Super Easy Gift Ideas!

These temple pictures are super easy to make!

For supplies I used plastic sheets and scrapbooking paper.  (Mine came from S.E.I.) I also found the temple pictures at http://lilluna.com/2010/07/tutorial-tuesday-temple-block-im-going-there-someday.html

Next, I mounted the pictures on the paper with double stick tape and then mounted that onto the plastic with same tape. Finally, I punched a hole in the top of the plastic sheet and tied a ribbon.

This method works with any picture and is a great gift for wedding or baby showers!

 

Elegant White Rose Dress!

I made this dress for my niece’s 8^th Birthday!  She wanted an elegant white dress for her upcoming baptism.  This Dress is easy to make thanks to the white ribbon rose fabric I found at my local fabric store.  First, I followed the basic dress pattern for the bodice and sleeves (Simplicity 2683).  For the skirt I used my niece’s measurements and cut out two rectangles.  To get the width of the rectangles add 6” to the width of the bodice.  For the length I used the bias at the bottom of the ribbon fabric and cut the length I needed so the dress reached her ankles.  Sew the two rectangles together with right sides together on the side seams to create the skirt.  Gather the top of the skirt and sew to bodice.  For the hem simple hem the bottom of the bias of the ribbon fabric.  

I hand sewed on extra trim and beads around the neck and waist to add an extra touch.  This is a perfect dress for any girl wanting to feel like a princess! 

simplicity

Retro Doll!

I found this retro doll head in a thrift store and decided to make a doll for my little girl. 

Hopefully by sharing what I did you can make your own doll.

I used a zip tie to connect the head to a pre-made doll body. 

I basically made the dress using rectangles and squares.  For the bodice I measured the doll and added about 2” for stitches.  The sleeves were made by measuring the arms and cutting out a rectangle that again was about 4” bigger than the width.  I just gathered the top to fit the bodice and hemmed the sleeves to fit. For the skirt I again made measured the doll’s width and length and then made a square that was about 10x10”.  Again, I gathered the top of the skirt to fit the bodice and hemmed the dress to fit the doll.  The apron I made by rounding out a 4” square and adding a ruffle.  I measured the doll and added ties to the apron.  I added trim from my stash to finish the doll. 

Have fun creating your own doll!

crayola

 

Pretzel Necklace!

This pretzel necklace is fun and easy to make!

First you need shoelace licorice in any color you want and pretzels.  Separate the licorice until you have just one string and tie an end to a pretzel. 

Next loop the licorice through the next pretzel continue adding licorice and pretzels till you get the size of necklace you want. 

Variations:

Red licorice is perfect for a heart valentine’s necklace

Green licorice works great for St Patrick’s Day

You can make this activity educational by having the kids count the pretzels as they add them to the necklace.

crayola

Balloon Baseball!

Balloon Baseball is a fun game that works for any holiday.  I did this game for a Valentine’s party for my preschool daughter.  The long Balloons are the bats and the small balloons are the balls.  I made the bases out of construction paper cut out in heart shapes.  The children took turns being the pitcher and hitting the ball.  They had a blast as they ran around the bases.  This game is great because it can adapt to any holiday. Here are some variations:

St. Patrick’s Day just use green balloons and shamrock shaped bases.

Birthday’s use different colored balloons and balloon shaped bases.

End of the year party  use balloons in school colors and apple shaped balloons.

crayola

Easy way to create wall hangings from panels!

Ever wonder how to easily finish off those cute panels you see in the fabric stores?  Here are two methods that worked for us!

First, I made this easy Valentine Wall Quilt out of a Moda panel. I did a running stitch around the pictures and then took some scrape fabric I had and pieced it together for the back.  Then, I made my own bias tape for the binding.  Super easy.

Here is also another Valentine Moda panel.  I call this method the pillow method.  Place your panel and back fabric right sides together.  Then, place your batting on top of the back side of the panel.  Now, sew your panel and backing together all round except leave an 5” opening at the bottom of the quilt. (Watch the batting so it doesn’t catch on your presser foot.)  Then, flip your quilt inside out.  Iron.  Next tuck in your opening and sew a ¼” seam around the whole quilt.  Last, mark a diagonal line every 6” on the back of fabric.  Sew the along the diagonal to machine stitch your quilt. (On this small of a quilt you really don’t need to change your presser foot to a darning foot.)

This quilt takes less than an hour to make.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Scrap Bag!

A local charity said they needed bags to fill with school supplies to give to preschoolers.  They gave me some orange corduroy and paisley fabrics that were donated to them.  At first I could see why the fabrics were donated and didn’t know how I was going to make bags that would appeal to preschoolers. So,   I decided to dig in my stash and see what I could come up with that would make these bags a little cuter.  That is when I decided to pair my scrap pink fabrics with the orange.

Here is how to make a scrappy bag:

1.    Cut your fabric strips at least 15” in length.  The width can vary.

2.   Sew you r scraps together till the sewed together scraps measure 15”

3.   Iron and cut your pieced scraps to 13” in width by 14” in length.

4.   Either follow steps 1-3 again or cut out a piece of fabric that is 13” x14” for the back of your bag.

5.   Cut two strips of fabric 4” width and 15” length for your handles

6.   Sew the front and back of your bag together.  Leaving it open at the top.  Hem the top if you have a raw edge (I cut these bags using the edge of the fabric so I would not have to hem, after all they are scrappy)

7.   Fold one handle piece with right sides together.  Sew.  Flip out and iron.  Repeat with the second handle. 

8.   Hem raw edges of handle.  Place on outside of one side of the bag.  Sew and x.  Repeat with second handle.

Now your bag is done and you can fill with whatever you want!

fabric.com

Fun ways to say "Thank You" with candy!

Here are a few fun ways to say “Thank You”

I used a die cut to cut out three tags and then stacked the tags and attached to a bag of “Lifesaver’s”.  The saying is “Thanks for your help.  You’re a Lifesaver!”

For this idea again I cut out three tags and then stacked the tags with the attached saying.  “Thank you for your “Extra” special help!” Then, I tied it to a pack of Extra gum.

A few more candy sayings:

Use mound bars and say “Thanks a “Mounds” for all your help!”

Use a 100 grand bar and say “You’re worth a 100 grand.  Thanks for all your help!”

Use a chocolate shaped egg candy and say “You’re Eggceptional !  Thanks, for all your help!”

Use M&M’ s and say, “I would like to Thank you for your M&M’s.  Marvelous and Magnificent help!”