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2 Little Hooligans

Home Renovations.

How true is that? Those of you that have lived through a major home renovation like us know how true that is. But thankfully we are finally seeing it come together.

The rooms are painted.



And the hardwood floors are in.
And so is the tile.
Yes, it has been far from easy (especially this past week), but WE WILL be in there for Christmas. And we will have a real Christmas tree this year. So all of this hard work will be worth it. Then once the house is finished I think I better check myself into a facility for craft addicts.
I mean really, who looks at tile spaces and thinks of all the crafting possibilities with them? Me of course!

Blue Sky giveaway winner.

Sorry I am a little late on this one, but I have had a house full of sick kiddo’s. It has been a tough few days, but thankfully they are on the mend. Anyways…

Congrats Doris Pop for being the Blue Sky giveaway winner.

I will be emailing you shortly for your info.

"Howbout we call em Wilbur?"

“I think floppy, cottontail or fluffy is a better name.”

You just never know what they are going to call their first bunny.
Thankfully he is now Fuzzy to my son and the girls call him Bun. We refer to him as a boy bunny, but we are not sure…guess it doesn’t really matter to us, because we already love him.
I wasn’t too thrilled at first when my hubby brought him home, but I quickly fell in love with him since he became the best distraction in the middle of the night when trying to calm croup and stridor. I guess he is a keeper.

embrace the camera {not just another picnic}

We love to go for picnics. Sometimes we drive around looking for the perfect spot and sometimes we just drive up the road to picnic close by. It doesn’t matter where we are or what is in that picnic basket…

because it always tastes better when eaten out on a blanket in the middle of a field.
Sometimes we spend hours playing after our picnic is through and sometimes our picnics get cut short by rain. Either way, it makes for a good day… or at least a good moment. As moms, we all know that the perfect days is rare, but perfect moments happen all the time. Just don’t forget to take the time to capture them.
**I want to thank all of you that commented on this post. All of your comments were so kind and it was so nice to read how many of you enjoy reading my blog…THANK YOU!**

Another amazing GIVEAWAY from Blue Sky!

I’m so excited to have been given the chance to review and host another giveaway for Blue Sky. This time I was sent a few products from their new line of calendars and planners from Egg Press for Blue Sky. I’m telling you, these planners are simply beautiful! The new collection comes in a range of sizes, colors and formats to suit all of your needs.

And will be available in all Target stores beginning November 1, 2011, just in time for the Holidays.
These planners offer plenty of writing space while still giving you a modern look and feel with lots of bright colors. Plus, they are still small enough to store in a purse or bag. If you are anything like me I cannot go anywhere without my planner.
The pages are uncluttered and so fresh looking.
And are set up in a simple but very usable manner.
This is one of my favorites in the collection. It is the Egg Press Heartflower Weekly/Monthly Planner 5″ x 8.” It comes in a durable wire-o binding planner and is the perfect size for storing in a bag, but still has plenty of room for keeping track of ones busy schedule.
I love how they paired the bright yellows and greys together in a wire-o binding. I’m a big fan of being able to fold my planners over when out and about instead of having the whole planner open all at once. I have found that I like to use my planner for everything. And with all of the recent home improvements lately I have been using by planner to store all of my paint chips and fabric swatches in. It works perfectly to have everything in one convenient place. That way I am not juggling a bunch of different books when I’m in the stores shopping and can spend more time juggling these 3 kids of mine.
And for those of you that prefer to use a larger calendar they also offer desk pads, spiral wall calendars and tablet calendars. They come in the fresh modern looking designs just like their smaller planners.
This is the Egg Press Garden Monthly Calendar. It is perfect for use on a desk, wall or in a binder. I can totally picture this calendar in one of my fabric 3 ring binders, how cute would that be?! So are you just as excited about these planners as I am? Want to win one of your own?

You have 2 chances to win!

**Just make sure you leave a separate comment for each chance to win.**

1. Head on over to Blue Sky to see which planner from the new Egg Press line would work best for you and your busy life.

2. “Like” the Blue Sky Face book page.

Giveaway will end Sunday November 13, 2011.

A pretty little craddle for her 3rd birthday.

On Friday we celebrated my little girl’s 3rd birthday. It was nothing fancy but it had everything she requested…

chocolate cupcakes
and balloons.
For her gift I repainted an old wooden cradle that I picked up from a yard sale this summer for $2.
Then I made some cute little bedding for the cradle out of one of her old Easter dresses.
The pad was made from the main part of the dress and I used the gathered top part of the dress to make a little pillow.
The crochet (or knitted) blanket is actually a place mat that I picked up at a yard sale this summer. So cute isn’t it? (I loved it so much that it actually became the inspiration for their playroom, which you will see soon!)
 Since I couldn’t stop there, I made bear-bear a bunch of clothes using her old outgrown baby clothes. It was such a fun and cheap gift and I loved upcycling all of those outgrown baby clothes. It is so sweet watching her play dress up with some of the clothes she used to wear.

Halloween 2011

Halloween snuck up on us this year.

We didn’t carve any pumpkins and the decorations were thrown together at the last minute.

But it was one of the funnest Halloweens yet. We walked to the neighbors houses before it was too dark.

Then hopped into the car for the rest of our treating.Their favorite treat of the night were oranges from Grammy’s house.
But getting candy was not the best or the most memorable part of the night.
Piling into the car and sitting on the floor in between stops was by far the highlight of the night. But our stop at Grampa’s was a close second.
My littlest is still searching for that lost pop.
And they are already planning out their costumes for next year. I’m just hoping its nothing as hairy as this years.

Sorry, but hate mail is no longer being accepted here.

I mean is hate mail really necessary?! Really?! I have received a few emails rudely complaining about my tutorials not being descriptive enough, too many pictures of my kiddo’s being shared, the lack of fat quarter fridays, and even my misspellings and grammar. I mean really folks, is it necessary? I want to remind you all that these tutorials are FREE for your use. I do not get paid at all for this blog and the hours spent working on my posts and tutorials. I do it because I enjoy it. I have never said that I had the best sewing skills and know all of the proper ways of constructing things. My tutorials show you how I got to the finished product and I am sorry if yours does not come out exactly like mine. Yes, I understand how frustrating it can be, because I have run into the exact same issues when following others tutorials. But instead of sending hate mail (and by hate mail I’m referring to those being rude and making rude comments, not those of you that are asking me questions or questioning my steps) I contact them for further help. And I have always encouraged all of you to do the same. If you get stuck or need a little help please email so I can help you further. I want to help you out and that is what I am here for. All of your questions and comments (positive and negative) have helped me make my tutorials better and I am thankful for that. I know that I am not perfect and gladly welcome negative criticism…just don’t be rude about it…being rude is just unnecessary! And if you are going to tell me that you are no longer want to follow me unless I change things on this blog then buh-bye! Sorry but that doesn’t hurt my feelings one bit! I have watched my number of followers rise and fall all along the way and have never changed my blog to gain more followers, that is not why I blog. This blog is first and foremost for me. I am just honored that so many of you take the time to read and comment on my blog. I really do love all of your comments and enjoy reading each and every one of them. So sorry for this post and I have debated and debated on posting it, because its just not how I am. But I have tried to overlook these rude comments and such, but there comes a time when I just have to talk about it and to let some of know that…hate mail is no longer being accepted here! So there I said it and I’m over it, and I wont mention it again.
On another note, yes I did make three 1 eyed 1 horned flying purple people eaters for Halloween and used an Old Navy costume from last year as a template (sorta). I did put together some templates to share with all of you but I am in the middle of finding a new place to download all of my printable templates. I know a lot of you have been having some trouble with downloading my templates from my Scribd. So hang in there I am working on it and hopefully will have things changed over soon. But for now if anyone has any suggestions on where to upload them to then please let me know.

Baby Basket Cake Roundup.

All of the tutorials are finally finished for the baby basket cake and are linked below. All you have to do is click on the picture and it will take you to that specific tutorial. A few of you have had certain questions about some of the projects and I hope that I was able to help you work through them and you are still putting one of these gifts together. For those of you that have not started making one I will be putting together a FAQ page to help clarify any questions that have already come up and some other helpful tips to get you through making one of these. Yes, they do require a lot of time to make, but just remember not everything in the cake needs to be homemade. Use your imagination and pair some homemade and store bought items together. Or take a hole different route and buy some nesting baskets and fill those with homemade items. Remember a gift doesn’t always have to be homemade…it just needs to have a little thought put into it. And think outside the box (or basket in this case), it doesn’t have to be filled with stuff just for the baby.

Some other fun ideas for a basket cake would include:

Bridal Shower Cake: Fill it full of homemade dish towels, hand towels, an apron, cloth napkins and a table cloth, hot pads and hot mitts, use some kitchen gadgets to adorn and hang on the sides of the cake.

Birthday Cake: Fill it full of the birthday girl/or boy’s favorite items. Just remember to use large gifts that are lightweight.

Graduate Cake: Fill it full of necessities for a freshman’s first year at college. Add a bunch of fabric 3 ring binder covers, make some PJ’s, skirts or any type of clothing. Some pillow cases, sheets, or a throw blanket. How about some cute little hair accessories or some home decor items for decorating their dorm room or apartment. Again the ideas are endless.

Remember just have fun with it! Anyone would love one of these cakes whether they are homemade or not. Remember, its all about putting a little extra thought into a gift to make them feel extra special!

Baby Basket Cake Tutorial Links:

(click photo’s below)









**Reminder**

All of the tutorials listed above and all the tutorials shared on this blog are for personal sewing projects only! If you have any questions about this policy please contact me, thanks.

Vinyl Covered Trash Bag {tutorial}

Vinyl Covered Trash Bag Tutorial
(allow 2+ hours to complete)

Materials Needed:
*28″ x 24″ piece of cotton fabric (or whatever size you wish)
*1 yard iron-on vinyl
*1 set of plastic buckles or Velcro

You can purchase iron-on vinyl at Jo Ann’s and at most fabric stores. It is really easy to work with and you will love that you can turn any fabric into a laminated cotton by using this. Of course you can purchase an already laminated fabric, but i like making my own since it allows you to have more fabric choices.

Attach the iron-on vinyl onto the fabric per instructions on package. Once ironed on fold the fabric so that it measures 14″ x 24″.

Measure down 3″ from the top and cut off. These two pieces will become the handles of the bag.


Now measure in 12″ from the side and cut. You should be right in the middle. Now these two pieces will become the main pieces of your bag.

This is what your pieces should look like now.

Now take one of the large bag pieces and sew right sides together while leaving the top open. Repeat with the other piece.

Switch to a Teflon foot. It will make sewing on top of the vinyl side of the fabric much easier.


Once the sides are sewn together, square up the edges on the bottom of the bags to give them shape.

Trim excess fabric off.

Here is what your two bags should look like from the bottom now.

And on the inside.

Now it is time to make the straps. Take your two 3″ wide strips and cut them in half length wise.

Sew two of the strips together on the sides with right sides facing. Trim excess fabric off.

Turn right side out and top stitch down the sides of straps.

Now take one of the bags and turn it right side out.

Stuff the bag that is right side out into the bag that is wrong side out.

Gather your buckle or Velcro.

And attach it to one end of the straps.

Now you are going to place the straps in between the two bags like pictured below with the buckles on the bottom. Just make sure when pinning the straps in place that the buckles are facing in the correct position and will buckle once turned right side out.

I like to leave about 1″ hanging out of the top for a little added stability. Now sew all around the top edge while leaving an opening of about 2″-3″ for turning right sides out.

Turn right sides out and top stitch all along top edge while sewing the opening shut.

And there you have it. A cute little vinyl covered trash bag for the car.

I purchased a box of those plastic diaper bags from the dollar store to use inside of it. You can unbuckle the straps and put the buckles through the handles in the plastic bag to hold the bag in place. Its a great way to keep those plastic bags in place and from slipping especially when its going to be holding dirty diapers.