet to our tree.

I also printed extra copies of the advent devotions and pictures and made simple coloring books with construction paper for my boys. They color the picture while we read the Bible story.

Do you have a Jesse Tree? I would love to see how your family celebrates advent.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Nicole @ Tired, Need Sleep for sharing these printables! Be sure to check out her blog.

Christmas Books

2009-12-02T23:56:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, our family started this tradition that I heard about from the Family Fun magazine. It has truly become a beloved tradition in our home. Each December, I wrap up 25 children's Christmas books and the kids take turns picking one book each night for their bedtime story. If you don't have enough Christmas books, pick some up at the library. There are so many great Christmas books for children, this is a great way to read some of them during the Christmas season.

Here's our list for this year (a star indicates a family favorite):

*The Little Drummer Mouse - Mercer Mayer

Arthur's Christmas - Marc Brown

*Dream Snow - Eric Carle

There was no snow on Christmas Eve - Pam Munoz Ryan

The Steadfast Tin Soldier - Hans Christian Andersen Retold by Tor Seidler

Angelina's Christmas - Katharine Holabird

Wake Up Bear..... It's Christmas! - Stephen Gammell

Chita's Christmas Tree - Elizabeth Fitzgerald howard

The Christmas Train - Ivan Gantschev

Joy to the World! The Story of Christmas Retold by dina Anastasio

Stop! It's Christmas - Mary Manz Simon

*Father and Son - Geraldine Mccaughrean and Fabian Negrin

*The Grinch Who Stole Christmas - Dr. Seuss

The Nutcracker Retold by Stephanie Spinner

One Snowy Night - M. Christina Butler

*The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson

The Legend of St. Nicholas - Dandi Daley Mackall

When Christmas Came - Eileen Spinelli

Room for a Little One - Marin Waddell

The Crippled Lamb - Max Lucado

The Very First Christmas - Paul L. Maier

Lily, The Lost and Found Lamb - Lydia Salazar Martinez

The Silver Christmas Tree - Pat Hutchins

The Christmas Star - Marcus Pfister

Christmas Countdown & Activity List

2009-12-02T20:52:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this adorable idea for a Christmas countdown over at Just Something I Made? SO cute! And she is even kind enough to share the printable labels.

Here's my version:

How perfect is this spool holder? My mom picked it up at a second hand store for me. Isn't she sweet?

Here's the list of Christmas activities I included on our countdown:

1- Make a Christmas craft

2- Decorate living room window with nativity window stickers
3- Prepare and mail a Christmas care package for soldiers

4- Get hot cocoa and go to a living nativity at a local church

5- Go to hometown family Christmas Celebrations
6- Watch a Christmas movie

7- Make a Christmas craft

8- Surprise other families with anonymous gifts on their doorsteps

9- Make a Christmas craft

10- Family Game Night!

11- Learn about Hanukkah & go to Hanukkah celebration with homeschool group

12- Make a gingerbread house

13- Decorate gift wrap & wrap gifts for siblings
14- Sing Christmas Carols

15- Bake bread & deliver it to the neighbors

16- Have a picnic dinner in front of the Christmas tree

17- Make Christmas gifts for grandparents

18- Make homemade Christmas cards

19- Bake cookies and deliver them to families from church

20- Drive around and look at Christmas lights

21- Take homemade Christmas cards to a nursing home

22- Make a Christmas craft

23- Go to grandparents house for Christmas celebrations
24- Watch a Christmas movie

25- Celebrate Jesus’ birthday with family

I hope that you're all able to take some time to make special family memories this holiday season!

I'm back with a little crafty project

2009-10-16T10:57:00.001-07:00

Has it really been over a month since my last blog post?! Things have been busy around here and I've been anxious to get back into the habit of blogging. Thanks for your patience and for all your wonderful comments. I love reading your comments, they just make my day!

Here's a little project my boys and I did a few weeks ago. My boys were given these tins at a garage sale.

I didn't like the tins, but they thought the window on the lid was pretty cool. So, we cut up small strips of some camouflage fabric that I had on hand and we covered the tins with the fabric, using Mod Podge.

They turned out to be the perfect size for storing all their little Army guys.

What are some things that you have re-invented using Mod Podge?

One Lovely Blog Award

2009-09-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

What a fun surprise I got this morning! Mama Mel honored me with the "One Lovely Blog" award.

((Thank you!))

I am going to pass this award along to some wonderful blogs that I highly recommend you all check out!

Lil Blue Boo

Has great projects and tutorials. I can't wait to make some of these flaming pants for my boys

Pink Picket Fence

Has wonderful projects and beautiful pictures! Check out her Tulle Skirt, it's AMAZING!

Obsessively Stitching

Always has fantastic sewing projects and great tutorials. I'm already setting aside baby clothes to turn into doll clothes using her tutorial.

Pink and Green Mama

Has so many fun and creative ideas, especially for little ones. Her Family Shape puzzle would make a great gift!

~Ruffles And Stuff~

Has some of the cutest ideas I've seen, especially for quick and easy sewing projects

Robot Tooth Pillow

2009-09-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have had this great tutorial from goody-goody bookmarked for quite some time and finally got around to making a robot tooth pillow for my 6 year old. Mine didn't turn out anywhere near as cute as the one in the tutorial, but I think my son will like it just the same.

Now, we just have to wait for him to start loosing teeth so he can use it.

Book Pocket for Bed or Armchair

2009-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wow! I've let quite a bit of time get away before getting this tutorial together. Thanks for being patient with me! I made this book pocket for my mom's birthday and wanted to share with you how I made it. Sorry there aren't more pictures.

**This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell your finished products**

You will need:

Medium or heavy weight fusible Interfacing (1: 25"x12" piece and 1: 12"x11" piece)

2/3 yard fabric

(you might need slightly more if your fabric isn't a full 42"wide or more)

How to make it:

1. Cut your fabric:

2 pieces: 25"x12"

2 pieces: 12"x11"

2 pieces: 6.5"x7.5"

2. Pin and sew the 2- 6.5"x7.5" pieces, right sides together. Remember to leave an opening on the bottom so you can turn it right side out! Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

3. Iron interfacing onto one 25"x12" piece and one 12"x11" piece.

4. Pin the small rectangle from step 2 to the front of 12"x11" piece from step 3. This will make the small pocket on the front. It should be 2" from the top, 2 3/4" from sides, and 3" from the bottom. Topstitch this pocket on, sewing both sides and bottom. Be sure to catch the raw edges from the opening you used to turn small pocket piece right side out.

5. Next, Pin and sew the two 12"x11" pieces, right sides together. Remember to leave an opening on the bottom so you can turn it right side out! Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

6. Pin and sew the two 25"x12" pieces, right sides together. Leave top end open so you can turn it right side out. Clip corners, turn right side out and press.

7. Pin the 12"x11" piece to the 25"x12" pieces, with the small pocket facing in. Sew around the sides and bottom of smaller rectangle. Be sure to catch the raw edges from the opening you used to turn right side out. Turn right side out.

8. Press, folding in raw edges at top. Topstitch top edge to close. This is the part that will either be between a mattress and box spring, or under an armchair cushion.

Viola! You're finished! Wasn't that easy?

If you make one, please send me a message, I would love to see pictures!

T-Shirt Refashion ~ Dress for Baby

2009-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

There are SO MANY super cute ideas for refashioning t-shirts into dresses for little girls and I've been anxious to try my hand at one. Here's the dress I just made for my baby girl from a women's shirt found at Goodwill. (Can you believe I forgot to take a picture of the shirt before I cut it apart?!)

Sewing Machine Cover

2009-09-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

This is my new reversible sewing machine cover:

Don't you love this fabric?

This cover is very simple: First, I measured my sewing machine, then cut one large rectangle out of each fabric to go over the front, top, and back of the machine. Then, I cut two rectangles out of each fabric for the gussets, and ironed interfacing onto the three rectangles from one fabric. Next, I sewed the gussets onto the larger rectangles and sew the two sides of the cover together, turned them right side out and top-stitched the opening shut. Super Easy!

Christmas Gift and Tutorial SWAP

2009-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

My "Something Made Something To Be Made" Swap partner, Deanna, and I had so much fun swapping, we decided to host our own! We would love to have you join in on the fun! Here are the details:

We are hosting a Christmas Gift Tutorial SWAP! With Christmas just 115 days away, we are all trying to figure out which tutorials and projects we've found online to use for Christmas gifts. How about a Take Along Race Track and Toy Car Holder or a Cottage Chic Apron Tutorial? The options are endless and at times, overwhelming.

In this SWAP, you can make a Christmas gift using any fabric or any project using Christmas fabric for your partner using one of your tutorials in your To-Do list. Include the finished product with a print out of the tutorial (with the link of where you found it) with materials to make another object from the tutorial. Easy and you can check that pattern of your To Do list and hopefully you will find a new tutorial from your partner!

We will sub-classify everyone who signs up in hopes of getting you with a partner who will make something you love. This is open to all crafts- sewing, crochet, knit, etc.

If you would like to participate, send the following information to craftyswap@aol.com :

1. Name, email address, shipping address

2. Brief description of who you are, where you live, etc.

3. What types of tutorial would you like to TRY from these categories? Baby, Home, Women's accessories, Kid Boy, Kid Girl

4. What types of tutorial would you like to RECEIVE from the above categories?

*You can pick as many categories as you want

5. Whether or not you will ship internationally

Isn't this fun??

Here are the dates to remember:
September 27- LAST day to sign up

September 30- date you will receive your partner (at the latest)

October 21- deadline to have the project in the mail to your partner

Let's Swap some Christmas gifts!

Some Goodwill Finds

2009-09-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

Check out the bag of goodies I got for $3.00 at Goodwill:

Ric-rac, bias tape, buttons, Velcro, snaps, elastic, pattern transfer markers, and patches:

And the curtain I made to cover my laundry area from a queen size sheet that I picked up for $1.25.

Update on my Iraqi Bundles of Love

2009-09-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

I should have mentioned in the last post that JoAnn's (at least our local store) has A LOT of red tag fabric for $1 a yard. There's some really great fabric to choose from! Also, I need to thank my mother-in-law for purchasing 30 (Yes, THIRTY!) yards of fabric for these bundles.

Iraqi Bundles of Love

2009-09-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

My boxes are packed and ready to be mailed! Have you heard about Iraqi Bundles of Love yet? If not, PLEASE go to the blog to find out more. It is a wonderful project with the goal of getting fabric, sewing notions, yarn, and knitting needles into the hands of women in Iraq. Visit the blog, get some boxes packed, and get the word out about it! I printed some information out and took it to all of our local fabric stores. Thank you, IBOL Guy for organizing this and giving us the opportunity to participate!

Something Made Something to be Made Swap

2009-08-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

The Something Made Something to be Made Swap was A LOT of fun to participate in! My swap partner, Deanna has received her package so I can post about it now! Here's what I sent her:

Something Made: An Apron and a Wristlet Something to be Made: A somewhat random assortment of 1/4 yard of fun fabrics: The wonderfully thoughtful gift I received: Something Made: Coasters (don't you love the fabric?) and super cute hair clips for my baby girl Something to be made: Fun camping fabric to make something for my boys Thanks, Deanna! You were a great swap partner!

I Spy Swap Fabric Squares

2009-08-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

I just received my fabric squares in the mail from the I Spy Swap! My boys and I have had SO MUCH fun looking through all of the fabrics. Now, I just need to decide what I'm going to make with 200 squares of fabric! I'm thinking about a mini I-spy quilt for each of my kids, or maybe a pillow, or how about a bag? What ideas do you all have for I-Spy sewing projects?

Here's what I sent in:

10 little stacks of 20 4" squares for a total of 200 squares

And here's what I got back:

200 4" squares ~ 200 different fabrics!

I couldn't photograph every singe square, but here are my favorites: Mushrooms, Owls, Vintage Girls, Jungle Animals, Green Animals, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Boots, Spools of Thread, Butterflies, and Frogs.

Thank you, Meredith and Wendy, for organizing this fantastic swap! And thank you to all of the other swap participants!

Featured on Fireflies and Jellybeans

2009-08-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

What a great surprise this morning, to find my little blog featured over at Fireflies and Jellybeans! Jeannine and Fawnda have a great site, head over and check it out! Thanks for the feature, Ladies!

Diaper & Wipes Pocket

2009-08-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

This project is the perfect solution for scrunched up diapers at the bottom of the diaper bag, or a toddler who no longer needs a full diaper bag. It's also very easy, so it's a great project for beginners. Put some travel wipes and a few diapers in it and it makes a great baby gift!

**This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell any that you make. **

What you will need:

1 fat quarter each of 2 coordinating fabrics (or 1/4 yard each)

2 pieces (1- 9"x11"; 1- 9"x15") Heavy weight fusible interfacing

1 3-inch piece sew-on Velcro

Put it all together:

Cut one 9"x15" rectangle and one 9"x11" rectangle out of each of the fabrics. Iron interfacing onto the lining pieces. Take the two larger rectangles and measure up 11" from the bottom. Mark this spot and measure 1 1/2" from the sides. Mark this point.

Now, use a compass to draw a half circle between these two points. Cut the fabric along the line you just created, so that your fabric looks like this. Pin and sew these two pieces right sides together. I find it easier to have the heavier weight fabric (with interfacing) on bottom when sewing them together. Remember to leave an opening at the bottom to turn it right side out! Next, pin and sew the small rectangles together in the same way: right sides together, leaving an opening at the bottom. Clip corners. Turn right side out and press, being sure to fold the raw edges from the openings in. You now have your front and back pieces. Pin and sew these together with the outside fabric touching. You're just going to sew down both sides and across the bottom. When you sew the bottom, remember to catch the raw edges. It's a good idea to reinforce your stitches at the top on both sides. Measure in 1 1/2" from each bottom corner and cut this 1 1/2" square out. This next step can get a little confusing, but you can handle it! :)

Hold one side seam and the bottom seam and match them up. This should create a line where all the raw edges match up. Pin together. Make sure your seams are going in the same direction so that it will lay nicely. Repeat this on the other side. Sew along the raw edges. I sew this seam twice to make sure it's sturdy. This is what it should look like:Turn right side out. You're almost done!

It's a good idea to put a travel container of wipes and a few diapers inside at this point. Pin the Velcro pieces in place. Remove the diapers and wipes. Sew Velcro on.

That's it! Wasn't that easy?

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. If you make your own Diaper & Wipe Pocket, please send me a picture. I love getting to see other's projects!

Wedding Gift

2009-08-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

Just stopping by quickly to show you a wedding gift I made last week. I used this tutorial for the "H", then used my embroidery machine for their name and the year.

Some Fun Projects

2009-08-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share a few pictures of some great projects made by other people.

My friend, Starla, used my tutorial to make an owl bag for her sister. I think it turned out great! Check out her new blog with make up secrets and tips.

These other three projects were made by teenagers in 4-H and put entered at the county fair.

Isn't this a great idea to use a twister mat to make a jacket?! This pet bed tepee is super cute. I want to make a big one for my kids! I wish I could have this dress, isn't it fabulous?

Featured on Tip Junkie!

2009-08-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Hello all! It's been a couple weeks since I've had time to blog. My life has been very busy with birthday celebrations and home school preparations. I have a number of posts that I will hopefully be sharing soon, including those tutorials I promised last month. :) But, back to the reason for this post.... my over sized owl bag tutorial was featured on Tip Junkie this morning! I was pretty excited, Tip Junkie is such a great site. Thanks for the feature, Laurie!

Bridal Shower Gift

2009-07-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

I just made this simple apron for our cousin's bridal shower. It was the first apron I've made and my first attempt at using the embroidery machine on my sewing machine. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Sun Dried Tomato Rice

2009-07-28T21:09:00.000-07:00

This isn't exactly a recipe, just a crazy little side dish I like to throw together. It's just cooked rice with Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette mixed in. I think there's about 6 cups of rice with about 1/3 of a bottle of Vinaigrette in this picture. It really makes deliciously flavorful rice. I also use it on chicken breasts, which is YUMMY! Check out Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Friday Feasts for some great recipes.

Test Post

2009-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry to bother you with this. I think I may have messed up my feeds. If you follow this blog, would you mind letting me know if you're seeing this? Thanks, I'll try not to bother you with this again. :)

Birthday Gifts For My Mom

2009-07-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my mom's 50th birthday last weekend with a wonderful backyard party for family and friends. I have really been working hard on giving meaningful (often handmade) gifts. So, I thought I would share a few pictures of the gifts I made for her special day.

Nana's Notebook: This is just a simple spiral bound notebook with my kids' handprints cut out of scrapbooking paper and pasted to the front.

Happy Birthday banner made from fabric (and lots of Heat-n-Bond!)

This shadow box is a little tribute to my mom's grandparents. She has very fond memories of the house they lived in when she was a child. The fabric on the back looks a lot like the wallpaper that was is their bedroom. I added house numbers, a picture of the house, and a picture of her grandparents. A book pocket for a bed or armchair made from the same lilac fabric. I'm hoping to get a tutorial for this posted in the next day or so. Happy Birthday, Mom!! I hope you felt loved and honored.

Yummy Chocolate Caramel Cookies

2009-07-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

These cookies are my husband's new favorite. Usually, I don't like making cookies because they never seem to turn out just right and almost always look funny. However, this recipe makes a delicious cookie that also looks nice. :) Be sure to head over to Blessed With Grace and Mom Trends (on Friday) for other wonderful recipes. I'm still waiting to get my camera back, so you'll have to excuse this VERY blurry photo! Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup white sugar, plus 1 Tbs

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour, plus 1/4 cup

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

2 Heath candy bars

3 pkg. Rolo candies

Beat butter, 1 cup white sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Then, add eggs and vanilla and beat well. In a separate bowl, mix 2 1/2 cups flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture a little bit at a time and blend well. If the dough feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little extra flour. Cover and chill in fridge for about 30 minutes. While dough is chilling, hit Heath bars (still in pkg.) with a rolling pin until broken into small pieces. Place in a small bowl and toss with 1 Tbs sugar. Unwrap Rolos and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Once dough has chilled, wrap a piece of dough around each Rolo candy, then form into a ball to cover the candy completely. Dip top of the dough ball into the candy topping and place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will look very soft, but don't over bake. Cool in pan slightly, then move to a rack or counter to finish cooling. ENJOY!!

New Blog

2009-07-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have a couple tutorials that I'm working on right now. Unfortunately, I left my camera at my parents' house out of town over the weekend. So, as soon as I get it back, I'll be posting some new tutorials for you.

In the meantime, I started a new blog that will be devoted to homeschooling. It's called Growing and Learning. There's not much to it yet, but I would love for you to check it out.

It's our 7th Anniversary today. So, I'm off to make some yummy cookies for my husband. I'll be posting the recipe tomorrow.

Summer Cardigan

2009-07-14T20:45:00.000-07:00

Amy Karol (Angry Chicken) came up with this brilliant idea to turn a long sleeve t-shirt into a light weight Summer cardigan. All it takes is 3 cuts, no sewing! I'm going to have to stop myself before I cut up all my long sleeve shirts. :) These are a couple pictures of my first one, which I am just loving. I used a v-neck shirt and decided to add a little snap to hold the top together.

Beef and Bean Tamale Bake

2009-07-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Where has the past week gone? It's already time for another Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!! We took a quick family trip this last week and we've been working on potty training, so I haven't done any blogging since last week! This is an easy (and yummy) "go to" recipe that I make quite frequently for my family. I found the original recipe in a Pillsbury cookbook to be made in the crock pot.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can Hatch Green Chile enchilada sauce

1 pouch (or two, if you would like- just double the milk, butter, and egg) Corn bread mix

1/3 cup milk

2 T butter, melted

1 egg

1 cup shredded cheese (Fiesta blend is yummy, or whatever you have on hand)

1 can chopped green chiles

Sour cream (optional)

Brown ground beef and drain. Put ground beef in crock pot or 9x13 baking dish. Add beans and enchilada sauce to meat and stir together. Mix corn bread mix, milk, butter, and egg together. Stir in cheese and green chiles. Pour the cornbread mixture over the beef mixture. If cooking in crock pot, cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. If baking in oven, bake at 400 degrees for about 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Garnish with sour cream if desired.

Fried Ice Cream Bars

2009-07-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite recipes, it's always a hit and it really does taste like fried ice cream (but it's much easier to make). Unfortunately, it's so yummy that it's always gone before I get a chance to take a picture of it! Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

2 1/2 cups Rice Crispies

3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 1/4 cup coconut flakes

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream (brick style-in box)

Melt butter in 9x13 pan at 300 degrees about ten minutes. Add rice Crispies, sugar, coconut, and pecans, mix well. Return to oven for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until brown, cool. Remove half of the mixture. Spread remaining mixture evenly in the pan. Place slices of ice cream on top of mixture. Smooth top until even. Sprinkle remaining mixture on ice cream. Freeze about 2 hours. Cut into squares. ENJOY!!

Be sure to head over to Blessed With Grace for more Tempt my Tummy Tuesday recipes.

Something Made Something to be Made Swap

2009-07-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

I just signed up for another swap and wanted to share the link so you can join in on the fun, too. It's the Something Made Something to be Made Swap hosted by Annie Horn.

Also, be sure to check out Swap Dex: an index of swaps. I found this swap and the Favorite Things swap through Swap Dex.

Favorite Things Swap

2009-07-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to participate in a swap, so I looked around a bit and found the Favorite Things Swap, hosted by According to Kelly. It looks like it should be great fun, head over to her blog to sign up. The last day to sign up is tomorrow, so hurry!

Pajama Shorts

2009-07-01T01:49:00.000-07:00

When I saw this pillowcase at Goodwill, I knew it would be perfect for pajama shorts for my boys. These were super easy and fast to make. The fabric is a jersey knit, so they're really soft and comfy.

Simple Skirts

2009-07-01T00:36:00.000-07:00

I have been really wanting to sew some clothing, but have been a bit scared to. Here are some of my first attempts at VERY simple skirts.

I just love this fabric!

I made this one from a duvet cover that I found at a thrift store for $4!

Using a duvet cover meant I already had lining sewn in.

I added some pleats at the top of this skirt.

Take Along Race Track & Toy Car Holder

2009-06-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! That's a lengthy name for this little toy, but I couldn't figure out what else to call it. This fold-up race track is perfect for traveling, waiting rooms, and church services. The outside has three pockets to carry toy cars in (Matchbox or Hot Wheel size) and when opened, it's just the right size to sit on a toddler or preschooler's lap. Here are the instructions, so you can make one, too.

(This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell your finished products)

What you will need:
2 pieces of coordinating fabric: each 12 1/4" x 10 1/4" (One for the outside, one for the inside)
2 pieces of same outer fabric: each 8" x 4" (For car pockets)
2 pieces of another coordinating fabric: each 10" x 2 1/2" (For handles)
Small piece of black fabric for racetrack
Medium weight fusible interfacing: about 1/3 yard
Heat and Bond: Small amount: just enough to attach race track and details
A thin plastic three ring binder (or any thin plastic, you'll need two pieces, each 5.5"x4.5") Here's a picture of the one I cut up:
And thin, yellow grosgrain ribbon

The Steps:

Iron interfacing onto outer pieces of fabric: one 12 1/4" x 10 1/4" piece, one 8 1/4" x 4 1/4" pieces, and the 10"x2 1/2" handle pieces. Sew the 8 1/4" x 4 1/4" rectangles together with right sides facing. Leave a small opening to turn right side out. Press seams, remembering to fold in raw edges. Add this small rectangle to the large outer fabric rectangle, 1 1/2" from the top, bottom, and one side, using a top stitch on three sides. You should have one big pocket. Now, top stitch two lines 2 1/2" from edges and from each other to create 3 pockets. Next, you're going to create the handles. Take one handle piece (10"x2 1/2"), fold in half with right sides together and sew along the raw edge. Turn right side out and press. Repeat with other handle piece. Pin one handle to the large rectangle, 3" from the top and bottom. You can use a basting stitch to attach it, but I just sew right through the pins.

To make the race track: Cut either an "S" shape or a figure-8 from the black fabric for the race track. Apply Heat and Bond to back of race track and iron onto the right side of the 12 1/4" x 10 1/4" rectangle that will be on the inside when it's folded. This is the time to apply any details you might want, I cut little strips out of the scraps from the outer fabric and added them to the ends of the track to create start and finish lines. Top stitch along all edges of race track with a blanket stitch. Next, apply Heat & Bond to back of thin yellow grosgrain ribbon. Cut the ribbon into 1" pieces. Iron the ribbon pieces along center of track. Top stitch one line through all yellow ribbon dashes from one end of the race track to the other end.

Putting it all together:
Sew both long sides and one short side (the side that the handle piece is pinned to) of the two large rectangles (12 1/4" x 10 1/4) together, right sides facing. Turn right side out and press. Cut one side of 3 ring binder into two pieces, each 5 1/2" x 4 1/2". Put one plastic piece in the sewn rectangle, pushing it all the way to the sewn side. Top stitch a line right down the center of the rectangle, using the edge of the plastic piece as a guide. This keeps the two plastic pieces from sliding around. Insert the other plastic piece. Press the open end of rectangle, so that the raw edges are turned in. Pin other handle inside this end, 3" from the top and bottom. Top stitch this side closed, being sure to catch raw edges and the ends of the handle.

That's it! Your ready for a road trip with your little one and their new "Take along race track and toy car holder". :) If you can think of a catchier name for it, please leave a comment and be sure to leave a comment with a link to pictures of your finished projects! I love to see other people's creations and variations.

I'm linking to the Brassy Apple Crafty Summer Series, head over there to check out other great ideas for the car.

Wristlet And Necklace

2009-06-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share this cute wristlet and necklace I made for our niece. I just love the way they both turned out! Here's the tutorial for the wristlet on Javajem Knits and the tutorial for the stamped washers on SugarDoodle.

May Craft Challenge: Monogram

2009-06-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I had every intention of getting a few cute monogram projects done this last month. Unfortunately, that didn't happen! I did get this one project done, (even though it's not my original idea), as an anniversary gift for my sister and brother in-law.

Thanks to this tutorial for help on how to make this. It was super easy, I can't wait to make more.

Don't forget to check out all the other great monogram projects at Blue Eyed Blessings! Thanks, Heidi, for hosting this fun challenge!

Thanks For "Sticking" With Us: End of the Year Volunteer Gift

2009-06-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is a little "Thank You" gift that I put together for MOPS childcare workers at the end of the year. I had quite a few workers to get gifts for and a small budget. So, I put a Post-it notepad, pen, bubble gum, and bubble gum lollipop in a bag together with a note that said "Thanks for Sticking With Us!"

Oversized Owl Bag Tutorial

2009-06-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the instructions for making an owl bag, like the one from this gift set.

This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell any that you make.

What you will need (I made this bag extra big, so adjust the fabric amounts according to the size you want to make):

5/8 yard heavy weight fabric for outside of bag (I used canvas)
5/8 yard fabric for lining
1/4 yard fabric for owl's body
Coordinating scraps for owl details (eyes, beak, wings)
1 1/4 yard Ribbon
Magnetic snap
Heat and Bond

Start by Creating a pattern. I simply drew the outline of an owl on brown craft paper. My pattern was approximately 15" wide by 22" tall (at the top points). Use your pattern to cut out two owl shapes from the lining fabric and one owl shape from the outer fabric. Next, you'll cut the pattern apart along the straight line across the owl's body. Use this to cut one top piece from the outer fabric and one bottom piece from the coordinating outer fabric. Next, cut the wings, eyes, and beak from the pattern paper. Use these to cut out the details from coordinating scraps. For the gusset (sides of the bag): Cut a 3 1/2" wide piece of fabric the length of the outer edge of the owl, starting from one top corner down around the bottom and back up to the top. I'm not sure how to better explain this step, but I took a piece of ribbon and laid it out around the large owl shape to get the length. You'll need one of these gusset pieces from the outer fabric and one from the lining fabric.

For the strap: cut a 5"x42" piece of outer fabric.

Attach heat and bond to back of wing pieces. Iron wing pieces onto owl body piece. Stitch around the edge. I used a simple straight stitch so that the edges will fray a bit and give a fun look. Sew top and bottom pieces together along straight edge (right sides together).Press seam open. Add the eyes and beak in the same manner as the wings. Sew the outer gusset piece to the front owl piece, right sides together. Once that is sewn, sew the gusset to the back outer piece in the same manner (right sides together). This step is much easier if you pin your fabric well. Turn the bag right-side-out: You're bag is taking shape! Next, sew the lining pieces to the gusset the same way you sewed the outside together, except REMEMBER TO LEAVE A HOLE at the bottom, to turn the bag right-side-out once the lining is sewn into the outer piece. Attach magnetic snaps to the center of the lining, 1 1/2" from top of lining. This is very easy, just follow the directions on the package.

Put the outside piece (right-side-out) inside the lining (inside-out). Sew the outside and the lining together all around the opening of the bag. Pull bag out through the hole in the bottom of the lining. Top stitch the hole in the lining closed, remembering to tuck in the raw edges. It helps to press it before sewing. Top stitch around bag opening. (This is where I forgot to keep taking pictures, sorry!)

Good work- You're almost done!

Make the strap: fold the 5"x42" piece of fabric in half length-wise. Fold in raw edges and press. Sew all 3 open edges closed. Sew ribbon to center of strap piece. Fold ends of strap under twice and center on the gusset, one side at a time and attach to bag, sewing in a rectangle, then an "x" in the rectangle. It's a good idea to either use a triple stitch, or go over this a few times to ensure that it's attached properly. I just realized this picture is sideways...sorry.

That's it! You're done!

If you make one, I would love to see a picture.

An Owl Gift.... Plus links for other owl crafts and ideas.

2009-06-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

My sweet friend just graduated with her teaching degree. She loves owls, so I decided to make a set of owl-y things for her and for her new classroom. Here's what I came up with:

An over-sized shoulder bag. Here's the tutorial to make your own.

A zippered pencil bag. The owl applique for this came off some very ugly pink/white polka dot fleece from JoAnn's. I bought just enough of the fleece to get a few owls and then cut them out of the ugly fabric.

I wish this picture would have been better.... This is a little felt owl key chain.

Pencil topper, thanks to this idea, and an owl notepad from Target $1 bin.

Owl sunglasses case, thanks to this tutorial.

Wooden sign decorated with modge podge and fabric.

When planning this gift, I searched all over the web for ideas. Unfortunately, with the new baby, I wasn't able to make as many things as I had wanted to. Here's some more great owl projects:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

2009-05-29T14:12:00.000-07:00

I just have to share this wonderful activity to go along with Eric Carle's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. My sister made this set for my boys and they just LOVE playing with it. This makes a fantastic gift for a child, or a teacher. Here are the pictures, so you can make your own:

A little egg lay on a leaf.... Pop! Out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar.

He ate through: one apple, 2 pears, 3 plums, 4 strawberries, 5 oranges.....

one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, one slice of watermelon.....and one nice green leaf. He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself.

Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and.......

he was a beautiful butterfly!

Here he is with all the food that he ate.

The caterpillar is made from a soft green sock with googly eyes glued on it. All food pieces are made from felt and glued together with a hot glue gun and details drawn on with a Sharpie marker. The cocoon is sewn together around the edges.

Thanks to my sister for this wonderful idea (which she got from a friend- so, thanks to her friend, as well!).

Head over to I Blame my Mother for more Kid Friendly ideas.

TOADS

2009-05-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

At our house, one of the most exciting things about warmer weather is TOADS! We love finding toads, catching them, and letting them go. There's nothing like the squeals of delights from a little boy trying to catch a toad. This week, we were inspired by this post to make our own toad house to put in our flower bed.

A fat toad trying out the new abode.

Check out Kid Friendly Friday, at I Blame My Mother, to see what other moms are doing with their kiddos this week.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake (or) The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe in the World!

2009-05-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share this recipe that I received at a recent MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting for today's Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. This makes a very generous serving of chocolate cake that could be split between two people. But, what fun is that? Go ahead, eat the whole thing! :)

Here's what you'll need:

1 large coffee mug

4 T flour

4 T sugar

2 T cocoa powder

1 egg

3 T milk

3 T oil

3 T chocolate chips

Splash of vanilla

Mix all ingredients well in large coffee mug. Microwave 3 minutes on high.

ENJOY! Oh, and if you're feeling extra indulgent, add a bit of ice cream on top.

Check out Blessed With Grace for other great recipes!

Ribbon Roundup Craft Challenge

2009-05-07T10:04:00.000-07:00

This month's craft challenge theme from Blue Eyed Blessings is ribbon. Here's a couple things that I've done with ribbon recently:

Ribbon Wreath

To make this wreath, I took the solid circle piece from an embroidery hoop (this one happened to be painted blue from a previous decorating project). Then, I tied 10 inch pieces of ribbon all the way around the circle, making sure the knots were going in the same direction. Lastly, I trimmed the all the ends at an angle in the same direction and applied Fray Block.

Fabric covered notebook with ribbon pen holder This just uses a couple inches of ribbon, but I love that it makes a little pen holder on the front of this notebook. More to come soon on this project.

A couple other simple ways I've used ribbon:

Summertime Car seat Cover

Crayon Rolls

And, of course Taggie Blankies:

Head over to Blued Eyed Blessings and check out the other great ribbon craft challenge ideas.

Teacher Appreciation Gift

2009-05-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Although we home school, our oldest has attended a preschool class one afternoon a week and we plan to have the others attend when they're old enough. The teacher is a wonderful woman who gives so much to her students. This is what I embroidered for her at the end of the school year last year. I took the quote from Ginger Plowman. If you haven't read any of her books, please check them out, they're wonderful!

When I embroider a quote, I just print it out on the computer, then tape it behind the fabric to a window and trace it onto the fabric. Then, I just embroider over the lines I traced. I have also embroidered this quote directly onto a small, decorative paper and put it in one opening of a 4-opening picture frame for a special MOPS teacher.

Restoring Order: Linen Closet, Junk Drawer

2009-05-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

This week, in an attempt to "Restore Order" in my home, I decided to clean up the linen closet and the junk drawer in the kitchen.

The Linen Closet: What a mess! Just refolding the towels and blankets in the linen closet went a long way! Cleaning things up a bit gave me more room to store some extra craft supplies on floor, (they had previously been shoved in my clothes closet).

Next up, the junk drawer. It seems like I'm reorganizing this drawer all the time! We have this plastic tray to sort everything out in, but things get so messy that it ends up not fitting in the drawer at all.

At least the tray fits back in the drawer (for now).

Puppet Theater

2009-04-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me just say that I love Bend the Rules Sewing! It has so many fun projects and also some really great instructions for beginners like myself. It's where I found this great idea for a doorway puppet theater. I've made two and they have both been a big hit. Here are some pictures of one of them: It even rolls up and fits inside this case! And some puppets and puppet bag to go with it:

Summertime Car Seat Cover

2009-04-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

When my boys were babies, I was always trying to drape a recieving blanket over their infant carrier car seat to keep the sun off of them, but it seems like it was always falling off. With the new baby coming, I thought it would be nice to have a cover that is lightwight and breathable, yet keeps baby covered, and doesn't fall off. So, this is what I came up with.

I would love to see a picture if you make one.

**This tutorial is for personal and gifting use, please don't sell any covers that you make.**

You will need:

1 yard each of two coordinating fabrics

24 inches ribbon

Velcro

2 Buttons

1. Fold the fabric so that all four corners are lined up. Then, use a circle template to trace a rounded corner and cut all four layers. Repeat with the other fabric.

2. Pin the two fabrics right sides together and sew all around the edges, remembering to leave a gap to turn right side out.

3. Turn the fabric right side out and press.

4. Topstitch around the entire piece, being sure to sew the opening shut.

5. Take a 12" piece of ribbon and fold in half, right sides facing out. Topstitch around all sides. Attatch small Velcro pieces to ends, lining them up so that they will form a circle with the ribbon when shut. You may need to adjust the length of the ribbon, according to the size of your carseat's handle.

6. Fold the cover so that all four corners are lined up. Measure 3 inches in from the center of the fabric and mark both sides with a pin. This is where you will attach the ribbons.

7. Sew the ribbons onto the cover by sewing a small rectangle in the middle of each ribbon.

8. Sew a button on the outside of each ribbon, where the Velcro is attached.

Enjoy your new Summertime car seat cover!

New Diaper Bag

2009-04-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

I was really hoping to get a cute diaper bag for the new baby but didn't want to spend a lot of money on one. Then, I found this tutorial from A Mingled Yarn, and it is exactly what I was looking for! The bag was surprisingly easy to put together, I even learned how to sew a zipper on! Who knew zippers were so easy?!

I love all the pockets in this bag!

So, thanks to a great deal on the fabric at Jo Ann's, I made the entire bag for under $15.

Another Guitar Bag

2009-04-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

I made another guitar bag for a friend's birthday. This time, I used yellow and black canvas. Here's the link for the tutorial.

So Many Great Tutorials for Baby Items..... So Little Time!

2009-04-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share some wonderful tutorials for handmade baby items.

Baby Bear Blanket from Craftbits: Super cute bear attached to a soft blankie

Fabulous Fifties Bib from Living Creatively : Over sized baby bib with pocket

Cloth Shoe Pattern from Stardust Shoes: This is the best tutorial and pattern that I've seen for cloth baby shoes. She explains everything clearly and makes it very easy to make a pair.

Soft Taggie Baby Blocks another great pattern from Stardust Shoes

Hip Mama Diaper Bag from A Mingled Yarn: This is the coolest diaper bag! I just made one last week. This tutorial makes it so easy, even a beginning sewer like myself can make one! Here's my new bag.

Quick Ribbon Ring Teether Toy from Patchy Apple: Super easy and so cute!

Taggie Football from Grace Violet: What a great idea for a new baby boy, especially if mom and dad are football fans!

Diaper Changing Pad from Sew Take a Hike : This changing pad folds up nicely to fit in a diaper bag.

Roll up baby chair from Canadian Living: What a great idea to keep baby safely and securely on any chair. This would be perfect for restaurants or friends' houses!

Stroller Quilt from Sew Mama Sew: This looks like the perfect solution for keeping baby warm and bundled in the stroller with out worrying about blankets falling off or dragging on the ground.

Easy Burp Clothes from My Longest Year: These are a simple and easy baby gift! Here's pictures of the burp clothes I made with this tutorial.

Frog Hooded Bath Towel from Make Baby Stuff: This is a really fun towel, would also make a great gift for toddlers!

Easy Cloth Diaper Wipes from Make Baby Stuff: I really wanted to try cloth diapers with our new baby, but just don't think I'm brave enough. So, I thought I would at least make some of these cloth wipes and use them!

Wet Bag from Make Baby Stuff: Every mom could use a couple of these in their diaper bag!

Bath Apron from The Secret Stitch Club: A great idea to keep mom dry and the towel handy when giving baby a bath.

Dishtowel Bib from Create Everyday: I've heard that these are just the best bibs ever for messy babies and toddlers!

Scrap-Pieced Baby Bib from Make it and Love it: A very cute and trendy bib!

Baby Leg and Arm Warmers from Everything your Mama Made and More: These are so easy, you have to make at least a few pairs!

Linen Baby Shoes on Craftster: Super cute shoes for babies and toddlers.

T-Shirt to Newborn Gown from This Mama Makes Stuff: What a cool little baby outfit!

Appliqued Tie Onsie from Trey and Lucy: Every little boy could use one of these cute onsies!

Baby Gifts: Taggie Blankets and Burp Clothes

2009-04-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

I have 8 friends and family members who have had new babies in the last two months and there are 6 more expected in the next 5 months. So, I've been busy making baby gifts! Two of the items I've made are Taggie Blankets and Burp Clothes: both super easy, inexpensive, and cute gifts. A dozen taggie blankets.

I bought the fleece when WalMart had it on sale for $2 a yard and found most of the ribbon at

Jo Ann's on clearance for TEN CENTS a yard!! When I went to pull up the tutorial that I used to make these, the web page was gone. If I can pull it up, I'll post it. Otherwise, Maybe I'll just write a tutorial when I make some more.

Forty burp clothes.

I used this tutorial from My Longest Year, except I made mine 11x15 inches.

Baby Legs: My first attempt

2009-04-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

I love baby legs and can't wait to have our new baby wear them! There are a lot of tutorials out there that show you how to make them, I used this one, from Everything your mama made and more. They are SUPER easy, you can make a pair in about 10 minutes. Since I don't have a baby to try them out on yet, and the boys are bit too big, I don't want to make a lot before I figure out if they fit or not. Some of them that I have made seem too wide, so I'm going to experiment with cutting and sewing the sides to make them skinnier.

Restoring Order: Sewing Cabinets

2009-04-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs, The Homespun Heart , is currently working on "restoring order" in her home. I decided to join in this week because everywhere I look, I find an area that needs order to be restored. My intentions were to have the whole house organized and sparkling clean before the baby gets here in a couple weeks. However, my energy has been severely lacking. So, it makes me feel good to at least get some little projects completed. Yesterday, I worked on cleaning up my sewing cabinets. I don't have a space just for my craft and sewing projects and I usually end up working on them in the dining / living room. So, I keep everything in the cabinets there and take it out as I work on projects. Here are the before and after pictures:

Before, the top shelf was a cluttered mess of misc. things. It's still a bit cluttered, but now the containers have sewing items in them.

I don't think I realized what a mess this cabinet actually was, until I took a picture of it!

Thank you, Monica, for inspiring me to get going on Restoring Order in our home! It feels great to get even a small area organized.

Music Links

2009-04-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

I just love these two websites and can't help but share them!

Pandora is free Internet radio that plays only the music that you like. Type in any song or artist, and they'll create a "station" with similar music- so cool!

On Groove Shark, you can find just about any song and listen to it for free. You can even create your own play lists.

Some great bands and artists worth checking out:

Waterdeep

Seeds

Maron

Rocket Man Toy

2009-04-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to another great tutorial for a fun sewing project, I made this cute birthday gift for a little boy. The little rocket man is a painted wooden egg that fits inside the little pocket on the side of the rocket.

Silly Face Cupcakes

2009-04-22T18:07:00.000-07:00

I received the book, Hello Cupcake, from my parents recently. There are so many cute ideas in there! It gave us inspiration for these cupcakes. They're not nearly as cute as what's in the book, but my boys and I had great fun making them (and eating them, of course)!

Cute Checkbook Cover

2009-04-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to this tutorial, I made myself a new checkbook cover. I LOVE this fabric!

More Crayon Rolls

2009-04-22T17:53:00.001-07:00

I finally made some more crayon rolls for the nieces and nephews. The tutorial I used can be found here. This time, I used a wider ribbon and Velcro, which is much more manageable for little hands!

"Tot Books"

2009-03-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

I am currently doing home school Kindergarten with our five year old and have found the same challenge that many home school moms have, what to do with our two year old? I wanted to include him in school time, while still letting him be a toddler. That's when I discovered "Tot School" at 1plus1plus1equals1 and now on their new site, totally tots. There is a wealth of ideas on both sites to make the most of your time with your toddler and including them in school time. The creator of the site, Carissa, is generous enough to share the templates for "tot-books". To be honest, at first I was a little skeptical of the tot book and whether a two year old would be ready for this kind of focused schoolwork. Then I tried making one and was I ever proven wrong!! My son LOVES his tot books, it makes him feel like he's doing big boy work like his brother. Her are the first two tot books that I've assembled for him.

Big Machines

When I first put this together, I was out of staples, so I just had the counting pages paper clipped onto the folder. Once I got them stapled together as a book and attached to the folder, my son was very upset that he couldn't take them apart and "sort" them. So, we went back to the paperclip!

He loved coloring the different colors on the trucks!

Thomas the Train

My very favorite part of this tot book is the Thomas and Friends mini book, which has a place to put your child's photo and name!

Our Very First Lapbook

2009-02-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

I came across the idea of lapbooking a couple years ago and just loved the idea. So, I stored it in the back of my mind, hoping to some day use them when my kids were older. Needing some new motivation and focus in our schoolwork this year with my oldest, who is doing kindergarten, I decided to make a lapbook. I wasn't sure if he was old enough yet, but quickly foun that we just LOVE them!! Lapbooks seem to be a great fit for our family and are giving us the focus we were needing. Here are some pictures of our very first lapbook, which was SUPER simple, nothing fancy here! We are using it to learn and remember the days of the week, seasons, and months. The inside of the lapbook. The Days of the Week; he drew a picture of something that he does on each day's flap.

Crayon Rolls

2009-02-17T18:42:00.001-08:00

I made a couple of these crayon rolls for my kiddos, they were super easy and I couldn't believe how much they LOVED them!! The tutorial I used is from Skip to My Lou. I have the fabric ready to make more of these soon, since they were such a big hit! I am planning on modifying the closure, to make it easier for little hands to open and close. I'll probably use a wider ribbon and some velcro.

Sock Monkeys

2009-02-17T18:18:00.000-08:00

I made some sock monkeys for Christmas and Valentine's Day gifts. They were really easy, thanks to this tutorial . Mine turned out a little lumpier and more "homemade" than I had planned, but I guess that adds to the charm, right? These are the first two that I made.

A Gentle And Quiet Spirit

2009-02-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

As I was reading in 1 Peter this morning about where our true beauty as women comes from, I was very convicted. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." Oh, to have that kind of beauty! When looking at my own life, I know that more times than not, my spirit is anything but gentle and quiet. I am praying today that the Holy Spirit would strengthen me, that my actions and the choices I make are from a calm and quiet spirit.

Baby Girl Dress

2009-02-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

I used one of the most wonderful tutorials to make a girl's dress from a button up shirt. The tutorial is on the craftster forum . I didn't follow it exactly, as far as the sleeves and trim, but plan on making more and including those elements. I started with a boys shirt, size 4T or 5T, I'm not certain. The finished dress is about a size 0-3 months. This is the back of the dress:
Isn't that such a clever idea?!

Guitar Bag

2009-02-16T13:31:00.001-08:00

I am just learning how to sew and discovering some great tutorials to help me along. This is one of my favorites, for a guitar shaped bag, from bored and crafty. Here's some pictures of the bag I made as a birthday gift for my sister. As a side note, I turned it into a bass guitar since that's what she plays. :) And the lining.

Beginning This Adventure

2009-02-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

I have just recently discovered the wonderful world of blogs and the great information that others share through their blogs. So, I've decided to start my own. Maybe no one will read it, maybe I won't make regular posts, but I suppose it gives me a little outlet to record some of our daily life and experiences. The name, a Wednesday afternoon, is from a song by one of my favorite bands, Seeds.