The numbers....

On Sunday N8 & I spent
hours at the hospital. I had steady contractions 2-3 minutes apart the majority of that time, but no baby yet.

It got me thinking about the numbers.

We havedays until my wonderful sister comes to stay with us to help out when the new man makes his arrival.

We havedays until baby boy is here (unless it happens sooner! But I'm being induced on the 9th, so no later than that!).

And we havedays until school starts!!

With everything creeping up quickly, I've been trying to get the random things done around the house while trying to stay somewhat cool. I've been able to finish a few more unfinished projects.

I started a car mat as part of the monthly craft group I go to. It was a good project to work on while watching Food Network & HGTV!

I also had file folder games from our group. I now have 6 colored and 3 totally completed. I decided to do them slightly differently and cut my file folders in 1/2. I did them on the front and back. This way I could laminate them at home with my own laminater and not spend the $$ to do it somewhere else.

I've also been eying different nursing covers and found on I wanted to try and make. This one is from Scraps N' Strings. I'm happy with how it turned out. The only challenge will be remembering to bring it with my places. The other 3 kids never would put up with being covered up. We'll see if this one will!

There was also one last blanket I wanted to make. I had found this fabric while I was in Phoenix. I love the colors and am happy with how it turned out.

Now I'm trying to stay up on things around the house, not let the kids drive each other crazy and stay cool!

It's hard to tell, but this picture was taken during the one random monsoon"ish" storm we've had. It is actually raining on N8 and the kids!

Using up my scraps...

With all of my sewing project I always end up with scraps. My sister passed on a link to a tutorial that i thought would be a great use for some of my scraps. Over at Make It and Love It there is a tutorial for a diaper & wipes case/cover. I gave it a shot, and here are my results.

Here is the first diaper case I made (I followed the given size and decided it was HUGE for a newborn. Mo's big diapers have tons of room).


So, I decided to make another smaller version that fits a newborn size diaper (and a size 1) just right. I also matched the wipes case to this cover:

Instead of Velcro I opted for snaps.

While I was checking out other links on this site I came across a Toddler Bag handle and gave it a try too. I didn't use any fusible web, I just tucked a piece of felt in the handle end. Hopefully this will help Mo stay with me when I can't hold his hand.


Lastly, I had a few strips of coordinating fabric and decided to put together another simple blanket for the little guy. While in Phoenix I had picked up the coordinating backing fabric.


I still have tons of scraps. I could make a few dozen more toddler bag handles and diapers and wipes covers but I'll probably stop where I'm at!

Summer projects...

Summer is in full swing and I've been trying to get some things done here before the real heat sets in!!

First, my mom is redoing some of the pictures that are up in her house and is now going to have a "grandkid" wall. So we needed to take a nice recent picture of the kids. On Sunday morning we headed out front to take our shots.



We also started swimming lessons. Bud and Emma are both in the same class and have been doing a good job. I think they've both improved a lot and I hope that more swimming throughout the rest of the summer will progress them even further. Mo gets to play in the wading pool during their lessons and is enjoying some water time.





I've also been working on a few projects myself. For sewing, I finished a blanket for the new little man and used a piece of the extra fabric to make a small "changing pad". I sewed a piece of shower curtain (they have them at the dollartree!) in the middle to make it "leak proof"!!

I've also been trying out more "applique". I found some terry cloth at Walmart and thought I'd give bibs a try. I'm very happy with how these turned out:


My latest project is on that I've been wanting to get done for a while. I apologize for those that were interested in doing it with me. I decided to start it and just couldn't stop! I'm very happy with how or "tree hands" turned out and the kids had a lot of fun helping get them put together. I decided to add their names in vinyl and a quote above to tie it all together.



(Them empty frame will get filled in August when our little guy joins the family)
Here's where you can find the original idea and instructions: At Second Street
I used flat canvas that came in a pack of 3 from Joanns (don't forget our 40% coupon). I painted them tan. I used 3 different green fabrics for the leaves and a brown one for the hands. It all got modge podged down and sat overnight to dry. I purchased frames at Walmart and took the glass out.

Yesterday I found another neat project that I think I might have to try. Have you every done any quilling? I haven't, but this looks so neat!! What an awesome gift it would make!
Check it out here: Craftasical

Craft: Bibs with Tie Applique

So, I decided to try a making a bib with a necktie applique on it. I happened to have a pack of inexpensive terry cloth/vinyl backed bibs. I got the pack of 13 for $5. Here's how it turned out.

A few tips/concerns~
~If you happen to use the vinyl backed bibs, be careful with ironing on the fabric/wonder-under. Mine got a little melted, but is still ok.

~Be sure to measure your bib and tie to see if it will fit ok.
~Pick a fabric that will easily wash up with the bib.

Craft: Onesies with Tie Applique

I figured I should start making some fun things for this baby of mine and have been seeing these popping up all over the place. I have TONS of scrap fabric and had some little onesies sitting around. I used this tutorial: Inspiration for Crafting: Necktie Onesie Free Pattern

They're super cute, but super easy to do too! My kind of craft, especially when I only want to devote 15 or 20 minutes to a craft!


Hopefully my sewing skills will continue to improve as I make a few more. I also want to try putting a few onto bibs! We'll see.
A few tips~
I used newborn onesies and still did the 3-6 month tie. I think size-wise it still looks good.
I cut my fabric, then my wonder-under, then ironed them together rather than ironing a larger piece of fabric to the wonder under.
I used a 3 inch wide scrap of fabric, you really don't need much!
On one I zigzagged around the knot and tie twice, the other once. I think both will hold up fine.

Kit Crafting....

I've been in a little crafting slump lately but this week I did two different crafts that were fun, but basically came from kits. The first is for my mom for Mother's Day (sorry mom if you're reading this and getting a preview!). I'm not even sure how I came upon it, but thought it was the perfect gift. I found it here at My Family Tree @ Etsy.

I don't have the best handwriting and was going to have someone else do the writing for me, but ended up using vinyl. I did my parents, siblings & nieces/nephews. Now I just need to get a frame and mail it off!!

My other craft is a birthday banner! I gave my paper choices to Ashley and she cut all of the pieces out, then I assembled.

I'm really happy with how it turned out. She got the ideas from here: emmie cakes. If I were serving in YW I might just have to order her YW Values banner!
What I've been working on the most is our bedroom rearranging. It's been tough and taking longer than I want it too! I hope by this weekend to be at the point of painting Buds new room. All of my craft stuff has now been relocated to the master bedroom. I'm still working on where it's all going to go.

After that's done I really hope to make a few of these from Crap I've Made:
Click on the picture for the tutorial!

I love...

• Family
  
• Baking
• Crafting

This weekend my sister and her family popped in for Friday afternoon and Saturday! We always have such a great time visiting and playing games. Here are the adults and teens during a brief break from playing nerts!! The kids were enjoying a movie.
We had so much fun that this was only one of 3 pictures I took this weekend. The other two were of food!!

I love finding fun simple new recipes to try out, especially when they're for dessert!! I recently subscribed to Southern Living
I obviously don't live in the South, but I enjoy the decorating ideas and there are some really yummy recipes!! This one is for Banana Bread Cobbler!! It is super duper yummy and easy to make!!

Ingredients for batter

• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 4 medium-size ripe bananas, sliced
• Streusel Topping
• Vanilla ice cream

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°. Whisk together flour and next 2 ingredients just until blended; whisk in melted butter. Pour batter into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Top with banana slices, and sprinkle with Streusel Topping.

Ingredients for Struesel

• 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup self-rising flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup uncooked regular oats
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Stir together brown sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly, using a fork. Stir in oats and pecans.

Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve with ice cream.
(I left out the pecans and used 1 1/2 cups of oats)

Crafting is an outlet for me. I'm not very good at sewing, but I enjoy it. I enjoy starting a project and finishing it. Most of the crafts I do are not time consuming, so I see a quick result!
Recently a friend of mine saw the pictures of one of the car seat canopy's and asked if I wanted to try selling them at her hair salon. I decided to give it a shot! It gives my an excuse to find super cute fabric and sew more!! I also decided to make a nursing cover attachment. That way you can just clip your car seat canopy on and keep your self covered up while nursing. It's just a ribbon with 2 suspender clips sewn on either end.

Another iron-on transfer idea...

Here's another use for iron-on transfers:

It helps if you don't iron it on upside-down!! Oh well!! Maybe next time ;)!

Baby gift: Iron-on transfers

This week I have discovered the joys of iron-on transfers. I have never used them before and have been really happy with the results I have gotten. I thought I would share part of a baby gift (that hasn't been given yet!). So Roxy, if you're reading this, it's coming tomorrow with dinner! It's a simple, personal, and unique baby gift!

I used Scrapbook Factory to do the design work.
And I used Avery T-Shirt Transfers:
And 2 Gerber Long Sleeve Onesies:
And here's the results! I think they turned out pretty darn cute!

And since she had a girl she get's this Car Seat Canopy!!

Another friend has asked me to make a couple more onesies for a baby shower she has. They're for a little boy. Here are the designs for those!