La La Loopsy Sleeping Bags Tutorial

For Christmas Santa brought our girls tons of La La Loopsy's.  They are the cutest dolls with the cutest houses and little animal friends.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about GO TO TARGET and buy some.  They are just as addicting to me as they are to the kiddos.

So I have a ridiculous amount of fabric scraps and many of them are pretty tiny.  I was digging through them the other day while my girls were playing with their dolls.  They and their dolls happened to be camping and the thought dawned on me--they need sleeping bags if they are going to be camping!  Sick I know, but cute right?  So, right then and there I called the girls in and we picked out fabric scraps together.

Here's how I made them:

1. Cut 2 3x4 rectangles (mine were out of flannel and corduroy scraps)

2. Put them Right sides together

3. Trim one of the 3" edges with pinking shears

4. Sew around the non pinked edges (remember to backstitch!)

5. Trim the corners if you like

6. Turn the bag to the right side out

7. Iron flat

8. BAM--You are done!  

Now--make one for every single one of those La La Loopsy dolls, otherwise your kiddos will complain that one of their dolls was cold on their camp out. :)   My girls have LOVED these!  They haven't stopped playing with them since we made them.  See for yourself:)  

I was so happy to use that houndstooth scrap--none of that fabric should EVER go to waste!  It's way too cute:)

Another great activity to do with your kiddos!  If they are old enough have them make them up for themselves--obviously this is the perfect beginners sewing project!  Gotta LOVE using up those scraps!  Have Fun!

xoxo, B

Wipes and Diapers Clutch

I've made quite a few of these over the years....it's a baby shower gift fall back for me.  It's a great project to use up those fabric scraps.  I figured I'd show you my latest one.  My Mom came into town while my  husband was out of town so we partied!  Meaning we made a bunch of stuff together.  We made this for my cousin who's about to have her first baby girl.  She makes the best cupcakes I have ever had in my life so we thought this was very fitting :)

I think the jewel in the button is my favorite--who doesn't love bling right?  I really should make one of these for me just to slip into my purse--I don't have to have a baby in order to have one right?  Anyway, I have I think 4 more of these already cut out so the next time a baby is born I'm halfway done with their present--halfway is better than nothing right?  What do you think?  Is it as cute as cupcake?

xoxo, B

Box Top Pot Holder Tutorial

It's good to be back!  Whoooo!  Life has been a little...well life has just been life!  Crazy, fast paced and full of surprises:) In the wintertime I find myself cooking and baking a little more than usual.  I've gotta pack on those extra pounds I just love to pack on somehow right? (P-SHAW!)  Anyway--

When I was visiting some family over the holidays I came across some darling little hot pads (Thanks Marie!)--much cuter than any I've ever owned!  I had to make some for my kitchen--I even had fabric scraps just lying around waiting to be used--and this is what I came up with:

 I wish I had the kind of oven that I could hang these from because I want everyone to see them!  Oh wells--at least when I pull out my cookies I have two reasons to smile:)  

Here's whatcha need to make them:

5 8x8 fabric coordinating fabric squares

1 8x8 square heat resistant material (I got mine at walmart)

basic sewing notions and machine

button (optional)

1.  To start iron 4 of your 8x8 fabric squares in half, wrong sides together like so:

 2. Build your pot holder--Take your heat resistant square with the shiny side facing up.

 Put your other 8x8 fabric square on top, right side up.

 With your folded edge towards the center--start layering your box top.  Follow the pics!  Here's 1 piece:

 2 Piece:

 3 Piece:

 4 piece:

 Viola!

 3. Pin the junk out of this thing--You have a ton of layers of fabric you are working with.  Make sure it's nice and smooth.

 4.  Sew around the edges

 5. Clip the corners and turn your fabric.

 6.  Make sure to get all this corners nice and rounded and iron it for heavens sakes!  

  7. Add a button if you'd like--or not if you don't:)

 This is a GREAT beginner project so get out some scraps and make them with your kiddos!  My Mom came into town and we had a ball making them.  I know you will too!

xoxo, B

Yo-Yo's

Voila!  I just finished my mother's Christmas present!  Didn't my yo-yo Table Top turn out cute?  This is nothing new to the sewing world, but it was new to me.  I actually started it at the beginning of this year and I just finished it today....Needless to say it took me FOREVER!  But my Mom's worth it--I kind of like her;)  Ok, I like her a lot and my making this for her, and giving it away--PROVES IT!

 It matches her cute house and I'm sure she's going to love having it out year round--well, she better anyway:)

 I hand stitched each and every one of these yo-yo's and then I hand sewed them all together.  I did it row by row by row while watching ALOT of Gilmore Girls:)

Now that I see it all put together it makes me want to make one for myself:)  But it's definitely going to be one of my 'someday' projects:)  ANyway--just had to show you what I've been up to!  Hope you are having a Merry Merry Christmas!

xoxo,B

Lampshade Makeover Tutorial

So, I have allowed this ugly little lampshade to stay in our family for a very long time--too long.  In fact, my husband and I got into a little argument over this little lamp shade the last time we moved.(Ok, Ok....so it was a big argument but--obviously I won so it was worth it!)  And here's why--check out this ugly little baby......

And now look at her!    

That's what I'm talking about!  See--aren't we all glad I fought for her?  Well--I definitely am, and my girls bedroom is thanking me!  I LOVE how this turned out and it was EASY!  And even my husband said he was glad I hung onto it--even if it was for four years...It saved us having to buy a new one that wouldn't have been nearly as cute--right?  Right!  Ok--enough of my storytelling--it's just always so fun when you were right about something!  Especially since it doesn't happen very often. :)  Ha! Here's whatcha need:

Ugly Lampshade

Scissors

Paper/Cardstock to make a pattern out of

Pencil/Pen to trace

Spray Adhesive

Glue Gun

Sewing machine, thread

Fabric: However big your lampshade is--that's how much fabric--I used about 1/2 yard total

Iron

2 Sizes Double Fold Bias tape--One size bigger than the other.  I used .5in size and .25in size.  Measure your lampshade to see how many inches you'd need.

Embellishments--buttons, rosettes, fabric flowers, yo-yo's...whatever you'd like to use to make your lampshade extra pretty. (Optional)

Size 3/8 ribbon(Optional)

And here's how to do it!:

1.  I laid one side of my lampshade down onto a piece of paper(anything that's big enough really) and traced it to make a pattern.  Then I took my ruler and made the pattern .5inch bigger than the actual lampshade...this is for seam allowance.

2. Once I had my pattern cut out, I took out my cute fabric and cut out four pieces--because there are four sides to my lampshade.  

3. Take one cut out piece of fabric and put it right sides together with another cut out piece of fabric.  Stitch down one side with a 1/4in seam allowance.  Remember to iron your fabric as you go.  :) Repeat with all pieces until it looks like this:

 4.  Take your Spray Adhesive and spray one side of your lampshade.  Do this outside or somewhere you don't care getting glue everywhere!  Smooth out any wrinkles.  Take care to line up your seams with the edges of your lampshade. Also, make sure to keep about .5in of fabric sticking up at the top and bottom of your lampshade...this is important for later. Repeat with other sides of lampshade.

 5.  When you get to the last side, fold over your last piece of fabric a little to give you a nicely finished edge. Spray glue this to the final side of your lamp shade.  You may want to take your glue gun and glue down that folded piece to just to make it a little more sturdy.

 At this point, your lampshade should look something like this:

 6.  Now you are going to fold over that extra fabric at the top and bottom of your lampshade.  This is where your glue gun comes in.

 Glue down the edges to the inside of your lampshade.

 It should now look something like this:

 At this point--you could take some cute ribbon if you'd like--I took some 3/8in sized ribbon and covered the raw edges of fabric that I had just glued down.  I felt doing this gave my lampshade a less homemade look...but you can't see it from the outside.  Completely optional and up to you!

7. Take your 2 different sizes bias tape and cut to lengths that will fit around the top and bottom of your lampshade.  I made my own bias tape, but you can totally buy some at the store.  I just liked the checkered look and I couldn't find it anywhere!

 Lay the larger sized bias tape down so the flaps are facing upwards.  Then take your smaller sized bias tape so the flaps are facing downwards.

 Glue the smaller bias tape onto the larger bias tape so no flaps are showing at all.  Only the smooth sides should be visible.

 8.  Use your glue gun and glue your biased tape around the top and bottom edges of your lampshade.  When you get to the end--fold over a little piece of the bias tape to give it a finished look.  Now is the time to add any fun embellishments you had in mind.  Glue those on with your glue gun as well!  And.......

 Ta-Da!   You are finished!  I used some fun yo-yo's I'd made and some buttons I had lying around to liven mine up a bit.

 See, wasn't that easy?  Gotta love glue guns eh?

Now head over to the thrift store or go dig in your basement to find that ugly lampshade you've been meaning to makeover.  Just don't fight with your husband about it:). Enjoy! 

xoxoxo, B