Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Things to come...

I have some new projects that I am trying to finish...soon!

Here's a little glimpse of what's to come




Turn Baby Turn

So I went to the doctor yesterday.
Wesley is doing great but apparently he is confused.
He is breech.
If he doesn't become an acrobat by my appointment next week
they want to attempt to turn him.
I really, really don't want them to have to do that.
So along with lots of prayers I will be

hanging upside down from trees

going on lots of roller coasters

joining the local gymnastics team

and bungee jumping

all to encourage the great flip.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Wesley's Baby Shower

That's me in all my pregnancy glory.

And these are my amazing friends who threw a beautiful baby shower for me and my little man on the way.

The shower had an adorable animal theme and my friends went above and beyond adding lots of creative details!

How cute is this train that my friends painted for Wesley!

Lots of fresh flowers with different animal pieces on the vases.

Fun tissue paper pom poms!

Baby Boy cookies (along with tons of other goodies!)

I was SO blessed to be showered with lots of love and great gifts!

Baby Wesley we can't wait to meet you and bring you home! You are loved so much already! Only 5 more weeks...and counting!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

5 Min. Braided Headband Tutorial

These easy (and quick!) braided headbands are perfect for summer!

Great for girls and adults :)


Use them to hold back bangs or spice up a simple do

They are so fun and simple that you will be making them by the dozens in no time

Supplies:
Scrap fabric
Elastic (I used 1/2 width)
Sewing Machine

Step 1:
Cut 3 strips of fabric 20 inches long and 1 piece of elastic 4 inches long.

Step 2:
Place the three fabric strips ontop of each other and place the piece of elastic in between the layers (you can pin in place but I just held it in place with my finger).

Step 3:

Sew the fabric strips (with piece of elastic inside) together to secure. I suggest going over the elastic part a few times to make sure it won't come loose.

Step 4:
Braid the fabric strips together until you reach the end

Step 5:
Grab the loose end of the elastic and tuck into the end of the briaded strips (between two of the layers) making sure the braid is not twisted.

Step 6:
Sew to secure (again I just held it in place).

Step 7:
Trim the extra fabric from the side you just sew so it looks nice and pretty.

See, nice and pretty.

Step 8:
Go back to the other side of the headband where you started the braid from. See how it looks, well, not so nice and pretty?

Wrap the extra fabric around the sides of the headband to the back and sew to secure.

Much better!

Yeah! You're you done! Now wasn't that easy!

Try it on and admire your work!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

I Spy Book

Head over to Brassy Apple's blog and see how to make this adorable "I Spy" book. What a great idea to keep the kids occupied in the car, in a doctor's office, etc.

I also added a set of felt mail to my etsy shop so feel free to check it out if your interested :)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Changing mat and diaper/wipes holder

I made this little changing mat/diaper and wipes holder to use for Mackenzie and Wesley this summer. I wanted something that was big enough to accommodate Mackenzie during diaper changes (she's a really tall 18 month old) but also something that could be stuffed in a beach bag or my diaper bag without taking up too much room.

I'm really excited how it turned out!

Super soft chenille on the inside with a pocket at the bottom to hold diapers and wipes.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Felt Mail Tutorial

If your kiddos love the mail as much as mine, they will have hours of fun pretending to be a mail man or woman and playing with their very own set of felt mail!

Super cute and super easy to make!


Supplies:
Piece of 8 ½” by 11” paper or cardstock
Felt
Scissors
Velcro
Hot glue
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Ric rac or ribbon for embellishment

Step 1:

Measure and cut out your pattern pieces (you should be able to get them all on one piece of paper).
Envelope: 11” x 5” piece
Postcard: 4 ½” x 3 ½” piece
Letter: 4 ¼” x 3 ½” piece

Step 2: Envelope
Pin the envelope pattern to your felt and cut out.

Take the bottom of your felt envelope strip, fold up 4 inches and pin to make the envelope pocket.

Fold the two top corners together to form a triangle and pin (this will make the envelope flap).

(If you are trying to sew the least amount as possible you can just cut the triangle for the envelope flap instead of folding and sewing it, however I think the sewed version holds up better)

Sew along the perimeter of the envelope as well as the bottom of the folded triangle on the flap to secure.

Hot glue Velcro to the envelope flap as well as the back of the envelope, lining them up so they meet.

Hot glue one side of Velcro to the front of the envelope where the address, return address and stamp will go.

Step 3: Postcard
Pin the postcard pattern to a piece of felt and cut out (make sure you cut out 2 pieces, one for the front and one for the back). Add ric rac or ribbon to represent the address on your postcard and a stamp, pin and sew in place to one felt postcard piece. Pin your remaining felt postcard piece to the back of the embellished front and sew around the perimeter.


Step 4: Letter
Pin the letter pattern to a piece of felt and cut out (make sure you cut out 2 pieces, one for the front and one for the back).

Cut out ric rac or ribbon to represent the writing on the letter, pin and sew in place. Pin the backside of the letter behind the front and sew around the perimeter to secure.

*I also thought it would be fun for kids to make their own letters to put inside the envelope so I cut the letter pattern out with decorative scissors and let Mackenzie color on it. Older kids could actually write their own letters.

Step 5:
Have fun making some cute labels and stamps for your envelope! Glue the opposite side of the Velcro (than you glued on the front of the envelope) to the back of your stamps and labels.

Yeah your done! Present the felt mail to your little ones and become the coolest mom in town!



Mackenzie has a plastic mailbox (by Little Tikes I think) that she loves to put her play mail in, but it would be fun to make a mailbox with the kids out of an old shoe box as well.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I would love to see your versions of this project as there are SO many different ways you can personalize it :)

Have fun creating!

And if your not the crafty type, but know your kids would love to some felt mail of their own, you can buy a set from my shop :)