Day 12 Giveaway! What did you think you missed something?

Hello!

My 12 days hit a train wreck this week!

Here's pics of what I did Mon & Tues! (hint: for some reason it's not sewing... hmmm.)

Pretty huh!

Yup, we had a surprise wedding this weekend! That I was lucky enough to be able to help plan and execute!

I have to say I'm pretty proud of this cake! It can definitely be improved upon but I think it came out pretty well. It was my first time using gum paste to make flowers. It was so fun!

Well that's what was happening early this week, instead of sewing,

but I have to show you the ball pattern that I still want to make for my little boy.

Yeah, definitely still want to make it :)

And don't you love the fabric combo used on Tadaa Studio's grab ball?!

It's adorable! I may be digging out a little more midwest modern!

It was going to be day 10 but seeing how that didn't work out, do you think there's still time?

It's not Christmas day yet. :D And only a few parties between here and there.

This girl made her grab balls mini sized, and turned them into ornaments!

Next year when there isn't a wedding the week of christmas I'm definitely making those!

Anyway, Since you've made it this far in my wordy blog, I'll reward you!

(Do you feel like your reading one of those infomercial websites yet :) )

I said giveaway and I meant it!

How do 3 half yard cuts of Heather Ross sound... Merry Christmas to you, huh! hehe :)

I love many things Heather Ross and Far far away was no different.

I picked these up at market and now I'm sharing a few with you!

Included is the frog prince,

A wildflower piece,

And what far far away grouping would be complete without something as magical as a unicorn?

I also decided to throw in a couple of my leftover pieces of Anna Griffin's gorgeous Riley prints!

Hurray! Can you say bonus!

What do you do?

As expected comment to be entered & blog about this to get 3 extra entries!

Don't forget to come back and tell me so I can give you credit!

This will be open until the 31st I'll announce the winner sometime in the first week of January! Ooo, it's happy New year presents too! Yay!

One last thing, please make sure I have a way to contact you! Either leave your email or make sure you're not a no-reply (sometimes it happens and you don't even know it).

So, tell me, is it worth it to you for some way cute

free Heather Ross and Anna Griffin?

you tell me :D

Merry Christmas everyone! And a Happy New Year!

9 fabric gift tags!

9 fabric gift tags... or will I need more?

Sheesh I think Christmas is the only time of year I come even close to disliking shopping! But with all those gifts we can't forget the wrapping and that means tags! Atleast for the pretty gifts :)

For your custom fabric gift tags take 1 light and 1 dark square of fabric adhere them together with a steam a seam type material to make double sided fabric.

Cut a 3"x6" piece of foil. Put steam a seam on the dull side of it.

from your double sided fabric cut a 2.5" circle.

Trim your foil to slightly thinner than your circle.

Give it decorative ends and fold it so the ends just grab the top of the circle. Iron in place.

Trim the foil top like an ornament hanger and voila, one down!

Can you see Santa's special tag?

Write on the light side to that special someone!

5 Brand New Crayons!

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, 5 Brand New Crayons!

...Plus a few extra incase those first 5 get broken :)

I love crayon rolls!

It's my personal opinion that if you have a child between the ages of 3 and 8 a great go-to gift is always going to be a crayon roll!

Kids are so creative at that age and these give coloring there own style and even more fun!

I've been looking for the perfect way to use this great novelty print from Bunny Hill Designs (Japanese Import fabrics) and this is going to be perfect!

And to top it off they're really simple!

You can make one from a fat quarter, a batting scrap, and some binding in an hour or so! Seriously!

Christmas gift done? Check!

I love that!

To make your own~

cut 2-5"x20"strips (one is the outside) and 1-6"x20" (I left mine long and trimmed later, all of my strips were approx. 8"x22" but if using a fat quarter you'll need to be a little more stingy with your fabric!)

Fold the 6" strip in half lengthwise and stack on the matching 5" strip lining up across the bottom edge. Sandwich with the outside layer, a piece of batting cut slightly larger than the whole project, and the inside strip and folded strip.

Now baste, pin, whatever, just prep it for quilting. Sew strips across the short width of the quilt sandwich, 3/4" apart, to quilt and make your crayon pockets at the same time.

Making sure you have enough pockets for the number of crayons you will be using (I have 24 crayons and trimmed it to 26 pockets so I could bind it)

Square and trim your mini quilt roll to approx 5"x 18 1/2"

Bind as desired and add your crayons. Roll up and place a pin where the overlap ends.

Unroll and remove the crayons (atleast the 4 around the pin) and stitch in place a 1" piece of velcro sewing only on the already stitched seams. Cut out a shape from an accent fabric batting and backing, (Mine was cut from excess that was already quilted together) quilt it and attach half to the end of the crayon roll sew the other side of the velcro to the underside of the shape.

Put all your crayons back in and roll it up!

Your Done!

(After the fact, I measured and if you want to add your velcro during the first stage of quilting it should go on between about 7 3/4" and 8 1/4" according to my finished roll. I have yet to test that number though :) Good Luck!)

On the 2nd Day of Christmas - 2 Monkey Belts

For our 2nd Day of Christmas we're making 2 Monkey belts! I'm finally breaking into my Anna Griffin fabric that I was thrilled to pick up at Market during sample spree! Look at the amazing colors! I love them! And hopefully my girls will love there stylin' new belts made from this fabulous stuff!

Here's our list of Materials (for one belt)~

1- 2.5"-5" strip cut to the WOF (width of fabric)
Meaning- Depending on how thick you want your belt to end up choose 1-5" strip, 2-2.5" strips, 1-2.5" strip, or 2- 1.5" strips, etc. Which means it doesn't really matter break out some leftover jelly roll or honey bun strips or whatever else you have lying around!
1-strip of heavy iron on interfacing cut to the same thickness
1- wide skirt or pants style hook should look something like this
Begin by choosing your main fabric and ironing the interfacing to the back of it.
Next grab the waist measurements or a pair of jeans belonging to the child your making this for.

Measure around the waist band.

My basic measurement is going to be 26" But I'm also making a belt for a child slightly smaller than this one so I going to start my hooks a little small and if I'm lucky they'll share :)
Instead of making loops or buttonholes or other closures to attach our hooks I'm making sturdy pleats. They won't look out of place regardless of which space her belt hooks and it's not gonna fray or cause other problems.

For the pleats start by pining about an inch before the full measurement. My daughters belt size was 26" so I'm placing my first pleat at approximately 25"
(I'm putting in quite a few pleats so I'm not to worried about seam allowances and exact placement. My goal is for it to adjustable and versatile... and low stress :) )

The first pins you'll place 1" apart after that place a pin every 1.5" I put in around 8 pins.

When you fold your pleats over fold the first so the pins meet, pulling the fabric toward the main length of the belt. Iron and pin the pleat in place.

As you continue folding your pleats over pull them so they come to the bottom edge of the pleat in front of it. You'll have to do this by feel.
(If you want pins to match up to, put one every 1", then 1/2", then 1", then 1/2", etc. and you'll pull up each pin that is 1" apart to meet the one in front of it... I didn't want to do that much work so I eyeballed it.)

When your through pining fold the belt in half (or sew together if using 2 pieces) and iron and stitch along the ironed center line. (this keeps the pleats in place for easier turning)

Fold right sides together and stitch closed along the edge open edge leaving the end near the pleats open for turning. (Mine is stitched twice because I decided to make it a little thinner, oops)
Turn your belt and finger press flat. Turn in the open end and stitch closed. Stitch 2 lines down the length of your belt leaving an approximate 1/2" space down the middle, so there's enough room for the hook to grab, backstitch the ends. If desired fussy cut a shape from excess interfaced fabric and sew to the front of the un-pleated side of the belt. Attach your hook to the inside of the belt under the fussy cut image.

And you're done! Great job!
Gift #2... check!

Enjoy your Merry Christmas!

Make some treats today! Hopefully, not for a school bake sale.
Enjoy!

Halloween treats! mmmm...

These are the Halloween treat bags that Hillary made.

This is the fabric that makes up the Halloween treat bags that Hillary made.

This is the tutorial that is used on the fabric that makes up the Halloween treat bags that Hillary made.

Supplies needed~
Main color - 1/2 yard
Center panel - 1/2 Fat Quarter contrasting color
Embellishments~
Black - 2 small 5"x5" squares
Batting - 5"x5"


Start with your center panel fabric and cut in half so you have 2-9x22" pieces. Trim selvages from one to make a 9"x21" piece.

Set the other strip aside. You will not need it for this bag.

From your main color cut 1- 5" strip the WOF. Sub cut into 2-21" strips. From the remaining fabric fold fabric in half (selvages down) and in half the other way so you have 8 thicknesses of fabric and 4 folds. Click here to print the pattern for the handle. Place on the fold & cut out as directed. After cutting out the pattern, cut through the indicated fold. Not both folds!


You should have 4 full handles with a cut through the center of the lower strip. Place 2 fabric pieces right sides together and sew along the outer edge & repeat. I would suggest serging or adding a zigzag to help secure the seams since kids can be pretty hard on these :) They should look like one of these. For your own reference I will be serging the edges of my treat bags.


Open both handles and place right sides of both pieces together and sew the side seams down


leaving the ends and edges that will be the rim and lower center front seams open


Put lower center seams right sides together and sew to form the rim of the bag.


Your handle and bag rim are finished! Press it flat and let's move on to the bag.


Sew 1- 5x21" strip to both sides of your center panel


Sew these seams 1/2" thick and finish the edges to secure them. (these bags are unlined)


Fold the bag right sides together vertically and sew side seams together at 1/2" thick again.

Pin the bag rim in place along the edge of the sewn bag, matching side seams. Pin the main fabric flat to the rim and find the center of the center panel and match that to the center seam.


Sew together, lightly gathering the center panel. Serge or zigzag the other rim edge.
Flip everything right side out.


Turn the inside rim edge under and topstitch around the seam catching the inside edge to hold it in place.


Add whatever embellishments you like :) I drew a little bat mirroring the fabric design and cut it out from my black fabric and batting made a quilt sandwich and free motioned stitched around the edge twice, then attached him to the bag by stitching him in place around the head and base of his wings.

Happy trick or treating!

Now it's your turn. These are the comments that are left by the people who liked the tutorial that is used on the fabric that makes up the Halloween treat bags that Hillary made.
Maybe will even get some picture links to people who've tried it and now have some seriously stylish kids ready to paint the town Halloween night!