A New, Easy Way to Make Decorative Shirts-A Tutorial

Do you want to create a personalized tshirt in less than thirty minutes?  It's possible! My friend Lesli shared this form of tshirt making with me.  Thanks, Lesli!

This is what I used:

shirts

fabric (for the design)

a heart stencil

scissors

Heatbond-iron on adhesive-LITE-purchased in the fabric department of JoAnns

an iron

a needle

thread

a sewing machine is optional

First, I traced the heart onto the paper side of the heatbond.

Then I ironed the fabric on to the rough side of the heatbond. I turned the steam off on my iron and made sure it adhered well.

I then cut the heart out.

Tada.  (Sorry about the ugly ironing board cover background)

This is what the back of the heart looks like.

I peeled the paper coating away and was left with a smooth material on the back of my heart.

I positioned the heart on my shirt and ironed it on. I had my iron on the hottest setting possible, no steam. 

The heart attached easily. You could stop here, but I wanted to do a little decorative stitching.

The fabric had a "dotted" black line running throughout it.  I decided to continue that around the edges.  I used a piece of embroidery floss and hand stitched around the heart.  I've seen others use their sewing machines and fancy stitches but... I'm not a great seamstress and I really thought with this particular fabric, this looked cute.

In less than an hour I had two shirts done for my two girls.  I like quick crafting!

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Valentine Picture Frames Tutorial

A few weeks ago, I was browsing at Michaels and I came across some wooden heart picture frames.  I knew that with some paint, paper and Mod Podge, I could make them cute.

Supplies needed:

wooden heart frames
paint for the frames (should match your scrapbook paper)
sponge paint brush
scrapbook paper
vinyl letters (or you can print on your scrapbook paper)
Mod Podge
Exacto Knife
cutting mat
5 x 7 pictures

Tutorial:
1.  Measure the frame and cut scrapbook paper to fit the frame.
2.  Flip your scrapbook paper right side down.  Place your frame on top of your paper.  (see picture)

 

3.  Now take your Exacto knife and cut out the center heart.  Make sure to cut very close to the wood.  Cut along the outer edge to as the frame has rounded corners.

 Your scrapbook paper will look like this when you are finished.

4.  Paint your picture frames to match your scrapbook paper.  You don't need to cover the entire frame.  I did just because I couldn't stand to look at the spots not painted in the middle.

 5.  Once your paint is completely dry, paint on Mod Podge to cover the entire face of your frame.

 6.  Place your scrapbook paper on your frame, taking care to line up the heart center.  Starting at one end, use a scraper and scrape out any bubbles.  This will help the paper to adhere to the frame.  If you mess up, Mod Podge is very forgiving.  Just lightly pull up the paper and scrap back down.

 7.  Allow the paper to dry for a few minutes, then cover with another coat of Mod Podge on top of your frame.  Allow it to fully dry.

 8.  Cut our the saying you want on vinyl.  I used my wonderful Silhouette to do this.  Remove the excess vinyl.  Take transfer tape and cover the vinyl letters.  Scrape it so that it grabs the letters.

 9.  Peel off the paper backing.  Take the transfer tape with the letters and place it on the frame.  Scrape it thoroughly so the letters adhere to the frame. 

 10.  Take off the transfer tape.  Here are my three frames with the vinyl lettering on it.

 11.  Take the inside heart provided with the frame and place it over your picture.  Using the Exacto knife, cut close to the heart, so that your picture fits nicely.

 Here is the picture after I cut it.

12.  Place the picture in the frame.  I included the heart that came with the frame for extra stability. 

Here are my finished frames:

I think they turned out really nice.  I can update the picture every year and keep these for years to come!  I love looking at my sweet little ones in these frames!





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Crocheted Heart Garland

I am finally finishing up some Valentine's Day projects.  A few weeks back, I made Shannon this heart garland.

I used Red yarn from Red Heart.  The heart pattern was from Bella Dia found here.  Bella Dia does a fantastic job showing you how to make the heart step by step.  After making the hearts, I then chained 102 and did a half double crochet in each chain.  Then I sewed each heart onto the chain.

After a couple of weeks, I finally finished my heart garland this evening.  I tell you, I have focusing issues!  This could have been done a long time ago if only I had focused on one project at a time.

The red yarn didn't match my living room decor so I used an Autumn Red by Caron Simply Soft.  Since it was a much thinner yarn, I had to alter the pattern so that it would make a larger heart.  I have included the pattern I used for my heart garland below.  It is a continuance of the above pattern.

Large (9 in) Heart Garland
Caron Simply Soft Yarn
H/8 crochet hook

Ch. 4. 

Row 1: SC in all ch.

Row 2:  2 SC in first st.  1 SC in next st.  2 SC in last st. (5 sts)

Row 3:  Ch.1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (7 sts)

Row 4: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (9 sts)

Row 5: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (11 sts)

Row 6:  Ch. 1 turn. SC in all sts. (11 sts)

Row 7: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (13 sts)

Row 8: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (15 sts)

Row 9: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (17 sts)

Row 10: Ch. 1 turn.  SC in all sts (17 sts).

Row 11: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (19 sts)

Row 12: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (21 sts)

Row 13: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (23 sts)

Row 14: Ch. 1 turn.  SC in all sts (23 sts)

Row 15: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (25 sts)

Row 16: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (27 sts)

Row 17: Ch. 1 turn. 2 SC in first st.  SC to last two sts.  2 SC in last st (29 sts) 

Row 18-20: Ch. 1 turn.  SC in all sts (29 sts) 

Right part of heart:

Row 20:  Ch. 1  turn.  SC in first 14 sts. 

Row 21:  Ch. 1 turn.  dSC (decrease by pulling loop up, yarn over, pulling a loop up in next sc, yarn over and pull last loop through all loops on hook).  SC to end of row. dSC (12 sts).

Row 22:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC.  SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (10 sts).

Row 23:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (8 sts).

Row 24:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (6 sts).

Row 25:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (4 sts)

Row 26:  Ch. 1 turn. 2 dSC. (2 sts).

Fasten off.

Left part of heart:

Make a slip knot.  Insert it into the 15^th SC from the left side. Make a slip stitch.

Row 20 Left: Sc to end of row. (14 sts).

Row 21 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC.  SC to end of row. dSC (12 sts).

Row 22 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC.  SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (10 sts).

Row 23 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (8 sts).

Row 24 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (6 sts).

Row 25 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. dSC. SC to last 2 sts.  dSC. (4 sts)

Row 26 Left:  Ch. 1 turn. 2 dSC. (2 sts).

Do not fasten off.  Now SC around the outer edge of the heart. When you reach the tip of the heart do 3 SC in the middle stitch to make a point. When you reach the middle of the heart do a dSC to gather it in a bit. When you get back to the top left side, fasten off.  Make enough hearts to finish your garland.  I made 7 to fit my mantle.

Slip stitch into a side sc of your heart.  Chain 6.  Slip stich into the same portion of another heart.  Slip stitch into the stitch above it.  Half double crochet (hDC) in each stitch.  Slip stitch into the stitch above the one you started with.  Fasten off.  Repeat to connect all hearts.  I also made a chain of 13 on each end then hDC in each chain.  Then slip stitch back in the heart and fasten off.

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Don't Forget to Enter Our Giveaway!

Thank you to all our wonderful subscribers.  We have gone over the 100 mark with email subscribers. YEAH!
 
If you haven't left your comments already, click here http://www.oursevendwarfs.com/2011/02/we-did-it-we-reached-100-verified-email.html to do so! 
 
The prize is a sign like this with the word of your choice:
 

 
Remember, you only have until Tuesday, February 8th, at 8:00 pm (EST) to enter this giveaway. Good Luck!
 

We Did It! We reached 100 verified email subscribers! Giveaway time!

One of our very lucky subscribers will win a sign like this:

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     You must be a verified email or RSS subscriber to enter this contest.  If you are not sure that you are, just email us oursevendwarfs@gmail.com and ask.  If you aren't a subscriber, we'll help you become one!  

1.  Leave us a comment telling us you are an email subscriber. (Let us know who sent you to our site!)

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4.  Email at least 5 friends and tell them about our website and encourage them to become a subscriber.  Leave us a comment that you emailed at least 5 friends.  Wait for it... Here it is... If your friend becomes a verified email subscriber, have them enter this contest.  For their first comment, where they tell us they are a verified subscriber, have them tell us you sent them.  For every person that tells us that you sent them, you are entered in an entirely different giveaway... another chance for you to be a winner!

We are beaming with excitement about having such a great following. We've been blogging less than three months! The larger our following is, the greater chance we have to be sponsored by companies that will give us great things for giveaways.  We are working hard to make you winners!

Remember, you can leave a total of four separate comments.  You have until Tuesday, February 8th, at 8:00 pm (EST) to enter this contest.  The winner will be announced by 9:00 pm (EST).  The winner has until 2:00 pm, on Wednesday, February 9th, to send us their address and the word they'd like featured on their sign.  We'll get this in the mail in time for you to display it on Valentine's Day!

We'll also announce the winner of the secret giveaway at the same time.  The same rules apply.  We'll need your address by 2:00 pm in order for you to receive your prize by Valentine's Day.

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Our Connection

A follower asked us how Jill and I met.  I have to admit, I kind of chuckled.  Jill and I are breast friends.  We are!

In my bio I said how I met many of my friends from my children.  Well, it's true.  It's also true that things happen for a reason.  At least in my case.

Breastfeeding did not come easy for me.  So, in September, 2006, as a mom of a two week old, I went to a breastfeeding support group.  There I met Jill, with her four month old son, Ryan.  We also met our three other breast friends. Amy, whose daughter Samy was a month old when we met her. Jennifer, whose son Jack was six weeks old when we met him.  Karla, whose daughter, Antonia, was five months old when we met her.  Our oldest kids have known each other most of their lives.  The five moms connected and Amy coined us, "Breast friends."

We've connected so well that in May, 2008 Jennifer had her second son, Abe.  In June, 2008, Jill had her second son, Evan.  In December, 2008, Amy had her second child, Quentin.  In January, 2009, I had my second daughter, Mariella.  Karla held and loved all our babies and told us how much she was enjoying her sleep!

Here are breast friend photos from November 2009.

Evan, Jill, Chris, and Ryan

John, Jack, Jennifer, and Abe

Sam, Samy, Amy, and Quentin

Chuck, Antonia, and Karla

Mariella, Shannon, John, and GraciAnn

The Kiddos

Jack, Ryan, Evan, Abe, GraciAnn, Mariella, Antonia, Aria (a neighbor), Samy, and Quentin

Jill decided to add a third to her mix and welcomed Anna in August of 2010.  Jennifer and I smile at Anna and tell her how beautiful she is.  Then we tell Jill that we are really enjoying our sleep.  Karla giggles and hugs her "only", beautiful almost five year old. Amy contemplates whether or not she wants to add a third. Then there's Jilll who's actually considering a fourth.  Amazing!

So, you see what I mean when I say things happen for a reason. If breastfeeding would have come easily for me, I wouldn't know these wonderful women that mean so much to me.  My children wouldn't have these wonderful friends they've known literally, all their lives.

Dear follower, would you ever have thought we'd have such a connection?  Interesting, eh? 

Apple Chicken Salad Recipe

My sister called me the other day wanting some recipe options and it reminded me of this delicious recipe.  It is another wonderful Paula Deen recipe, but this time, a healthy one!

Apple Chicken Salad with Red Grapes
Recipe Courtesy Paula Deen

2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, roasted or boiled
1 cup red grapes, halved (I used black grapes)
1 red apple, unpeeled, finely diced
1 two oz package slivered almonds, toasted
1/2 cup chopped celery

Dressing:
1/2 cup mayo
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp celery salt (I used seasoned salt)

Combine the chicken, grapes, apple, almonds and celery in a medium bowl.  Combine the mayo, honey, lemon juice and celery salt in a small bowl.  Whisk to combine.  Toss the dressing with the salad ingredients.  Chill until serving time.

This is great on fresh bakery rolls or sub rolls!

Enjoy!