santa advent calendar

i saw a calendar on the pottery barn kids website and thought to myself, i can make the for much less then they are selling it for. twenty dollars later i have one santa and enoough leftovers to make more with the exception of of the list felt, that i need to get more of, but still far less then buying them. i think the next ones will look much better because i have made one and have an idea how to do it.

Projects

I haven't been super motivated to do much in the way of projects and crafts since returning home from Iowa. I have a LONG list of things to make and finally it has hit me, the urge to get somethings done! I made decorative soap for the bathroom last weekend with the Abra.





I saw a magnetic chore chart on a U create and really wanted to make one for Abra. The thing is, I was too cheap to by the $5 sheet of metal at the store when I knew that there could be a cheaper way! Well, after a week of searching, I thought it is going to hang on the refrigerator and that is magnetic, and I really don't want to mess with wood to make it pretty, so why not just use scrapbook paper and contact paper it to the refrigerator! 30 minutes later, project complete. If any of my dear local friends are interested in doing this or similar, I have PLENTY of gems left and tons of paper, so let me know:)

The skirt

A few months ago, Molly gave me a pair of Brandon's jeans that looked barely used, with the exception of not having knees anymore. She gave them to me to use as scrap material. I decided since they fit Abra, I would make a skirt for the fourth of July!

Watercolors

Brendan Fraiser was on Martha a few weeks ago and they made kid craft stuff. Well, I happened to have misplaced Abra's new watercolor set and had this empty one lying around and decided to see how well it worked! It turned out well and wasn't too messy! I am still playing around with color combinations. These are NOT TRUE watercolors, they leave a powdery residue on the paper, but for kids, it works just great!!

Happy Birthday Gracie

Tomorrow is Gracie's birthday party!! I got her present finished up today and I am kinda excited how it turned out!! There are a few things to improve upon next time around, but for not having a pattern of any kind, I think that I did a pretty good job!! Hopefully the little diva will like to cook:)

Spray paint

Like Tina, I have decided to have some fun with spray paint that resulted in myself having it all over! UNLIKE Tina, I painted outside and managed to only get my fingers (no smurf look for me!) I have random, cheap frames that I have picked up throughout the years that don't match and some are even scratched, so what is the best thing to do? SPRAY PAINT!! I painted them the colors of my throw pillows and I am still deciding if they will go up in the living room or the hallway! I need your imput!! Heck, who is up for "playdate at Paula's and we can figure out what to put into them as well!!! PLUS Salvation Army is having a 1/2 price sale this weekend, so I am thinking about heading over there for some larger frames. The little ones there are $1.99 and even 1/2 that is too much to pay for crappy frames...more like 50 cents would be the max I would pay!!

crafty fun

Today has been a craftastic day:) I was tired of carring my purse on trips to get Abra or little errands, so I whipped this up from a tutorial on Noodlehead's website I used a zipper from a pair of pants that I am planning to cut-up into a messenger bag, and fabric scraps from other projects!
Then Abra and I attempted to organize and clean the playroom. I had seen "make your own storage cubes" and so I found a saved box and here we are! I plan to use paper and make it prettier, but they are custom to my cabinet!

Gracie's birthday present

This is part 1 of Gracie's birthday present. It was RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE pattern to follow. I will post more information later, but here is the picture:

changing pad

I made this changing pad for Rich's brother and sister in law. They had gotten rid of all there baby things, and now are expecting and who really likes to change their kid in the bathroom of a resturant or store? I know they ususlly go outside to change the diaper, but this then becomes a barrier between the seats in their new car and poop! I broke four needles sewing trying to sew the pillow, then I finally just did it by hand! I got the directions from the Pick-up some creativity website. For some reason, my blog won't let me place a link, but under "Projects I want to do" I have a link.

Adventures in Freezer cooking.

I jave decided to try the once a month-ish cooking. Yesterday, I made SEVERAL banana pancakes, Ham and cheese pinwheels, cheeseburger pinwheels, Ham, cheese and broccoli "hot pockets", 2 batches of beef enchiladas, SEVERAL breakfast burritos. I think that is all that made, then I cut-up chicken, put it in a maranade and chopped veggies for stir-fry so all I have to do is get the bag out in the morning and cook at dinner time! Mini meatloaves and 2 pork roasts are "prepared but not cooked". Today, I have about 6 pounds of chicken waiting to be turning into meals, and some porkchops. I am not the most efficient at this yet, but we will see if helps with getting a better dinner on the table!

Roman numerals-done

So, this doesn't look too bad for just using what was "laying around". They aren't straight and they aren't as fat as I would like, but they are cheap, living room wall art that helps my room seem less empty!

Andrew's birthday present

So I was wondering what to do for Rich's nephew's birthday. I thought about freezer stenciling t-shirts, but I don't have ANY materials for that. I thought about buying some clothes, but that is boring, then I thought about making something-a game!! Abra got an ABC game for her 3rd birthday that practices matching begining letter sounds with the corresponding letter. I didn't like it because it threw in blended sounds and that is too complicated for starting out. I decided to make a simple zoo one for Andrew. I have paper and wanted a project for my mod podge (basically fancy glue) and so I headed to Salvation Army and got a board game with pieces for $1 and mod podged over it what I wanted!!
The game board is two sided and the coins have actual pictures that I printed out! There is something funky going on with Blogger and my computer, so the pictures aren't arranged the best, but here is the final product!!

Scrapbooking

Mom and Dad are going to have a party for their 30th wedding anniversary. My job: make scrapbook pages for people to look at. A few years ago, I made my mom a "Brag Book" with pictures of Abra. The last page was for Christmas 2005. I have a little catching up to do!! Here is what I have done so far after 2 days:

Sorry for the sideways pictures, blogger just doesn't want to work!!! But look at my baby!!! These were all done yesterday.

These were all done so far today. I have gotten to summer 2007-but there are a few more that I don't have inspiration for yet from when Mom and Dad came out Christmas 2006

Abra's skirt

I FINALLY got around to making a skirt for Abra last night. It was really simple-but has some issues:( Not bad, for last minute. The fabric if from an old dress that never fit correctly and this pattern http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/photos/twirly_skirt/index.html.typepad.com/photos/twirly_skirt/index.html It has some issues that are sewer's errors, but for a 4 year-old, it is beautiful!!

Megan's present

I am fairly confident in saying that I can post Megan's bridal shower/wedding/birthday present with out ruining the suprise!! I saw the reversable halter top apron (http://tenthmusestudios.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/halter-apron-pattern/thmusestudios.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/halter-apron-pattern/musestudios.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/halter-apron-pattern/ )and HAD to have it, so I ordered my first pattern!!! I FINALLY got it in the mail (really it had only been a week at the most) I went to JoAnn's and used my coupons and got enough fabric to make the apron and hopefully a few potholders. Then after Abra was tucked into bed, I sat on my living room floor( I am glad that I decided to move the carpet out) and started cutting. That was my least favorite part!!! I know it doesn't have to be EXACT, however the closer all the pieces are, the easier to put together. I sewed until 2:30 this morning and decided I should sleep. All that was left was to put the two "seperate aprons" together and sew. Morning came WAY too early, but I remembered my apron, and jumped out of bed and to the sewing room! I was finished by 10 this morning!! YIPPEE!!!I tried it on and it didn't look right on me, so I had my little giant model for the camera!! (I AM GOING TO LOOSE THE WEIGHT!!!)

Side two

On the little giant

Roman numerals

So, I am attempting to make the Roman numeral wall art. I have a piece of crap wood (is really thin) and drew the numerals this morning.I decided to make the numerals mean something instead of just VIII IX X, I did our birthdates! Rich got the power tools out and he taught me how to use them!! It was exciting!! We have cut out one set of numerals, however Rich wanted to "try" something and ended up breaking the X, so that will be our practice. Here is how the practice turned out:

Then, we went on a trip to the Home Depot, and got SUPER EXCITED because pine lumber is super cheap and with a little practice, I will be able to make my furniture...and furniture for my friends, just because it is fun!!! Maybe, I can find a way to make a couch for Tina that way she doesn't have to pay an arm and a leg :)

PLUS, we stopped into Salvation Army and I got 40 spools of thread (lots of different colors and some were not even used!) for $1.25!! I was so excited!!! Well, today has been productive and I it isn't done yet! I promised Rich brownies for valentine's and I have banana's that are ripe and about 10 sewing projects ready to going and not to mention, re-drawing today's practice numerals!!

While I was cleaning the playroom last night, I remembered I wanted to make a bag for Abra's "Don;t Break the Ice" game. The box just isn't cutting it anymore and I am OBESSESSED with not losing game pieces!!! I am getting better at sewing!! I was able to complete the project in ONE night, my cuts were straighter and my lines were straighter!! I am getting better, but still have MUCH to improve upon!! I followed this tutorial from the Noodlehead blog and it turned out pretty well!! http://noodleheads.blogspot.com/2010/02/boys-drawstring-backpack-from-khaki.html My fat legs is enough to make two of these and If I really wanted to, probably three using the butt! Since I DON'T have the legs to show off "short shorts" I took the zipper off of the khakis and used it for the bag. I also took the buttons off and will use them for other projects!! I am trying to be more resourceful!

catch up

Now that the rain has returned, so has my unmotivated mood! I have decided that will NOT be acceptable behavior and tonight have embarked on several projects: Bought Dorothy's christmas present, ordered pictures for Mom and Dad's scrapbook project, made a family tree http://www.marthastewart.com/article/hand-lettered-family-tree unfortunately, mine did NOT turn out as cute as Martha's. Of course, if I had unlimited resources at my disposal, I too could be as good. Abra and I painted the blanket crate pink and white. It is still a work in progress, but getting closer to being done. Oh, and tomorrow I am going to try and make the market skirt for Abra. She is VERY excited!!

Matching shirt

I really wanted to make a shirt to match the market skirt I made.After viewing the pattern tutorial( http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-make-your-own-pattern.html) I was wondering if I could do the 90 min shirt for a girl. Then I got curious about making a crew neck shirt, so off to the Abra clothes bag that I still had and there was a t-shirt that I didn't really like but for some reason still had so apart it went!! I followed the same steps loosely with the neck line being the exception. I used the collar from the t-shirt I cut up that Rich NEVER WORE!! He is so funny sometimes!! Then I embroidered some flowers that match the purple in the skirt!! I think that it turned out very well...except the black marker by the arm pit and the stretched out neckline, but it is the thought that counts, right!! Hey, summer time is coming soon and Ava will be outside walking around and unless Tina runs around behind her with wet wipes...wait, she probably will, but this is one of those shirts she is allowed to get dirty!!

Ava's birthday gift

So, I saw this skirt and LOVED it(http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-market-skirt.html)!!! I wanted to make one for Abra, but I just don't have enough fabric, so I decided to make one for Ava. It was a long, frustrating week, mainly because this is my first PATTERN that I have attempted and I had to play to make things work! It was a learning experience and I think that I now know more about my machine and am really excited to try a few other things out. Here are the pictures:














Up: pre-pockets on an abnormally large babydoll (9-12 month size)
Right: the finished product!!! Ava is just about to start walking so she in the chunk stage. I guestimate it is around 18 month size!!