Sunday, February 21, 2016

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!

Monday, February 15, 2016

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!!
DIY burp cloths, baby gift idea

Monday, February 8, 2016

Colorful Fabric US Map Framed in Embroidery Hoop

US Map 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.














US fabric map framed in embroidery hoop


Monday, February 1, 2016

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.)  ;)