Hand Painted Family Last Name Signs

Now that they have been recieved...I can show and tell these gifts I made!

Hand painted family last name signs with the date each family established on 12 x 12 inch canvas.   I found a really fine tip paint brush and some Japanese Sumi Ink in my stash that worked out really well for doing all the lettering.  I used the same technique as I did in the Restoration Hardware Inspired Pillows Tutorial.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  We missed being with family but it was still special having our first Christmas here in our new house and of course....Christmas is special wherever you are because no matter where you are and who you are with, it's all about Christ! And we have been blessed to have met so many wonderful friends since we moved here in May so we have yet to be lonely on the holidays and had a amazing Christmas Eve Dinner with Friends and attended an awesome service, everything was wonderful. On Christmas Day, I meant to make a yummy gluten free chocolate layered cake, but we all ended up taking a long nap on Christmas day which resulted with an overcooked Turkey and some last minute mashed potatoes and steamed peas! lol...and Luckily we already had an awesome meal the night before  also lucky I had this one cupcake in the freezer that the kids could share!





PS- Thanks everyone who has been voting for my embarrassing moments stories over at Wanna Be Balanced!  My skin has been SO terrible lately so I am really hoping to win the microdermabrasion kit!  If you haven't seen the post yet with all the funny stories and voted yet, check it out HERE.  Scroll down to the post titled "Vote for Your Favorite" and I'm number 10.  You may have already read about this on my facebook or twitter but I didn't want to miss anyone knowing about it :)

Mommy Daughter Aprons

 I had so much fun making that half apron for my friend a few weeks back that I had to pick up some more fabric and make a couple more. (see original post with link to apron tutorial HERE) This time I made 3 aprons, one for my sister and the same for myself and with some of the left over fabric, made a matching one for my 3 year.  We love baking in the kitchen together and so having matching mommy daughter aprons was just what we had been missing.  When she doesn't want to take a nap, I have her put on her apron and help do chores like dusting and vacumming (with her play vacccuum) and put laundry away because I always tell her that kids need to take naps and mom has to work, so if she is going to be up, she has to help me.  :)  (although I don't ALWAYS work during naptime...I've been known to catch up on Parenthood episodes, craft or just be on the computer...shhh, don't tell! ;)

Make your own Monster!

A year or two ago, I came across this Make Your Own Monster Kit at the famous FAO Schwarz toy store in New York. The kit retails for $249 and allows a child to design their very own monster, then send in the drawing and have it made into a custom plush toy. I thought "what a fun idea!" I wanted to do it for my nephew ever since but didn't get around to it until this Christmas. When he visited my mom for Thanksgiving, I told her to have him draw a picture of a monster (without telling him about what I wanted to do with it). She then emailed me a copy of it and I used felt and buttons to make this toy. I wrapped the toy up with his drawing included, when he opened it he was so surprised and excited, and then told me he wanted to be a toy designer when he grew up!
This monster toy makes a great gift or just a fun project to do. It didn't take long and it was really fun to make because I wasn't stressed about making it perfect and having perfect seems...actually, any mistakes or uneven areas just added character to the creature!

Update: I just came across a great tutorial for doing this same project! And since I didn't create my own tutorial as I made mine, you can use this great on over HERE at Little Birdie Secrets. ENJOY!

Toddler Purse Tutorial

I just finished whipping up this cute toddler purse for my Niece, it's one of her Christmas gifts. I made it up and figured it out as I went along and although it has a flaw or two, I'm pretty happy with the results. I took pictures and notes along the way so I could remember what I did since I'll be making another one for my daughter as well. You'll notice my sewing machine in one of the pics, it's a new brother LS2000, my hubby got it for me on black friday at Walmart for $50. For $50 I say it works pretty good. Although I would eventually like a nicer machine that had more variety of stitches a little sturdier.

There will be more to come on this as I'm planning on making a matching wallet with soft fabric money and cards, maybe a check book.

I was doing some online Christmas browsing and saw a toddler purse with all soft fabric accessories on One Step Ahead's website and another version Here. I didn't like the first purse at all! Plus, now that I have a sewing machine, I'm eager to try out lots of new things!

Materials:
2 coordinating fabrics (about equal to 2 fat quarter panels.) I used flannel "Happy Dots" from JoAnns
Thread
paper
iron
pins
sewing machine


Draw out your toddler purse pattern on a piece of paper. This is the shape I used with the measurements indicated on the picture. Iron your fabric, then Fold and place the 6 inch side along the fold. Pin in place and cut.

Using the pattern as described in step 1, cut out 4 pieces, 2 of each fabric. Cut out 2 2.5 inch by 14 inch strips of fabric for the straps.

Take cutouts for straps, fold in half lengthwise with right sides facing each other and press with iron. Sew 1/4 inch seam along open edge, leaving the ends open. Press the seams open.


Flip your straps right-side-out and iron flat.


Open purse pieces and iron out any creases. Then take the pieces of matching fabric and place with right sides facing each other. Line up all the edges and pin the bottom and sides in place.

Sew 1/4 inch seam around sides and bottom of toddler purse. Repeat with the liner fabric.


Press seams open creating a point at the bottom corners of purse.


Measure about 1/2 inch in and mark with a pencil. Sew a seam along the line. I went over the seam 3 times.


Clip off the remaining fabric.


PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER!

Turn the lining right side out. Place the lining inside the outer layer of the purse with right sides facing each other. Line up all top raw edges.

Pin the strap with the end lining up with the top edges of the purse, with the seam side facing the liner. (MAKE SURE THE STRAP IS IN-BETWEEN THE 2 LAYERS) Pin in place. Then, making sure the strap isn't twisted, secure it to the other side of the purse. repeat for 2nd strap.


Sew across all top raw edges, starting by securing all the straps first. ( I triple stitched to make sure it was secure)

Sew along remaining edges, feeling for the straps along the way to make sure you don't sew over them. Leave a small opening of a couple inches when you sew the top edges.


Using the small opening, flip the toddler purse right-side-out. Reach inside and push out all the corners and straps. Then push the liner inside the bag.

Fold in edges along the opening and stitch closed.

Stitch a seam around top edges of bag.


Here is the second purse. I checked the time and it took an 1.5 hours from ironing out my fabric to snapping a few pics of the finished project. If I had planned out faster way to turn the straps right side out, I could have saved myself probably 10 minutes.

Also, on the second purse, I made 2 changes:
1. Shortened the straps...cut them to 11 inches long
2. When sewing the tops together, I left the opening in the middle of one of the long edges. On the first purse, I left the side open (where it looks like a 'V') and after I stitched it shut, the straps looked a little off on that side. The second one didn't have that problem since I changed the spot where I left the opening for flipping the purse right side out.


Now I just need to make some play things to go inside! That will have to wait until tomarrow, I hear a nice relaxing bath calling my name!

Father's Day Poems and Gifts

Father's Day Ideas

This is a poem I whipped up for my dad's Father's Day Card from my daughter. I made him a photo card on Walmart's website featuring pics of him and my daughter from their last visit.

I love you so much Papa
You are so much fun
You ride a big cool bike
And play till the day's done

You take me in the pool
So we can splash around
You help me pick nice flowers
That we find growing in the ground

I miss you all the time
And say goodnight to you each night
And I can't wait until next time
When you can hug me tight.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY PAPA!
_______________________________________________For her other Grandpa, we made another card with a photo and added a poem that would be special between them...

You smack your lips
one, two, three
That's how I know
That you love me

I smack my lips
four, five, six
just so you know
It's you I miss

We both smack our lips
seven, eight, nine,
It's our secret code
Let's do it one more time!

Happy Father's Day Grandpa!
____________________________________________________________________




For my husband this Father's Day, I put together a gift that I think will being tears to his eyes! With the help of Window's Movie Maker and Darius Rucker, I've made him a DVD he will cherish forever! If you are looking for ideas on the perfect Father's Day Gift that is FREE or very inexpensive, this is the way to go!
How to Make Dad Cry on Father's Day

UPDATE: It did make him cry! He said it was the best gift he had ever received...and a double gift because it was free (he hates when I spend money on him....or anything for that matter lol)

Keepsake Gift for Grandma - handprint

Handprint Photo Gift

Framed handprint and photo!   

I made this keepsake for my mom's birthday. This is a really simple craft that you can pull together in no time, but it is so sweet and will be cherished for years! Click here for instructions!