My new Bag

Hello! Just completed my new bag  last night!  This one I made a zippered pocket on the inside.  Actually it is getting easier and easier the more I make.  The handle has double layer of firm interfacing along with the top band.  I interfaced with duck cloth between the outside and inside fabric layers.  I also made 2 fabric flowers not seen in the pictures.  I love the magnetic snap, and it is super easy to install, in fact I got two so I can add one to my diaper bag.  Look for more as I have been asked to make more so I will post an update soon!  Happy crafting!

New Fall Diaper Bag

 Say hello to Sophia's new diaper bag!  Over labor Day I picked up some very pretty fabric from a local boutique in Savannah.  With this beautiful new fabric I decided to make a handbag, but I have never made one before-what if I mess up and waste fabric?  The solution?  Make a practice one.  As Sophia's old diaper bag was a little worse for wear I used some of my fabric in stock and made her a new one.  I definitely like the style but I think I will make it a bit deeper.  The width is great and I love the one strap-it is very comfortable on my shoulder. 

 It has enough room for a paper book, my diaper clutch (pattern coming soon) 3 extra diapers, plastic bag with stuff (medicine, spoons, bibs, pacifiers, etc) and extra lovie.  I could probably fit my phone, wallet and keys in a pinch.  Has a button on the inside to keep things closed plus keeps my 18 month old out. 

I used duck cloth for lining and strengthening the outside fabric on the bag and two layers of stiff interfacing at the top and one layer of interfacing for the strap.

The pattern is free and found here.  I widened the bag by 5 inches but left the top of the bag the same and used only one strap instead of two.

Happy bag making!

Welcome Fall with new curtains

Fabric from Joann home decor-approx $30 a yard

Fall is all about redecorating!  This valance style curtain is simple to make and hangs on a regular curtain rod.  To make this curtain measure your window length and width, either inside the frame or outside depending on what look you want.  Add at least 1 inch for seams on top of the width and at least 3 inches to the length for your rod to go through (using a 1 inch rod, so you'll need more if you are using a larger rod) Cut out fabric and lining.  If you plan to not use lining add 2 inches to the window width for a seam allowance.

Picture Back with curtain rod allowance

For curtains with a lining-read here-
Pin together and sew 3 of the four sides leaving the top open, right side to right side. (for those unfamiliar with this term, right side is the side that will be viewed such as the outside of a dress or shirt.  The wrong side is the side that will be hidden by lining).  Once that is completed turn fabric right side out (side that will be viewed), iron flat making sure to lightly roll the top material towards the back so that when it is top stitched the lining will not be easily be seen from the front.  Pin to hold and top stitch the 3 sides.

For curtains without a lining read here-

Iron seams for 3 sides (not the top)  double fold 1/2 seams  so you have a neat edge.  Top sew the three edges.

Finished pleats

Measure you allowance for your curtain rod, you should measure 2 1/2 inches from the top and fold down towards lining and iron.  Tuck the end about 1/2 inch for the completed edge on the back.  Iron and pin in place.  Top sew seam on the backside of the curtain..  The curtain back should look like the picture above. For the bottom pleats-accordion fold the ends for the desired look hand sew in place.  And you done!
 Happy redecorating! 

My uncrafty Post

I  wanted to change gears a bit and share something that happened with my oldest daughter and now my youngest.  When my oldest was about 19 months old, she caught a cold (pretty normal, yes I know) except that it never went away.  Over the next 4 months we spent every week almost at the doctor's office. And every time it was the same..here is your antibiotic, bye bye!  Now I think doctors are awesome and they help alot of people and our particular doctors are great, but there was something wrong.  Children don't spend 4 months with a 'cold' and don't get better.  She ran fevers, she had runny noses, coughing and developed sleep apnea.  In December our doctor recommended the ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist) which we saw and they recommended that we remove her adenoids and tonsils.  So at the ripe old age of 2 1/2, my oldest had her tonsils and adenoids removed.    That following fall the ear infections began, same thing 4 weeks out of the month and we were at the doctor's 5 times.  At the last visit the doctor prescribed an antibiotic just so we could make it to the ENT again.  What is the next step I asked?  Tubes was the reply.  During this time I researched on the Internet and discovered that food allergies can cause all the problems mentioned above.  So I decided to remove milk from her diet, which included all cow's milk, cheese, yogurt anything that had a trace of milk was removed from her diet.  Interesting enough there are alot of things that contain cow's milk that one would not think of.   After one day off 'milk' she was 75 percent better, within a few days ear infection was gone completely.  It was amazing!

So what does this have to do with the youngest?  Well, last week my youngest started throwing up, not sick throw up but almost like a spit up except her whole dinner would come up.  It started on Wednesday and on Friday we took her to the doctor and they said they didn't know what was wrong but it was probably 'teething'.  So Sunday we decided to switch her to soy milk and amazingly she stopped throwing up.  She is now eating better, not as fussy and sleeping better.  Pretty much everything I classified as 'teething' is gone.

I don't think cow's milk is a bad thing but I believe in being aware because I wasn't when my oldest first became sick.  Had we switched her to soy right away we would have saved a lot of time, money and energy.  If you think your child has a food allergy talk to your doctor and try the elimination process.  There are also lots of information and blogs on adults and children with food allergies just google it, and children can grow out of it.  My oldest is almost 5 and has been back on milk for about 1 year with no problems, no ear infections or respiratory infections. 

*Note*  Please Please talk to your doctor if you believe your child has allergies and you want to do food elimination.  Children require certain vitamins from certain foods and your doctor can advise you on what new food or substitutions you can use to make sure they are getting enough.

Treats and Sweets! Ideas for making some spooky good eats!

Picture by norwichnuts

Monster Cupcakes

Using your favorite chocolate cake recipe or box –bake cupcakes according to the recipe/ package directions.  Cool completely.  Using your favorite chocolate frosting, lighting coat the top of each cupcake (enough for the Oreo cookies to stick to the top).  Sprinkle crushed Oreo cookie crumbs on top of each cupcake until covered.  Take M & Ms and split in half, and place 2 halves on the cupcake for eyes.

Chocolate Pretzel Rods

2 cups white chocolate candy melts or white chocolate chips

Orange colored sugar or sprinkles

Chocolate sprinkles

20 pretzel rods

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.

Place candy melts or white chocolate chips in a double boiler. Heat over low heat until melted.

Spread orange sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles in even layers on two separate shallow plates.

Dip pretzel rods into white chocolate, using a spoon to coat the rods well.

Press gently into orange sprinkles. Turn, then press into chocolate sprinkles.

Place pretzel rods on prepared baking sheet. Let harden for 20-30 minutes.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Mummy Dogs
1 roll/pkg Pillsbury Breadstick dough (12 count)
12 hot dogs

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Unroll all 12 breadsticks from package. Cut each into 3 equal strips. Take 3 strips, one at a time and wrap around 1 hot dog starting from the top of the hot dog. Leave a small space towards the top of the hotdog for the ‘face’. Continue wrapping all dogs then place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Remove and let cool for 5 minutes. Use mustard or ketchup for the eyes.

Ghost Nutter Cookies   

 1 pound white candy coating, coarsely chopped

 1 package (1 pound) Nutter Butter peanut butter cookies

  Miniature semisweet chocolate chips

  

   In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating, stirring occasionally. Dip cookies into coating, covering completely. Place on waxed paper.

    Brush ends with a pastry brush dipped in coating where fingers touched cookies. While coating is still warm, place two chips on each cookie for eyes. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 3 dozen.

Easy Spider Pizzas

 2 cans of Grand’s Biscuits (large size)

1 jar of pizza sauce

Mozzarella cheese sticks

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lay out biscuits and flatten or roll out.  Top with pizza sauce.  Cut cheese sticks in to then strips and then cut the strips shortways into smaller strips, (this makes it easier to make circles) and use to make a spider web design.  Bake for about 20 mins.  Use black olives to make a spider by cutting one in half and splitting another one into strips for the legs.

To the left top is my spider pizza-harder than I thought..Bottom left is the cooked version.  Umm maybe pizza skulls would be better?

Well, those are good and all but not very healthy (what! cupcakes not healthy? Whatever do you mean?)  What about regular foods?......no problem! Here are a few tips for making them a bit spookier.

Use cookie cutters in spooky shapes to make regular sandwiches more sinister.

Use cheese sticks described above in Easy Spider Pizzas to make ‘spider webs’ on any dish that has a cheese topping.

Add black olive spiders to salsa and dips.

Slice the end of celery into strips to make celery brooms.

Make Dirt Jell-O cups by filling cups with Jell-O and once Jell-O is set sprinkle Oreo cookies crumbs on top and use Gummy Worms stick out to look like real worms in dirt.

Need to spruce up a favorite punch for Halloween?  Here’s how…

Place glow rods under the bowl for an unearthly glow-

Freeze a small batch of green punch and place in the bowl as a slime ring

Add plastic eyeballs, spiders and insects into the frozen ring or just leave them floating in the bowl *Note –use items of larger size to avoid a choking hazard, if in doubt find something else.

Place dry ice in a dish under or around the punch bowl for a Witches’ brew.  *Note- Dry ice should never be touched without proper handling or ingested, keep away from children.

Happy Crafting (and party planning!)

KidZ Speak!

Welcome to KidZ speak!

You have decided to plan your first ever Halloween party.  As the date gets closer you realize....how are you supposed to keep 30 5 year olds from running a mok and you being demoted from cool and crisp party coordinator to stressed-out party referee?   Here are a few tips to help you plan the best party for parents and kids...

 Make a tentative schedule for the party and time frame for which the whole party will last taking into account number of kids, ages and time of the party.  A 2 hour party is more than enough for most kids (and parents) but if you have older children or a mixed group you can always plan a movie after the scheduled party time.

Stick to the schedule as best you can-if you plan for cake at 5:30 have cake at 5:30 even if you still have 2 games left...you can always go back and revisit games afterwards.

Plan out activities in advance but not too many...activities keep everyone out of trouble but kids enjoy free play too-and your child will have a chance to show off their favorite toys.

Arrange groups of toys by type in different rooms or areas outside, that will keep kids from congregating in one space which usually equals somebody fighting.  Toy groups might include a puzzle table, lego table, baby play room, or even dress up station.

Another great idea is to make the kids table into a coloring station using butcher paper or postal paper, it is thick and can double as a tablecloth.  Arrange paper across the table and tape with masking tape underneath. then arrange crayons or markers in glass jars (we reuse salsa jars) and place them on the table.  The kids can color while waiting for their food.

Make the kids work for their candy.. you can have games with candy as a prize or make a 'candy hunt' by placing candy around the yard and have the kids find it.  With older children you can divide them into groups and have 'clues' to where the candy is hidden.

If you have an older or mixed group, let the parents know that there is a Halloween movie that will be played following the party, giving a chance for the younger ones to head out, and the older ones can enjoy some down time. Note: It's a good idea to let parents know in advance what movie will be played-many children scare easily or parents are particular about what their children see....parents knowing in advance helps them to 'plan' to stay or call it a night.

Look over the party areas-are they safe for the ages that will be attending?  Do you need to put up some baby gates or put away some favorite crystal?  Being aware of possible hazards to certain ages can be stress relief especially for the parents.  Do you live on a main road-recruit some adults to help supervise the outside play can help too.

Any other tips-just email and I will add them here!

Happy Crafting! (and Party Planning!)

BOO BAG

Hello Boo Bag!

As Halloween approaching I was faced with a problem...I didn't have a cute treat bag for my 4 year old, so I created one. (16 month olds are too young for candy, yes I know I am a mean old mommie *sigh*)

The bag is made from standard canvas cloth and is lined in the same-I will be posting some directions for making your own *PLUS* directions on how to make your own fabric flowers.  The coolest thing about this project is that I had all the fabric in stock (meaning scraps) and didn't have to purchase one thing.  The letters were super easy. Just print the font and size from the computer and cut it out then use that for a template for your letters.  I then used a blanket stitch to hold the letters to the fabric (basic applique).  All the fabric is prewashed so the bag is washable.  Usually when appliqueing I iron the edges for the seam but the rag look is in so I decided that if the edges of the letters fray some it will add to the look.

  



Look for directions for you to make your very own BOO bag coming soon!
plus directions for fabric flowers and doing to blanket stitch.





Look for Friday's Party Day-with some spooky good recipes to make your Halloween party a scare!

Happy Crafting!

Fashion Monday

image by kpwerker

Ready for Fall?

Here are a fall tips to get warm as the weather gets cooler.

Artistry by Amway has a great fall must have for color-

click here for more info or to order.

Reflective Beauty face Palette

Beautiful colors perfect for Fall.

$50.00

Reflective Beauty Lip Gloss in Perfect Red
 Who doesn't love red?
Get it for $18.35

Scarves are super hot...

but...what if I don't have one?...no problem check out these
favorites...

Pick up some handmade ones at www.Etsy.com- search for scarf (prices vary)

or looking for one you can just drop in the store and pickup?

Try these favorites:
Target-super cute and super priced ($10-$40) www.target.com

AnnTaylorLoft-flirty and feminine ($34.50-$39.50) www.anntaylorloft.com

Love Red, Black and White?

White House Black Market has everything you need ($48-$58) www.whitehouseblackmarket.com

Look out for the Boo Bag coming Wednesday!

Happy Crafting (and Shopping!)

Kidz Speak!

Welcome to Kidz speak Friday-with some cute or cool ideas to make life a bit easier.

With Fall on the way,  I thought I would post some tips on getting great pictures from our kids.  Have you ever set up a great picture, kids are in their Grandma made Halloween outfit sitting so cute in the pumpkin patch that you drove 2 hours to get to only to look at your picture later and see this? (of course after the 2 hour drive back at 11pm at night)

Or this?

I love my girls but it is funny how they start learning how to look AWAY from the camera the minute I take their picture...

Of course with digital cameras it is alot easier to check pictures and adjust but some tips can never hurt..

First thing is to take the time to READ, yes I know I said it, but reading the manual and make all the difference.  Second is understand how to set the camera for the envirnoment and understand what each of the settings mean and what ideal envirnoment it is made for can really help you get the ideal picture quality.
Third is take lots and lots of pictures just keeping on snapping...and yes you will have a lot that were just a waste but is it worth it to take 50 pictures to get that one money shot?  (You speak here....Yes you say!)

Hate the family photos?  The battle of getting everyone to stand still, look at the camera and of course keeping their eyes open can make everyone a little cranky...here is a tip I learned from a photographer.  Ask your kids to close their eyes, then tell them when you say 'OPEN' they are to open them...of course take the picture and you are very likely to have everyone's eyes open at the same time (Shocking I know).

Another great tip?  Choose picture taking time when the KIDS are at their best even if early in the morning (coffee anyone?), and you will capture them at their best.  Remember to bring snacks for picture taking outings and drinks too.  Another tip?  Make a day out of it and just start taking pictures even if they are just running around and playing...soon they will be more comfortable and start to act  natural making it easier to capture that winning smile and winning shot.
One last thing...nobody can tell the difference between dawn and dusk in pictures...looking for the perfect picture while Trick or Treating can be exhausting, especially when kids start coming down from their sugar high from the earlier 4 parties they went to...Try dressing them up a week or so before and take shots early in the morning, you can still get the look of evening without the extra tiredness from the end of the day and nobody has to know your Halloween pictures were really taken 2 weeks before hand (devil smile).
 Good luck and happy crafting (and happy picture taking)!

PS if you are looking for a great photographer and live in Atlanta, Ga check out Gina at www.ginacellinophotography.com or email her at gina@ginacellinophotography.com.

Look for fashion Monday, on you guessed it, Monday!

Previous Post

To everyone that saw my previous posts, because of copyright laws I decided to delete them...if you would like to see the link where a particular item came from please feel free to contact me.

Welcome to my first ever blog!

Hello!