A Hand-Made Christmas Part 2

The inspiration for this project came from a PB picture I found in my inbox a few weeks ago.

Photo Credit (Pottery Barn)

I immedialtely fell for these! Love those ruffles!  (These ones are $19 for 2, that doesn't include the monogram) So thank you Pottery Barn, you led me one gift closer to having my list complete.  

These are the ones I made for my sister. I bought the towels in a set of 5 for $5 at Wal-Mart, spent about $5 on the ribbon, fabric, and buttons to finish them. (I had left over heat-n-bond from my still unfinished pillows-UGH!)Found a fun red cassorole dish for $8 at the grocery store to put them in, and I still have a few dollars to play with in my per-present budget!(I'm thinking of adding some matching bowls) Gotta LOVE a fun knock-off!  Happy Crafting! 

A Hand-Made Christmas

I was caught a little off guard when I realized how many of my gifts I was actually making this year, it was a very pleasant surprise. I've always felt that there is so much more love and thought put into a handmade present. So, I wanted to share a few of them with you in case you still need a little something for that particular someone... My dad is hard to shop for. Not because he's picky, but because he always tells you to get him the same thing no matter what the occasion-a good book or movie and a can of peanuts! BORING! And my hubby is hard to shop for because he buys everything he wants or it's so crazy expensive, it just isn't going to happen! Therefore, I have to think very hard... My hard thinking came up with this: 

My girls LOVE to play board games with their dad and grandpa so I combined the two into a

Photo Tic-Tac-Toe Board!

I started with this:

A 12x12 inch shadowbox frame

{I bought mine at Wal-mart for $10}

9 3x5 inch pictures of my girlies

{I changed all the coloring to sepia and added their names

and the year to the pictures on Picnik, then printed them out on my printer.}

I cropped and cut my pictures down to 3x3 inches each. Then went to work on the frame.

Open the packaging and turn the frame wrong side up. Pop up the small tabs that hold in the backing. Remove the backing and paper insert. Pop out the side bars that are holding the glass in place. {4 black pieces next to the frame.} They are held in place by a small piece of double-stick tape and come out easily. Using a pair of pliers, pull out the remaining small tabs from the top edge of the frame.

You should be left with the bare frame and glass pieces. Set them aside.

With a paint brush and black paint, paint the backing piece and the edges of the pictures.Once the backing is dry, mark out your grid with painter's tape. 

You need a 1 inch border all the way around your board. And 1/2 an inch between each picture.

Mod Podge your pictures into place, remove the tape and apply another layer of Mod Podge over the entire piece. Set aside to dry.

Make your X and O markers next.

I used cardstock, Mod Podge, and clear glass gems found at the dollar store.

Print out 5 X's and 5 O's onto heavy cardstock. Lay a gem over each letter and trace around, staying close to the gem. Cut out each letter and adhere it to the bottom side of the gem. Apply one more coat of Mod Podge to seal the paper. Set aside to dry.

Make the pouch to hold your pieces while everything is drying.

You'll need a strip of fabric that measures 36 inches long by 8 inches wide and some hook and loop strips.

Fold the fabric in half length-wise. Sew a seam down each of the long sides then turn the fabric so the seams are now on the inside. Fold in the edges of the open end and sew shut.

 Press your seams.

Fold up the bottom 6 inches to form the pouch, pin in place. Cut a 7 inch piece of the hook and loop velcro and pin it into place on the pouch pocket and the top flap. 

*Be sure you only pin through one side of the pouch pocket.

Undo the pouch pins and sew down velcro pieces.

 Refold the pouch and sew the two side seams that form the pocket.

Fold down the top flap and your pouch is done.

Put everything together!

Place the backing board back into the frame, be sure the glass is clean first. Run a line of strong glue around the edges to hold the backing in place. {I use e6000, hot glue would work too.}

Glue the pouch onto the back side of the frame, once dry add your playing pieces and your very person gift is ready to go!

Tomorrow, I'll show you what I made for my lil'sister.

Happy Crafting!

Linking to these great sites!

2010 Teacher/Neighbor Gifts

My daughter's class is doing the sweetest thing for their teacher this year! As a former teacher, I would LOVE to receive this. 

 The room moms decided on a theme of "The Giving Tree" based on the book by Shel Silversteen. We are giving her a copy of the book with the students autographs inside and a tree full of gift cards to her favorite places. {We had her put together a list of those places and then had the kids each bring in a gift card of their choice.}My part in this is finding a cute way to hang the gift cards. I ended up making little burlap "purses". They are just the right size for the cards and look so cute on that tree! 

I used this tutorial to get the wording on the burlap.

Sewed two quick seams (YEAH! The sewing machine is back!)

And then had a blast embellishing them.

I recruited my girls for the handle-beading and we finished all 20 bags in a few hours.

I liked them so much I decided to make some a bit bigger and use them for my neighbor gifts this year.

I'm thinking I'll fill them with some homemade caramels. YUM!

Happy Crafting...

I linked up to this week's contest over at Poppies at Play Go check out all the fun, super cute entries!

And check out all the craftiness going on this weekend at I {heart} Naptime!

Reindeer Upgrade and a Sleigh!

This is what happens when the project that I want to do becomes the project I'm going to do until the first project is do-able... I totally "pimped" my reindeer! 

I took my 2x4 reindeer and gave him a body, legs, a girl-friend, and a ride! Yeah, I'm telling you, today I impressed myself with this one.

Want details? Here you go:

2x4 block cut to 3.5 x 3.5 inches {head}

2 2x4 blocks cut to 3.5 x 1.5 inches {hooves}

1" diameter dowel cut into two 6 inch lengths {legs}

2x6* block cut to 5 x 7 inches {body}

I used a leftover piece of paint stick for the nose piece about 2" long

*I actually used the 2x10 board that I bought for the sleigh and just split it in half,

hence 2 reindeer instead of 1!

1. Paint and sand the edges of each block.

2. Drill placement holes into body and feet, holes for antlers into head.

I used a 1/2" bit for the antlers, and a 1" boring bit for the dowels.

I drilled completely through the feet and about an inch and a half into the body.

3. Assemble the body. Glue dowels into place and let completely dry.

 

*Be sure to check that your reindeer is level before and after adding the glue!  

4. While the body is drying finish the heads.*I cut out an extra ear piece to use for a tail. 

5. Glue on the tail and head pieces. If you wish, the wood is thick enough

 to use a screw or two. Just be sure to pre-drill pilot holes.

Add a fun collar and other embellishments and your reindeer is good to go!

To make the sleigh I cut down a 2x10 inch piece of  wood with my band saw.

(Click here for pattern)

2x4 block cut to 8 inches long

and 1" diameter dowel cut to two 3" lengths

I originally kept this really square to match the shape of the deer. Still an option if you only have a miter or jig saw. This piece of wood is to thick for a scroll saw-you'll kill your blade and it will take forever to cut!

Follow the same basic instructions for the sleigh as you did for the deer.

Paint and sand.

Drill placement holes-be sure they are in the same place on the sleigh and runner piece.

Assemble with a little glue.

Add your embellishments and your done!

*I ran a length of ribbon from the front of the sleigh to each of the deer collars to connect the pieces.

Have fun and Happy Crafting!

I linked up to these fantastic blogs!  

Pillow Issues and Patterns...

How did it get to be Thursday already? Doesn't that always seem to be what happens this time of year? I started working on these pillows late Monday night. After some, okay a lot of trial and mostly error I got a star that I liked figured out. The letters and holly leaves were a piece of cake. Got everything cut out and ready to sew...Sat down Tuesday to finish them AND MY SEWING MACHINE BROKE! So as I sit and wait for it to be fixed, contemplating if it would be worth trying to hand sew it, I will share the patterns and wish you better luck than I am currently having! I DO believe these will be darling so give them a try and report back, I'm dying to see some finished! {I am realizing this desperatley needs pictures, I'll add them in as I can} Here's what you need:1 1/2 yds of muslinheat and bond liteabout 1/4 yd fabric for lettersGreen felt for holly leaves and snowflake(1 square is plenty)6 small red buttons for berries3 yds of trim for pillow edges 

And of course a few patterns!  page 1page 2page 3 So the plan from there would be to trace and cut out 5 of the star pieces. Tape them together so that they form an actual star, should be about 15 inches across when done. Trace 3 stars onto doubled muslin. Cut out leaving a 1/4 in seam allowance. Set aside. Iron the heat and bond onto your letter fabric and felt following the directions. Trace the letters, leaves, and snowflake onto the paper side of the heat and bond. *Remember to trace the letters backwards* Cut out and iron them into place on the star cutouts. Add any hand/machine stitching to the letters now.Sew on the berry buttons. Turn each pillow right sides together and pin trim into place. It will sit in between the two fabric pieces with the finished edge facing in. Sew the pillows together, leaving a small section open for turning and stuffing.Turn the pillows right side out and stuff away! Hand stitch the opening closed and display those babies! I am determined to finish these {before Christmas!} good luck, holler if you need clarification, andHappy Crafting!

Monday's Menu...

On today's menu are some delicious holiday throw pillows! I am SO excited to figure these out, and once I do, I'm sharing the patterns with you! Look for them {hopefully} tomorrow...  Until then I have to share one of my favorite holiday traditions with you. This is one my entire family {big and small} get in on cause it's so much fun! It's our annual Christmas Candy Cane Hunt! My sister started this a few years ago with our family. My kiddos enjoy it so much that even though we've moved to far to be home for the big event, we hold our own. You start with a bunch of these: We get every participant a different colored/designed candy cane. This helps to let you know what you're looking for and to be sure everyone gets the same amount of goodies. 

 The canes are taken outside and hidden all over the yard-the older you are the harder they are to find! Once everyone is clear on what color they are looking for, the hunt begins.

I've added a bit of a twist with my own girls. I also hide a large peppermint stick. The finder of the stick gets to open the first present on Christmas Eve.

Once all the candy canes are found we head inside for a mug of cocoa and of course- a candy cane!It is SO much fun, I think you need to have one too! Have a great Monday and Happy Crafting!    

I Need You!!!

Trying a little something crazy today. And I need you to help, actually I need your help and want you to participate. I entered my "Generations Wreath" in a weekly contest over at Poppies at Play     This weeks theme is "Wreaths and Signs". The only entry rules are they have to be handmade. So if you've got one, go enter! {The winner gets their choice of vinyl from her shop.} If you don't have anything to enter, head on over there and check things out. You might find an idea or two and you get to vote for your favorite {like say maybe #33}.Next week's theme is teacher/neighbor gifts... If you enter let me know, I'd LOVE to check it out!