4th of July Quilted Table Runner

I started this project months ago and FINALLY got it done {and just in the nick of time}

{pre wash}

I saw the idea for a quilted table runner of at Diary of a Quilter and knew I need to make one. 

Check out the great tutorial here! It's wonderful, especially for the beginning quilter like me.

I love the idea of using strips of fabric, so nice to put some of my leftovers to good use!! I have SO much to learn and need a whole lot more practice binding but happy with how it turned out!

I now have the quilting bug and can see Christmas and Halloween table runners in the future! 

Sprinkle Birthday Shirt

Wow, it's been awhile!! Even my husband noticed that I hadn't blogged on here for awhile... now that's sayin' something!! The babe is 3 months and I am finally feeling somewhat in control of things again... somewhat!

Anyway, when I saw the Sprinkle Shirt on the MADE blog, I knew it was perfect for my sons birthday shirt. Even though the number 3 wasn't the most even and easiest to embroider around, I like how it turned out!!!

It was such a fun project to work on and very easy!!!

Felt Playhouse!!

It's done!!

I was able to finish my son's felt playhouse just in the nick of time- right before we headed home for Christmas break. It was quite the process but well worth it and am very happy with how it turned out!!

Unless you are new to all the crafty blogs... you have most likely seen this playhouse at Homemade by Jill.

My friend and I loved hers so much we felt like we better not change it up too much :)

Thanks again Jill for the amazing idea and tips!!

Check out her site for great templates and suggestions on how to make your own!!

(on this side, the strawberries are velcroed on)

S.L.A.C.K.E.R.

Yep, I have been a craft slacker....

#1 reason- August was not the nicest to us. After my two year old son broke his precious little arm, we all endured colds and later on the stomach flu.

#2 reason- My current "project" -

{baby #2 coming Feb 2011}

One I know will turn out just perfect

#3- Lazy and tired..... {see reason #2)

Luckily, I am getting my energy back and have even pulled my sewing machine out for a craft or two. Also, for some crazy reason, I decided to make a felt playhouse for my boy for Christmas. I am in the not so fun cutting stage but it is turning out pretty dang cute and excited to see how it turns out!!! (All I have to say is he better like it!) Pictures to come soon!

For now, here is a Table Runner Tutorial I found over at Diary of a Quilter

This is a project I have started on and have hopes to get done before fall is over. I have a feeling I will want to make one for each holiday!!

U create just posted many examples of those who followed this pattern!! So so cute!

Enjoy

Fabric Panel Car Mat

I had been staring and wondering what to do with this fabric for awhile

I decided, last week, that it needed to be a car mat.

 My friend's little boy turned one recently and thought it (with some play cars) would be a fun gift to give. 

The process was quite simple

 Placed panel on the top

Batting in the middle 

and a layer of corduroy on the bottom

Stitched and bound together!

I was happy with how it turned out!!

Now I need to get the motivation to make my son one

He was pretty sad when we gave it away!!

Festive Banner

Currently I am obsessed with making banners. My talented friend made me a banner similar to this for St Patrick's day and I have been dying to make one ever since

Since tomorrow is Memorial Day, I thought is was appropriate to get it out the one I made for the Fourth, hang it up and make a post of it!

This was SO simple

trust me, you can make it

To make it the way I did 

All you need is

Coordinating Fabric

 Thread

and Bias Tape

Cut your fabric into triangles

Place triangles in your Bias Tape

Pin in place

Sew Across

*I used 8 triangles but you can use as many as you like. Big or small/ Long or Short

Have fun!!

(and expect some more of these from me in the near future!)

Happy Memorial Day!!

Update!

Ok so do you remember this post I did awhile back about Felt Baby Squares and how I said I really wanted to make one of my own?? 

Well I did it and made a Felt Square "book" for a friend of mine expecting a baby in a couple weeks.

Let me tell you this was a lot of fun and VERY simple.

All you need is 

black and white sheets of felt

 ( I used 4 white and 4 black with lots of spare scrapes left over- making a total of 8 pages)

coordinating thread

eyelets/eyelet tools (optional)

metal ring (optional)
I loved using the ring because it allows you to enjoy the squares together in a book or spread out on the floor!

Thanks to Crafting Chicks for the great idea

10 Minute Beanbag!

{ took me a little longer but I am sure you sewing pro's out there could whip one out in ten!}

Sunday morning I needed a beanbag and I needed one quick. I am the music leader for the little kids at church and I had planned to use a beanbag as part of this weeks lesson- It totally slipped my mind that I actually needed to get a beanbag until hours before church. I had seen a couple ways to make your own beanbags before and I remember it looking pretty simple, so I went for it. 

For those of you wondering how to make some cute beanbags for your kids or whomever, here is how you do it {or at least how I did it!}

First gather supplies.... 

fabric/muslin, sewing supplies, beans (not pictured)

Next cut out your fabric- 7 X7 inches for the polka dot fabric and 6 X6 inches for the muslin

(wow could I take worse pictures or what! Can being in a hurry be a good excuse?!?)

 Now take your pieces and place them on top of each other (being sure to match them up)- right sides together and sew around the edge on three sides

Now take some scissors and clip the corners that you have sewn- this helps the fabric lay better in the corners

and then turn the right side out

Now take you beans (or if you are desperate like me making these last minute... corn etc..) and pour about 2 cups into your muslin pouch

Once filled, fold the top 1/2 inch of the opening into the bag and sew shut. If it doesn't look pretty, don't worry, no one will see it!

Now slip your little muslin pouch inside the larger pouch

And then just like the muslin- fold the top 1/2 inch into the bag and pin together (this one should look nice!)

Finally sew around all four corners about 1/4 inch from the edge and you're done!!!

thanks to Family Crafts for the help!!

now that I have my beanbag, I may be able to join in on a game of Corn hole- a beanbag toss game that apparently is super popular out here in the Midwest- my neighbors seem to like it and stay up playing it all night long OUTSIDE every weekend!  

Fabric Key Chain

I have been wanting to make a fabric key chain for a long time now!!

I have a big problem with loosing my keys... in my purse- (OK and everywhere else)

 I am ALWAYS looking for them!! 

I finally got around to making one last week and things are SO much better!! There is a great tutorial here-(The Idea ROOM via U create) It has great easy to follow steps!!

Here is how mine turned out!!!

Fits perfectly around the wrist- which helps while unloading groceries, or babies!!

I love it- Wouldn't this be a fun to give as a gift???

A Birthday Fit for a King

I have been dying to make one of these felt party crowns for along time now. There are seriously so many tutorials and examples of these all over the internet- I found a great video tutorial here that helped get me started. She has templates you can print off for two different crowns too!!

I printed off the template that looked more "boyish" and altered it a bit to make it bigger.

I also attatched some velcro so I could change the crown up over the years (or until it doesn't fit my son's head anymore!

So here are the steps that I did.....

to make this

Using your pattern- cut out two crowns out of any color of felt. These pieces are the front and the back of the crown

Then take your top piece and add your embellishments to it. (ribbon, buttons, jewels, etc...) I sewed on a strip of ribbon and then a piece of velcro in the center.

Once you are done adding your embellishments, you can then place a single sheet of interfacing in between the two- This stiffens your crown so it wont be so floppy.

Make sure your cut it down a bit smaller than the felt so it doesn't show.

Now take some elastic and tuck one end between the back piece of felt and the interfacing. With that tacked in place, measure your kiddos head with the elastic. Once you have your measurement bring it in a little and pin the other side in place. (making the elastic smaller than your child's head will keep the crown on their head)

Now pin and sew together!!

That's it!! Super easy and quick. My son loved his- Such a fun way to make your child's birthday EXTRA special!!

f.y.i. - If for some reason a half a bottle of bubbles spills onto your newly made crown- don't fret- it does dry and you can't even tell in the pictures :) just saying!

(p.s.- I would love to post some patterns/templates on here but just don't know the best way to do it.. any tips?? I guess a scanner would be necessary but really I'm clueless!!! Thanks)

It's Birthday Time

This week my son turns TWO!!! Can't believe it. Some fun birthday/party projects coming your way!!

Solution to those Duvet/Comforter woes

cue cheesy infomercial voice...

Has your comforter ever ended up looking like this??

Have you ever pulled your comforter over you only to feel the thin layer of your duvet cover..

Have you been seeing large bumps, lumps and other clumps randomly placed located across your bedspread??

If so, have I got the solution for you......

K sorry, I just had to- but really I FEEL this way. Nothing irrates me more than having my comforter all bunched up and LOST in my duvet cover.

Thankfully my mother in law told me how to solve my problem.

Here are the steps, super easy and quick!!!

1: First get some ribbon- Grosgrain holds the best in my opinion

2- Next cut 8- 12inch strips

3-Now take your comforter and 4 of your ribbons and sew (hand or machine) each ribbon to each corner

4- Now turn  your Duvet inside out

5- Now do the same thing as you did with the comforter- sew the remaining 4 to each corner

6- Spread your comforter out on the ground

7-Lay the inside out duvet on top and tie the top two corners

8- Now go inside the duvet and grab a corner to pull the duvet right side out. Then tie the remaining two together

And that's it!!

AHH it will be sweet dreams tonight!!