Friday, November 26, 2010

Do you like feeling crafty?

All over the blog-o-sphere Silhouette is giving away a sweet Silhouette machine with all the fixin's.  It does tons of fantabulous crafts, from vinyl, paper, heat transfers and many more.  It is pretty fab.  Also no cartridges are required for this die-cutting machine.

Check out their website Silhouette America.

Also check out the following websiteds to increase your chance to win one of your own!

So there are 24 listed here.  Each blog gets you at least three ways to enter so that is 75+ chances to win one of these fabulous machines!  Some even offer daily entries!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Diaper Clutch Tutorial

Here it is my very first tutorial.  I have been asked how I make these but hadn't made two alike but I think I have mastered it enough to have workable directions!
First we will do the innards!  I decorated my wipes pockets.  Take your wipe pocket and fold in half so it becomes 4.5" x11"  The fold will be towards the middle of your clutch.  I put binding on the edges to add a little something.  If you would like to add the words you can use this product or follow the direction at the bottom.  For the wipes pocket fold in half so you end up with a 6.5" x 5.5" pocket.  Again I decorated it the same as the wipes pocket.  NOTE: This pocket will hold two diapers (Size four gets real tight, so you may want to make your pocket 8" x11" folded in half to be 8"x5.5")

Take your lining piece and sew the top and bottom to the lining (I use about a 1/4" seam allowance in all directions!).  You will end up with a whole like the picture shows.
On each end you will do a dart.  Fold pocket flat towards the middle 1/2" then fold a little back towards the edge and fold again towards the middle.  It will kind of look like an "s".  Then pin it and do the same on the other side.When it is pinned on both sided the pocket should lay flat.



Sew the opening shut (note this should be three raw edges being sewn together), take out your pins and it should look like this:

A side view:
For the diaper pocket, lay your pocket piece right side towards the lining.  It should be about 2 1/2 from the wipes pocket.  Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Then flip the pocket over the seam so the wrong side is now facing the lining and "top-stitch" the pocket down.
On the left of the picture below you can see what the left side looks like.  For the right side fold your edge under 1/4" and pin to the lining.  This should be sewn at 4" if using the pocket size I put in the example or 5" if you went with the bigger size diaper pocket.
Pin the fold at 4 1/4" (or 5 1/4" if you did the bigger pocket) from the left edge of the pocket.  You will end up with a hole like the other pocket.
Pin a dart as you did with the wipe pocket and it should look like this.
Sew the bottom.  And you now have your completed lining.

On the wipes picket I pinned the fabric towards the middle so I wouldn't sew the excess fabric in the side seam.  In this picture on the left is the top of the wipe pocket and where my thumb is on the side (11" side) of the pocket.  The fabric is pinned at a diagonal.  You can kind of see that in the lower right of the picture.

Now is the assembly of the clutch!


Lay your batting down top with your outside piece with the right side up (away from the batting).  Then put your lining on top with the right side (pockets) facing down.  The wipe pocket edge will line up with the lining and outer material edge.  The lining will be 3/4" shorter than the outer edge.  You will want to center the lining.  It will be about 3/8" on each side.  Sew the lining and outer piece together.


You are looking at the backside (wrong side) of the lining and the right side of the outer material is peaking out the top and bottom.  You can not see the batting.  On the left I have it all pinned together.
For the bottom you will fold the edge to line up the edges of the material.  Where my finger is you can see that the corner of the lining and out material is about a 1/4" further than the side you had just sewn, but the loose edge now lines up with the lining.  Then pin the edge to ling up with the lining and sew until 1/2" for the right edge.  Repeat on the other side.

When you are done you will end up with a big pocket. with the batting and outer material bulging ove the lining.

Turn the fabric so the right sides are facing out, press the edges and sew again in the seam (aka stitch in the ditch).  It will now have about a 1/4" edging of the outer fabric on the inside.
For your last edge, take the corner and fold down (on both sides).  Then fold the entire side down 1/4".  Then fold again.  The first fold puts the raw edge towards the pockets.  The second fold hides the raw edge. Pin it then sew as close to the edge as possible.

 For your velcro, you can place it in the middle of that edge.  As seen below, I put the soft side on the lining (see below) and the stiff side on the out side if the wipes pocket (you can't see it in the picture below).  I would recommend placing a wipe container and some diapers in your clutch before putting on your velcro to  see where it should fit the best.  I had stitched the velcro on.  For decorative purposes only I  hand sewed on a button on the out side where the soft velcro piece is.

Following this tutorial here by Handmade by Jill, I made a matching Diaper wipes case.  I did find that I needed to make the material about an inch wider than what the pattern said.  Maybe I didn't read the directions and that is what it says : )

Here is a photo of the finished project.


Diaper and Wipes labels (sorry no pictures)

You will need fabric, freezer paper, and inkjet printer and some tape.

On your word processor (or program of choice) type up what you what to print.  Cut your fabric to the appropriate size.  Cut a piece of freezer paper the same size.  Iron the freezer paper and fabric with the wax side towards the fabric.  This acts as a stabilizer when going through your printer.

Print your picture/word on a plain piece of paper.  Then tape your fabric facing up on the paper, placing it exactly where your want it to print.    Make sure you tape down the edge  that will feed first into the printer and a little piece on the opposite edge will help.  If you are working with a thicker fabric, you can cut both the freezer paper and material to 8 1/2" by 11" and feed that directly into your printer.  Place in your paper tray according to your printer directions.  My HP pulls from the tray with the side it prints on facing down, so that is how I would place it in my printer.

PLEASE NOTE:  This has worked for me, but it has also jammed in my printer when the edges were loose.  If you buy the expensive product, it will probably feed better. I would recommend staying close while printing so you can stop it before it gets too jammed.  Just in case, but do this at your own risk.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Man's tie into boys tie

Following a tutorial at the best named blog ever...Hideous Dreadful Stinky.  It tells you how to take a man's tie and turn it into matching ties for boys and toddlers.  When I was finished I ended up with the three best dressed men.  They make my heart go pitter-patter!

 And just to prove that the tie looks just as good after a long day here you go:

Shirt Re-Purpose

When Logan was two Jeremy and I came across a shirt that I insisted we had to have.  It was $20 an unheard of price to pay for a t-shirt that he would out grow in a couple of months.  What we didn't realize is that this shirt was WAY OUT OF PROPORTION!  It was maybe the right length for a two year old but the width for a four or five year old.  So I put Logan in it a couple of times then we packed it away for our future sons, which turns out to be son.

As Jackson is now approaching two we  went through the old clothes and came across this t-shirt.  I knew I would never put Jackson in it though I love it.  I thought since I am mildly crafty I could cut it apart and applique it on something.  Then I realized it was too girly to do that, so I tried the shirt on the girls (yes the 3 year old who is the size of a 5 year old and the almost 6 year olds) besides the length it fit well so I decided to make it into a dress.

BEFORE:


AFTER

Isn't it cute?  And it fits the three younger girls!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Frames and Silhouettes

Remember a long, long time ago in a galaxy...well this galaxy actually I bought some frames at the dollar store.  These frames found here, for 25 cents!  I wanted to do silhouettes of my children and try my hand at refinishing the frames.  They didn't turn out perfect because I do not read directions.  For $1.50, directions are totally over-rated!  WEll this week I got my rear in gear and finally finished my project and actually hung the frames.

 I love it!  Another fun way to show off my most precious possession!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Cupcake Tower

Over at Annie's Eats she gave a great tutorial on how to make a cupcake tower.  I am helping put together a baby shower this week and thought this was perfect since I was planning on doing cupcakes.  Here is my attempt.  I am pretty happy with it.  Imagine, cupcakes in pink papers with white frosting piled on top and two mini oreos. (The theme is double stuf'd)

Monday, August 16, 2010

Clutches

It seems like there are plenty of tutorials on the web for clutches.  Jeremy told me on a Monday morning that they were doing a secret pal thing at work and he needed a homemade item for her...THAT DAY!  So I thought of a clutch.  I came across a tutorial that I really did want to try and I had enough fabric to make this one!

This is the inside, I did the pocket divider as well as the card holder.


The tutorial can be found here by Anna of Noodlehead which is a great resource for sewing!

A friend, Liz, had made a clutch that I instantly adored, it took some time, but when another friend, Camelia asked if I had made one, I asked Liz for the tutorial, which is found here by Christine at From an Igloo.


This tutorial was a little harder to follow.  Attaching the band at the top was the only part that was confusing.

Hopefully this makes sense but I unfolded the top part into a tube.  Then putting the tube over the purse right side fabrics together.  (make sure the outside fabric is on top)  I sewed that then turned the tube right.  then with the crease from ironing I pinned it on the inside, so it created a top stitched look on the outside, but sewed the lining on the inside.  When I make another I will try and take pictures so it makes better sense!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Car Seat Tent

My new favorite shower gifts are the car seat tent and the diaper wipes clutch.  I saw some fabric at JoAnn's and I knew I had to make a car seat tent for a little girl.  In our ward there will be be 10 babies born this year, so I will continue to have lots of opportunities to make some baby things.  This it the car seat tent that I made for my friend.
With the Mr. & Mrs. Pillows I had to use piping, and I found out it is really easy, so I thought I would add it to the car seat tent.  Then after using the PhotoFabric, I thought I could use freezer paper and run it through the printer.  So I did and "Monogramed" the car seat tent.

I did an H for the last name and in a really light pink are her first and middle initial.  I love how it turned out.

I have been invited to a few showers recently and made this car seat tent for a boy.
And this Diaper Wipe Clutch as well.  I have not made one the same yet.  I am still working on instructions for it.  I loved doing the lettering with stencils out of freezer paper and fabric paint, again like the Mr.&Mrs. Pillow.  Now with this new idea of printing directly on to the fabric, I think I will try that, the possibilities are endless.

I have put diapers in and tried it out, but I saw it in use and it needs a few modifications.  We will see how it evolves.  in the mean time, I will enjoy creating new things!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I am in love with this product!!

Have you done iron on transfers and after all your hard work it doesn't go on very well?  Or possibly after the first wash it falls apart?

Well today at Joanns I found a new product...well new to me anyway.  It is PhotoFabric by Crafter's Images.  There is twill fabric, canvas, cotton poplin and silk.  It comes in paper type sheets and on a roll 8 1/2"x120."  You can print directly on your fabric.  I am not sure how well it will hold up to routine washing but I just printed something and it looks fabulous.  If it was just my kid I would show you but it is Logan's class and don't want to give too much info.
My mind is realing with ideas!  So awesome!  Hummmm, I wonder if you ironed freezer paper to the back of any fabric, would that work as well??? I will get back to you!

Monday, May 24, 2010

A Skirt for my girls.

When Jeremy's grandma passed away, I inherited a bunch of fabric.  No one else was interested so I took it all and figured I would take what I wanted since it was probably going to be trashed.  Also I could learn to sew and wouldn't worry too much.  I came across this fabric and new it would be a darling skirt.  So I sat down this morning and made this little number.  I am proud of how it turned out.


It is a little hard to see but I made a little sash  inspiration came from this tutorial on http://www.simplymodernmom.com/.  If I had planned ahead it would have been white.  I am sure there is white polyester in my new stash.

The material is a polyester/Spandex blend.  I am hoping to make a cute flower clip to match, not sure how well polyester would work though????!!!!

My next project involves seersucker material.  I have lots and am hoping to make lots of shorts for the girls!

Happy Anniversary!

For mine and Jeremy's anniversary I made our own set of Mr & Mrs Pillows.  I thought they turned out really cute. 

I added a silhouette pillow of Jeremy and I on our wedding day.  These are the colors I hope to do our room in someday.
And my favorite part because it embarrasses Jeremy to no end:

Again I followed this tutorial from UCreate by Homemade by Jill.

This is what the back of the Mr. and Mrs. Pillows look like:

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Family Basket

We had a Relief Society Service Auction.  It is always so much fun, but it is soooooo HARD to come up with stuff.  I have done family home evening kits befroe, but wanted to change it up a little so I took a few ideas and put them together.

In our stake they are putting a focus on growing the stake spiritually so I tried to go along with that theme and put together a family basket to make family scripture study easy, as well as a family home evening lesson and lastly just for fun, they say family dinner time is so beneficial to children.  So I put in a jar of Table Talk questions.

For Family Scripture Study:
I got the idea from this post on Family Scripture Study.
I put a covered Book of Mormon.  The idea is from here.
Laminated Book of Mormon Scripture Mastery Cards printed from here.

For Family Home Evening:
I copied a lesson on Family from the book Before They Turn Twelve by Deborah Pace Rowley.  It is a book of family home evenings based on For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet, you can print it off or get an actual pamphlet for free here.

Included where laminated copies of the Contention Monsters and Angels ncluded in the lesson as well as lamanated name tags from this website.  If you type in Free Printable Name Tags in your search engine, there are lots of options.

Dinner Conversation:
Table Talk Jar of questions printed from here.  There are 5 sets, I included the first one.
I put it all together and this is what it looks like.
I didn't explain what it was very well so it wasn't a huge success but hopefully it will encourage a family to do any of the things mentioned, Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Study, and Family Dinners.  I kept the bottom one for our family.