Two new hats

Again since I have a little boy, I am always on the look out for fun things to sew for him.  I recently decided that I wanted to make him some new hats for summer.

For the first hat, I used a hat that I bought at Hobby Lobby and created an applique to put on the front.  My husband has a Purdue hat the DJ Ark liked to wear around sometimes so I thought he would like his very own Purdue hat.  I love the way it turned out and am thinking of adding a little bit of embroidering to it to make it even more personal.

The other hat I made from scratch.  I found a great tutorial that was exactly the type of hat that I wanted.  I also found some cute fabric (again at Hobby Lobby) and got to sewing.  I love the way it turned out and if he likes wearing it I might have to make another one since it was so easy to put together.

Bath Toy Idea

Good Afternoon,
As I was browsing through my Google Reader (which I love!), I stumbled upon this great idea on Craft Snob - another wonderful blog with fabulous craft ideas! Just thought I'd share, because it is such an easy way to create fun bath toys. Little Cupcake already has some foam toys of her own, and has so much fun with them! So if your little ones don't have any yet, you could try out this idea. If you are worried about the shapes not being perfect, you could use cookie cutters as stencils!

Super Easy (and cute!!) Hairbows

Hi everyone! It's Katie here. If you don't know me, you don't know how much I LOVE hairbows, but, my daughter Junie is hardly ever seen without a bow in her hair. I always thought bows looked way too complicated to make until I got the inspiration from a great friend (thanks, Jennifer!) and a blog that made it look SUPER easy!http://http://midwesternmoms.com/2011/02/how-to-make-a-boutique-style-hair-bow/

Thanks, midwesternmoms! I made my first hairbows!

Spring time shirt

Hello everyone, it's Sara here...

With spring trying to make a showing here (we went from 80 degree weather to 40 degree weather in a matter of days), I thought I would try and entice the warm weather to come and stay by making DJ Ark a spring time shirt.  I had the saying, "Chicks Dig Me" that I really wanted to use for the shirt.  So I found a chick clipart online and make a felt chick.  Then I found some font I liked and cut out a freezer paper stencil to paint on the shirt.  All in all it was an easy shirt to make.

Here are the results...

I made some bunnies using this tutorial...he loves them!

The best way to get a toddler to take pictures is bribery...this time it was Skittles!

Wreaths, and Skirts, and Dresses, Oh My!

Hello, Jennifer here! Spring is finally here and after the winter we had in Indiana, I am very excited about sun, warm weather, and Spring craft projects!

I started out welcoming in the Spring with this bright and cheery Spring Wreath.  I was inspired by a tutorial I saw on Craftaholics Anonymous, but decided to add some of these flowers, from the Craft Snob (who I love!) to the wreath as well. I was so please with the results and was so happy I added the Pomela flowers. I loved the variety of styles of flowers in the wreath. I was so happy and excited with the results of the wreath, I even made a second one for my Mom. What a great way to say "hello," to Spring!


Once I received my sewing machine and got the hang of the very basics, I searched my beloved craft blogs far and wide for clothing tutorials that seemed easy enough for me to tackle. I found Dana's tutorial for a Simple Skirt. Simple. Skirt. What could get better?!? How about the fabric she used for the first skirt!! I fell in love. After studying the tutorial, I made my way to Hobby Lobby and excitedly found the same fabric she used for the skirt! I gathered up the rest of the supplies I needed for the project and was very happy to get started. Overall, the skirt was indeed, simple. I am sure I spent much more time than Dana ever has on a skirt like this, but hey I'm just learning so that's alright. I also realized, trying it on Cupcake, it was too short - oops! Cupcake does NOT like being measured, so I blame it on that. It had nothing to do with my excitement to complete the project and not trying it on her before I finalized the skirt. Luckily, I posted my dilemma on Dana's blog and she suggested I just add another layer, so I did and it worked out well! Thanks Dana. I was so excited about this skirt, I created a second, double layer skirt. Adorable! I see many more of these in Cupcake's future...

The Simple Skirt that was way too short!

Cupcake modeling the Simple Skirt after I added fabric so it wasn't so mini!

Cupcake in her double layer Simple Skirt

Just this week, I worked on an Ice Cream Social dress from Craftiness is Not Optional. I absolutely love this blog, by the way! I've browsed her tutorials several times and I love all the adorable clothes she makes for her girls. Her amazing abilities mystify me. It is crazy to think she just comes up with all of this stuff on her own! Because I am just a bit obssessed with Jess and her site, I became a fan of hers on facebook as soon as I saw that she had a page. I posted on her page that was a tad intimidated by her craftiness and wondered what she suggested as a good beginner project and she so nicely encouraged me to try the Ice Cream Social dress. I found the fabric at JoAnns and was set to go! It turned out to be pretty easy, just like she said. Again, I'm sure it took me way longer than it probably takes Jess to make anything, but I am ok with that for now. I did have a few mistakes; didn't sew close enough to the selvage so a little bit of it shows in the back, that's why its the back right?!? and I had to readjust the straps twice! I'm telling you Cupcake does not enjoy being measured. Luckily, it wasn't too hard to get the seam ripper out and readjust the straps. Check her out in the cute new dress. Thanks to Jess for her motivation and help!

I added some rosettes made from an old shirt, that I hot-glued to a pin to the front, I wanted to make the additional decor transferable because I'd also love to add a big yellow bow to the front as well!

I love these little ruffle straps!

 

Hmm, What should I do, Where should I go?

A Vegetarian meal for even a meat-loving girl!

I'm no chef by any means. Typically, it's like 5 o'clock and I find a recipe. Then have to modify it b/c I only have 2/3 of the ingredients in the house! This recipe is perfectly my style and is easy to substitute what you like and hard to mess up.

Until I made this recipe, I don't believe I had ever intentionally planned a vegetarian meal, let alone one I REALLY enjoyed. You know, it's one thing to make a meatless salad, but come on, that's not filling.

Its official name is Spanish-Style Stuffed Peppers.

Here are the basics you'll need to make this work:

• 2 bell peppers (I like to mix it up and make it colorful)
• 1 pkg of Yellow Saffron Rice
• Garlic
• Diced tomatoes (fresh or canned, used tonight the diced ones with chilies)
• Olive oil
• Mexican Cheese
• Cilantro (or parsley)

Optional Ingredients you could mix and match to your liking:

• Small Poblano pepper (I've actually never used this, just chopped up some of one of the bell peppers I have...in addition to the two used)
• 1 Green onion (Another one I've never used but sometimes use a white onion or a few shakes of dried minced onion)
• Black Beans
• Ground Beef

Directions:

Prepare rice according to package.

Wash and cut in half (so you have a right and left side, not a top and bottom) the two bell peppers. Remove and discard seeds. Put in microwave safe dish for 3-4 minutes until tender.

Use paper towel to pat dry.

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat for 1 to 3 minutes until it shimmers. Add about 2 cloves of garlic (I use minced garlic you keep in fridge). You can add more if you like garlic. Add tomatoes, onions, poblano (or bell) pepper. Cook a few minutes until tender and heated through. This is where you'll add things like beans if you wish.

Stir veggie mix into rice. Mix in 1/2 cup of cheese (or more if you LOVE cheese like me) and cilantro (again, as much or little as you'd like).

Take bell peppers and put them in the saute pan used for veggies. Add a few tablespoons of water in the pan. Stuff them with the rice mixture and sprinkle top with cheese. Cover and cook another 3 minutes or so until the cheese melts. Garnish with some more cilantro (if you don't run out, like I did this evening!)

YUM! Enjoy.

Amanda

Nursing Cover

Sally again here..

I have also recently made two nursing covers. I didn't really follow any tutorials. I just looked and measured my current non boning cover and just made it work. The key for the nursing cover to stay up is to have the straps sewed over the boning wire.I would also recommend doubling the fabric or using a heavier weight fabric. The size is dependent on the person you are making it for. It doesn't take very long to make either! My girlfriend loved the black and white one I made for her! Such a great gift idea and can be fairly inexpensive compared to the hotter hiders sold in babies r us!

Personalized Burp Rags

Hello all,

Sally here..

So here are a few of my recent sewing and embroidery projects I have been creating! I have had a lot of fun making all sorts of burp rags! I am still trying to teach myself how to embroider so I have a little work to do yet until that is a bit better! I have been a bit inspired to create fun cute burp rags because I receieved a few with my first son and really loved them! So I thought with my baby girl on the way I would have a go at making some for her as well!

A little dress

Hello everyone, it's Sara  here!

Since I am a mother of a boy, I have to search for things to make him.  It seems like there are millions of dress patterns and tutorials that I would love to make, but I don't think DJ Ark would appreciate wearing them.

Well when I saw the tutorial for the 10 Minute Onesie Dress on Prudent Baby (a website that I am obsessed with by the way) I just knew I had to make it for someone with a little girl.  Since Mama Amanda just had little Gia I knew she would be the lucky winner in my desire to create a little dress.

I made a couple of adjustments to the way the tutorial was written, but I think it turned out great.  Also once you put it on little Miss Gia it just looks so much more adorable!!!

Now I am moving back over to the land of boy and starting a new project for DJ Ark.  It was a nice break to work with girly fabric for a little while.

Race for the Cure Projects

This weekend, Indianapolis will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.  I will be participating in the walk, as I have done in the past. The team I am walking with has a lunch after the race with raffles for those who raised certain amounts of money for the team. This year I thought it would be fun to craft something up for a prize. These were my very first projects I did with my sewing machine, so I went with fairly simple projects.

First, I used The Purl Bee's tutorial to make this drawstring bag. I was happy with how it turned out! It took a little longer than the tutorial suggested it would, but I expected that! I had a few mistakes, as in sewing the bag shut - oops! But after my work with the seam ripper, it all worked out. I found this adorable fabric at Hancock Fabric and was super excited to use it.



Then I created a half-apron using Prudent Baby's Fat-Quarter Apron tutorial. This project turned out to be a little more difficult than I had imagined! The problems were caused by the elastic trim I chose to use on the apron. It made me think of the pink boas that breast cancer survivors wear at the parade, so I went with it. I should have stuck with a non-elastic trim, but I had no idea! Luckily, my fellow Mama, Sara, helped me figure it all out and I finally got it finished! I learned a lot about my machine and sewing through the troubles I had with this project, so it ended up being alright.

Lastly, I decorated some plain tea towels I found at Target with some breast cancer awareness fabrics and patterns.  They turned out alright, I like some better than others. My husband says I am too hard on myself and I am just learning and with practice I'll get better. I'm sure he is right, but my perfectionism can get to me at times!

I then grabbed all the goodies, and placed them inside the drawstring bag. I hope the person who wins it enjoys it, as much as I enjoyed making them! I was pretty proud of myself for my sewing work.

Meet the Mamas!

Hi, I'm Katie and this is my sweet little girl, Junie! I have always considered myself "crafty" and I LOVE a project!!! I love making things for my daughter and decorations for around the house. I also just learned how to knit so we'll see where that goes! The best thing about crafting, for me, is spending time with great friends and our adorable little ones!!

Hi, I'm Sara. I'm a former Civil Engineer turned Domestic Engineer two years ago with the birth of my first son (aka DJ Ark). Recently I have discovered my love for crafting and sewing as a creative outlet while I am at home.

I'm Beth and this is my daughter, we call her Pinkerton. I love crafting because of the end result of getting to watch my little one wear, play with or use whatever I created. My real passion however is cooking and I have really enjoyed coming up with new and clever recipes that my little one enjoys.

Hey, I'm Jennifer. I went from working with stay-at-home moms through Healthy Families to being one myself. I have always had a passion for crafting but recently discovered my love of sewing. My favorite things to make are those for my daughter, Cupcake. I love dressing her up in all things crafty! I teach a few preschool & elementary dance classes at a local studio and I also enjoy photography & scrapbooking.

I am Sally. I previously worked in sales and now am a full time stay at home mom with my son the monkey man and soon will be welcoming number two! I have always loved scrapbooking/crafts and have recently started to sew and embroider with my new brother machine! Still figuring it out but loving every minute!

Hi, I'm Hillary! I am a Special Ed teacher turned stay at home mom to a very dramatic little boy, Huckleberry! I have always loved crafting, but since the birth of my son almost two years ago I have a new found passion creating all things kid related. My favorite thing to do is scapbooking or designing and making party supplies for all types of occasions. My love for this type of crafting has spilled over into many of my personal relationships and I now get the chance to work with my friends and family whenever they need a crafty project done! My newest venture is sewing and embroidery and Huckleberry loves modeling all Mommy's creations!

I must be a thrill seeker, because that's what it took to make the leap from Director of Marketing to Director of Development, Nutrition, Discipline, and Hygieine for General Bedhead (my 22 mos. son) and Gia (my 2 mos. daughter). Until I made the leap, I never knew this role would call for an even greater amount of creativity and strategy for day to day successes (like no blow outs, living room dance parties, remembering snacks for morning errands, and LONG wonderful naps). Fortunately, I've had some amazing women to "collaborate" with and that's really what this blog is about. -Amanda