Lap Quilt Finished!

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A while back, I showed you a pile of fabric during a winter storm we were having and I had decided to dive in and make a quilt.....seeing that being cooped up in the house was beginning to drive me mad. 

 

 

I did  have time to finish it and I LOVE it.  It is just the right weight.  A quilt's weight is very important to me.  It has to be just right to feel cozy.  Rag quilt instructions can be found all over Pinterest but I always followed my old standby from Jubilee Homespun.

 

 

One afternoon while the snow was falling and the wind was howling, I set my sewing machine up on the kitchen table in front of the bay window and sewed away while enjoying the view and pots of tea. 

 

 

This is the first rag quilt I decided to add binding to the edges rather than leaving them frayed.  I like the look of it....it seems more finished.

 

 

 

Although the weather is finally starting to turn pleasant, I will be enjoying the quilt in the fall when the weather turns cold once again. 

 

 

Happy sewing and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Spring Fabric Basket

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I love candy.....especially chocolate. Hershey's kisses are one of my favorite.  They hold a big bang of chocolate in a little tiny package.

 

I don't normally have candy just laying around otherwise I just eat the whole thing but I have been trying to restrain myself more but I decided it would be nice to put out some candy over the Easter holiday.

 

I wanted a cute bowl to put the candy in and looking around, I really didn't have anything suitable so what did I do?  I made one.

 

Looking on Pinterest for inspiration, I found quite a few ideas and then I found this one and thought it couldn't hurt giving it a try.

 

Gathering my scrap fabric, a pair of pinking shears, I started by cutting a range of different patterned scraps into small squares using my pinking shears. 

 

 

Blowing up a balloon to a small size, I then mixed up my homemade modge podge and started applying a thick coat to the balloon and then over the squares once I had placed them in random order over the balloon.

 

 

It didn't take me long but it was sort of messy.  I did tape the balloon to the counter as it kept rolling away from me.

 

  

Once I felt I had enough squares, I hung the balloon to dry overnight.

 

            

 

The next morning, I popped the balloon and once again taking my pinking shears, I carefully trimmed all around the top of the bowl so it was uniform and the size I wanted.

 

 

 

The bowl isn't as sturdy as I would like it.  I think next time I will add more layers of fabric but I love the look of the  bowl and many more could be made to suit each holiday....just to have a few treats laying around for company or when I need a pick me up.....as long as I don't need too many pick me ups or I will need to pick my butt up off the couch and go for more walks to whittle away the pounds that I will be gaining! 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

DIY Plastic Bag Holder

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I have a recycling project today.  One that can be used in the car, in the washroom, or even under the kitchen sink! 

 

We use these Lysol wipes at the school where I work everyday.  So needless to say, I end up with quite a few of these tubs once they are emptied.  I hate throwing containers out.  There are just too many uses for them and I found one for these on Pinterest (of course).

 



 

 

First, I removed the lid and the wrapper on the outside of the container and scraped all the glue that remained stuck. 

 

 

Choosing some heavy-weight paper in a pattern that would match the interior of my car, I quickly mixed up some watered down white glue (you could use mod-podge but I didn't have any on hand). 

 

 

 

Measuring the circumference of the container with an overlap of about an inch and in length I added about 2 extra inches, I cut the paper to size.

 

      

 

For the bottom to fit properly, I made slits so that the paper would fold over neatly.  Then I removed the lid and spread the glue on the back of the whole paper and carefully placed it on the container.  I continued to spread the glue liberally on the outside.  Placing the container on its top, I began to fold over the tabs that I had cut for the bottom making sure that the glue covered every millimeter of the paper.

 

 

Once I thought there was enough glue over the whole container, I let it sit overnight to dry thoroughly. 

 

 

The next morning, I trimmed the paper near the top where the lid snaps on.

 

 

 

Digging out some plastic bags from the grocery store and department stores, I spread them out and folded them like this ...

 

 

Rolling them up, I placed the whole roll into the container, added the lid and pulled the first plastic bag out a little way so it is ready to be used!

 

 

Perfect for the car.   You can see the original tutorial here.

 

 

 Now that's one way to recycle those containers!  Do you know anything I could use them for?  I would love to hear some ideas.  Happy recycling and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

My Easter Flop

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There are many things I try that end up being a flop.  Crafts, sewing, embroidery ..... sometimes things just don't turn out how I have pictured them in my mind.  Does this ever happen to you?

 

If it doesn't, you are one of the lucky ones.  Me, myself, I am not so lucky. 

 

I had seen this post on my Pinterest board and I just had to try it for Easter. 

 

                                

 

First, I have to admit, I didn't read the directions thoroughly.  It was one of those days when company kept showing up and I couldn't concentrate strictly on the task at hand so I kind of winged it.  Now when I go back and READ the directions, I see where I went wrong.

 

I also had eggs that would JUST NOT peel properly!!! I kept trying eggs and they would not cooperate ..... but I kept on hoping that I least I could get close to the picture above.

 

Well that was NOT going to happen.  So in the final pictures you can see that end result.

 

 

I was able to get everything ready.  Then company showed up ..... I didn't read that I was suppose to PEEL the eggs first.  Duh!  I put them in the colored solution of cider vinegar with the peelings on.  Then I realized that they should be peeled so I tried to peel them.  Well that didn't work too well.

 

 

 

I put the peeled eggs back in the solution, well then it only took seconds to change color so I immediately took them out.

 

 

Fixing my usual devilled egg recipe, I finished them off.  They were still tasty but sure didn't look pretty!

 

 

Oh well,  my projects can't ALWAYS turn out!!  Next time I try a new craft, I will make sure to read the instructions first.

 

 

Here's hoping all your crafting turns out and remember to give your loved ones a hug! 

 



Paper Carrots

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Decorating for Easter has kind of slipped by the wayside this year.  The holiday really did sneak up on me!  Searching around Pinterest, I found quite a few crafts that could be made quickly just in time for the big day.

 

There was this pin but of course there was no link to the actual directions.  Grrrr, I hate when that happens!  I like to credit the creator and I am unable to do that when there is no link. 

 

Anyhow, I decided to dig out some old wallpaper stock I had in my stash.

 

         

Finding some that was suitable to make carrots, I trimmed the wallpaper to the desired size (actually once they were all glued, they turned out bigger than expected!) and using my hot glue gun, I glued up the sides.

 

 

Trimming the top, I used a paper hole punch and evenly spaced holes around the top of each carrot.  Then I cut some green yarn, folded it in half, fed it through the holes and pulled the end through the loop and pulled until snug.

 

 

 

Adding green fake grass, I filled with candy and they are ready to go.

 

Happy crafting and remember to give your loved ones a hug! 

Holiday Dough

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Between hubby and I we only have 3 nieces and nephews .... on hubby's side, one niece (who has a son and daughter of her own so a great niece and a great nephew for us as well) and on my side of the family, two nephews.

Hubby's niece always gets something homemade by me for Christmas.  She is close to my age and we are very casual in gift giving.  She usually asks for a knitted hat, a knitted cowl, homemade jam/jelly or a crocheted afghan which I am more than happy to make for her and her husband.   Her son and daughter and  my brother's two boys are always given cash now that they are older.  Years ago we limited the gifts to $20 so it would be a burden for any of us and it has worked well for many years  BUT  I try to find clever ways in giving the $20 so the gift is a little bit different each year.  I have wrapped the bill in toilet paper rolls so the gift looks like a holiday cracker, I have placed the bill in a small box, which was then placed in a larger box, and then another larger box .... etc until there was one big honking box, I have put the bill in an old CD case to try and fool them ... so each year, I spend more time devising a plan on how to wrap the $20 than I do earning the $20!!!

Well this year, I found a fun and easy way to give them their $20.  I spotted this idea pinned to a friends board on Pinterest and knew I just had to do it!!!

Saving my one dollar bills was actually easier than I thought it was going to be and I didn't even notice the money missing from my budget which was a bonus!

Once I had gathered enough dollar bills, I rolled each bill and tied them individually with a festive ribbon.  Next I typed up the little saying on my computer and finding a clip art gingerbread man on Google images, I printed everything out.  Sorry, for some reason the red candy cane border will not show up around the saying .... ugh, computers!

Gingerbread men with yummy icing,

Are oh so good and extremely enticing

I set out to make a dozen or two,

But ran out of time, oh what do I do?

So instead of the cookies, I tied with a bow,

Your own personal serving of Holiday Dough!

Merry Christmas!!

I filled each Ziploc baggie with 20 - $1 bills, sealed the baggies and stapled the saying and the gingerbread man on each baggie.

I think they turned out ADORABLE and the baggie sure looks like it is holding more than $20!

Now only if a secret Santa would do the same for me but use $100 bills.  Remember to give your loved ones a hug!