Great Little Gems Coming Up...

I am excited to share some fun little crafts with you this week- that anyone, and I mean anyone can make. And the cost...is practically nothing. So stick around- I will try to post a different one each day for your viewing/reading enjoyment ☻

And speaking of great little fun crafts and ideas, have you checked out the fun happening on MADE and MADE BY RAE? It is BOY MONTH! Talk about a great idea. {I have three boys}so I'm all about celebrating the boy too- of course. ☻ Happy February! I'm off to do the beloved bills, and fold the blessed laundry. 

Make sure you check it out. They have two super cute buttons too!

Baby Bibs & Backing Fabrics

I have over 1/2 a dozen baby gifts to give and make. I am way behind. I decided to get busy-since some family members have had some babies recently. (sorry to all my friends I have yet to give a baby gift too...I am trying to get there ☻...and I still have some C-mas gifts to finish also...yeah, it sounds like life to me- never getting caught up...)

Since I have made some baby bibs lately, here are a few to view...with different backing fabrics.

Few tips on making bibs:

I have tried some templates out there, but resorted to just using a baby bib I already had, and tracing it for a pattern. It worked best for me! Plus my babies have big heads-in size of course-, so not all those templates worked for my kids....

Denim may be a little heavy and stiff, but sometimes I want that kind of a bib for my baby. The above bibs are backed with denim. It really works for keeping the spills on the bib and not on the clothes. Plus, I think it is {cute} and it does get softer as it gets washed.  I have an old BABY GAP bib that was denim, and it was always one of my favorites. For the above bibs, I just used a pair of old jeans.

Backing bibs with minky fabric is super soft and cute. Many of the boutique style bibs are using this fabric on the back of their bibs these days. It is soft - if you are leaving the bib on for drooling, it works really well.  I love the softness of minky fabric--soo soft!

And below- terrycloth is great because it is like having a built in wash cloth on the back of the bib. Most of the time, my baby bibs get stained, and worn, so eventually I replace them anyway. As my babies grow, I use a different style of bib when the are older too. tip: use a washcloth or a towel for the terrycloth- you can make several bibs out of it, and often they can be found on clearance, or at the dollar store!

And of course if you have a super cute baby/model.... put your little bib on him and you can see that he just loves his new bib! ☻

Make a Diaper Clutch from a Placemat

This is just about the easiest baby thing out there that you can make! I am sure I saw this on some blog somewhere...forgive me for not remembering where!

I currently have 2 babies in diapers- and my youngest has to wear {2}, yes 2 diapers in two sizes at once, due to his surgery. So the plastic zip bag in the car and diaper bag were getting old pretty fast. ☻

Here is what you do to make this:

1. Buy a placemat at the dollar store.

2. Wash it.

3. Iron it. I used a little spray starch since it really wrinkled when I washed it.

4. Fold it so it creates 2 flaps.

5. Sew on some velcro for a closure. (make sure you mark where you want your velcro so it matches up. I just eye-balled it. )

6. Sew the sides on the larger flap to form a pocket.

Stuff it with diapers and wipes and add it to your diaper bag! Couldn't be easier or cuter.

I am thinking of personalizing it by adding an initial, ribbon, ric-rac, or something and giving it for a baby gift.

What do you think?

He likes It!! (He loved putting any and every thing in his mouth these days!)

Riley Blake Wheels Fabric

Just when I think I have my little boy's car room almost complete, some fabric genius,- My Mind's Eye from Riley Blake, comes out with this new collection called Wheels.
I'm in trouble. ☻ I already have every-single-car-fabric-ever-made- and now they have to make newer -cuter car fabrics!  We are getting a house built right now and I'm telling you, I think I may have to re-do the whole boy's car room using these cute fabrics instead of what I have already done and am still finishing. Anyway, little boys are messy, so they can have two bedroom sets right? Then you  can have one in the wash and a different one on their beds! I am in love with the brown and orange thing for boys and this fabric collection is just way too cute. Anyone want to donate $ to my never-ending fabric addiction? just kidding....
I would also need someone to come and watch my3 munchkins so that I could have some time so sew....☻
Happy Sewing!

Covering Books with Fabric

These books belonged to my Great-Grandma. I think they are very pretty.

These are some of my favorite books, but I think  they could look prettier-since they are always on the nightstand- just being displayed.

This took all of 10 minutes and made a big difference on our nightstands! It isn't permanent, so I can re-use the fabric later for something else.

Below is the before look:

Here is the after on one nightstand:

The after on the other nightstand:

See...you don't have to sew to enjoy pretty fabrics!
Pretty fabrics really cheer me up...especially right now- I think I need some new fabric....
How do you use fabrics to decorate? Please share. ☻

DIY Photo Tile Coaster + Gift Tag Poem

Sorry about the lack of posts lately... Things at home in the "real world" are needing my attention these days...

DIY Photo Tile Coasters and Gift Tag Poem

These things were all over the place during the holidays. These are some I made for gifts during the holidays- and still need to mail....oops!  Like I said, other things have needed my attention...Sorry about that. The gift will come ...soon..someday...

HERE is where you can download the gift-tag-poem I wrote to go with these-if you want to make them in the future, or for Valentine's Day. Although-you may need to change a few words on the poem -to make it fit-and you have my permission to do so. ☻

Supplies for Photo Tile Coasters:

Tiles from Home Depo or Lowes- any kind you like

Sandpaper

Modge Podge

Photos

Felt circles (like to go on the bottom of chairs)

Photos

Acrylic Paint

Clear Acrylic Sealer (found at Lowes or Home Depo)

1.If you pick tiles like I did, the porcelain black and white ones, you will need to sand the edges and paint the edges and bottom so they don't look so much like a tile.

2. When it is dry, modge podge your photo to the top. I sanded the edges of my photos to give it a distressed look.

3. When that is completely dry, and you made need to wait a few days, apply a clear acylic sealer. We used a spray and you can buy this at Home Depo. or Lowes. It seals the photo, so when you put a cup on it, the coaster will be protected.

 4. Apply the felt circles to the bottom of the coaster and you are done! Your coaster is ready for use!

As always, if you make some of these, I would love to see them. Leave a comment and I'll take a look. Happy Crafting!

Burlap ABC/Number Magnets {Tutorial}

I am loving all things ABC lately. ☻ Everyone needs some cute ABC magnets for their fridge/magnet board ..so I came up with these to use up some burlap scraps and magnets I bought over a year ago.☻ These are super easy, super cute, and super fun...{at least I think so}...and if you love burlap, ABC's and leaving love notes and messages... perhaps you will love these too. Here is the 411 on making a set for your magnet board so you can leave messages like this:

SUPPLIES FOR BURLAP ABC MAGNETS:

Foam or rubber stamps

Acrylic craft paint

Sponge brush to apply paint

Burlap (of course)

Button magnets

Scissors

Double sided Fusible Webbing (I used Steam-to-Seam)

Fabric scraps

Iron and a glue gun

If you are new to working with burlap, here is a great post with great tips on using the stuff. First apply paint to your stamp and stamp it on the burlap. After it is dry, cut it out in the desired shape. (I wasn't really exact about mine, but do what works for you.)

Using your double-sided fusible webbing, apply that to the back side of the burlap and fabric to the other side. Iron according to the directions on the fusible webbing.

Hot glue your button magnet on the back and when that is dry you are done. You could use a different type of magnet, but I liked the 3-D effect when it is on the magnet board, from using this type of magnet.

Now you are done! If you make a few of the more common letters, you can use these all year these all year to display messages to your family or loved ones. Here are a few Valentine's messages:

How about using these to spell "Happy Birthday" or "Have a Great Day" etc. etc. So many possiblities...and the best part is -they don't break. (I have lots of breakable magnets....)

I am loving these! I have an idea for something similar, so if it works I'll let you know. If you like this and make a set, please link to this post- as I would LOVE to see your version! {And let me know if you have questions too..} Happy Crafting!

On Tip Junkie

Thanks to whoever it was that submitted my items to Tip Junkie.  :) Two of myValentine's items from last year are featured there today ☻ I told Laurie is must have been one of my readers- so thanks-whoever you are.  I love surprises!  If you noticed I have been absent from this here blog lately. My husband's work schedule has drastically changed, and there have been some things here at home that need my attention-too many things in fact. I have a new fun craft planned and will post it soon.☻ Just being a mommy who knows her family comes first. ☻Thanks for all your support and kind words!!
Love, Sharla

Favorite "Gems" {a.k.a. posts} from 2009

Because "everyone is doing it"- ha ha☻- I thought I would post my favorite and some of your favorite little gems from this here blog.☻ Enjoy and here's to a creative 2010!

Shower Curtain Playmat

originally posted January 2009

Handy Valentine Card

originally posted February 2009

Rain in a Jar

originally posted April 2009

Make your own No David Book

originally posted May 2009

Little Boys Transportation Quilt

originally posted March 2009

Restaurant in a Box Play Kit

originally posted August 2009

Pipecleaner Pumpkins

originally posted October 2009

Car Cozie Tutorial

originally posted first in June 2009 and then September 2009

(probably the most popular post found here :))

Softie Penguin Made from a Scarf

just posted December 2009 with Tutorial/template coming this month, January 2010

AND NOW... I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone out there who encourages me, supports me, and reads this thing. :) It really means a lot to me. Thank you thank you! More fun to come for 2010!

Happy New Year everyone!