Completed!

Last Monday I posted that I would enter the challenge over at Amy's Creative Side and complete my sister's birthday gift. I'm happy to say that I did it! Her birthday was last Tuesday, and I had most of the doll completed by then, but wanted to add all of the little extras. I hope she really enjoys her.

This was really a project for my sister that was also inspired by her. She really liked this:

   

..Which got me to thinking what that might look like. I think I'm a little too far removed from high school to have any idea what goth kids dress like anymore, but I think I did a pretty decent job. I hope! I'll either be getting an elated phone call or a very confused one. 

Panda and pleated skirt patterns are Dolls and Daydreams (who is having a giveaway right now!). Boots and bag are my own. :)

Challenging again

It has been a long time since I have entered one of Amy's challenges, but I happened to see it this morning as I am desperately trying to finish a birthday gift for my sister. I want to finish it on time, but maybe the chance at some thread and fabric goodies will make me finish it on time.

So, hopefully you can come back next week and see what this is!

And possibly, if I am seriously lucky I can finish this little cutie up now that her face is done and off of the hoop! Big goals for me! What will you be up to this week?

P.S.

I almost completely forgot to mention that today is the last day to enter a project for Sew-vivor! I finally decided to enter my Lollipop/Fresh Flowers quilt. It got the one and only vote here on the blog, but I also posted the same photo collage to my personal Facebook page where everyone seemed to like something different. I guess that means they're all great!

Belated Moments

I keep meaning to post new baby photos (though I guess that I did post one last week), it's just that every time I look at a picture of her, it already seems outdated. She is growing and changing so much!

Today we had her four month appointment and she is only 4oz shy of doubling her birth weight. And even though she is still two pounds smaller than Gabe was at this age, she has actually gained more weight at this point than he had. I just keep looking at this adorable monster in 6 month clothes and wondering what happened to the baby.

Compared to this...that's MY hand.So little!

Stuffed teeth

Coming soon to a classroom near you...maybe. Probably not very likely, but it would be kind of amazing if they did. I made up these super cute teeth by altering a pattern from the Softies book. Each one has a happy face on one side and a sad face on the other.

My sister, who I visited over the weekend, is in dental school. She's required to do community outreach as part of her training, but just happened to mention to me that the entire dental school has approximately four props to use as teaching aides!

I sent her a picture message of the images inside the Softies book and she developed a really cute teaching idea for young kids. Food flash cards and these teeth. Just a super simple "Is this a happy tooth food? Or a sad tooth food?" with plush visuals to really get the message out to Kindergartners. I can't wait to hear how this goes over! I know that my own four year old has really been into watching them come together!

Monday Moments

I went to my sister's this weekend. Our children are now 5, 4, 2, 1 and 3 1/2 months, it was kind of like spending the weekend in a daycare center, and probably about as relaxing as that would be. Ha!

Also in current news, my husband and I went on our first post baby date this weekend. I got a haircut for the occasion and it has really boosted my mood to not have to look at an unruly mop in the mirror. Though, I am still going through that awkward hormonal phase with my hair. It finally started falling out (I have ultra-thick hair normally, so I'm always excited to reach this phase), but is also really oily lately. Eww! At least it's greasy and cute I guess.

The afternoon following our date my husband drove me across town to the JoAnn Fabrics where I got some supplies for a few projects that will hopefully make their way to the blog soon. Supplies including the Simplicity pattern I have been ogling...and it has sizes all the way down to newborn, so I may make one in Caroline's current size just to get an idea of how it goes together and some practice on the zipper before I go for the big first birthday dress!

Penguin, Frog and Owl Gift Bags Tutorial

Alright, so I know it's late, but I made these and then decided I should whip up another and give you a little tutorial. And, in the spirit of trying new things (one of my New Year's resolutions) I decided to do the templates in PDF form for you to download here!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but these are so super easy to make up and so cute! They make adorable gift bags, and could even be put together by older kids as Valentine holders for classroom exchanges. Ready to learn how?

For each animal you will need:

Printed PDF templates
Scrapbook paper scraps
One lunch sized gift (or brown paper) bag
Scissors
Glue stick or double sided tape
Opaque gel pens (for optional decorative "stitching")

Black marker for the Frog's mouth
Scalloped or pinking edged scissors for Owl eyelashes
Stickers to seal the edge of the bag

Print and cut out the template pieces for the animal(s) of your choosing.

Trace around your templates on the wrong side of your printed papers. For each animal you will need:

One head

One small heart

One large heart

One beak (for Owl and Penguin)

Two eyes (reversing, or tracing the opposite side of the template, for one of the Frog's eyes)

Two feet (reversing one for all animals)

Two wings, arms or flippers (reversing one for all animals)

Two cheeks

For the penguin only: Two more cheek pieces in a black print for eye centers

Face piece for inside of head

For Owl only: Two pieces of paper measuring 1/2" X 1 7/8" for eyelashes

Glue or tape the penguin's face piece inside the head, using the dashed lines inside the template as a placement guide.

For all animals: Place the eyes and cheeks using the dashed lines on the templates as a guide.

For the Owl: Using your scalloped or pinking edged scissors cut a small amount off of one edge of your eyelash pieces. Place these so that the scalloped edge is toward the bottom of the head and the top corners are lined up with the outer edge of the eye. (See finished photo at bottom.)

For the penguin: Place the black pair of cheek pieces inside the eyes.

For the Owl and Penguin: Place the beaks last, again using the dashed lines as a guide

For the Frog: lightly draw a curved line between the cheeks with a pencil. Using your black marker draw five small rectangles along the curved line to create the frog's mouth. Erase the marks in between your rectangles. (See finished photo at bottom.)

Fold down 1 1/2" from the top of your bag.

Glue or tape (tape may work better if you are using a glossy surface like the gift bags I have chosen) the heads onto the bags so that they overhang the folded down edge.

Now assemble your heart by centering and gluing the small piece inside the larger one. Attach the assembled heart to the bag 1/2 to 3/4 inches from the bottom, making sure to leave a small space between the heart and the head.

Add arms, wings or flippers depending on which animal you are making. Use the completed photos as a guide to placement.

Put glue or tape along the top 1/2" of your foot pieces. Attach the glued areas to the underside (bottom) of your bag at or near the corners.

Draw optional decorative stitching with your gel pen.

Now you're ready to open them up and fill with treats!