Christmas Card Clothespin Wreath

Last one today!  I didn't take many pictures but I used these items.  Clothes pins from the dollar store, glue gun, ton of glue sticks, 5 styles of ribbon 1/4 inch....fun ribbon for the bow, and the round thing is a wooden purse handle from Joann's.  I ended up using a staple gun to attach the loop in the back to hang.  but I am sure the glue gun would be fine.

 If you look close I did not wrap the ribbon all the way around the pin.  the glue attaches better to the wood of the pin and will be stronger.  No one will see this part.

Fleece hat with ear flaps

 My Son asked me to make him a new hat.  His old one was made on the fly and was too shallow for his head and he was complaining that is not keeping his neck/head warm......so here we go!

 You can see the 1st hat I made.....I liked the look of the contrasting colors so I made it the same way with a few tweaks.  You will need 1/2 yard of fleece......scraps are fine but they need to be wide enough.  you will not use the whole 1/2 yard.  You could make 2.  You will also need: paper, pencil, tape measure, pins, thread & sewing machine.  (might also need tape)

 1st you need to measure around the head you want the hat for...add 1 inch and divide by 2.  this is how long the top of this paper needs to be....tape extra paper if needed.  and free hand this pattern.  flap needs to be 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide and if you want to make it for under the chin with Velcro, you need to make the flap as long as from the middle ear to the other side of the chin.

 Cut 2 of blue.

 Cut 2 of orange and a rectangle for the top....needs to be as wide as the ear flap and as tall as you would like.  for this I used an 8x11 paper.

 if you want tassels, you will need to add them now.  :)  you can sew them all over the hat.  this time I did just the corners.

 pin together like this.

 sew along the flap edge all the way around....do not sew the straight edge yet.

 pin blue edge to hat edge making sure that the wrong sides are out.

 push yellow ear flap edge into the hat and pin over blue/orange seam.  this will allow you to sew it together and then trim extra fleece.

 see how it is pinned.  this keeps the fleece layer inside in place.  should have sewn it the other way but I didn't have enough blue thread for the bobbin.

 My baby girl trying it out for me.  :)

Toothpaste

My oldest has quite a few allergies.  And we have been on a hunt for a toothpaste that I didn't need to make myself that would not burn her skin.  Like most 7 year olds, she lets it run down her chin while she brushes and after would have the worst burning skin.....

After trying many brands we were please with an old favorite.  Kiss my face.  We are on the second tube and still have yet to see any skin reactions.  So the whole family switched.

Sewing a Fleece Poncho

 I have been wanting to make Lauren a little something that matches for her and her Doll.....I used her sisters today since Lauren wont get her own Bitty until Christmas.  :)  Shhh....it's from Santa. But Don't you love it when you can make a gift for a child and they have no idea...... That was today!

 I did not buy the edging for the doll Poncho, but I love Lauren's so much that I am going to add it.

 Here is what you will need.  For a 3t size.   1 1/2 yrds Fleece.  3 yrds edging.  measuring tape.  pins.  matching thread....and your sewing machine. 

 I measured a 34" x34" square and folded to cut to a circle.

 Turn stitch the bottom aprox. 1/2 inch or as wide as your edging...so your stitch will not show after applied.

 I used an 8x11 paper for the hood....you can increase size if needed.  Will be cut on the fold so the final piece was 16x11ish.

along the top of the hood piece sew wrong side out.

 corner off fabric as shown....so that top of head seam runs down the center.

 sew aprox 2 inches in.

 cut the triangle top off....will not be needed. 

 turn stitch the edge of the hood.

.

 Figure out what part of the main body of the poncho you want as the front and fold over find center and place hood bottom crease along to measure your center cut.  your cut will be 1/2 of the folded hood....since the poncho is folded.

 pin so the the write side of the fabric touches and the wrong side edge is available to sew.

 trim extra fleece...but not too much.

 try it on!

 pin edging.

And sew......you should be done!  just snip off those extra threads and you should have a fun poncho.....same directions but smaller for the doll.  I measured from the neck of the doll to it's hip and doubled the number to cut an 16x16 inch square....

Cloth diapers...Love them/hate them

My first choice was not to use cloth, but due to allergies this choice was made for me by genetics.  Even with all the new choices out there I still find Cloth to be the best choice for me.

My favorites include:
Pockets: drybees & knickernappies
Fitted:  kissaluvs & goodmamas
Covers:  ImseVimse, bumis, and Woolies made by my myself

What are your favorites?