Halloween Time!

Halloween is my favorite holiday! I'm already making cute and creepy halloween crafts. They're just so fun :)

Potion bottles! So spooky and easy to make. I got the glass bottles for a dollar each, glued something creepy to each one, and added colored water. Voila! Do not drink these sinister brews ;)

Thank you marthastewart.com for this creepy Halloween craft idea, Shrunken Head Cider! If you love carving pumpkins, then you'll have a blast with this.

Peel and cut one apple in half to make two faces. Carve in whatever spooky face you'd like, bake until shruken and brown, and add cloves for the eye balls.

I love this because it's fun, easy, and works for any holiday. Just find some festive holiday paper, cut out the letters, and string them up with ribbon. 

Happy Halloween everyone! Please share your creative, spooky craft ideas :)

Comfy T-Shirt Headband

Finally a comfortable headband! I made this cutie out of an old T-shirt. Find out how to make this and other pretty fabric flowers at www.craftsnob.com

Looks cute it all different colors! :)

Curtain Recycling!

Have unused curtains laying around? Make pillows! 

Other notable ladies who made stuff out of curtains: Maria Von Trapp and Scarlett O'hara!

The best part is using the trim that's already on the curtains! i didn't have to sew any of the fancy trim on this pillow cover (well, except a couple buttons).

I also made a round pillow to go with it! This is so much better than curtains laying around doing nothing. :)

Taggy Cuddle Blanket

This is a perfect little cuddle blanket for baby! I used fleece because it makes the blanket warm and soft, and there's no need to add any extra lining. The block pattern of the fabric makes it look like a patchwork quilt, without sewing all those squares together! This is so easy to make, it only takes very basic sewing skills.

Begin by cutting out 6 inch pieces of ribbon to make the taggies. I used 14 of them on my blanket. 

Next step is to cut out the top of the blanket. This blanket it about 25" x 32". I used the squares on the fabric as a guide for what size to make it. Then i added a 5/8" seam allowance so the edge of the design wouldn't get cut off during the sewing process.

The next part is easy! Just lay your blanket top on a second fabric and cut around it to make the back of the blanket.

Time to add the taggies! You can add as many or as few as you'd like. I put one every 8 inches.

Take your 6" piece of ribbon and fold it in half to form a loop. With the blanket top laying right side up, line the raw edge of the ribbon up with the raw edge of the fabric and pin.

Then use a basting stitch to hold each ribbon in place.

Next pin the front and back of the blanket right sides together. Sew using a 5/8" seam, backstitching a few times when you sew over each piece of ribbon. This will ensure they are sewn in extra tightly so baby can't pull them out. Leave about a 4 inch opening for turning the blanket right side out.

Trim about 1/4" from the seam to get rid of any excess fabric.

Turn the blanket right side out from the 4 inch opening.
 

 It's almost finished! Next, slip stitch the 4 inch opening shut.

 This next step is optional, but is super cute, and really makes it look like a patchwork quilt. We're going to add yarn knots to hold the two pieces of fabric together at the corners of each square.

Cut a long piece of yarn and thread it through a needle. Use a needle with the biggest eye you can find, since it is not easy to thread yarn through any needle!

 Where the four corners of the squares meet, thread the yarn through both layers of the blanket from the top.

Next, thread the yarn back up from the bottom.

Now tie the yarn with a triple knot, and cut at about one inch.

Add a knot like this where each of the four corners of the squares meet.

And you're all done! Baby is going to love this! :)

Dead Tired Sleepy Masks

A kristie's krafts original design. I just made an eye mask and added some adorable dead/sleepy eyes. The worst part was getting the elastic to fit just right. Get ready for some ZZZ's!

Sooo sleepy!

Homemade Note Cards :)

Homemade note cards, love it! I found this adorable and easy idea at Little Birdie Secrets

All you need is paper, and a sewing machine! I used a paper punch to make the shapes, but they could be cut out by hand too.

I don't do many paper crafts, but what a great reason to buy some paper punches!

 Two hearts make a butterfly! :)

 This one's my favorite <3

 Someone please get married so i can give you this :)

These so many different designs you can make with this. Please share your ideas with me. :) Happy crafting!

Cross Stitched Baby Bib

wow! it's been awhile since my last post. probaby because i've been working so hard on this cute little bib for my cousin's baby on the way. :) 

cross stitching is tons of fun if you're patient and detailed :) otherwise, not so much. if you're trying it for the first time, definitely start with a small project. ;)

chow time! can't wait for the new baby to spit up all over this beautiful bib...

Taggy Cubes

Adorable! I found these cute creations at Eleanors Boutique. These were easy to make and a great way to use up leftover fabric and ribbon. I added a layer of plastic on the inside for some crunchy fun for baby!

I found that sewing a piece of a plastic shopping bag (the thicker the better) inside the toy works great for adding some crunchiness. It seems to hold up just fine in the washer and dryer. I've also heard of people using a baby wipe bag or cereal bag for this too.

Sooooo cute!! Try making one for the sweet little baby in your life :)

Button Rings!

A cute and simple ring to make! I saw this idea at a gift shop and had to try making it myself. If you can sew on a button, you can make this ring! If not, no worries, follow the instructions below...

Start with 1/4" wide elastic. Cut enough for it to fit comfortably around your finger with a little extra for it to overlap on the ends. (about a quarter inch)

Use a lighter to melt each end of the elastic to prevent fraying.

Now choose a few buttons you like and some matching thread. Three buttons works well, and it helps if each button has the same amount of holes. You can also add a little bead at the top for something different.

 

 Begin sewing by making a few knots on one end of the elastic.

(If you have problems with the thread twisting up and knotting, try letting the thread dangle with the needle hanging at the bottom so it will untwist.)

Next sew the two ends of the elastic together. They will overlap about 1/4 inch.

Now it's time to add the buttons! Start with the bottom button. The buttons will be sewn on top of the overlapping elastic. Thread the needle through the first hole from underneath. Then thread the needle downward through the hole next to it. Repeat this step through all the holes until the bottom button feels secure.

Once the bottom button is secure, add the remaining buttons. Sew through all the buttons and layers of elastic until all the buttons are held tightly onto the elastic ring.

 

Almost done....

Finally, make a few knots underneath and cut off the remaining thread.

All done! Yay! 

Now it's time to wear your cute new rings!!