FABRIC BANGLES

I made these with my nieces for Cousin’s Camp…

A friend of a friend had put this up on her website with a SUPER easy to follow tutorial. The girls LOVED THEM. They thanked me endlessly for showing them how. I informed them that they could use an old t-shirt (jersey knit – with some stretch to it) to make these bracelets. I just hope they don’t go home and start cutting up clothes and then say “but Aunt Kristy said we could.”

Here is where you can find the tutorial. Thanks Missy!

Owl Bib

While I sit around and wait for this baby to arrive, I’ve added a few more things to my to do list. I found this cute Owl Bib and decided to give it a try. It was really easy to make, and turned out really cute.

It started off with a few different pieces. Eyes, nose, and the owl’s body. The most time consuming part was hand sewing it all together. I did the wings a little differently also.

Here is the owl mostly put together… minus the wings and ties.

Finished Product! I made 2 more rectangle as wings and attached them to the inside of the body (instead of the outside a the pattern wanted)

COCOON

Who says that butterflies are the only ones who need these. Not I. I found the cutest pattern from a blog called Tots and Bottoms for a baby cocoon. My good friend Brittney asked one day if I knew how to make them. I had never tried, but the pattern looked simple enough. So I went out, bought the yarn and got working. It took me about 1 1/2 – 2 hours (which is pretty fast) and it turned out ADORABLE! So cute, I might make one for myself with this little nugget that should be here in a few weeks. I’m no photographer (as I’m also no Martha) but it’s fun to add new things to the list.

Crafts for Baby Alana

What have I been up to? Well, everything to put it shortly. However, it hasn’t stopped me from crafting, it’s just stopped me from blogging about it. So here is a quick catch up to what I’ve been up to.

I’ve been so consumed with home, family, etc… and on top of it all I’ve made things for other’s. I realized that I have been neglecting the baby that is inside me and decided to get working!! I started making this little girl headband after headband. I am also working on a blanket and will be doing a hat and booties also. Crafting is my ME time and it’s such a great release to do things creative. Here’s a little taste…

{Alana’s baby blanket. It’s the exact same one I made here. I used a purplish/pink color. I’m about 1/2 way through. It still needs a border and the ribbon, but I think she’s going to like it.}

{These flower headbands were fun to make. I did the satin flowers and then attached elastic bands to the back. Simple and Dainty. The white one is for Alana’s blessing day.}

{These I made from premade fabric flowers that you can get at any craft store and then attached the elastic to the backs again.}

{And these bands I crocheted. The cream one is from super soft yarn. The white and dark pink ones are from crochet thread and turned out so perfectly. I can’t wait to dress this baby’s head!}

{ I just clipped on flowers I had made for Kalea and Mia. It’ll be fun to reuse these over and over in different combinations.}

And onto what I WILL be doing. I’m going to try and make a tutu for the baby. I bought two different kinds of tulle and some ribbon. I found a tutorial on YOUTUBE on how to make one that requires NO SEWING. Which appeals to me, since I don’t own a sewing machine. We’ll see how it turns out. I’ll be sure to post pictures when it’s finished.

 

BEST BROWNIES EVER!!

These are SERIOUSLY THE BEST BROWNIES I’ve ever tasted. They are simple and fast to prepare. Just as fast as from a box. If you’re ever in need of a chocolate fix, turn to these.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate morsels. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4. Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

Freezer Jam

Strawberry season is one of my favorite times of the year. We have a tradition where we go and pick strawberries as a family. A couple of years we went late and they were very picked over. We’ve learned and gone in late April or early May and have gotten the cream of the crop. This year we bought 3 boxes full. We weren’t sure if it would be too much but ended up being just perfect. There were enough to eat and snack on, some to freeze whole for smoothies, and then some for JAM! I have made it a few times with my mom and it’s a day long commitment. However, it’s well worth the work to have freezer jam instead of the store bought kind. Last year I made my own and I ran out. This year I made 9 Tupperware full. I think that should last us. Here’s what I do (it’s just from the recipe in the box and everyone does it a little differently).

Here is what you need:

Strawberries
TONS of Sugar
Pectin – aka – Sure Jell (powder or liquid)
(directions are inside of the package)

1. Clean and Rinse your Strawberries.
2. Cut the stems off of each and place them in a large bowl (or pot).
3. It says in the directions to mash them one cup at a time. I did a MUCH larger amount because I didn’t want to be mashing all day. A potato masher works best but you can use a large fork or whatever you have on hand. When you mash your strawberries it’s ok to have chunks. Jam is SUPPOSED to have chunks of fruit in it.

4. Take your freshly mashed strawberries and measure out 2 cups. Then measure 4 cups of sugar (this may be too much for some… it IS a lot of sugar. Feel free to cut the sugar amount to make it more towards your liking.) Let it sit for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

PECTIN 
*Depending on the type of pectin this next step may vary. If you use the powdered kind your measure 3/4 cup of water and combine with the pectin to a boil. Stir for a full minute while boiling and then add it to your sugar/strawberry combination.

*Liquid pectin does not require boiling. BUT you WILL NEED LEMON JUICE. It’s 2TBS of Lemon Juice and one liquid package of pectin. Combine. Add to your sugar/strawberry combination.

5. Set your timer for 3 minutes and stir constantly for the next 3 minutes (strawberries, pectin, and sugar combo). I usually taste mine the at the end to see if it’s still grainy. If it feels gritty keep stirring for an extra minute or so.

6. Once finished, pour into air tight containers. I use Tupperware, however, my mother in law saves different containers such as sour cream containers to store them in. Which is smart and cost effective. Either works just fine.

7. Let the jam sit out for 24 hours before freezing. DO NOT SKIP THE STEP.

8. Freeze and enjoy when ready!

Finishing Touches

I finished this baby blanket. It wasn’t hard by any means, but it was time consuming. And it turned out a little smaller then I wanted, but it’s for a baby so I was ok with it. Here is the finished project.