I have a dear friend who just had a birthday yesterday. I wanted to make her something special, but sometimes that means I over think things. So, in the end, I just went with a color scheme. Pink! I made two potholders with this tutorial, one glasses case, and some note cards using my Photoshop Elements and some digital scrapbooking images.
At one time my friend and I both bought this Amy Butler fabric at the quilt shop here and even then I think it was sold out most everywhere because it was from one of her first lines. I finally cut mine up last year when I made this purse - it's the pink and brown one. So I used some of that fabric on the scraps for the pot holders I gave her. She told me that she still hasn't found the perfect project for her fabric yet. I do that too - I have a hard time finding the perfect project for some fabrics, especially when you know you can't get any more of it! It's like gold. Well, happy birthday friend and good luck in finding the perfect project for your fabric!
The more of these that I have made, the more I realize there are some changes that need to be made. I changed them here at the tutorial itself, but these are the things that I thought needed a little tweeking -
1. The length - increased from 7 1/2 inches long to 8 inches. This is for two reasons - 1) I had a blogger ask if sunglasses fit in this case. I just assumed they did, but since I don't have a pair of my own and only have glasses just for plain ol' seeing, once I tried sunglasses in them, it was a snug fit in the length. 2) Once I added velcro to the top, that took away some of the length as well. Which brings me to...
2. I added velcro to the lining before I attached to the outside fabric so that these would stay closed and you wouldn't lose your glasses in your purse. I have added a step in the tutorial, but basically you are adding a little piece of velcro 5/8" down from the top of the lining fabric - centered - once the lining is sewn up on three sides and hasn't been sewn to the outside.
3. I have been using some thicker batting that really gives the case the sturdiness that it needs. I don't know what this batting is called since I just found it in my pile of scraps. But, I was thinking that two pieces of warm and natural on top of each other for each outside piece might do the trick. But, really it is up to you how padded you want the case to be. Just a thought.
Here is a sign that my mother in law asked me to make for her daughter Kerri's birthday. She had seen it in a store and thought, "I'll get Traci to make this." I usually just print the lettering on overhead projector screen and cut it out with an exacto knife to make a stencil. And, you should see my garage when it comes to finding pieces of wood that I can use. My husband is a home builder and our garage is his storage unit! I let my son help me stencil and it got a bit blobby in parts, so I really had to distress the lettering to make it look a bit better!
Then, this is the eye glasses case I made my mom for Mother's Day. I am thinking that I need to add a snap or some velcro at the top to hold the glasses in. I will play with the case I made for my self (the one for the tutorial) and see which works best.
I finally had my husband get his drill press out so that I could get these two cute cupcake toppers off to their intended birthday cupcakes. I have had them painted for about a month, but those darn holes in their heads for their candles and bottoms for their picks just didn't get done until now. I think my husband was a little hesitant to do it because sometimes he just doesn't get what I am doing. It is a bit embarrassing when he says, "Now what is this for?" That's why I paid close attention and wrote down the drill bit numbers (I have used the drill press before) so that I can do it next time. Then I won't have to wait or ask for help!!! They are boxed up and ready to celebrate some birthdays with cousins. I should have photographed them in cupcakes for the full effect, but I can't be having any cupcakes around this house or I might go and eat many and I have been trying so hard to cut out those sweets. You know! So, instead they are in brown rice - healthy, but not as cute.
*My friend Melissa at The Polka Dot Chair is one of the bakers at Moda Bake Shop. She has a new tutorial for a skirt up on the blog that has the prettiest colors. It's a line from Moda that I really like with the pretty butterflies. Check it out.
*Dana at Made is hosting a sew along at Presser Foot this month where you can sew the shirt dress with her. I am excited to check out the Flickr group with all the grand transformations.
photo via craftzine blog
*I have been making a few of these from this tutorial for upcoming celebrations. Super quick sewing project.
*I have an easy tutorial that I will post soon that I already kind of gave the directions for, but since I have been making a few more, I thought I would take some photos of the process to share. Another great and simple gift to sew.
Okay, I will be back soon with photos and more! Until then....well, until then I am cleaning this house out like crazy. I have tons that I am selling on ebay and more that I am collecting for next week's neighborhood garage sale. So, let's get this house in order folks!
I am very glad others are having babies. I am pretty sure that our little family is complete (that's not in stone) and I get so much joy sewing baby items, so as long as my friends are having babies, I will be all right.
This first set is for a shower I just went to. I couldn't decide if the turtle needed a mouth or not and in the end he did end up with one. Sometimes these things become such hard decisions and really that turtle is just going ot have spit up and food on him, so does it matter? The answer is yes! The bib is from a great pattern from juicy bits.
And, then like usual, once I cut one of something out, I just kind of go crazy and cut out a whole bunch with no real intentions of whom I am giving them to. I got the terry cloth for the back of the bibs from some hooded baby towels that we no longer used.
First, thanks for all of your ideas. It so nice to have so many resources these days. I am amazed at how many times I go to the internet and search for a tutorial or a "how to" and get tons of results. I am almost more amazed when just a few pop up instead of many. I guess we are spoiled in this technology age. Here are some of the ideas that you all steered me towards and a few of others that I have collected. We definitely have enough ideas to not leave these boys out!!!
1 - My college roommate and dear friend Mo found this one. And, since it might be too late this year, gather all your yellow bunny peeps for next year's Pokemon party. My boys still love Pokemon despite me trying to steer them in another directions - Pikachu pops from Bakerella.
2 - For boys and girls (but boys for now) this tutorial on how to make a outdoor (or indoor) tent from Boutique NutMeg found at Sew, Mama, Sew!.
3 - The handsome Eddie Cap fom mushroom villagers that looks like it came straight out of the movie "Newsies." Loved that movie and I think I would love seeing my four year old in this.
4 - For those who have boys with DS Lites and need a way to keep those very small games organzed as well as found here is a DS Lite case that holds their games found at Instructables.
5 - The superhero cape at Puking Pastilles. I've directed many a non sewer over to this tutorial and they tell me this one is easy.
6 - The bandana pants (could be for either, but again, we're saying these are for boys for this one) at blue yonder (thanks Wendi). I also found this tutorial for a rubber band gun at blue yonder as well.
7 - My boys have had a few of these marshmallow shooters from Santa and cub scout camp. These directions are from Instructables.
8 - Here is a card table playhouse tutorial at Sew Much Ado. We used to play for hours in one with just some blankets and sheets over the table - this one is cool.
9 - The well known, but always fun, freezer paper stenciling. I am sharing this tutorial because she has some cool boy designs in it. It's from panjo kids. You can find more tutorials at the artful parent and made.
10 - Pillow cases! Great way to make the boys something of their very own for their room with their favorite characters on it. Here is a tutorial from Lazy Girl. Also, here is one my friend at the Polka Dot Chair made at Christmas for her nephews. They have pockets on them for their books. My mom made us all individual pillow cases with a handle on top and a poket on the front. We took these on our family vacations in the car and kept our puzzle and coloring books in the pocket. I loved mine!
