No-Sew Birthday Banner

I love this birthday banner!  Another easy craft to keep you festive.  Charlie loves birthdays and parties, so when she woke up and saw this on the wall she was stoked.  She is a party animal.  Now I just need to make a boy one, since Beck’s b-day is next month.  lol Charlie’s isn’t till December, but I had to do a girly one first.  Girl stuff is so much fun.  ahhh… Anyway, make this!  it’s sweet!

Supplies:

5-14 coordinating fabrics, you only need a little bit of each.  I made mine 8″ wide and 8.5″ long-triangly 😉  There will be 14 triangles including a space between happy and birthday.

Double fold quilt binding- 3 yards

rotary cutter with mat and guide OR scissors/pinking sheers

Acrylic paint

Pellon/Interfacing- 2 yards

hot glue gun

foam brushes

freezer paper

die-cut machine like a cricut or stencils

Iron

Optional! if you want a felt backing you will need 2 yards of felt and a package of Heat and Bond instead of the Pellon

Let’s get Started-

The first thing you will do is cut pieces of your fabric out and iron your pellon to stiffen the fabric and to keep it from fraying when you cut it.  If you are doing a felt backing cut your fabric and iron on the heat and bond.

I did the felt on the back, but after experimenting with the pellon.  I would prefer to do it that way.  OR you can even use Canvas material-thicker material and just cut it with your pinking sheers.  Take the first whole step out that way, but your fabric choices will be limited.

Next step!

Cut out your triangles.  I did mines 8.5″ long and 8″ wide.  I wouldn’t go wider than that, but smaller would be good.  You just want to make sure you don’t go over the 3 yards of the binding.

I cut mine out with a rotary pinking blade- didn’t know these existed till last week.  I likes

After these where cut I ironed my felt triangles on to the back.  But if you did pellon, don’t worry about that.  Next you will want to lay them out and decided how you are going to place them in line.

Then, cut out your letters out of freezer paper with your machine; or with a stencil and an exact-o knife.

I used my cricut.  For freezer paper you will want pressure of 3 med, speed of 1 or 2, and depth of 2. I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge- roly poly font for the heart- 3inches big. For the letters I used Opposites Attract cartridge in the “Upright” font.  For the H and B capital letters I did 4inches and for the lower case letters I did 5inches big.

After cutting out the letters I ironed them onto my triangles.

I painted with the acrylic paint.  I didn’t like the fabric paint color choices, and this works just as good.  Your probably not going to be washing this, so no worries about the fabric paint.

After they were dry I peeled the freezer paper off, lined up my letters, and started to glue.  Make sure you line up your binding and letters before you glue so it is all evenly spaced.

Open up the quilt binding, glue on the bottom first.

Overlap the triangles just a little.  Place on hot glue; then glue the top and press down.

And your done!  Check out these two other blogs that helped me come up with my banner- Craftaholics Anonymous and Twig and Thistle.

Celebrate with your Bad Self!

Canopy for a Fairy-Child

I made this canopy for Charlie the other day.  I have had the materials to make it for the last three months and decided I had the time to finally do it.  It was SOOO easy.  I should have done it months ago.  She loves it.  It will be a fun place for her to sit and read her books.

Materials:

Foam wreath form

ribbon

a curtain

tulle or sheer fabric

felt- three shades of green

felt/ fake flowers

gems

hot glue

sewing machine-optional

ceiling hook

How I did it:

I started by wrapping ribbon around the foam circle.

Then I stapled the edge down after I got all the way around.  Glue would work just fine to hold it, I just wanted to staple something. lol

The I took three equal size pieces of ribbon, place them equal lengths around-just eyeballing it, and glued with my hot glue gun.

Like this.

I then cut a circle 40″ in diameter, and cut a tiny circle in the middle.  Just big enough to slide ribbon through.  Ribbon knot holds felt up, so you don’t want the knot to slide through. This is white felt, but I recommend doing it in green.

After my circle was cut I sewed my curtain around the bottom edge and then sewed my sheer fabric on top of that, leaving a space in the front to get in and out.  I recommend tulle over what I used. You could try to just hot glue the curtains if your not big on sewing.  Or check out the link at the bottom of this post  for another version my sister-in-law found.

I tied a knot and slid the loose ribbon through the whole in the felt.

I cut out leaf shapes

And hot glued them on to my cone.

I added gems and felt flowers to the top- this next pic is not good.

Beck helped with comic relief

Love that he is almost one and still looks bald lol

My sister-in-law wanted to make one too, but found a different tutorial online she wanted to try.  And I really liked this one too.  It looked very easy.  Probably took her 30mins to an hour.  Used a hula-hoop!  Great idea!  Check this out.  No sewing involved.  http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/cool-canopy-675544/ This website has tons of fun ideas for kids.  And I can’t lie if I had know about it before I started I probably would have done this one.  But mine turned out cute and it fits in the space I wanted it, so I am happy.  And, most importantly so is Miss Charlie.

Get Crafty with your Bad Self!

You Are My Sunshine- Gift

I totally scored with this one.  Made my mother-in-law cry… yup this was gooood  My mother-in-law sings “You are my sunshine” to all the grand kids, all the time.  Especially the ones that live far away, she sings it over the phone.  Its a special thing for them and her.  So I thought it would be fun to use our hands and make a birthday surprise for her.

I know all you scrapbookers out there will love this.  It’s like a giant scrapbook page without pictures.  I saw an idea to do a scrapbook page with “you are my sunshine” as the theme in ScrapBooks Etc magazine a few years ago.  But, could not find it when I made this… I searched so hard but was bummed that they have taken it off their website and I can’t find the July 2008 issue either!  I just had to go with the memory of it- my photographic memory coming in handy.  I also found an awesome layout in my search for the picture that originally inspired me, but (say this next sentence fast and annoyed) someone messed with my computer before I could bookmark it and I can’t find that either to give the lady some props!…so poo…  But!  good news I figured something out using my creativity and supplies I had in my craft closet.  (I used only what I had already-such a good feeling)

This is what I used:

Scrapbook paper- lots

buttons and gems

paper flowers

sewing machine and thread

hot glue

card board- for backing

Tombo adhesive- I LOVE

Cricut machine, Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, Opposites Attract cartridge

Different shades of yellow acrylic crafters paint and card stock for hand prints

How I did it:

My sister-in-laws sent me their families hand prints.  I cut them out and started arranging them on a curve.  I then arranged papers for the sun, glued them together and sewed them for an extra touch

After sewing it I emblessed with buttons, gems, thread, and a sticker that says “family”

I wrote all the names on the hands, because I thought the kids would enjoy seeing which hand is theirs when they get bigger.

I cut grass by just cutting little random triangles out of the paper, then layering with solid colors.  I glued those together with my Tombo and again sewed different stitches and tread colors for interest

Sorry this pic is blurry.  I printed the sheet music out on scrapbook paper and burnt the edges to make it look antique/old

I cut out cloud shapes, glued, sewed.  Cut out some raindrops.  And used my cricut to cut the words out.  My back ground is a piece of scrapbook paper that looks like notebook paper.  I got that idea from the lady I can’t remember/find.  I sewed the same color blue on a few of the lines of the paper to add texture.  The other back ground paper, the teal, is two matching pieces of paper just set underneath everything.

I am not sure why, but this was the hardest part for me.  I knew I wanted flowers, but I didn’t know how to arrange them.  I loved the flowers printed on the paper,  but also wanted more texture.  So, I added the paper flowers and used brads for the center.  I sewed the leaves and made that super cute bumble bee.  I think the bee is my favorite.                                                       I am proud of that little bee

Done!  …………Almost…

Painting/Antiquing the frame!

I used a frame I had bought at a garage sale and never used.  I think it cost $5.

(upside down wedding picture)

I sprayed it with an off-white

Sanded the edges

Then I used a clear top coat to seal it… and it totally bubbled up.  I was thinking, “Man, now I have to sand the whole thing and start over!”  But to my surprise as I started to sand it looked just how I wanted, totally antiqued.  Perfect! Love when mistakes work out.

Then I took it over to my favorite framer- Bill Chumbley of ABC Design here in Escondido CA – e-mail me for his number- he’s great!  He added a little foam core between frame and picture so that the glass wasn’t right on the button or squishing the flowers.  He added a hook on the back and sealed the whole frame up for me.  And here is how it looks all put together!

Give a gift from your Bad Self!

Allie thanks for letting me use your sewing machine!  I promise I will get my fixed soon

Yo-Yo Necklace or Broach

Here is what you need:

Yo-Yo makers- two sizes (med and small)

thread and needle

fabric scaps that coordinate

buttons/gems

ribbon

felt

hot glue gun

Yo-Yo’s are super easy to make.  They look great as embellishments, hair bows, and now this sweet necklace.  It took me about an hour or more to make and I think it is fun.  Hope you enjoy this tutorial.

First cut a piece of felt the shape you want your necklace to be.  Pick out your fabrics and start making your yo-yo’s. (Use instructions on yo-yo maker package, you can get this at Michael’s or Jo-Ann fabrics)

Once all your yo-yo’s are done; decide on the placement and glue with hot glue gun.  Apply gems and buttons (can do before or after glue to felt).

Then if making a necklace glue on ribbon- length is up to you.  Or glue a pin down if making as a broach or to attach to a purse as embellishment.

Glue another piece of felt on top of the first piece to hide ribbon ends.

And waa-laa your done. Put some jewelry on your bad self! 

Thanks for being my model Jackie! And yes the broach looks good

Girly Hair

Lately I have been on a hair-do kick with my two year old.  She has such beautiful long hair and if I am going to keep it long I have to start doing cute do’s.  I literally “have to”  because otherwise she looks like a ragamuffin

http://shedoeshair.blogspot.com/

http://www.babesinhairland.com/

A Tooth Fairy to Talk About

I was blog surfing one day and came across these super cute Tooth Fairy Teeth!  So stink’n cute!  I have been wanting to make one, but haven’t had a reason (since my kids just barely got their teeth) :).  But, a few days ago a friend sent me a hilarious e-mail about how she is getting a little tired of reaching under the pillow for teeth; and how one of her kids never even tells her there’s a tooth under his pillow till the next morning when he come out of his room sulking because the tooth fairy forgot him.  Ha.  A light bulb went on in my head and I thought finally an excuse to make one of the awesome teeth!  (And I really love surprising people with gifts…it’s my favorite )  These teeth are sweet because you hang them on the door knob,   slide the tooth in the mouth and then put the $ in the mouth.  No more searching under the pillow of a sleeping child!  A great idea.  One that I  must give props for.

To Larissa over at mmmcrafts, Great idea!

She has the pattern and a tutorial on her blog.

Here’s how mine turned out. (Sorry my pictures are so bad)  For more/better pictures and pattern

check out www.mmmcrafts.com

Not Yo Mama’s Craft Fair

Okay Ladies! If you live in San Diego and you are crafty with your bad self I think you are going to want to check this out!  http://thequeenbeemarket.blogspot.com/

Family Night Easter Baskets!

Try this fun, super easy, kid friendly craft for Family Night!  Every Sunday or Monday night(depending on the craziness of the week) we have what Charlie calls “Family Time!”  We wanted to start talking about Easter on Family time/night with my two year old so that when Easter comes in a few weeks she might know a little better what it is about.  We sang a children’s song “I Feel My Savior’s Love”, said a prayer, had a lesson about Jesus, then decided to get crafty with the whole family.  I bought these baskets at Party City for 2.99 each and the foam stickers at Joann fabric’s for 1-2 dollars per package.  It was simple, but we all had fun being creative and having some family time

Get Crafty with the Whole Fam-a-lama!!!

Super-Hero Cape! Pow! Bam! Watch Out Now!

Last Christmas I thought I would be such a cool Aunt and make superhero capes.  I made one of each of my 7 nieces and nephews, plus  two more for my kids.   I was and still am very proud of myself for this, even though most of them didn’t quite get it yet (totally didn’t care).  Someday they will be glad they have capes    I probably should have waited till they were 3 or maybe even 5.    Anywhoo…here’s how I made them!

If you can sew a straight line you can do this!! Don’t be intimated, YOU CAN DO IT! 

Here is what you will need:

A Sewing Machine

Scissors

Pins

Measuring tape

Some tissue paper/pattern paper to make pattern

Chalk

Iron

Heat-and-Bond-sewable

John Mayer on your radio/iPod/CD player

Tracing paper or a Cricut machine

Velcro

3/4 of a yard of fabric for each-front and back

You will probably want 3-4 different fabrics.  One for inside of cape, one for main part,  one solid for shape (12×12 piece of fabric), and one solid for letter (5×5 piece)

The first thing you will want to do is make a pattern.  I do this by taking a piece of tissue paper and drawing my lines with chalk.

It will look like half a cape when you are done with this step.  I make it 10 1/2 inches to the widest part of the cape and 21 inches long, but you can make it as long as you need.  Don’t feel like you have to stick to these measurements, they are just guidelines.  Adjust them to fit your child.  I made several different sizes.  I usually kept the width though, seemed to work for every body size up to age 6.  See Picture below for the neck measurements. Those also work for everyone.  Feel free to change them if you don’t like them.

Cut out pattern and pin it to fabric.  Using the edge of the pattern as the fold line.

Cut out the front and back of your cape.  You are going to want to take your 12×12 piece of fabric for your shape and your 5×5 piece for the letter and apply the Heat and Bond on the back of these fabrics.  Then cut out your star, lightning bolt, star burst, flower, etc. and letter.  I used my Cricut machine, but you could all so just trace the shape you want and cut it out yourself.

For the Cricut peel the paper for the Heat and Bond off the back, place the fabric on the cutting mat, and load it in.  You will want your settings to be:  Blade depth-3      Speed- low    Pressure- med/high   (you do not need a deep-cut blade for this)

Okay now you are going to iron on the shape and letter on to your fabric.

Now to secure it better and make it look a little more cute, you will top stitch over the shape and letter.  I used a zigzag stitch, I thought it was the easiest way to go and looked nice.

After you have finished this you can sew your back and front piece together.  Place right sides in, pin in place, and sew.  Sew from the bottom corner up around neck and down to the opposite bottom corner; leaving the bottom of the cape open so you can flip it right sides out.  Before you flip it you will want to make sure that you have clipped around the neck to help prevent puckering.

After you flip it back you will need to use an object that has a pointed and rounded tip (I used the end of a paint brush) to push the neck ends all the way out like so…

Then iron the edges of the cape.

Fold and pin the bottom of the cape.

Now, with your sewing machine, top stitch a straight stitch around the entire cape.

ALMOST DONE Just add the Velcro and your done!  Decide which flap you want on top and place the fuzzy side under that.  Place the scratchy side on the top of the bottom flap.  I put an extra long fuzzy piece on so that the cape can grow with my child.  (Hope that all made sense)

Sew the Velcro.

And you are done!  See not that hard

Now bask in the glory of what you made and how cool of a person you are.

(Shortly after making the cape for my two year old she ripped it off and stomped on it)  cool…

I am sharing my idea at…

Message or Picture Board

If you want to make these cute boards you will need:

An old bulletin board

Fabric about 4 inches taller and wider than bulletin board

Ribbon about 4-5 yards depending on size

Upholstery nail head pins/tack

Batting to fit size of bulletin board

Scissors

Staple gun

Okay, now that you’ve got the stuff here are the next steps:

1. Lay the fabric right side facing down.

2. Lay the batting down on top of fabric.

3. Lay the bulletin board on top of it also right side facing down.

4. Take your scissors and cut the fabric so it is about two inches wider than your bulletin board on every side.  Just eye ball it, it doesn’t need to be perfect.  Make sure your fabric is lined up how you want it and now you are ready to staple the fabric down.

5. Fold the fabric over on to the wood frame on the back of the canvas and staple down.  Do this all the way around, pulling the fabric tight.

SEE PICTURES FOR THE HAIR BOW HOLDER

6. Now you are going to want to place your ribbon.  You can place it how ever you want.  Here are two examples.  One is a hair bow holder and a picture board, the other just a picture holder.

You can pin down the ribbon two ways, you can staple it on the back like the hair bow holders, or use the nail heads like thumb tacks and hold it down on the front.

If you use the tacks I recommend burning the ribbon a little to keep it from fraying.

When two pieces of ribbon cross push a upholstery tack  through them, doing this will create that cushioned look and help hold the pictures in place.

Now your done!

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