Pretzel Shamrock Tutorial

Here's another one of my favorite tutorials from the old blog. I think I might have to make these tonight with the kids.

I came up with these as I was brainstorming some fun ideas for the kids to celebrate St. Patricks Day. I'll be honest... growing up, I had no idea what St. Patrick's Day was and all I cared about was making sure I was wearing green on March 17th. As long as the kids walk away with fun memories - that's all I can ask. We have read about leprechauns and talked about finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We have also talked about shamrocks and the significance of the three leaflets and why some think it to be a lucky charm. So this snack was a fun one to present to them. I did not do this with them as I wasn't looking for a chocolate and sprinkle covered kitchen - but the kids could easily help or even do this one on their own.

Materials:
Pretzels - the knots and the mini sticks (I bought mine at the dollar store)
White melting chocolate - I used CandiQuik because I had it left over from Christmas
Green sprinkles (or you could use food coloring and color the chocolate)

Step 1: Melt the chocolate (or in the case of CandiQuik - candy coating) as directed on the package. I do it in the microwave and it only takes a little over a minute. Stir it when it comes out of the microwave to evenly distribute the heat and to melt those parts that didn't melt.

Step 2: Dip three knot pretzels and one mini stick. I just did less the half the pretzel and the tip of the stick because I didn't want a huge mess. But you could dip the entire thing for a very yummy shamrock.

Step 3: Assemble them as shown in the picture with the stick in the middle making sure that as each pretzel is up against another.

Step 4: Cover with sprinkles and allow to dry (only takes 5-10 minutes depending on how much coating you have).

Super easy!

Fan Heart Shamrock Tutorial

I'm still hoping to get my other tutorials transferred over to the new blog. I figure I'll start with the St. Patty crafts. This one will still direct you to the old blog because I haven't transferred the heart tutorial yet.

This is a fun project to do with the Fan Heart Tutorial that I did last month. It's easy and fast and it would make great place holders at a dinner table or make lots of them for a centerpiece.

Materials (for clover only)

Green paper (I cut and 8.5 x 11 sheet into 4.25" x 3" pieces)
Popsicle sticks (I bought a package of colored ones at the dollar store)
Glue
Scissors

Step 1: Follow directions here for making the fan heart - make 4 (if you want a three leaf clover, you will probably need to make the hearts a little bit bigger)

Step 2: Fold the hearts in half (see picture below) and apply glue to the side of three of them.

Step 3: Stack all the three on top of each other with the glue-less one on top. I rubber band them together to hold them while they dry.

Step 4: Open it up and apply glue to the two outside ends. Put a Popsicle stick in the middle and hold closed for a minute until glue dries.

I used a small pot (found at the dollar store) and some dirt and stood it up. You can write a person's name on the stem of the shamrock or on the pot itself to use it as a place holder.

Work in Progress - Lady Gaga Hello Kitty Dress

Last year I had a little fun and replicated the Bjork swan dress. It was a lot of fun and I got a great response from it (plus, it sold). So I was looking for another challenge dress to make... and someone brought the Hello Kitty Lady Gaga dress to my attention. This was around October of last year.

So, I've been slowly working up to it. The first challenge was finding all the Hello Kittys - remember 100% recycled, so they had to be from thrift stores, garage sales, etc. Luckily I have retired parents that love to bargain hunt. They have collected nearly 40 plush Hello Kitty. We have yet to see if it's enough.

I have many more challenges ahead of me as I have now completed the base dress and one row of elastic. I thought I'd share my progress here.

This is the base dress. It has two hoops (they are removable so that the dress can be washed and shipped easily). My daughter loves the dress this way... and if I didn't have a huge pile of plush, I might have just stopped here. But I love a challenge and I want to see if I can replicate this dress.

I stitched on one layer of elastic. I originally designed this so that the kitties could be removed and played with. Of course, I'm not sure this is going to be a practical dress that anyone could ever wear.

This dress, with just one layer of plush, is very heavy. I've reinforced many of the seams up top anticipating extra weight... however, I didn't anticipate it being as heavy as it is already. So, I'll be doing some more reinforcement as I add more layers of elastic. We still have at least 3 - 4 more layers. Yikes! Thankfully they get smaller as we go up. I have a feeling this is going to be quite the display piece at my shows.

Super Simple Flower Headband from Recycled Tshirts

I have a number of flowers that I make with my recycled tshirt scraps. This is the simplest and quickest flower that I make. I like it because it's versatile (I use it on many different things) and it uses buttons!

So, I've put together a quick tutorial for the leaves, flower and an example of what you can do with it.

Materials:

• Recycled tshirt scraps (I used different shades of orange and green - using one color of green on each side also looks good)
• Thread
• Button
• Stretchy Headband (I bought mine from the dollar store)

Leaves

1. Put two pieces of tshirt scrap together with wrong sides together. I just folded this piece in half.

2. Sorry about the brightness of this one, the flash went off because obviously I sew with too little light. But I used white so that you could see the stitch. I make a curve for one side of the leaf. Then with the needle down, turn the fabric to sew the middle vein (you can also make the second stitch the outside and do the inside last, it's up to you).

3. I don't worry about making sure that the ends match up... I kind of like when they don't. Again, keep the needle down and turn the fabric for the last stitch.

4. once you finish the third stitch, you can just put the needle in the up position and move the fabric over to begin the process again. It makes it quicker when you are making a lot of leaves.

4. Cut of the threads and cut about an eighth inch from the stitches. You are done with the leaf! I make two of them for the headband.

Flower

1. Cut 4 circles from the tshirt scraps. I make my circles each a different size so that you can see each color. I also cut them freehand rather than using a template. I like the look of the not so perfect circle. You can vary the look of your flower by adding more circles, making them the same size and color, etc.

2. Stack the circles on top of each other and choose a button for the middle.

3. Stitch the button on going through the center of all the circles. You can either tie it off and your flower is done or if you are going to add it to a headband, leave the thread for the next step.

Headband

1. Stitch the headband onto the back of the flower. I make sure it only goes through the last two circles so that you don't see your stitches from the front. I also sew through the elastic headband so that it stays in place.

2. Stitch it several times and tie off the end.

3. Place the leaves along the back. I try not to run them long along the headband, otherwise the headband will be over the leaves. I also like to overlap the leaves so that I don't have to sew it more than once.

4. Starting your thread underneath so that it doesn't show, start stitching the leaves on. I do small stitches from one side to the other so that they don't show.

5. I tie off the thread, then thread it though the back of the leaves and cut it back there so I don't have thread showing on the other side. And you're done! Super simple :)

I'll be sharing another tutorial for another idea of what you can do with these flowers. The green in this project is the green from that green shirt I had posted about previously... I'll share the project the scraps came from soon!

Remaining Neutral

Just wanted to share some great etsyRAIN finds...

Work in progress

I'm still here! Unfortunately, I'm also still in my slump, but I've been forcing a little productivity. I have a few tutorials that I am working on (hopefully at least one will make it the site!). In addition to a lack of motivation, I'm also suffering from a lack of focus. Not a good combination.

There are many things on the horizon and I've done little to prepare. So I'm sure my blog posts will be sporadic in the next few weeks... or until I get my mojo back. An etsyRAIN Spring Holiday Show is in the planning phase (it's be the day after Mother's Day) which not only do I help plan, but I also vend (read: I need to sew!). I have yet to sign up for any shows this year. Yes, I have missed the deadline for many summer ones... and it doesn't really bother me. I figure it'll all work itself out, right? I really need to be more productive though because we are planning a family vacation at the end of the summer... and our extra money normally comes from my business.

Anyhow, last month I attended the etsyRAIN "holiday" party. I had the pleasure of meeting several new members, and I enjoyed the company of all the old (not in age) members that I like to call me friends. During this event, Kim of Pepo Park gave me a HUGE box of tshirts. All the same... and all green. Luckily, I like the green... and there is TONS of usable fabric on each shirt. So I thought I'd take a few of them and make a couple tutorials of things you can do with recycled tshirts.

These are the shirts and the tutorial I am working on is transforming this lovely shirt in to a cute fairy skirt. Super simple and little sewing experience needed. I'll try to have it posted in the next day or two (I'm hoping putting it here will motivate me to finish it up).

I've got to shake this "funk" I'm in. I think it's unhealthy for me, my family and my blog :) Do you ever have moments like this? What do you do to shake it? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Raindrops

My daughter's birthday party was last month. Her rainbow birthday party. And yes, we still have most of the decorations up. I figure, I went through all that time hanging it up, I might as well stretch it until St. Patick's Day. In the photo above, you also see cloud pillows (tooth fairy pillows to be exact - given to each of her friends) and gold at the end of the rainbow. These were surprise balls with their favors inside them.

But I think one of my favorite details was the rain. I made clouds with balloons and hung rain - because you can't have a rainbow without rain.

Here's what I did. I really wanted to use recycled paper - maps would have been my first choice. However, because I procrastinated so long, I didn't have time to hunt some down. So, I bought a package of index cards at the dollar store.

All you need is string, strips of index cards (mine were about an inch wide), hole punch and a stapler. Oh, and lots of staples if you are planning on making a lot of raindrops like we did.

First, you will want to punch a hole in the middle of the strips. I used my small hole punch and it seemed to work great. The size of the hole need to be big enough to string the string through it.

Well, then you string your string through the hole in one strip.

Fold it over without creasing it and staple it together with the string running between each side of paper.

I left room between each drop. Keep stringing them on until it's the length you want. Staple one last one at the end of the string to finish it off.

Soooo easy! I think it just adds that little extra detail that makes the decorations a little more special.

Muffin Tin Monday - Salad Bar

It's been a while since I have participated in Muffin Tin Monday. I use my muffin tins regularly... I just don't normally take pictures. But, I thought this one was fun and worth sharing.

We used our muffin tins for dinner this time! I made a little salad bar in the hopes of getting the kids to eat more salad. It went over great... while they didn't eat a lot of the lettuce, they at least tried it. Baby steps. They also enjoyed the other healthy choices.

Here's what I included: Broccoli, bacon bits, corn, slivered almonds, cheese, raisins, carrots, ham, bell pepper, turkey, pasta and peas.

At the end of dinner, almost all the cups were empty. Of course my husband and I had a little to do with that :)

Happy Monday!

Be sure to check out Michelle's blog Muffin Tin Mom where you can see other great ideas for muffin tins.

Kid Craft - Activia Monsters

The few weeks ago, my daughter had to come up with something that started with the letter "M". I went through all the things around the house I could think of (that would have been okay to take): monkey, money, marshmallow, etc. She shot everyone of my ideas down. So then I started just naming anything that started with "M" figuring we could figure it out... and we did. She stopped me on MONSTER!

Here's what we did. All you need is an Activia yogurt container (I peeled off the top part of the label so that it wouldn't show - the label was too hard to get off completely), construction paper, tape, glue (we used glitter glue because it seems to hold things better when they use a lot of glue), scissors, pipe cleaner, nail, markers, googly eyes, and anything else you can come up with to make your monster. We used sequins, foam stickers, colored pasta, random stickers (I would have passed on these, but she insisted), yarn and tissue paper.

What I did:

I cleaned the containers and cut the construction paper to fit around it (I just taped it in place). I chose to cover it in white so that she could decorate it on her own. Had I been making my own, I probably would have opted for a color... then I would have glued furry yarn all over. But I guess that's just me.

I also used a nail to poke two arm holes and I strung the pipe cleaner through it. Then I gave her the "blank canvas"

What she did:

She went to town! She chose some flower foam stickers which we cut in half. We sandwiched the pipe cleaner between them to make hands (see picture above). She glued on googly eyes and colored a nose. Then she covered it in random stickers. I helped her cut some yarn for the hair (I just cut about 5 pieces and tied them together in the center). She glued the yarn on top for hair. She also used some dried pasta for horns.

We made about three or four of them and sent them to school with her for show and tell. I understand they were a hit.

I also used the Activia cups to make penguins for the letter "P" - just cover with black paper instead of white. I cut wings from black and a face and tummy from white. The kids glued it all on, added googly eyes and an orange beak. I glued black and white furry yarn on top... but apparently the kids weren't interested in putting "hair" on the penguin.

I continue to save these containers as I think the possibilities are endless... and my kids love the yogurt. I think next, we'll be building a village!

Back in saddle again...

... I hope. I've gone through a long period of not feeling well, a perhaps bit of depression and just all together unproductiveness (yep, I just made up that word). It started with having all four of my molars pulled (not fun) and just spiraled from there.

But I'm back and I have tons to share. In that time I did my daughter's Rainbow birthday party, Valentines, lots of new items for my shops... and a few fun kids crafts.

Let's start with a new toy. For Christmas a good friend of mine gave me a Fabric Steam Press. She has a large one and was always telling me the time saver it would be for me. Especially since I hate ironing which I will put it off until absolutely necessary - which means it takes me long a long time to iron because projects have built up. And of course, I probably would have never bought it for myself.

So she's awesome! It's a Conair Fabric Steam Press. I read a few reviews... then decided to stop. It became evident that these reviewers were using this for something completely different than what I was going to use it for.

The reviews biggest complaint was it's size. Yep, it's small. Which is perfect for me since I currently lack space in my work area. Perhaps when I get more organized... and find more space, I can invest in a full size one, but really, the small one is all I need.

As you can see, it fits my items well. The surface is about the size of two irons give or take. I think my only complaint would be that it takes a while to heat up... but then again, I didn't really know what I was doing. It could have just been the setting I chose. I'll be playing around with it more.

I'm excited to see if this speeds up my production any. I often will let ironing (like the project above) sit for days... weeks even just because I don't want to pull out the iron and ironing board.

Etsy Saver

Not only do I sell on Etsy, I love to shop Etsy. And I love a bargain. So you can imagine my excitement when Etsy Saver came about. Rosalie Gale of Shower Art is the brains behind Etsy Saver, Unanimous Craft and Barter Sauce.

Etsy Saver is a collection of Coupon Codes offered by Etsy sellers. I've even been known to list a coupon code here and there. It's worth checking out.

Just wanted to take a moment to share this great site - and be sure to click on Rosalie's other sites, they are just as awesome! On each site she has a link so that you can follow her on FB as well. Do it!

I see rainbows in our future...

It's been settled. My daughter's birthday theme will be rainbows. We attended a crafty rainbow birthday party last month and I guess it made an impression. But she has her own idea of how it's going to go.

She has invited her entire preschool class - that's 18 kids not including ours. We have a decent size house, but it's winter in Washington, so there isn't going to be much room for overflow since we can't count on going outside.

She has requested one craft. And apparently that craft will be decorating their own party hat. I think it's a great idea - but I think we are going to go with stickers to avoid glue in a house with 20 kids and their parents.

She wants rainbow decorations and a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. A pinata, cake, and games will in there somewhere as well. She has even gone as far as telling me what gift we are giving her.

I think this is the first party in a while that I have the theme a month before the party... which is exciting. This means I get to actually do some planning. I'll share details here as I have them. I'm hoping to include lots of handmade goodies!

A new year - more ideas!

This one came while I was finishing up with a thread color and knew that the bobbin was almost gone. Rather than pull it out with just a little left, I wanted to use it up. Of course, I don't like to waste even the tiniest bit of thread (I have a bowl that I keep pieces that are long enough for hand stitching - yes, it's an illness and I'm working on it) so I decided to experiment.

I sandwiched a piece of fleece between a scrap of recycled t-shirt sleeve and started sewing. Once I ran out of thread in the bobbin (it was just enough), I cut out the shape and embellished it by hand. I had enough forethought to include a loop of elastic on one side and made it into a cuff. Obviously I was happy with the result as I now have about 8 of them made and several more in the works. I'm thinking about adding these cuffs to the NueToMe shop. They are really comfortable. I had forgotten I had tried it on and wore it for about an hour before I realized I was still wearing it.

New Year - New Items

It isn't my plan to promote much of my store's happenings on this blog... but I am hoping to clear out some inventory to make room for all my new ideas. I'm discontinuing the Feathered Headband and the old style of Antennae (I have redesigned it) in addition to closing out some older items and seconds.

This means you can get some pretty good deals in the World of Whimm shop right now (I'll be doing this with the NueToMe shop as well, I just can't do them both at the same time!).

Starting next week I'll be posting some new, fancier masks (simple masks will remain available as well)... and I'm hoping within the next few weeks to get some more wings, antennae, tails and horned headbands up as well.

Fabric Fortune Cookie Tutorial

I've made these fortune cookies from tons of different fabrics with many different techniques. Here's my current favorite (at the end I'll leave links to other techniques)

Start with a circle (I'm using fleece because it's thick and holds it's shape nicely) approximately 4" in diameter. I used a plastic tub top for my template.

Fold the circle in half and mark the center along the folded edge.

Stitch along the center where you have marked it, starting about half an inch to three quarters inch away from the circle edge.

Remove any excess threads.

Open on end of the semi-circle and fold it back toward the center stitch.

Repeat with the other side. Insert fortune into the middle (I didn't add a fortune because I wanted to be able to add it later as my daughter was still signing her Valentines).

Bring both sides together matching the edges.

Beginning on one end about three quarters of an inche from the end (so you can insert a fortune), stitch around the cookie.

And your cookie is done! Super simple and easy to mass produce. I made these for my daughter's Valentines and they were a big hit.

You can add a paper fortune or use ribbon.

This makes a great teacher gift. I made a few big fortune cookies and left the end open. I had the parents and kids write something nice about each of their teachers on small strips of paper and put them inside the cookie. They were well recieved.

Here are the links I promised...

Brassy Apple (requires ironing - which I despise... the ironing, the cookie is super cute)

Keepin It Real (same concept, using different fabrics - and more sewing)

Crafty Staci (made larger to hold gift money)