Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

I am so super excited to have this little project finished.  I bought these wood peg people about  a month ago from here.  The only ones I could find in the craft store were too small for my two year old, so I got online and found some that were 3 1/2 inches tall.  They ended up being the perfect size.

Anyways, so our new show around here is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or as my son calls it, "turtles".  When I first bought the wood peg people my intention was to make them all into superheroes like Spiderman and Superman (I'm sure you've seen hundreds of them around blogland), but while watching the Turtles I got the idea to make 4 of them into the green ninjas.

Are they cute or what?  I haven't seen any like these anywhere else so I just watched the cartoon to figure out the details to each turtle and used acrylic paint and paint pens.

 

 

Grant has bugged me to death since I painted them green and started painting their masks.  He immediately recognized them as the Ninja Turtles and wanted to play with them.

 

 

 

My intention was to give these to Grant in his Easter basket but he was so excited seeing me work on them, I just couldn't put them away and not let him play.

 

So I guess I'll have to find something else to fill his easter basket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mug Rugs & Cozy to Match

I made a couple mug cozies and mug rugs to match  for 2 of my friends.  Of course after having made them I'm really wanting one for myself and my mom has already put in an order for me to make her one as well.  A crafter's to-do list is never ending.

 

I searched blog land to find a coffee mug cozy tutorial and found this one, but of course in my usual style I used the measurements (the one thing I hate most about crafting is figuring measurements) and did my own thing with the rest.

 

I've seen quilted mug rugs many times and have had them on my to-do list for awhile.  I love how these turned out and just like the cozies I now want a set of these for myself.

 

Here is how I made mine:

 

I cut 2 pieces of fabric 6x6inches and 1 piece of quilt batting 6x6 inches.  I layered them with the batting on bottom, 1 piece of fabric with right side facing up on top of the batting, and 2nd piece of fabric with wrong side facing up on top of that one.  I pinned the 3 layers together, stitched around the 4 sides using 1/2inch seam allowance and leaving bout a 1 1/2inch opening for turning on one of the sides.

 

 

Clip your corners.  This helps when you turn your mug rug right side out.

 

Turn right side out.

 

 

Pin opening closed and stitch around four sides using 1/4inch seam allowance, making sure to stitch opening closed.

 

 

I made a design on my mug rugs by just going around making a square inside of a square until I reached the center.  I think it just gives the rugs a little something special about them. 

 

 

 The best part is you can raid your scrap pile to make these and they make great gifts for friends, co-workers, bus drivers, teachers, or stocking stuffers for family.

 

Now for the mug cozy.  As I said in the beginning I used the measurements from this blog and she made some super cute cozies but I wanted mine to be a bit different and to me mine are a smidge easier and quicker to make.

 

You will need 2 pieces of fabric 3 1/2x10 inches and a piece of Insul-Bright 3 1/2x10inches (you could use quilt batting but the Insul-Bright is what's used in pot holders and I have tested it out with my cozies and your hands will be completely protected from the heat of your mug.  I prefer the Insul-Bright over anything else).

 

 

Layer and pin these pieces as shown below with the 2 pieces of fabric right sides together and the Insul-Bright on the bottom (it doesn't matter which side of the Insul-Bright is up or down).

 

I used hair elastics (I bought a package of 100 various colored elastics at Dollar General for $1) instead of velcro (as is shown in the tutorial I reference above)to hold the cozy onto the mug.  If you choose to use hair elastics cut the metal piece off of 2 of them, if there is one, and place them in between the 2 (right side together) pieces of fabric.

 

 

Using a 1/4inch seam allowance stitch the elastics into place, making sure not to stitch the top layer in place (fold this piece of fabric back while you stitch the elastics in place).

 

Fold the top piece of fabric back down covering up the elastics and pin in place.  Stitch around the 4 sides using  1/4 inch seam allowance making sure to leave an opening for turning.

 

Turn right side out.

 

 

Pin opening closed and stitch all the way around using 1/4inch seam allowance.

 

For the finishing touch, hand sew 2 buttons on the opposite end of the elastics,  The hair elastics will loop over these to hold in place.  I made the gray and yellow chevron cozy reversable.  If you want to do the same make sure you put 2 buttons on each side.

 

 

TA-DAAA!  You're done.  You now have your very own mug cozy perfect for drinking hot chocolate on a cold winter's night.  I will forwarn you, after making one of these you will have the urge to make many many many more, as they can be addicting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mickey Crayon Roll-A Stocking Stuffer

I made my first crayon roll last year for my brother's girlfriend's son.  When I was brainstorming stocking stuffers this year I knew a crayon roll for Grant would be perfect.  I used the tutorial at Skip to My Lou. I bought a box of 8 fat crayons so they would be easier for him to hold so I did have to adjust the measurements a little.

 

I used a hair elastic and a button to hold it closed.

 

 

All the measurements were the same except the length which I cut at about 10 3/4 inches with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  After turning it right side out and top stitching around the outside the length ended up being 10 1/4 inches.  This will be paired with a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse coloring book I found for 99 cents at Walmart.

 

Winter Hat

I came across this tutorial on making a kids hat from an adult sweater last year when I first started getting into repurposing but unfortunately I didn't have an old sweater to use.  Recently my husband was forced (due to the fact our closet rod came crashing down) to go through the closet and rid his side of everything he didn't wear or want.  He had 1 heavy sweater in the mix and as soon as I saw it I knew it would be used for Grant's winter hat.

I used the tutorial mentioned above to get the general idea exccept I didn't put a bill on it, mainly because I didn't want to take the time to do it (I know...I'm lazy:)).

 

My husband actually had the idea to put the Tennessee "T" on the front.  I cut it off one of the other shirts he was getting rid of and stitched it right on.  I love how it turned out and I have to admit Grant looks pretty darn cute wearing it.  We went to the county fair over the weekend and he wore this hat and the scarf I made him.  Needless to say I was pretty proud.

Kindle Case for Mother's Day

My mom just got a Kindle and I immediately thought I could make her a case for the fast approaching Mother's Day.  Of course then she ruined the surprise when she asked me to make her one and I very well couldn't tell her no, then she would have went out and bought one.  Me being me I had to put it off until the day before because why would anyone start a sewing project any earlier than the day before you're giving it as a gift.

I measured my mom's Kindle and it was 5x7inches so I cut 2 pieces of fabric and 1 piece of heavy interfacing into a rectangle that measured 16x8inches so I would have a 1/2inch seam allowance.  Layer your pieces in this order:

inner fabric wrong side up
outer fabric right side up
interfacing

Pin your fabrics all the way around.

On one of the short ends of your rectangle place a looped piece of elastic, a thin hair tie, piece of ric rac, or ribbon as a closure for your case.  In the picture below I have place my loop of elastic in between the right sides of my inner and outer fabrics with the ends of the elastic hanging over the end of my fabric.  Be sure to pin this in place and double stitch over it to secure it in place.

Stitch around using 1/2inch seam allowance making sure to leave a 3 inch opening for turning.  Clip corners.

Turn right side out and stitch around the outside, making sure to stitch the opening closed you used for turning, using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Fold one side of your case over about 6 inches and pin in place.  Stitch only on either side, this will be the pocket for your kindle so you don't want to stitch it closed.

Stitch the button in place so you will be able to close your case.

And here is what it looks like closed (I accidentally stretched my elastic out so it wouldn't hold my case closed.  I used a small piece of ric rac and sewed it in place where the elastic is).

I'm so excited with how this case turned out and I absolutely love this fabric I bought at Hobby Lobby.

2 Jingle Balls for 2 Little Guys

My cousin had her twins a week ago and has decided to host a Christmas dinner this past weekend.  Yes, I know what you're thinking, Crazy Woman!  I wanted to do something for the boys, but really what do you get for 1 week olds?  Jingle Balls, that's what!

Before Grant was born I made him a jingle ball and he still has it a year later and loves throwing it all over and shaking it to hear the little jingle it makes.  I used the free pattern from Grand Revival (the link is on the right side bar).  You can make three different sizes, I made the medium sized ball.

Before sewing the stuffing opening closed just throw in a few little jingle bells you can get at Walmart, Joann's, or Hobby Lobby.  With Grant's I bought the small bells and it took about 3 or 4 before the jingle was loud enough to suit me, so you may want to buy the larger ones.

I used scraps of fabric for these I already had in my stash along with stuffing I had, so the cost was nothing, and they are super cute when your little one is playing with them. 

Bean Bags-A Stocking Stuffer

About a month ago I googled "gifts for 1 year olds", just to see if I could get any new ideas for Grant for Christmas.  He really doesn't need any toys and, as I've witnessed with his birthday, many of the toys he receives he merely throws them around rather than playing with them.  Of course him being 1 I guess he really doesn't know how to play with them.  Either way I refused to go all out, spend a fortune, and watch as he tossed aside the nice new toy to play with the wrapping paper or box it came in.

One thing I did find while doing my google search were bean bags.  I'll be honest when I saw this gift idea I thought "what in the world would little kids do with a set of bean bags?"  However as I have watched my son he throws everything, EVERYTHING.  Drives me crazy some days, and other days I sit back and laugh.  So bean bags will be perfect for him.   Something small enough he can carry around and light enough he can chuck it across the room without breaking anything.

First I cut 10 squares (I did have a picture of this and it somehow got erased so you will just have to imagine it), 5 out of an old pair of my husband's jeans and 5 from white and black checkered fabric I had in my stash.  The size you cut them to will depend on how large you want your bean bags to be.  I cut mine 4inches x 4inches. 

I decided to applique the letters of Grant's name onto his bags.  First I printed bold block letters onto computer paper at the size I needed them to fit nicely on the bags.  The red fabric I used for the letters is actually broadcloth so you can see through it, which made tracing the letters onto the fabric easy.  I used  After tracing each of the letters onto the fabric I cut them out and put Heat and Bond on the backs.

I ironed them onto each of the jean pieces.

Then used my sewing machine to applique around each of the letters.

Pin the squares right sides together making sure to mark where your opening will be.

Stitch around leaving an opening approximately 1.5inches wide for turning.  Clip your corners making sure not to cut into the seems.

Turn the bean bags right side out.

Grab a bag of beans or rice.  I used pinto beans, oh  how I hate pinto beans, and fill your bags.

stitch the opening closed.  I double stitched mine just to make extra sure the seems wouldn't pop open and the beans become a choking hazard.

Now your finished.  5 little bean bags for my little man.

Reusable Baggies

Keeping with the idea of only filling Grant's stocking with things he needs or will be reused many times,  I decided to make him some reusable baggies.  I have seen these all over blog land for years and they have been on my never ending to-do list for just as long.  I didn't read a tutorial before making them, which is probably why I messed the first one up, oh well, story of my life, haha.

You will need the fabric of your choice, velcro, and I used a table cloth I found on clearence at the end of summer for $1.50 but I have also seen people use shower curtain liners or the waterproof fabric you can buy.  You could also use a zipper instead of velcro, I find velcro to be cheaper and easier for me to work with.

 

I made a pattern using a store bought baggie and newspaper.  I just traced the baggie onto the newspaper and cut it out.  I placed this on the fold of my fabric and cut my fabric to the correct size.

I love things to be personalized so I knew if I was going to make something so practical as part of a Christmas gift I needed to jazz it up a bit.  I used a water soluble quilting pen and traced Grant's name onto the fabric.  I made the stencil using my cricut and some cardstock (I do so love my Cricut!).  Then I just hand embroidered it.

I wanted Grant's name to be towards the bottom of the baggie, which is why I embroidered it more towards the middle of the fabric.  Where you want the person's name to end up will determine where you should trace it.

Here are 2 before I started sewing them.

Pin the outter fabric to your table cloth and cut out what will be your liner.

You are going to place 1 side of your velcro on the top end and the other on the bottom end (I call it the fluffy and rough side of the velcro).Both fluffy and rough parts should be placed on the right side of the table cloth since this is the side that will be the inside of your bag. 

The amount of velcro you will need depends on how wide your baggie is.  I didn't do much measuring (cuz I'm just like that), but if you are doing 1/4inch seem allowance you will need to place your velcro approximately 1/2 inch from either side and a 1/2inch from the top.  Pin your velcro down and stitch all the way around.  Make sure you backstitch a few times since this will get used and abused, haha.

Once both parts are sewn, it should look like this:

Pin your liner and outter fabric right sides together and stitch all the way around leaving a 2 inch opening for turning.  After stitching turn right side out.

Now I have 2 ways to show you how to do this.  Why did I do it 2 different ways on 2 different baggies you ask?  Because when you don't read a tutorial before starting a project, finish the project, and then realize you probably should have done it a different way, you end up changing  it the next time you sew one.

That being said, on my first baggie I did the following:

Once turning your baggie right side out, stick the velro ends together and pin around both left and right sides.

Stitch around three sides leaving the velcro top unstitched since this is how you will open the bag.

Your done! 

Now I'll show you how I did it the 2nd time around.  I liked the 1st way and there is nothing wrong with it, all comes down to preference.  As you can see in the above pic I didn't pay attention to what color of thread I used, thinking it didn't matter because no one would see it anyways.  Retard moment occured when I sewed around the 3 sides and realized, duh, you can see the unmatching thread.  Maybe I would have liked it better had the thread been a little less noticable in a white or orange. 

Anyways, still not switching out my thread (I rarely match my thread to my fabric since normally you can't see it), I decided to  make my 2nd baggie a bit different, here you go...

Starting back at the point where you had stitched both outter and liner fabric together leaving an opening and turned your baggie right side out.

Now fold your baggie in half with the liner side facing out, and pin the right and left sides.

Stitch around 3 sides making sure not to stitch your top velcro opening closed.

Clip the bottom 2 corners.

Turn right side out.

Here is the inside, ready for little treats.

We plan on filling Grant's with treats like Teddy Grahams, chocolate chip cookies, and other goodies before putting them in his stocking.  When I was little my mom always had all kinds of treats in our stockings and since Grant is still too young for loads of candy, I thought this was a perfect idea.

So now I have one little gift done, only a dozen or more to go haha.