My First Sewing Class

Last night, I went to my first sewing class.  Now it's not the first time I have sewed, but it was the first formal lesson I had.  I learned the basics years ago from my mom, but I wanted to expand my knowledge.  Our project last night was an apron.

At first, the thought of sewing an apron was very daunting.  However, after a bit it started to make sense.  I will admit, I was so scared and nervous.  Before I left the house, I tried to tell Jay I wasn't going.  He answered me with, "you paid for it, and you are going".  Okay, he's right, but I have anxiety when it comes to classes.  I was always the kid in the back of the class never raising her hand.  So, about an hour into it, my shaking hands settled and I started cruising along. 

I also learned, I need a refresher course on rulers and measurements.  I felt so badly for the instructor and her helper, at my inability to cut the proper pieces.  They were patient, and helped me along.  I also learned, I really want a cutting mat and rotary cutter ;) 

After three hours, lots of laughs, and determination my apron was complete!  I think it came out cute.  In fact, every one's was a success.  So for all my local Oneonta friends, check out Project Anthologies for classes.  As for non-Oneonta friends, check out her online store!

ice cream cone center panel, accented with blue and brown
polka dot waistband and ties

Wine Cork Place Card Holders

I was quite the busy little beaver today.  I had a list of unfinished projects that I checked off one at a time.   I have such a feeling of satisfaction.

Among the projects today was to finish a birthday present.  I actually started this project back in February when I put a plea on FB for wine corks.  It took a few mentions, but sure enough they started pouring in.  My friend Amy mailed them to me, and another local Oneonta friend handed me a whole bag full of corks. 

So what was my project?? It was actually two fold.  First I was making a trivet and needed eight corks for that.  Secondly I was making place card holders. Place card holders??? Let me explain.

I have a relative who shall remain nameless, that sets a beautiful holiday table.  After setting this wonderful table, our seats are designated with post-it notes.  Yes, those yellow sticky notes.  Sigh....so I saw these really really cute place card holders made from wine corks.  I believe I saw them in Williams-Sonoma (one of my favorite stores).  The only catch was, they were $4.95 a piece. 

I needed at least a dozen, and no matter how cute they were, I couldn't rationalize spending that.  This is how I came about asking, begging, pleading for wine corks (the one's made of real cork).

After collecting my stash, it was quite simple to do.  I took craft knife and sliced a thin amount off the bottom to make it flat.  This way the cork won't roll around on the table.  Then very carefully and with patience, start to make a slice in the top of the cork.  This is were the card stock will sit.  You want to work in small cuts, being careful not to split the cork in half.

 After scoring it deep enough and carving out the cork slit, test it with a piece of card stock to make sure the card will stay in place. I printed names of our family and left a few blank ones as well.  I really hope she likes it :)

All Tied Up



I found a baby pillow pet to match the monkey print

I've been plugging away on a bunch of different projects.  The past few days I have been making fleece tied blankets. 

These blankets have been around at least ten years.  So it's nothing new, but I still love them.  Both of my boys were gifted blankets from my dear friend when they were babies.  They still have them on their beds.  In fact my youngest, insists on sleeping with his even during 90 degree summer temperatures. 

The blankets can be tailored to match any decor.  I have made them for children, Jay's parents, even his soon to be 89 year old grandmother.  I have one on our couch that is two solid colors to match our decor (this one is extra long, so two people can snuggle up under it).

So while making one of the blankets, my oldest son told me to post it on the blog.  I thought, no it's been out there for so long everyone knows how to make these.  Then I was thinking, maybe not everyone knows.  These are so simple to make, in fact my friend who gave me the instructions, literally did so over the phone.

So I took a few pictures so you can follow along.  Here's how to make a no-sew fleece tied blanket.

• Purchase 2 kinds of fleece, 2 yards each. I used a pattern, and pulled out a coordinating color for the solid backing.
• Lay out the fleece putting the wrong sides together.  Trim any uneven edges.

rainbow print backed in the purple



• Cut out a 4 inch square from each corner.  This allows you to turn the corner when tying the blanket.

• Cut 1" x 4" strips. I only cut one side of the blanket at at time.  This way I can put the project away and the strips don't get askew.  You can use a rotary cutter or scissors.  I just "eyeball" the cuts.

• Begin tying each strip together, print and solid, in a simple knot.

• Work your way around all four sides. 

The beauty about these blankets: machine wash and tumble dry!!!

Entertaining With Kids

I think entertaining is fun.  I do get a bit nervous, wanting everything to go smoothly, but overall I really like it.  When I was younger and had my apartment, I would have some friends over with a few appetizers and some beverages.  Then when I got my first house, I started to theme my parties and menus.  Now that I am a mom of two vivacious boys, I keep kids in mind.

When we have friends over with children, I like to have a kid friendly menu and activities.  First the menu.  My boys are the pickiest eaters.  When we have holidays at a relative's house, I come along with their own meals.  It's not uncommon for me to whip out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or two from my purse. So when we have other kids over, I really try and accommodate their needs.  I always check with the parents for allergies or restrictions.  With that information, I plan the menu.

That being said, we are having over two families tonight.  No allergies, but we will have vegetarians.  Tonight's menu is as follows:

turkey chili with cornbread
vegetable noodle soup
home made Italian bread
salad
cheese platter with fruit
peanut butter sandwiches (kids)
cheese sandwiches (kids)
candy bar cake and ice cream

It is a balance that meets everyones preferences and simple enough to prepare ahead of time.  The children are welcome to have anything on the menu, but I did make the sandwiches knowing that's what my boys will eat.  To make the sandwiches festive, I cut them into different shapes.  Here's how they went together.

First start with really thin bread (this makes it easier to cut).  I used a 100% whole wheat bread.

Spread them with peanut butter, jelly, honey, etc.  I also made some into cheese sandwiches.  Then using cookie cutters, cut the crust off.

Arrange on a platter.  I cut each different kind of sandwich with a different shaped cutter.



After dinner, I planned some craft activities.  When a larger group of kids are at a gathering, it's a really good idea to have some organized activities.  Tonight, I have fun foam door hangers and bookmarks, and sand art.

I purchased the foam door hangers and I already have different shape pieces to adhere.  Then from simple fun foam sheets, using decorative scissors, I just cut out bookmarks.

The sand art kit came with everything the kids need to make their own bottles.  The only thing I did was put the sand in squeeze bottles.  You can find them in the candy aisle of the craft store.  They have a tip that fits right into the bottles and will keep the mess to a minimum.

Finally coloring sheets and my marbled crayons are always a fun activity :)



So the next time you entertain with kids, have a few activities and a friendly menu planned.

Valentine Wreath (revisited)

Walking into my home this afternoon, I glanced at my rose wreath.  I have it hanging right above my mailbox and thought, "I really do like that wreath."  I may have just been tired, coming home from the gym, or I really do like that wreath :)

Anyhow, I decided to re-post the link for it.  I made it last year and it cost about $5.00.  I was thinking perhaps, I will do an Easter version, who knows.  Stay tuned!

Valentine Rose Wreath

Snow Measuring Stick

I wasn't going to post this, but I have had a tremendous response from people who have seen this.  I do a monthly craft with Adam's first grade class.  We have done Halloween luminaries, caramel apples, mosaic cornucopias, and gingerbread houses.  This month we are doing a snow measuring stick. 

I originally saw this in a party supply catalog.  They were offering a kit to makes these, but the cost was too high to purchase 18 of them.  So I broke it down, and started looking around for supplies in my own craft bins.

The main part of this is a paint stir stick.  I have an in with the store manager of Lowe's here in Oneonta ;)  So I asked for a donation of paint sticks, and I opted for the larger sticks used for the 5 gallon cans of paint.  Then I painted it white, added a pipe cleaner for the arms, and a fun foam hat.  The scarf is scrap fleece I had, and the rest is done with markers.  I marked inch increments. 

Now when it actually snows here in Oneonta, the kids can measure how much we have.  It's great to help teach Math and using a ruler....but it's really cute too!

Linking to these parties.

Marbled Crayons

Every once in a while, I get an idea that just gets stuck in my head.  Now this idea is not my own, but something that I have seen over and over that last several years. 

When I was a little girl, my Grandma would save our broken crayons.  (She saved just about everything to re-purpose.  She would iron wrapping paper and use it again.)  Every now and then, when we went over to play, she would pull out the "special" crayons.  I never knew how she did it, but we had these awesome rainbow crayons.

Then a couple of years ago, my boys started going to our local library class.  When the teacher would pull out the crayon bags, the kids all flocked to the "rainbow" crayons.  Then a few months ago, I saw a blurb in a magazine about making your own crayons. 

Okay, these crayons are calling to me.  This weekend we made our own marbled crayons.  This was a huge hit with both kids, ages 6 & 4.  I enlisted my older son to help peel the wrappers from the crayons, and my youngest tested out the finished product.  The craft was super duper easy, and costs only pennies.

All you need is a muffin pan, some crayons, and an oven.  We used Crayola crayons.  I also purchased a new muffin pan from the dollar store, so I wouldn't ruin my good pans. 

So here's how you make them:

Peel the paper off of the crayons.  I grouped like colors together.  For example, three different shades of green.  Break the crayons into 3 to 4 pieces and put them into a muffin tin.  (When putting the crayons in the tin, I made sure the different shades were dispersed evenly, to give a marbled look.)

Bake in a preheated 275 degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes.  You just want the wax to be completed melted, no chunks.  Then carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.

Once they are completely cooled, turn the tin over on a towel and tap it lightly on the counter.  The crayons will pop right out.

These make great party favors for birthday parties too!!!!

Linking to these fabulous parties!!!

It's Coming!! (Toy Story Party Part 1)

It's almost here....my baby is turning 4!  I can't believe it.  It also means by father-in-law is turning 64! Yes Brandon shares a birthday with his Grandpa Nowak :)

I have eluded to Brandon's birthday party theme in recent posts.  My little guy is obsessed with Toy Story, thus we are having a full blown Toy Story party.  I will do a post with specifics on the food recipes, but for now here are a few of the decoration and party ideas.

First, Brandon really wanted Toy Story party hats.  I looked in every party store, online retailer, and nada.  I only found a alien party hat that was $3.49 each.  Sorry Charlie, this mama is on a budget.  So I visited our local dollar store and purchased 8 regular party hats for $1.00 and Toy Story stickers for $1.00.  Brandon helped me decorate the hats, and they only cost $0.25 each.

Next part of the festivities is the pinata.  I found a Toy Story pull string pinata.  I liked the pull string one because the party guests who will be partaking in this activity are 4 years old.  While I let my 6 year old and his friends swing a bat at a regular one, I thought the younger crowd would have more success with the pull string.  I also filled the pinata with goldfish cracker packages, Toy Story fruit snacks, and little plastic army guys (which Brandon calls hut hut guys).



I always like to give party favors to the children who come.  I knew Brandon's party theme earlier this year, so when I saw things on sale I bought them and put them in my party box (a plastic storage bin in my basement).  I found really cute Toy Story travel coloring pads, Toy Story socks, and plastic cups.  I wrapped them together in cellophane with a few other trinkets and voila!!!  Party favors, check!

Last but not least, we need a Toy Story cake.  Brandon again was very detailed in his request.  He wanted a round cake, stacked, chocolate, that looked like sky with all the characters.  Oh boy this one was going to be the end of me.  I made a 3 tiered cake,  the bottom tier vanilla, and the next two chocolate.  Then I tinted the icing blue and piped white clouds.  I bought little figures from the movie and just arranged them around the cake.  Now I am the first to admit, it was not my best frosting job on the cake.  I was tired, the frosting was too soft and I couldn't get it as smooth as I would've liked.  However, when Brandon saw the cake this morning, his face was priceless.  He yelled, "Mama, that's what I wanted!"  Okay mission accomplished :)

Now that I gave you a glimpse into some of the party ideas, stayed tuned for the menu.  I am serving Beef on Weck, a Buffalo classic.  Yes, I found Weck rolls in the Oneonta area :)  I will also post after party pictures this weekend. Happy Thursday!

Snowman Kits

Last winter I got this great idea to make snowman kits.  A snowman kit, is simply the items needed to decorate a snowman, put together in a cute storage bag.  I thought it would make a fabulous gift idea for anyone who plays outdoors during the winter, and who has access to snow. 

I researched the kits online and was startled to find out they can cost upward of $30.00.  I knew with a little thought, creative shopping, and a bit of craftiness I could make this come to life at a much lower cost.  So here it is, my version of a snowman kit, that cost around $5.00 to make.

These kits are a wonderful gift idea for the holidays, a winter birthday, and a great teacher gift.  I know here in New York State, we have outdoor recess all year, and what a great thing to have the kids do together to promote teamwork.

The reason I am posting this now (in September) is most stores will start to put out the winter hats and scarves within a few weeks.  Stock up on the supplies now, and assemble the kits later on.

Linking to these parties.
Items you will need to assemble your kit:

cloth storage bag or tote
wooden or plastic carrot
hat (found at a dollar store)
scarf (found at a dollar store)
5 medium wooden discs, about 2 1/2 inch diameter
4 small wooden discs, about 1 3/4 inch diameter

Step one:  Decorate a cloth tote bag with a winter scene (let the kids help paint or draw), or sew a simple bag with festive fabric.  I made four storage bags, from one yard of snowflake material.

Step two:  Paint the wooden discs with a black craft paint.  The medium discs will be for the eyes and three buttons.  The small discs will be for the mouth.

Step three:  Print a cute hang tag onto card stock, listing the contents, and explaining the purpose of the kit.  Place all contents into bag.

Fired Up For A Sewing Project

One of things I managed to accomplish while on vacation was an amplifier cover.  My oldest son plays electric guitar, and for his birthday we gave him an amplifier.  The amplifier did not come with a cover, and when I went shopping online I was shocked.  A basic plastic cover was $24.99. Yeah, I wasn't paying that. 

So off to the fabric store.  After several debates back and forth, Adam settled on fabric with flames.  I thought it was perfect, very rock 'n roll! 

So I simply measured each side of the amp, top, front, and back.  I added an inch all the way around; cut out the pieces.  I pinned them wrong sides together, turned it inside out and checked the fit.  Finally, I turned it back to the pinned edges, sewed 1/4" seem allowance, and finished it with 1/8" hem.  Perfect!!

Before

My son was thrilled, and I was pleased.  I am not a sewer, but I was determined to make this work.  My cost about $4.00 for a yard of fabric. Linking to these parties.

After

Celebrate Your Child's Art

We are back from vacation, and I'm just a little bit tired.  I have a new respect for my parents.  When we were little and wanted to keep going at amusement parks, my parents never let on how tiring it is.  They made it look so easy.  We are planning a Disney trip, but I think I need a few more years to prepare for it!

I had planned on posting this last week, but had some technical difficulties at the hotel with our WiFi connection.  Oh well, so here it is today.

When my oldest son brought home his Kindergarten art portfolio, I was impressed.  He seems to have some abilities when it comes to painting.  Now I will admit, I am probably biased.  However, most of the painting was really good.  One piece that Jay and I really loved was his still life of flowers in a vase.  This is the same piece that made it into the art show for the school district. 

I decided to frame this painting.  I was looking for a new art piece for our family room.  I painted the room several months ago, to a very neutral grayish white.  The walls definitely needed a pop of color.  Then I found myself staring at Adam's painting and it hit me.  I will celebrate him and his talents by framing it and hanging it proudly in our home.

I found an inexpensive frame and with a slight trim, voila!  I hung it up, and just watching the smile spread across Adam's face was priceless.  He kept asking me that whole night, if I want him to paint any other paintings for the house.  He was proud and so was I.

So the little tip for today, is find a piece of art your child is proud of and display it.  It can be a painting, drawing, or a craft.  Use a frame or shadow box to show off your child's creativity.  You can also change it out.  Use a standard paper size like 8" x 10", then when your child has made a new masterpiece just switch it out. 

Displaying their art will give them confidence and encourage more creativity.  Not to mention it is a conversation starter when guests come to visit!

Adam at the art show

Spring Wreath

Back in February I posted an easy tutorial for a festive rose wreath.  I also mentioned that you could change it up for any season depending on the flowers you use.  Well, it is officially spring (even though I awoke to snow this morning) and here is the spring version.

Again all the supplies were purchase at a dollar store and cost $5.00.  I used four floral bushes with about 9 flowers on each.  For the full instructions click on the link below.  Happy Crafting!

Easy Floral Wreath

Valentine Inspired Wreath

Today starting off being a two hour school delay and ended up being a snow day.  The boys have declared it a jammie day, and I am taking this opportunity to post a cute craft idea.  I was thinking it has been a while since I did a craft tutorial, and it was about due.

I love the colors that surround Valentine's Day.  I honestly love it more than Christmas decor.  All the pinks, reds, purples, mixed with a bit of white or cream, is just a lovely palette.  While I love this scheme, I discovered I didn't have a lot of decorations for Valentine's. I have the place mats for the table, a flag for outside, and a little wooden decoration for the mantle, but that was it.  So I decided to make a wreath. After making it I was thumbing through a catalog, and saw something very similar for $20.00, mine was only $5.00.

The process is very simple and can be adapted to any holiday or color scheme.  When I worked at a florist, I learned a really easy way to make a beautiful impact with florals is to use one type of flower in abundance.  That is what I did with this wreath. I used roses in three different colors and it turned out really sweet.  The wreath can be hung by adding a simple ribbon loop, or just lay it flat on a table with a candle for a marvelous centerpiece.  Here's how I did it:

supplies (all purchased from a dollar store)

1 foam wreath
4 to 5 bushes of roses
wire cutters
12 inch piece of coordinating ribbon
1 florist pin

1. Cut all the roses from the bush leaving a 3 inch stem
2. In a random pattern insert roses into the foam wreath close together, you don't want to see any gaps in the flowers.  Mix up the colors to give a random look.
3. Cut a 12 inch piece of ribbon and tie a knot in the bottom to form a loop. Using a florist pin insert the pin into the wreath at the top, pinning the ribbon in place as a hanger.
4. If you want to use it as a centerpiece then omit the hanger and lay the wreath flat on a table placing a candle with a hurricane in the middle of the wreath.

cut roses off the bushes and insert into foam

coordinating ribbon for hanger

shown as a wreath

shown as a centerpiece



Good luck!!!!  Linking to these parties.

Easy M & M Halloween Costume

As the boys get older, I ask them what they would like to be for Halloween.  So this year, when I asked Adam, without hesitation he said a red M & M.  I thought ok, how hard can it be??  So I ventured to the fabric store and bought a yard of red felt and went home.  After about a day of pondering, I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. After all, if I messed it up, I was only out about three dollars. 

To my surprise, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  Now, while I am very crafty, I am not terribly handy with a sewing machine. I can sew a basic straight line, and subtle curves, which is all I needed to do with this.  In  hindsight, I realized the whole costume could be done with a glue gun. 

Here's what you  need and how I did it:

supplies

3/4 to 1 yard of felt, depending on size of child (for a child 1 yard, for an adult probably 2 yards)
1 small piece of white felt (8x10 sheet from craft store)
scissors
sewing pins
access to a printer or copy machine
sewing machine, glue gun, or iron-on adhesive tape

Step 1:  Fold the yard of felt in half. Have your child lay down on it with their shoulders at the fold. Draw a circle around them from their shoulders down and around their waist. (Adam is 5 years old and is a boys size 6, I actually only used between 1/2 and 3/4 of a yard.)

Step 2:  Cut the circle out with sharp scissors, cutting the fold so you have two pieces of fabric. Then pin the costume on the shoulders, leaving an opening for the neck. Continue to pin down the sides of the costume, leaving arm openings, and leave the bottom completely open.

Step 3:  Once the costume is pinned, CAREFULLY try it on your child to make sure the head and arm openings are big enough. Then simply stitch, glue gun, or using adhesive tape, secure the seams.

Step 4:  Turn the costume right side out, so the seams are on the inside.  Now on your computer, scroll through the fonts of lower case M's to find one that looks like the logo.  Print out the letter to fill the entire 8 1/2" x 11" paper. If your printer can't print that large, then take it to the copy store and have them enlarge it. (I went to our copy store and the very nice clerk, kept enlarging for me until it fit.)

Step 5: Cut out the "m", now you have a pattern. Lay it on the white felt, trace around it with pen or marker. Cut out the "m" and glue it to the front of the costume. That's it your done!!!

This post has been featured at Craft Gossip.  Linking to these parties!

Ghostly Wreath

Years and years ago, when I first started craft shows (almost 20 years now), I would make these ghost wreaths and brooms every fall season.  They would always fly off the table and then I got away from them, wanting to do new ideas.  Well, I figured it was time to dust off an oldie but goodie.  This wreath idea can be adapted to any size and any budget. The one I did cost $4.00.

What you need:

wreath form (grapevine or straw)
small to medium bush of fall flowers
white glue
wire cutters
ribbon
used dryer sheets
floral wire (for bow)
ribbon for tying the ghosts (curling or spool-o-ribbon)

This is really easy and takes about 15 minutes worth of work. 

First thing is make a bow using the instructions found at my previous post, Bow Making 101 and set it aside. 

Next, snip off the floral stems from the bush using wire cutters and leaving about 2 inch length on the stem.  Simply start arranging the flowers on the wreath in a nice pattern, remember to work in odd numbers, three or five and leave room at the top or bottom for the bow.  Dip the ends of the stems in white glue before inserting them into the wreath, this way they will hold.

Finally, make the ghosts by using two dryer sheets. Take one dryer sheet and roll it into a ball (you can also use a cotton ball for this), this will be the ghosts head.  Then take the next dryer sheet and drape it over the head and tie it off with curling ribbon. Viola, a ghost. Attach them to the wreath with white glue.

Allow the wreath to dry over night. You can also use a glue gun for immediate dry time.  This is a great project to have the kids help with. It also teaches about recycling and reusing the dryer sheets that would normally be tossed away.

another idea: make ghosts and attach pin backs for a cute holiday decoration

Bow Making 101

I have posted a few projects that need bows and I will have a few more in the future that will require them as well. I have mentioned that the craft store will make them for you, but it really isn't that difficult to do. In my days of working at Michael's Craft Stores, I made thousands of bows; I even taught a bow making class for a while. 

I have a few recommendations on being a successful bow maker.  First, start off using wired edged ribbon. It holds it's shape and can be manipulated a lot easier than traditional satin. Secondly use a medium width ribbon, one that is 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches wide.  This way your hand won't get too tired holding a cumbersome amount of ribbon. Finally, don't get discouraged. Practice, practice, practice. Remember it's just ribbon and can be done over and over again.

Supplies

3 yards of ribbon (wire edged preferred)
18 inch length of floral wire about 22 gauge (can be bought pre-cut or on a spool)
wire cutters
sharp scissors

Step one:  Cut about a twelve inch length of ribbon and set aside.  Unroll the length of ribbon from the spool and hold it wrong side up in your left hand with about two inches of ribbon toward you and the remainder away from you.

Step two:  Form a small loop by pulling the end of the ribbon towards you up and away so the right side of the ribbon is facing up (this is the center loop of your bow). Keep this loop pinched in your left hand using your thumb and index finger

Step three:  Now you start making your bow loops. While pinching the center loop in your thumb and finger, with your right hand make a half twist of the ribbon tail so the right side of the ribbon is facing up. Make a loop the desired size you would like. Pinch the ribbon behind the center loop. Repeat this process on the other side (remember to make a half twist every time you make a loop so the right side of the ribbon is always up)

Step four:  Continue making loops until you have an even number on both sides. Using 3 yards of ribbon, you will have approximately four loops on each side about 3 inches long.

 

Step five: Once you have all the loops, now it's time to attach the tails. Simply take the 12 inch piece of ribbon cut in step 1 and place it on the back of the bow behind all the loops. Finally, take a lenght of wire and feed it through the center loop, pull around to the back and twist to hold the bow together.

Step six:  Manipulate the ribbon loops until the bow is fluffy and desired shape.

tip: if you don't have floral wire, use a pipe cleaner to hold the bow together