September Challenge

Hi! It's Maren here and I am going to post our challenges for this month. I can't believe it is September already!!

I am so glad that Celia included LeAnne's Trick or Treat Tote in the challenge last month because that is on my list to do before Halloween. I was scrolling through some of her tutorials and remembered that she also had a cute felt Halloween banner which would be another fun Haloweeny thing to whip up for a decoration this Halloween season.

Since I have girls I am going to post a few links of some girly things that I have been working on or that I have been thinking about working on. They are great for either the little girls in your life or for yourself.

First: Fabric Hair Rollers from Life with Monkey. Have you ever tried those pink foam ones. Well check out this little girl's hair using rollers from this tutorial. WAAAY better results. I think I will be wearing these to bed.

Second: Shirring. I have been hit by the shirring bug. And I have LeAnne to thank for this! She did a tutorial for a cute little summer dress and tipped me off on some patterns that were for sale on etsy. I manged to snag a few patterns before the shop closed forever and I really have enjoyed them. I'll post more about them later. I think that LeAnne did a great job with her dress tutorial and the great thing about shirring is it is so easy and so cute and so versatile. You can add wide hems of coordinating fabric, ruffles, different types of sleeves. wider strips for cap sleeves, ribbons, spaghetti straps etc. You can even make a top for yourself as well!

 LeAnne also did a great tutorial on shirring. I am so glad that she included a picture of what the elastic thread should look like. Months before I started shirring I picked up some elastic thread at JoAnns because I knew at some point I wanted to give it a try. My thread was on a plastic spool. I kept hearing that it has to be on a cardboard one. I went back to JoAnns to find the stuff that I needed and could NOT find it. I even asked someone and they were pretty clueless as to what I was even talking about. The label on the thread I got said it was meant for shirring so I used it. And it worked. However, The first day my daughter wore her dress I noticed that some of the thread broke and now I will have to go back and do it again! Not Fun. So I will be finding another way to get the proper elastic thread. Just a word to the wise.

Third: I have really been wanting to make my oldest daughter some cute flower hairclips/headbands to wear to preschool. I love these kinds of projects because they don't take a lot of time and you can make a whole bunch in one sitting. Here are a few tutorials. These flowers can be used for anything - brooch, clip for a purse or bag, gift topper etc. No sewing machine necessary! (sorry I was not able to get any of the pictures up - but go ahead and click. You won't be sorry)

Felt Peony
Felt Flower - the scalloped roll method
Felt Flower - the glue method (love the button center)
Satin Flowers - the candle method - I soooo want to do this one
Rolled Fabric Flower
Fabric and Paper flower roudup from Little birdie secrets -I love the painted newspaper flowers. It would be a fun one to do with  kids to give away to someone special (Mother's day, Valentines day, birthdays etc)


 Recipe: Triple Layer Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love fall desserts and I love this one. I made this on a couple of different occasions. Once for my son's first birthday and now that I have an October birthday I think I am going to make it for my baby's first birthday next month. It is very yummy. I have done it with three layers, but it would also be yummy as cupcakes or made in a regular old cakepan. Delish!

XO

Maren

Picnic Table

This is my first wood project ever. Actually, it's really the first time I've ever wielded a saw or a drill. So while it's not perfect, it's not a half bad attempt at teaching myself basic carpentry with the fabulous instructions by Anna at Knock off Wood.

The process:
I didn't buy the super cheap wood. It all looked warped to begin with, so I bought the whiteboard. I figured I needed all the help I could since I've never made anything before. All together, screws and everything, I think I spent $30.

I didn't have access to a good electric saw. Well, I guess I could have paid a neighbor do it for me, but I kind of wanted to "own" this first project, cutting and all. I did all of this with a hand saw and a miter box and/or a make shift "miter box imitation" for the boards that didn't fit. I don't suggest doing either of these things. It was virtually impossible to get a square, level cut. At first glance it all seemed to be just dandy, but when I started putting everything together, it was not fantastic. I had to do quite a bit of sanding to make up for my less than perfect cuts to get the legs to sit level on the ground.

I did have fun with my 2 year old.
He enjoyed watching and "helping" me make it.
I love that he knows that mommy made it and not daddy.

When I got to the last two seat boards, I forgot to pre-drill the hole. I hit a knot and busted the support. I was SO angry. So very, very angry. I cried, and yelled. Maybe even cursed. I ended up having to unscrew and pry off the support board and re-do that side. It worked out in the end, but what a pain.

Here's the complete table with the first coat of paint (goblin green...my husband used it for a Warhammer table top, and there was a lot left over, so I figured, why not?). I will do a second coat when it cools off a smidgen. I only did the first coat so I could put it outside and reclaim my kitchen (It was in there for over a month). 107* with 50% humidity is just not ideal for working outside! It's been above 90* at night, so I don't even want to do it then. Blech. This is the time I hate living in TX.






And here are a few videos of my 1 year old enjoying the table.

August Challenges

Seasonal: Halloween
Sure it's not October, but the time it takes me to finish projects, it's time to start thinking about Halloween!
If you were hoping for back to school ideas, they're doing a whole month's worth over at Sew Mama Sew.

Trick or Treat Totes from our favorite LeAnne at Everyday Celebrations
I am determined to make Dean and Walter these.

Fabric Pumpkins by my good friend Erin at Schlosser Designs
I made a couple of these last year. They're cute.

Self and Child crafts: Finish something you've already started! That's what I'll be doing at least.

Recipe Recommendation: Hummus and Pitas
We just had them tonight (not our first time, by any means) and they're so yummy.

A few tips on the pita recipe:

1. The dough is a really soft dough. Don't roll the pieces out into a circle until seconds before you put it in the oven or it will relax too much and stick to the counter and/or stretch out too much.
   
2. They won't puff correctly if they're too thin, either.
   
3. I've found in my oven they brown quicker on the bottom, so don't wait till the top is browned. 4 min. makes a much softer pita.
   
4. I do a wet towel on top of the pitas rather than put them in a bag. I've found it to be easier and more effective.

Smock Apron

After I bought and started wearing nicer clothes a few weeks ago, I realized I needed to start wearing aprons more so I don't ruin my new wardrobe. I only have one apron (the Maren made for me 5 or so years ago), and I wanted a few more. I really wanted to make something full coverage, with a high neck, and long(ish). If I knew how to put sleeves on something, I would have.

I drafted a pattern loosely based on this smock apron. I wanted the arm holes smaller, and I made it a little longer. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I've put myself on fabric block for awhile (for budgeting reasons), so I had to make do with what I had on hand. This was a fabric I got a lot of on sale that I thought I'd use for baby blankets. I still have plenty for blankets if I decide to ever use it for that.

any more refashioning?

I'm going to do a class on refashioning in October.  Any other project ideas you guys know of that I could show?  Also is it ok if I print some of your picts from this blog that you've already posted to give the class ideas?  It will be themed in preparation for the holidays so gift-able ideas are specifically what I'm looking for.  Thanks!

Neck pillows

I LOVE EASY PROJECTS! I made one last night and two tonight.

I made the first out of quilting cotton. The second was out of flannel. The third was out of flannel and fleece. The worst by far was the cotton pillow. It's a bit scratchy and didn't have a good enough stretch to fill nicely. The other two were just fine, though I was able to pack more polyfill in the one with fleece (since it had the most stretch) making for a slightly taller pillow.

I will probably make two of these for myself. One by itself isn't enough for my large noggin and neck, but two stacked on top of each other is just about perfect! We'll see if I can get the boys to use these on our 14-16 hour (one way) trip to AZ this month! I imagine that if they're head's to the bobbing point, they won't even notice if I slip it on them...

I drew up a pattern onto parchment paper from make it and love it's description. As I drew it up, though, I actually did 1 in. smaller on the legs than she described in the comments. I'd be interested to make the pillow with her exact dimensions and compare. Not hard at all.

July Challenges

Seasonal: 4th of July

Yes, yes. It's a bit late to do anything too intricately crafty for the 4th, but it will be here archived for next year if you're interested.

Lots of fun and easy 4th of July crafts to do with kids by No Time for Flashcards



Wooden Liberty Wall art by Knock-off Wood


Self/House: Chore & Routine Charts
Lots of ideas at Tip Junkie and even more ideas from Tip Junkie
Morning routine chart by Living Locurto
And though it's summertime, I wanted to include the after school routine chart to have it in the same place...


Kids: Road trip survival

Kid's travel pillow by Maya Made



Neck pillow by Make it and Love it



Travel bag with car games and item list for an enjoyable road trip by Prepared NOT Scared!




Recipe Recommendation: The Best Buttermilk Banana Bread by Mel's Kitchen Cafe


This stuff is seriously yummy. I've done it with wheat flour, half wheat flour, reduced sugar, and with some applesauce subbing for some of the banana when I only had one brown one, and all of the variations have turned out delicious.

If you want it to be extra yummy, instead of flouring the pan, dust it with sugar. Matt said it made it way better and I agree!