DIY Baby Instruments

Lately, I've been racking my brain for ways to keep my 14-month-old baby entertained during the late afternoons--you know, the witching hour. Basically, between the time she gets up for nap until Daddy gets home from work, she's generally crabby, fussy, grumpy, or just plain bored. I thought that if I could present her with some fun crafts or games in the late afternoon, it might help us survive until Daddy gets home.

Some things I've tried over the last week or so include edible (though not tasty) playdough and finger paint.

I thought we were full on messy crafts (although they were tons of fun), and I decided I wanted to involve some of her other senses. Since this was the last week of Kindermusik until the fall, I thought some homemade musical instruments would be fun.

I was inspired while cleaning out my pantry. Yeah, I know. But I had three almost empty, expired cardboard cylinders. They used to contain grits, bread crumbs, and chow mien noodles.

To make these, you will need:
cardboard cylinders
pretty paper
rubber cement (or any glue you like)
a hot glue gun
an assortment of sound makers (I used little jingle bells, Styrofoam balls, and split peas)

First, I measured the height of each tube. I cut out a piece of scrapbook paper that size, and then I wrapped it around the tube, gluing it down with the rubber cement. I used a thin bead of hot glue to make sure the end of the paper was secure as I didn't want Little O to peel it off.

Once the glue dried, I placed the noisemakers inside. I used hot glue to secure the lids to the tubes to prevent choking hazards.

That's it! Now I am just waiting for her to wake up from her nap to show her the new instruments I made for her.

I was featured on Carrots Are Orange!

Teacher Appreciation Gifts

"Thank You for helping me grow!" 

Today was the last day of Baby O's Morning Out for Moms program. This school year, she's been attending the program for a few hours every Thursday morning. She had two wonderful teachers in her classroom, and I'm sure she's going to miss them over the summer. I am going to miss having a few hours each week dedicated to crafting and sewing. I sure hope nap time gets longer so I can have a few hours in my craft room to myself each week. 45-minute naps are not conducive to creativity.

Baby O (in the middle) with her teachers and a classmate.

Anyway, to show my appreciation for all their work and love O's teacher's have shown her this year, I wanted to make them something special. So of course I scoured Pinterest. There I found links to these other very creative bloggers: Love Grows Wild and Giggles Galore.

Here's what I did:

First, I gathered my supplies and made a list of what I needed. I had craft paint and brushes, chalk, Sharpies, ribbon, a tape measure, scrapbook paper, dowels, and dirt. I needed acrylic spray (to make the paint more durable and to keep the chalk from wiping off), flower pots, flowers, and gift cards.

Once I gathered all of my supplies (and of course, like my mother before me, and my grandmother before her, I waited until the last minute to REALLY gather all my supplies--I didn't have the flowers or gift cards until the day I was going to give them to her teachers), I got down to business.

First, I painted the base of the pots (and the little saucers) black. Then I painted the rims yellow. It took two coats of black and three coats of yellow. In hindsight, I would have painted the yellow first and then the black to get a crisper line. The black kind of showed through the yellow a little bit, but since it was under the rim of the flower pot, I didn't think anyone would notice. The craft store did have chalkboard spray paint, and I thought about using it instead of black craft paint. I decided against it because I didn't intend for the pots to be written on and erased over and over again.

After the paint dried, I taped the measuring tape around the bottom portion of the rim. Using a fine tip Sharpie (the regular-sized one), I marked off each inch mark. I had to fudge the last one because it didn't line up exactly. But I don't think anyone will notice (unless they get out a tape measure and check it). Then I removed the tape measure and marked the half-inch and quarter-inch marks with an extra fine tip Sharpie. In the examples I found online, they marked the pots to the 16th inch, but I liked the clean look of marking to the quarter inch instead. And since I waited until the last minute (6 a.m. on the last day of school), I was running out of time.

Next I used white chalk to write "Thank You for helping me grow" on each pot. I also wrote Baby O's name and the year on the saucer (which will get covered by the pot, but the teachers know it's there and will remember who gave it to them). I used the acrylic spray to set the chalk and make it more durable. Now here is where I ran into a problem: the spray dissolved a little of the chalk, so it didn't look as "chalky". I let the acrylic dry, and then I traced over what I had already written with a second coat of chalk. I sprayed it again, and this time it came out looking like I wanted.

While I wanted for the acrylic to dry, I made paper pinwheels out of scrapbook paper. I found the tutorial here. I didn't use brads. I just hot glued each corner down to the center and hot glued a button on top to hide the glue. I know they don't spin, but I was OK with that. It was more for the look. I just love the school days paper I found. Since my paper wasn't double sided, I glued two pieces (right sides out) together using rubber cement (I didn't have spray adhesive like she used in the tutorial). They turned out great, though. Then I glued each pinwheel to a small dowel using hot glue.

After the acrylic dried, I planted red impatiens in each pot. I tied the gift cards I purchased to the dowel using green grosgrain ribbon. I planted the pinwheels in the pot behind the flowers.

Here are the finished flower pots!

See where I've linked up!

Quilt Show

Today my mom and I went to the Hands All Around Quilt Show. It was a great time. There were so many beautiful quilts and so many vendors. We went last year too, but I think there were more vendors this year. And this year was much less gross eventful.

Last year the quilt show was on Olivia's due date, so I had her sweet 6-week-old self strapped to my chest in the Moby. Several people kept asking me if she was a real baby. No. I just am some crazy lady and I like to wear a doll on my chest in public. Anyway, we were ALMOST done checking out the beautiful quilts, and sweet baby O's diaper leaked. All over her. All over me. I can't wait to tell my teenage baby someday that she was naked in the Sale Barn (there was no changing table!!).

So this year, Olivia stayed home with Daddy. And I really enjoyed myself.

I found the most adorable pattern for a fabric book. It's called Ten Little Things for Moda by Jenn Ski. It's a number panel. Each page is a number with pictures, and the facing page is made out of the coolest stuff: chalkboard fabric! I can't wait to try it out. There are also pockets built into the book to hold your chalk. So neat! I can't wait to make it for Olivia. I bought the fabric panel (which came with the pattern) and the chalkboard fabric. I didn't buy the jelly roll. One because they didn't have it. And two, I think it will be just as cute and much, much cheaper with strips of bright fabric that aren't necessarily from the same line.

I also bought 1/2 yard cuts of black and white prints. Then I found this Smiley Cow, Pigs, Birds, Bees and a black and white cow print that will go perfectly.

I am thinking of making a quilt out of this just in black, white, and red. But then I also think a pop of cobalt blue would be pretty. We'll have to wait and see!

ABC Quilt (Baby Boy)

No I haven't forgotten about my Baby Girl Owl Quilt. But I did stop by the Sewing Studio yesterday for some inspiration, and I found some fabric I just had to have!!

First, I found the ABC panel. Then I saw the green gears (bottom middle in the picture above) and a red stripe (top right in the picture below). I also used the plaid from the Fun Mischief line instead of the Exciting Mischief line.

 In addition, I bought a blue swirl from the same designer (only the girl line) (center in the photo below).

What's really exciting about this project is that I designed the quilt by hand using good old fashioned graph paper and colored pencils. The other exciting part: I used up some of my leftovers from previous quilts to add some color. I used the green and blue polka dot, black and green from the Owl Quilt. And some yellow from a Sock Monkey Quilt I made for a friend.

Here's the design I created. It's a random assortment of blocks including pinwheels, diamonds, flying geese, checkerboard, and some others.

I can't wait to start piecing it together!

Owl Quilt Top (Baby Girl)

I FINALLY finished my first quilt top for my shop. All that's left is the quilting and the binding. Hopefully I'll finish that this week.

Here's the fabric I chose.

Brother Sister Design Sleepy Owl (from Hobby Lobby)
Blue swirl, pink swirl, and green and blue polka dot (I don't remember what they are)
Hello Luscious Rosemary Green Geometric by Basic Grey for Moda (from The Treadle II)
The white fabric I bought at the Sewing Studio, but I can't remember what it is called either.

I designed a 9-block quilt with two borders. I used the owl print for the large border and the blue and green polka dot for the smaller inner border. The blocks alternated. Four blocks are a type of Irish Chain (I think).

Irish Chain Block (sort of)

And 5 blocks are white with blue triangles in the corners. I appliqued pieced owls (to look like the ones in the border fabric) on each of the white squares. Let me tell you... that was a beast! First problem: the Heat n Bond I used was way too strong. It was nearly impossible to peel the paper away without shredding the fabric. So, back to the store I went. Then I realized I didn't have any gray or black for the eyes. Another trip to the store. Finally, all the owls were assembled, and it was time to sew. Of course the tension on my machine went all wonky. So I pulled my backup machine out of the basement, but the thread kept snapping for some reason. Time to have my machines serviced I think.

It all worked out in the end, and I'm really pleased with the results (after remaking two owls because of skipped stitches and ripped fabric). I plan to quilt it (with more owl fabric for backing) and bind it (with the green) later this week.

Here it is!

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Owl Quilt Block (Baby Girl)

I'm so excited to be working on my first quilt for my shop. It's a nine-block quilt with adorable little appliqued owls.

Here's a sneak peak at one of the blocks. Obviously not one with the owls.

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I can't wait to show you the finished product!

Tutorial: Caterpillar Bug Jars

I'm working furiously to finish all the crafts I have planned for Little O's birthday party. Check out the invitations I made a few weeks ago. I have two weeks left. I think I can do it. If she takes some really LONG naps!

Today I worked on the centerpieces for the four tables in the party room. I decided on caterpillar bug jars to continue the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme.

You will need:

1. An assortment of pompoms. I used red, green, and yellow. The red one (for the head) is a slightly larger size than the green and yellow. I think it would be just as cute if all the pompoms were the same size.
2. Googly eyes
3. Pipe cleaners (one per caterpillar)
4. Hot glue
5. Plastic jars (you could use glass, but since mine are for a baby party, I opted for plastic). I got mine in the painting supply section of Hobby Lobby.
6. An assortment of green card stock
7. Scissors or a Cricut (I used my Cricut)

First, I hot glued the pompoms together to create the caterpillar body. Then I glued the googly eyes to the head.

Next, I attached the antennae. These are made out of black pipe cleaners. I placed the pipe cleaner under the caterpillar in the joint between the head and the first body segment. I wrapped the pipe cleaner around the "neck" and twisted it to hold it in place.

After securing the pipe cleaners, I used a pencil to curl them into antennae.

Here's what they looked like when they were finished.

I used my Cricut to cut out leaves to decorate the inside of the jars. I used dark green and light green and two different styles of leaves.

Here's the finished product. I think they turned out really cute. The caterpillars are a little larger than I had originally planned, but I like them anyway.

Jessica

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