Super Soft Minky Baby Blanket--With a Suprise!

I made this super-soft minky blanket with an elephant applique for Miss Leah. It matches the Crinkle Toy I posted about here.

Here's how to make your own!

Cut two pieces of your blanket fabric that are the same size. Mine was 40x45".

For the applique I cut a cute elephant from the minky scraps. The piece was 3.5x5" when it was all trimmed up.

I wanted to add the ruffle since Leah is a girl and the blanket isn't very feminine. I tried just pinning the ruffle to the minky, but the minky was way too soft and stretchy. I solved that problem by zig-zagging it to a piece of woven cotton to stabilize it.

There isn't a picture for the next part. I get so excited that I forget to take pictures!

Cut a piece of coordinating cotton fabric 4x45". Fold it in half lengthwise and iron it well. I used my ruffler foot to make pleats in the fabric, but you could use a long stitch length and gather it along the cut edge.

Pin the ruffle, starting at the bottom center, to the outside edge of the applique. Fold the beginning and ending ends down, tapering them, and rounding at the corners. Stitch along the gathering lines to baste the ruffle to the applique.

Trim away your stabilizing fabric. Turn your ruffle to the outside, turning the seam allowance under at the same time.

Once again, I forgot to take a picture!

Pick the spot for the applique. I put mine near the bottom right corner. Pin it in place with he seam allowance tucked under. Topstitch about 1/8" from the edge of the minky,catching the ruffle's seam allowance on the backside.

All that's left is to assemble your blanket!

Put the blanket's right sides together. Using 1/2" seam allowance, sew all the way around, leaving about 5" on one side to turn.

Clip the corners and turn the blanket right side out.

Turn the edges of the opening under and pin it closed. Beginning in one corner, topstitch 1/4" all the way around, catching the fabric at the opening so it's sewn closed. This is a great time to experiment with the decorative stitches on your machine! I used a scallop stitch on this blanket.

Admire your work!

Front

Back

Minky can be tricky to work with because it's slippery and can "walk" when you try to sew it. PIN, PIN, PIN!  Although I've not tried it, a walking foot may help if this is a problem for you.

Even though it's tricky, it can be forgiving also. If you get a little tuck here and there it won't show in the finished blanket. Little things like that are hidden by the pile of the fabric.

Minky isn't the only fabric that's great for a blanket like this! Try combinations of fleece, satin, and flannel.

For an extra-girly blanket, put a large ruffle around the outside edge! Use the same coordinating fabric as you used for the applique to tie it all in together. Satin also makes a great ruffle or you can purchase pre-ruffled satins at fabric stores.

I'd love to see a picture if you make one of your own!

I'm linking here!

Crinkly, Taggie Baby Toy Tutorial--Great for Baby Showers!

I made a cute little crinkly toy for Miss Leah.

Here's how to make one for your special little person!

I started with a piece of orange minky and had my friend Jan embroider Leah's name on it. (I can do the embroidery, but Jan is so good at it!)

Cut the minky into a square that's about 7x7", centering the name, if you're using embroidery. Cut a square the same size out of a coordinating fabric for the back.

I'm using three different ribbons: One is grosgrain, one is satin, and one is jumbo ric-rac. Cut 4 pieces of each that are 4" long. Or, you can use 12 different ribbons....or 2 each of 6 different ribbons..... The choice is up to you! I'd advise you to use what you have though, and think about textures. I like to make these toys with tags that have different "feels" to them.

Starting on any one side, begin stitching about 1/4" from the edge. About 1/3 of the way down, pick up your first ribbon and fold it in half. Put the cut edges even with the cut fabric edge and stitch over it. Stitch a little further and pick up your next ribbon, folding it and tacking it in place the same way. Do the same with your third ribbon and stitch to the end of the fabric.

I don't really try to space the ribbons out perfectly, but they always seem to come out fairly even. If they don't, it's still ok! Babies don't mind at all!

Also, be sure to start stitching at the end of the fabric and go all the way to the other end, don't just stitch where the ribbons are. The extra stitching keeps the minky from stretching out too much. Believe me, you'll appreciate this when we go to the next step!

This is what it should look like after all of your ribbons are sewn down.

Somehow I didn't get a photo of this next step.

Put the backing on top of the top, right sides together. With your ribboned minky on top, sew all the way around the toy, just INSIDE the stitching line for the ribbon, leaving an opening of about 2" on one side.

Turn it all right side out!

What do these have to do with a Crinkly, Taggie, Baby Toy Tutorial you might ask?

Well, from these little bins that were purchased at Harbor Freight, I got

this pile of very crinkly plastic!

(I've also heard of using the plastic wipe packages that most moms seem to have on hand. I also have found crinkly plastic on protein bars, chip packages, packages of pencils, and many other places. Once you start looking for it, you'll find it everywhere! I keep a bag with washed crinkly plastic in my sewing room now!)

Stuff that stuff inside! No, really....wad it up and stuff it in! You'll probably have to squeeze it and shift it around to get it evenly distributed.

Turn under 1/4" at the opening and pin it closed.

Topstitch about 1/8" from the edge, all the way around, catching the opening and closing it up.

Now you're done!

I added a yellow "C" ring to one loop so it can be attached to things like strollers and car seats.

(This is the back.)

Some things to keep in mind: 

• 
  
  Depending on what plastic you used, I'd wash it in the machine, then dry on low, or even hang it to dry. 
• 
  
  Make several of these to keep on hand for baby showers, or for birthday or Christmas gifts.  
• 
  
  If you don't have access to machine embroidery, or just want to make one that's not for any particular baby, then just skip it!  
• 
  
  Make one side pieced, like a quilt, out of 4 squares that are about 4x4". Your finished square will be 7.5x7.5", but you can always trim it to "square it up" if you'd like. Make your squares larger or smaller, depending on the fabric, ribbon, and crinkly plastic you have on hand. 
• 
  
  For extra texture, make one side of the toy out of a washcloth, flannel, satin, or fleece. 
• 
  
  Use recyclable fabric! Denim from old jeans, sweaters with stains (don't use the stained part!), and sheets with interesting patterns all make great fabric for this project, just to name a few.
• 
  
  You don't have to be square! Make a circle. Make a triangle. Make a quadrilateral. Well, I'd have to skip that one, or go back to geometry class.

Just have fun with it! It's certain that the babies will!

 

Miss Leah with her momma, MaryJane

I'm linking here:

She's Been At It Again!

It's a hot, lazy Sunday afternoon and Brandie wants to "make something". I know that creative itch.

A coloring book and crayons just aren't making it.

I had a fleece remnant, so we made two babydoll blankets out of it: One for her, and one for Haleigh.

Haleigh wanted her's left fringed, but Brandie did knots on the one for her dolly.

I was really proud of her! Once she started doing the ties, I thought she'd get bored and not want to finish. But, finish she did--in about 15 minutes!

A Whole Lotta Sewin' Goin' On!

I've been spending quality time with my sewing machine these past few weeks. This picture is just a little taste of that's been happening in my sewing room!

Stay tuned because pictures (of a beautiful baby!), and probably a tutorial or two, are soon to follow!

She Gets It From Me

My wonderfully creative daughter, Brandie, took some toilet paper rolls, scissors, scraps of fabric, some masking tape and made napkin rings!

Is this one my favorite???

....Or is this one my favorite???
I can't decide!

Not bad for a 6-year-old with only her imagination to guide her, eh?

Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Persoanlized Wedding Gift: Monogrammed Candle Holders!

My friend, Deb, got married a few weeks ago. I wanted to make a gift for her and Josh that was personal and classy--something they could use for years to come.

Enter my cousin Julie, who is a consultant for PartyLite. They have some cool, albeit somewhat expensive, candles and accessories. Last year they had a special on their Express It candle holders and I bought several, knowing they'd make great gifts.

The premise behind Express It candle holders is the way they can be personalized. There are two columns of glass and you can put all kinds of things in the spaces between the cylinders.

My idea was to personalize it so that you could use it without anything between the columns if you'd like.


The first thing I did was to frost the inside column so that you could use it without any kind of insert. I used two coats of Valspar Frosting Spray Paint that I found at Hobby Lobby, letting it dry for about 15 minutes between coats. It sprayed on very evenly, which surprised me. I expected the spray to look uneven as if you'd used regular spray paint.

Then I got out my Silhouette SD. The Silhouette is an electronic cutter that you connect to your computer and can be used for various mediums including vinyl (like I used for this project), cardstock, and paper. It's similar to a Cricut if you're familiar with that line of cutters.

I wanted to monogram the candle holder with a "W" for Woodson--their last name. The letter needed to be at least 4 inches high. I selected black vinyl and the font was "Twilight" (from the movie series).

After cutting my "W", I applied it to the OUTSIDE glass cylinder. This will allow them to change out the items between the glasses, or leave it plain, and still have it look elegant.

If you don't have a vinyl cutter, you can find vinyl monograms at places like JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, or even on eBay or Etsy. Don't limit yourself to monograms, however. Stickers in shapes like stars or hearts would be lovely. Think outside the box!

I think the project came out very well! I can see these being used as table centerpieces, on buffet tables, or in a living room setting. Of course, they also make great personalized gifts!

I have a few of them left. Wonder if I should make one for us?

Tipsy Pots: Leaning Towers of Flowers!

This is right after we planted the flowers. They've filled out now!

I saw a cute planter at a house in a nearby town and thought it was adorable--and about to fall over!

My sister-in-law, Lisa, said she knew the secret to the "tip" and would be happy to make me a set.

I don't have pictures of everything, but here's what you need:

--At least 3 clay pots in various sizes with a center drainhole in the bottom

--Metal rod that's at least six inches taller than your stacked pots

--Drainage material (I used packing peanuts.)

--Potting soil

--Flowers

Our pots were different shades of terra cotta, and I really like red, so we started by painting the pots red with three coats of spray paint.

Push the metal rod down into the soil where you want your tower to sit. This isn't a project you can move around after you finish it. You have to make it where it will live!

Slide the biggest pot down over the rod through the drainage hole. Add a layer of drainage material then fill it almost to the top with potting soil. Be sure to have your kids help you with this part. Mine love getting dirty!

Put the next largest pot over the rod through the drainage hole. (Now you're starting to see how this is going to work, right?) Tip it to one side so that the top edge of the pot is leaning on the rod. You may have to add more soil to the bottom pot to get your second pot to sit where you'd like it. Pack the soil down because when you water your flowers it will cause the soil to settle. Once you have your pots how you'd like them, add your drainage material and potting soil to the second pot.

Repeat this process until you get to your top pot. Plant the flowers and give them a good soaking of water.

Watering this tower can be a bit challenging in the beginning. The soil will settle and the water will run out of the pots, taking some dirt with it. As long as you filled the pots with soil to begin with, they'll be fine. The flowers will "spill" over the sides when they start to grow.

Next year I'm planning a larger tower using bigger pots and more of them! They're definitely unique. In fact, I've seen two cars stop and take a picture of them in our front yard!

I'm Ba-a-a-a-a-a-ck!

Hopefully, my hiatus is over! What a wild ride this last year has been.

My blog is going to have a little re-vamp. More crafts, sewing, projects, and recipes.
I can't wait to get back at it!