Picnic

Tin Can phones

Her childhood is now more complete.  

Tin Can Phone how-to instructions can be found here.

Little Red Riding Hood Skirt

During my first trimester, which was about as ugly as first trimesters go, I spent the majority of my time in bed and had to come up with creative ways to entertain my 4-year-old.  Fortunately, she's in school most of the day and was really sweet about spending the rest of the afternoon in bed with me.  We did a lot of reading and drawing and even a bit of acting.  She has memorized the story of Little Red Riding Hood so we started there. I laid in bed and pretended to be "grandma" and she was Little Red Riding Hood, of course.

When I saw this adorable Little Red Riding Hood linen in Apples & Eggs shop, I bought a half yard to make her this skirt to thank her for those afternoons we spent in bed.

 To Make:

1. Pre-wash the linen and iron it before starting your project.
2. Cut 2 rectangles.  The size depends on the size of your child.  I like to use a skirt from her closet as a guide.
3. Pin the two pieces right sides together and sew 1/2" seam up the two sides (short) of the skirt.
4. Press the side seams open.
5. With the skirt still inside out, press 1/4" hem along the top edge of the skirt.  Fold over again and press 1".  Stitch along the edge of the hem to create a band for the elastic.
6. I use a seam ripper to open a little section on the inside of one of the side seams.
7. Feed the elastic through the 1" hem using a large safety pin.
8. Stitch the two ends of the elastic together and hand stitch the opening closed.
9. Press and hem the bottom of the skirt.  I stitched a 3/4" double fold.

  

Snake Plushie

I've recently fallen in love with a new blog, Made by Joel.  It's a lovely craft blog published by a super talented stay at home dad from Portland.  Another highlight, he is a fellow twin parent so many of his projects include 2 variations of the same craft.  This snake craft looked like something my boys might enjoy and something I certainly would enjoy making ;o)

 

To Make:

1. Freehand draw a snake onto a piece of muslin in pencil.  Make it a little longer and wider than you'd like to accommodate for the seam allowance.
2. Fold the muslin in half and pin the fabric in place while you cut along the snake outline.
3. Cut out a few strips of various fabric scraps the width of the snake.  The length of the strips can vary.  Mine were 2-4" long.
4. Sew the fabric scraps together in a line so they run the length of your snake.
5. Press the seams open and press the ends of your strip under 1/4".
6. Top stitch the two ends of your strip to one of the muslin snake cut outs.
7. With the right sides facing each other, sew 1/4" seam allowance around the snake leaving the tail open to leave room to stuff the snake.
8. Turn the snake right side out and stuff with poly or bamboo fill.
9. Using black embroidery thread, make a little stitch for the eyes and knot it off.
10. Braid a piece of yellow embroidery thread, knot it at the end and cut the middle string to leave just 2 threads for the end of the tongue.  Stitch the tongue onto the end of the snake.
11. Top stitch the tail closed using a triangular pattern.
12. Fray the edge of the tail.

   

 

Cards

I love the hand screen printed fabrics by Summersville but when you order you only get a small 9-1/2" x 14" piece of fabric. I had to come up with a tiny craft idea to put this fun "totem" print to good use.

I decided my first project would be a set of note cards.

To Make:

1. Cut out various images from the Summersville fabric.
2. Adhere to folded note cards with glue. I like to use Yes! paste.
3. Stamp your message onto the card with alphabet stamps.

 

This bead organizer is a perfect way to store an alphabet stamp collection. 

  

 

Burp Cloths

I'm hoping for a couple more non-spit-uppy babies like my first born but I think I will hope for the best and prepare for the worst since there won't be any free time to prepare for anything after the babies arrive.

A set of these easy-to-make burp cloths make a lovely gift for an expectant mother too.  If you are expecting twins, you just keep the whole batch for yourself ;o)

  To Make:

1. Buy a pack of cloth diapers.  I bought my 12-pack at Babies R Us for $15.
2. Wash and dry the diapers and fabric scraps.
3. After you pre-shrink the diapers, measure the rectangular panel in the center of the diaper.  Mine was 17.5" x 4".  
4. Add 1/2" seam allowance to your measurement.  Mine would then be 18.5" x 5".
5. Cut panels (18.5 x 5) from scrap fabric.
6. Press 1/2" seam allowance toward the wrong side of the fabric on all 4 sides.
7. Pin the panel onto the diaper and top stitch it into place.

 

Linen Blocks

Homemade toys are the best!  I may be coming full circle with this one since a friend recently told me a story about her aunt growing up with only one toy, a doll, that she had made herself.  It was meant to be a "I had to walk uphill both ways to school when I was your age..." tale.  I hope my children take pride in their homemade toys.

One of my favorite children's books is Joseph Had A Little Overcoat. It's all about making something out of nothing. A good lesson for our "green generation" of children.  

 

To make:

1. Find a couple complementing combos of scrap fabric.
2. Cut 6 4-1/2" squares from each piece of fabric.
3. Pin and sew 4 squares together using a running stitch, starting 1/2" from the top and ending 1/2" from the bottom. This creates the 4 sides of the block.
4. Pin and sew the top onto the block using a running stitch.  The 1/2" seam allowance you left on the sides will make this much easier.
5. Pin and sew the bottom into place leaving one side open.
6. Stuff with poly-fill or bamboo-filling.
7. I hand-stitched a blanket stitch closure.  You can also use your machine to top-stitch the opening closed.

   

Changing Table Entertainment

It seems inevitable that a time comes where your kid refuses to use the potty but absolutely HATES getting their diaper changed.  My solution... this little "fun pocket surprise" system that I will hang conveniently above the boy's changing table.   Once they hit two, I may need to up the ante a little and throw some jelly beans into those pockets instead of chew toys.

 

To make:

1. Using a bold enlarged font, print the numbers out onto regular white paper.
2. Tape the numbers onto a cutting mat.
3. Tape a piece of freezer paper over the numbers.
4. Using the bold numbers as your outline, cut out the numbers from the freezer paper using an X-acto knife.
5. Cut 10 small rectangles from a piece of felt.  The size is up to you.
6. Using a hot iron, iron the freezer paper numbers onto the ten pockets.  The freezer paper will be your stencil.
7. Using acrylic paint, stencil the numbers onto the felt.
8. Let the paint dry completely before peeling the freezer paper away.
9. Cut a big rectangle of felt.  Again, the size is up to you but it needs to be large enough to accommodate the 10 pockets.
10. Fold the top edge under and top-stitch a 1-1/2" seam along the top.  This will be where you slide the 1/2" wooden dowel through so you can hang it.
11. Position the pockets around the rest of the large felt panel and pin into place.
12. Top stitch each pocket onto the panel leaving the top edge open.
13. Attach a string to each side of the dowel.
14. Hang.

Braided Headband

I decided to make a little something for myself, a braided headband.  I never do that and I feel especially deserving at this time.

 

The instructions for how to make this can be found on one of my favorite blogs, Cakies.

 

I think having my hair pulled back makes me look a little thinner and I need all the help I can get right now.  Trust me.  Twins really does mean twice as big.
 
 

 

Angel Wings

The dress up bin in our house continues to provide seemingly endless entertainment.  I'm happy to contribute as much as possible to encourage this magical period of youth.  

 

To make:

1. Freehand draw half an angel wing on a large piece of paper and cut it out.  This is your pattern.
2. Fold a piece of fabric in half, right sides facing each other.
3. Trace the pattern onto the wrong wide of the fabric and then flip the pattern over to draw the second half.
4. Cut out (2 layers) and pin.
5. Cut 2- 14" pieces of twill tape (for the straps).
6. Pin the ends of the twill tape to the center of the wings, top and bottom.  The extra tape should be stuffed between the two layers.
7. Sew 3/8" seam around entire wing set leaving a 5" opening on one side.
8. Turn right side out.  Your straps should now be on the outside of the wing set.
9. Stuff the wings with Poly fill.  Or splurge with bamboo stuffing.
10. Top stitch the 5" opening closed.

  

Next up, a viper costume for my 2-year-old nephew who loves to reenact the story of the viper who comes to vash and vipe your vindows.  It is hilarious!
 

The Bracelet Shop

On Saturday, the weather was cold outside and the day seemed just as good a day as any to teach the little ones a thing or two about commerce.  They were intrigued and enthusiastic about opening up a "beaded bracelet shop."

Step one:  Put them to work making the inventory.  Beads and pipe cleaners needed.

Step two:  Display, a critical part of the shop process.  The colorful beads contrasted well against the charcoal gray lounge chair so we set up shop there.

Step three:  Draw in customers by yelling, "Mommy...Daddy....come buy our bracelets."

Step four:  Work in a few simple math problems to see if they can figure it out.  4 bracelets at $1 each = $4.  There are two of you so if you split it equally, how much do each of you get?

 

They were quite pleased with themselves once it was all said and done.  And I am the proud new owner of four new beaded bracelets.