Fun with flowers and tutorial

Before I get to the flowers, I need to tell you that I made the best gumbo on Tuesday night.  To celebrate Mardi Gras, I decided it wouldn't be right if we didn't have a little cajun goodness. 

 On the menu: 

Shrimp, Sausage, Chicken Gumbo

Androuille Sausage Creole

Cajun Shrimp and Cucumber Salad

Crepes

King's Cake

Sangria

It was all so wonderful!

I snagged the gumbo recipe from here and the salad recipe from here.  Both are on the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen website.  For the sausage creole and sangria, just hit up the Food Network website for both. I'll admit, the King's Cake was not homemade.  But everything else was, so that makes up for it, right?

I've been trying my hand at making some flowers.  You've seen the felt flowers.  This week, I've worked on a few with normal fabric :)  These are two I've made so far:

I got tutorials for both of these flowers at Prudent Baby.  So much easier than I thought it would be.  I took the first flower and incorporated it into a little project I did.  And this leads me to a tutorial. . .

Skirt Slip Tank Top
I was at a little boutique a few weeks ago and I saw tank made with a skirt slip.  I thought it was the cutest thing.  I knew it would be perfect in the summer time over a solid colored tank.  Because I always think I can make anything (I like to pump myself up), I decided to make one for myself.  It actually turned out alright.  What do you think?

(You can't see my face because I don't have makeup on and I don't want to scare you!)


It wasn't that difficult to make.  So, here's how I did it:

Necessities:

Skirt slip (it needs to be wide enough to fit around your chest)
Doilies (as many or as little as you'd like)
Fabric (for the straps; you won't need a lot, I used scraps)
Buttons
Fabric flower
Ribbon
Needle
Coordinating thread

1) I started by picking out the buttons I wanted to use as decoration.  I placed one at the center of each doily.  You'll also need two matching ones to attach to your straps.

2) After I attached the buttons, I laid out the doilies to decide how I wanted them placed on the top.  Once I got what I wanted, I hand-sewed the doilies together.  Remember to use coordinating colored thread because you don't want your crazy sewing to show.  You'll want to make sure the doilies are pretty secure to each other, so sew all over the place (that's what I mean by crazy sewing!).

After connecting the doilies, attach it to the slip.  I hand-sewed this as well.  And I didn't sew all the doilies to the slip, because I was afraid it would bunch up.  I chose to just sew the top two doilies, but I did sew all along the circle.  It should be pretty secure.

3) Next, I made the straps.  I cut my fabric to be 21 inches long x 2.5 inches wide (and you'll need to do that twice).  Then fold the fabric in half, lengthwise, right sides together.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam down the long side, making sure not to close off the ends.  Once that is done, turn them right side out.  To finish the ends, I just folded them 1/4 inch and sewed.

(My sewing machine went wonky, so I apologize for the jumbled thread-mess!)

4) Next, make button holes on one end of your straps.  This is how you'll attach them in the front.

(Please shield your eyes to the dry, scaliness of my fingers. . .yuck!)

5) Decide on the placement of your straps.  I tried on the shirt and placed a pin in the spots where I wanted my buttons to go.  I then attached my buttons and buttoned the straps to them.  Then I tried on the top again, but backwards. . .so I could see the back and figure out where I wanted the straps to attach on the back.  Does that make sense?  I'm sure there's a better way, but this worked for me.  I don't have picture, but if I did it would be silly.
After pinning the straps to the back, I hand-sewed them to the top.

6) Because my slip has a little slit on one side, I wanted something to cover it.  I chose to put a flower there.  Just enough detail to take away from the fact that there's a slit.  I took this flower:

I attached some ribbon and a felt backing to it and began sewing it to the top of the slit.

7) After that, all you need to do is to trim off any stray thread that might be hanging around, try it on, and marvel at your beautiful creation.

I plan to wear mine over a solid pink tank (which is in the wash, that's why it isn't being shown here).  The fabric of my straps is a coordinating fabric to the one used for the flower.  I wanted something with color and a pattern, because the slip and doilies are just white.  I'm please with the way it turned out.  I can't wait for warmer weather so that I can wear it.  Tell me what you think!


Because I like to put silly pictures of my children on here, I'll leave you with a couple to make you smile:

She likes to put the headband on herself.  She also likes to wear my shoes.  These ones were a little too high for her to lift her leg into, so my hubs need to help.  It was so funny watching her try to walk, while saying, "Look at me, Mommy, look at me!!!"

We lost our first tooth! (can you tell?)

A little K-State love. . .even though they lost yesterday.

Felt Flower Headband tutorial

This is my first tutorial.  And while it is for something super simple, it still makes me happy!  When I decided to make these, I thought I would use them for myself and for the girl.  However, the headbands are too thin for the girl, she'll break them in an instant.  So, I have them all to myself.  I think I might make her some clips, but until then,  they're all MINE!  HA!

Okay, I'm done.

Like I said, they are super simple.  All you need is:

scrap paper

felt, in various colors

a headband, or two or three or a million

hot glue, any crafters best friend

a button, the size depends on the size of your flower

First things first, you need to make a template.  Well, if you're like me, you need to make a template.  But if you're good with freehand cutting, feel free to just start cutting.  The templates are for the leaves and the petals.  I made one size for the leaves and two sizes for the petals (one slightly larger than the other).  This is just how I did it, but you know you can just make them whatever size you feel comfortable with.

Next, choose your felt.  I tried to stay traditional with the leaves being green and I like to use two of them.  With the flower, I chose two different colors for the petals and cut five from each.  You'll also need a small circle for the middle of your flower and two larger circles to 1) attach the flower to and 2) attach it to the headband.

Now, you'll arrange your petals and leaves on one of the larger felt circles.  Once you've figured out the placing, go ahead and start glueing.  Start with the leaves, then add the larger petals to those, and lastly the small petals.  I then go through it and glue down any flappy parts, just to make sure it is secure. 

This is when you get to pick out your button.  I like to glue the little circle on first then I try out different buttons (varying sizes and color).  Once you find something you like, glue that baby on.

And there is your flower.  Isn't it pretty?  But remember, it could be so much be more.  Choose your headband.  I got a pack of them from Walmart.  They're shiny and make me happy.  You'll need to decide where on the headband you'd like your flower.  I try to put them a little on the side.  When you have it figured out, put a small bead of glue on the headband and attach the flower.  Next, glue like crazy on the bottom of the flower's felt circle and attach the other circle.  This will secure it to the headband with zero chance of it falling off.  (Okay, I don't know about "zero chance", but it's pretty darn secure)

All that's left is to pull off all the stringy glue that likes to hang around and Voila!  You have your very own felt headband.  Isn't it beautiful?!  And you can make these flowers and stick them to just about anything.  Make hair clips, attach them to pins and make a broach, sew them to your shirt for a cute little embellishment.  The possibilities are endless.  You can also use some embroidery floss to embellish the flower.  I would show you that, but I can't find the needle I use. . .that could totally be a problem.

So, that is the felt flower headband tutorial.  Thanks for reading it and I'd love to see what you make.

Fried Rice, Fish Sticks, and other things

I've made fried rice twice this week.  My boy LOVES LOVES LOVES fried rice.  When I was making it on day one, he kept coming into the kitchen saying, "I just wanted to check to see how things are coming along" or "Mmmm, that sure smells good."  On day two, I didn't tell him I was making it, but when he caught on and realized that I was, he said "FRIED RICE!!!  You're the best mommy EVER!"  So, just in case you were wondering, I'm the best mommy EVER.  I suppose I should point out that this was after I was called the worst mommy ever because I chose to drive to pick him up from school rather than walk.  Yes the school is only a 5 minute walk away, but it was cold.  I'm a wimp in the cold and I'm not ashamed to admit it.  Moving on. . .
To celebrate being the best mommy EVER, I thought I would share the wonderfulness that helped me attain this coveted and most sought after title.  So for your feasting pleasure, I give you my (mom's) fried rice recipe (it's on tab on the side. . .because it would take up this whole post if I put it here. . .and you if you don't see it there yet, keep checking back, I promise it'll pop up soon).
I felt I needed to serve something else with the rice.  Contrary to my son's beliefs, one cannot live on fried rice alone.  I found a yummy recipe for homemade fish sticks.  You need to go to the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen and try it out.  You can find the recipe here.

Now that we've gotten the fried rice and fish sticks out of the way, let's move on to the other things.  I've been semi crafty this week.  We're moving soon (don't ask me when, because I don't know!), so I'm trying to keep the craftiness contained to make it easier to pack up.  As of today, all my scrapbooking is packed into two HUGE bins and half of my fabric is packed up in a smaller bin.
I need more bins.
 I need a lot more bins.
Anyone want to donate bins?
No?  That's alright, I'll make do.

The first project on the list, and I'm sure this will shock a few. . .I've finally finished the girl's summer dress!  I finally hemmed it and put the buttons on.  In case you don't realize what a feat this is, let me tell you.  I made this dress over a month ago.  It has been sitting on my craft table for a month, just waiting to be hemmed.  I don't like hemming.  I was going to cheat and use the tape stuff, but then I felt instant guilt for not doing it myself.  So, I put the tape back on the shelf and decided to buckle down and just do it.  Well, that was like 2 weeks ago!  But FINALLY!  Finally it is FINISHED!  I have won!

I'll stop now and just show you a picture.

I can't wait until we move and it's warm, because I really want her to wear it!
Second on the list of finished projects, a bandana dress.  I had a friend come over for coffee and crafting on Tuesday morning.  We had espresso, I crafted, she gossiped, and it was wonderful.  I love days like that.  Just so you know, if you come over and just talk, I'll make anything for you. . .sometimes adult talk is hard to come by in this house.  But back to the dress, we got the pattern from Daisy Janie.  It was super easy.  If we weren't talking so much, we would have busted out the three we made in less than an hour.  Instead it took us like four hours, but who's counting?!  I don't want to keep you waiting any longer. . .here you go:

The girl picked the color she wanted.  She's only two, I'm not completely sure she knows which color she picked.  Oh well.
I've also been working on headbands this week.  I've been wanting to make cute things to put in my hair for awhile and I think "March of Hair" over at Accomplishing Motherhood got me energized to do it.  I started simple with just a few felts flowers attached to a headband.  What do you think?  Would you wear them?

 These are two separate headbands, with one flower each.

 Here's my sweet little model, showing off the red/white flower look. . .with a cheesy grin that I love so much!

 This headband has two little flowers (one blue, one yellow).

Any thoughts?

Lastly, I just want you to know that it was warm today.  Like 65 degrees warm.  I couldn't believe it!  Because I don't know when that kind of weather will return to this area (and I don't know when I'll move to GA where it's warm like that regularly).  I couldn't resist putting on a pair of capris (as well as putting a pair on the girl).

I'll leave you with a few pictures of the kids. . .just for laughs :)

 He's in wrestling and it is hilarious!

No she isn't yelling in anger. . .but I'm not quite sure what she is doing.