Felt Doughnut

Once again....felt....ugh!!!

A doughnut???  Seriously???

This project was provided by Cindy Hopper at http://www.skiptomylou.org/.

Crayon Roll

I have been AWOL for way too long and now I am left with just under 2 months to complete the remaining half of the projects...so I guess I better get to work.

This little crayon roll is such a cute little project.  What a great invention.  Instead of counting on a restaurant to provide your little ones with enough crayons to keep them entertained throughout the meal...just bring your own.

This project was provided by Cindy Hopper at www.skiptomylou.org.

Jam Jar Topper

Ugh!!  Another stupid, pointless, waist-of-time, FELT project.  I am getting really frustrated with these kindergarten craft projects. (Wait until you see the donut and the ice cream cone!) 

This project was provided by Amy Adams at http://www.lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com/.

Cloth Baby Shoes

How adorable are these?  These are such a fun gift to make!  In fact, I saw this project on the Michael Miller blog over a year ago and made shoes for my nephews in their dad's favorite baseball and football team fabrics.  They are pretty quick and easy!  Imagine the possibilities.  You could make a pair of shoes for every outfit, every occassion or maybe just make a pair for each day of the week.

This project was provided by Joanna Armour/Michael Miller Fabrics at http://www.stardustshoes.blogspot.com/ and http://www.makingitfun.blogspot.com/.

The Elle Tie-On Slippers

Honestly, I am embarrassed to even post this blog.  These have to be the dumbest things I have ever made.  Dumber than some of the stupid felt kid toys.  Seriously?!?  Who would wear these?  Seriously!

This project was provided by Lisa Ancarrow-Maltby at http://www.tissupapers.blogspot.com/.

Kidlet Hooded Towel

I can sum this one up in three words...quick, easy and fun!  (I apologize for my model, but I don't have a little tot running around to pose for these pictures...so I had to improvise!)

I know, I know, I probably use those words a little too often to describe so many of these projects.  But, it's true.  When I started this journey, I was so excited to learn new sewing techniques and really expand my horizons.  I am hoping as we get closer to the end, these projects will truly become more challenging.  I wouldn't quite say that I am disappointed, but I am definitely not inspired.  Maybe I am just experiencing a mid-challenge crisis and the best is yet to come!  Let's hope!

This project was provided by Melissa Esplin of IS.LY at http://www.melissaesplin.com/.

Fabric Flower Brooch

This project, so far, has had the most vague directions!!!  I read the instructions and then I read them again and then again and then I finally had to form a committee (committee = my mom and I) to discuss the possibilites of how to form these flowers.  Finally, after several hours of intense thought and discussion (might be a little overdramatic here), we figured it out.  Once I got past that challenge, these were very quick to make.  I don't know what I am going to do with it, since I don't ever wear a brooch.  Maybe I will attach it to a purse.  Hmmmmmmm...


This project was provided by Solveig Petch at http://www.madebypetchy.com/.

Fabric Bookmark

Finally, I have come across a project for something I can actually use.  I love to read.  I probably have over 100 paperback books in my house, but not one bookmark.  Usually, I use junk mail.  So, I am so excited to not only have my very own bookmark (how sad is it that I get excited over having something that I can buy at the store for less than $1?), but to have my very own personalized bookmark.  I was going to paint my initial and applique something else, but the fabric I chose as the back didn't work with the paint I have.  So, I appiqued my initial instead.  Very quick project, and fun as well since you get to design it exactly as you want it.  What a great gift!!!


This project was provided by Kathy Mack of Pink Chalk Studio at http://www.pinkchalkstudio.com/.

Bunny Baby

All I can say here is ....  SERIOUSLY?!?!?






This project was provided by Jana P. Nielson at http://www.lolaagain.blogspot.com/ and http://www.gracielous.com/.

Bunny Pocket Pillow

Another pocket pillow?  Why is the crafting world obsessed with creating all these little projects with a pocket?  Do the crafters have all these little trinkets lying around with no place to put them?  And if I don't have that problem...does that mean I am not a true crafter?  Is pocket loving a prerequisite?  I sure hope not, or I am going to have to find a new hobby. 


Anyway, I guess this pillow isn't all that bad.  And by "isn't all that bad"...I mean it would be better without the pocket and the stupid little bunny doll. (Sorry to the creator of this pattern...I just can't get on board with the doll.)  It was very quick and easy to make (except for the bunny...since it is so small, I missed a couple of spots when sewing the front and back together and ended up with a few open seams).  I think I will toss the bunny now that I have the picture I need and just keep the pillow.  I guess I should start working on my trinket collection though...it's only April and I already have a dozen pockets to fill!!!


This project was provided by Missy Ballance at http://www.craftycarnival.com/.

Robot Doll Pocket Pillow

Ugh!!  Another pocket pillow!!  These are cute and all, but what am I going to do with these pocket pillows.  I don't have any idea what to use them for.  No kids...so no need for a tooth fairy pillow (plus, I already have a tooth fairy pillow that I don't need).  I hate giving gift cards, so that won't work.  And these aren't nearly big enough to hold the piles and piles of extra money laying around the house that needs a place to be stored...(don't I wish).  But, I made it anyway.


I made my robot pink and purple, because we all know robots must really be girls.  Aren't robots super smart, organized and focused?  And did I mention super smart?  Plus, if one part of their internal makeup is out of place, they just can't get through the day without a few malfunctions.  GIRL!!!  I think she turned out pretty cute!!  Maybe I will turn her into a Christmas ornament.


This project was provided by Lauren Brandy at http://goodygoody.typepad.com/.

Snuggly Ribbon Blanket

I was kind of excited when I saw this project.  This one is not actually new to me.  I have made these before for friends and family when there is a new baby on the way.  So, a challenge...this was not.  But, what great timing.  A friend of mine recently had twins..a boy and a girl.  Hence, I immediately knew who I could make these for.  I wanted to embroider their names on the minky side of the blankets, but as I said last week...I am reorganizing my sewing room and can't get to the embroidery machine right now.  Maybe next time.  I wanted to make them different, but the same (since they are twins and all)...so I used the same front piece of fabric that works for boys or girls and backed one with a blue minky dot and the other with a pink minky dot.  I also used some of the same ribbons for both...but added more blue ribbons on the boy blanket and more pink ribbons on the girl blanket.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  This really is not a complicated project to put together, but can be a little time consuming when cutting out, pinning the ribbons and basting the ribbons.  Still, it didn't take that long.  Plus, I know my nephews and cousins loved these.  It is just the perfect size for an infant to cuddle with and all the ribbons make it easy for the baby to grab on to the blanket...you know, since they are still figuring out how their hands work.

This project was provided by Sarah Mikkelsen at http://www.themikkelsens.net/sarah/journal/.

Bow Tie Hair Clips

This was, so far, the easiest challenge yet.  Literally took 10 minutes!!  The problem is, the only person that I know that wears these type of hair clips is my mom and I know she won't wear them with a cute little bow on them.  (Even though she did humor me and wear it all afternoon today.) My hair is way to thin for one of these things to contain it and my one and only niece is a bit too old to wear something like this.  So, I only made one to get a picture of it.  Now, sadly it will sit in a drawer for months to come until I finally clean that drawer out and toss it.  But, for those of you with little girls in your life who do wear cute hair accessories...what a cheap and easy way to make them a unique and adorable gift!!


This project was provided by Lauren Brandy at http://goodygoody.typepad.com/.

Sewn Invitations

So there I was, all dressed up, ready to party and no place to invite you to.  And by all dressed up, I mean chilling at home in my oh-so-comfy yoga pants, an oversized "Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU" T-shirt and hot pink slippers that don't match anything else I have on.  And by ready to party, I mean popcorn is popped, the blanket is calling my name and the DVR is full and ready to entertain.  But, I digress.


Over the last few years, I have watched the scrapbooking movement grow and grow and almost take over some of the craft stores in our area.  I refused to join in this hobby.  As you can see from the last post, I have a room full of fabric and sewing supplies...I certainly don't need another room full of paper and scrapbooking supplies.  However, I do like that this mixes the two together.  Some scrapbooking and some sewing.  I probably wouldn't make a stack of invitations this way, but for this one invite...it was a fun and different project from what I am used to. (Except for the sewn valentines card I made a few weeks ago) 


It wasn't difficult by any means...but it was a little time consuming.  Cutting out the designs from the fabric...interfacing the fabric pieces...the gluing and the sewing.  Not that this took an hour, but if I was making twenty or thirty birthday invitaions or worse....like wedding invitations....I could see this becoming an all day affair.  For those of you who aspire to achieve that goal, cheers to you!!  I shall have a drink in your honor.


This project was provided by Kathy Beymer at http://www.merrimentdesign.com/.

Tooth Fairy Pillow

This is such a great project to make for any little tyke who is frequently being visited by the tooth fairy!! It is pretty quick to make and very easy. The pocket is the perfect size for either a baby tooth or money left by Little Miss Tooth Fairy. I used a small strip of ribbon so you can hang the pillow on the door or the bedpost, but you could also make this pillow without the ribbon...so you can tuck it under your pillow. I did change the tooth a bit from the original project sheet. I am the child of two dentists, so they helped me perfect the tooth shape. My nephews are a little young to need one of these, but when the time comes...I imagine they will each get one.

This project was provided by Missy Ballance at http://www.craftycarnival.com/.

Pacifier Pouch

I have four nephews, one niece and another niece or nephew on the way. I can't speak for the one that is still in the oven, but as far as I know...out of the five of them, only one has taken a pacifier. To Connor, his binkie is just as important as food or water or even air. It is borderline criminal to leave home without it. So, when I saw this project I immediately thought of Connor. I decided to make him two pouches, one for mom and dad to carry and one for Connor to carry. Picking out fabric for Connor's pouch was a piece of cake...there are really only three possible choices. Should I use Elmo, Elmo or Elmo??? I also added a clip on Connor's so he can clip it to a belt loop. For his parents, I figured theirs should go with the diaper bag...so luckily I had a few scraps of Chief's fabric. Both of the pouches are lined in solid color fabric with iron on vinyl. This was pretty easy to make. Start to finish, I think I spent about 45 minutes making both of them.

This project was provided by Jana P. Nielson at http://www.lolaagain.blogspot.com/.

Patchwork Drawstring Bag

Anytime I approach a project, I like to have a use in mind before picking out my fabrics. My first thought on this bag was that it would be big enough to stick a few pairs of flip flops in and toss it in my suitcase when traveling. So, I started picking out fabrics that would match my suitcases. Then, once I actually read the project sheet, I realized the only shoes this bag would hold would be doll shoes. Finished, this drawstring bag is 8" x 8". My feet aren't nearly that small. So, I put the brown and turquoise fabrics back and started over. What could I possibly do with such a small bag? I finally realized this bag would be the perfect size to carry all my computer cords. Perfect!! Hopefully I won't have the frustration of all these cords in my tote bag that unravel and get in the way every time I take the laptop out or try to put the laptop back. Now the power cord, the camera cord, the iPod cord and the phone cord will be tucked away in this cute little bag. It was very easy to make. In fact, the most time consuming steps where cutting out the fabrics and patchworking the front and back. The actual bag itself took about 20 minutes to put together. I might have to make one to match each one of my totebags.

This project was provided by Ayumi Takahashi, Pink Penguin at http://www.ayumills.blogspot.com/.

Heart Window Mobile

Ugh! I was not very excited about this project, but this is a challenge...not the easy road. So, I marched up that proverbial hill barefoot in the snow (both ways...right dad?) and got it done. To know me is to know that I don't like heart shaped things, so to have to cut out and string up 42 hearts was not my idea of a good time. Perhaps, I should have made a shamrock window mobile instead. But, the project was a heart shaped mobile...not a shamrock mobile. I suppose for the right person this could be the ideal project. It would make a great decoration for a little girls room or even just when adding a little flare for Valentine's Day. It was not difficult to make...cut out some shapes, string them up and attach them to the bar. Voila! You have a homemade window mobile. If you are a fan of hearts, you might give this one a try.

This project was provided by Katrin Vorbeck at http://www.sew-mad.blogspot.com/.

Heartfelt Quilt Card

My Valentine from George

I'll be honest...when I first saw this project, I thought it seemed a little ridiculous. Then, on Monday, I was at my brother's house and my adorable 3 year old nephew George handed me a homemade Valentine card. So sweet!! I thought if George can make me a heartfelt card, then I can make George a heartfelt card. So, I did. I kept him in mind while picking my fabrics to quilt. Of course, when I say quilt I really mean patchwork because as we learned in the course of making the first project...a quilter, I am not. This actually turned out to be a fun project. Obviously you could stitch any design, not just a heart...so the possibilities are endless. Plus, it turned out pretty cute...if I do say so myself. I sure hope George likes it as much as I did.

This project was provided by Marie Ann Tenny at http://www.diynamite.com/. (Update: This website is no longer running.)

Simple Pillow Case

This project was nothing new to me. I have actually made a dozen or so pillow cases in the past. I have this wonderful grandmother who loves to have satin pillow cases and you just can't find them anywhere. So, I have since mastered the art of making satin pillow cases. This, however, was the first pillow case I made out of cotton...so I guess there is a little something new to me about this.

Anyway, I love this project because you can really get creative with your fabric selections. Another good twist to add to this would be embroidery. A while ago, my mom made a pillow case for my nephew with embroidered basketball designs on it and he can't sleep without that pillow case on his pillow now. Definitely a great gift to give to anyone...kids, teens, grandparents, etc. And, honestly, this project only takes about 30 minutes start to finish.

This project was provided by Rachael Dorr at http://www.rachaelrabbit.blogspot.com/.