Sweater 2 Shrug

My friends little girl was competing in a local Little Miss pageant recently. Well the dress code was church attire and she found her the cutest dress but not exactly church attire.So we headed to the thrift store in hopes to find a shrug or a shirt that would work under the dress. We didn't find them but we did find this beauty for $1.00
We knew for $1.00 we could make something work. I started by having her try it on and marked the length that we wanted. Keep in mind the hem, and cut off the bottom. Next fold your sweater in half and mark the middle of the front where you will want to cut it.I grabbed a washable marker to draw my line where I would round the edges. Then once that piece is cut off flip it onto the other side and mark it and cut. All that is left is to press and sew! Super easy and quick! What do you think?What do you think of the side by side? Left Not perfect for and 8 year old right Perfect for a Little Miss Princess!                                   This was so easy and the sweater will look cute over any t-shirt too!
~Kori

Kids Art Shirt

Okay this is the last of the Kids Art posts. I should have made this before the Kids Art but i wasn’t thinking and to be honest i think my son had more fun getting covered in paint then actually painting. Anyways Kori and I ran to a thrift store a couple weeks ago and i bought this shirt. My son wears a 2t and i bought a 4t. Its big but not to big. I added an “I” on the back and some pockets. I’m a lil embarrassed to show you my sewing skills but lets be honest we all know you’re browsing the blog world just to get ideas. At least i hope you don't take my skills(if you can call them that ha ha) and do the same thing.

I had bought some material a long time ago so i just used that. I know this shirt is going to be covered in paint and markers and glue so i didn't want to spend a lot.

I just printed an “I” on a piece of paper and used that as a guide

I just laid the material on the outside and sewed around the edges. It looks rough and like a 3 year old sewed it but hey it works and it will look so cute on my little guy.

I hope my sons shirt that took me a total of what 5 min to make gives you some good ideas on what NOT to do. I would love to hear how you would decorate an art shirt. Maybe give me some better ideas for the next one!
-Tara

♣ Pinch Proof ♣

Have you noticed the fun bleach t-shirts that are out in blogger land? Well I have and I have been Dying to try them! So with the up coming pinching holiday in store, Miss A needed a Pinch Proof ensemble! Of course I had to add a little clover too, just to spice it up!

Items Needed:

• Bleach Pen ( The dollar store even has them!)
• T- Shirt
• Fabric
• Wonder Under

To start out you will want to write on your shirt with your bleach pen, I choose lucky in hopes that Miss A could wear it for more then just St. Patty’s Day. I also was thinking “Pinch Proof” and “Pinch me, I double dare you” were fun to! I grabbed a washable marker and wrote out Lucky on my shirt so I could draw over it with the bleach pen.As you can see the K got a little too much bleach, beginner mistake!While your Bleach is taking action work on your wonder under clover. Simply iron on the wonder under to the back of your material (if you haven't ever used it, you will love it!). Then draw your pattern on and cut out!  Once you are done with the wonder under go wash out your bleach. I washed my shirt after this also and when it comes out of the dryer it is time to finish up! Simply iron on your clover on and you can stitch around it (I have heard you don't have to but I like extra insurance!).   Then sit back and enjoy your completely custom new “Lucky” Shirt! I also couldn't resist and had to make a few hair clips to add to the pig tails!

For future bleach shirts I will make sure it all goes on even and stays on the same amount of time. I have some more fun things in store with these, your gonna have to stick around and see!!

~Enjoy, Kori

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Self Binding Blanket

Another sewing tutorial!!! Well I didn't get any hate mail or confused readers out there so I thought I would give you another super easy tutorial, I even tried it out on my non-sewing friend and she understood me (or pretended well;)!  A few years ago Tara & I were at a local fabric shop we were both pregnant and asked the lady how she made this cute baby blanket. Well she explained it to us and I HAD to race home and try it before it slipped from my brain! That was many, many, self binding blankets ago.
Items Needed:

• Fabric: 1 30” piece (this will be your front make it the fun pattern) and 1 40” piece (this will make up your back side and your edged on the front)
• Sewing Machine
• pins
• thread

To start off you need your 30” & 40” to be squared. TO do this fold them over into a triangle and then cut off the excess. After you have your 2 squares you will need to find the center of each side on both pieces to do that simply fold them in half and I put a pin to remember, do this for all 8 sides.  Next you are going to match up your pins. Take your fabric and face it so the print is face to face then take the 2 pins and match them up and pin them just like that.Now you are going to sew each side I placed the edges of the first side and made sure it was smooth from the middle (where the pins are, at the bottom of the picture) and sewed a straight line. Do this for all 4 sides and remember to stop at each corner and re-straighten it you will have a bunny ear looking piece on each corner and that is totally normal! When you get to the last side leave a spot so that you can flip it right side out!Next up it is time for the corners, the hard part! To do this you will take the hem on 2 sides at the corner and match them up to make another triangle. Them simple place them on the sewing machine like the picture and sew a straight line.  Then before you cut off your excess material on the corner I like to turn the blanket right side out just to make sure I didn't mess up!! (Yes I have MANY times!)All that is left is my least favorite part stitch up the opening! TADA At this stage you can either leave it as is or you can add a decorative stitch. I added a little x pattern on the inside. Did we all survive another sewing time with me? If not we love hearing from you so please let me know. Oh and we CANT Wait for Tomorrow its going to be fun!!!

~Enjoy, Kori

Happy Napping

  Pillow Pets, I know they are all the craze now days with kids and I am sure you have seen them here and there (if not what cave are you hiding in and can we join you!!).  Well if you have seen them you probably have looked at the price tag…$20 Bucks! Ouch, so not in my budget for a pillow with a head! Here is a picture, just to make sure we are on the same page! So that got me thinking, why not make one. I will give you a warning, I am NOT a great sewer by any means (My husband had to teach me how to thread my machine!) and I make my own patterns (I am totally not qualified to read patterns!). But I love my machine and have a good time attempting to share my little skills! SO if your in for an adventure… here we go!
Items Needed:

• Large Stuffed animal
• Fabric (for the pillow)
• Sewing Machine
• Strong stomach, it is hard to cut those little guys up ;)

First of all you need a large stuff animal. If you are like me and do not own any the the thrift stores are calling your name! I picked up these two bears for $3.00 buck (Score!) I started with my piece for my pillow, Mine was 21x17 it looked good to me!Next up is the part that if you have a squeamish stomach or love for the stuffed animals turn away! You are going to cut that poor little guy right up the middle. All I could think of as I was doing this was the cute little voices in Toy Story and I felt like Sid for a minute! I had to keep assuring myself I was giving her a new home and life!                   Once you have all the stuffing pulled out (makes it much easier to sew.) You are going to cut off the arms and legs and tail. Then start by pinning the head to the pillow inside.
    
I wanted my head to be stuffed with the pet so I sewed around the inside of the head to the pillow.
After the head is sewn on I sewed down both sides of the top. Then come the fun part of pinning. Place your feet(if you want them) where you would like them and pin all the sides. All that is left is to sew around the pillow. Remember to leave a place so you can flip her right side out. Here is a picture of what it looked like before I sewed all the sides all the bear part that is showing is what will be on the inside All sewn and ready for her cream filling or stuffing! I would like to introduce you to Patty the Pet Pillow! I added a bow because Miss A needed a girl pillow pet! For a little boy you could add a cute baseball cap or tie! I added a few Velcro dots to her inside belly and now she is ready to go to Miss A for a happy little nap!! So what do you think about my 1st sewing tutorial? Did I pass? If I missed any step or you have questions please ask! We love hearing from all of you! How great would these be for last minute Valentine Presents or Friend Birthday, for under $4.00 I was able to make Patty!
~Enjoy, Kori

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Beaded Necklace

As Tara & I  thought about the best way to say goodbye to the first month in the new year, we thought what better way then adding some new jewelry to your wardrobe. If you are like me your budget for jewelry is close to last on the list!! Don't get me wrong I would love to have the funds to buy some fun sparkles. But I also have a 17 month old that still tugs and chews on all of my necklaces, this one Baby Proof!!
As promised I have made a beaded necklace tutorial for you. I know there are a few different tutorials out there for beaded necklace, Blue Cricket Design has a nice one. Well here is mine to add to the group!
Items Needed:

• Fabric ( I bought 1/8th yard of each color to maximize my choices!)
• Beads (you can also use marbles or left over mini ornaments)
• Sewing Machine (If you don't have one not a problem, hand stitch or glue!)
• Ribbon
• Embellishments (The fun part of every project!) First up you need to cut your material. I took my fabric and rolled it over the bead and added enough room for a 1/4” hem. It will depend on the size of you bead for this step.  For the length I kept it the width of the bolt which was 48”.  Next up you will fold your material right side in so you sew a blind hem. I like to add a safety pin on the inside and on the end this way you can thread it through, it will save you a lot of time when flipping it right side out!Then sew I doubled my hem just because I wanted to make sure it was extra secure! If you don't have a sewing machine, you can hand stitch or use glue on this part.Once you flip your material right side out time to add the beads. Start with where you want your end I left about 2” and knotted added a bead then knotted again, do this until you have your desired length  After you get your length its time to finish up, you can use ribbon or fabric or even rope. I used another piece of fabric (gotta love scraps!) I measured how long I wanted it to sit and cut my brown piece to fit.

Then you are going to tuck the brown into the necklace and sew right across the seam. There you have a new fashionable necklace for under a dollar! You can add some rolled flowers, or beads or bows to the seam but I like this one just plain What do you think?~Enjoy, Kori