Archives for April 2013

The Covert Robin

 I am participating in “The Covert Robin, a mystery gift exchange.”  It is such a cute idea.  You sign up and then you are assigned a secret exchange person.  You make a handmade item and then send it off to her.  In return a totally different person makes something and sends it to your front door!  So much fun!  I found out about this cute idea because I follow Clover & Violet.  A darling quilting & sewing blog!  I was assigned Melle from Feathered Fuffles.  
Melle and I  have lots in common – she loves sewing and she loves cats!!  Here is what I made her.  Since she has received it,  I can write about it.
Meet my favorite tote bag.  (I, myself, don’t own one because I seem to make them and give them away!!)  The draw-string quilted tote.

  It has darling draw strings which cinch this bag and make it look all ruffly at the top.


 It opens up to be a large tote – big enough for a day at the beach, a day at the park, or a day at your favorite place.  I can just imagine stuffing towels, sweatshirts, and snacks in the bag and cinching it up!

 This bag begins as a quilt.  I pieced it kind of randomly so it would feel bright and colorful.

 
I love that it is quilted because it stands up by itself without being stiff and it feels soft and cuddly….and bonus – super easy to wash!!

 The bag measures 20″ wide by 15″ tall and 7″ deep.

 Melle, I hope you love your bag!!  It was sewn with love 🙂


Amanda

Gratitude Rocks version 1.2

We’ve had so much fun making these gratitude rocks, I though I would post our latest versions.  For the original post, click HERE.

Step #1 Paint river rocks.

Step #2 Write or paint your name on the rock
Step #3 Cut words out of magazines describing the person whose name is on the rock.   By doing this, you are showing your gratitude for these qualities and talents. 

 Step #4 Use Mod Podge to attach the words to the rock

Step #5 Smile at your rock every time you look at it!!!


Amanda

Wow Me Wednesday at Ginger Smap Crafts

Today Ginger Snap Crafts is celebrating their 2 year anniversary!  I love this blog!  Ginger posts a cute, new, fun idea almost every single day!  I don’t know how she does it as a busy mom of 5 children.  She is amazing.  Every Wednesday she hosts a linky party where you can link up your creations or ideas.  Today in celebration of her 2 year anniversary, I am co-hosting a HUGE linky party!!  At the bottom of this post is a place for you to link up a fun idea or something you’ve made.  Your link will connect to all 30 co-host’s links and Ginger’s!  It should be exciting!!!  So find something and link up!!

 

 

Today I am linking up my Onsie Dress Tutorial. 

  


 
 


Thanks Ginger for all the fun inspiration!!
 
 Amanda

Onsie Dress Tutorial

 My friend mailed me this “blank” onsie for a baby shower.  It’s a cute idea.  Everyone invited to the shower gets a onsie and they have to decorate/embellish it and bring it to the shower.  I think they are having prizes or something.  That’s a lot of pressure, “Here is a plain onsie, you write a craft blog, so this better be amazing!!”  Is how I felt 🙂  So this is what I came up with.  (I am sure there are lots of tutorials out there with the same idea – this is my take on it.)

Part 1 Bib construction

 Draw a “bib” shape on Heat N Bond Lite Fusable Web.  I curved the top of it to match the curve of the onsie neck.  I didn’t include a pattern because each onsie is slightly different.  You can do it – draw your own!!   Iron it on the wrong side of your fabric.  Then cut along your line and peel off the back and iron it right on your onsie.

 Cut your piece of lace and a matching piece of Heat N Bond.  Iron it to the lace.  Then cut the lace so it matches the curve of the bib.  Iron the lace to the bib piece.


Sew the lace down both sides.  Then sew around the bib portion using a straight stitch.
Next, prepare the ruffle.  Cut a strip of fabric 1 3/4″ x 23″. 
I don’t have a serger so I did a rolled hem on the strip of fabric – which is just turning it twice as narrow as you can and sew along the fold. 

 Now, because I am not using a serger, I zigzagged the opposite side of the fabric so it won’t fray.  (above)

Then roll the edges in and hem.

 Now roll your zigzagged edge over and stitch in place.  I used the zigzag because I will be gathering it and I wanted to reduce the bulk.  Sew a gathering stitch along the edge of the zigzag hem and gather.   It should look like this:

Get out your pins and start fussing with the ruffle to get it to fit.  I use a lot of pins in this process so it fits perfectly.  Make adjustments in the ruffle as necessary.

 Sew the ruffle along your gathering stitch.

You could add buttons along the lace – but I was worried about putting buttons on something for a baby.

Part 2 – Skirt Construction

You can tell from the photos it is getting later and later and I am getting tired-er.  My photos aren’t the best.  Essentially you are making a little gathered skirt and sewing it to the onsie.

Cut your skirt fabric 11 1/2″x 34″.
My onsie is size 3 to 9 months.  (That’s a new size to me.  My youngest is 5 and I never had onsies made that size!)  If your onsie is larger I would add a little to both measurements. 

With right sides together, sew the two edges together to form the back seam.  You will have a continuous piece.  Press the seams open or zigzag the edges.  My seam allowance was a generous quarter inch.  It doesn’t really matter on this project.

(Maybe I should iron my fabric!!)  The skirt is top-stitched to the onsie (you could cut the onsie apart and sew it to the shirt portion like a T-shirt dress, but then you wouldn’t have the onsie diaper cover which is what I love about this dress.)  Because it is a top-stitched skirt, you need a rolled hem on the top of the skirt piece so it doesn’t fray.

Now we are ready to gather.  Sew a gathering stitch around your skirt waist about 1/4 inches below your top hem.  Pictured below:

 Gather your skirt and ease it around the waist of the onsie.  You can choose where you want this.  Mine was 2 1/2″ below the armpit.   I drew a light line in pencil so I could see where to pin the skirt.  Pin your ruffled skirt following your line making sure to evenly distribute the ruffles.  When you are happy with how it looks, sew it along your gathering stitch.  I covered my seam by sewing ric rac.  You could sew ribbon or lace or your favorite trim….or not.  It doesn’t look that bad with just the seam.

Dress Hem:  You can hem the dress how ever you like.  I was going to sew a small ruffle along the hem in coordinating fabric but I ran out of time.  So I did a lace hem.  I sewed the lace and pressed it out and top stitched it down.  You could use ric rac, or other decorative trim, or you can sew a regular hem.

Here it is!!  I also sewed a matching flower for the baby’s head – but I finished it on my way out the door to mail it – so no photo 🙁

Amanda

My Favorite April Fool’s Day Ideas

I have to admit April Fools Day is not my most celebrated holiday.  I am not a big prankster.  I also don’t like eating food that looks like I am eating a different kind of food; and I don’t really like hurting people’s feelings.  Here are some happy April Fool’s Day ideas that won’t leave anyone crying or calling the police:
(These are very reminiscent of pranks our Elf on the Shelf, Richie, might be involved with, hmmmmm – maybe we want to remember these in December!)
 
This one is cute.  Put sticky strip on the inside flap of the Ziploc so it won’t open.  Switch the contents of the chip bag for different snacks and re-seal.  And don’t you love the worm coming out of the apple!!
 
Hide all the utensils in the house and eat your meals with your hands!!
Bunch up toilet paper and stuff it down in the toe of the shoes.
 
Switch the cereal and the boxes and see how long it takes for everyone to catch on.
I just think this is adorable!!
 
I love this!  I want my fridge to look like this every day!!
 

Amanda