Rice Bags

I have been wanting to do rice bags for a long time, and as I was cleaning out Madi's old baby blankets I decided I was going to recycle.   I used Madi's old blanket, I folded it in half and then cut it into 5 pieces. 

Turn the material inside out, sewed down the length of the material on each side, on the width the one side is folded so I only had to sew half way on the non-folded side.

When you are done sewing, making sure you leave at least a two inch whole on the one width, turn the material right side out.

This end has the two inch hole on top

I made five of them, you can see the ends are rounded a bit, I love that I could recycle Madi's blanket :)

I put some essential oils in my rice...  A couple of them I mixed Lavender and Citrus Bliss, the other ones I mixed Lavender and Serenity.  They both smelled really good and soothing :)

Using the funnel in the two inch hole, fill the bags with rice.  Fill the bags 3/4 of the way up.

Hand stitched the two inch hole closed.

These were a quick and fun thing to do...  I love how they all turned out.  And I love giving my creations away :)

Pretty in Pink

Madi Moo got her pink wall today...


She had been asking me and her dad for a pink room for a long time, so we gave in and gave her one wall..  But it is really PINK :)

Tips for an easier life and Uses for Vinager

It's Written on the Wall has tips and tricks for making life easier, really cute Bows...

All you has 45 uses for Vinegar

Here is the top 10, go to the site to get the rest



1. Freshen up the fridge. Clean the shelves and walls with a solution of half water and half vinegar.
2. Brighten coffee cups and teacups. Gently scrub stains with equal parts vinegar and salt (or baking soda).
3. Eliminate odors. Swab plastic containers with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
4. Kill bathroom germs. Spray full-strength vinegar around the sink and tub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Save a garment. To remove light scorch marks on fabrics, rub gently with vinegar. Wipe with a clean cloth. This technique also works on antiperspirant stains.
6. Tidy up a toilet. Pour a cup or more of diluted white distilled vinegar into the bowl. Let sit several hours or overnight. Scrub well with a toilet brush and flush.
7. Lose the carpet stain. Make a paste of 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup salt or baking soda. Rub into the stain and let dry. Vacuum the residue the next day. (Always test an out-of-sight part of the carpet first.)
8. Renew paint brushes. To remove old paint, place brushes in a pot with vinegar. Soak for an hour, then turn on the stove and bring the vinegar to a simmer. Drain and rinse clean.
9. Wipe off a dirty faucet. To get rid of lime buildup, make a paste of 1 teaspoon vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt. Apply to sink fixtures and rub with a cloth.
10. Stop static cling. Add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash cycle. The acid reduces static and keeps dryer lint from sticking to your clothes.

Diaper Cakes

I have seen tons of cute ideas for diaper cakes.


Our Best Bites has this one

She has great directions....

I also found one at Itsy Bitsy Paper

New Links

I found some cute sites that have pumpkin craving
Fav Craft Blogs has some pretty cute ones

DLTK  has these

This site is the best, it gives you tons of free patterns.

Therapeutic Crafting  has an awesome recipe for zucchini

Zucchini Fries

Baked Zucchini Fries

Ingredients:

3 medium zucchini, sliced into skinny sticks
2 large egg whites, beaten
1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs or panko bread crumbs
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp dried basil
Pinch of dried oregano
1/4 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small bowl, beat egg whites with a fork until frothy.
Put the breadcrumbs, basil, oregano, garlic powder and cheese on a plate-I used a pie tin. Mix well.
Dip the zucchini sticks in the egg whites and then into the bread crumb mixture, make sure all sides get coated well. Place the sticks on the prepared baking sheet. I did the sticks one by one.
Bake at 425° for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and a little crispy.
These are yummy dipped in marinara sauce. 

 

 

Quilting Patterns

The Polka-Dot Umbrella has wonderful instructions for different quilting blocks...

#11 LeMoyne Uneven Nine Patch

Background A 4 - 2 1/4 x 3

Fabric 1 (center) B 1 – 3 square

Fabric 2 (corners) C 4 – 2 1/4 squares

Begin by laying all of your pieces out to look like a 9 patch. Sew your 3 rows together, pressing towards the dark fabric within each row. Sew rows together, press away from the center row. Block should measure 6 1/2” square.

#14 Shoo Fly

Background:

AA 2 – 2 7/8 HST

B 4 – 2 1/2 squares

Color:

AA 2 – 2 7/8 squares HST

BB 1 – 2 1/2 square center

Start by making the four HST (Half Square Triangles) using the 2 7/8 squares from each fabric. Square up these HST to 2 1/2. Press to the darker fabric.

Next, lay pieces out like a 9 patch. Sew together into 3 rows. Press towards background fabric for less bulk. Sew rows together, press towards center row. Block should measure 6 1/2" square.

 #15 Paper Pieced Heart

A document on how to paper piece has been sent to all the Block of the Month followers. If you need the directions on how to paper piece please leave a comment with your email address. If you're not interested in paper piecing sew any quilt block you like, it should just square up to 6 inches.

#22 Square and a Half

Background:

AA 2 – 3 7/8 squares HST

B 4 – 3 1/2 x 9 1/2

Color 1 (dark):

AA 2 – 3 7/8 squares HST

A 8 – 3 1/2 squares flip corners

D 1 – 4 1/2 square QST

Color 2 (med):

C 4 – 3 1/2 squares

D 1 – 4 1/2 square QST

Color 3 (light):

C 1 – 3 1/2 square center

D 2 – 4 1/2 squares QST

Begin by making the four AA, HST corners. Square up to 3 1/2, press towards the dark. Next, draw diagonal lines on the back of each 3 1/2, dark fabric. Sew these directly on the line to piece B using the block above as a guide for direction.

Next, QST, sew one of each Color #3 to Color #1 and Color #2. Sew like you are making a HST. Cut on line and press towards the dark. Do not square up yet. Now take one dark unit and place it with one medium unit. Draw a diagonal line, sew on both sides of line. Cut on line. Now you can square up to 3 1/2.

Finally, lay all of your sewn pieces out to match the block photo. Assemble the center 9 patch first, this should measure 9 1/2. Continue with another 9 patch assembly until block is done. Block should measure 15 1/2 square

Go check them out...  This one was just for July...

Strength Saying - A Present

I made my wonderful friend her birthday present...  It was a saying about strength (who doesn't need that), I also made her a cute pillow box to put some yummy peanut butter cookie balls in.

 First I found a cute saying on Pinterest, then I got my canvas 8x10, mod podge and ribbon

 I cute the saying to fit the board that then I used distressed ink to color the edges

 I covered the canvas with mod podge and also the back of the picture, then I put the picture on the canvas

 After waiting for 30 minutes I covered the front.
Note: if you chose something with light writing the mod podge on top seems to lighten it more.

 Then I got the ribbon and ran a middle and thread through one side of it.  When you pull the string tight it ruffles the ribbon where you can make a flower

 Then I made some flowers out of felt.

 And here is the final product!!!

Now the pillow box, I had previously posted two cute ideas

I had found these cute pillow boxes from kiki creates

 I enlarged one of the boxes so I could fit my candy

 wrapped a ribbon around it

 And made a bow

Tada!!!