Back to School Count Down

My latest addition of Family Fun gave me a great idea for counting down the days until school. Since my son is about to start Kindergarten, I decided to try this one out. I knew he'd love to add the school supplies to his new backpack for school. The Family Fun idea is at this link; Count the Days. I changed up the tube idea and used what I had around the house. I had old mailbox sticky numbers (unused) and decorated paper lunch sacks with a few school related scrapbook items I had around. Now I can't wait for Hayden to see what awaits him each day.

So what is inside these bags?

Bag 7: A NASA patch and a coupon good for a new backpack and a promise that I will sew on the patch. The significance of the patch is that I bought it for him while I visited the Johnson Space Center over the summer and his new school is a NASA Explorer School!
Bag 6: crayons

Bag 5: scissors
Bag 4: watercolor sets
Bag 3: markers

Bag 2: glue sticks and a glue bottle
Bag 1: Pencils and a special note from mom and dad

In a few of the bags, I added two of the items so that I could start a basket at home with the same school supplies available for homework or projects. Hayden will know right where to look for the supplies to complete his work.

Sweet Treats for the Kappas

Sweet Treats for the Kappas
Fall 2009: At least once a year I try to give the young women of my old sorority a gift on behalf of the local alumnae to either encourage them, welcome them back, or maybe provide them with a reason to do a sisterhood event together. Since Fall semester is about to begin, I've done a simple gift. I bought Tootsie Roll suckers and oatmeal craison cookies at Costco. I wrapped them with ribbon and made a quick pinwheel decoration to go on top. I can't wait to deliver these!

Fall 2008: Last fall, I put together a movie themed gift. I bought a basket at Micheals and added all the yummy snacks I would want to enjoy while watching a movie with the girls; popcorn, licorice, candy, etc.

I just hope I can get more inspirations from others to continue giving these great gifts.

Sundress Woohoo!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Successful "Sewing Day" Project #2: Sundress

My second inspiration today came from Lil Blue Boo blogspot. A simple sundress idea and tutorial got me started and now at the end of the day my daughter has two of them.
Sundress tutorial

Since Natalie loves pink, I knew I had to make a pink dress, but struggled finding fabric that wasn't too grown up. To my fortune I found the perfect print.

It however, was not pink.

I think the dress with cherries has become my favorite, but of course I did find pink fabric and made her a second dress in her favorite color.



I also did variations to this project. I added the flower and button with removable safety pin and a bottom band to tie the whole dress together. I used the serger again rather than double folding (super quick). These were so easy and fun to make, not to mention to give to Natalie and see her bright smile.

Quick Apron

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Successful "Sewing Day" Project #1: The Quick Apron

My first inspiration today came from the makeitandloveit.blogspot.com site. I was in need of a gift idea for a wedding present. I found a pattern for just the perfect addition to the purchased gift (baking pans and kitchen utensils) along with a few of my favorite recipes. The quick apron tutorial seemed like a do-able project for me. The tutorial took me step by step through the process and I hope to make myself one too soon. I made the apron with a few variations. One variation was that I increased the main piece fabric to a full yard (36 in.) and gathered it. I then doubled up the pocket to make the inside look finished, folded it over and added a removeable (for washing) safety pin with flower and button to the front. One other variation was that I used a serger for as much of the sewing as I could to avoid having to fold and refold before stitching. This did save me some time, but I don't always have a serger to borrow. I can't wait to give this gift!