Triplet Train Bunting

A friend of mine has triplet boys--Can you even imagine?  She is a complete saint and one of the best moms I know.  With three infants, though, she has people in and out of her house (helping) day and night...Lots of people.  I've been going over every Thursday night; in the beginning, I had trouble remembering which baby slept in which crib, as they are all three in one room.  I wanted to make something special for her boys and thought of a name bunting to hang over each crib, a way to make sure that all of her helpers know which boy sleeps where.  Here they are:

What do you think?

Disobedience Dimes

I know that it must appear that my children are little heathens, based upon all of the chore charts and discipline crafts I come up with.  It's not true (all the time), they just need a little help along the way.  My newest creation is Disobedience Dimes.  Each time that they are disobedient, rude, whiny, etc., they have to pay a dime to the Disobedience Dimes jar.  Don't worry--I have to pay into it, too, if I'm rude.  They are earning money by doing their chores, but know that if they want to keep all of that money, they need to be on good behavior.  I'm not a horribly mean mom; I do give warnings and freebies sometimes.  So far, the results have been promising!

This was my first try at rosettes.  So simple!  This rosette covers the words on the back of the jar.

I couldn't find the metal cover for the jar, so I just used paper coated in Mod Podge, then cut a slit into it.

PB Cord Cover Knock-Off Tutorial

While drooling over browsing the Pottery Barn catalog, I came across this:

It's a burlap cover for the hanging cord on a chandelier.  Immediately I thought of the chandelier that we have hanging in our dining room, and of course imagined it in red.  Then I went to work.  Here's my version:

It was actually fairly simple to make, once I figured out how I wanted to make it.  I wasn't sure if I should actually gather the fabric, or just make it long enough that it would scrunch itself on the cord.  I finally decided on gathering, which I think was the right choice.  Enough talking--Here's the tutorial.

Supplies

Fabric--I used 100% cotton.  You'll need (Length x1.75) + (Circumference of the cord +1").

Fusible Interfacing

Thread (Match your fabric)

Sewing Machine

Snaps

Step 1

Cut your fabric to the dimensions described above.  The x1.75 is for gathering and seam allowance (.5"), and the +1" is for the .5" seam allowance.  I am NOT a sewer, so please don't judge me too harshly on my technique/vocabulary here.  Please.

Step 2

Cut your fusible interfacing to 1" less than the length and 1" less than the width of your fabric.  (One inch off of one side and one inch off of the top.)

Step 3

According to the directions on the package, iron the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of your fabric.  The interfacing gives some strength to the fabric, which helps it stand up, instead of slinking down the cord.  

Step 4

Hem the top and bottom, i.e. the width, of the fabric.  I didn't do anything fancy for my hem.  I simply folded it down to the fusible interfacing (.5"), pinned it, then sewed.

Step 5

Pin the hem (same method as Step 4) on both of the remaining sides (lengths).  Then fold your fabric in half lengthwise.  You'll end up with a long rectangle.  (My fabric was a little bit see-through, which is why I used two layers.)  Now you're going to re-pin the hems together.  So, keeping the hems folded in, pin the fabric together.

Step 6

Using a basting stitch, sew the two sides together (along the hem line).  Gather the fabric until it is the actual length of your chandelier cord.  Sew over the basting stitches using a short stitch length.  Backstitch at the beginning and end.  (This will hold your gathers.)

Step 7

Use a basting stitch to sew .5" in from the folded edge, the entire length of the fabric.  (Sew a parallel line to the one in Step 6, but on the folded edge, instead of the open edge).  Gather the fabric until it is also the actual length of the cord.  Sew over the basting stitches using a short stitch length.  Backstitch at the beginning and end.

Step 8

Sew on your snaps, being careful that they match up on each side.  Place your snaps so that only one seam shows--One snap goes directly under the gathers (on the wrong side of the fabric), while the other snap goes on the right side of the fabric, next to the gathers.  Sorry, I don't have a picture of this.  I'll get one up as soon as I can.

Now you can climb up on a chair and snap that sucker on!  Enjoy!

I'm linking up to:

Ribbon and Brad Flower Headband Tutorial

I only had time to get the headband done tonight, but I'll try to get the bracelet finished soon.  Here you go!

Supplies
6" Ribbon
1 Large Brad
1 Headband
Needle and Thread (matched to the color of the ribbon)
Glue Gun

Cut a piece of ribbon to 6"

Fold over one end of ribbon and insert the needle through both layers.  (This creates a clean end.)

Use a running stitch to sew along one side of the ribbon from one end to the other.

When you reach the other end of the ribbon, fold it over just like you did on the first end.  Place your last stitch through both layers of ribbon.

Gather the ribbon by pulling on one end of thread, while holding the other.  

Once your ribbon is gathered into a circle, tie off your thread with a knot.

Place your brad through the center of your ribbon circle.

Open the brad across the back of the ribbon circle.

Adhere the ribbon and brad to a headband using a glue gun.  I glued the brad to the headband because I didn't want it to poke my daughter in the head or catch her hair.

DONE!

Fourth of July Table Runner ($4)

I picked up the supplies for this table runner during my recent trip to the Dollar Tree.  I used three place mats and one dish towel.  I cut the dish towel into strips that I then used to connect the place mats.  This is an incredibly simple project (and only costs $4!)!

Before

After

We used this table runner at our BBQ tonight, as well.  It held up great and added some festive, Patriotic cheer to our table.  Not bad for four dollars!

Placemat to Project Holder Folder

I am one of those people who has to write things down.  If it's not on paper, I will most likely forget about it.  Craft ideas are definitely among the things that float right out my ears into lala land, unless I write them down.  So I have been trying to come up with a good way to keep track of my ideas so that they don't disappear forever.  Post-it notes are a must have because I can stick them to fabric, furniture, paper, etc. when I have an idea for that particular item.  Pens are also important.  Lastly, a place to store all of the pictures and pages that I rip out of magazines.  Let me show you what I came up with!

Supplies:

Placemat

Button

Ribbon

Needle

Thread

Sewing Machine (Although this could definitely be done by hand!)

I got this unbelievable placemat on clearance at Target.  Less than three dollars!

Lay out your placemat, right side down.  Lay all of the items you'd like to store on top of the placemat.  Fold the bottom of the placemat up as high as you'd like it.  Pin the sides closed.

Place a pin between all of the items.

Sew the sides closed.  I just used a short straight stitch

Sew a straight line where you place each pin, between all of your items.  (Just sew as high as the fold, not all the way up the placemat.)

Fold your placemat closed.  I folded the left side in, then the right side over the top.  Place a button on the bottom side (or the side that is not the flap).

Sew the button on.

The smart thing here would be to use a thin piece of ribbon.  I, however, did not have a thin piece of ribbon.  Here's how to create it: Cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length.  Next cut it to the desired width.  Use a lighter to seal the ends and length.  Voila, a thin piece of ribbon.

Create a loop with your ribbon, criss-crossing the ends, large enough to fit over the button that you just sewed on.  Sew it on to the edge of the flap of your folded placemat.

You're done!

Literally a 15 minute project and just perfect for what I needed.  I'm so happy!