Better Late Than Never--Lily's Halloween Costume

I realized that with everything that has been going on in our little family, I never posted Lily's Halloween costume! I worked many hours on this, and I am quite pleased with how it turned out. I used Simplicity pattern #3594, cut at a size 4. It took 2 skeins of yarn, fuzzy fleece, satin, and lots and lots of thread (mostly because I kept having to pick everything out), and a new sewing machine. I wouldn't say that it saved us money, but the quality of the costume was so much better than last year's store-bought costume. Plus there was the added bonus of it being unique
(Old Navy has cute costumes, but I tend to see them over and over). It was fun to make, and I will probably attempt next year's costume, too. I thought I had picked a simple costume, but there were so many different sewing techniques. It definitely was a great project for learning and also for sparking a new found interest in sewing!

A Few Sewn Gifts for Baby

Here are some goodies that my sister, Mandy, and I made for our cousin Shelby's baby, Maya. We waited until the last minute to make them, but I think they turned out pretty well. I really think the hardest part is picking out the fabrics. Close-ups are after the main picture.
As you can see, we made everything coordinating.


This is the onesie I did. I cut it out with my Cricut, and then zig-zagged stitched around the edges. I accidentally kinked the handle of the rattle, but a piece of ribbon stitched over it fixed a bit.


This is the bag. You can probably tell that this is the Hip Mama bag, again. We used interfacing this time, and it was much stiffer. Something odd though is that there was no interfacing on the back side, so next time, I will definitely add this in.


Here are two burp clothes I made, using extra fabric, ribbon, and cloth diapers. I then folded them up and tied them together with a ribbon. I got the pattern from here:


Then, I had to make a coordinating card to go with everything. At this point, it was about 3:00 in the morning, so I just pulled out the cuttlebug for the tag and some inking around the edges. The tag says, "For you with love."


All in all, I think it was a success, or at least fun to make at any rate.

Dipped Glitter Brads

This is for my aunt and my cousin. We were talking about how to make your own colored brads, in any color, with glitter or not, and I realized I told them the wrong directions. Here is the right way, from Okieladybug on the Cricut messageboard:

"I hold the brad with tweezers, put it in front of the heat gun, count to like 10, dip in the red, put in front of the heat gun again if needed, then dip it in the white glitter powder and put the brad in front of the heat gun again if needed. It sounds like it takes a long time to do them but I did a couple dozen in no time."

I haven't tried this, but the pictures look cute. Give it a try!

My New Bag!

So, we got the bags finished, after a lot of trial and error. I think next time, it will go a lot faster, now that we know what we are doing. Here is mine:


This is the applique I cut out on my Cricut. I think I need heavier interfacing, because it wiggled around quite a bit. Also, the fabrics match better in real life. Again, I need to learn to take better pictures.

This is the front with the flap lifted. There are two large pockets on the front and two pockets on the side. There is also a large zipper pocket on the back.


The bag calls for a lot of topstitching, so I used a decorative stitch for it. This picture makes it look messed up, but it really turned out cute.

This is the interior. There are three pockets on one side and two pockets on the other. They are a little puckered because there is elastic on them.


So, what do you think? I think it turned out pretty well. Here are a few notes and suggestions:
-We didn't use interfacing, so it made the bag floppier, but I kind of like the look. If you want a stiffer bag, definitely use the interfacing.
-I would like to try it with the vinyl next time. I think this bag would do pretty well in the washer though.
-Cut the strap out FIRST. Otherwise you might end up with a strap that is a little shorter than you would like.
-The snaps on the body of the bag are kind of high. The top just kind of flops over, and doesn't really meet up. Maybe if the bag was full of stuff or if it were stiffer, it would work better, but if you make a floppy bag like this, I would recommend putting the snaps lower. Also, with the regular notions at Joann, you get one snap for $4.50, but they have a special purse section with 3 snaps for $1.49. They might not be as nice, but seriously, how long are you going to keep this bag?
-I used the serger on some of the pieces. Mandy didn't, and mine seemed to go together more evenly.
-This bag is a lot bigger than it looks, so don't be fooled when you are initially cutting out the bag pieces.

All in all, this was a fun bag to make. If you would like me to make one for you, just let me know (you supply the fabric), or if you want a fun project, try this one!

Oh, here is the link to the tutorial:
Hip Mama Diaper Bag

Time Out for Tasty Goodness--Spinach Pie

After working on our Hip Mama Diaper Bags for about 6 hours now, including a trip to the store, Mandy and I realized that every once in a while, you have to stop and take a break for some food. Periodically on this blog, I will share a recipe with you. I made this Spinach Pie a few nights ago for dinner, and everyone in the house loved it. The best part is that it is super easy and hard to mess up, which is pretty much a prerequisite for me. I found this recipe in the September 2008 issue of Family Circle, that I read while waiting (and waiting) for my doctor to see me. Here it is:

Spinach & Swiss Quiche
Makes 6 servings
Prep 5 minutes

1 refrigerated piecrust (from a 15 ounce package)--Don't you love how versatile and easy these are!
5 large eggs
3/4 c milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 of a 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (1/2 cup)
4 ounces of Swiss cheese, shredded (1 cup)--I used cheddar jack

1) Heat oven to 375 degrees. Fit piecrust into a 9-inch pie plate, crimping edge.
2) In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Spread the spinach into the bottom of the prepared piecrust. Pour egg mixture evenly over spinach, then sprinkle with the cheese.
3)Transfer quiche to 375 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and continue to bake for 20 minutes, until crust is puffed and browned (cover with foil if browning too quickly). Let stand 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Let me know how it turns out for you!

RIP Mr Singer

Or maybe it's a female? Anyway, the old Singer just couldn't handle the demands of furry felt. At 40 years old, it decided to breathe it's last breath and give out on me. It appears to be the gears that move the bobbin, and when I called for a repair quote, I was told starting at $110, IF they can find the parts. So the search is on for a new machine. For now, I have picked up a Singer at Costco, if nothing else than to finish the costume. I knew there was a reason I started this thing in September. I figured I can test drive it, and if I end up not liking it, Costco has a generous return policy. I heard a story once of a camera and a washing machine... If you have any good suggestions of how to pick a new machine, let me know in the comments below! Oh, if you have need of any parts for a vintage 1960s era Singer, I know where you can find some. A photocopy of the manual alone sells for almost $20 online.

On a brighter note, I got some Heat and Bond and some fat eighths to try out some appliques.

A Birthday Card

This is a card that I made for my sister (it's in the mail, I promise!).

The cupcakes are shadowed and the edges are inked. I used Stickles on the candle flames. I used Pop-dots to make the cupcakes stick out. I then made the envelope to match. It is a funky color green-yellow in the picture, but it is really cream to match the card. I need to learn to take better pictures.

Appliques

So, I saw the new infomercial for the Cricut Expression today, and they showed a quilt that someone made, using appliques she cut out on her Cricut! I had to look up how she did it. Wouldn't the designs be cute on a bag or on a T-shirt? Here are the instructions (I got them from here):

What types of fabric will the Expression cut?

Most of your stiffer cottons, and some denims. Of course, the courser the fabric the tougher it is for Expression’s blade to cut through. You want to purchase smoother fabrics like cottons for cutting on your Expression.

Can I place the fabric right on the cutting mat as is?

No. You will want to prewash your fabric prior to cutting or creating your projects as to prevent fabric bleeding. You then want to purchase a Heat and Bond backing for your fabric, apply it to the fabric and then place the fabric onto the cutting mat for cutting.

How do I cut fabric on the Expression?

After applying necessary Heat and Bonding, you will want to play a little with your machine, since each blade and machine varies slightly. However, we have found that setting your blade on 3 or 4 and setting your pressure dial to medium or high and placing your speed on low to medium are the best ranges for ensuring quality cuts.

How much time does it take to cut fabric with Expression?

That varies depending on your project. However, Cricut can cut a mounted piece of fabric as easily as it cuts paper in just a matter of minutes or even seconds depending on the shape you cut.

My mom's serger

So, I haven't been doing too many crafty thing lately, besides working on the Halloween costume (definitely NOT the easy pattern I thought it would be), but my mom is letting me borrow her serger, which is fun because it makes such nice edges. I have only ever used it in the safe confines of her sewing room, and if there has ever been a problem, my mom has come to the rescue. She wasn't here long enough to show me how to use it, but it is amazing what instructions and time can do. In only a little under an hour (yikes!) I figured out how to thread, and got it working. I was quite proud of myself. I can envision many projects with this. It's just a question of how long I get to "borrow" it for!

*I did make a card for my nephew's birthday, but since it turned out so horribly, I didn't bother to take a picture.

Grrrrr...Joanns

I went today to Joann's to get some minkee for a blanket I am making, and the computer was being slow and I didn't want to wait to print off a coupon. No problem, I thought, I will just stop at Robert's first, since Joann's accepts competitor coupons, I have done it lots, etc. Well, apparently today, they decided not to accept it since Robert's doesn't sell fabric. They sure didn't mind the last 3 times I have done it. So, I ended paying a lot more than I was expecting, but it worked out in the end, because my math was bad, so I am going to get 4 blankets out of the material instead of the 2 that I was expecting. Apparently, you can get 4 30" x 30" squares out of a 60" X 60" piece of material, so overall, it wasn't as expensive as I thought. Although I was still hoping the lady next to me in line would share one of the 10, yes 10, coupons she used on some yarn. Where do you get that many coupons at once?

Minkee

Does anyone know the best place to get minkee fabric? It could be in a store or online. Thanks!

Nice

Sometimes there are no words.
Here is a site that I hope to never be featured on:
Glitter Gone Bad

and

I am not going to post the name, because you have to see it to believe it

Flower Bow

Here is a hair barrette I whipped up in literally five minutes for Lily before church, and half that time was waiting for the hot glue gun to heat. You take a flower head from any artificial flowers you like (mine was from a flower arrangement my aunt was going to take to the DI), remove the center-it pops apart into two pieces, insert a brad (I used a sparkly one to match her dress), glue a piece of ribbon to a french clip (you can buy these at most craft stores), and then glue the flower on top. That's it! It is so easy and cheap, and you can make them to match any outfit.
This is what the underside looks like.

Blanket

Sewing the men's shirt dresses with Angie, and also another sister, Mandy, has sparked in me a desire to learn to sew. I took a sewing class in 7th grade, where I made an interesting pillow that, surprisingly enough, won a small award, but that is the last time I have really sewn anything on my own. Sure, I've used my mom's serger to make some pajama pants, but I would always have her do the waist and hem. And if the thread were to break, I had no idea how to fix it. Well, when we moved into my grandma's basement, I discovered her old (from the 60s, so yes, it has electricity) sewing machine. Mandy cleaned it, oiled it (using oil that she found in the drawer-it had a sticker price of 30 cents!), and showed me the basics of how to thread it. Since then, I have finished two dresses, and made Lily this blanket! I know, it has Ariel on it, when I always said I didn't really want my kids to be too much into princesses, but what do you do when The Little Mermaid is the only show your kid wants to watch? When we went to get some material, she saw this and immediately said, "Mine!" I couldn't resist. I made it a light weight blanket, with no batting, and I didn't tie it, but I think it turned out well. I also learned to use the twin needle, which I really like. Here is the link I used if you want further instructions:
http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com/2008/06/simple-inside-out-baby-blanket.html
She also has some other great ideas on her site, and it is one of my new faves to go to. (Thanks to my sis Alicia for having this site linked on her blog!)


It is double sided, with pink flannel on the back.


This is a close-up of the twin stiching. I only had one spool of pink, so I just used white for the second stich. This thread was on the machine when I started using it, so who knows how old it is? It kept breaking on me, which was a little frustrating. I will have to get some new stuff. And yes, that is the pink flannel, it just looks red in this picture for some reason.

My next project is Lily's Halloween costume. I have the pattern half laid out, so when it is done, I will post that as well (if it turns out okay). Wish me luck!

Halloween Tiles

After going to Swiss Days and the Quilted Bear, my sister-in-law Jennie and I decided that we would try to make some tiles of our own. These are a couple that I started with her and then finished at home. I used some window cling removable vinyl that I found at Roberts' in the kids' section, and designed and cut out the shapes with my trusty Cricut. I got the tiles at Home Depot in the flooring/tile section for about 39 cents apiece. I think they turned out okay. I used my new Signo white pen (love it!) to give the spider and pumpkin some facial features. On the orange tile, I would like to add a couple of more shapes, but I will have to wait until I get my Paper Doll cartridge back.

Shirt Dress

My sister, Angie, had seen a blog with a tutorial for a kid's dress made from a man's dress shirt. We decided to attempt it. It was pretty easy, and I think it turned out well. We actually ended up making two in a couple of hours.

Lily modeling the second dress (yes, this is the best shot I could get):

\

The first dress we made:


Here is the link to the original tutorial, in case you want to make your own:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=170402.0

Animal ABCs

This is a book that I made for my nephew, Ryker. It is the third one I have made now! I think they turned out really cute. I got the initial idea from the Cricut messageboard (of course), and then made it my own. The pages are laminated, and then the animals are attached to the pages with velcro, so he can pull them off and mix and match. Lily has a book, and she loves to pull them all out and then match them back up. I bound the book with my bind-it-all.

The book, A to Z:



This is the picture showing the animals taken off the velcro:

A Summer Frame

This is a frame that I altered during a Swarm that my sister and I went to. The challenge was to use vinyl (the word Summer) and put a picture in the middle (hence the ugly stick figure). I found this paper and thought it was so cute. I made the feet using a cut from New Arrival and used ribbon for the flip-flops. I put a rhinestone in the middle. I also used some Stickles to accent some of the paper. I actually got fourth place out of 14 for this. I was pretty impressed with myself, considering all the talented ladies there.


Mandy also made a frame that I think is adorable, but she didn't finish it in time to enter the contest. I have a picture of Lily and her stuffed monkey that will look great in this frame!

Paper Doll Princesses

I made these princess dolls for my niece, who is in love with them all! I think they turned out pretty well. I got a lot of inspiration from the Cricut messageboard. I cut them out, blinged them up with Stickles, laminated them, and put Velcro on the back, so she can play with them with the rest of her paper dolls I made for her previously.
Snow White:

Cinderella:

Ariel:

Sleeping Beauty (Aurora):

Belle:

I also made Jasmine, but I forgot to take a picture before sending them off. Sorry!

Baby Boy Announcements

I made these for my sister, who had a baby boy a few weeks ago. I used my Cricut for must of it (of course!), including CDS to make it exactly the size I wanted. I used the Fabulous Finds and New Arrival cartridges. I used my Dreamkuts to cut the blue cards and the Cropadile to set the eyelets. I made 65 of them, so they took a while. I hope she likes them!

Baby Girl Card

I made this card for my cousin's baby. The colors went better together in real life, but I still think it is pretty cute.