DIY Stuffed Animal Shelf

Happy New Year!

In the spirit of resolutions to get organized, I have a quick and easy project for you today.  I'm not going to lie - we have a bit of a problem with stuffed animals in our house.  Try as we might, we can't seem to pare them down at all.  They all have a back story (even the flimsy ones from various fairs and carnivals)!  So, instead, we built them a spot so they won't keep clogging up closets.

All you need are two 1 x 4s and one 1 x 2 boards.  Ours were 10 feet long but you could do any length.  Sand them down a bit to smooth out ends.  We painted ours first, but you could wait until they are assembled, too.  We didn't paint the back or bottom.  

Nail the two 1 x 4s together at a 90 degree angle.  (The bottom board of the shelf should butt up against the back, giving you the most width.)  Then attach the 1 x 2, having the bottom board butt up against that.  

Find some stuffies for quality control.  Is it me, or is that cat smiling extra wide?

Side view: you can see how their bottoms nestle in to the ledge and don't slip out.  

We took the entire shelf and screwed it right into the studs of the wall (a stud finder, drill and husband are all very handy at this point!).  

Dig out all your stuffies from drawers, closets, underneath blankets, etc. and line them up.  Don't they look happy?  

Kids' craft: repurposed owls

 

I stumbled across this adorable tutorial for paper tube owls through Craft Gossip.  Seemed just the thing for the resident preschooler home on a chilly afternoon.  The first grader jumped right in when she got home from school.  What a great project when both kids are equally engaged!

 

I always love crafting with the kids because theirs come out SO much more creative than mine!  Can you tell which one is mine?  Hint: it's the most boring by far!

 

I hope, by creating these owls, we are inviting spring to arrive (any day now, PLEASE!) in New England.  I'm pretty sure I have been smelling it in the air, despite the piles of snow and frigid temperatures.  Call me crazy!

Just in time for Valentine's Day: easy freezer stencil totes kids' craft

 

First off, hello!  Long time no blog! 

 

Secondly, it's almost Valentine's Day!  Are you getting ready to celebrate? 

 

The girls and I created these easy freezer stencil bags for their teachers (if J.Z. is reading this, spoiler alert!).  It was fun to get back to some crafting and be able to do it with little E and A.

 

 

Disclaimer: this bag is pretty much a knock-off of one I have from Old Navy.  I LOVE it and thought the teachers would find it handy and cute.  We found a 3 pack of medium totes at Joann's and some Tulip Soft Matte fabric paint.  Oddly, the pink and yellow were sparkly, but you cannot tell from the outside!  A roll of freezer paper from the local grocery store and we were good to go.

 

 

Little E dabbing on the yellow.  We found these thick, strong brushes were best to really get the paint in all the grooves of the canvas.

 

 

Little A's hand moving at super speed!

 

 

This one is done and drying...

 

 

...and the big reveal.  It was really cute to watch the look on the girls' eyes as they peeled back the paper.  I love how the "messy" heart turns into clean lines. 

 

 

Here are three of the six we made.  With four paint colors, we managed to make all six different.  This was the perfect project for the little ones - they could be messy and inexact, and it didn't take too long to dry so their interest was maintained.  I loved that they thought of their teachers as they picked colors, reasoning who would like which combinations.

 

We are blessed with wonderful teachers and we hope we make them feel special this Valentine's Day with our gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

Falling into Fall: Halloween Wreath

It's the first day of fall!  For us New Englanders, this means the promise of apple picking, leaf peeping, and, of course, Halloween! 

As an early house-warming gift for a friend, I made this Halloween wreath.    A simple grapevine wreath spray painted with Krylon Pumpkin Orange Interior and Exterior Decorator Paint (took a few coats to get in all those nooks and crannies!).  I followed this tutorial to make the flowers - altering the length and width of the fabric strips for the various sized flowers.

Between the paint and rolled flowers, it only took an evening.  I love projects like these - quick, simple, uses materials on-hand - and yields a beautiful result!

Now I have to go out and make more for myself!  I have a few other flower styles I want to try - maybe black, gray and white felt? 

What's your favorite part of fall?

 

 

Sewing School 2 Book Review and Giveaway!

 

I'm so excited for today's post - a book review and giveaway.  The mom, teacher and sewist in me all LOVE this book and think it's a must-have for any young crafter!

Our review copy arrived just before the last day of school - perfect timing for planning out some summer projects.  My little sewist (age 6 1/2) has been eager to sew on her machine, but I've been a bit stumped as to how to make projects accessible, fun and appealing to her.  Thank goodness for Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing!  There are over 20 projects organized into four kid-appropriate chapters: "In My Room", "Let's Go", "Time to Play", and "The Great Outdoors".

The book starts out with a series of 12 lessons to start young sewists with the basic skills they'll need to complete the projects.  The book is written for children, but certainly doesn't "talk down" to its readers.  I found the information to be concise, quite clear and intuitive.  For example, some standard sewing terms that could be confusing were changed - "good side" vs. "right side", "one-way print" vs. "directional", and "everything else scissors". 

Speaking of which, the book offers up realistic suggestions for setting up a sewing space, and supplying it with kid-appropriate tools.  Again, not watering anything down - these kids are using real fabric scissors, but they are ones suggested for younger fingers.  And, all the suggestions are accessible - with a few simple ground rules and supplies, anybody can get sewing.  And, that's just what we did!

Little E's first job was to choose some projects that appealed to her.  To help that process, all the projects in the book are rated with one, two or three stars.  Always positive and supportive, the language used to describe these ratings talk about how much time the project might take (vs.level of difficulty). 

Each project has a list of materials needed, and skills used in that project.  Additionally, the authors provide page references to go back review those skills.  Throughout the directions for each project are quotes from kids that help reinforce lessons and points.  These are visually appealing, appearing in little speech bubbles with a fun font.

All the patterns for the book are located in the back in a very sturdy pocket.  There is a list of all pattern pieces on the pocket for easy location.  My favorite of all is that most of the pattern pieces have a picture of the completed project right on them!  So, for even the emerging reader, s/he can be independent finding the necessary pattern for the project. 

Little E chose the "Art-to-Go-Go" project first.  Another thing I marvel at with this book is that it offers multiple suggestions for how to customize each project.  So, while very much encouraging creativity, it provides guidance and support to young sewists.  The directions for this project call for felt, but we found this great piece of corduroy little E wanted to use.  

The authors suggest using chalk to trace and mark patterns (including "stop and start marks" when sewing "good sides" together).  I discovered Pilot FriXion Ball Erasable Gel Pens and have been using them in my sewing.  It marks fabric easily and disappears with heat (erasing or ironing).  I LOVE this pen for sewing with a little one!  

This book incorporates beautifully clear photographs to show each step of each project.  All the "models" are kids, and the projects are sure to show imperfections - supporting the authors' ground rule that "nothing has to be perfect".  I think it really helps young sewists see similarly-finished projects in the book.  

Here's little E's completed "Art-to-Go-Go" case - customized for the materials she wanted utilizing the books' directions.  Upon completion, we went out for pizza, and the art case came with us.  I wish you could have seen how proud and grown-up little E was pulling out her art supplies at the dinner table.

Soon after our book arrived and little E finished her first project, we were heading out on vacation.  But, look what came with us!  She picked two projects, gathered all the materials and packed them up.  Another appealing aspect about Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing is that the projects are all things kids can really use.  And, the materials are basic and easily-attained, never calling for anything expensive.  Little E was able to "shop" my sewing supplies and fabric, and pack it all in this bag.

Little E tried out the "Extra Pocket and Belt" project as well.  It was her first foray into handsewing, and I found it soooo helpful to have the book spell it out for her.  I read the directions, and she followed step-by-step.

As soon as she finished the project, she put it on and headed to the beach to collect shells.

Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing makes sewing fun, appealing and accessible to kids.  Projects are clear, interesting, and manageable.  Even my 6 1/2 year old could finish a two-start project within an hour or so.  She is so proud of her accomplishments.

So...have I teased you enough with how wonderful and amazing this book truly is?  Would you like a chance to win your very own copy?



Leave a comment telling how you learned to sew, or with whom you would use this book.

Giveaway will be open for the next week.  Winner will be announced Wednesday, July 17th.  Open to U.S. residents only (sorry, international readers - but PLEASE click on any Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing or photo for the link to purchase).  

And, just for fun, I'm also giving a pack of Pilot FriXion Ball Erasable Gel Pens  to two lucky winners!  Winners for the book and pens will be chosen at random.

Thank you to Alee at Storey Publishing for asking me to be a part of the Sewing School 2: Lessons in Machine Sewing blog tour.  For more reviews of the book and chances to win your own copy, check out the full tour HERE.

Good luck and happy sewing!

Mini tent

First off, I know I hinted at a giveaway (25 days ago!?). I guess I underestimated how busy things get this time of year (see HERE).  The giveaway IS coming!

Secondly, this project is not on my long list of things-to-be-completed.

But...I saw it last night from Kid Giddy via Tip Junkie (via Sew Mama Sew) and had to try it.

A great stash buster project!  I had this left-over IKEA fabric and found matching lime green duct tape for the poles.  

The perfect size for stuffies and outdoor play, especially now that spring has finally sprung!

P.S. Do you think the rabbit to the right of little A is scoping out the tent?  Does he have an envious glint in his eye, or is it my imagination?  Perhaps the pika should watch his back?

Urban Haute Apron from Modern Vintage Designs

Just popping in to share this project from last month!

It's the Urban Haute Apron from Modern Vintage Designs.   

My mom and the girls have a special thing with matroyshkas, so I knew this fabric was perfect for a birthday apron.

I love the bit of gathering in this apron and the waistband.  Feminine without being over the top.
And...I'm getting some use out of my dressform.  She's my model for the apron!