hot/cold pack details

After receiving a few comments and emails with questions about the hot/cold packs I made for Halloween, I thought I would give you a quick rundown of the details.

The tutorial for sewing and filling the packs can be found over at Rubber Punkin, so I am just going to share how I was able to get 24 packs from one yard of fabric.

CUT:

(24) 12" X 5" - from main fabric (see diagram below)
(24) 6" loops - (I cut 1" strips from a t-shirt, stretched them out, and then cut the 6" lengths)

Here is the layout for cutting 24 packs out of 42" wide fabric (you will have 4" left over along the 36" side)

Check out the TUTORIAL for sewing and filling the packs HERE at Rubber Punkin.  She also has some great ideas for adding different scents and fillers.

Thanks for stopping by!

teacher gifts and a TUTORIAL

My oven has been working overtime this week, baking bread for Teacher Appreciation lunches. With so many loafs to wrap and deliver, I thought it would be fun to try out a new bread bag.

The 5 Minute Bread Bag is great, but in situations such as these (large potluck lunches), where there is an abundance of food (and clean-up), it seemed more sensible to use a disposable bag.

So, I gathered some supplies from around the house and set to work... 

To check out the full TUTORIAL, click the button below:

thrifty gifts:: bird seed ornaments (for outdoor use)

 My boys spend hours perched in our front window, just watching birds.

They especially love putting out treats for their feathered friends.

It is amazing how quiet and still a three & five year-old can be - completely memorized. 


So, for gifts this year we are keeping it simple - giving an experience rather than just more stuff.  We are giving the experience of spending a few moments watching nature - a few moments to slow down, and relax.

These molded bird seed ornaments are a lot of fun to make, and very inexpensive. You may already have all the materials you need in your home - we were able to make gifts for all the wonderful friends in our life for around $3.

I found this recipe here, and it worked great!

You'll Need:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tbsp. corn syrup
4 cups birdseed
molds (muffin tin, cookie cutters, etc.)
nonstick spray
drinking straw
waxed paper
ribbon/twin

1: Combine the flour, water, gelatin and corn syrup in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well-combined.

2: Add the birdseed to the mixture, stir until well coated.

3: Spray your mold(s) with cooking spray, and spoon birdseed mixture into each mold. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack it down, and make the top smooth.

Poke a hole through top of each birdseed mold using a drinking straw, making sure it goes all the way through.

4: Leave the birdseed mixture in the molds for two to three hours. Then, remove the straws and lay out a sheet of waxed paper. Gently remove the hardened ornaments from the mold, and place them on the wax paper upside down. Allow them to dry for at least two to three more hours, or overnight.

5: Cut your ribbon and carefully put it through the hole. 

6: Package them up!

I made gift boxes from materials around the house - check out the how-to!

Happy Holidays!

jack-o-lantern puzzle favors - TUTORIAL

 


Today I am sharing a fun, easy, inexpensive, AND sugar-free party favor that the kiddos can help make.
I know I have gone on, and on before about how grateful I am that my son's preschool encourages parents to hand out sugar free items as party favors, but really, I LOVE it.  Don't get me wrong, my kids have candy sometimes, but it just seems at Halloween they end up with way more than any kid needs.  And the funny thing is, my kids are way more excited to get pencils or fun band-aids anyway.  OK, enough ranting, on to the tutorial.
 

A few weeks ago, I made this Halloween concentration game games to hand out, but I really wanted the boys to be involved in making something to give away to their friends.
 
So, I searched the web and came across this Jack-O-Lantern Puzzle project (scroll down to the middle of the page to find it).  Using craft sticks, paint, and a marker, the kids create pumpkin puzzles.


To make them easy to hand out as party favors, I packaged them up in coordinating bags and tags.


 
Materials for the puzzle:

• large crafts sticks (6 for each puzzle)
• orange paint (I used tempera paint)
• paint brush
• marker
• tape (something that can be easily removed)
• overhead transparency & Exacto Knife - for making a pumpkin template (optional)

Materials for the bags: 

• 9.5" x 4.25"  orange fabric (I used rip-stop fabric)
• 15" piece of black ribbon/yarn (I used yarn because that is what I had on hand)
• safety pin

Materials for the tags: 

• printed tags - click on image to enlarge and save to your computer ( I printed these as 4"x6" photo at my local photo center)
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Hole punch

OK, lets get started...   Start by taping the craft sticks together. (I found that taping on the diagonal makes it easier to handle.)
Then flip over and paint (I taped as my boys painted) .
Sorry, I don't have any pictures of this... in the pictures below, just imagine the craft sticks are orange.

After the paint dries, draw the pumpkin with a marker.  Make sure all of the craft sticks have some portion of the pumpkin image on them.
Optional Step:  If you are making a number of these at a time,  a template is helpful in speeding up the process a little.  To make the template, place the sheet of overhead transparency on top of the craft sticks and draw your pumpkin. Then cut out the black areas with an Exacto knife (carefully).
Once you are done drawing all the pumpkin faces on the painted craft sticks, set them aside (don't remove the tape yet).

 The next step is to make the bags...




The first step is to create a finished edge for the casing.  Measure down at an angel 2" along both of the long sides and stitch in place (see photos above).




Fold the top down 1" and stitch in place, creating the casing.



Fold in half lengthwise and stitch all the way around to the bottom of the casing (don't sew the casing shut).


Using a safety pin, thread you ribbon/yarn though the casing, then turn the bag and press.

Now on to the tags...


Cut out and punch holes in each of the tags.



Now it is time to assemble the favors...

remove the tape from the back of the puzzle (assemble one at a time so the pieces don't get mixed up).



Insert the puzzle pieces into the bag, add the tag and secure with a bow - and repeat.

That's it - You're done!

...combine both games for a Halloween game bonanza!

Thanks for stopping by - Have a SUPER Halloween!

halloween concentration game DIY

  
Every Halloween my son's preschool does "trunk-or-treat," where the kids go around to the parents' cars and get their goodies. 
The teachers ask that we give out non-candy items (which I think is great). 
So this year I decided to have a little fun with it and make my own.  I thought a Halloween Concentration Game would be perfect because it is fun for all ages. 

I adapted the hang tag tutorial to make the cards for the Game.  (and Free to print - can't beat that!)

 

 

I used sheer black ribbon to package them up. 
Doesn't the knot look like a bat, maybe?  OK, that might be a stretch, but I am going with it!

If you would like to use the game pieces that I created, just click on each image below, and download it to your computer.  I had them printed as 4X6, and they were ready to pick up in 15 minutes.  

 

 

thanks for stopping by!

"seize the day" coaster TUTORIAL

A big WELCOME to all of you visiting from the CELEBRATE YELLOW event over at MADE!! 
'

My most productive days always start with an early morning run with my best friend, after which I enjoy a hot cup of coffee, and read my favorite blogs before the rest of the house wakes. 

Part of that perfect morning also includes one of my crazy obsessions.  An obsession with having a motto - a mantra of sorts.  Something that gets me motivated to tackle the day.

It became clear to me (one perfect morning) that I should combine that motto with my need for a coffee coaster (my desk was beginning to resemble the Olympics with all those rings).  A coaster that is more than just a coaster.

I picked a quote that is dear to my heart, because I remember my mom always saying it.  "carpe diem" (seize the day) - short, sweet, and to the point. Love it.  And to illustrate the feeling of the quote, I picked out some bright and cheery fabric.
;''

OK... on to the tutorial.

So, this tutorial was made on one of my "wingin' it" sewing adventures (now that I think about it, most of my projects fall in that category).  So please bear with me - some of the directions vary slightly from the photos.

''
Materials:

• (2) 6X6in. squares of fabric
  
• (1) 6X6in. square of batting
  
• 26in. piece of piping
• alphabet stamps (mine are from Joanne Fabric with 40% coupon)
• fabric ink pad
  
• 6" strip of fusible web (I used steam-a-seam 1/2")
• 6" piece of twill tape
• matching thread
  

Lay the twill tape across one of the 6X6in. squares of fabric and measure in 1", this will be the starting point for stamping.

Finger fold at the mark.

Whenever I do a stamp project, I always lay out the stamps in the correct order first (I learned this the hard way), and then do at practice run on a scrap of fabric.

To insure that the words don't run off the side of the twill tape, start with the last letter (at the fold) and worked backwards.

After the ink dries, lay the twill tape on top of the fusible web.

Peel off the paper backing. 


Position the twill tape on the piece of fabric that you want to be the top, and adjust as needed until it is in the desired location. 

Fuse the twill tape to the fabric using an iron.

Now on to the piping.  

Stack the pieces in this order: (from bottom to top)

batting,

front fabric (with lettering) - right side up,

piping,

backing fabric - right side down.

(I hope that was not too confusing)

This is the point where my pictures will vary from the directions. 


I realized after finishing the coaster, that it would be better to have the seam at the top (behind my coffee cup) rather than the bottom. 


So, instead of starting the piping at the bottom of the coaster (like the picture above), start at the top (opposite the lettering). 

Work your way around, carefully pinning all of the layers.

Leave an opening 2-3inches wide for turning.

Cut off the excess piping.

It should look something like this (above).

Using the piping as a guide, carefully stitch around the coaster. I placed the rounded (rope) portion of the piping just inside the foot, to the left of the needle (above).

Clip the corners, and turn.  Iron.  (remember, the opening and those loose ends of the piping should be at the top of the coaster instead of the bottom like the one above.)

Overlap and tuck the ends of the piping inside the opening.



Top stitch around the coaster, and the edges of the twill tape to secure it in place.

This step is optional. 

I thought my coaster needed a little texture to add some interest, so I quilted the top. (Please don't look to closely at the stitching, I was under pressure to finish before nap-time was over.)

And that's it!  Now just sit back and enjoy that cup of coffee!

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I already have plans for a second coaster. Double sided - a "choose your own adventure" for your coffee break!
;

Here are a few other slogans/mottos/quotes/words that I found:

• the best is yet to be
• live what you love
• oh, happy day!
• live now
• smell the roses (or other favorite flower)
• make your own opportunities
• keep on keepin' on
• a will finds a way
• be yourself
• if not now, when?
• dream it. do it.
• take a chance
• smile
• relax
• create 
• ...

Thanks for stopping by - come again!