COWBOY BIBS

My friend is having a baby boy and so, I made her a set of these cute bibs.

I have always loved cowboy stuff for boys. You can also make some for girls using hot pink or purple bandannas. 

Here is what you need:

• Bandanna's ( I got both of these at JoAnn's for $1.87 with a coupon) 
• double fold bias tape 
• terry cloth (you can usually find different colors at most fabric stores but you can also use a hand towel)  

Step #1

Cut your bandanna's in half. I like to iron a line down the middle.

Step #2

Hem the part of the bandanna that you just cut.  

Step # 3

Cut out a piece of terry cloth into this shape.  I made mine small for a smaller baby but you can also cut them bigger. 

Step #4
Sew on your bias tape.  I like to start with one piece on the top straight edge and then do a second piece on the curved edge, fold down bias tape edges to finish. 

Step #5

Fold both the bandanna and the terry cloth part in half and iron down the middle.   

Step #6

Pin the bandanna how you like it, make sure to line up the middles. 

Step # 7

 Attach the bandanna by sewing like this.  

Step # 8

Fold the bandana down in front and then make small folds in the back and pin.   I am sorry that I don't really have a great picture of this.  You just have to play with your bandanna until you like how it looks.



Step #9
 Sew a line down the middle.  When you get a little past the fold, reverse and sew all the way back.  

Step#10
Tie it around a cute baby.  My baby is getting a little old for a bib but I just told him he was a cowboy.

March-National Reading Month

I know, like I really needed an excuse to plop down on the couch with a good book. In all seriousness, as a former history teacher our school once had to give up teaching all social-studies classes to teach our 8th grade inner-city students to read.  We can never underestimate the importance of raising readers.  So, I was obviously thrilled when I discovered that an amazing mother had set up a  reading program that you can participate in with your little ones.  She and others have picked some great children's books and have provided some fun activities that coincide with those books.  Click the picture below, check it out, and enjoy a good book with your kiddos!

Shirt Downsize

Harley Belle was born in May and we had a beach weekend 3 weeks later.  Yeah, I looked FAN-freakin-Tastic!   Especially, since I am lucky enough to gain at least 70 lbs., sometimes more, with each bundle of joy. Anyway, I bought a bunch of new clothes for the summer. You know, the post-baby clothes.  Although it makes me very happy to say this, most of those cute clothes don't fit anymore. Then again, I am not ready to just toss them aside.  So, here is my solution.  

First, find a shirt that does fit or even a shirt that is a bit snug.  Turn the shirt that is too large inside out and then pin the shirt that does fit on top of the large shirt, like so...

  Now, bust out the sewing machine and stitch along the small shirt. Careful! Don't sew the small shirt to the big shirt.  That would be a disaster.  Just stay as close as you can to the shirt that fits with the foot of your machine.  TIP:  Sewing knit fabrics is kind of tough. Sometimes the fabric gathers even when you don't want it too.  Make sure to pull the fabric very tightly as you sew.

Next, unpin the small shirt. You should have a stitch along the sides of your large shirt that looks something like this.

Next, turn your large shirt right side out and try it on.  If the fit is good, turn it inside out again and trim the excess fabric.

Realistically, most of us don't get to down-size the size of our clothes very often. At least, I don't any way.  But, let me give you a few other examples of when this technique comes in handy.  The other day I was at Target.  They had some adorable shirts on sale for $2.  Unfortunately, they were all too large.  If I had only thought of this idea sooner I would have stocked up on these great deals!  Also, we each have those T-shirts we get for something we participated in,  like the local Fun Run or Church Basketball.  They are always perfectly rectangular and totally unflattering.  Why not add a little femininity to your tee by using this method.

Here is one of the shirts I down sized.  Probably should have taken a BEFORE picture for the full effect!  Live and learn.

St. Patty's Skirts, Shirts, & More

I must confess that I am not really into St. Patrick's day. It just seems like an excuse to get drunk and wear an obscence amount of green, both of which are a little disgusting in my book. But, we were actually invited to a neighborhood party this year so I thought, "What the heck?  Why not pretend to be Irish!"

Above you will see my St. Patty's Day Cupcake Wreath.  I love these wreaths. They are easy, cheap, and there seems to be a cupcake holder designed for each holiday and season. By the way, I bought the letter "B" in the dollar bins at Michael's.  For the tutorial on how to make your own Cupcake Holder Wreath, visit my FAMILY BLOG. 

Belle most certainly needed a TUTU for the occassion.  This is what I came up with. And yes, this is the best picture I could get. She is impossibly busy these days and a little naughty too!

First, gather your supplies.  I used elastic, toile, and ribbon.  (I have no idea why this picture refused to face the right direction, but hopefully you get the point.)  This roll of toile I found at Michael's for $2.99 using my 40% coupon it was...well, less.  The roll makes about 3 small TUTUS. 

 Cut a strip of elastic. Either measure your daughter's waist leaving a seam allowance for when you sew it together or cut it long enough to tie around her waist when the skirt is completed.

Next, never mind the embarassing picture with my lunch and other craft projects messily scattered all over my table and unroll your toile. I cut mine into 20 inch strips (my baby is a large 10 month old).  And then I cut those strips in half length- wise to create more narrow strips of toile.

Take one strip and fold it in half making a "U" shape, slide the curved part of your "U" under the elastic.

Now, take the bottom of your toile pull it over your elastic and into the "U."

Pull tight and then repeat until your tutu is full and fluffy.

I added some ribbons to the skirt in the same way that I attached the toile. I chose to sew the elastic together to fit Bell's waist but as I mentioned earlier you can certainly just tie it in the back.

Finally, I made the boys these LUCKY shirts using the Freezer Paper technique that I LOVE so very much.  (See our projects for a tutorial)

That's it!  My crafty contribution to Irish culture. We are now offically one big happy fake Irish family!

Mission: Organization

I once saw this Oprah with, what's-his-name-organization guy.  Oprah and what's-his-face completely reorganized the most disorganized home in America.  They went to the Container Store to accomplish this amazing feat.  Boy, was I inspired. I almost immediately took myself to the Container Store where I sadly realized that I wasn't rich enough to be organized.  Well, here are a few simple and cheap organization ideas that I recently implemented in my home.  (No Oprah, what's-his-name, or Container Store necessary)

Does anyone else accumulate "STUFF" at the bottom of their stairs? 

  I feel like I am constantly putting something at the bottom or top of my stairs that needs to go up or down.  Here is my solution.  Place a box at the bottom and top,  fill it up and take it all at once.  First, I took some big boxes and cut off the flaps from the top.

I covered the bottoms with fabric.  I wish that I had some easy tip on how to cover the boxes.  I just wrapped them as best I could, cut, glued, and played with the fabric until I was satisfied.

 Next, I covered the top and inside of the boxes with some canvas and added some vinyl letters. I cut my letters out with a Cricut but you could always free draw or print the letters and hot glue them onto your fabric.

My desk and computer are safely hidden behind a pair of closet doors but  I feel the need to get even my hidden messes under control.  I used cereal boxes and wrapping paper to solve this problem.  First, trim the boxes to the size that works for your needs.

I used wrapping paper to cover the boxes and then added the labels. I have one for bills, things to be filed, coupons, computer paper, school stuff, and misc.

I used two tacks on the inside of my boxes to stick them onto the wall. Fast, easy, cheap and a totally effective solution.

St. Patricks Day Fun!

 

Here are a few fun ideas for kids for St. Patrick’s Day. 

Gumball necklaces!  I saw a tutorial on this Blog for Valentine’s Day and so we made a St. Patrick’s Day version.  We got our gumballs at the dollar store. It was easy and Allie loved it.   

Green Bow ties! The boys were feeling left out so I tried out this tutorial.


St. Patrick's Day Food Ideas

My mom always made us green oatmeal.  It looked gross but we loved it. 

You can use green food coloring and draw a picture or your kids name on a piece of bread and then toast it. 

lime jello is a simple fun food.  You can also make lemon for gold. 

Green milk in your cereal.  My sister in law Mona always lets her kids have Lucky Charms only on that day.

 mint chocolate chip ice cream

Anything that is rainbow will work for that day also.  We love the Twizzler's that are rainbow colors.   

St. Patrick's Day Fun

Make a leprechaun trap.  Have your kids try and make a trap to catch the leprechauns and then put it out the night before.  There are lots of ideas here.  Ethan's kindergarten class did this last year and the leprechaun's came in the night and stamped all of the kids traps with a shamrock but none of the traps caught the leprechaun's.    

Leprechaun mischief.  My sister in law Mona's makes green foot prints like this, the leprechaun's come in the night and pull out everything that is green that they can find. plants, books etc.  They can also turn the milk green or toilet water green. At the end of the footprints she has a small treat for the kids to share like chocolate gold coins or green peeps.  She says it is helpful to tell the kids that the Leprechaun's only come to the downstairs so that the kids are not scared at night.


Most of all remember to keep it simple.  It doesn't take much to make the day special for your kids.