Happy Halloween

Here are my Kiddo’s costumes…

My Princess (made her dress from one of my Prom Dresses)

and My Pirate (all of his outfit was made with t-shirts except for the flashy red flames)

Collage Fabric Picture

I was inspired by Care over at Obsessively Stitching for this design.  She did an I-Spy Fabric Swap which I participated in and she sent me one of her I-Spy cards with my fabric squares.  So as I was doing some rearranging of my office again I found two frames that needed a purpose.  So I decided to use her I-Spy idea to whip up a couple of fabric collages to go inside the frames.  I used fabrics that I’ve used for projects for my two kiddos in the past and then some new ones that I plan to use in the quilts I’m going to make them for Christmas. 

 

Start off by drawing a square the size of the inside of the frame.  Then cut about an inch from that line.   You will use the line as a guide to where the fabric needs to cover.

Then just cut out random pieces of scrap fabric and arrange them so they fill the entire square area.

Pin the pieces down and then sew away.  I first sewed along the border and then just did random squiggles and loops all over.

Close-up of the stitching

Now cut out a piece of cardboard so it will fit in the back of your frame.  I then just used a little tap at each corner to attach the back of the collage to the cardboard.  You could also use a glue and permanently attach it.

  

I then trimmed the excess off.

 

Pop it into the frame and hang it on the wall.  Tada!!!!  It took me maybe 2 hours to do 2.

 

Halloween Costume Sneak Peek

I spent my weekend making my kids' Halloween costumes. Here's a little sneak peek:

Ari:

Christian:

Sweetheart Wood Clock

Here’s my latest creation now available in my Etsy shop.  The heart I will customize with initials to say for example “DB + KH”.

Front Computer Panel Recycled

My husband saved these front panels from a couple of old computers.  He thought maybe I could use them for something and well I decided to turn them into picture frames. (Please disregard the little papers all over the floor as my son decided it would be fun to spread the shredded paper on the floor and I was to lazy to vacuum it up.)

Before:

After:

So You Think You're Crafty

Countdown has begun for the contest that I have been invited to participate in. It's called So You Think You're Crafty. I am so excited for this opportunity, yet a little nervous too.

"Here’s how it works: Every week there will be a new theme. The featured crafters will submit their best craft that uses that theme. Then it’s up to you to chose the best one! Each weeks winning craft will be posted as a tutorial to give us a chance to try our hand at it. However, the crafter with the least votes will be “sent home.”" -Quoted from the SYTYC website

Swing by the website check out the contestants and don't forget to become a follower so you know when it's time to vote!!!!

Ribbon Holder

I made myself a ribbon holder. All I used was 4 Carnation Instant Breakfast Canisters, 2 wood dowels (1/4” x 12”),scrap wood, scrapbook paper, and paint.

I cut the wood into 2 strips 3” x 15” and 2 strips 3” x 12”. Then I cut what was suppose to be just an “L” shape but I messed up on one strip and had to cut “T” shapes for it to work right.

I then used wood glue and some nails to put the frame together and painted it.

In between coats of paint I worked on the actual holders. I cut the metal part off the bottom of each canister and then stuck two together with duck tape. Then I punched holes into the lids for the dowel to go through.

Then I covered the canisters using Mod Podge and scrapbook paper. Then using an x-acto knife I cut a slit for the ribbon to come out of.

A couple of coats of varnish and the ribbon in place and she’s ready to hang!! I’m now one step closer to an organized office/craft room.

I'm participating in:

October is National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month

On August 18, 2009 our son Anthony was stillborn. The last two months have been rough, but I am so grateful for the programs that have been provided to us. One in particular is called Share Parents of Utah (click on "Share Parents of Utah" to learn more). If you wish, a couple of ladies from Share Parents come in after your infant has passed away and do feet and hand molds, take their hand prints and footprints, and give you a couple of outfits and a blanket. They also take pictures of your baby if you want. The blanket that they gave me to wrap Anthony in has brought me much comfort on some of my harder nights.
As many of you know I love to sew and so I wanted to give back by making quilts to donate. I contacted the Share Parents Group here in Logan and asked them what they needed. They said mostly small flannel quilts (12" square and 36" square), but then she said that she had looked at my blog and saw the doll diapers and asked if I would be willing to make some for the little infants that won't fit into the preemie size diapers.
So in honor of Anthony and National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month I would like to get a group together on Thursday, October 15th from about 3pm until we get tired to make diapers and quilts. If you want to join in you don't have to bring anything, but if you have any flannel material, thread, Velcro (1/2" white), or a sewing machine bring them along. The location is TBA** as it depends on how many people I have interested. If you are interested please send me an e-mail and include what you would be able to bring with you. Thank you so much.

** The location will be at 1336 W 800 S in Logan. **

Make your own Chenille Strips or “Fuzzy by the Foot”

I based my method of making these Chenille Strips or “Fuzzy by the Foot” off of this tutorial here.

There’s two ways you can prepare the squares to cut.  The first way is illustrated in this picture.  Fold the fabric in thirds and then draw a straight line along the bias of the fabric.  Then cut a straight line from the end of the line you just made to the other side of the fabric creating a square.

The Second way is to just cut three squares of fabric all the same size and line them up on top of each other making sure you have the bias grain going the same way.  Then draw your line connecting one corner of the square to another dividing it into two triangles.

With all three squares together make your first straight stitch down the line you made.  Then line the last stitch up against the left side of the presser foot.  Now depending on how wide you want your strips to be is where you want your needle aligned.  I had my needle in the middle for mine and that made them 3/8” wide once cut.

Now keep going rotating from once side to the other making lines always lining up your last stitch to the left side of your presser foot.

This is what it will look like when you are done sewing all your lines.

Now cut down the middle between each of your stitched lines.

Here’s what one strip looks like

I used my strips to go around my appliqués for my Rock-A-Bye Quilt.  Find a starting spot and start pinning your strips on.  I only pinned the starting point of a new strip and then lined the strip up as I sewed.  Attach the strip by sewing down the middle (you are sewing over the stitching that is already there).  When one strip ends just line a new strip up against the last strip and keep sewing (pinning at the beginning of the new strip will keep it from sliding on you as you keep sewing.

Here’s what it looks like at the end of one strip and beginning of another.

Now take a comb or rough bristled brush and fuzz the strips.  This makes a little bit of a mess, but is so worth it.

Here’s what it looks like after a little fuzzing!

I had so much fun doing this and it made my quilt look so much better.

Before

After

If you are uncertain about any of the steps or I skipped something that you feel is important to help other’s understand please feel free to leave a comment or contact me by e-mail.