Summertime at SYTYC

I had so much fun designing this little number.  Thank you to so many who voted!  It was my best finish yet.

The Summertime Romper is simple to make, but will teach you some important skills including making a button placket and inserting facings.  The pattern will include two sizes, 18-24 months and 2T/3T and have alterations for both boys and girls.

I will make the tutorial and pattern available for a limited time, and then it will be available for purchase after that from my shop.  It's taken me a little longer to draft everything together, and my children are now out of school, so I'll let you know when it's ready.  Now if we can just get some warm weather so that Baby can really wear hers!

I hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend.  Thank the Lord for the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country's freedom.

Plus, get excited, I'm going to have a giveaway of one of the Summertime Rompers that I made while designing the pattern as a thank you for reaching 200 followers.  Stay tuned!

Linked up to  Today's Creative Blog,  Skip to My Lou, and Someday Crafts. 

Country living...around the yard

Between rain showers this week, I wanted to document some of the amazing things happening around our yard.

The trees are finally leafing out...although this chokecherry will still turn a lovely purple later this summer.  I love the contrast with those dark clouds to the Northeast. 

Spring has been wet and cold, and so flowers are just starting to bloom although it is almost June.  This plant that the giant bumblebee loves is called catmint.  This plant is almost like a weed.  Catmint grows almost anywhere and produces amazing amounts of lovely purple flowers.  I whacked these down to the ground last fall, and split them, and you can see how big the plant is already.  If you rub the leaves, you'll get a lovely minty smell (hence the name, I suppose).  Bonus, it is also very drought tolerant (not that we're worried about that right now!)

I had to share this one...bumblebee amid flight!  I'm not sure how I caught this one with my slowpoke camera.  Happy chance.

Close up of catmint blooms.

My snow is summer is just starting to bloom, also.  In a week or two, the whole plant will be covered with these little white gems.

The "piece de resistance"...a killdeer nest made conveniently on the edge of our driveway.  It's hidden so well, we had to flag its location to remember not to drive on it.  Last year the killdeer also laid a nest in our yard, which was ruined by some hungry predator.  We're hoping for a better outcome this year. 

I'm so grateful for the beauty of the earth and that my family and I can enjoy it.  I hope you enjoyed this little tour around our little acre in Southern Idaho.  

Simple Bow Non-Slip Clippies Tutorial

I was lucky enough to have this featured on Blue Cricket.  Now I can also share it with my readers! 

Today I'd like to show you how to make some fun fabric hair bows using alligator clips and felt.  I loved the felt snap clips, but my baby hated having them snap on her head.  This is my solution.
Gather your materials.

• 2.5" Fabric scraps about 10" long.
  
• Coordinating felt scraps about 4" by 3" long.
  
• Matching thread
  
• Double prong alligator clips, like what you can find at Sally Beauty Supply
  
• Glue Gun
  
• Cutting tools (I prefer my rotary cutter and ruler, but scissors are fine.)
  
• Sewing machine and hand needle
  
• Seam ripper...one of my favorite tools!
  

Let's get started!

Toddler Science Discovery Toy Tutorial

Want to make a fun quiet activity toy for your toddler?  Here's the how to.  I have to give a thank you to two of my inspirations in making this toy.  First, Anna at Noodlehead taught me how to use zippers with her amazing gathered clutch tutorial.  Second, Cally at Calico does the coolest stuff where she embroiders labels like this makeup bag.  They are wonderful muses. 

You'll need larger scraps of 4 colors, plus extra scrap pieces for decorative touches, plus matching thread. You'll also want black embroidery floss, an 8"  blue zipper, 2 5/8" black buttons, a small metal grommet, and 6" of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, some scraps of heat n bond lite, and about 1/2 yard of medium weight interfacing. You'll need your regular sewing tools, cutting tools, and of course, your seam ripper. Plus, have your iron and ironing board handy. If you've got them, pinking shears are handy too. Be sure to print out your templates for the triangle pouch and star. 

Imperfectly perfect cake stand

I've seen many cute cake stands around the craft blogs made from beautiful plates and cups or candle sticks glued together.  I've wanted to make one for a long time, but just hadn't found the right pieces to put together.  I've literally been looking for months with no success.  I wanted a pretty china plate.  However, when I found this plate and cup at the local thrift store for 50 cents each, I thought they just might work.  I used the E 6000 glue to put the pieces together, so total price was $3.50.  Not bad.  Plus, I have glue for future projects. 

Little boy helped wash the dishes.

Then we sanded the surfaces that would be glued.  Love the action in this shot!

Sanded and ready to go.

We took everything outside just to be careful with the fumes. I applied the glue to both pieces.

Then I put them together.  Photo credit to my 4 year old.  Meet our dog, Scooter, the destroyer.  But that's another story for another time.

All glued together.

Finished product.  I actually like the cut glass so much.  Only problem, it is a teeny bit wobbly.  The design is just fun, and a little kitschy.  Now I have an excuse to make yummy cakes so that I can display them on my new cake stand.  This particular yummy and imperfect cake is a carrot cake made from the Blonde Designs recipe.  I had a horrible time getting the cake out of the pans...there are sort of three layers there.  An imperfect cake for my imperfect cake plate that was perfectly delicious.

Linking to:
Skip to My Lou, The Girl Creative, and Today's Creative Blog,  Someday Crafts,  Somewhat Simple, and Under the Table and Dreaming.

Did I mention we've been busy?

It feels like we've been going non-stop with school winding down, summer revving up, and lots to prepare for.  Strawberries were on sale around here.  So, Friday my little kids and I tried our hands at homemade strawberry jam.  I made freezer jam once with my mom, and last fall I tried my first cooked peach jam, so I wasn't totally unprepared.  This was the first full-blown cooked jam experiment. 

Baby helped herself to lots of cut of strawberries...yum!  The most time consuming part was all the cleaning, hulling, and cutting up of the strawberries. 

The trickiest part was not scorching the jam while it cooked.  The first batch had some black patches on the bottom of the pan after I ladled the jam into the jars.  Lesson learned.  I made three batches, and still had enough strawberries left to freeze for smoothies this summer.  Whoo hoo!

Finished product.  I LOVE that beautiful red color.  It tastes pretty good too.

Next project, get ready for the garden.  I found this neat idea on giverslog to make seed tape.  I thought this would be a great way to make planting easier, and avoiding wasting seeds.  Hers are much prettier, of course, and since we don't take the paper, we used toilet paper instead of newspaper. 

I made a paste of flour and water, and marked spacing with a pencil for my big girl to follow.

She dabbed the paste in the right spot, and then we put 2-3 seeds per glob.

We'll be planting these tomorrow.  We made tape for carrots, green onions, lettuce, and spinach.  If the weather would just cooperate!
Lastly, we made some crop markers for our garden out of left over particle board.  Spray paint and some lettering practice...check.  Easy peasy.

What's been keeping you busy these days?

Linked up to The Thrifty BA, Kojo Designs, Tatertots and Jello,  Along for the Ride, and Under the Table and Dreaming.

Boudoir Pillow Tutorial

This has to be my favorite project so far that I've done for SYTYC...mostly  because I finally accomplished something I'd wanted to do for almost two years.  The readers who voted, wanted to learn how to make this pillow, so let's get to it.

First of all, a word on fabrics.  The floral is a Moda piece by Sanae from her Panache collection.  The pink and gold are Joel Dewberry that I had in my stash, and matched as a happy coincidence.  The blue I found on Z & S fabric's sale...I think I intended it for Easter dresses that didn't get done this year.  The brown solid is a Kona Cotton piece.  This was my first foray into Kona Cotton...and I am in love.  It is thick and soft and cuts beautifully.  The white fabric came from scraps I had from making a muslin I discussed in this post.

Dress up your bedroom for SYTYC

So, I was the only one who didn't do dress-up clothes of some sort for this week's SYTYC.  You could say I was thinking outside the box...but really, I've wanted to make throw pillows for my room for so long, it was a great excuse to get it done.  I found that floral fabric on winter clearance last December, and snatched up the last 1/4 yard.  It was the basis of all three designs.  I've smiled every time I walk into my bedroom.  I hope you liked them too.

I was wondering.  Before I write a tutorial for all three pillow designs, I'd like your opinion.  Would you like all three tutorials...or just one of the pillows?  If so, which one?

Leave a comment with your vote, and then I'll put things together based on your preferences.  Would you like:

 (A) the Ruffle Pillow

(B) the Window Pillow

or

(C) the Stripe Pillow?

I really appreciate each of you.  I keep writing my blog and sharing ideas because of the feedback I receive...whether in comments or email.  Thank you.

Linking up to Tatertots and Jello,  Under the Table and Dreaming,  The Girl Creative, and Those Northern Skies.

Reader's birthday banner

This has to be one of my favorite things. I love finding surprises in the Flickr pool...even if I forget to check it!

happy_birthday_banner, originally uploaded by MakeitFabulous.

Marisa made this awesome birthday banner using my birthday banner tutorial, and modern letter templates.  I'm so grateful that she not only made something from one of my tutorials...but she was willing to share it, too.  


I would love to feature your creations.  It is thrilling to see that someone took a tutorial of mine, and made something new and wonderful with it.  Thanks, Marisa for bringing a huge smile to my face. 

Painting a shirt with my little boy

I ran across this stuff in the Wal-Mart craft clearance aisle the other day.

It's paint that is supposed to make any regular craft paint into a fabric paint.  It was only $1.50, so I picked up some thinking it might be fun to play with.  Last week when my little guy wanted to do a project with me, I decided to give it a try.  Of course, he wanted to make a robot shirt.  So, I sketched a robot out on freezer paper, with plenty of input from my son.

I cut out the design on my cutting board using my trusty pocket knife.  I included eyes, mouth, and heart, hoping the details would show through.

I ironed on the design, and then put my cutting board covered with some wax paper inside the shirt.

I mixed up the paint according to the directions, and we had fun painting.  I was a little dismayed at how thin the paint was.  It would have been better on a shirt that wasn't so dark.  We set it out to dry in the sun, and then I later ironed it to set it.  Mind you, we're working with an old t-shirt that had some pilling in the striped zone.  I was disappointed to find that the paint seeped under the smaller pieces of freezer paper, so the eyes and mouth didn't come through.

But my little guy is thrilled with his "new" robot shirt...and that is what matters.

Another guest post

Hi there.  Totally coincidental, but I happen to have another guest post this week.  This time I'm over at Blue Cricket Design.  I'm sharing a new hair clippie design, I hope you'll like.  Check it out.  :)

Click the button above, and it will take you to the post.

Teacher's Coverall Apron Tutorial

As seen on SYTYC, the Teacher's Cover-all Apron.   If you wish to make one for your favorite teacher, or one for yourself, here's the ho-to:

Guest Posting

Hi there, friends.
I am popping up over at:



If you haven't met Laura yet, she is a lot of fun and has some great ideas. Come and see!

For All Mothers

If ever you doubt your role as a mother, please watch this video. You are critical in the lives of your children. God will buoy you up and help you through whatever task you have before you. He loves you. You are caring for His children too.



Thank you for reading and supporting me. Happy Mother's Day.

p.s. if you'd like to read a great essay also on this topic, see Cally's guest post on Sparkle Power! from earlier this week.  

A gift for my favorite teacher

Here's my SYTYC week three entry:

It's for my mama, who valiantly teaches first grade each day. She was my inspiration, and I can't wait to bring it to her this weekend. Tutorial will be up next week.  I'm in Utah right now visiting my family, so it will probably be Tuesday when I get it posted. 

Hope you're all doing well. I've been super busy with lots of fun things. I'll share more soon!

Noodlehead Gathered Clutches for my Grandmothers

Have you enjoyed Dana and Disney's Celebrate Mom?  I have found some great ideas to use in the future.  One that I HAD to try now, (Mother's Day is Sunday after all!), was Anna at Noodlehead's Gathered Clutch.  Anna is the Queen of zipper projects.  She has some beautiful ideas, and writes great tutorials.  I'm sure you probably knew that, but there's my 2 cents.  :)  I needed to make four gifts.  Two for my grandmothers, and two as thank you gifts. 

I cut out four clutches late Wednesday.  Luckily, I had everything I needed on hand...including the YKK zippers I'd picked up out of the bargain bin for 50 cents each.  I just matched fabric in my stash to the zippers I had. I am not fond of zippers, and had to pick out the first one I made a couple times, but once I got the hang of it, these went so quickly.  Total time for putting four together, including the learning curve, two hours.  This is a quick, beautiful project, with pretty results.  If you are still looking for a classy last minute project, go for it!  Now I know what to  make for my kids' teachers at the end of the school year.  Thank you again, Anna.  :)

Just as a post script, does anyone know why a camera sees white so differently?  Each of these photos was taken on the same background...but the white in each is different!  Someday I need to take a photography class.

Featured on A Few of My Favorite Things and MADE!!!

Linked up with Along for the Ride, Favorite Things Friday, Tatertots ad Jello and Under the Table and Dreaming, and Today's Creative Blog.

Pedicure Kit Tutorial

 

Here is the second and final installment of my pedicure kit. This bag was a lot of fun to make, and would make a great toiletry kit, too. I made two of these bags, and learned a few things. So, some pictures are with one bag, and some are with the other. I hope that doesn't throw anyone off. :)

1 yard cotton fabric (if you are making your own bias tape, too)
1/2 yard coordinating cotton fabric
1/2 yard cotton batting
7-8" inch zipper
10" piece of 1/4" elastic
two metal snaps
63" of 1.5" wide bias tape
small scrap of fabric 12.5" by 9.5" for inner zipper pocket
plus, scraps of interfacing for the bottom and where the snaps will attach
As always, prewash your fabric.

Spa Slipper Tutorial

Years ago, I was given a pair of spa slippers that were styled like flip flops.  I thought it would be fun to make some for my mom, and this tutorial evolved from there.  When I was given the "bath time" theme at SYTYC, I immediately wanted to make a pedicure kit, with these as part of the kit.  The pedicure kit bag tutorial will follow tomorrow. 

Let's go!