Fabric Bows

I tend to have an outrageous stash of fabric scraps lying around. I'm not really sure why I insist on keeping them all. Here's a simple little project that uses those pesky little scraps of fabric that tend to pile up.

To make two bows I started off with four pieces of scraps. I cut these scraps to measure 2" x 3 1/2".

For one bow, take two pieces of scraps and lay them right sides together.

Draw an oval(ish) shape onto the wrong side of your scrap. I used a fabric marker, but anything will do.

Sew around the outline you just made, but be sure to leave an inch opening on one side. Backstitch at the beginning and the end.

Trim the excess off the entire oval and cut notches into the rounded edges you just sewed.

Turn your oval inside out, using the opening that was left unsewn. Use a pencil (if needed) to make sure your rounded edges come out nice and round.

It should look something like this.

Next, take another scrap piece. This one measuring about 2" x 3".

Fold in half, right sides together and sew all the way along the cut edge.

Turn inside out. From this point I'll be calling this piece the "tube".

Here are your two pieces you should have to make 1 bow.

Now pinch the center of your oval piece together to create your bow shape.

Take your tube and wrap it around the center of your bow.

At this point you can glue or handstitch your tube so it's attached and secured around the bow. I just machine stitched it and cut off the excess scraps. As you can see the tube attachment will be unfinished, but I'm gluing it to a hairclip so it doesn't bother me this way.

Now glue to a hairclip and it's done.

My measurements were for smaller bows. Play around with it and see all the different sizes you can make.

Thanks for visiting today and checking out my post!

F-I-V-E

Five years ago today something changed me. My purpose in life became clear. I became the mama to the sweetest little boy.

My little Cal J is growing up. He's been growing non-stop for 5 years.

He's kind, funny, friendly, compassionate, and loves taking out the trash.

Thanks for letting me love you as much as I do. And thanks for being such a great big brother and a fun-loving son to me and your daddy. We love you so much Cal J!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Finally, I'm back (with some cookies)

After months of being camera-less from our aforementioned robbing. I finally made a decision and picked out my new camera. Woo-hoo! My life feels whole again. ;)

Now let's see if I even remember how to post one of these anymore... ah yes, it's coming back to me.

Easter is just around the corner and these little morsels (Cadbury mini-eggs) make me salivate. Thankfully they only come out once a year. Do yourself a favor - buy a bag - and make some cookies!

Here is a wonderful little recipe from Our Best Bites which you can find here. What if you don't like these little chocolate wonders? My heart goes out to you my friend!

They're wonderfully delicious!

A set back...

This year had been off to a wonderful start. That is until last week when our house was broken into. We're now left feeling totally violated and more then slightly ticked off. Needless to say, the thieves took off with lots and lots of stuff. Luckily, no one was home and most of the stuff can be replaced - it's just costly stuff, and it was our stuff, and it kind of makes me angry.

So for the time being I'm computer-less. And camera-less. And totally out of sorts about it. I'm still crafting, I just won't be documenting it at the moment. (They left my sewing machine at least).

Soon.

Hopefully real soon. Cause I really miss it.

I hope things have been better for you all....

Fleece hat

Happy 2011 everyone!

To start off the new year I made a little something for Cal J. A super easy fleece beanie. Here's how you do it.

Cut out your beanie from two different fabrics. One for the lining and one for the outer hat. You should have a total of 4 pieces. I used one of his beanies and traced it adding an extra 1/4" for seam allowance. And cut it 10" in length.

***Note: I should have actually allowed more width to the beanie. I'd suggest marking it a 1/2" wider all around the beanie your tracing. ***

Fold over the lining like shown...

and cut a slit 2 inches deep straight down. Repeat with outer pieces of hat.

Your slits should look like this.

Fold your fabric so it's in half again and sew your slit closed using a 1/4" inseam, backstitching at the beginning and end. Do this on all 4 pieces.

I got ahead of myself and didn't take pictures of the next step - just pin your fabric together with the seams you just sewed facing out and sew together.

Now you should have two hat pieces. Both with seams facing out.

****Leave a 3 inch opening towards the top of your lining piece like this. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and the end of the opening****

Leave your outer piece inside out and turn your lining piece right side out like shown.

Place your right side out lining piece INTO the outer hat piece.

Stuff all the way into the outer hat piece lining up the seams. Pin in place.

Sew all the way around the hat opening so the outer and the liner are sewn together.

It should look something like this.

Now pull the lining piece outward so you have one big oval shape with the seams facing out.

Now take your un-sewn opening on the lining piece and start to pull the hat right side out.

Keep pulling....

Here is the hat with the right sides out. Hand stitch the opening that you just pulled your hat through shut.

You're almost finished...

Now just fold upward so some of the lining is showing and you're done!

Now, I know I said this was for Cal J. But apparently my measuring was off. It fit Ry-pie's head perfectly. I'll guess she'll be sporting a cool alien hat. Oh well.

I hope your new year has been off to a great start!

Melted snowman cookies

It's been a pretty frigid winter thus far - and it's only the beginning. Yikes!

Here are some melted snowman cookies that I made.

I originally saw them from Smashed Peas and Carrots, go here for the recipe and directions.

I have a feeling that people in certain parts of the country really wish they had some snow melting!

Enjoy! And stay warm out there! :)