Halloween crafting

First up I found a post somewhere don't ask me where, on someones blog where they had used the lampshades from an old ceiling fan to make ghosts and we just happened to have some laying around, so my oldest and I made some ghosts.

Two years ago my church did a craft Super Saturday and "BOO" blocks was one of the projects and I didn't sign up for it although I had wanted too. Money was tight and I had spent what I could. Well as we were cleaning up that Saturday there was an extra set of wood and vinyl lettering, they just didn't have any Halloween-y paper, so I purchased it and a set of "JOY" ones too, also minus the paper for a discounted price. It has taken me two years to finally get around to completing it, because A) I procrastinate too much and B) I couldn't find any paper I liked. So here are my completed "BOO" blocks.

Now last year my church also had a super Saturday and they had "Give Thanks" lettering made to go on the back of the "BOO" blocks. You got the vinyl and the paper. Well, I also just completed this project this week as well, the reasoning being that it had to go on the unpainted "BOO" blocks above. Anyways, I love that with one set of blocks you have a decoration for two holidays that just has to be flipped around.

I have actually been crafting quite a bit lately I just haven't been able to share because its mostly present for my sweet sister and well I don't think she reads this blog, but I won't take a chance.

A's Birthday get-up

Our youngest just turned 2, and for fun I made her a cute cape and birthday outfit.

Here is her "Amazing Ava" cape.

And I made her another simple tutu using this tutorial here.

and this adorable crown using this tutorial here.

Electronics cozy

My daughter (9) will be headed out of town for 1 1/2 months this Friday and I am always worried about her zune getting all scratched up as she's throwing it in and out of her backpack. Plus its black so a little easier to lose. Her favorite colors are lime green and hot pink, and I had this left over material from an apron I made her a couple of years back so I made an electronics cozy using this tutorial here, from make it and love it. This is one of my favorite blogs to visit for great craft ideas. I think it turned out cute and she LOVED it, which made me happy. I actually used left over fleece for the inside, it made it a little thicker than I would have liked but it worked and the fabric button is to cover the stitched on velcro. My only real gripe with how it turned out is that I didn't make it slightly bigger so that the head phones would fit, but hey she says its cool how it is, and the zune definitely fits in there just right.

Finally.

I finally tied my first fleece blanket, super simple, and the best part my youngest actually likes it. She is kind of a strange child, doesn't have a toy, stuffed animal or blanket that she prefers. As a matter of fact she doesn't even really play. She just wanders around the house all day plays with something a few minutes and then wanders a little more. The only thing she seems to really enjoy is books and while she will look at them on her own, she definitely prefers to be read to. I have decided that her lack of interest in toys, etc. is what continues to lead to her getting in trouble. If I am busy and not giving her my complete undivided attention (hence hardly having time for craft projects) she get mischevious. Its a good thing I love her. Anyways now that its 100 degrees here, she has decided she really loves her "mouse" blanket that I made her and she actually wants to cuddle with me and the blanket.

"Happy Birthday" blocks

My mom, my sister and myself made some super cute "Happy Birthday" blocks while I was in Utah. Its hard to see, but above the "Y" is a curly wire that holds the Birthday person's photo. I am also going to add something above the "B" to hold balloons. I can't wait to use this for Birthday celebrations at our house! I totally love the bright colorful red and the colorful fun papers that I used. My mom's was done in more of a burgundy and my sis' in blues. I'll upload photos of theirs when they send them to me.

"Family" blocks

I made these cute blocks recently when I was in Utah visiting my family. I was a little nervous when picking out my colors as everyone else chose to go a little muted with their colors and I had to go bright and bold. I am glad I did because they look so cute in my house.



Here is my Grandma's blocks, this is my aunt Alice, my mom and my Grandma Ann.

bracelets...

I recently made some fun birthstone bracelets, I love them. I made them with my mom, grandma, aunt, and sister. I even made one as a gift for someone I love. I haven't taken a photo of the one I made myself, weird I know. I will have to do that .

Felt hair bows

Just for fun to go with the girls Valentine's Day dresses I made some cute felt heart hair clips. Super easy and they loved them. Ava is always pulling hair things out of her hair and she actually let this one stay in. Instead of gluing them or using the sewing machine I decided to use accent hand stitching to hook them together, figured it made them more cutesy and playful looking, but to make Katrena's look a little older I added a cute heart charm.

So what can you do with...

2 bandannas, some elastic, 3 yards of ribbon, and some thread, all for around $5, and 90 minutes or so of your time!!!



You can go to Joy's hope and follow this tutorial here and make a simple bandanna dress (the picture is of the back)!!! It will fit a girl ages 6months to 5 years, or it can be a cute shirt for older girls. The best part is that it can be a summer dress or worn more as a jumper with a shirt under it for the colder months. This one is for my 18 month old for Valentines day. I had planned on making a matching shirt for my 9 year old, but at her request...

I used the same pattern and idea and made a skirt instead.

I love Joy's hope's simple tutorials they are great for the beginning sewer and also for the sewer that doesn't have much time to sew. I had to hem my bandannas because the pattern could go only one way, and I had to get rid of the stamped wording on the bottom, so it took a little longer than another pattern would.

I already have a few more bandanna's ready to go for additional summer dresses for my 18 month old.

Skinny Scarf

One of my absolute favorite blogs to visit is Joy's Hope. She recently did a tutorial for the skinny scarf which can be found here.This link is for all posts pertaining to the scarf along, so scroll down to the bottom the last post is actually the first and enjoy making some skinny scarves!

I thought the scarf was so cute, fun and funky that it would be perfect for my 9 year old Birthday girl and her friends. So I made one that is slightly smaller using 7 fat quarters instead of 9, and instead of using all different one's I used two of each color, except my odd one.

Here it is being modeled by her adorable 18 month old sister. Her Birthday isn't till tomorrow so she doesn't get to see it till then.

The four scarves, all using same material only in a different order.

Close up of the trim

11 days late, or 354 days early...

I have not had much crafting time this last year, but I was finally able to take the time to make this cute advent calendar for our family yesterday. I am happy to have this cute decoration done for next year.