Tutorial- Draft Dodger

Ok folks, this is so easy it is scary!

Need: 5 lbs of rice

1/2 yard of fabric in your favorite material

sewing machine

poly-fil or bamboo stuffing (optional)

To Do:

1. Take your 1.2 yard and lay it so the longest side is horizontal, wrong side up

2. Fold the fabric in half so that it is still long

3. Fold it again so now you have a skinny long piece and the right side is both on the inside and the outside

4. Sew one end and the length of the piece, leaving one end open

5. I put a small amount of Poly-fil in first, then my rice, although you can do it all rice if you want. I also topped it off with some Poly-fil.

6. Fold the edges inward about an inch and the sew across the top! Voila! Instant money saving cuteness!

Pretty easy huh??

And So It Begins

My love affair with fabric has resumed! For some reason, once nice weather hits I have no desire to sew. My spanking new sewing machine got a little bit of use until early spring and then sat... and sat... among my piles pf fabric. Suddenly this past week or two I found myself looking at it, getting out my trusty Lotta Jansdotter book- Simple Sewing- and peeking at my fabric to see what I had.

I started out slow with some more fabric fortune cookies ( a project for my Etsy store) and today really got going with some of those lovely feet warmers that I mentioned in my last post. To top it off I even made a draft dodger for our sun room since it is getting a bit chilly in there, enough that we put up the french doors!

I am giving the plaid one to Klint's grandfather (what else do you give an 85yr old man who can't see well or hear?), the flowery one is for his grandmother, and the strawberry one is (of course) for me!

Tutorial for the draft dodger tomorrow (seriously it is so easy!)

The List 2.6

Oh my goodness have I found TONS of cool stuff to share with you guys!!! I am so excited about all these awesome gift ideas, projects, traditions, and just all around neatness!! (Can you tell I am jazzed up?!)

Ok, I know I love my cats, but I think that making them this awesome Kitty Bed would be the ULTIMATE sign of love! (@ Junk Camp)

Since I have been doing so many craft shows I have a new appreciation for half aprons! Here is a cute tutorial using a pillow case! (@ Lipstick and Laundry)

It seems my feet are always cold, even though I am NEVER barefoot (especially in a house with wood floors!) So this DIY Rice Bag Foot Warmer is perfect for me to put some spare fabric to use! (@ V and Co.)

I have an aversion to anything to "babyish" especially cutesy foofoo growth charts. But this heirloom growth chart would be something I would definitely buy for the girls to keep. Love it! (@ Miss Natalie)

My girls get really excited when we are counting down for something and I know that they would love a way to count down to their birthdays. This pretty set of birthday countdown pockets would be a neat tradition to start! (@ One Happy Mama)

Somedays I wish that I had a huge tree in my backyard or that our backyard was bigger than a postage stamp... this Treepee is one reason why I want a new yard to play in... I mean, for the kids to play in! Lol! (@ The Treepee Company)

Lucky for me Gabby is still too little to start losing her baby teeth, but I am already thinking ahead and love this pretty Tooth Fairy Kit. (@ Fawn and Forest)

Forts in general are cool, but this awesome Super Sized Princess Playhouse would be a huge hit in this house- especially with the fairy tale going on! (@ Miss Pretty Pretty)

See?! Didn't I tell you that I was busy looking high and low all over the web for total cuteness?! So what project are you going to work on first? I think that foot warmer is at the top of my list!

Print and Give: Want, Read, Wear, Read Gift Tags

Gift tags perfect for those of you who do Christmas like we do!

"Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read!"

Here's to a simpler, stress free Christmas!

Download the PDF here!

DIY: Pup Tent

Living here in Cleveland you have to learn to either love being outside in all kinds of weather or get really creative with keeping the kids inside. Although Fall and Winter are my favorite seasons, for me I really enjoy being cozy inside while the snow swirls and falls outside of my window. Therefore, I am already thinking about things to keep the little ones entertained while we are inside.

Having such little ones around means that my choices are a little more limited as they are not ready yet for complex crafting. For them playing dress up, playing with cars, and reading are really what they love to do. So over winter break I am planning on making them this wonderful DIY: Pup Tent from Casa Sugar!!

Here are the directions and materials needed: (I can't wait to get started!)

What You'll Need

• Three yards of cotton fabric (upholstery weight is best)
• 20 half-inch finishing screws
• Power drill
• Four two- to three-inch wood screws
• Four six-feet-long boards, anywhere between four and six inches wide
• One one-inch square, five-foot-long board
• A friend who can hold the structure as you're building it

To find out how to do it, read more.

1. Measure your fabric. If you get three yards of fabric, each wall of your tent should be 54 inches long. Most fabric is around 56 inches wide as well.
2. Mark your one-inch-square board so it has some overlap on each end with enough room in between for the width of your fabric. If your board is five feet long, that means you will have about two inches on either end for the board.
3. Next, measure each of your six-foot-long boards and mark them at the length of half of the length of your fabric (if you get four yards of fabric, you should mark boards at 52 inches).
4. Now, with your long screws, screw two boards so they form an X. (See photo.) Repeat on other two long boards. This will be the top of your structure.
5. Now, have your friend hold one end of the two boards, while you hold the other. Place the one-inch-square board between the X in your boards.
6. Move the one-inch-square board so the marks you made overlap the X. Now, screw this board into the notch of the X with the last two long screws. Your tent now has the basic structure finished. You can set it on the floor and it will stand up by itself.

7. With your friend's help, drape the fabric over the pup tent structure. Make sure that it is even on each side Have your friend hold the fabric very taut. Then, with your short finishing screws and power drill, drill five screws, from top to bottom, into each edge of the fabric along the sides of the boards.
8. You're done! Enjoy your pup tent!
9. Note: You can increase or decrease the measurements of the tent to suit your needs.

Here are some other teepee and tent links that may get those winter camping ideas swirling!!
DIY Teepee
Princess Pavilion Tent
No Sew Teepee
Felt Playhouse
Or you can just order one already made from Etsy! (They are really pretty too!)

The List 2.5

How is everyone's Christmas and holiday shopping coming? I am pretty done thanks to keeping ourselves in check with the overspending, although I do feel the need to find a way to hang our Christmas lights outside.... (Our usual method isn't going to work since the lightbulb outlet is a lot smaller than the standard size.
Here are some things that have caught my eye... you will notice that I am loving felt projects a lot lately along with anything to do with peg and clothespin dolls!

I love making toys for the kids and think that I may get a pattern or two from this lovely Etsy shop to make some felt toys!! (@ Gulf Coast Cottage)

My girls have a combined total of well over 100 cars but I never let them leave the house since they get lost so easily. This adorable car cozy tutorial would be a great thing to make so they can take their favorites with them on trips! (@ Homemade by Jill)

I like to give little present toppers on special gifts and think that this cute felt posy pin would be perfect on a few this year! (@ Checkout Girl)

My girls are a little young yet for the magic of The Nutcracker, but I can always try to bring the ballet to them with their own play theatre!! (@ Angry Chicken)

Nothing is sweeter than handmade dolls, I would love to have one of these Big Sister dolls made for AJ!! (@ Lil' Sprinkles)

That is all for now, back to making Spoolie dolls for my Etsy store!!

Advent Calendar Krebs Style

So I decided that instead of doing a traditional advent calendar I was going to combine two things that I love- fortune cookies and winter activities!! I took some felt and fun Christmasy fabric and made some adorable felt fortune cookies that each contain a fun thing to do from making white popcorn to making catnip toys to donate. They were super duper easy and I think I may even make some more to hang on the Christmas tree!

Happy Anniversary Lovie!

Happy 6th Anniversary love!

What an adventure we have had so far and look at how far we have come.

From two nutty greeks that eloped to foreign lands to raising two girls in the 'burbs

complete with the bills and responsibilities.

I love you more and more each day and will sword fight with you anyday!

Spool Dollies Going to My Etsy Store Soon!

Aren't they cute?!

I am just putting the finishing details on everything

and they should be up in the store tonight!

Here are two other cuties that will be in the store!

Current Design Work

Since Thanksgiving my household has had this awful stomach bug....

man oh man have we been hit hard...

here are some designs that I had been working on before "The ICK" hit!