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.

 

Kid's Oven Mitt & Dish Towels

As I have mentioned Santa is brining Grant a play kitchen (hopefully I will have pictures of that finished project soon, it's still getting the finishing touches).  So I have been happily going crazy coming up with accessories to go along with it.  Grant loves throwing around my kitchen dish towels and oven mitts so I thought a few his size would be perfect.  He loves helping me cook and this way he can cook right along with me (without the burning hazards).

 

For the dish towels I bought 1 at the Dollar Store, cut it in half at the fold then turned it long ways.  I measured and cut a piece of fabric and stitched it around the bottom.  I think they are so so cute. 

 

 

Isn't this oven mitt too cute!  I found the pattern here.  I didn't follow any directions since i was pretty sure I could figure it out on my own.  Truth be told, I screwed up the first one I made and this is attempt #2.  I quilted this one to make it look more like a real oven mitt.

A warning for you if you make one of these, they are addicting and you will want to make more.

 

 

 

2 Fleece/Flannel Monogrammed Blankets

My husband requested I make blankets for his cousin's 2 small children for Christmas, and being the good crafter I am I jumped at the opportunity.  I've done flannel blankets, quilts, and fleece blankets but never done 1 this way, and I have to say I'm really happy with how they turned out.

 

To make the monogrammed names I just printed the names in a simple font on regular printer paper, cut them out, traced them onto Heat & Bond, ironed the Heat & Bond to the fabric, cut the letters out individually, ironed them to the top blanket fabric, and stitched them with my sewing machine.  Wow that's a really long explanation for something that was really really simple.

 

 

Normally when I make quilts or blankets I cut the back fabric about an inch larger than the top so I can fold it over the top fabric and stitch it in place.  The problem was when I purchased the fleece for the back of both blankets I bought 2 yards leaving no room for extra fabric.  So instead I laid both pieces (top and bottom) on top of each other, wrong sides together, then took the raw edges and folded them both in so they were even with each other, pinned in place, and ran it through my sewing machine.  I think they were 2 of the easiest, and softest blankets I've made yet.  Now I'm wanting to make Grant one, but I keep telling myself I have to wait until after the holidays.

 

Felt Food for Christmas

My step dad is making Grant a play kitchen for Christmas this year so of course felt food was a must to go along with it.  I didn't follow any patterns or tutorials.  I scoured the internet looking at pictures and then just winged it (my favorite way of doing things).  I have to say, felt food can be really addicting.  Once you start you have to make more...and more...and more!

 

I chose to stick with the more simple felt foods so I could have more of a variety and with all my other projects I knew I wouldn't have time to do the labor intensive ones.  Above there are a bag of chips, strawberries, cookies, pancakes, fried eggs, bacon, pop tarts, and orange slice.  I know Grant is going to love them.

Ornament Christmas Cards

I've been trying to get Christmas cards done over the last couple weeks and this is one of 3 I've created so far (if you're wondering why I've made 3 different ones instead of making all of 1 design it's because I'm indecisive, too many ideas floating around in my noggin to pick just 1):

 

This is not my favorite of the 3 designs but I still love it's simplicity.  The only thing I have left to do is buy some ribbon to attach to the Christmas ball.  I thought I had some when I made them and when I went searching all I found was an empty ribbon spool (so annoying!) 

 

I again used the Joys of the Season cricut cartridge to cut the ornament, tree, and the word "peace".  The bottom cardstock I just cut to fit where I wanted and used glue dots to attach everything.

 

 

The other 2 designs I made were the reindeer and sleigh.  Now all that's left is addressing and mailing them out.  Times a tickin!

 

 

 

Sleigh Christmas Cards

I made these cards using my Cricut and some cardstock. 

 

I used the Joys of the Season cartridge for the sleigh and holly leaves and Accent Essentials cartridge for the image behind the sleigh.  I used the same cardstock stack as I did with the reindeer cards I made last week.  I cut the Sleigh at 2 1/2inches and the background image at 3 inches using micro glue dots to attach everything.

 

As I was making these I messed up a few times, and verbalized my frustration to my husband to which his response was, "You know some people actually go to the store and buy their Christmas cards.  Just a thought."  Haha, you mean everyone doesn't hand craft their cards?

 

I could have done what most people do nowadays and trecked to Wally World's photo section, downloaded my favorite family pic and made a photo card, but what is the fun in that? My husband would tell me people will just end up throwing my beautiful hand crafted cards away when they take their tree down but for me there is something special about cards made by someone, and I make them because it makes me happy and that's a good enough reason for me!

 

 

 

PJ Set-A Christmas Gift

I made these pj's for my niece for Christmas, and I'm so glad they are finished.  I've had them sitting in my project box for a month or 2 waiting for elastic and  the legs to be hemmed.  Such simple tasks and yet it still took me that long to mark it off my to-do list. 

I used the same tutorial I always do, except now I've made them so many times I don't need a tutorial.  I'm so happy I stumbled across it a couple years ago.  I bought the white t-shirt at Joann's for $2.50 and appliqued her initial, simple yet cute.  I hope she likes them!