Easter Goodies and a Bunny

This Easter we are really cutting down on the amount of stuff we put in the girl's baskets. Instead of filling a plastic basket with junk that will be broken or lost within a day or two we are going to give them stuff that will inspire and enhance.

I ordered some cute unpainted wooden toys from Goose Grease Undone on Etsy, a set of butterflies and a set of dragonflies. Lately we have been painting unfinished wooden eggs a lot and the girls really enjoy watching me paint fairy doors and Spoolie dolls. By getting them their own paintables they can work beside me without taking my store supplies, lol!

Some other ideas I have are bird masks- (the girls LOVE birds!),  recycled crayons in fun shapes like these dinosaurs, creative building blocks, and of course, fun soap!

We will give the kids a little bit of chocolate, some bubbles, and a book, but that will be about it! I did, however, make something that I should have saved for Easter, but couldn't resist showing Gabby and AJ my creation- Plush Little Pocket Bunnies!!!

These are bunnies that are embroidered and personalized with a special pocket in the back, which is perfect for storing small trinkets and such. They are super easy to make and the girls love hugging them close! I really should have saved them for their baskets but I couldn't resist!!

**I am going to try to post a tutorial tomorrow... they are super quick and easy to make.  I have a pretty nasty cold right now though so we will see.**

Today I am....

:loving: this sweet tutorial on how to make an easy summer dress for my girls, plus a matching headband!

:thinking: about creating a floor bed for Miss Moira this weekend... girlfriend HATES her crib and got stuck one too many times for this Mama to care for! 

:craving: some warm sunshine, like what we felt last week in Atlanta.

:making: a recycled t-shirt rug with Gabby, using a hula hoop for the loom!

:wanting: this photo,  this journal, this purse, and  these hair pins from Etsy

:singing: this song from Glee, it just makes me smile! 

:needing: to feel some more sunshine on my face... I was spoiled in Atlanta by all the sun, warmth, and blooms!

:drawing: in this book that we bought for the family. It really makes you think... I mean what do you draw for "girlish laughter"?

:sewing: more of these pretty yet useful necklaces for the craft show in June. They are really teething necklaces that hide unfinished wooden beads, perfect for sore little gums!

What are you up to today?

Some Tuesday Luvin'

Happy Tuesday Folks! While getting ready for our first family vacation EVER I am busy packing clothes for the Littles, making some adorable felt finger puppets, and gathering fun ideas for the Homeschooler and the others for Thursday's St. Patrick's Day celebration. Here are some pretty neat things I have found around the web:



I have conquered Rainbow Pancakes, Rainbow Cupcakes, and lots of other rainbow goodies... but these Rainbow Waffles just make me smile!


And after you are done with all the rainbow and green goodies, hop over here to find out how to make these very "bunny" Marshmallow Bunny Plushies... super cute!


Speaking of plushies, if bunnies aren't quite your cup of tea, how about these easy peasy Plush Whales? (Can you tell that my kids have a ton of plushies thanks to tutorials like these?!)

If playing with plushies aren't your kids style, what about these awesomely terrific Dragon Tails for playing pretend with? My kids are dying for me to make some ever since they saw the tutorial up on the computer!!


Ok, enough of the kiddy stuff!! I am itching to put something new on our door for Spring and I think that a Moss Covered Wooden Letter, maybe adorned with a birdie nest and eggs, would be perfect. Get the how-to here... =)


Well, that's about it.... gotta love procrastination ala web-surfing! What are you making this week?

The Last Couple of Days....

Woke up to this....

 

So we went outside to shovel!

For breakfast ate bright purple pancakes- yummy

Made this monkey mobile for a friend to give... I love how it turned out!

Made this cute little tote for Gabby to give to a friend....

...and filled it with a very cool book and some little gifts.

Cleaned, working on some Etsy things, and finished off the weekend with some very yummy and colorful cupcakes! (Did I mention I am in LOVE with gel food coloring?!)

How was your weekend?? 

My Cuddly Pot O' Gold!

This was really a fun project!

The girls love their new scarves as did the birthday girl,

who got a pot of chocolate coins.

I can't wait for St. Patricks day now for them to wear their rainbows!

Pot O'Gold Rainbow Scarf

Isn't this Rainbow Scarf darling?

Who knew some fleece and quick stitching could be so much fun?! 

It is a really simple and fun tutorial that would thrill even the littlest leprechaun,

and best of all-

the pot at the end of the rainbow is a pocket!!!!

Skip on over to Childmade Tuorials for the how-to here!

Adorable Messenger Bag Tutorial

This year, instead of buying Easter baskets that will just take up space, break quickly, or get tossed quicker than I can eat all the chocolate, I am planning on making a cute messenger bag of some sort to put the goodies in. This way each of the girls has a cute bag to carry around this summer when we go nature picking or out and about. However, I have yet to see a tutorial that doesn't use fusible fabric lining... until now! This easy tutorial doesn't involve zippers, lining, or crazy supplies... instead it is a simple design that you can use to show off awesome fabric- perhaps some cute Japanese fabric from here? I can't wait to get started on these bags... I have lots of ideas already!

Here is the whole tutorial, originally found here!

What you will need:

• 1/2 yard medium to heavy weight fabric for outer bag and handles. 
• 1/2 yard medium to heavy weight fabric for lining.
• 8" of 1/2" wide elastic.
• Maxi piping.  (approximately 28").
• Bolt Snap or any purse snap of choice.
• D ring (any size of choice)
• 2 sheets 8.5" X11" printer paper

Step 1:  Create your pattern.

To make your pattern you will take 1 sheet of 8.5" by 11"  printer paper and fold it in-half long ways then cut off the raw edge corner at a curve.  You can trace the bottom of a bowl if you need help making a curve.  This will be the top flap of the bag.

Next fold the straight edge of the flap over 2.5" from the bottom and place the flap with the folded edge tucked under on top of your second 8.5" X 11" printer paper.  Draw a straight line along the curved edge and cut.  This will give you a 2.5" strip pattern piece for the sides and bottom of your bag.  The remaining square will be the pattern for the body of the bag and bag liner.

Step 2:  Cut out fabric for outer body and lining.

Using your prepared pattern cut out fabric. 

Step 3:  

Cut fabric for pocket and strap.

You will need to cut 1 strip of fabric 12" X 5" from your outer fabric for the pocket and 2 strips 2" X 31" for the strap.  1 out of lining fabric and one out of body fabric.

Step 5:  Add piping and sew top flap.

Pin piping to the right side of the outer fabric flap raw edges together.  Sew along piping seam all the way around the top flap leaving the back straight edge without piping.  Pin lining flap and outer flap right sides together and sew around leaving straight edge open.  Flip and iron flat.

Note:  It's best to sew on the top seam created when you attached your piping to the outer fabric.  This will insure that no extra seams will show when the flap is flipped.  

Step 6:  Create and add pocket and embellishments.
Fold over top edge 1/4" and then again 3/4".  Sew along folded edge using 1/8" seam allowance.  This will create the pocket for your elastic.  

Attach a safety pin to the end of elastic and feed it through the pocket.

Make sure you have enough gathering to make a good stretchy pocket then pin to front outer bag wrong side of pocket facing right side of bag.  Sew along 3 outer sides using 1/8" seam allowance.   You may need to trim away some of the elastic depending on how your fabric gathers.

To make tabs and loops you will fold scrap fabric in the length and width of your choice in half, unfold then fold in raw edge sides towards the fold line, fold in half again, then top stitch along both sides for tabs or one side for loops.   

Feed D rings or clasps in the loop and attach loops to top of bag on the right side raw edges aligned.

For tab pockets attach to right side of bag along the left and right side of prepared fabric leaving the top and bottom open to slide things in.  

Step 7:  Prepare outer bag and lining.  You will us 1/2" seam allowance unless stated otherwise.

Pin side panels to front with right sides together and stitch.  Next pin back of bag to one side right sides together and stitch.  Fold right sides together and stitch last side together. 

With the bag inside out finish bottom of bag by pinning one side in place right sides together and sew.  Repeat for remaining 3 sides.  

Make sure you center the bottom panel so you will have the 1/2" seam allowances available on the sides.  

Repeat step 7 for bag lining.

Step 8:  Prepare and attach straps.

With right sides together sew along each long side using 1/4" seam allowance and leaving the top and bottom open.

Attach a safety pin to the outer fabric on one end and feed through the handle turning it right side out.  Iron flat when done.  

Top stitch using 1/8" seam allowance.

Turn the bag right side out and with right sides together attach straps to sides using 1/4" seam allowance.  Reinforce stitch a few time to give it extra strength.  

Step 9:  Add flap.

With right side together pin flap to the back on the bag and stitch using 1/4" seam allowance.  

Step 10:  Attach lining to outer bag.

With the lining of the bag wrong side out and the outer bag right side out place the outer bag inside the lining.  This will put them right sides together.  Tuck the flap and straps inside the lining.  All you should see at this point is the wrong side of the lining.  Stitch around the top using 1/4" seam allowance and leaving a 3" opening along the back side.  Flip right side out and finish by top stitching around the entire top using 1/8" seam allowance.

Congratulations!  You're Finished!