ruffle knee socks tutorial

This is the last day to vote for who you think should win the Pinterest Challenge!   
Go make your vote count!

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These ruffle knee socks seem to be all the rage on Pinterest lately.  See? See?  and See?

So I decided to try my hand at making Little Ditty a set of her own.

It was pretty hard to find a pair of knee socks in her size, so I ended up using 2T socks so they would be tall enough.  I found the lace in the belting and ribbon section at Joann Fabrics.  Man is that lace heaven!  All sorts of styles and colors!

Here's the step by step:

The results are pretty cute.

Now, if only I could get her to keep them on.

quiet book page swap

I have been recently admiring Quiet Books.  You know, the soft, interactive, cloth books that promise to make your child sit quietly and be occupied?  (just kidding on that last part!)

I'm determined to make two for my kiddos in the month of February.  But, I in NO WAY want to sit for hours upon end making 10-15 DIFFERENT interactive pages out of felt.  As fun as it would be, I just don't have the time to spend on it.

So... I thought it might be fun to do a...

 
Basically, we would work in groups and each make 10-15 copies of ONE page from a quiet book.  Then, you would ship all of your pages to me by a certain date, I would compile them all and ship a complete Quiet Book back to you with 10-15 different pages!

What do you think?

Here are the requirements if you want to take place (please be sure you can complete it).
1. Make 10-15 copies of one page of a quiet book and have it shipped to me by Monday, February 27th WITH $5 for shipping costs.
2. Page material should be made of the thick, non-fusible Pellon from your local Joann's (I can get you the actual number this week).
3. Pages will measure 11" x 9" (to maximize the use of one yard of Pellon)
4. Nothing can be glued... everything must be sewn on to the page for long lasting results.
5. Use hard felt or cotton for pockets.  The softer felt can easily stretch over time.
6. Leave 1/2" margin on the right and left of the page for binding.
7. Detachable pieces must be sturdy and durable (use stiff felt or double up the soft felt with interfacing in-between)
8. Use sew on velcro instead of sticker kind.
9. Page must be interactive (search Pinterest for "quiet book" or see my board for ideas.)
10. Sew velcro with the soft side on the page to prevent sticking to the opposite side.
11. (optional, but nice and professional... use matching thread when sewing.  This hides mistakes, too!)
12. If you live outside the United States, you MAY participate, but please be aware that shipping costs may be more than $5.  I will email you the estimated shipping cost if you need.

You will be binding your own books after you get the pages.  I thought this would be the simplest way to do it.  So, you will essentially be sent 10-15 loose quiet book pages to bind together in the manner that works for you.  (also lots of tutorials on Pinterest on how to bind Quiet Books).

In case you STILL aren't convinced that you want a Quiet Book, check out the cute, interactive pages!  Many of these sites actually offer the templates for the page to download.  So the work is very minimal!

From my "Quiet Book" board on Pinterest.

Ready to sign up?  If you want to participate in the Quiet Book Page Swap, leave a comment below with your email address.  I will take the first 15 people who comment.  (If there is a BIG interest, I will consider making two swap groups... so go ahead and comment if you want to be considered!)

You have until January 30th (one week from today) to decide which Quiet Book Page you want to make (it will be one 1st come, 1st serve basis, so have a couple pages picked out when you email me in case your idea is already taken).

I'm SO excited! Aren't you?

PS... if you have TWO kids and want TWO Quiet Books, leave TWO comments below.  Remember, though, you will have to make 10-15 copies of TWO different pages... double the work!

simple embroidery tutorial

I am participating in a Journal Swap this week.  It's been really fun to dream up a journal cover to make for my partner (maybe it's you!).  After creating the cover (which I can't show you until the big link party over at Aleks Handmade), I decided it needed a little embellishing in the form of hand stitched embroidery.

I picked one of my favorite Bible verses and went to town.

Embroidering is so simple and the results are so cute.  I've seen so many cute tea towels, wall hangings, and more on Pinterest using embroidery.

Want to know how to do it?  I can't speak for all those more intricate designs, but "writing" something with embroidery is fairly easy.  Here's how:

For this project I used three strands of embroidery thread and a regular needle.  {I think the standard needlepoint and embroidery projects use 2 strands of thread.  My material was just a little plush and I wanted it to stand out.}

1. Thread the needle and knot the end.  Using a pencil, lightly write the word/saying you want to embroider.  {the picture below says "plans" right next to the pencil tip}

2.  Using your threaded needle, make one stitch along your pencil mark.  {see the "l" below}.  Then, for the second stitch {and everyone after that}, come up the back side a little further from the last stitch.

3.  Put your needle back down through the fabric at the point where your last stitch ended.  This is called a "backstitch" because you are essentially stitching backward!

Do the same "backstitch" while you follow along your pencil marks.  Eventually you will end up with a sweet saying written in thread!  And the fact that my stitching isn't perfect {a little wonky actually} just gives the finished product more of a handmade feel!

Seriously... get on Pinterest and search for "embroidery" {after you pin THIS tutorial to your boards, of course}.  There are some INCREDIBLE pieces out there.

I think I may have a new obsession.  Watch out tea towels!

ps - I'm on twitter now.  Yes, I joined the group of tweet-freaks.  Follow me?  @betterlifebags

Linking this to Think Pink Sundays.

olive u

My mom went to a baby shower last week that had some homework involved.  They were each sent a onesie before the shower to decorate for the upcoming baby.  The onesies were then used as decoration at the shower.

I thought it was such a cute idea, and I happened to be home visiting when she received her project.  So, being the Pinterest Fanatic that I am, I went to the boards to find something fun to make on the front of the itty bitty onesie.  And then stole the onesie and insisted on doing it myself. 

Here's what I came up with.

You get it, right?  Olive = I. Love.  u = You.

Olive u = I. Love. You.

My friend Heidi has an amazing applique tutorial here and is much better at doing it than I am!  But, that's the technique I used.  Applique.

I saw LOTS of amazing ideas for onesies here on Pinterest.  {you can see them all here}.  But, here are a few of my favs {click on the pictures to be taken to the original source}.

Baby showers are so fun - especially when there is crafting involved. 

EASY Baby Blanket Tutorial

I have to give credit to my Grandma for this one.

She makes these for lots of mommas having their very own babies.

Easy, peasy, swaddling blankets.

They make such cute gifts when you pair two or three coordinating prints together.

(Not to mention how fun it is to shop in the snuggle flannel aisle at the fabric store!)

Here's how you can make your own:

1. You need 1 1/4 yards of Snuggle Flannel for each blanket.

I have found that this makes for the best size blanket for swaddling.

2. Prewash all your fabric before starting - flannel does shrink some.

3. Fold one edge of the flannel in about 1/4" - 1/2".

4. Then fold it over again the same amount.

5. Line the folded edge up with the left side of your sewing machine foot.

Keep an eye on where your fabric lines up on the right edge.

Mine is just below the 1/2" mark.

Try to keep the folded fabric lined up with the edge of the machine foot and the 1/2" mark.

6. Just fold a little then sew a little until you reach the end of one edge.

7. Then start on that edge folding over twice and sewing down the edge.

This is a fun time to try out some new stitches on your sewing machine!

8. Pretty soon you'll be done with all four sides!

Fold it and prepare a few more!

Little Bug and I have been practicing swaddling our friend Sammy.

We found Sammy at a garage sale for $1 and he has become our best friend.

I think we need a little more practice on how to carry our baby sister.

Holiday Plate

First things first...

SERIOUSLY COOL update on the Custom Font post from yesterday... Darcy has offered a $1 off any Custom or Premiere Handwriting Font Service to my readers through December 31st!
Use the code myfont-1
You must be logged into the Sweet Shoppe store in order to use the coupon.
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I made some cookies tonight.
Was craving a mix of peanut butter and chocolate, so I made buckeyes!
It was my first time trying them and they were SO EASY.
and delicious.

I'm visiting a friend tomorrow and thought I'd take some Buckeyes over for their family.
Except for one problem.
I only had small, white, boring paper plates.
That just wouldn't do.

So, I grabbed a strip of red fabric.

Placed it in my sewing machine.
Did a backstitch at the top
and used my largest stitch possible the rest of the way down the middle.

After pulling one of the pieces of thread from my stitch, I ruffled the piece up and sewed it around my paper plate.

Yes, you can use your sewing machine to sew on paper!
That opens up a whole new crafting arena, huh?!

Placed a few buckeyes in the middle.
Cut up an old Christmas card sent to us last year (you do save the cards you get from previous years to use as gift tags, etc... right?!).
And wrote a short little note.

Easy.

These need to be refrigerated until you're ready to serve them, but mine fridge was full.
No worries.
It's cold enough on our enclosed back porch to set them out there as a make-shift fridge!

Sweet.
In more than one way!

ps... I need a really awesome, really easy, really delicious cookie recipe to take to a Christmas party next week.  Leave a comment telling me your favorite holiday cookie recipe for me to try!

Custom Car Seat Cover

It has been really cool to see how God has provided for us since making this leap to Detroit.

In fact, my brother's girlfriend's dad works for Graco and sent us a new toddler seat for Little Bug.

This came at the perfect time... Little Bug is too tall and too heavy for his other seat,

and Lady Bug (Little Bug's little SISTER) is coming soon and will need his old seat!

Here is what we received this week:

 

I was SO happy to receive this, but I just HAD to give it my own touch.

So, I covered the middle part in a fabric I loved.

It was much easier than I thought it would be and only took me an hour or so.

I didn't take pictures through the process and just decided to go for it.

I ended up taking the cover off the seat to see how it was put together.

A little seam ripping later and I had the middle section completely separate from the rest of the cover.

Then I simply cut around it on my new fabric, sewed it over the top of the existing fabric and sewed it back onto the rest of the cover.

If you have basic sewing skills, I'm confident you could do the same!

I'm planning on recovering Little Bug's old car seat to get ready for Lady Bug.

I'll probably buy this PDF tutorial from this ETSY seller since it will be a little more involved than this one.

And might use the same fabric as above for her seat, too.

As I was cutting it out, I noticed the name of the print was "Brother, Sister".

So how could I not?!

When I put Little Bug in it to tighten the straps, I noticed how much the straps cut into his little neck.

I couldn't have that, so I followed Ashley's tutorial here and made strap covers that don't interfere with the chest clip.

Emery Sand Pincushion Tutorial

I'm so guilty of using this old dish towel as my pincushion.

It has served me well and functions just like a pincushion, but it is ugly as ever!

It was about time I made something MUCH cuter with all the fabric scraps I have laying around.

And in case YOU need a cute pincushion, too - here's a tutorial!

1. Using a piece of muslin or plain fabric, trace a plate or something round with an 8" diameter.

2. Using the largest stitch that you sewing machine can make, sew around the perimeter of the circle.  Be sure to backstitch at the beginning, but not at the end.

3. Pull the end your your thread VERY CAREFULLY to close up your circle.

4. Pour in 1/2 cup of emery sand.

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What??  You haven't heard of emery sand before?

OH!  Let me tell you!

Emery sand is a better choice to fill your pincushions with for a few reasons:

~ It keeps your pincushion heavy and stable on your table.

~ It actually SHARPENS your needles each time you stick them in!

I bought 1/2 cup of emery sand for a fun ETSY seller "LoveLaurie".

She sells emery sand and really cute pin cushions at really reasonable prices!

See?

In fact, she's offered to GIVE AWAY 1/2 cup of emery sand to one of you so you can try out this tutorial!

To enter:

1. Follow this blog and leave a comment saying you do.

2.  Link up a craft you have done {at our link party today} using fabric scraps then leave a comment telling me you did!

3. Grab either my blog button or the Scrap Happy Saturday button for your blog and comment back. 

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Ok, back to the tutorial

5. Cinch up the bag tight.

6. Use the long string left over and use it to thread a needle.  Sew the cinched part tight.

7. Cut another circle with an 8" diameter out of the fabric you want to be showing and stitch around it with a large basting stitch.  Lay the first layer of the pincushion inside the circle, upside down.

{We are doing two layers so the emery sand doesn't escape.}

8. Pulling the string carefully, cinch up the pincushion and sew tightly shut.

9. Using embroidery thread and a long needle, make stitches starting from the cinched area and coming straight out the back until you get something that looks like this:

 

10. To cover up the cinched area, you can either use a piece of felt and sew a button to keep it closed, or find a print of a flower that you love like I did.

I cut two matching sizes from a Joel Dewberry fabric.

11. Turned them wrong sides together and sewed around the edges... leaving a small opening to turn it inside out.

12. After turning it inside out, I sewed around the edges and inside the flower to give it a little texture.  Then attached it to my pincushion with small hand stitches on each petal. 

 You're done!

Now, remember to enter the giveaway for 1/2 of FREE emery sand!

Remember to enter:

1. Follow my blog and comment.

2. Link up a scrap craft below and comment.

3. Place either my blog button or the Scrap Happy Saturday button on your blog somewhere and comment back.

I will draw a winner on Tuesday, November 2nd!

Linky Party open until Thursday, November 4th.

I'd love to feature some of your crafts, so link up!