Heat Press Vinyl

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/05/tutorial-heat-press-vinyl-on-shirts.html

(we really need a vinyl cutting machine...)

Ribbon Headbands

http://kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com/2010/01/creative-guest-ruffles-and-stuff.html

Monkey and Kitty dolls

http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2008/07/drum-roll-pleasemolly-monkey-pattern.html
Here is the free monkey pattern.



http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/01/ashers-mikey.html
Here are a few alteration ideas...the pattern costs $$, but I bet we could figure it out!

Play Kitchen from an old Entertainment center

I have been looking for a simple way to convert my old entertainment center into a play kitchen for the basement...now I just need to convince Lane he doesn't need it for the new "TV room..."

Cute!!!

Amazingly simple princess dress!!!

http://rowena.typepad.com/rostitchery/magistrate-dress.html

magistrate dress

(this post was originally published 12 september, 2007.)

this is one of the most popular costume silhouettes there is--the generic "princess/angel/medieval maiden/rennaissance damsel/magical wizard/monk/every-fairy-tale-princess-in-grimms'-anthology" gown. if it makes any difference, ella calls this a magistrate dress. this makes sense only if you are a fan of sagwa.

and you won't believe how quickly you can fake this dress. you need one piece of fabric, two cuts, and whatever trim you wish. choose a stretchy fabric so you don't have to have a zipper--i used panne velvet but you could use anything you like.

your fabric should be cut as follows:

width: distance from one wrist to the other, measured with arms out to your sides.
length: distance from top of your shoulder (measured just under the ear) to the floor. multiply this number times 2.

fold your fabric in half (right sides together) across the width, then in half across the length. you will have four layers of fabric. at the corner where all the folds meet, cut a SMALL shallow curve. start SMALL--you can always make it bigger later. this will be your neck opening.

then make one cut, from the side where all the cut edges are, toward the neck opening. the exact shape and length of this cut is up to you. the lower you start the cut on the side, the longer your sleeve will hang.

then unfold your fabric and find out what shape you have just made!

the cuts on the sides are the side seams. sew your side seam closed, sew your trim on your sleeves and hem, and then try on the dress. if you need or want to make the neck opening bigger, do so. when the neck is the right size, add your trim and you are done.

this dress can be worn as is, or you can dress it up to match your imagination. pattern catalogs are a great source of ideas on how you can vary the sleeves, neckline, and trim. and the addition of some simple accessories can change the entire look: if you wish to be a fairy, add wings--if you wish to be an angel, add a halo--for a medieval princess, cover a pointy party hat with scraps of fabric and tack a silky scarf to the top--for a wizard add a cape and a beard--for a magistrate, add ella.

How to make a hat and scarf from a sweater

Something for the boys! Yay!

I got this sweater vest at the Dollar Store several days ago (sweaters at the Dollar Store? How random is that??) and I just knew it was dying to be a little beanie and scarf set! I'm so excited to have a project for little boys!

This would actually work best with a sleeved sweater (then you could just use sleeves for a scarf!), but this is what I had, so...

1) Measure your child's head, and cut out a hat shape through both layers (I free-handed this, but if you had another beanie to trace around, that would be great!), then cut a large rectangle shape through both layers for the scarf.

2) Lay the two scarf pieces right side together and pin the non-banded end. Sew with a zig-zag stitch, being careful not to let it stretch too much.

3) Cut out your "face" shapes from felt or fleece. 4 ears, two big circles for eyes, and two slightly smaller circles for the pupils, and a little triangle nose.

4) Lay two of the ear shapes on top of the other two, and sew around the edges with your machine. (not pictured)
5) Pin the ears to the right side of the beanie, facing downward. Lay the other piece of the beanie on top of it(right sides together), with ears sandwiched in between, and pin.

6) Sew the two hat pieces together, leaving the banded side open.
7) Take your scarf piece and fold it over, right sides together, and pin. Sew all the way down the side.

Turn the scarf right side out, and sew the banded edges closed.
9) Pin the face shaped where you want them, and hand stitch them on.

Ta-da!

Glitter Shapes--Brilliant!

Glue and Glitter Cards

These cards are messy to make but the effect is spectacular and I guarantee the kids will love it! They do cover the recipient in glitter when they open the envelope but I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing – I call it festive!

You will need

• blank cards
• kid's pvc glue
• a couple of different colours of glitter
• christmas cookie cutters

Directions

1. Pour glue into a small container or tray until the glue is about 3mm deep. Make sure that your containers is large enough to accommodate the cookie cutters.



2. Dip a cookie cutter in glue and then use it to make a glue print on the blank card. For best results, leave the cutter in place on the card for about three seconds to allow for the glue to drip down onto the card. Repeat until you have made all the glue prints that you want for that particular card.



3. Sprinkle different colours of glitter on top of the glue prints, making sure to cover all of the glue marks. Then shake the glitter off into a tray and allow card to dry.

wooden spool nativity for littles

http://holesinmyshinyveneer.blogspot.com/2009/11/photo-tutorial-spool-doll-nativity-part.html