Cape

I meant to post this months ago (I made this shortly before Halloween of 2009) and forgot about it. And now I'm a bit embarrassed to post it because it is so wrinkly and worn out now. Oh well...I guess it shows how much it my son loves it.

A friend helped me make this reversible cape: Batman on one side, Superman on the other. Once again, I didn't think to do tutorial pictures while I was making it (I really need to work on that), but thankfully, someone else has already done that (I just found it online...horray!).

Check out the tutorial here. Now before you get started, let me just tell you that I opted not to use felt (because it balls up and doesn't look as nice sometimes after you wash it) and used cotton instead. I also was using scraps, so I had to piece the neck straps on, but in the end, I was happier with that option. Now, there is more strap length inside the seam, so I can just open it up and adjust it as my son grows. I didn't use velcro on the straps either...we just tie them and that works for us.

Good luck! If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Valentine's Day Decor

Construction paper hearts for Valentine's Day is probably a given in any home with children in it, but we thought it would be fun to hang our hearts instead of just putting them on the walls. I originally thought we'd thread the the yarn through the hearts, but scotch tape was easier for my 3 year old to use (and didn't take as long).

I also hate wasting paper if I don't have to, so we used the scraps from cutting the hearts to make this...my son was so proud of his heart collage!

Appliqued Burp Rags

My brother's wife is expecting her first girl in April so I started on some of the gifts for her.  After asking her what she wanted/needed one of the things she said was burp cloths.  In the past I've made burp cloths out of flannel which you can see one set HERE.  I think they turn out really cute but with mine I had a problem with them smelling like rotten milk.  I couldn't get out the smell no matter what I soaked them in.  To solve this dilemma I used regular dish rags and appliqued her baby colors on.  

I used my stencils for the hearts, bird, and flower rags and I just pieced together the fabric for the rags with the strips.  I used Heat-n-Bond Lite which worked wonderful to applique the fabric to the rag.  (Wonder Under would work as well.)

The part that took me the longest was sewing the fabric down.  I decided to do a straight stitch so the rag will have the frayed look after it is washed AND my sewing machine is SOOO temperamental that I would have gone crazy before I was done if I did a zigzag stitch.  

I love the outline it left on the back.  

The purple and green fabric I got at Joann's and the yellow quarter I got at Walmart.  I used coupons at Joann's and the quarter at Walmart was on sale so I got all my fabric really cheap.

It was such a simple and affordable project.  It also makes an adorable baby gift.  

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

2c. peanut butter(divided)

3/4c. butter, softened

2c. powdered sugar

3c. graham cracker crumbs (approx 2 packages of graham crackers)

2c. semi-sweet chocolate chips(divided)

Beat 1 1/4c. peanut butter and butter in a large bowl. Beat in powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs and 1/2c. chocolate chips. Press into a greased 9x13 pan. Melt remaining chocolate chips & peanut butter. Spread over the crumb mixture. Chill for at least 1 hour. Store in the refrigerator.

*Sorry I forgot to take a picture but this recipe is so good it must be shared even without a visual.*

Ice Cream Cake

My husband isn't a fan of cake but he loves ice cream. With the help of my mother I found an excellent but simple ice cream cake recipe. It was so good and so easy to do.

I also love the way it looks inside.Usually, ice cream cakes are really dull when they are cut apart.

This will be one that I will make over and over again. This can also be made months in advanced and then used when needed.

Oreo & Fudge Ice Cream "Cake" (I doubled the recipe)

1/2 cup fudge ice cream topping warmed

1 tub cool whip divided

1 pkg (4oz) jellow chocolate instant pudding (I used Cookies & Cream)

12 Orea Chocolate sandwich cookies

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches (When I doubled the recipe I got 12 Cookies & Cream sandwiches plus 12 vanilla sandwiches)

Pour the fudge topping into a medium bowl.  Stir in 1 cup whipped topping with a wire wisk until it's well blended.  Add in the dry pudding mix, stir 2 minutes or until well blended.  The consistency of fudge topping can vary depending on what brand you purchase.  If your fudge topping mixture is too thick to spread easily, add in 1/4 cup milk.

Chop Oreo cookies roughly into chunks.  Stir into the pudding mixture.  Arrange 4 ice cream sandwiches side by side on a 24x12 inch piece of foil; top with half of the pudding mixture.  Repeat the layers.  Top the pudding mixture with the remaining 4 sandwiches.  The layers create a neat striped effect when sliced.  Frost the top and sides with the remaining cool whip.  It doesn't have to look perfect.  Bring up the foil sides.  Double fold top and ends to loosely seal the packet.  Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.  Let stand at room temperature to soften before serving.  Makes 12 servings.

Beaded Socks

Any one know how to crochet? These are fun to make and they look so cute on! Sorry its hard to see the detail-I should have used a different color thread. I would rather not try to take on the task of trying to give lessons on how to crochet but for those of you who do here are a few instructions:

1-Tie a loop on your hook(0.3mm) with your tread of choice.

(Like you normally would to start a project.)

2-Push your crochet hook through the material at the top of the sock.

3-Grab the thread and pull it through the material and the 1st loop.

4-Crochet 5 stitches of the chain.

5-Then insert the hook through the eye of the bead.

6-Grab the thread with the hook and pull it back through the bead and the previous loop.

7-Crochet 5 more stitches of the chain.

8-Repeat steps 2 through 7.

*I would like to thank the Ryan family for teaching me how to make these!

Bean Bag Letters

Do you have a youngster learning their letters? Why not make it fun with

BEAN BAG LETTERS

You could come up with all sorts of simple games and activities to make learning fun. Go to makeitandloveit.blogspot.com for a step-by-step tutorial.

**These are also a good idea for a gift especially if you make them to spell the child's name.**

Finally Here

Hello Everyone-

I'm Janelle and I am the new author that has been missing in action. But here I am and this is what I have been up to in the last month.

Every Thanksgiving my sisters, my mom, and I always make a Christmas craft. This star was our craft for 2009.  I know that Christmas is over but I am hoping that I will be able to make one for the 4th of July in red, white, and blue.

I found the idea and a great tutorial @ makeandloveit.blogspot.com.

Toddler Walking Rope

I was just recently put in charge of 3 year olds at our church and needed something to help me get 7 of them from one destination to another.  I came up with this....

Every child just holds their own loop, and since they are already spaced out, I don't have them walking on one another.  It was really simple to make and cost me very little since I was able to use fabric from my stash.  I got some of my yard sale scrap fabric and cut 2 pieces of fabric 4 inches by 45 inches.

I then cut 8 straps of jean fabric and then 8 straps of matching fabric that was 1/2 inch wider.  Before cutting the yellow fabric out I ironed Heat n' Bond to it.  I then wrapped each jean strap in the other fabric so all the raw edges on the jean strap were hidden and then ironed.

I placed the right sides together on the long strip and pinned the straps on in between the two fabrics.  Sew the two long sides and one short side, leaving one short side open and ready for stuffing.  After turning it right side out I sewed on the edge all the way around the three sides to make sure the loops were in securely. I just used trash bags to stuff.  Stuffing would have worked too but I had way to many trash bags that I needed to use up and I'm cheap. :)  I took the last foot and cut the fabric into thirds.  I tied a not at the top, then braided  the fabric and finished up with another not.  I did it this way so I can open it up if I need too and also so I had a nice little section for me to hold onto.  UPDATE:  I've had to add more stuffing to the rope because the trash bags condensed after use.  I'm glad that I didn't sew it closed!

There are a lot cuter designs out there that you can buy but you can't beat a project that was almost free.  I originally got the idea for one when a friend of mine made one into a snake.

First Birthday Cake

(Sorry for the bad photos.  We got a new camera that we are now taking back!)

I decided to make my son's first cake.  It was fun but a lot more work then I'll probably do most of the time. (I even used cake mixes and it still took me forever to do!)

I decided I wanted it colorful inside so I made up the cake mixes like the box instruct you too and then I divided it up into four bowls.  I used Gel food coloring to die the cake the different colors.  I then randomly spooned in the cake mix into my two pans.  I baked it like normal and then when the cake was done and cooled I put them in the freezer.  The next day I stacked the two cakes on top of each other and cut them into the number one. 

I made up some frosting and put frosting between the two cakes and then the sides and top.  The coolest way that I learned to get the frosting to look smooth is to use wax paper.  After you have your frosting on the cake take your wax paper and push it a long the frosting with your fingers until the frosting is smooth.  The frosting won't stick to the wax paper.  (Sorry I couldn't find where I found this helpful tip.)  Also all I had was whole milk when I made the frosting and it made the best frosting I've ever made.  It was the perfect consistency.   So next time you have to make a bunch of frosting, keep that in mind. 

I then used a decorative tip to decorate the outside.  To help me get the star shape I just lightly pressed a star cookie cutter on the icing.  It left just enough of an indent for me to follower with my decorative tip. I made Alex's little cake just from the scraps of the big cake and again used the cookie cutter as a guide for the frosting.

My favorite part about the cake was when you cut into it and saw all of the colors.  I looked and tasted amazing!