Fun experimenting: iron-ons from plastic bags.

Did anyone else immediately move Filth Wizardry's recent tutorial to the tippity top of their 'must-try' list?  I was staying off of most craft blogs last week because I was trying to get things done for the boys' party.  But then my friend sent me a link and I just had to peek--because it was for DIY iron-ons!  I did manage to wait until the day after the party before I tried it.  And yes, such restraint was hard for me.  I'm just not a particularly patient person.

For my first go, I decided to embellish a kitchen towel.  I figured it would be a good test on how it holds up in the wash.  Go to Filth Wizardry's genius site for the full tute.  But here's my shorthand version:

First, I asked Leo what home meant to him.  He said "love."  That boy can melt me, my goodness.  We wrote it down, then I reverse-traced it with a red sharpie onto a scrap of plastic (a ziploc plastic bag).

I placed it on the kitchen towel, covered it with parchment paper, and ironed it with a hot, dry, iron.

It took a fair amount of pressure to make it adhere, especially around the edges.  But adhere it did.  And I really liked how it turned out.  We'll see if it holds up!

I then decided to try out some other plastic packaging...

Totally cheesy design, I know.  But I really don't have much plastic to pick from around here (these scraps were left over from water bottles bought for the boys' party).  Cannot wait to experiment more--stay tuned.

Reverse applique, birthday shirts.

I finished the boys' birthday shirts today.  I used some coordinating tees and went with reverse applique.  I've previously posted on how I sometimes use phonebook paper for more detailed appliques when I'm too lazy or rushed to cut out detailed shapes.  But with simple shapes and numbers, here's how I do it.

First, I head to my computer and use a word processing program to pick a font that has nice clean lines (so it won't be fussy to sew around).  I scale it to the size I want by playing with the font size and bold option.  I print it and cut out the number.

Next, I turn the t-shirt inside out and pin my contrast fabric to the area I plan to embellish.  I then just tape the number down to hold it in place.  

I sew a smidge outside the paper template...

 

...then trim and cut the t-shirt fabric away from the top to reveal the applique. 

I then repeat two more times because Charlie has not yet taken over dressing the boys to "man" things up a bit.  I think I have a few years before that happens.  Or roughly three more outfits where I use turqoise--whichever comes first. 

I think the boys will look nice in their special bday tees at their no-themed-party party*.  I'll try to get some action shots.  Because let's face it.  I do these primarily for the photo op.  Happy Friday!

 

*Incidentally, I just might be sneaking a wee bit of a theme into the no-themed-party party.  And I am well aware that this will shock exactly no one.   

Bookmarked craft--ruffled scarf.

My list of 'must-try' craft tutorials bookmarked on my computer is getting ridiculous.  Let's just say that if I were going old-school with a paper pile, I'd get flattened if ever the stack should topple.  And because even virtual lists need some checkmark love, I've declared 2010 the year to tackle at least some of the crafts.  First up, an upcycled T-shirt to ruffled scarf I first saw on Vermillion Rules.

What I did:

I used the remainder of a white t-shirt (left over from the hoodie project) and cut it into 6 inch wide strips...

sewed them together, end to end, to make one long piece...

then sewed basting stitches (about an inch and a half in) on both edges.  I set the stitch length to the longest and upped the tension to create the ruffles...

I then set my sewing machine back to its normal settings and sewed down the ruffles--I did it on the front and back then removed the basting stitches. 

So easy, so quick.  And free!  Just enough trendy ruffles to add a feminine touch to my everyday uniform of a basic t-shirt and jeans.

*note to self--figure out a more inspiring place for self-photos.  Or--at the very least--clean the jammy handprints off the mirror before taking the photos. 

 

Fabric flower embellishment tutorial.

One of my favorite presents to give to little girls--whether they're celebrating a birthday or their new big sister status--are fun hair clippies.  I use bits of felt, ribbon, buttons or brads to make up a flower of sorts.  Sometimes I use my embroidery machine to monogram a bloom.  I then affix the embellishment to a ribbon covered alligator clip.  Easy peasy...

 

I also like to use little cards filled with them as gift toppers.  Once I clipped a good dozen or so around the ribbon I used to decorate a diaper cake for a neighborhood baby shower.  And my dear friends are kind enough to let me foist these confections upon their daughters--it satisfies my need to create something frilly.

So imagine how my ears perked up when my best friend from high school, Kristin, informed me that her sweet daughter could no longer wear the clippies I've made her (cllippies aren't working with her current hairstyle)--ack!  But evidently she sometimes wears headbands.  That's all I needed to hear...

Here's how I did it.

Cut a piece of scrap fabric.  Mine was about 1 1/2 inches wide x 14 inches long and I chose to pink one edge.

Next, ruffle your strip by sewing a straight line near the non-pinked edge.  Set your stitch length to the longest setting and make sure to leave a long tail at the start and end of your stitching.  Also, do not backstitch as you'll need to gently pull one thread to gather the fabric, thus creating the ruffle.  Go slowly as you don't want to break the thread. 

ETA:  You're supposed to do two rows in case the thread breaks but I don't bother with these scraps (again, because I'm a lazy bones--see below).  Also, I received a couple of emails asking why I don't use my machine to ruffle (to do that, you set your stitch length to the longest setting and your tension to the highest setting).  I answered that I usually do that if I'm sewing big pieces (and always if I'm working with knit fabric).  But I'm always interrupted while crafting and have found I also always forget to set my tension back--so I just don't bother with these quickie projects.  But you guys should go for it if it helps you ruffle! 

Make another coordinating scrappy strip--on this one, instead of pinking, I pulled a few threads out to gently fray the edge.  Note**next time I do this, I won't be such a lazy bones and not switch out my mismatched bobbin thread.  I found out later it's a bother to hide.

 

Stack the strips with right sides facing down--they'll be curly and unwieldy which is why I don't have a shot of it, sorry--and wind them around a finger.  Slide it off and adjust the bloom to your liking.

Take a threaded needle and secure your bloom by sewing this way and that, hiding your stitches amongst the ruffles.  I wanted another pop of color so I glued a fun blue brad to the center, but I don't think it's vital.

I then added some scrappy green leaves with pinked edges.  I slightly pinched the leaves on the end I was attaching to the flower, to make them stand up a bit, and securely hand stitched them to the back.

 

I hand stitched the entire embellishment onto a handmade headband (the headband is just a strip of white t-shirt jersey folded in half, sewn along the long edge, flipped right-side out, and sewn end to end to make a loop).  I tested for fit on the closest kid-sized head.  I won't name names because that was part of the deal.  That, and a slice of freshly baked cranberry-white-chocolate blondie.

I think it could also make a pretty broach.  And even though I've never been too much of a broach-wearing sort of person, I do think it would look pretty on a couple spring-weight jackets I recently bought.  So I think more are in my future.  And can you tell by the colors who's thinking spring?

 

ETA:  I'm linking up to DIY day at A Soft Place to Land.

DIY gummy candy.

We are at 18 inches of snow and counting and the older boys are clamoring to get out there.  But it's snowing very hard right now and I'm trying to convince them to wait a bit.  They always forget how uncomfortable they become when the snow is actively falling on them, no matter how fun the play.  I figure I've got roughly one hour or so before they tie me up and do whatever they want.  Until then, I tried to get them into the kitchen for a bit to try out a project I've had my eye on--DIY gummy candy.

DIY Gummy Candy

idea and recipe from Not So Idle Hands

Ingredients

• 2 three oz. packages of flavored Jello
• 6 envelopes of unflavored gelatin, like Knox
• 2/3 cup of cold water + half of a 1/3 c. 
• glass measuring cup, preferably with a spout
• double-boiler or small pot with several inches of water
• some type of candy mold, *recommend smaller shapes if possible--we used medium sized heart molds and found it was almost too much gummy for little ones to handle.  (Because they have to bite it--can't just pop it entirely into their mouths.  This means, of course, that little hands will set them down or press them upon, say, their fuzzy pajamas.  And because the gummies are tacky, they pick up everything...and watching a toddler down a gummy that's magically grown fur is gross.)

Directions

• Measure the water into the glass measuring cup.  Slowly stir in the gelatin and Jello, adding a bit at  a time and stirring after each addition.  Cover and let sit for 10 minutes.  Place pot of water to boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
• After 10 minutes, the mixture should look thick.  Place the glass measuring cup into your pot of water and gently stir until mixture melts.  Be careful not to burn the mixture but allow it to fully melt (all of the granules should dissolve).  This took me five or so minutes.
• After mixture is fully liquified, pour into molds--be careful because glass measuring cup will be hot. 
• Place molds into the refridgerator or freezer for 5-10 minutes for the gummies to set up.
• Once set, the kidlets should be able to pull them right out of the molds--they're impressively resilient.

The boys loved them.  I do too because they are not overly sweet and are a great option for holiday themed goodies (mini green shamrock gummies!  mini Easter bunnies!)...must keep a lookout for teensy molds.  And I might make something custom for the boys' joint birthday party if they could ever settle on a theme.

 Enjoy!

DIY Holiday wreath.

We've been laying low these last few days.  Thanksgiving was wonderful--my parents did a great job.  After the big meal, the day mostly consisted of more eating and lots of cuddles.     

I think it was Will's first experience of an uncomfortably full tummy. 

We had an unusual spell of warm weather last weekend.  And so we tried to make the most of it by spending as much time outdoors as possible.  This means I did not get the house decorated for Christmas yet--so now I feel like I'm already behind.  But the calendar says it's just Dec 1st so I guess I'm okay.  But I'm still fretting.  We have our gingerbread decorating party in less than two weeks!

I did manage to do a little decorating though.  I was inspired after a girls night last Sunday (before husbands and babies, a group of my friends and I held a regular girls night and we're trying to get it going again).  A friend told me about one of her Thanksgiving traditions--a relative brings her greenery clippings so that she can make a holiday wreath.  And it just so happens that Charlie trimmed several holly bushes over the weekend--so I whipped up a wreath while the boys played outdoors.  It was so simple and took less than 30 minutes!  I think we'll adopt this tradition, too--thanks Katie!

Here's how I did it:

1.  Gather clippings and trim down to 4-6 inch sections.

2.  Gather wire and wreath form.  I used a grapevine wreath I had on hand.  Lay clippings on form and wrap with wire.  If you are using a grapevine wreath you can poke your clippings into the wreath to help you with placement.  Then, working downwards, overlap wire with new clippings and wrap with wire again.  Continue until your form is covered.  Secure wire.

3.  Hang on door (you'll want to mist with water occasionally to keep it fresh).  Make boys come over and give plenty of oohs and ahhs, even though all they really want to do is ride their bikes.

For more DIY ideas, have a girls night and get ideas from your crafty friends!  Also be sure to check out Kimba's DIY post on A Soft Place to Land today. 

Easy DIY paper tray tutorial.

Setting aside special events and milestones, there are typically just two types of 'everyday' days that stay with you.  One is when everything goes your way.  For me right now, that means primo parking spots with each errand stop, long naps for the kidlets, dinner planned and ready, nice (enough) weather for walks and outdoor play, cookies for snacks.  Oh, and let's not forget impromptu dance parties instead of tussles with the siblings.

That was my kind of day. 

My friend had the other kind--potential worrisome news about a pregnancy, job calamity, dishwasher tanking with a house full of company inbound for a holiday.

You can offer to take the kids, come over to clean, bring over margaritas... whatever.  But you'll probably be stubbornly waved off, like I was.  So I decided that the least I could do was bring over some dinner and cookies, with the silent hope that some good mojo would tag along.

The dinner could go in a throwaway foil tray.  But I wanted to package the cookies in something cheerful while also disposable.  I've seen some of the cutest little takeout paper trays and wished I had some on hand.  When I spied my empty english muffin packaging destined for the recycling bin, I realized I had the next best thing...a ready-made template!

I wanted to use 12 x 12 cardstock paper, so I cut the english muffin tray down to size and taped.

I traced with a pencil, but went over it with black marker so it would photograph.  For future trays, I'll stick with pencil to minimize markings.  Don't forget to mark where to place the slits for the tabs like somebody did.

Cut out, score on folds (referring to your template as a guide), fold, tuck, and embellish if you desire.  I desired. 

Deliver, give hugs, and scheme with others on more ways to help.

For more ideas, check out DIY day over at A Soft Place to Land. 

 

Turkey-hand hand towel.

One more Moore had these turkey tees on her blog and I just love them (just as I love everything she does).  We plan to do t-shirts later in the week as part of a play-date craft activity.  In the meantime, I thought I'd send some love in the form of an embellished tea towel to my wonderful mother-in-law.  We'll see them at Christmas, but we'll miss them over Thanksgiving.  Hands on a hand towel...granted, it's a bit on the nose but it makes me smile. 

Here's an easy tute:

  

 

Check out more ideas over at DIY day at A Soft Place to Land.

Cheers,

 

Applesauce jack o'lantern favor tutorial.

Our youngest started in a nursery class this year and his group plans to have a small Halloween party, so I needed another non-candy favor idea.  It's not as if Will hasn't tried candy--please, he's the third--but at least I can say it's on a rare occasion.  The older boys know to go into stealth mode (hide in pantry) when they're eating a piece.

I came up with applesauce jack o'lanterns and if you'd like to make some, too, you will need:

• 2 applesauce cups (per favor)
• tape
• scissors
• orange crepe paper
• black electrical tape

Directions

Tape applesauce cups together to form pumpkin shape.

Wrap crepe paper around a few times, just to help with coverage.  Tape.

Fold crepe paper in half (better coverage, better scale) and wind around and around, turning as you go, until the cups are completely wrapped.  Tape.

Cut cute (we went for non-scary) jack o'lantern face shapes out of electrical tape.  Stick on.  Tie on a note if you like.  Get these done ahead of time and cross something off your to-do list.

 

Mummy flashlight tutorial.

I've had this idea since last year when we saw inexpensive flashlights at Ikea (I think they were 50 cents).  My boys love flashlights, especially when they are trick or treating.  So instead of giving out candy favors at our Halloween celebration, I thought we'd give out flashlights.  I of course also wanted them to look cute--so like everything else around here during Halloween, they got the mummy treatment (we're talking stuffed animals, furniture legs, me if I stand still long enough...).

You will need a small, inexpensive flashlight, white crepe paper, tape, and a black marker.  I haven't made it back to Ikea to see if they have the bargain flashlights again this year, but I found this one at our Dollar Tree (I also picked up some batteries there.  I definitely recommend having the flashlights ready to go to avoid the buzz kill factor).  

Wrap the flashlight a couple of times with the crepe paper lengthways and tape to secure.

 Fold the crepe paper in half and wrap the flashlight completely.         

After securely taping, dot on a couple of eyes with a marker (I think googley eyes would be great here but I didn't have any on hand).  Add a note and there you go--a practical, yet fun, Halloween favor that both kids and parents will appreciate. 

For more DIY ideas, be sure to check out today's DIY Day at Kimba's A Soft Place to Land.  And also be sure to check back here for another sugarless Halloween favor idea.  It's geared to the under-two set and I hope to post it tomorrow.