LOST- The final season---party planning!

Are you throwing a season premiere party for the FINAL season of LOST. Well, I am a huge fan and very excited for next tuesday. Here are some great labels for your sodas. Just go to this link, print, cut and adhere to your soda bottles. I used a label maker to change the orange soda to different labels. You can also find other Dharma Initiative food labels.

http://maxpictures.com/downloads/lost_soda_orange_2l.pdf

Vintage magnetic Calendar

This is not my creativity at all, but from the talented maker at www.Storiesbyme.com. I am expecting my second child and my motivation to craft is almost completely gone. So it was nice to get a ready to go kit with easy-to-follow instructions. Check out this site for other read-to-go kits on other fabulous projects

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Fabric flower

I wanted to add some interest to the dress I made below, so I used this pattern and tutorial to make a really cute fabric flower. PATTERN

Toddler Girl Dress

So, a friend gave me this skirt. I wasn't too sure if I loved it enough for me, but thought it was very cute fabric for my daughter. I came across this tutorial to turn a pillow case into a dress, and so I began. I wasn't happy with the finished product, way to poofy, so I gathered it into an empire waist to give it better shape. I didn't follow the tutorial 100%, but I am satisfied with how it turned out.

Thrifting.

I should be a great a thrifter. My mother is the queen of thrifting. She finds amazing treasures at thrift stores and garage sells, so I should have a million posts about great thrift finds. But when it all comes down to it...A. I don't ever make time to go garage-sale hopping, or the patience. My mom on the other hand lives in a great place where you can find some great garage-sales. B. I don't really have space for anything, even if I did find something. This is all I could find in my house that has been thrifted. And sadly, each piece was found by my mother, then given to me. THe black candlesticks were once red and yellow. The mirrow was a plain tan wood. Thanks to spray paint, they match much better.

The best thrifters are those that see something that the rest of us would find unappealing, and have a new vision for it. I love looking at www.designsponge.com and then click on 'before-and-afters' for some great thrift finds turned into absolute beauty.

Free Printables.

I love free printables. These all come in a pdf file that you can print right from home.

2010 calendar designed by erica givens.
http://loveobsessinspire.typepad.com/FPG/FPG-October2009/Gleaux/Gleaux_PDF-01.pdf
I printed them out, cut them, and adhered to carstock. Punched an eyelet in each month and strung them together.

Cute gift tags by carteblancheinvitations.com:
http://loveobsessinspire.typepad.com/FPG/09NovFPG/FPG_CarteBlanche.pdf
When you open the link, you can actually type directly onto the page to personalize it, then print. Follow the directions in the purple header.

vintage typewriter doodle to make a card:
http://loveobsessinspire.typepad.com/FPG/FPG-July/YankeeDoodles-PDF.pdf
print the pdf, cut out the buttons, typewriter and the word art on cardstock then layer the typewriter onto the word art and adhere to a card. Add the buttons wherever you want.

How to refashion a shirt with stains

I don't know why I ever bought any white shirts for my under 2 child, they just spit up all over them, and drip food down them, and end up stained before they wear them twice. So I took a darling shirt that was stained on the collar, cut the print right off the shirt and appliqued it onto a newborn onesie. I know what you are thinking.........a WHITE onsie, but newborns only have milk that luckily hasn't stained anything for us. Now I guess I better have a girl next, so I can actually use this remake, huh?

Christmas Gifts for Clients and Co-workers

So earlier this year I posted about some free tags available from eatdrinkchic.com. I used the oil and vinegar labels for these bottles from World Market. I tied on ribbon and a recipe (that actually uses oil and vinegar).

Here is the recipe for

Apple Gorgonzola Salad:

Vinaigrette:

1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Salad:
1 bag (10 oz) mixed baby greens or Italian-blend salad greens
1 medium red or green apple, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese (2 oz)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

1.In a small bowl, beat vinaigrette ingredients with wire whisk until smooth.
2.In large bowl, toss salad ingredients with vinaigrette just before serving.

I also found some darling measuring cups with an old typewriter font and wrapped them up with a cute tag. I just love simple, simple wrapping. Like brown paper bag with sting around it and a tag.

Christmas Countdown

This came in a ready-to-make kit, so I definitely can't take any credit for the creative aspect of it. But I am sure it can be made in any way you want. It is on a small clipboard. There are little magnets glued onto the center and magnets on each number.

thanksgiving-pumkin polenta

A cute Autumn apetizer. I really like polenta, only had it for my first time this year, but if done right it is good.

How to Make:

I bought 12 sugar pumkins (the ones used for pies) and cute the 'lids' off, scooped out the seeds and stringy stuff and placed in a baking dish with 1/2" water in bottom. I turned the pumkins upside down, so the hot steam would help bake the insides. I baked at 400 degrees for 30 mintues and then some, based on each individual pumkin. I scooped out the cooked pumpkin and mashed it into polenta.

I bought pre-cooked polenta packages from trader joes (just ask you grocer where they stock it).

I mashed it up and added:

mozzarella cheese

cheddar cheese

salt

balsamic vinegar

parsley, basil

and then lightly heated in a wok with olive oil.

Then I mixed in some parmesean cheese

Then I scooped the polenta into the pumkins and put the 'lids' back on. They are so cute.

Home Made Stockings

I already have some wonderful home-made stockings made by my very talented sister-in-law.

She has learned and mastered her craft and makes and sells them on her website, here:

Since my holiday deocr isn't the same colors as these, We end up stuffing these and putting them under the tree to travel with us on Christmas Day, but I made these ones below to hang from the mantle as more of decoration than practical use.

I found this free pattern from Amy Butler. I just used the pattern pieces but didn't follow her instructions becuase hers are made of felt and she top-stichted the stocking which would be much easier than what I did. I first attached fusible lining to a coordinating fabric. Then I attached the stocking pieces right sides toghter and sewed it 2 inches from the top. Then I sewed the top of the lining to the top of the stocking, also right sides together. With the attached unit inside out, I stitched down both sides of the 2 inches I left over and down the lining leaving a little hole in the bottom to flip the stocking right side out, then topstitched the toe of the lining (which no one will see).

Of course before I did all of that I embelished each stocking with cords, ribbons, buttons before doing any sewing. When I attached the liner to the stocking, I put a cord in between layers for the hook holder. At the end I cut out white felt, attached beading and button and just hot glue gunned it to the top of the stocking. I am likely going to detach the felt part and embroider our names onto them and re-attach.

Pointy Kitty Softie

I love softies, and have found several free patterns available online. First, here http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/downloads/Pointy-Kitty-Pattern.pdf

is the pointy kitty pattern by wee wonderfuls, Hilary Lang, that I used to make this:

This is NOT a beginner's pattern. You must be quite patient making it and read instructions carefully. Below are some more free patterns, some are challenging requiring more pattern pieces for a more 3-D animal and others are easy, only two-dimensional.

Also available from wee wonderfuls is this bunny softie:http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/downloads/Wee-Bunny.pdf

from the patternbee here is a lamb:

http://www.patternbee.com/FREELAMBKIN.html (this is the instructions)

http://www.patternbee.com/files/LAMBKIN.pdf (this is the pattern)

here is another lamb made from an old cashmere sweater with instructions:

http://blog.betzwhite.com/2007/03/cashmere-bunny-tutorial.html

I love these monster softie's made from children's drawings:

http://www.annekarsten.com/stuffed-monster-gallery/stuffed-monsters/

Purl Bee made this frog. You can either stuff with beans like the instructions or make it soft:

http://www.purlbee.com/storage/purl%20frog%20pattern.pdf

Jill made this pattern for an alligator and elephant small tag-like softies.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ouIAKLgIbj8/SZ-W8fMqohI/AAAAAAAAEuc/1ykE1OpH82w/s1600-h/tag+animal+template.jpg

This would be a much more challenging-to-make elephant softie:

http://images.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/1812/elephant_pattern_1204607333.jpg

A duck:

http://noseynest.blogspot.com/2008/06/lucky-ducky-freebie.html

From sew mama sew, a cute chicken:

http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSSpringChicken.pdf

http://images.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/1812/elephant_pattern_1204607333.jpg

embroidered dish-towell with applique

I liked the last dish-towell, but I wanted something a little more like these from anthro. But since I was starting with a solid color, I needed some patterned fabric to be appliqued on. Then I used embroidery floss to hold it on and added this fun pink ball trim.

Here are some great applique ideas for any project.

These are from Martha Stewart and could be used for applique. Elephant, Giraffee, birds, whale,hippo, lion.

These birds are differnet than the ones I did, but they could work really well.

Here is one for a dog, bird, or even a porcupine.

How about an elephant (I used this one on a newborn onesie) or an owl.

And finally check out lululollylegs. She does lots and lots of applique and embroidery.

Embroidered dish-towell and pattern freebies

I'm trying out a little bit of hand embroidery on some dishtowells. I think I will add some applique to the next one, though.

I then added the green trim.

Here are some great links for free embroidery patterns.

I got the pattern I used here. Check out all of their freebies.

I like this idea

If you like embroidery, check out elemental stitches, she has tons of ideas and a link list of several other embroidery blogs.

Mod Podge (decoupage) blocks for Holidays

My sister gave me some 6 x 6 scrapbook papers with holiday themes. Which is the perfect size for blocks. Each block is 2" x 2". I just cut, mod podged and sanded the edges. The final touch is some ink distressing. Display it year round and rotate it for each holiday.

PB ideas, part II

I just love getting my catalouges. I think these would make great Christmas gifts to give away. Both are around $30 and may be eligible for free shipping. You can Monogram the door knocker. I love the custom engraved wreath holder.

Now for my PB hack. I loved this TV console with the drawer labels. So I made some for my TV console (pictures below). I used the "Jane Austin" font found at dafont.com. It was the perfect font for this project, then just slid in in the metal holder and screw it right on in. Love it.

Ideas from PB. Candle Holder Centerpieces and Fram Riser

One of my favorite things I saw in my PB catalog this month, was the glass candle holders. Large "hurricane' candle holders. Then they put random stuff around the candle like, fake snow, cranberries, leaves, branches, photos,etc. So I had to do my own for a centerpiece and did leaves because of the season and photos. Yes there is a big candle sitting in the middle of it.

Another item I LOVE, is their frame riser.

What a great way to add dimension to a wall of photos. It is a bracket, that attaches to the frame, so that it sticks out from the wall a few inches and adds great depth. I've got to order me one of these.

embroidered Trick-or-Treat bag.

I love this darling bag, made with love, for my daughter. My step-mom has a great sewing machine that does embroidery work. I loved personalized gifts.

Bed Skirt

We moved my daughter from her toddler bed into a full size bed. I set the bed up rather high, so I could store baskets of toys underneath. But then most bed skirts wouldn't fit.

Well originally, we planned to put her in a twin size bed, and I already bought twin sheets and pillow cases. So instead of waisting them, I used the twin sheet to make the bed skirt, and it perfectly matches the pillow case.

Crafting for Kids

I've done my fair share of kids crafts.......but most of my kids crafts are not mine uniquely. I either find ideas from parenting magazines or websites. I really love this blog, the crafty crow. It has lots of ideas for kids crafting.

It has party ideas, party favor ideas, and if you look on the right hand side of her site, she has a list of categories, so you can search by age, gender, etc. Check it out!