Crinkle Crinkle Little Starfish

And yet another baby stash gift!  I stumbled across these super cute baby starfish that crinkle!  I found the pattern over at American Felt and Craft Blog.  I enlarged the pattern a little.  I also purchased the crinkle material from them as well.  I have seen people use other household items in order to make toys crinkle, but this stuff can go in the dryer and is super crinkly!

I traced my pattern onto freezer paper and ironed onto my wool felt.

I then did a bunch of random french knots over the front of the starfish.  I usually wrapped the knot 3-4 times to get some good bumps on the surface.  Then embroidered some eyes and a mouth.

I cut a piece of crinkle material little larger than my starfish.  This is where I deviated from the original tutorial. 

I sandwiched the crinkle material in between the 2 felt pieces and pinned. I sewed around the starfish and used fabric scissors to trim my seam.

Keep all the crinkle material scraps. Can use to stuff another baby toy project.

Click here to get the starfish pattern.

Linked up with Skip to My Lou for Made By You Monday.

Paper Flowers

My new mini-obsession.  Making paper flowers.  I found some great pearly white paper at Hobby Lobby and I just love how they turned out!

 

 

 

I just gave this to a friend and gave her 3 flowers in a blue Bell jar filled with rice.  Off to make more!  I need more practice Lia Griffith is so talented with her paper flowers.

I used the wonderful tutorial found here.  Check out her paper feathers too!

Memorial Day

All gave some.  Some gave all.

 

 

Please take a moment to reflect upon what this weekend truly means.

 

God bless to all my brothers and sisters in arms.

 

 

Over Hauling Back Deck

Trying to spruce up the back deck.  First thing I did last week was to remove the hideous railings the prior owner had installed.  Wish I would of taken a picture.  But they are now happily on their way to the local dump. 

We really like how much it opens up the yard now, plus you get onto the deck at any spot now.

I added a bamboo reed screen for the top of the pergola to give a little diffused sun protection.

Today I made these canvas drop cloth curtains.  I got inspiration here.  I purchased 2 - 6 x 9 foot canvas drop cloths and a grommet kit from Lowes.  Attached curtain to the pergola using small "c" hooks spaced every 7 inches.  Used some clothes line to tie back.

I love that the drop cloths cost only $11.00 apiece.  So I don't even care if I have to make more next summer.  You can never get that kind of deal for so much fabric!  Score.

Next step in the process is to pressure wash and we are going to try out a new deck sealer paint.
Few other things planned for this area, so hopefully can knock it all out soon!

Liking it so far, but I just need those darn mosquitoes to leave me alone!

Owl Miss You Treats

Made these for K's last day of school.  Pretty easy project to assembly line.

Used my Big Shot with a Nestabilities die.  Score in half and fold.

Punch out card stock for eyes.  Cut a orange triangle for the owl nose.   Glue together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll have her sign the back and will pass out this coming week.  Can't believe the school year has only 4 days left!

Pee Tee-Pee

Finally I have a baby boy stash item!  I just had to laugh when I heard about these.  Called a pee tee pee.  Used for when changing those baby boys!  They sell for a ridiculous cost, so I whipped up some for nothing. 

Super easy and fast to sew these up.  Only need small scraps of fabric as well.

I used flannel for the inside of the cone and cotton fabric for the outside of the cone. 

First cut out a 7" circle out of paper or cardstock.

Fold the circle in half and then cut down the middle.  Using this half circle as your pattern piece, cut out 2 half circles from your chosen fabric.

Pin right sides together.

Starting at about the half way point on the straight side, start sewing with a 1/4" seam allowance.  Continue sewing around this half circle, ensuring that you leave about 1 1/2" opening for turning the fabric out. 

Turn right side out and press with hot iron.  Using a tool to ensure corners are pushed out.

Fold half circle in half. 

Sew along the straight edge as close to the edge as possible.

Turn inside out and push out point of cone.

Give as baby shower gifts and protect someone!  These literally just take a few minutes each.

Baby Shower Gifts

We have a Silent Action this Friday during the Annual Spring Fling.  Our classroom basket theme is "New Baby" so I whipped up some of my favorite items to put in our class basket.

I have made this baby card dozens of times.  It is my favorite card to give.  I love that it is interactive.  You pull the rope attached to the elephant pull toy and out pops a card!

Here is the tutorial for the card.  Here is the link for the clear stamp elephant.

I added fabric to some basic burp cloths to give them a nice custom look.  The strips of fabric are only about 4 inches wide and sewn down the middle of the burp cloth.

There is a million tutorials out there for burp cloths so the world does not need another one from me!

Made another fabric baby ball also.  The tutorial for that can be found here.

And to finish off my contributions to the auction basket I added two pairs of wool felt baby shoes.

That tutorial can be found here or on my side bar.

Hopefully people like our basket and appreaciate homemade items!