Love Birds {TUTORIAL}

Okay, so I finally finished up a tutorial for these love birds.  Hopefully this will motivate you to go make some of your own!  Aren't they fun?

 

***Here is the link for the bird template that I used.  I did make it about 1/4" bigger (by just free-handing around the pattern) to allow for the seam.

I Pinned--I Did!

So if you are like me, your pins are piling up--there are SO MANY INCREDIBLE IDEAS OUT THERE!  Well, I have been trying to actually use my pins.  Here is one that I did and I am so glad!

 I got this great idea from Make it and Love it.  I'm sure you've been to her site, but if you haven't, you should.  It is fantastic.  Anyway, she posted a great tutorial for plastic storage bags and I thought, "hey, I could make those."  So I did.  Yay!  Love having specific storage places for toys.  It was fun to make different sizes.

They came together pretty well.  It's a great tutorial.  It seemed like it was a never-ending project, but that is because I took about a week in between each step.  But overall, I am happy with them.  Oh, and my kids love having their own special bags!

DIY Cookie Stamp

Happy Valentines Day everyone!  I thought it would be fun to deliver some cookies to some friends, but let our kids do the cookie version of doorbell-ditching:  Leave the cookies on the porch, ring the doorbell, and run & not get caught.

I have this recipe for delicious ALMOND BUTTER COOKIES.  If you like almond flavoring, these are your kind of cookie.  The only problem--they are supposed to be rolled into a ball and then stamped, but I don't have a cookie stamp.  So I decided to make my own--and you can do it too!
All you need is a small piece of cardboard, a little tape, and some wax paper or plastic wrap.  Simply cut your shape out of the cardboard.  I did a heart.  Cut a piece of wax paper the same size.  Tape the wax paper to the shape, and then tape it to the bottom of a cup.  Here is your stamp.

Mix your dough.  Roll balls in sugar.  I added pink sprinkles to add to the Valentine feeling.

Stamp with your newly made stamp.

Bake and Enjoy!

Almond Butter Cookies
1 c. margarine
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
2 c. flour
1 tsp. Almond extract

Cream butter, sugar, & extract.  Add salt & flour.  Chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.  Roll into 1" balls.  Roll in sugar.  Stamp.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Makes 3 dozen cookies.

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I saw these great little love birds on Etsy awhile back.  While I instantly thought they were SO cute and fun, I was not willing to pay $30+ for them.  (Sorry, I guess I am cheap).  But, I also thought the project was VERY do-able.  So I attempted to do them my self.  What do you think?

 Interested in a tutorial?

 Leave me a comment & let me know!

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Easy Baby Blanket Binding

Okay--here is a non-Valentine post.  I made a quick receiving blanket the other day for my son's Kindergarten teacher.  I remembered seeing a blanket edge sewn this way, and decided to try it for myself.  It was super easy--by far the easiest way I have finished off a blanket!
(sorry for the poor quality pictures.  I was in a hurry & so you get bad lighting and iphone pics)

 Here are the steps I took:
1--Cut two pieces of FLANNEL fabric the same size.  I find it easiest to cut the two at the same time.
2--Put right-sides together.  PIN.  Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance around the blanket.  In the middle of one side,  leave about a six inch section unsewn.
3--Through the section not sewn, TURN the blanket right-side out.
4--TOPSTITCH around the blanket, using about 1/8" seam allowance.  This will secure down the section that was previously not sewn.
5--STITCH around again using a bigger seam allowance--either 1/2" or 3/4".
6--STITCH around a 3rd & 4th time in a wavy pattern, so that your lines cross each other.  Don't worry if the lines aren't even, perfect, or exact.  It adds CHARACTER!  I think it is so cute!

Doesn't it make you want to have a little baby to wrap up nice and tight!

I {HEART} YOU

I am loving that I am actually getting some crafting done these days!  I guess now that Christmas is over I feel like I actually have time to do some crafts.  Hooray!

 Here is a quick little Valentines Day craft.  All that is needed: Scrapbook paper & a sewing machine.

 If you remember way back, I made these cute little cards.  Well, I decided to do the same thing only a little bigger--and then frame it without the glass.  Super easy.  I love the 3-D effect of having the different hearts folded out.

 Oh, and to add a little something something, I stitched "love" down at the bottom with my sewing machine.  I like the detail (even if it's kind of hard to see on the dark paper).

Love.  Love.  Love.  Gotta Love it!

Valentines Banner

I threw together a quick and easy heart banner for Valentines Day.  I combined a couple different ideas I saw around Christmastime on Pinterest.  Here is what I came up:

 I used a paper grocery bag and cut out several hearts.  I also used a little Valentines scrapbook paper for one heart.  I distressed the edges a little with some brown ink.
Then I moved on to the sewing--I sewed around 60% of the heart, shoved in a little batting to give it some poof, then finished sewing it up.
Trim the threads and pin to some ribbon.
Easy, Peasy.

 I love what it added to my mantel!

Love is in the air! (okay, a little cheesy, I know.)