Handmade Holiday

The Handmade/DIY Holiday started with this idea I saw on Pinterest for a Snowman Wreath.  Ryan and I went down to Houston one weekend to see Kevin and Steph.  The boys went to some beerfest thing... they had a good time, I think. Ha.  Steph and I went to Michaels then did some crafting while Cason napped, then we picked the boys up.  What started as three little cheap wreaths and some yarn...

Ended up this cute guy on my door!  Thanks for helping me wrap the wreaths, Steph.  It was way more time consuming than we though, but a perfect task to sit, chat, eat cookies, and craft.  Very mindless.

Then, Whit, Steph and I decided we'd do a handmade holiday theme for our gifts to each other... we all have a crafty side and with the help of Pinterest, I think our "to do" lists have gotten really long.  I was excited to try some of the things I had pinned.

I started with these necklaces made using Mod Podge Dimensional, scrapbook paper and little pearls.  It took me a couple of tries (you can soak the Mod Podge off and start over) but finally got it right.

Then I added these dishtowel aprons... mainly because I found the super cute black, yellow and white fabric and wanted to use it.  The inspiration was from this blog. I loved the idea of using a dishtowel because you can just wipe your hands right on your apron.  This should be an easy project... just add some trim and a waistband... but it was not as easy as I hoped.  Mainly because dishtowels are not perfectly made... the edges aren't straight.  It wasn't difficult but it wasn't a 30 minute project like I hoped. I never got a picture of the apron on because, well, I'm pregnant and it didn't fit.  Ryan's mom got one too!

I also made these, but forgot to take pictures.

Then, the theme continued with the men in Ryan's family.  I'd seen the idea of a "Year of Yum" on Pinterest and knew Ryan's dad and brothers would appreciate some of my baked treats.  I found these cute tins at Container Store and added the foam scrapbook letters.  We gave the boys a note with the "rules"... essentially they could get unlimited refills all year by returning the tin to one of us... Of course, Ryan's dad had a special rule that he couldn't return it to Ryan at work because, well, that could get out of hand!  :)  I filled the tins the first time with iced sugar cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint bark.

My brother also got in on the handmade holiday... again thanks to Pinterest.  I guess I never saved the idea, but it was for a Lego belt.  Lego's have a deep history in my family.  I have lots of memories of me and James building whole cities in the hall of my parents house.  He still, to this day, LOVES Lego's and has shared that love with my niece.  Ryan loves Lego's too and Cason is falling in love himself.  We are a Lego Family.  I knew, of all the men in my life, James would appreciate and wear this belt.  I just got a basic canvas belt from Target and spruced it up with some of our childhood Lego's, dirt and all!  Ha.  James recognized the pieces as part of my old Hospital set.  He's correct.

And last, I was at a loss for what to get my Mom.  She likes to knit but I know nothing about knitting.  After some suggestions from some knitter friends, I found the idea of a case for her needles... and all the ones I saw I thought "I could do that".  So I started searching for tutorials.  I didn't find anything exactly what I wanted so I just took a few different ones and made it on my own.  Again, with that super cute yellow, black and white fabric that I'd found at Wal-mart of all places.  This project was super easy, a variation of the crayon roll I've made before.  Mom loved it!

Okay... one more... And not necessarily part of Holiday gifts, but I wrapped up my season of sewing with Curtains and Baskets in Claire's room and these fun aprons for my "sprinkle" hostesses... made using this tutorial (minus the pocket because I don't really ever use a pocket on an apron).  I bought three coordinating fabrics and mixed and matched, using muslin for the back side.  After the 3rd one, I had the process down pretty good and can see myself making these again in the future.  It was a fun, not too difficult project with good results.

Whew... now I know why I've been so tired... between Cason, Claire, Work and all these projects... I've been busy.

Sewing Projects

The new Call of Duty (XBox game) came out today and Ryan was dying to play.  So after Cason went to bed I sat down at the sewing machine to work on a couple of things.  I guess you might call me an “XBox Widow” – as opposed to a “Hunting Widow” or “Fishing Widow”.  But it’s okay.  He enjoys it and I get a little time to do girly things.. like sew.

I’ve been dying to try the 10-minute-onesie-dress from PrudentBaby for quite some time.  Seeing as we have a little boy though, it hasn’t been the top of the list.   I finally gave it a try tonight to see how easy it really is and determine if I want to make some more for gifts.   My first attempt took me 30 minutes.  I’m just not that fast of a seamstress… it took me 10 minutes just to do the hem.  Anyway, I say “first attempt” because after I sewed the whole thing and turned it right side out I wasn’t 100% happy and realized I could have done things a little different.  So, out came the seam ripper. I took the skirt off and did it again.  The whole process took an hour but next time, I’m thinking 30 minutes, tops.  I was happy with the final product and think I might hang this in the empty bedroom and hope it brings me a little girl to wear it one day!  ;)

     

This weekend I made a Fat Quarter Apron using some of the fun coordinating fabrics I’ve been collecting (from my friend Ashley) and saving “for a rainy day”.  This was my first time using Bias Tape and it was a good thing to learn.  The apron was easy, no troubles to speak of.  I use a little grosgrain ribbon for ties since.  Next time I think I’ll just make the Apron reversible using coordinating Fat Quarters.  This way I can just sew the two pieces together like a pillowcase, flip right side out and add the band at the top.  Much less tedious than the bias tape and anything that is reversible makes you think you got 2 for 1!  

   

And last, a few bib and burp cloth sets I’ve made as gifts.

These were for Erica.  I realized that I had this bird fabric which is the same fabric (different colors) as Miss O’s nursery.  And, the pink cowgirl was sort of a joke because Erica swore Miss O would never wear pink… ever… so I just couldn’t resist all the pink and the Texas cowgirl print.  (PS, little Miss Priss does wear pink…  never say “never”)

  

And these were for my brother and Taylor and my new nephew Mo.  Three different colors of the Michael Miller “Haul It” Print.  I love this fabric and have some left over that I’m trying to figure out what I want to make for Cason.

 

Future projects I’m hoping to accomplish:

• Long Sleeve Peasant Dress
• This cute little John-John for Spring
• Reversible version of the Fat Quarter Apron

Too Cute

A friend of mine posted this on her Facebook today. She has a little girl and another on the way.  I hope I have a little girl one day so I can make cute things like this.

Prudent Baby's "10 Minute Onesie Dress - Easiest Dress Ever"

I'm really just posting this so that I can find it later because I want to make these one day -- for my own daughter, niece, friend's daughter...

Cookie Mix in a Jar

As gifts for my Baby Shower Hostesses, I made these and thought they turned out great!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix In A Jar
by:Nestle Meals.com

Ingredients In the Jar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 Quart Canning Jar


Filling the Jar
Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.


Recipe to Attach 
Preheat oven to 375° F. Beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Add cookie mix and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional); mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.


Tips:

• After a test run, I measured out all my ingredients into separate bowls so that I could setup an assembly line… Mom was helping. 
• I found that it was best to slightly pack the flour after placing in the jar. 
• When layering in the chocolate chips, spoon them in gently (as opposed to pouring them in fast) so that they don’t sink into the flour. 
• You can play with the layering… I did two jars as flour, chips, brown sugar, flour, chips, brown sugar and two jars as flour, chips, brown sugar.  The second approach filled the jar better, probably because I packed the flour too much in the first approach (pictured). 
• The key is to always pack brown sugar on top of the chips if you are going to put flour on top.  Otherwise, the flour seeps down into the cracks between chips. 
• And always pack brown sugar as the last layer to seal everything together.

I did a test run of the full recipe before starting the project to make sure the cookies were actually good… they were.  To finish off the jars, I tied a cute spatula around with cute ribbon.  They turned out pretty cute!


Thanks to Suz, Jenn, Whit and Steph for a great shower!