Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Advent Paper Chain Kit

Just in time for December 1st I’ve put together an advent paper chain kit to make as a little Thanksgiving treat for the kiddos. It’s a fun project to put together and a visual way to count down the days to Christmas. I even made some templates so you can DIY. I LOVE this idea!

Step 1 – Print this document on the back side of some Holiday themed scrapbook paper (there are 7 pages)
Step 2 – Cut out the strips
Step 3 – Print the Thanksgiving bag topper & the Paper Chain Kit Instructions on card stock
Step 4 – Cut the bag toppers so that there’s room (about 2 inches) above the design to fold it over like a name tent
Step 5 – Put the Dec. 1st-25th strips & the instructions in a zip top baggie. Fold the bag topper over the top of the bag and staple

I don’t think this is the last you’ve seen of this advent paper chain idea… the wheels are turning… stay tuned.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Library Tote

Perusing book shelves, whispering to each other, and hunting down favorite reads, has become Elle and my favorite way to spend a Tuesday afternoon. We usually head home with a tote bag so laden with books, audio books, and DVDs, that it’s too heavy for Elle to carry. Good thing we carry a sturdy (and adorable too) tote like this one made by the very talented Red Marionette! One of Elle’s friends happens to enjoy the library as much as we do, so a tote of her own made a special birthday gift. It’s an easy project, a good excuse to use some of your favorite fabric, and makes a thoughtful gift when paired with a good book or two.

So here you go, a simple tote that’s just the right size for the smarty pants in your life:

1)Measure. I measured one of Elle’s largest books and added 2 inches to each side to come up with the measurement for my tote. Mine was 12” x 15” but you can make it in whatever size you like.

2)Cut two of the outside print and two of the lining (I ironed a fusible stabilizer to the lining pieces before I cut them… you can skip this step if you’d like. It makes it a bit sturdier though, so I prefer it) the size of your measurement from #1. Cut two strips of your outside fabric 8” wide x however long you would like the straps to be

3)Press the strips into double fold bias tape (press it in half, open it up and press each edge into the middle, fold it in half again, encasing the raw edges)

4)Sew body of the bag. With right sides facing each other, sew 3 sides of the two pieces of the outside fabric together. Leave one of the short sides un-sewn. Repeat with the lining fabric, leaving a 3” opening in sewn short side.
5)Sew straps. Sew along the edges of each long side of the straps

6)Bottom of the bag – With right sides still facing, open the body of the bag up and squeeze the bottom corner together so that the side seam and the bottom seam are touching each other. Sew perpendicular to the seams about 1.5” from the corner (the blue line in the picture above). Cut off the top of the triangle to lessen the bulk. Repeat for both bottom corners of outside fabric and lining.

7)Pin. Flip the outside fabric right sides out and place it inside the lining pieces so that the lining and the outside fabric is right sides together. Place the handles between the outside and lining pieces and pin them on both sides of the bag with the ends about 2.5” from the side seam. Pin the rest of the top raw edges together.
8)Sew around the top of the bag.

9)Pull the outside of the bag through the opening in the lining. Sew the opening in the bottom of the lining shut. Push the lining into the bottom of the bag.
10)Top Stitch around the top of the bag (You don’t have to do this step, but it gives the tote a finished look and rounds out these instructions to 10)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Bo Peep

Why do I always forget how much I dislike sewing clothes from a pattern? If I decide to do it again in the future I really must take a class because there has got to be some secret trick I’m missing. They NEVER fit according to the size indicated on the pattern. Every time I make an outfit I try it on once I get the main pieces together and it’s always off by a mile. Elle’s Bo Peep costume was no different. Here’s what it should look like according to the pattern I bought (McCall's M5728):

I started with the vest. When I tried it on her, I could grab about 8” of material in the back. If I tried to make the back smaller the arm holes got too small. So, I decided to cut the sleeves off and make it a strapless top. I finished the top, made the white shirt, and the hat. I would’ve made a white tutu, but I’ve been seriously busy lately and decided to just cut down a long tutu I made for her for another costume she wore… even though it was sort of purpley… I figured “it’ll be dark when people see the costume anyway” (except for on my blog… duh!).

I finish everything and try it on her… the vest without sleeves (a.k.a. a strapless top) isn’t long enough. If she wears it up under her arms the peplum thingies stick out from her rib cage. Sooo, she had to wear it low Oktoberfest/slutty Halloween costume bustiere style:

So it didn’t turn out exactly like I had envisioned, but I’m happy with it over all. She got so many compliments on her costume! She spent the entire night saying “Thank you. My Mommy made it for me” and “Mommy, everyone loves my costume!”

Oh, and apparently sewing your own Bo Peep costume is the only way to do it these days because you can’t purchase one at a Halloween store. I thought we would be able to pick up a crook somewhere, but no... knives that spurt blood, bullet shot wounds,and machetes yes, wholesome story book character accessories no. Daddy had to get creative and heat up some PVC tubing, bend it into a crook, and put a rubber stopper on the bottom. I sewed a white satin sleeve for it and hot glued ribbon & bow around it.

Of course there also has to be a sheep… in the stroller. Cotton balls glued to a onesie with fabric glue and a cutesy lamb ear hat crocheted by Grandma made for the cutest sheep around.

I love this picture! I need to add the caption "Ha ha very funny... have you had your fun yet... hmmm??"

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 
Simply Yours Designs Cute Blogger Templates