Blog With Friends: December Edition!

Jolly Jinglers-UNITE!

Hello friends! Welcome to December's edition of "Blog With Friends!" We are 8 bloggers who've joined together to bring you some holiday love. There is something fun for everyone!

After my project, click on each blog post project title you'd like to visit. When you get to each blog, leave some comment love.  Everyone adores visitors. If you have a project you'd like to share, join in on our blog hop at the very end of the post. Happy Holidays, everyone!

First up, my Cloth Tree Tutorial:

An adorable teacher's aide taught me how to make these trees. They're easy enough for kids to make. Create them for gifts or holiday decor. (Thanks for the idea, Mary Lee!)

Materials:

• 1/8 yard of holiday cotton fabric (any color.) I used various fat quarters. Scraps are perfect for this craft.
• 6" square of fabric or brown craft paper for base
• Ruler to measure fabric strips
• Sticks or dowels for your tree. Any length you'd like. My sticks are about 10" long. The dowels are only 5".
• Scissors for cutting fabric. I used regular and pinking shears.
• Clay (for stabilizing tree.)

Optional:

• glue
• buttons
• thin wire
• string
• pipe cleaners 

Warnings: 

Scissors are sharp; don't run with them.

Sticks are sharp; Don't use them as swords.

Little ones should be careful not to put buttons in their mouths.

Be safe, people.

1. Grab fabric and cut tiny 1/2 inch slits along the top of it. (with the grain) You can cut along these slits with regular scissors or pinking shears. Another fun way to get the strips is to simply tear down the length of the fabric. Kids love this. My strips were about 6-8 inches long. Cut at least 5 strips per inch of tree.

Here are examples of what the strips will look like (left to right) if torn, cut or pinked.

2. Starting about 1/4 of the way up the tree, tie a strip into a knot. Pull both strips to one side. Repeat above that knot with another. Pull those in the opposite direction. Each time, turn your strips away from each other. After the first two, tie the next knots and twist them in the opposite direction. Think of looking down on the tree as a clock. the first two strip ties go at 9 and 3. The second two will face 12 and 6. Repeat over and over until you reach the top of the tree. You can use shorter strips near the top. I just trim if needed.

3. After the strips are on the tree, use a ball of clay to keep it from falling over. The picture is just to show you how to stand it up. Save this step until after the strips are tied on.

4. Trace and cut out a circle larger than the base of your tree onto fabric or brown paper. 

5. Wrap around the base of your tree and tie with a string. You're done!!

 If you'd like, you can add a star to your tree using pipe cleaners or buttons. I strung mine with light weight wire and wrapped it around the top of my tree. 

 Also, you could glue assorted buttons to the fabric.

Here are a few examples of different trees I made.

A. Made on a paper towel roll. Glued buttons. Ornament star.

B. 5" dowel, sequined string base. Pinked Fabric. Angel button top.

C. Branch base, pipe cleaner star.

D. 4" dowel, star charm

If you make your own holiday tree, I'd love to see it! Any questions? You know what to do. Hit me up in the comment section WAAAAAAAY down at the end of this post :)

Don't forget to stop by the other "Jolly Jinglers" participating this month:

Lydia, of Cluttered Genius shows us how to make beautiful Twisted Paper Angels

Karen, from Baking in a Tornado has a recipe for her Incredible Edible Christmas Trees

Stacy, from Stacy Sews and Schools has created an adorable tutorial for Elf hats and shoes!

Melissa, from Home on Deranged shows us her High Tech Version of Affordable Stocking Stuffers.

Robin, from Someone Else's Genius has created a tutorial for her Simply Festive Wreath

Sarah, from The Momisodes has some Christmas Book Goodness to share!

Christy, from Uplifting Families shows us her Handprint Christmas Wreaths.

Link up your own holiday post idea below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Tuesday, Friends!

Blog With Friends- Boo Crew in Effect!

Hello friends! Welcome to the Boo Crew! We are 6 bloggers who've joined together to bring you some scary-good ideas for Halloween.

Some are tasty, some are crafty; all are a lot of fun. Click on each link under the blog post you'd like to visit. When you get to each blog, say, "Trick-or-Treat!"or "hello!' Just let them know you're there. Everyone loves visitors.

 First up: My Mini Halloween Gates.

These are cute to set on a mantle, hang on your door, or stick out in a planter. Make as many as you'd like. They're a lot of fun to make with kids.

Materials: 

• A pack of paint stirrers or shims. I bought a set of 24 (15") shims at Lowe's. $5.00
• Various acrylic paints (Halloween colors work best)
• Scraps of ANYTHING (felt, fabric,googly eyes, string, sharpies, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, sparkles, glitter, etc.) I know most people won't have all of this, that's okay. Use what you have. I was an early childhood teacher. It's embarrassing what I actually have on hand.
• Brads or small nails to nail the posts and fence.
• Hot glue (the brads don't always work, but look great)
• letters (foam, wood, or, you can paint them on)
• paintbrushes, sponges
• newspaper or a drop cloth. Things can get messy.
• craft glue/ q-tips (children can use this to attach details on to their sticks)
• Snacks. Trust me.

Warnings:

• The shims can give splinters. Sand them beforehand, or warn the little ones to be careful. Adults may want to paint the wood ahead of time.
• Hot glue. Not for kids. An adult will need to help with this.
• Attach brads with a hammer. Watch out for little fingers.
• Wear old clothes. Acrylics are hard to remove from fabric.

1. Decide how many characters you'd like on your fence. 4-6 work well. Aside, hold 2 extra shims to use as the 2 horizontal fence pieces.

2. Using acrylics, paint each shim the color of desired characters. I painted 3/4 of the way down. The rest will be black for the "gate" base. When the paint has dried, you can begin to bling your characters out. This is a photo of my oldest getting ready to hot glue some googly eyes onto her mummy.

3. Use markers, fabric, glitter, or anything you can find to create your stick characters. Here is Dracula, Frankenstein and a ghost.

Here is the base of a pumpkin, a glitter Frankenstein, a masking-tape mummy and a...., well, I'm not sure. :)

4. Let dry. Arrange in the order you'd like.

5. Paint bases of each piece black.

6. Lay two pieces horizontally across the character sticks. Attach with brads or small nails. Due to the unevenness of the shims, we also hot glued the pieces into place. Finish by painting the complete fence base. We used a glitter paint to go over the black acrylic.

7. Paint any letters you'd like to create for your fence post saying. Glue on. You can also paint your sayings, or use foam letters.

 8. Clean up that mess!

9. Set them up and show them off :)

Happy Halloween!

Don't forget to check out the other bloggers participating in this month's Boo Crew! Click on the project below each photo to travel to the goodness :)

Happy Halloween, friends :)

Karen from Baking in a Tornado, gives us directions on how to make her "Bloody Buddies"; a fun, edible Halloween treat.

Stacy from Stacy Sews and Schools, teaches us how to make the lovely "Anna's Cape" from the movie "Frozen!"

Lydia from Cluttered Genius, shows us how to decorate on the cheap for a "Spooky Kooky Halloween"

Robin from Someone Else's Genius, shows how to create her "Nevermore Wreath"; a project based on Edgar Allen Poe's, "The Raven".

Melissa from Home on Deranged, gives us "Spooktacular Halloween Ideas" (not too scary!) for little ones.

Tailgate With Us: Reversible Busy Bags

Hello friends!

Have you ever been to a tailgating party? They're usually celebrated before, during or after a sports game (either outside your home or in). Have you ever been to one where you didn't need to bring anything? Well, THIS is that kind of party. All you need to do is pull up a comfy chair, grab a little something warm to drink, and start reading. Karen@ Baking in a Tornado came up with a way for a group of bloggers to throw a new kind of "Virtual Tailgating" celebration and it's all for you!

Each blogger up in that beautiful Brady Bunch-looking collage (9 of us all together) has prepared a 'lil "Tailgating Awesomeness" for you. It may be delicious, adorable, informative or comfortable. You'll find each of the links to these great projects at the end of this post.

First up, though, is my tutorial for Reversible Busy Bags. These are small carry-alls that your little one can bring to a game or any event. You can fill them with art supplies, treats, or books. Make them smaller for tots or bigger for you. Once you get the hang of making them, you may even want to create some for gifts (think Halloween treat bags!) They are my design. So please, don't sell them without my written permission.

Want to learn to make one? Follow my photo tutorial! It's a bit lengthy, but easy to follow.
Need to come back when you have more time? Bookmark the link up there in your address bar.
Want to order one instead? Leave me a message in the shellybean shop!

Any questions? Leave a comment at the end of this post! I'm happy to help.

Here we go!

Finished measurements of the blue bag (not handles) are 9" by 8.5"by 2"

green bag is 11.5" by 8.5"by 2.5"

The following directions are for the green bag.

You will need:

1/2 yard fabric for outside of the bag, pockets and handles

1/2 yard fabric for lining and lining pockets

1 yard iron-on interfacing. I use Pellon #808 (read directions on pkg.)

2.5 inches of 1/8" elastic

2 buttons (Mine are 7/8")

Thread (I use all-purpose)

Pattern Paper (I use the back of wrapping paper. Look for the kind that measures in 1" square increments; it saves time, peeps!)

Sewing Tools:

Sewing machine, sewing needle, scissors, pins, chalk, iron (set to fabric you're using).

Warnings: Pins are sharp, as are scissors. Use caution. Irons (especially the steam setting) can burn. Remove pins before sewing over them. Don't run with scissors...all that jazz...

From experience: Do NOT fill bags with crayons if they are going to spend ANY time in a warm car. Little ones need to be careful of marker caps. Don't run with suckers in your mouth. You get it.

 Click on each picture to enlarge. Some photos contain detailed instructions/tips.

1. Pattern Pieces (3)

 2. Cut out main fabric, lining and interfacing according to pattern pieces.

 3. Press fabric and lining.

4. Iron on interfacing. You only need to interface TWO of the lining pockets; not all four.

5. Iron and sew handles. 

 6. Transfer handle and elastic markings.

 7. Sew pockets. I used one main fabric and one lining fabric for each pocket.

Two finished pockets will have interfacing. Two will not.

 8. Pin/sew interfaced pockets following directions in the photo.

9. Pin and sew on non-interfaced pockets according to photo.

 10. Measure, mark and top stitch divider pocket.

 11. Pin handles and elastic at markings to main fabric. Baste or stitch close to edge.

 12. Using a 1/2 seam allowance, stitch sides. Press seams open.

 13. Repeat with lining, but leave bottom open at markings.

Leave about 4" open at bottom.

 14. Box corners. You're matching the bottom of the open side seam to the base of the bag seam. Pin. 1/2" seam allowance.

 15. Put main bag into lining. Right sides of both bags will be facing each other. Match side seams and markings of tucked-in handles. Pin along the top. Stitch all the way around.

 16. Remember that 4" opening you left in the bottom of the lining? Open that up and carefully pull the whole bag out. This will eventually pull the lining right side out too. You will tuck that into the bag so it becomes the "lining". You can slip-stitch the 4"hole closed. Now you can top-stitch the finished bag along the bag top.

 17. After you sew on buttons, you can decide which side you like best. Shown here is the bag right side out.

  Here is the bag "Lining" side out. Press bag if needed and load that baby up. I use markers on the inside and colored pencils on the outside. There's construction paper and stickers inside also.

 Here's the back view.

 Here's one for my family's home team(s).

And there you have it. Whew!! 

Don't forget to stop by the other sites participating in this virtual party. Remember, winners NEVER quit, so keep on reading! Each blog is really excited to have you visit! 

The hostess of this rocking tailgate party is none other than Karen, from "Baking in a Tornado". Pop over to see her fantastic recipe for an amazing Glazed Kielbasa Sandwich.

Stacy, from "Stacy Sews and Schools" teaches us how to make her very cute Team Color Headband and Earmuffs.

Robin, from "Someone Else’s Genius" gives us an analysis of college football in her Review of the book "The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time College Football"

Diane, from "Canning and Cooking at Home" is showing us how to make a delicious Spicy Mustard Relish.

Eileen, from "Eileen’s Perpetually Busy" shows us how to make a tailgating Team Colors Seat Cushion With a built-in handle for carrying ease. Sweet!

Lydia, from "Cluttered Genius", has an Easy DIY Upcycled Team Garland that shows you how to make a garland for your tailgating party out of products you already have in your house.

Shawn, from "Literary Litter" provides a tutorial on how to make an adorable Snapcap. It's a crocheted hat that will keep you warm AND let everyone know what's on your mind.

Melissa, from "Home on Deranged" brings technology to tailgating, showing us how to use technology and cool gadgets to ensure you are master of tailgating time!

Cheers to a "FAN"tastic week, my friends :)

-Michele