Father's Day Gifts

So believe it or not I've actually found some time to update my blogs....crazy I know, what with our house currently looking like this:



Yes, boxes everywhere.  Thankfully they are being loaded up right now by the movers, so things are actually happening.  'Unfortunately' we can't help so we just have to sit around the house and wait,...yes it is a little tedious but it gives me a chance to catch up on what we did for Father's Day! 

I'm sure lots of people have done most of these ideas but I thought I would post pictures anyway.  Plus I think they are pretty self explanitory, so here's what we did:

I just loved the idea for this tie!  I get it from another website (sorry I can't remember which one) but I did change it slightly and handstitched the felt hands on and wrote "Daddy's love TIES us all together" on it!

I got the wooden letters from hobby lobby, but you can purchase them from Walmart, Michaels etc...  (Be warned if your kiddos are anything like my boys this cute picture frame WILL take longer than 10 minutes to do.....Disclaimer: I do not take blame for hours of time and hundreds of pictures taken!  But I do promise you will get the right shots in the end! :)

Just because we know daddy loves chocolate we did this cute jar full of Herseys Kisses!



If you have any questions on what I did or how just email me!!! Thanks for reading!!

Handbag

So I wanted to make something 'original' for my mum for Mother's Day this year, and for anyone who knows my lovely mum, she adores big accessories, including handbags. So I decided to try my hand at making her a bag this year and it was surprisingly easier than I thought.  I didn't even use a pattern!  I saw a picture of the bag I wanted to create and with my little knowledge of sewing, went for it!
This is how it turned out.

To make a ruffle bag you will need:

~ 1 yard of outter material
~ 1 yard of lining (I used duck cloth material so it was more study, but any fabric will work!)
~ 2 bag handles (I got mine from JoAnnes)
~ 1 Magnetic bag clip (I used a clip on one, but sew on works just as well)
~ Scissors
~ Matching thread
~ Sewing machine

Instructions

I used the instructions from here and tweaked them a little....but it gives you the idea!

http://lamaisonreid.blogspot.com/2010/08/burlap-purse-with-shabby-rose.html

Nursing Cover

If feel like I have been sewing like mad these past few weeks, what with making my car seat canopy, diaper/wipes holder and the Captain CTR cape....now I'm adding on my nursing cover!  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I know, I didn't make it to match the car seat canopy, but I needed material that was a little thicker and a lighter colour too.  So I decided to stick with green and do something that I can use with a girl or a boy.

I actually used this website for the tutorial as my guide: http://www.thesoutherninstitute.com/2010/06/nursing-cover-tutorial.html

However, I did do my own additions like a backing and the edging on the front of my cover.  Which I have to admit, I just made up on the spot, so I really don't have instructions as such. But I can give you a rough guide below the pictures. (As I think the cover actually looks pretty with these additions, but the other way works just fine and you're right who would actually know that there is a backing to the cover apart from you and your baby!)

Additional things you will need for Backing and Front Edging

~ 1/4 yard of material (this can also be used for the strap if you wish)

~ 3/4 yard of backing material

Instructions for Front Edging

~ Cut the front material 18" x 33" (instead on 28" x 38")

~ Cut side edging 5" x 28"

~ Cut bottom edging 38" x 5"

~ Sew them all together

Instructions for Backing

~ At the top of the front material sew your boning (the wrong way round)

~ Fold over the top material again and pin it down with the backing material (right sides together)

~ Make sure you attach the straps in the middle of you material too (as shown on the directions on the website)

~ Once everything is pinned, sew together and iron

I hope these steps make sense?  I understand them, but some may not, so please contact me if you need.

Diaper/Wipes Holder

For those of you who know me I like to be coordinated, with pretty much everything!  So I took on another much quicker sewing project this time.  A diaper/wipes holder to go in my bag, so I don't have to take out the whole big diaper bag all the time!  Isn't it cute!! :) And seriously people, it was so stinking easy, I thought I had done it wrong!  But it turns out I didn't!

I have to admit I didn't measure anything and I just used a video guide from youtube to make it.  It too all of 5 minutes!  Honestly!!  I can write the basics you will  need then I will add the link to the video.

To make a diaper/wipes holder you will need:

~ 1/4 yard of back material

~ 1/4 yard of front material

~ Sew on Velcro

~ Basics: scissors, cotton and sewing machine!

Instructions

Here is the website I used.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdf0QwGIRNM

If anyone would like a template, just email me and I can send you the one I used.

Infant Car Seat Canopy

As most of you know, we are expecting baby #2 in 5 or so weeks.  We are extremely excited and can't wait for his arrival.  So in preparation I have been sewing a few new things for him.  One being a Infant Car Seat Canopy.  Unfortunately my pictures aren't the best as I haven't got my car seat as yet, (its being shipped) and so you can't see the full genius of my sewing creation! ;)  But I'm sure you get the gist or it.

Once I have my car seat I will take new pictures and post them!

To make an infant car seat canopy you will need:

~ 1 yard front fabric

~ 1 yard back fabric
~ 4” sew-on Velcro (don't get the adhesive kind)
~ Any coordinating fabric, ribbon, etc. to embellish as desired (not necessary) I used 10 feet of rick rack.
~ A medium bowl from your kitchen (about 7-10" diameter)
~ Basics like thread, scissors, pencil, ruler, iron, pins, and of course a sewing machine :)

Instructions

~ Cut your back and front fabric into 35" wide x 41" tall. (Save the scraps for later.)

~ Round your corners using your medium bowl as your guide

~ If you're using rick rack cut 10 feet

~ Get your front and back material and place right sides (pattern sides) together, carefully placing the rick rack in the middle

~ Pin material and rick rack together, making sure that you're rick rack will be sown down the middle

~ Sew together leaving a 4/5 inch gap so you can pull the material through

~ Iron

~ Sew gap up with machine or if you prefer by hand

~ Cut two strips 5” wide x 8.5” tall out of your outer fabric for the straps

~ Take each strip and fold it in half, right sides together along the long edge.

~ Sew along the long edge and one short edge with a ½” seam

~ Turn right side out

~ Iron

~ Cut 2" Velcro pieces

~ Sew to the endsof each strap. Sew the rough piece of Velcro to one side and the soft piece of Velcro to the opposite side of each strap

~ Find the middle of your fabric and mark two lines 6 inches apart (3" from the centre!)

~ Sew you're straps on

~ Ta-da! Now you have one infant car seat canopy.