Saving the planet, one napkin at a time

I work in the nursery at church. We have about 10-15 little toddlers every week, and every week we serve a small snack to these little ones. The routine goes...play, clean up, lesson, color, snack, singing time. During coloring, an adult or two starts putting together snack stuff, which means, counting the kids and getting cups with water and paper napkins for all of them. Several months ago, we upgraded to those "disposable" yet re-usable sippy cups because we had a large group of kids come in brand new who still were a bit unskilled with a cup and liked to dip their goldfish in them...messy! Plus we figured that money would be saved by not having to buy lots of dixi cups, and it's better for the environment. Now us teachers take turns bringing the cups home and throwing them in the dishwasher and bringing them back. Well, I was noticing the huge stack of paper towels we were still going though...we put them out to put the snack on in front of the kids...so I thought it was time for a second upgrade. I just used leftover fabric from other projects or peices I'd picked up in a bag from D.I. that had something much cooler in with it...they aren't all the same size...some aren't square...but the fabrics are super cute and it will be much more fun on the table then boring white paper towels. I also have a little fabric tote that I'd made for a scripture tote, but ended up a little too small...it's perfect for carrying the napkins in, and can just be thrown in the wash with them (so we can throw the dirty ones in there, and not have to worry about not having something clean to put them in to bring them back.) I think it's briliant, if I do say so myself :)

Crafting away...and if I weren't too lazy to find my camera cord, you'd see a lot more of it :p

Wow, I've got a lot of catchup to do here....As you can see, this first one is from before we got our tree down...though it was AFTER Christmas....

This is the best picture I could get of them...I know, it's hard to see past those big blue eyes...but check out those clipies! I'll have to do some more and get a better picture soon. They are buttons on a felt leaf. I think they turned out so stinkin' cute! Why hadn't I made clipies before, you may ask? Well, because for ages now, I've been saying "It sure would be nice to have a hot glue gun..." to my husband...with little more then a grunt of response. I mean, seriously!! Who has a craft blog, but doesn't have a hot glue gun???? So, New Years day, we are clearing out a bunch of boxes and he comes across his hot glue gun that he used to have with his work tools...I knew he had it...but boy was he holding out on me...It's a WAY NICE one...one that you can actually unplug and take where you need it, and has it's own stand so it's not all percarious on a paperplate. Yeah...so now I finally have a hot glue gun...if only I had some glue sticks....

ok...next photo...(ignore the messy counter please...I was in the middle of getting this kid off to school...)

I've been watching this blog on refashioning clothing...And I've been inspired. My girls have a TON of pants with knees ripped out. This skirt, used to be the sweetest pair of corduroy pants...then someone tripped and the knee ripped out...then the rip was extended to most of the way up the thigh....yeah, not something they could wear. I cut it just below the zipper, then used whatever panels from the legs to make the first part of the skirt...which wasn't long enough, so I added the ruffle. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out...now to move on to the rest of the stack of ripped up pants....

This is my version of a Valentine advent calendar inspired by this fun site. I used a heavy piece of cardboard from a pack of scrapbooking paper...(I would have liked a peice of wood, but with one car and a husband who is gone from before I get up until 8 at night...I make due with what I have on hand.). I used mod podge to put on the scrapbook paper and paper heart. Then made little pockets out of other scrapbook paper and taped them on. I wanted to add ribbons to the top of the slips of paper...but I don't have a hole punch (ok, I'm now totally dis-credited in the crafting community, I'm sure!!!) The cardboard is a little bendy, but I'm not going to worry about it at this point, as the only one that's going to get a closer look then this is my husband, and I don't think he'll mark off too many points for that. ;)

Talk about an instant gratification project that totally made me smile today! Here is where I got this from (and the tutorial she links to) and it took me all of 20 min! Right now, I kinda like it hanging on this light, but It'll probably find a new place as I get more valentine day stuff going.

Aren't these little guys the cutest ever!! There is a free pattern here that I used for these. I'm making some for me, and then enough for our nursery at church too. They are going to be so cute! Eventually I'll find a branch to put them on and hang them up...but for now, I think I'll call them "love birds" and use them in my Valentine's day decorations :)

I see a snow fairy!

I've been wanting to make one of these adorable tutu's...so I picked up tulle while at the fabric store on Saturday...figuring it would be another month or so before it got done...But I was really on top of things and got to it TODAY! I thought I had plenty to make skirts for all three girls, but I guess I like them fuller then most directions call for. My plan was to keep my older two occupied this afternoon, so I cut up the tulle into strips and made one for Katie to see if it was something Aimee and Betty could handle...totally something they could do with limited supervision...but I ran out of tulle! So, you get a cute photo shoot of Katie for now. I spent an hour with a search engine and read several tutorials, so I really don't have a link to post, but when I do this with the older two, I'll take pics for one. It really is super easy! Just type in "easy no-sew tutu tutorial". I used elastic and just tied a knot in it for this one. I saw one that called for using and adult size headband thing...I may try that next time as the elastic was a little wonky. Also, for this one, I used almost 3 yards of tulle. I absolutely LOVE it :)


*Photos by my talented brother

New apron!

So, I haven't been feeling particularly crafty or creative or patient enough with my kids to do crafts with them...but I'm trying to get myself re-motivated.

Lately I've been longing to have pretty things in my house...but I can't afford to just go out and buy them....so I'm trying to learn to make them. Right now, I want to work on sewing...I want a fabulous 50's style dress...I can see it in my head, and I've even seen a few online that I really like, but to get it just right, I know I'll have to learn how to do it myself. So, I'm starting on small projects and I'm going to try to work on them at least a little everyday.

Yesterday, I made an apron. I found this great tutorial that I followed exactly. It was really a good tutorial, and the apron turned out very nice! I had to rip out a couple seams because I wasn't paying enough attention to what I was doing...but her instructions were very good. My camera got left in the car that my husband took to work, so I'll have to post a picture later.

A few things I would change for next one. The bib on this one is too short for me. I'll make the neck tie in back so I don't have to do button holes. The waist ties, I'll fold over and sew then turn right side out...the ironing and hemming of those is a task I don't enjoy, so why do it that way when I like the other way better? :) Plus, I think it will look better so you don't have the back of a tie showing. And I may try one with a pleated ruffle...wouldn't that be pretty?

Overall, this was a very fun, easy project, and I think I'll do some measurements so my girls can make some for themselves.

Getting ready for the Tooth Fairy

So, the tooth fairy will be called in any day now, for Aimee's First loose tooth! It is a very exciting time around here. So, I made this little pillow for her. Cute, hu?

Supplies I used:
Paper (to draw pattern)
pencil
Scissors
1/4 yard White fabric (I used flannel and 1/4 is more then you need, but you need that width)
White thread
Embroidery thread (fabric paint for the words if you'd rather)
Embroidery hoop
Sewing machine
Cotton stuffing

How to:

1) Draw the tooth shape for front and back of pillow. I filled a whole 8x11 sheet and felt it was a good size. make an oval/circle for top of pillow...same width as top of tooth shape. Draw small pocket, big enough for a tooth and then change/bills from tooth fairy.

2) Cut out the pattern and transfer it to your fabric...I used a washable marker in a light color. If your embroidery hoop is bigger then the tooth, do not cut it out first...let's just not cut it out yet, for ease of directions :) Cut out all but the front(at least the pocket if nothing else), leaving enough around the front to secure in hoop.

3) Hem the top of pocket if necessary. I folded mine over and ran a blanket stitch along the top with embroidery thread. You could just run it through your sewing machine. Secure tooth front in hoop and stitch pocket in place with embroidery thread. Write "Tooth Fairy" with light washable marker or soft pencil (remember to leave room for a seam). Embroider front(or use fabric paint, letter buttons, or whatever other embellishment you wish). I'm wishing I'd added "sparkles" with 6 point stars on mine, and will likely go back and add something.

4) cut out fabric (if you haven't already) Place front and back together wrong side out.

5) Sew up all execpt the top of tooth. Place top of tooth along front so the hem will be on the inside. (I don't know how to word that, but I hope you have enough sewing experience to logic it out...)

6) Turn right side out. Wash by hand if it is neccessary to remove ink/pencil. Let dry.

7) Stuff (I used cotton filling). Turn seam under on back/top and stitch.

wow, that was a lot of steps...but it really wasn't hard. I did it in an evening, and think I could do another faster (I'm thinking of getting ones for Betty and Katie done while it's fresh in my mind) If I do, I'll post pics and maybe even scan in the pattern I made for you to use....now I just need to find the going rate for teeth...anyone know what the Tooth Fairy pays now-a-days?