Making Soft Blocks for Amelia's Birthday

Amelia's first birthday is quickly approaching and all the planning has begun.  We are just doing a small gathering but there are still so many little things that have to be done.  We have already bought some presents, but I think that it is always nice to have something that is homemade to give to your child.  Something that they can maybe give to their children one day.  I decided that I am going to make her a set of soft blocks.  I like these because she can't hurt herself or anything else with these and they are so simple to make.  You can use any fabric that you want.  I just pulled out some scrap fabric and went to town.  So far I have two made and plan on making at least 8 more for her.  Each one only took about 20 minutes to make.  So easy!

Here is what you will need:

For each block: six 4.5" squares - I chose three fabrics per block so 2 of each fabric, thread, poly stuffing for inside the block.


Here is what I did:

After I cut out the squares, I laid them out into a t with alternating fabrics.

I then attached each square together.  I placed them right side together and sewed a straight stitch where each one meets.

Once you have sewn the sides together it will look like an inside out block.

Leave a small hole on one seam so that you can put your stuffing in.

After all of your stuffing is in, sew up the hole and you now have a cute block.

You can use different fabric for all of the blocks or make them all the same.  I am using all kinds of fabric to make them bright and colorful.  Have fun and use what ever fabric you think your child will like.  She will love playing with her gift that mommy made just for her!

Making a Pillow Dress for Amelia's First Birthday

It has been a crazy week in our household and I am finally getting to sit down and blog.  Alex started our week off with a bout with a lovely stomach bug and ended out the week with his kindergarten screening.

I have been working all week on a dress for Amelia's first birthday.  It should have taken me less than an hour to make but like I said it has been crazy here this week and I only worked on it a little at a time.  Amelia will be turning one here in a few weeks and I thought that it would be nice if I could make her party dress.  I have to say it is so much fun making little girl clothes.  I love my son and I love making him things too but this is a nice change.  I decided to make a little pillowcase dress for her since it will be cool to wear on a hot July day in the south.  It has already been in the mid nineties for the past few weeks with no break in sight.  It will only get hotter here for the next few months.

Here is what you will need to create this darling dress:
1 yeard of a cute fabric - something cotton, lightweight
matching thread
2 yards of coordinating thread
bias tape - I used my own with 20" x 3" strips of her dress fabric

Here is the fabric that I used: SO CUTE!!

I started by cutting out a pattern and using it for cutting the material.  The pattern measures 4.5" for the neck, 6" x 2" for the arm, 20" for the middle, and 11" for the bottom.  You will need to cut out two - one for the back and one for the front.

Next, I made my bias tape.  I cut out two strips of the fabric - 20" x 3".  You will then iron it making a crease down the middle.

You will then open that up and fold the sides to the middle and iron those flaps down.

You will then fold the flaps together and there you have your bias tape for to finish the arms of the dress off cleanly.

Next, I hemmed the bottom of the dress on each piece of fabric.  I did not sew the sides together until later.  I folded it up 1/2" and then folded that over another 1/2" to create an inch hem at the bottom.  I also did a 1/2" hem at the neck but you will finish the neck later.

I then attached the bias tape to each of the arm slots.  I pinned each one on and then cut the extra off.  One one side you will use half and then the other half on the other side.  You will need to do this on the front and back piece of the fabric.  I then sewed it on using a straight stitch remembering to back stitch at the ends to reinforce the hold.

Now for the neck.  I used ribbon that is 7/8" wide so I made the hem of the neck 1.5".  I folded it down and pinned it before I sewed it down with a straight stitch and reinforced the ends.

I then pinned the front and back together, right sides together.  

You will then sew the sides together.  I used a zig zag stitch and then reinforced the ends with a straight stitch.  I wanted to make sure it was strong since this is for a one year old.

Lastly is threading the ribbon through the hem that you created.  I attached a safety pin to make it easy to pull through.  Once it is pulled through you can tie the ends in a bow to make cute little straps for the dress.

Here is the final product.  Sorry it is kinda hanging sideways.  This is for a size 18 month so you can change the measurements for the size that you will want.  I think it will be a perfect dress for her birthday!

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to post below.

Father's Day Craft - DIY Camera for Daddy

My husband Tim is an avid photographer.  He always has a camera with him so that he can get a picture whenever he feels the need.  Most of the artwork on our walls are photographs that he has taken through the years.  They are amazing!  With all that being said, it is really hard to buy him something for his hobby since his camera stuff is very specific and I have no idea what most of it is. I decided that Alex and I would make him a camera as a frame for a picture of Alex and Amelia.

Here is what you will need:
A box - I used a PopTart box
A jar lid - I used on from single serve microwavable rice
black paint
a small cube or cylinder
a picture





You will need to start out by painting the box, lids, and cylinder black.  You will need time for it to dry before you can move on to the next step.

Here is what it looks like with everything painted.

You will need to trace the shape of the lid onto the picture so that you can cut it out to fit inside the lid.

You will then glue the lid on the front of the camera and the lid and cylinder onto the top of the camera.

This is what it looks like in the end.  I think that it turned out awesome.  I know that Tim will love it and I am sure that he will display it with some of his vintage cameras.  This is a simple project but it does takes a little time since the paint and glue both have to dry.

Taco Soup - SO YUMMY and EASY!!!!

When I went into the kitchen this morning I started staring into the pantry.  I wanted something that I have not made in a while or something new.  It feels like we are in a dinner rut lately and I wanted to break the cycle.  I figure I would throw something in the slow cooker so that I would not have to cook later.  It can be hard to cook a meal that has many steps when you have an active 11 month old on your hands.  After staring for a few minutes, I finally came up with Taco Soup.

Here are the ingredients that I used:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can Rotel, the one that says chili fixin
1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 onion, diced
1 package taco seasoning
1 can red kidney beans
1 can black beans



This is a dump and go kinda recipe.

You will want to dump in the Rotel, beans, tomatoes, and the ground beef into the slow cooker.

Chop the onion and add it to the slow cooker.

Add the package of taco seasoning.

Stir all the ingredients together.

The complete taco soup.  SO YUMMY!  And it smelled fantastic cooking all day!

As you can see it was a big hit!

Father's Day Craft - Day 2 - Framed Picture of Daddy

I thought that it would be cute if I had Alex draw a picture of his daddy and framed it.  I always have an empty frame laying around the house that I have picked up somewhere.  This is a quick project but it turned out so cute.  I know that Tim is going to love it.  I am sure that Tim will either put in on his desk at work or home.  This is a project that Alex is very proud of and cannot wait to give it to his daddy.  We are working hard on keeping these projects a secret and so far Alex is doing a great job!
Here is what you will need:

A piece of paper - We used a piece of card stock.
Picture frame (I picked one up at the local thrift store recently that will be perfect.)
crayons, colored pencils, or markers

I started by measuring the paper and tracing the back of the frame.  I then cut it out so that it will fit perfectly in the frame.

Next, Alex drew a picture of his daddy on the paper and signed his name on the back.

This is the final product.  I think it is awesome.  Any dad would love getting this as a gift for Father's Day!

Father's Day Craft - Day 1 - 10 Reason I Love Dad hanger

As Father's Day quickly approaches, I thought that it would be fun to do a new Father's Day craft every day with the kids.  Alex loves to make things for his daddy and doing this everyday this week will be very exciting for him.

Today's craft was something that his daddy can hang on his desk at work.  I have seen the Popsicle stick crafts that fold, but we decided to make it with glue and add ribbon so that daddy can hang it up at work.

Here is what you will need:
11 Popsicle sticks
glue - We used wood glue.
a small piece of ribbon
sharpie

First, I wrote 10 things that Alex loves about his daddy on each stick.  On one stick you will want to write "10 Things I Love About Dad". (Sorry this one is upside down! )

Next, I lined all of the sticks up in order.  I love the one that says he builds snowmen with me.  I think that we get about an inch or 2 of snow total in a year here. HAHA!

Then I glued all of the sticks together using the wood glue and after it had a few minutes to begin to dry I glue the ribbon to the back.

    

This is the final product.  I think that Tim will really enjoy this simple but meaningful gift.  It is so cute to hear the reasons your little ones love you.  

Wonderful Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Alex has been asking me for a few days to make some chocolate chip cookies.  I finally remembered to get some butter last night so after Amelia went down for her nap today we went to the kitchen and started making cookies.

Here are the ingredients that you will need:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar (I used dark)
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour ( I always use unbleached ap flour)
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. hot water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 12 oz. bag of chocolate chips ( I used milk chocolate)
1 tsp instant coffee

Now for the recipe. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

1. Cream together the butter, white, and brown sugar.  Please make sure that you take your butter out of the fridge so that it is really softened.  It will not cream together with cold butter that is still hard.

2. Beat in two eggs.  Add the vanilla and stir it in.

3. In a separate bowl, mix baking soda and hot water together so that the soda dissolves.  Add to the mixture with the salt and stir together.

 4. Normally, I would say add the flour in slowly to incorporate it but I had an eager four year old helping me and he put all the flour in at once.  Stir in the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips and the coffee.  I always add coffee into something when I am baking with chocolate.  You will not taste it but it will really enhance the chocolate taste.

5.  Using a large spoon (I used a tablespoon measuring spoon) drop the cookie dough onto parchment lined cookie sheets.  Bake for 12 minutes or until golden around the edges.

I have to say these cookies are awesome!  They were crunchy around the edges and chewy in the middle.  Best of all they are four year old approved!  Let them cool on a cooling rack and enjoy!  This recipe makes a lot.  I made 54 cookies with this batch so you have plenty to share with someone else.