Wednesday, December 30, 2009

It's been awhile

Wow! It's been a long time since I've posted anything new.



Life has been a little crazy in my small corner of the world.



One of my daughters got sick and had to be in the hospital for a few days the weekend before Christmas. That puts all kinds of plans into a tail spin to say the least.



She's home and doing fine now, thankfully.



Then at the office our new software came in and that's when we found out they would no longer be supporting our server so we had to get a new one and set up all of the computers with it. There were problems along the way with that too so we had to update software on the computers too. Gaah!! We just wish they had told us about the server situation during the summer which is our slow time. Oh well, it's done now. Perhaps I'll be able to get back to crafting soon.



I did manage to get this little craft apron made for my niece for Christmas.




I used pieces from two different dish towels that I bought at Target over the summer. They were on clearance for next to nothing and I figured I could use the cotton fabric for something. (I've been trying to find fabrics from things other than just what I see at the fabric store -- especially since we no longer have one in this town. It's at least a 45 minute drive to a fabric store except for one quilting store.)



Anyway.....



I got the idea from here. I didn't follow her directions exactly (because that's the kind of rebel I am). Actually, only because I wanted to use the two different fabrics and I used bias tape along the edges and for the ties.



I'm please with the way it turned out and I'm sure my niece will love it too.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Thankfulness

This year to mark all that we have to be thankful for I put up a paper tree in our entry way.






I had the kids cut out leaves and each night we all wrote something that we were thankful for. Here's one of mine.





In case you can't read it, it says 'I am thankful to be married to a stud like Dax.' It's an ongoing thing with us--it's the first thing I'm thankful for every year. It all started because an office full of women that he had to go do some work at asked their boss to find out about his relationship status. So since then he likes to make sure that I remember just how lucky I am. baaahhhaaaahhhhaaaa!!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

Cupcakes

I've been so busy lately I haven't had time to get anything completed it seems so there have been no new posts. Sorry about that.


Here's something that I did manage to do though.

The kids took cupcakes to school for their birthday and then I made more for their party last Saturday.

Here are the one's that Abigail took to school. They're supposed to be like dreamsicles.




Kirsten's are just plain cupcakes with star shaped sugar cookies on top.



Addison's were little hamburgers. I'll post a picture of them when I find one. lol

Monday, November 9, 2009

Before & After

Well, I don't really have a 'before'. I forgot to take a picture until I had already started painting so I guess it's really a during & after.


When I was in the thrift store there was a little wooden sign that said 'no vacancy' on it. I paid $3 for it which is probably too much but it's one of the few times that I've looked at something and known exactly what I wanted to do with it so I paid the $3.


While I can certainly relate to the 'no vacancy' sentiment (since I usually feel like my house runneth over) I wanted to do something else with the sign.


Here's the during....




It started off an off white color.


As you can see, I painted the outside red. Awhile back, I bought some chalkboard contact paper. That's what I used for the center.




I haven't yet decided whether I want to distress it with some sandpaper or leave it like it is. What do you think?


I'm quite happy with it either way. Now, I can write what we're having for dinner instead of having to answer all four kids and the hubby individually. (They never ask when anyone else is around to hear the answer too so I have to keep answering the same question over and over. lol)

Monday, November 2, 2009

A new site to love

I know we've all had those moments. You know the ones. You've got a great idea for a craft. You've either found the perfect pattern or you've spent countless nights in bed, unable to sleep, putting together the perfect plan for your craft.


You finally get everything together, attack your craft with gusto, and in the end, much to your surprise,






Well have no fear! Today I was hopping around looking at new (to me) blogs and happened across Craft Fail. It's an absolutely wonderful site.



In looking through I saw several things that had me saying to myself, 'Oh my gosh! I did that too!!'



Go check it out. It will make you feel so much better about the things that have gone wrong.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Halloween bags

I found a pattern and let the girls make some no-sew bags using bandannas.

Unfortunately, they put too many books in theirs and ripped them before I could even get pictures.


So, when I was in Hobby Lobby the other day (or every other day it seems) I found some Halloween bandannas. Since they were on sale I decided that I would make some of the no-sew bags for the girls. I looked again and came across .these instructions.





I used the orange bandanna on one side and the other side is a black bandanna with spider webs on it. Also, I tweaked the pattern just a little. I wanted the bag to not be so deep so I folded the top edges down about 2 inches and tied it in with the others. I also hope that will help to give it a little more strength near the handles. (That's where the girls bags ripped.)

I've only gotten this one made so I'd better find the time to get the other two made before next Saturday. I hope they like them

Monday, October 19, 2009

Hand warmers

I don't know if you're aware or not, but fingerless gloves are back in.


In a big way at our house.


Kirsten has been wanting some sssssoooooo baaaad (or so I'm told.)


Well, the other day she was putting away a basket of clothes and found a pair of black gloves and asked her Dad if she could cut the fingers off. Of course he said sure.


When I got home later she was thrilled to show me what she had made.




That's great....except they're MY gloves....or is that were?


Since she wanted that kind of thing I dug out an old pair of their tights--I don't think they ever wore them--and made a slightly different pair.





She thinks they're 'all that' and wore them to school.


By the way, the shirt she has on was a turtle neck the night before with long sleeves. She didn't wan't a turtle neck and the cuffs were stained so a pair of scissors took care of that. :0)

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Monsters

When I made my little owl for my Toy Society drop the kids all thought that was a great idea. The girls decided they wanted to make their own. Here are the first two that were made.


They decided on monsters.






I'm really impressed with what they came up with. They did everything all on their own. I didn't see any of it until they were done.


I haven't dropped them yet, but hope to very soon. (Mostly I need to remember to grab them when I'm leaving the house so that I'll have them with me. lol)

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Getting ready...

I am so ready for Halloween and the fall. It's often still very warm here by Halloween but I'm thrilled with the temps being under 100 to say the least.


In keeping with getting into the spirit of the season I finally finished this little piece that I started sometime after Halloween last year.


I just used an old frame, some scrapbook paper, and chip board letters.






I had mostly finished it last year but just wasn't happy with it.


I finally decided it needed a little sparkle so added just a dusting of glitter on the frame. I like it better now so I guess it's finished. But who knows, I may decide to add to it later.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Anniversary gift

Today is my 14th wedding anniversary. My how time flies!!

I took a child's board book and transformed it into a little book of reasons that I love Dax. It was fun to do and I hope he enjoys it. With a house full of kids and a looming deadline at the office we've pretty much given up the 'big' anniversary celebrations of the past. Now we're content with a little reminder of how important the other is to us and some reminiscing.

Here's the book:
(Sorry about the blurry pics. It's hard to get good ones with this little camera)


Thursday, September 24, 2009

My first drop

I made a little stuffed owl for my first toy for The Toy Society.





At least an owl was my intention. I didn't have any pattern and was just playing with some scrap material and that's what I came up with. The kids said it was an owl right away so I felt better about it.


Anyway, I dropped him off at the local library this morning. I hope he finds a good home.


Of course, now the kids each want me to make one for them too.


If you haven't checked out The Toy Society's blog you really should. It's such a neat idea.

Monday, September 21, 2009

And another.....



I've made another book bag. This one is for Addison. She's crazy about bunny rabbits so I bought the tapestry piece that I used for the pocket. The green fabric is a heavy fabric used for work pants that I had in my stash. My great aunt had given it to me years ago. I'm glad I found a use for it.



I lined the bag and the pocket with frabric from a sheet that had those sweet little rose buds on it. I just love that stuff for little girls (babies especially). It just looks so sweet and innocent.

Anyway, Addison is happy with it and that makes me happy with it. And to make it even better, I only spent about $3 on it. Can't hardly beat that!!

I still need to make one for Kirsten. Hers will be cat themed. I've bought a piece of fabric for the pocket but put it away and now I can't find it anywhere. I do that so often that you'd think I would learn by now.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Recycled containers

Over the weekend I recycled these empty containers instead of throwing them away. The large one originally was full of pretzels and the two smaller ones had peach salsa.



I spray painted the tops of all of them red. Then I hot glued the ribbon around them with a smaller piece of ribbon to tie the tags to. For the tags I just used some that I had bought in the scrapbooking department awhile back.


I love the way they turned out. It's a great thing to do with containers once they are emptied. I just wish that all of my pantry could look like this. Maybe in time I can get it all organized and cute looking as we use up more jars.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Already?

I don't know if you're ready for this but it's already only 100 days until Christmas!!


Check out this site.








She's got great ideas and will help you to get started with your Holiday planning. Imagine that. Doing it (or at least part of it if you're like me) before the last minute.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Chore organizers

I've been trying for awhile to come up with some way to keep track of the kids' chores. Both for them and for myself.


We've tried lists, charts, and a handful of other things.


I finally settled on this.







I used toilet paper tubes and covered them with scrapbook paper. Then I stapled them across the bottom. They are tied together in pairs--undone and done--and hanging on the inside of the pantry door. The chores are written on wide popsicle sticks. They all go in the unfinished tube on the end.

The kids each have chores that are theirs alone (make bed, clean bathroom, etc.) and then they have to each choose 3 from the unfinished tube each week.

I had tried something similar on the back of their bedroom doors but those got a little torn up. With them in the pantry I can keep a better eye on what's going on.

Hope this is the one that works.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Quick recycle

Our dogs have both recently destroyed the nice fluffy cushions in their kennels. I hate the idea of them being in there just laying on the hard plastic bottom so I had to do something about it.

I had an old blanket that I had found on the side of the road. I used it just folded up for the dogs to lay on the floor. I cut it to fit the kennel, used a double thickness, and just stitched around the edges.





It's not beautiful, but it does the job (and it was free). And, I still have enough of the quilt left over to make two more....just in case the dogs tear these up too.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Ready for fall

I'm tired of summer and I'm ready for fall.


I finished this up yesterday which only makes me more ready.


(Sorry the picture isn't better. It was hard to get a good picture because it's long and narrow--for my camera anyway. Oh, and it hasn't been washed and ironed yet.)

I got the pattern here.


Isn't this bird the cutest?



I used some squares from a moda halloween charm pack to make the border. I'm really please with how it turned out.


I had a few strips left over so used them for a piece on the back.




Then I used brown bias tape for the binding.


It was a lot of fun to make. Dax asked what it was for and I told him 'Whatever I want.' lol

Are you ready for fall, too?

Monday, August 31, 2009

A great idea....

I don't even remember how I wound up at this site but I did, and I signed up to participate. I think it's a great idea.


Check it out:





I can't wait to get started. I have a million ideas swirling around in my head. Now I just need to find the time to get it all done.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Wardrobe Refashion

I've asked the kids to go through their clothes and pull out the things that are too small or that they just don't want anymore. They are so skinny though that lots of pants still fit in the waist but have gotten too short. These fit into that category.



I just loved the plaid and hated to see them go so I decided that they could be a skirt.



I cut them off at an appropriate length. Cut the inseams out. Then sewed them together for the skirt. I used the remainder of the leg fabric to make the ruffle around the bottom. I would have liked for the ruffle to be a little more full but I couldn't match up the plaid for the remainder piece of fabric. Oh well, I think it turned out well and the girls are happy with it. Another plus, it only took about 30 minutes total to get it done. Not bad. :0)

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Christmas Wish BOM

I haven't given up on the Christmas Wish BOM from Gail Pan Designs. I'm still working on it but, I'm still behind. Two blocks (or months) at the moment, but I'm really hoping to close the gap.

Here's the most recent one I've finished. I believe it's the June block.




The pattern didn't call for buttons but with the round flowers on it, I just couldn't resist. Now I'm trying to decide how to keep this block from looking too out of place. I guess I'll just figure it out as I go (like usual).


I'm really enjoying these. You should check out her site. She does a lot of really cute patterns.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Monday Morning Check In




I probably shouldn't even update since I'm not even weighing right now.


My birthday was earlier this week and we went to The Salt Lick for all you can eat BBQ.



When we got home I had made these cupcakes for us.



They're a cream cheese cake with caramel cream filling and chocolate butter cream icing. Pretty good if I do say so myself. lol


It's also a big-time pms week and I'm retaining water like crazy and craving almost any food that I can get into my mouth. lol

I'm hoping that will end soon and I can get back to eating right sometime soon. I am trying to resist it but sometimes I just can't help it.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Something quick

I decided that since I'm working on about 10 things at once I might as well start on something else. (It's a crafter's logic, right?) Anyway, I wanted to make something really quick so that I could at least have a since of accomplishment.

I got this email with this cute little pattern for free from Bird Brain Designs. I have some little frames and wanted to use one for this pattern so I shrunk it down on the copier.



Then, my troubles started.



I didn't want to use plain old white again so I decided on this scrap from an old (and torn up) apron that I had bought ages ago just for stitcheries.



First I tried tracing it. It was really hard to see through the fabric so that didn't work out at all.



I moved on to carbon paper designed especially for this type of thing. I still couldn't see it well enough to be able to stitch it. The transfer was just too light.


I finally decided to go with an iron on transfer pen. But, of course, I don't have any and they don't sell any at Hobby Lobby in my town which is really all I have local available. *sigh* I got online and found someone on ebay that had one in red and one in blue so I bought them both. Then I had to wait for them to arrive.


Wait....check the mail.....wait some more.


They finally arrived and I rushed into the sewing room, oops, I mean STUDIO, to give them a try. I traced the pattern from the back and then ironed it onto a new piece of the same fabric. It worked perfectly!! Woohoo!


That night I sat down in bed to stitch while I watched t.v., so excited to finally be able to work on my quick little project. (It had only been about a week since I had first started it.) I put my fabric in the hoop, got my needle threaded, and when I went to stick the needle through for the first stitch I noticed a hole right in the middle of the design. (Oh God! Please don't let me start crying like a big baby here.)


The next day I cut out another square of fabric, carefully checking to make sure there weren't any thin spots in it at all. I was able to get it stitched this time. So much for quick, huh?





It really is a cute little pattern. I really wasn't happy as I was going along with using three strands of floss because I thought the stitching was looking too lumpy. Well, it occurred to me when I was putting on the finishing touches that since I reduced the size by more than half that I should have reduced the bulk of my threads too. DOH! Sometimes my brain just doesn't kick into gear quickly enough. LOL

Anyway, go check out Robin's site. She's got some really cute stuff there. I have one of her Easter patterns to do and I can't wait to get it started. I just have so many other things on the list too.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Monday Morning Check In





Even though I notice that not many people are still keeping up with this I really need to. :0) So, here I am. I may not post every Monday, but I am keeping up with it. As of this morning I am down from my original starting weight a little over one pound. This isn't much, but I'm glad that the whole gaining back everything I had lost is over. Now the hard part, the kids will soon be gone for another two weeks. That's when we seem to let eating right go to hell-in-a-hand-basket. Anyway, I am still keeping after it.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Before + After

I know I haven't been around, much but I have been busy.



I've been re-doing Wyatt's bathroom.


Here it is before.







(don't you just love the 'stay out' in dripping blood that his grandmother gave him? hmmm... I wonder where is could have gotten off to.)



I've wanted to paint it for a long time but was a little scared because of the color I wanted to paint it.

Here's more what it looks like now.





As you can see I went with a dark blue. And, boy! was I even more scared when I put that first brush of paint on the wall. I had to do two coats but I am happy with it now that it's all done. I think it really sets off the woodwork and the tile around the bath.

I took down the towel holder above the toilet. It was so low you couldn't really use it for anything more than a hand towel or decoration. I replaced it with this cabinet. You can still only hang a hand towle or decoration but I got a little more storage space with this.




It was a white cabinet that I bought at Target. I spray painted it an off-white color to match the other things and replaced the knobs. I also put new knobs on the cabinet where the sink is and replaced the toilet paper holder.

I hung two of these on the little strip of wall between the tub and bathroom door (there are two doors into this tiny bathroom). I figure he can use these for his towels.





I have a bigger one that has three hooks on it that I'm going to hang behing the main door into the bathroom. I've got it all painted in the same off-white, and it's leaning behind the door. Now I just need to get it hung. :0)

Some of the decorative touches:


This little sign has always been in there but it shows up a lot better now.


I bought this jar at a junk shop (some would call it an antique shop but I really think she's just using the shop to clean all the 'crap' out of her own house which is right next door.) The top on it was white with flowers on it. I spray painted it red and really wasn't sure where I was going to use it. I finally decided to use it in Wyatt's bathroom and fill it with the little soaps from hotels. As you can see, it needs a lot more soap in it. Perhaps I can use that as a good excuse to do some more traveling. :0)


This is my favorite. It's a cross stitch thingy (don't really know what to call it) that I did years ago. I fell in love with the pattern when I saw it and made it long before we even had any kids. It just makes me giggle and that's my favorite way to decorate.

Now that I've got that pretty well taken care of, maybe I can get back to some of my other projects.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Got books?

I know it's been awhile since I've posted but I have been busy. It's already time to start thinking about back to school. Ugh! But, with that in mind I made this book bag for Abigail. (she's my little monkey crazed girl)



The monkey on the front is a placemat that I had bought some time back. I was going to use it to make a pillow but never got around to it. I stitched it to the front of the bag so that it makes a big pocket.

I used a heavy denim type material in a kahki color for the bag and flannel for the inside of the bag and underside of the strap.



I just put a couple of pieces of ribbon in the seam so that she can tie it closed.

All in all I think it turned out pretty cute. Abigail is happy with it so that makes me happy. The other two girls have put in their orders for book bags now too. :0)

And the best thing about it....I made it all from fabric from my stash!! Woohoo! I've been trying to organize it and because it was spread out all over the place I didn't realize just how much I've got already. I'm on a mission to try to use up what I already have as much as I can.

Oh, and the bag is loosely based on this pattern.