:: Fabric Scraps Ornaments ::

Super Easy. Super Cute. Kid Approved.

Adapted from the fabulous http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2010/12/kid-craft-fabric-scrap-ornaments.html

Supplies: 

-styrofoam balls (Michael's or any craft store)

-fabric scraps, cut in 1-2 inch squares

-pins

-ribbon, ric rac, pom poms 

-a pointy device with a dull nose. We used the dull side of a skewer.  Our inspiration used a knitting needle.

-hot chocolate, coffee, cake pops, Christmas cookies (for consumption while crafting)

We had SO much fun doing this with a friend today.  Mary Larkin, my kindy girl, and I took our fabric scraps over to Amalie's house for a playdate. When another mom says she likes being crafty, a girl's gotta capitalize, non?

These Christmas ornaments turned out super cute.  Our balls were about four or so inches wide; I would do a smaller ball next time so that they hang from the branches easier.  These rest on the branches. Either way, they are very cute.

Take your skewer or knitting needle and center the tip on the fabric square, gently pushing it into the styrofoam ball. Continue with more fabric squares until it is covered.  Be careful not to put the fabric squares too close together.  If you do, the styrofoam will start to break apart.  Put the fabric just close enough to ensure no styrofoam is showing.

Cute, non?

To add the ribbon, I cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length--double however long you want to hang from the branch.  Loop it in half and pin the ends together to the styrofoam. The fabric scraps will cover the pin.

Here are the girls with theirs.  They chose pom poms to hang theirs.  I used two pins to secure this to the styrofoam because it is a bit weightier then the ribbon.

ML and I each made one for our tree. It is always a pleasure crafting with my girls.

Here is the finished product. I love it. 

It's not an exact science, but if you have questions ask away.  Or, you know, if you just want to add a comment and tell me you love it, you can do that too. 

Oh and remember that fabric scrap wreath I made Court? I would totally use this method with a styrofoam wreath form instead!  Much quicker and arguably a similar effect.

::Work in Progress::

Happy New Year Friends!

What a great feeling to start fresh

in a New Year.

I am ready for 2012 to start.

I look forward to each and every day

and being the best person I can be.

This will be my last year

before I turn the big 4-0

and I'm going to leave my thirties better than

I came in!

and...

I'm gonna be finishing this project soon.

sewing the back of the binding is all that's left.

just in time for Christmas 2012.

-sigh-

::guess what i got?::

just woke up from a little post-Christmas nap

and it's snowing.

we are in full on winter mode

which means i'm in hibernating mode.

yoga pants, uggs, cuddling under quilts,

fires in the fireplace

and lots and lots of hanging out in my sewing room.

and to kick start the new year

i received a new toy for Christmas!

last year it was a baby lock serger...

can you guess what it was this year?

here's a clue...

i'm beyond excited that i now have a

WALKING FOOT!

my mom showed me how to get started

and i.love.it!

such a great feeling to be able to

quilt on my machine.

and yes, i'm working on a Christmas project...

thinking a Valentine project is up next.

thanks to my dear husband for another

great gift! love you!

::Merry Christmas::

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

from Three Sisterz!

Molly is in D.C.

Flannery is in San Anotonio

and

I'm here in Philly

It's unusual that we are not together.

and i'm wishing we were.

i miss my nieces and nephew

most especially.

but it's not all bad!

It's nice for Flannery to be in warm Texas with her in-laws

and I know Molly is happy to keep her little guy home

and not travel this year

and me?

Well, I have a little more time to sew

since I don't have a houseful of guests.

That makes me happy.

and speaking of Christmas and sewing

have you met Amy?

i'm obsessed with her blog.

and i keep pinning her beautiful creations.

her flickr stream is cRaZy cute.

when i saw this cute pillow that Amy made, I couldn't help but give it a try

except i chickened out on doing the pillow and

I'm going to make it into a wall hanging instead.

how precious is this?

isn't it the sweetest thing eVer?

i adore the embroidery~ but how does she do that?

{red, green, pink and aqua}

love the pink bands with the beautiful hand stitching

here's what i put together

with a little help from my girl

Acuquilt.

can you tell i like polka dots?

i thought santa should be next to

his reindeer

i threw some black in there.

it reminded me of santa's belt and boots

trying to figure out a border.

i think too many dots with this one.

too much aqua

hmmm, i like the plain pink

and the gingham is cute for the binding.

dots and gingham is a bit much,

don't you think?

still too many dots...

stay tuned to see how it turns out.

i've already added the border,

some rick rack

and i've basted it.

and in the mean time,

Happy Holidays from Three Sisterz

to you!

::GumDrop Trees::

{every year we make these}

we put on some christmasy tunes

make some hot chocolate and marshmallows

and spend the afternoon

discussing what Santa might bring

it's a tradition

this year we added colorful toothpicks

it was a big deal

and added quite the excitement

my job was cutting the toothpicks in half

the best part is eating the gumdrops

that are left over

Ta Da!

i'm off to sit in front of the fire

have a good night!

ChalkCloth Christmas Ornaments

Hi there,

I write from the land of the sick and the brave.

We've conquered, we've battled, but we will not be defeated.

Well, at least the kids won't be defeated.

Me?  The Mom?  Well that's a whole nother story.

I'm close to being defeated.  I mean seriously, legally aren't I entitled to a break every four hours?  Or, like, aren't I eligible at this point to collect overtime pay?

Well, I did manage to eek out these c u-u-u-u te teacher gifts this week.  

However, and don't kill me, I did not produce the tutorial.

Tell Court and Molly not to fire me from blogging.

So this Chalk Cloth business is fun! 

My supply came from our amazing, wonderful sponsor the Online Fabric Store.  

I sewed the patch of chalk cloth onto some leftover drop cloth I had (member my pillows?).  

Then I essentially made a little pillow with sweet Christmas fabric on the other side and attached a loop of dark red grosgrain ribbon for hanging.

Do you recognize the handsome man in the photo?

I thought they turned out really cute.  Put together with one of those cool chalk pens and wrap in a cellophane bag and its a sweet Christmas gift.   I like the idea of the kiddos writing the message, too. Could be the year (2011), could be the name, or perhaps a special thank you message.

Happy Holidays everyone.  I won't be with my sisters and nieces and nephew this year (tear) but I will be where it is warm with the in-laws. 

Christmas Card Craft

I like the idea of using our family Christmas card to make some sort of momento to remember the year by. Remember these ornaments I made several years ago from left over Christmas cards & wedding invitations?! I really wanted to do something special with our 2010 Christmas card since it was Baby C's first Christmas. I knew I wanted to decoupage the card onto something, but, I didn't know what that something was...until I spoke to Flannery. She led me to this inspiration:

Isn't that adorable!?

So, I decided on the word JOY to display above our stockings during the holidays. Then I headed to Michael's and bought some supplies!

I printed out several copies of our Christmas card on regular computer paper. From my (limited) decoupage experience, photos do not decoupage well. And the thinner the paper, the easier to decoupage! First, I traced the letters on the BACK of the paper/card. Then, I started to cut & paste! I used the Paper Modge Podge for most of the project. Thanks to Flann, who tipped me off to Sparkle Modge Podge - I used that as the final coat to give the letters a little holiday sparkle! :)

Ta Da!

I love how the letters turned out! This project has so many possibilities and you can really get creative (paint, ribbon, etc.). A decoupaged monogram would make an adorable baby shower, housewarming or wedding shower gift don't you think!?