Ready for Spring

After Christmas I decided to keep my 3- tiered stand decorated as a hot chocolate bar through the winter. 

But it has felt so springy the last week - it made me want to bring some spring inside. So I put away the Santa mugs and went shopping for something springy. 

I found all this at Dollar Tree!

It's still a work in progress- but I'm loving the change!

Animal Applique Burp Cloths

I've done a few burp cloths as gifts (see here) by adding fabric to cloth diapers to add personality so this time I wanted to try something different.  So as a gift to my nephew-on-the-way, I decided to add a fabric animal silhouette applique.  

 

 

For this project you'll need:
6-ply prefold cloth diapers  (mine are from Target)
fabric scraps
heat n bond lite (the purple one) 
iron
scissors
sewing machine/thread
animal patterns - This link is a great resource to find simple animal patterns.*
*I used these patterns to make this project, but I printed them at 40% and that seemed about the right scale.

Step 1:  Cut to size a piece of fabric and heat n bond and iron the textured side of the heat n bond to the wrong side of the fabric.

Step 2:  Cut out your animal pattern and then use that as a pattern to cut out the shape out of the fabric.

Step 3:  You may want to iron your cloth diaper.

Step 4:  Follow the instructions to iron the animals onto the burp cloths.

Step 5:  Sew around the edge of the animal, as close to the edge as possible.

I think they turned out great!!

All ready to welcome my new nephew into the world!!

Colorful Fabric US Map Framed in Embroidery Hoop

This idea is everywhere - but this picture is the one that stayed with me.  It's crazy adorable.

So then when I found a large oval embroidery hoop at Goodwill - I bought it.  Then it sat around for about a year.  It seemed like a really big project and I wasn't sure where to start.  Also, I have always had a mental block about fusible interfacing.

Finally, I decided to tackle the project.  I found this tutorial at See Kate Sew, which included a printable map pattern, so that is where I started.

I have a lot of scrap fabric, but I ended up buying quite a bit more.  I kept updating my family on the project using the hashtag #theresalotofstates And I wanted a variety of colors and I wanted the fabrics to have a connection with the states...in some cases.

I printed two maps.  I cut out the states of one and laid them where they go on top of the other.

Then I picked fabric and ironed heat n bond to the wrong side of it.  Then I cut around the state pattern.  Then I laid the fabric state on top of the map.

I love this fabric that I used for New Mexico!

After all the states were done, I ironed a piece of muslin and layered the map pattern under the muslin.  That allowed me to place the states in the right place.

Then I peeled off the interfacing and ironed the states into place, starting with the west coast.



Potato Pizza

Last weekend my project was to make potato pizza - don't freak out - it's delicious, trust me!!  It was a favorite of mine at a restaurant in my hometown, so I decided to try and replicate it.

I considered it a "project" rather than just "making dinner" because there are a lot of steps involved and I didn't have a recipe.

Stuff you'll need from the grocery store:

jiffy crust

Ranch dressing (a bottle or the kind you make)

sour cream

potatoes (3-4 medium size)

green pepper

red onion

bacon

shredded cheddar cheese (I bought a brick and then grated)

shredded mozzarella cheese (I bought a brick and then grated)

Step 1:  Bake the potatoes.  I washed, wrapped in foil and then baked at 350° for an hour and a half.  I felt like the bigger size potatoes were easier to slice.  After they come out of the oven, unwrap them and let them cool.

Step 2:  If you're making your own Ranch dressing, that is the next step.

Step 3:  Fry the bacon - you probably only need half a package and you want it crispy enough to crumble.

Step 5:  Make your crust, according to the package directions.

Step 6:  Dice your green pepper and onion.

Step 7:  Mix 1/2 cup Ranch and 1/2 cup sour cream - this is your sauce.  After you've pre-baked your pizza crust, add the sauce.

Step 8:  Slice your potatoes.  Then add them on top of the sauce.

Step 9:  Assemble the toppings.  In whatever order you choose, add the green peppers, onions, bacon and cheese.

Step 10:  Bake, according to crust package instructions.

Step 11:  Eat and enjoy!!! Don't forget to add extra Ranch dressing on top!

Step 12:  Post a comment below and tell me what you think of Potato Pizza!  (Probably something like this - you know, in your own words.)  ;)