Dora Backpack Goodie Bags

Good Morning!

As promised I have finished the Dora backpack goodie bags for my daughter's 3rd birthday party! So here is what I did!

First, I went to Jo-Ann's and found a purple fabric. I got a purple fabric that is close in color to Backpack's but this speckled flannel was on sale, and since I was making 15 of these and they are for young children (who really won't care) I decided to just use this. If you are only making one and want it to be exact you can probably find something solid that might be more expensive....Anyway...

Fold the fabric in half, and iron it flat. Then make a paper pattern that is 10''x7''.


Next, put the patten flat on the fabric and lay a book on top of it to keep it in place. Then trace the pattern on the fabric with chalk. (I used sidewalk chalk because that is what we had LOL!!) I cut the fabric along the chalk line. Now you will have two pieces of the same pattern!


Place the two pieces of fabric on top of each other right sides together. Take a ruler and measure from the top 1 inch down and then 2 inches down. Draw a line at each inch. Place a pin horizontal at the second line on both sides of the fabric so you know where to begin and end sewing. Pin the fabric together.



Start sewing at the second line where you placed the pin on one side of the fabric, continue sewing down the side, along the bottom, and back up the opposite side of the fabric, ending at the next horizontal pin (second line from top).


Next, fold down the top to crease at the first line. Pin this fold. Do this for both sides of the fabric folding them opposite directions so the right side of the fabric is now showing.

Separate the two folds and sew along the bottom of each fold. Sew one fold first, stop cut the thread and begin sewing the next side. This is the top of the bag so be sure not to sew the opening closed!! Once you are finished sewing turn the bag in side right!
Sew a button hole at the bottom corners.


Next, you will make the straps. I used white yarn that I already had. You could use rope or something heavier if you like. Cut 6 pieces of 4ft yarn. Then divide the yarn into two sets of 3 pieces. I braided each set to make them a little sturdier. Use a safety pin or paper clip to thread one set of yarn through one side of the bag and then through the other side.


Take the second set of yarn and thread through the bag, but in the opposite direction. You should now have one set coming out one side and the other set of yarn coming out of the other side. Tie each set through the button hole corresponding with it's side.


Lastly, the finishing touch! The face of backpack. I found a backpack picture online printed it and cut out the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows, I then traced them onto felt, cut the felt out and used tacky glue to attach it to my Backpack!


TADA!
A cute mini Dora Backpack/Goodie Bag. Inside I am going to put a print out of The Map with some crayons, candy and other goodies!

Have Fun!
And have a good day!

Simple Sew~Child's Shell Bag

Good Saturday Morning!

It's once again pouring rain outside! So this morning I thought I would work on a simple sewing project. I was at the fabric store looking through the remnants, and came across green mesh, which I thought would make a great bag to take to the beach and put collected shells in. So I found a couple patterns, and combined them together and made a child sized "Shell Bag". I haven't put together a pattern yet, of exact measurements, but here is a picture of the finished project. Since it is too cold, and rainy outside, my little girl decided to collect her blocks from the house and put in it! :)

Have a great day!!

Knitted Hat

Happy Rainy Friday!

Attention Knitters!!
I have found a really cute, and really easy free Knitted Hat pattern. If you don't follow the Spud and Chloe blog, you should! They send e-mails every couple days, and have tons of free patterns! Here is one that was recently on their blog. I made it in Brown Debbie Bliss cashmerino dk, because that's what I had at my house, and the size turned out pretty adequate!
This is the Baby size, I probably should have made the Toddler size, because it is a little small on my little girl. I usually knit things way to big, so I thought I would just make a smaller size, but go figure this time it turned out to be right! Here is the link to the Spud and Chloe blog where you will find the pattern for the hat.
Hat Pattern
Have fun!
Have a good Day!

A couple favorites....

Good Morning!

What a beautiful day it was here yesterday! Spring hopefully has sprung. Daylight savings is around the corner, my neighbors have begun to clean their flower beds, and coats where left at home yesterday! Yay!
Anyway, I have been diligently working on the favor bags for our Dora the Explorer birthday party, I also have some ideas for an orange TUTU for the birthday girl! While I finish the projects and get them ready for sharing I wanted to post a few great things I have discovered.

As you know, I am a BIG fan of Martha Stewart. I DVR (which I have recently discovered a DVR is wonderful!) her show every morning, so I can watch it in peace after the kids go to bed! So over the weekend I was catching up on some shows that I was a little behind on and while watching the Friday March 5, 2010 show, Martha had crafter Kristy Boucher on her show who showed everyone how to make Paper-Vinyl Wallets.
These are so adorable and look pretty easy to make. They would be a great spring craft to try! I will definitely be trying them soon and hope to give you some feed back! If you follow the link on the Martha Stewart website for Kristy Boucher, you will see that she does have an Etsy shop where she sell the wallets already made, which I thought would make a really cute gift.




OK, the next thing is not a craft at all, but a simple pleasure! I love Vanilla Lattes from Starbucks, but trying to get out of the house with two kids to get a latte is a treat and only happens when I am extremely motivated! So I have tried many creamers of many varieties, when I was recently introduced to the International Delight Coffee house Inspirations~French Vanilla!! MMM...it is delicious! It is inexpensive and gives gives me the creamy french vanilla feel of a latte. Even though it isn't a Starbucks it is a great alternative when I can't get out out of the house. Too bad there isn't a Starbucks out my front door! Or in my kitchen :)

Have a great Day!!

Organizing Tip~Bed Sheets

I thought I would share...

I have been arranging my bed sheets like this for some time now, and it is working really well. It keeps everything together, and saves time when I go to change the sheets.

Step 1: Fold the Flat sheet and Fitted sheet. Lay out 1 pillowcase. (If there are extra pillow cases fold them as well.)

Step 2: Place the Flat Sheet, Fitted Sheet, and any extra pillow cases together in a pile. Place them inside the pillow case. Put them all the way to the bottom of the pillow case.


Step 3: Fold the top of the pillow case over.


You are finished, and the sheets will fit nicely in the linen closet. They are conveniently together, and look neat!

TA DA!

Birthday Party Checklist

Good Evening!!
I have started along with all the daily tasks, planning my oldest daughters birthday party. We have about 3 weeks until the party so today I sent out the invitations. She is going to be 3 and has picked a Dora the Explorer birthday party. Lucky for us we are going to be having the party at the community hall so there will be plenty of room for all her friends to run, play games, and do crafts! I have found a really great birthday party checklist to help with party planning! I love Martha Stewart and have found the checklist (along with so many other checklists) on her website. Here is the link to download a printable version, or here I have copied and pasted!
www.marthastewart.com/checklists
© 2009 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
6 Weeks Before:
□ Choose the theme.
□ Draw up the guest list.
□ Confirm the date with your child’s best friend.
□ Reserve off-site space.

4 Weeks Before:
□ Get updated class list.
□ Decide on games, activities, and food.
□ Write out invitations.

3 Weeks Before:
□ Arrange for extra help, if needed.
□ Mail invitations.
□ Purchase party goods.
□ Start homemade decorations and favors.

1 to 2 Weeks Before:
□ Call guests who have not yet responded.
□ Draw up a schedule of activities.
□ Make samples of planned crafts.
□ Purchase crafts supplies and favors.

3 Days Before:
□ Buy food as well as batteries for your camera.

1 to 2 Days Before:
□ Bake the cake.
□ Decorate your home or be sure off-site supplies are gathered.
□ Prepare make-ahead foods.

So Modify it as you may need, I did not start planning 6 weeks out, so I just completed those tasks at 4 weeks, along with the others! I will post pictures and more great ideas that I have for the party as I start planning it!
Sneak Peak: Dora's backpack as goodie bags, a map to color as a goodie, a craft such as sock puppets(I need something Dora themed but this is the backup plan), and a Dora relay race!

I'm so excited! I can now blog from my phone! Extended post to follow! I just had to try this out!

Hello!

Hello world!

I have recently made a huge technology upgrade in my life and joined the blogging community! I'm so excited to start my very first blog! It took a while for me to decide what I was going to write about, and after a lot of thinking I thought well, I guess I could start with my life, and the day to day activities. Why not share with the world all the great things that I come across in my life, my experience as a wife, student, business owner, eco-friendly, semi-crunchy, bookstore loving, crafty, trendy Momma of 2 wonderful girls! So I took a trip to the local bookstore, and read some much needed info on great blogging techniques, whether or not it helped I guess we will find out. But I begin my Journey! So I say...

Hello World!