Pacifier Clip Tutorial

Whether you approve of pacifiers or not, this isn't the issue.  The issue is saving yourself or another parent from picking up a pacifier continually or having to go on the great pacifier hunt.

  I have three kids and of those three, two loved having a pacifier.  My sweet little Anna loves her pacifier.  Since I am getting used to a girl and all the needs to accessorize, I had to make Anna some pretty pacifier clips to go with her outfits.  I also made a few boy's clips for a friend.

Without further ado...

Pacifier Clip Tutorial

Supplies Needed:

Suspender/Mitten clips:  You can purchase just the clips at a craft store, but they can be expensive ($4 for two).  If you are lucky to hit the winter items before they are gone, purchase some regular mitten clips.  Typically, you get 4 in a set.  I bought some at regular price for $2 and caught them a few weeks later for $0.50!  That is quite the savings.  These are colored, but you could always spray paint or even paint them with fingernail polish.

Ribbon:  Measure your mitten clip opening to insure that your ribbon will fit well.  Most of these are 3/4 of an inch or an inch.

Thread: Pick your thread to match your ribbon

Sewable Velcro

Sewing machine or by hand if you so choose


Scissors




Directions:


1.  Cut your ribbon to the size that you would like for the child.  Typically 6 to 8 inches.  You don't want it too loose as it could become a danger for the child.

2.  Put both sides of the velcro together and cut it to fit your ribbon.  It doesn't need to be a large piece, just enough to catch and keep the ribbon attached.

3.  Fold over one in the ribbon.  String the ribbon through the mitten clip with the fold on the backside.  Fold over the clip and sew together.

4. Fold over the other end of the ribbon. Place one side of the velcro over the fold. Sew around the velcro to secure.  Space the second piece of velcro about an inch down from the ribbon and sew it to the ribbon as well.

There you have it.  A simple pacifier clip that you can whip up very quickly as a gift or for one of your little ones.  Here the ones that I have made recently.

Happy Crafting!

PS.  Happy Third Birthday to my little man Evan!  Thanks for always making us laugh and for your sweet platypus type kisses! Stop growing up on Mommy!

Amy's Post-An Awesome, Interchangeable Wreath, ready for the 4th of July

Our dear friend Amy made an incredible wreath and we've encouraged her to do a guest blog about it! Amy's inspiration was from  here . I saw this wreath and thought it was precious.  So, I shared it with Amy and then forgot about it.  Well, she didn't forget... read on and see how she turned this into her own masterpiece. Thank you, Amy!  We're glad you're a fellow crafter!

I cut a 2" strip of burlap, from a huge piece. I'm not sure how long the strip ended up being.

I wrapped it around a straw wreath that was still wrapped in plastic. I used my glue gun to secure the bitter end to the wreath and started wrapping, slightly overlapping the edges, trying to keep the edges parallel...(that's my OCD coming out...)

I picked out these two scrapbook papers and 3 different sized stars at Hobby Lobby. I traced the stars on the back of the scrapbook paper and cut them out.

 I like using the "gloss-lustre" Mod Podge.

I used it to "glue" the scrapbook paper to the wooden stars. Then when it dried, I painted on a nice thick coat, until it almost looked white.  I found that the thickness of the Mod-Podge kind of helped save my wreath, as I had it hanging on my front door during several of our crazy thunder storms! 

Using my glue gun and Scotch Velcro tape, I created 3 clusters of stars.
Again, the OCD kicking in, I did a pattern with the stars & stripes patterns.
First, I stacked & hot glued the stars in their 3 clusters.
Once they were dry I positioned them on the wreath to space the clusters out.

Next I cut 1" strips of the Velcro tape. I glue gunned the hook&loop piece onto the back of each star cluster & then I glued it's catch piece onto the wreath. 

The great thing about using the Velcro tape is that now I can make other clusters and change out the theme for the wreath as the seasons change!

Here are some patterned paper and flowers for a future wreath!

I traced the pattern on the backside of the paper.

...and cut the shape out... you know the drill... next comes the Mod Podge and gluing the shapes in clusters.  Fun stuff!

Happy 4th of July!

Amy

Birthday Decorations

It's birthday week at our house!  My husband's big day is right around the corner.  I get our birthday decorations out a week before each birthday. Here are the decorations I have, so far... I'm always on the lookout for more to add to my collection!

This is a photoboard I created. I'll stick birthday pictures, of the birthday person, on the board the week of their birthday.

Here's a tutorial for making a photoboard:

 http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/01/i-did-it-i-finished-boards-tutorial.html

Here's the balloon wreath I created last year, thanks to HowDoesShe! I have no idea how they made their beautiful wreath with only 144 balloons. I used more than twice that.

Here's the tutorial for the birthday wreath:

 http://www.howdoesshe.com/birthday-wreath

This is another HowDoesShe birthday decoration. It's a countdown to the birthday board. You simply pop a balloon for each day before the birthday.  As a bonus, you add a slip of paper to each balloon, with a special treat for the day. For example: a stop at the ice cream shop.

Here's the tutorial for the birthday board:

 http://www.howdoesshe.com/2x4-to-birthday-boardtutorial

Yet another great HowDoesShe birthday decoration. This is a fantastic way to celebrate your birthday all week!

Here's their tutorial:

http://www.howdoesshe.com/birthday-board

Here's a door mat I made with a 99 cent IKEA door mat.

This is the simple tutorial:

 http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/01/happy-birthday-welcome-mat-tutorial.html

Birthdays are BIG deals that should be celebrated as such.  If you have any fabulous birthday ideas, please share them with us!

Strawberry Slippers

Check out the new strawberry slippers I have been making.  I'm on my third pair.  I made one for someone special (it's a surprise, hopefully she will get them soon), Shannon and myself.

These slippers came from two of my favorite people! The slipper pattern is called the Oma House Slipper from one of our sponsors, Mamachee Crochet Patterns.  I got the idea of the strawberry effect from one of our followers, Amanda of Sugar Mama's Sweet Bowtique.  I am a huge fan of her shop.  Amanda is very talented and takes great patterns and goes beyond them.  Thanks for the great idea, Amanda!

Super Summer Desserts

Raise your hand if you love desserts!  Okay, put your hand down and navigate through this post. There are 7, count them 7, delicious desserts perfect for summer.  That's just enough to have a different dessert every night for a week.  Warning: if you opt for making all of these in one week, and indulging, you'll probably need to go shopping for new clothes. Unfortunately, these aren't low fat or low calorie. But, in moderation, they are so good!  Bake and share with friends and then let us know what you think!

Lemon and Blueberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is super easy and super good!

Follow the directions on a lemon cake mix.  Prepare cupcake cups.  Pour lemon cake batter 1/2 way up in cupcake liner.  Add 6 blueberries.  Pour batter over the blueberries until cupcake liner is 2/3rds full. Bake cupcakes as directed.  Let cool completely. Frost cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle yellow decorator sugar on top.  Use mint leaves and blueberries to decorate the top. Yum!

Lime Sherbert with Blueberries

This is an easy one my mom makes. Take lime sherbert.  Add fresh blueberries. Let them sit a few minutes and the blueberries start to freeze.  It's refreshing and delicious!

Strawberry Ice Cream with Fresh Basil

The girls from HowDoesShe shared this wonderful goodness. This is one of our family favorites. We even use strawberry frozen yogurt for a lower fat dessert. The basil freezes and has a great texture in the ice cream! http://www.howdoesshe.com/strawberries-meet-basil

Baked Alaska

Oh, I love Baked Alaska. 

First, make a pan of brownies. My favorite is Betty Crocker's Hershey's Triple Chunk. Let the brownies cool.  Beat 8 eggs whites, 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar, and 1 cup of sugar until stiff.  Put ice cream, that has been frozen solid, on top of the brownies. Cover the ice cream and brownies with the egg whites.  Set your oven's broiler on low (or your oven temperature to 500 degrees).  Put the Baked Alaska in the oven until the egg whites turn a light brown.

Pink Lemonade Cake

Yum, yum, yum!

1 yellow cake mix - 2 layer size

1 qt vanilla ice cream

6 drops red food coloring

1 6 oz can frozen pink lemonade - thaw

1 cup whipping cream

2 Tbsp sugar

Pepare cake, in 2 layers, bake and cool.  Stir ice cream to soften; stir in food coloring and 1/2 c lemonade.  Spread in foil lined cake pan and freeze til firm.  Whip cream with sugar and remaining lemonade until stiff.  Put cake together with ice cream as center layer.  Frost with whipped cream. Return to freezer at least an hour. Enjoy!

Jello Cake

This is a great, lighter cake.

1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix

1 cup  boiling water

1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

1/2 cup  cold water

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed

PREPARE cake batter and bake as directed on package for 13x9-inch pan. Cool cake in pan 15 min. Pierce cake with large fork at 1/2-inch intervals.
ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in small bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Stir in cold water; pour over cake. Refrigerate 3 hours.
FROST cake with COOL WHIP. Refrigerate 1 hour.

*Options: you can use an angel food cake for a lighter option.  You can substitute any flavor Jello for strawberry. You can also use sugar free! Finally, I prefer homemade whipped cream. Cool whip works fine as well.

Coca Cola Cake

This cake is so good, but so rich!

2 cups self-rising flour

2 cups sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup Coca-Cola

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1 tablespoon cocoa
6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
1 box confectioner's sugar, (1pound)
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation: 

Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.

In a large bowl combine flour and sugar. In a saucepan combine the cocoa, Coca-Cola, butter, and marshmallows; bring to a boil. Combine the boiled mixture with the flour and sugar mixture.

In a separate bowl mix eggs, buttermilk, baking soda, and vanilla; add to the first mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, until cake tests done.

Frosting:

In a saucepan, bring butter, cocoa, and Coca-Cola to a boil. Stir in the sugar and mix well. Stir in nuts. Spread over the cake while both cake and frosting are still warm.
Serves about 16. Serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

My favorites, in order from "yummiest" to "yum": Coca Cola Cake, Baked Alaska, Lemonade Cake, Strawberry Basil Ice Cream, Lime Sherbert with Blueberries, Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes, and Jello Cake.

A 2x4, Fourth of July, Decoration

Here's a GREAT idea for a Fourth of July decoration, courtesy of the girls from HowDoesShe.  I made about ten of these last year!

Isn't this adorable?

Here's the tutorial: HowDoesShe 2x4 flag

Patriotic & Fourth of July Printables

Fire up your printers for the Fourth of July printables! There are many to choose from!

From Landee See Landee Do

From HMH Designs

From Love in Simplicity

From Love in Simplicity

From Madigan Made

From Junk in their Trunk

From Eye Candy Event Details

From Copy Cat Crafter

From Measured by the heart

From Polkadots on Parade

From The Project Corner

From Today's Fabulous Finds