My Craft of The Week

So when I said I haven't been crafting much, that wasn't entirely truthful, I just can't show you what I have been up to.  I joined the craft swap at Strumpets Crumpets and have been hard at work thinking for my partner, but I can't show you, because it is a surprise for her, so after she get s her presie, then I will share.

I figured that since today was a good day for my computer, I would do a quick post to share, unfortunately, I have nothing to share today.  We had an uneventful couple of days, that had me doing laundry, cleaning, organizing, and baking for the birthday. Btw, I found a fantastic cornbread recipe that I will share on Saturday.

I have been reading a lot of the book called "Too Big For Diapers" in which Ernie (form Bert and Ernie) gets a potty and becomes too big for diapers, Chaos can practically read the book by himself at this point.

Thats me week in a nut shell.

Until tomorrow, Enjoy your day, enjoy your family and Make It a Happy day for you.

Man Cave Decor

So before I left for my holiday, I promised everyone pics of what I was so busy sewing and doing before the holiday.  Todays pic is going to come with a tutorial and a huge thank you from the Plaid website.

My husband and I decided not to buy gifts for each other (as we do every year only to be set up for failure).  I enjoy giving gifts!!  I enjoy taking the time to make or pick out something special that I know the receiver will love.  So to keep my costs down, I decided to make Mad a useful piece of art for his rock out section of our basement.  Currently he owns 3 electric & 1 acoustic guitar, 1 electric & 1 acoustic bass, plus the kids have electric guitars.  He also only has a space that is about 6' x 9' to house all this, plus a set of drums and all the equipment that goes with it.

As I was browsing the instructions on how to use modge podge (yep needed instructions, cause I kinda sucked at it), I got distracted by the project tutorials on the website.  For anyone who knows, thats not really hard to believe.  That aside, I found a tutorial for a rocked out coat rack with a pic of a guitar on it.  The wheels stared turning, I loved it.  We don't need another coat rack, but I immediately thought I could giant size it and turn it into a guitar rack.

So I apologize that I only have 1 pic of the finished product, but we only had 1 camera on which I could take pics.  Mad also likes to take pics and look at the ones that I have taken of the kidlets all day.  So unfortunately I couldn't take step by step pics, and I had to wait until Christmas to take a finished pic so as not to arouse suspicion.  I will however provide you with the best instructions and measurements that I can.

So here goes.
Material:
sanded plywood, 4'x3'
2x4 cut to 3'
12" wide mdf board cut to 12" squares, 3 pieces
(the above material I had on hand)
2 guitar wall hangers, $13.00 each
coat hook, $1.00 ($ store)
Long wood screws, on hand
washers, on hand
burgundy and black spray paint, $3.00 each
silver paint, on hand
poster of a guitar made, $18.00

total: $51.00

A little more than I wanted to spend, but I still have some paint I can use for another project, aka a second one that Mad requested.  Not bad for a totally awesome way to get the guitars and cords off the floor and give him some more space.

Instructions:
To start I spray painted the plywood burgundy, red according to him because burgundy is far to feminine for him, and the 2x4 black.  I let it dry and then added a second coat to both.  Also, because I could only find a brass coat hanger, I spray painted that black as well.  Meanwhile, I cut my poster to fit the 12"x12" mdf board and modge podged it on (see why I needed the instructions).  After that was dry, I pre-drilled holes for my screws, and attached the mdf pics to the plywood (here is where I used the washers for a more industrial look).  I measured where I wanted them and it was about 4" from the left and right, with a space of 1.5" in between the pics, and they were 3" down from the top of the plywood.  After that was done, I painted the 2x4 silver and wiped it off immediately to leave a worn look.  When that was dry, I pre-drilled 3 holes to attach it to the plywood.  Then I attached the 2 guitar hangers (about 2" infrom either side) and added the coat hanger in the middle.  Then I attached the 2x4 to the plywood, and voila, DONE! Super simple, and with drying time, it only took me an afternoon, which was also spent doing laundry and cooking and other general cleaning in between.  The best part, he loved it and requested another one!

So here it is

Like it, I love it!

Until tomorrow when you finally get to see my pics, enjoy your day, enjoy your family and happy crafting!

Another One Bites The Dust! And Peanut Butter Cup Pie

Day by day, my pile is getting smaller, and my husband is happy that we finally get our  bedroom back (it has been my sewing start station).  I had this wonderful idea that I was making gifts for everyone this year.  So let's go down the list;

My family: check and sent
Mad's family: mostly finished
Kids: 15 (literally) seams to finish
School: Crafts with the kids done yesterday!!!
Christmas Cards: ready to be sent!

I am so on top of things, it's AWESOME!

I do however, stick by my unwillingness to share what I have done, until I show pictures after Christmas.  So, again, you get a recipe, but believe me, it will be worth it.  Just FYI, be prepared for the final recipe on Tuesday, I promise you will make it again and again........ and again and again and again!

For today, you get (Drum roll please!)  PEANUT BUTTER CUP PIE!

1 1/4 cups Oreo Cookie Crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted
Always an option, you could just buy the crust already made.
1 pkg brick cream cheese
1/2 cup, plus 1 tbsp smooth peanut butter
1 cup cold milk
1 pkg vanilla instant pudding
2 cups thawed Cool Whip, divided
3 squares Baker's semi sweet chocolate

Mix crumbs and butter, press into a 9 inch pie plate.
Blend cream cheese and 1/2 cup of peanut butter, until smooth.  Add milk and pudding mix; beat for 2 minutes.  Whisk in 1 cup Cool Whip and spoon mixture into pie crust.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

 Microwave remaining Cool Whip and chocolate (in a microwaveable dish), on high 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture blends well, stirring after each minute.  Cool completely.

Spread chocolate mixture over pie filling in crust.  Microwave remaining peanut butter for 30 seconds and drizzle over chocolate. Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm.

SOOOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!!!

Until tomorrow, when you will once again see my shining face, or at least those of my children, enjoy your day, enjoy your family and happy baking!

A Christmas Present for Mad

To start with, in case you all are wondering why I call my husband Mad, it is not because he is some abnormally angry person.  He had that name since long before we met and he was still a cool rock star, aka, Mad Chad.  Now he is Dad Chad, but for all intents and purposes I will continue to call him Mad Chad, cause he is still a rock star to me.

Now, Mad is the coolest person he knows.  He drives a cool vehicle, plays cool guitars and drums and starts cool new facial hair trends at his work.  Plus, if there is something that he wants, that he doesn't already have, he will just go buy it.  So what do you get the coolest person who has everything? Well I'm glad you asked.  You make him something.  The thing about the cool car is that he is ultra sensitive to any mess in it (yes we do have 3 kids), so I decided to make him a cool garbage bag for his car.  He can hang it in the front seat when it's just him, or flip it round back so that the kids can use it in the back seat, cause it hangs from the headrest.  I saw this idea somewhere on another blog and would totally give props, but I can't remember where it was or on what blog, so if it's yours and you are reading this, thank you.

Here goes:

Step 1:
Find super cool material.  I happened to find guitar flannel.  Not just guitars though, it has the Eddie Van Halen signature guitar print on it.  Mad will love it.

Step 2:
Cut your material, for the bag I used The flannel, cut 40" x 14", I cut a plastic table cloth the same and made a casing for the elastic 40"x 1".  Oh and the elastic is I made 14"long (1/4").

Step 3:
I made the casing for the elastic, fold the long strip in half, lengthwise, right sides together and sew with a zigzag stitch.

Turn the casing right side out, I used a bbq skewer.

Thread the elastic through and sew at each end. You will have a nice gathered elastic cover.

Step 4:
Sew the plastic together, up the sides. (I had troubles with this, cause the plastic kept sticking to the machine, so I just lifted the presser foot and made a pretty sloppy stitch, but it's covered)

Step 5:
Fold the larger piece of material in half, sideways, right sides together, and sew up the sides.  Turn it right side out and you should have "a bag".

I know its a repeat pic, but my camera was dying so I worked with what I could

Step 6:

Place plastic bag inside flannel bag and pin corners together.  At the top, fold over about 1/2" and sew a top stitch around the top of the bag.  DO NOT FINISH IT ALL THE WAY!!!!!  About 1/2 way on one side, slide one end of the elastic casing under the presser foot as you are sewing and double back over it. About 1" over, do the same with the other end of the casing.  Finish the seam.

Step 7:

Sew a top stitch along the sides and bottom of the bag.  This will prevent the plastic bag from slipping inside and give you a neat finish.

Wrap it up and I hope he likes it. 

Enjoy your day, enjoy your family and happy crafting!

As Promised, A Little Less Procrastination

It took some time, but as promised, I finished the car bag, with a few minor changes.  Originally I was going to make it a double layer bag that I could leave in the car.  That still remains, but only 1 layer, for the simple fact that I don't want poor Chaos to sweat in it either, but at least he will remain warm and not be able to take his boots and socks off as soon as he gets in the car.  As I was sewing, I had an epiphany though, I am going to make another one, double layer, using an upcycled sherpa  fleece jacket that no one uses or fits as the inner liner. This one I will use for the stroller and sled and with any luck, it will be done before summer.

Now I know that you are all thinking that I can simply buy this at my local walmart, but the problem is, houdini Chaos can get out of almost anything, They don't make a size to fit him, and I need to be able to keep his boots on, hence my need to make him one.

So lets start with the tutorial.  If anyone wants the actual pattern, please let me know and I will email you the pdf.

Step 1:
Measure your child, you want to make this for their size, leaving room for winter gear and growing. Take your length measurements to your material.  You will need about 1 meter of fleece (or your material of choice), and a zipper, the length of your choice.  Fold your material in half and measure the length and width on the material.  Cut a rectangle from those measurements.

Step 2:
Cut a rounded bottom, and a quarter circle (?) from the top sides for the arm holes. (See picture below)

Step 3:
Turn material right sides together and sew a 1/2" seam from armpit all round the bottom to the other armpit.

Step 4:
Measure your neck opening, cut a half circle from the top middle on the front side of the material (only 1 side). From the middle of that opening, cut a straight linedown the middle to fit your zipper.

Step 5:
 Sew a 1/2" seam across the shoulders. stopping at the neck opening.

Step 6:
Cut your sleeve material out, to fit the armhole opening, again, see picture below, and I apologize that it's not so accurate on my part, but I have only ever done this for myself and I am trying.  So if any of the instructions are unclear, please let me know.

Step 7:
Sew sleeves on to arm hole, with right sides facing in. Sew the seam down the sleeve, again with a 1/2" seam.  Hem the sleeve.  Repeat with the other side.

Step 8:
Sew zipper in.  Not to many instructions for this, as I  have only done this once before, but it seems pretty straight forward.

Step 9:
Hem around the neck, with a 1/2" turnover. You will notice that I like to use a 1/2" seam more so than a 1/4" seam, I have found that with my kids, that extra 1/4" prevents the seams from tearing at all and their little fingers going through to make the hole bigger.

Step 10:
Now heres where it gets a little complicated for me as I am not so good with the button hole part, so I will do my best. Measure where the bottom buckle will come through sew a 2-3 inch button hole seam on both front and back of the car bag, not together, separately. Cut a slit through the middle.  The bag should fit nicely in the car seat and you have the choice to leave it in the car seat or take your child out with it.

I will show you the next one when I have it made.  Hope this works for you all and I would love to see what you have made too.

This is how the kids car blankets turned out, they wanted to go for a drive just to use them.  They LOVE them and maybe I won't have to listen to "He's touching me, She won't share the blanket with me.  MOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!"

Whatever makes them happy!

Enjoy your day, enjoy your family and happy crafting!

A Late Entry and and Apron

Hi all, sorry for late post, I really do try to have my entries in earlier, unfortunately this morning, I was thrown for a huge loop.  As I have said before, I try to get up earlier than my kids because that is the only me time I have.  This morning, they all decided to get up with me, again.  So as I was trying to prepare this mornings post, i was also feeding, dressing, cooking, and getting kids out the door. Plus I received and invitation for a celebration of a friends life.  Colin Choi, We Miss You! You were taken from us far too soon.

On to the post

My apron from a decorative pillow case, found at goodwill, for $.99. And it's reversible.

Step 1, cut pillowcase to fit, and then make a pencil case from the zipper part.

Step 2:
Fold quilting bias tape around edges, and pin, leaving length for your straps. Cut length of bias tape to go around your neck as well.  I would provide actual measurements, but you will want to cut to fit you or the person you are making this apron for.

Step 3:
Sew around the edges.

Step 4:
To finish the strap edges, fold over and sew a quick seam through.

Step 5:
Attach neck strap, and sew.  (I don't have a pic, because I actually did this step when I was sewing around the edges. Sorry)

Step 6:
Model for pics.

Enjoy your apron, I know I will and now I can bake clothing safe.