Embroidery Buddies!

I just finished machine embroidering some sweet little blankets for two of my nursery children at church.  They are turning three next week and I thought a personalized snuggle blanket would be just the right gift from their teacher.

 I got the blankets from Country Club Embroidery Blanks face book shop.  They are very reasonably priced and they ship quickly.  The quality is very good too!  And if you purchase from her there are free embroidery designs to match the stuff toys.

 The lamb is for a little girl and the puppy for a boy.

The designs stitch up nicely too.

I have already ordered more buddies for upcoming birthdays!  Don't want to run out and disappoint one of my little ones.....

Diana

Another Baby Quilt Heading For China

Another of my husband's secretaries is expecting a baby!  And since this is his last trip to China (he is retiring early!!!!!) I needed to rush and make a baby quilt as quickly as possible.

 Nothing is faster than a strip quilt and it goes even quicker when you use a jelly roll to make it.  Even though it took a little more effort, I decided to round the corners and piece a section of the back.

 The muted palette of greens and browns looks so pretty and should work for a boy or girl.

I machine quilted it in simple swirls.  

The most time consuming part was figuring out why my thread kept breaking (dull needle) and hand sewing the binding.  I was about to lose my mind trying to resolve the thread issue.  Of course it is always something you should have thought of right away but somehow never do.  Thanks to my local quilt shop for giving me some support and not laughing at my duh moment! 

Hope Belinda and baby enjoy the gift!

Diana

One Use Soaps

Have you ever seen a child tear apart a cereal box to get to the prize inside?  Well I'm hoping the prizes inside these soaps will have dirty little hands scrubbing furiously to get to them!  I've made other versions before (here and here) that always worked great.

    

I made a mold in the shape of a mini fish bowl.

 Little tiny Nemo fish swim around the bowl.

 See, he is looking at you.

 This one looks like a shell on the beach.

 But it is a hermit crab right at the water's edge.

Oops, looks like he might get carried away by the next wave. 

 A miniature rubber duck is taking a bubble bath.

I got the miniature animals at a hardware store in Amish country.  Less than 1 inch in size, they were perfect for these tiny soaps.  I've included links to purchase each toy above.

Diana

Pocket Aquarium Out of Polymer Clay

Another project from Pinterest.  I have been on a polymer clay kick lately, I know.

Here is the original pin link.  Once you see the pin you will be tempted to give it a try too.  And, by the way.  tell me why tiny things are so stinking cute?    

  I covered the tin with clay and embossed it with water like swirls.

This took three days to make but most of the time was waiting for the resin to dry.  The first day I made all the rocks, animals and reeds out of clay.  Do you see the funny little poly wogs?  Then I poured a small layer of blue tinted resin in the bottom of the tin and embedded all the objects (once they were baked).  I had to let the resin dry 24 hours before I could add another layer of clear resin.  Another 24 hours to dry.  Done.  You can carry this in your purse to entertain a child or, as in my case, yourself.  I am easily entertained.

Diana

Quick Valentines

Need some last minute Valentines that print up quick?  These are good for boys or girls and even have a bit of chocolate to please every little kid.  I copied this idea from Under A Cherry Tree but simplified it into a print and cut project.  You have to check hers out for a WOW moment.  You could make these with any robot clip art.  I used the pdf file that is included in the file I purchase from her store so I wouldn't have to do layers.  I then used the print and cut feature on my silhouette but you could just print them out with your printer and hand cut them out.  Either way they are super cute and quick.  Diana

One Step Closer to My Dream

Do you have a dream of owning a cute vintage trailer.  Something to decorate real girly and show off at the campgrounds?  ME TOO!!!!!!  I have been looking for a canned ham for a while but no luck!  I even tried to get a neighbor down the road to sell me his but he said no.  He needed it for ........brace yourself........storage!  I left my number if he ever comes to his senses and wants to buy a storage shed instead.

So, to hold me over, I bought a miniture kit and am playing with it until a real one is in my driveway.  Plus my granddaughters might enjoy it too.

Mind you it is not decorated yet.  It took days to put together and paint.  I laminated a "vinyl" floor in a pink and white checkerboard.  A couple buys on ebay got me the sink, stove, and dishdrainer.  I made the booth and bed.  

Too cute!



Let the decorating begin......

Diana

Soccer Towels

I got the idea to make two of my grandchildren soccer towels!  I made each one to reflect their personalities.

This one is for my oldest granddaughter Abby who wants to be a "cat lady" when she grows up.  Strange, I know, but she and her little friend both have that goal!  They think they are hilarious......

I used "Letter It" from Amazing Designs to layout the fonts.

 

My grandson is obsessed with Grumpy Cat.  I have been looking for a design of the famous cat for months and finally found this one.

Again, I used Letter It for arranging the fonts. 

Diana

Bam!

Chocolately smooth with a kick!  That's how I would describe these chocolate suckers.  And did I mention they have "Pop Rocks" in them too?  Yum!

 One thing with chocolate, you have to use special flavor additives, otherwise the chocolate will clump and no one likes that!  I get all my supplies from Chocoley.  They have great no tempering chocolate that beats Wiltons candy coating hands down. 

I did get a little bloom on the surface but I'm OK with that.  Left them in the fridge too long.......

Diana

Circus Animal Cookies

I have made these before but have always given them away before  remembering to take a picture!

 Talk about easy!  Two colors of glace and some old fashion sprinkles and you are set to go!  Oh, and of course you need teeny tiny animal cookie cutters.  What's with the squirrel?  Never saw those in the classic animal cookie package! 

Just for a little bit of unexpected flavor, I added cherry candy flavor to the glace.  Don't go to far with that or you will end up with something similar to the taste of cough syrup.  Ugh! 

Diana

Foot Print Cookies

 Need a quick baby shower cookie?

Here is one that is soooo easy to decorate, only uses one color and doesn't require a new cookie cutter (at least for me).  I used a flip flop cookie cutter, I know you all have one, and a few hours to bake and decorate.  I am actually using these cookies in Primary on Sunday as a reward for the children for following in Christ's foot prints.  For a change of pace I used candy flavoring (cherry) instead of the lemon juice I normally use in the icing.  Really good! For the recipes for the cookies and icing go here.   Diana

Easy Half Square Triangle Block Quilt

I have always wanted to make a quilt using triangle squares but have been soooooo afraid of the dreaded bias sewing that I never tried (successfully anyway) making one.  But after seeing something on TV recently (Sewing With Nancy???) using a sandwiching method I BELIEVED I COULD DO IT!!!  And here is the result.....

I used one layer cake of "Odds and Ends" by Julie Comstock that I got at Green Fairy Quilts.  Using lights and darks creates the secondary bulls eye pattern.  The backing and bindings were from my stash.  I machine quilted using a fish scale design that I loved. 

If you would like to see exactly how to make four half square triangle blocks at a time without any measuring,  I found a great tutorial at http://www.thatgirlthatquilt.com/2011/03/have-stitchin-weekend.html .  I failed to take pics of the steps myself, but found her site which explains it better than I ever could!  Don't you love the web.  This quilt will be auctioned off at our annual Girl's Camp fundraiser this next Saturday! 

Diana

Christmas Handout

Just thought I would show a couple of small gift ideas that are great for children (think church or school).  This first one is a printable download from Laurie Furnell and it is free!  Instead of a knitted hat I did ear mufsf using pipe cleaners and pom poms.  We actually made kits for the kids at church to put these together for themselves!

Below is another handout I made for children at another church group.  Because I wanted these children to receive something more spiritual, I machine embroidered candy cane holders.  Each one took 15 minutes to make so be sure you give yourself enough time.  Since I made 28 it took 7 hours, but I broke it up over several days.  The download for this project was Embroidery Garden's Yahoo group and is free too! 

Both handouts went over very well but then who doesn't like the gift of candy!!!!

Diana

Ducky Soap

Want a simple project?  Try making these Ducky soaps that couldn't be simplier or cuter!

Just pour some blue tinted clear soap base into a mold 1/4 inch from the top of the mold.  Allow to form a skin .  Set a rubber duck on film and pour more soap to the top of mold.  Pouing in two steps like this gives the duck something to set on.  If you just pour once and but the ducks on the still liquid soap,  they will sink to the bottom. 

Here is an example of colder weather setting in.  The white soap base looks like ice!

With peppermint fragrance, this will be great for Christmas presents.  Diana

Elves Need Pampering Too

So what do elves do after a hard day's work?  Take a bubble bath of course!

This is a simple project that anyone can master.  All you need are some bendable elves (I got mine from Oriental Trading Company), clear melt and pour soap base, White melt and pour soap base, blue soap dye, rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and fragrance of your choice.

Bend elves into a lounging position and place in mold. 

I liked having a least one foot above the top of mold.

Melt clear soap base in microwave until just melted.  Don't melt too long or soap will boil over.

Add just a drop of blue dye to make it resemble water. Add fragrance.   Pour into molds put leave at least 1/4 inch unfilled for next layer.  Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove bubbles.  Allow soap to cool and firm.  You can put the filled molds in the fridge to speed up cooling.

Melt white soap base til just melted.  Add fragrance.  Pour over clear soap layer so it appears to be bubble bath.

Allow to completely cool and set up.  Pop out of molds and let your elves take a break from their hectic lives.  Diana

Fabulous Find Friday 8-10-12

I have been a long time customer of GG Designs because their embroidery designs are so cute!  Check out the new free download for hair inchies.  Just in time for back to school too!  I wish I had one stitched up to show you all but I have been laid up with a blown knee for a week and a half.  We are talking crutches and old lady walking.  Just what I needed!  Worse yet, the sewing and craft room is down a steep set of stairs so no way can I get to my embroidery machine.  But if you can get to yours, download this freebie and have fun stitching it up.  Diana

Target Practice

Can you guess what these are used for?  They are cut from vinyl on the cricut.

If you have a little boy in the house you NEED these for.....

Target practice.

To apply, cut the water off to the toilet and flush until the water level is at it's lowest.  Dry area you want to put the decal with cloth and then toilet paper.  No water can be on the surface!  Apply decal to the toilet and rub firmly til well attached.  Turn back on water.  Now your little man can FINALLY get his aim down.  

Diana 

Merit Badges From Shinkydink

Grandparent Camp is almost here and I am busy gettting ready.  This year it will be more organized and one of the ideas we will be using is merit badges.These were made with shinkydink paper!  The only thing I would do differently is make them with a color background so the pins wouldn't show through. 

This merit badge will be earned if the kids brush their teeth and shower everyday without being reminded!  Yeah!

I bought bags that I then embroidered a simple initial on for each child.  The badges will be pinned on the bags.  Now they will have their own tote for all our activities and recognition for all the fun things they learned and did at campI wish I had one....... whine.   Diana