Here comes another one

just like the other one.





I tried another new stitch here, the red around the rocketship but I can't remember the name of it and supreme laziness is preventing me in going downstairs to look it up.

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Navy Rocketship

One of a couple custom orders I received for this shirt. I tried a new stitch around the rocket, a cross-blanket stitch.





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Castle Desktop Organizer

I am so making one of these with DS. Via Activity Village



I am busy painting kitchen cupboards, so no crafting for me at the moment.

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Elephant, circa 1976

My MIL gave me this old toy pattern and I immediately recognized it because we had the dog and kangaroo when I was a kid. I made the elephant tonight.





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Rocketship Shirt

My son has rocketship pjs that he loooooves. It's been too hot to wear them so I said I'd make him a rocketship shirt he could wear instead.



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A few goodies

A bib and 2 hair elastics (the beaded fabric flowers) and an Anpanman sunhat and onesie. The sunhat material and patch for the onesie are from my brother and sister-in-law's trip to Japan.



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Moon Apples

I'm in the middle of a big project right now, so just a quick snack that my son likes. Cut your apples width-wise to make large circles and then use a small cookie cutter to cut a shape in the middle to remove the seeds. You can leave the slices as they are or cut out matching shapes out of cheese or another food item to fill in the hole. I got the small cookie cutters at Michael's, they were a halloween set.






Another fun apple snack we make is to cut the round circles, cut a small circle to remove the seeds and then use peanut butter and raisins to make happy faces on the apples.

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Superkid

I made this for a little girl who is into superheroes. I tried to make the t-shirt look deconstructed and stylish but it came off pretty homemade-y ;) I used acrylic paint mixed with textile medium to put a line of messy number 4s stamped down one-side of the shirt, then set it with the iron. I carved the stamp out of a potato. Good thing she is just turning 4 and not 14. There is a matching wristcuff and headband around the top of the hanger. The shiny material is cool but tricky to sew.







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Sunhats

I have wanted to try sewing sunhats for a long time and finally gave it a go with Kwik Sew 3309. I am charmed with the results and by how easy they were to sew. I have some ideas I would now like to try with the concept. The one on the right is size 12-18 months and the left one is 3-6 months, both made with cotton and interfacing.



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This Week's Work

A couple bibs and placemats:





A pencil crayon roll. I love the ribbon used for the tie, it is marked like a measuring tape.



and another cross stitch for my friend, this one is based on a Subversive Stitching pattern.



Any suggestions what to do with this old piece of embroidery I found? I really like it, but am not sure what to make with it. The stitching is about about 6"x 6" and it was made from a vintage pattern.



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Kid's Cardboard Camera

You can make a simple cardboard camera with a small box and a toilet paper/paper towel tube (or roll your own tube from another peice of sturdy paper or cardboard). Trace the end of the tube onto the front of the box. Do not cut the circle out but instead cut from the centre to the edge of the circle, making a star or pie shape in the centre. When you insert the tube triangle shapes will invert and help hold the tube more snugly. Cut a viewfinder hole in the back and the front so you can see through the box. Use pieces of the cardboard you cut out for the viewfinder to cut out buttons to glue or tape onto the box. Cut out a picture and glue or tape it onto the back for the preview screen. Let your child decorate further, or you could make a strap to carry it around their neck if they'd like.



Look at the goodies I got in the mail this week! A chocolate lollipop fat quarter bundle. Yay!



I have already had some fun with the fabrics, more photos later!

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Toilet Paper Tube Snake

An easy craft to make with kids. Have them paint the toilet paper or paper towel tubes and then punch holes in the ends to tie together with small peices of string. I tied a longer string on the end so my DS could pull it around behind him. For small children if you are making a pull toy either use a very short string (7 inches or less) or very fragile yarn that will break easily so it is not a choking hazard.



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Picnic Placemat Roll

We go on lots of picnics in the summer but I am always a bit skeeved by the picnic tables which have had who knows what on them (squirrels, people's bums, old food) so I sewed this placemat roll today during naptime. I can throw it in the wash when I get home if it gets dirty and it's more environmentally friendly than paper napkins (I am going to sew a cloth napkin to tuck in there too). K, you can stop teasing me about wanting to bring my tablecloth because now I have these!





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Update- These are so easy to make and will be so useful! I made another for me tonight and I used a stitch I hadn't tried before on my machine to finish the edges. I will be taking these camping, they can be wiped with a damp cloth and hung to dry. If you fold the top half over the silverware they fold up quite tidily.

Pencil Crayon Roll

Well, this seems pretty dorky compared to the hobbit house below, but I think my kiddo will dig it. And it's something you can make with fat quarters of fabric if you don't quilt.





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Skirt and Backpack

Well, I certainly have been getting my money's worth with that backpack pattern! These two items were made for a charity fundraiser, I will post more about that later.





Now, the pattern for the skirt (it's size 4) reads for the waistline "add one inch to waist measurements" so I had to guess what size a 4 year old's waist would be. The last time I guessed measurements I made a skirt for B's 3 year old that was big on her 6 year old. I hope it fits okay.

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Happy Birthday Shirt

A happy birthday shirt for my DS who turned 3. It's embroidery but I am hoping next year I can make him a screen-printed one.



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Gifts from a Friend

These were all made by a friend of mine, which she sent in a lovely package to DS and I.

Bear toy



Headband



Knit hat for DS



Felted Firefighter hat




She is hoping to have an etsy store, I can't wait!

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Playdough Recipe

Playdough Recipe

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tsp cooking oil
food colouring
optional- packet of kool aid without sugar (little envelope), makes it smell yummy and adds colour

1. Mix all ingredients and stir over low heat until thick and clings to a spoon. Mixture should form a ball. (Use low heat. For years I used too high of a heat, it's better if you are patient and use the low heat. I also add the food colouring/kool aid to the water first instead of directly into the pot, helps distribute it more evenly- Amanda)

2. Remove from sauce pan and place on a smooth, dry surface to cool.

3. Knead until smooth and pliable.

4. Store in airtight container. This clay will stay soft for months if always returned to an airtight container after play.

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This is my favourite playdough recipe. It is soft, lasts a long time, is much cheaper than store bought playdough and there is no packaging to create excess waste. Also, playdough can keep my son entertained for over an hour, which makes it worth approximately it's weight in gold.

Make Your Own Egg-Shaped Sidewalk Chalk

instructions here at Skip To My Lou.

I know this will be a big suprise

I have made more bags.

A commissioned messenger-style diaper bag. The messenger flap is a cool taffeta with flocked printed flowers, the bag body is corduroy with embossed flowers and it has a checkered lining that made my eyes slightly cross when trying to cut and measure it. It has a couple of bottle pockets on the sides.





and a Thomas toddler backpack, made for a swap.



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