Super Hero Hooded Bath Towels

I love big hooded bath towels.  I have tried some other patterns, but they were so complicated and took forever.  A few months ago I was staying as my sis Jenni's house and she had a great hooded towel that she received as a gift.  The hood fit a toddlers head without covering the eyes and was simple.  So of course, I started investigating every seam and figured... I can do that.  So here it is.

Flower Embellished Shorts

I found these really cute little shorts on clearance for my niece one day only to find out that she already had the exact same pair.  A few days later I was flipping through one of my friend’s scrapbook magazines and found these really cute flowers that they had created out of ribbon, buttons and paper.  I decided to change them up a little and add them to the shorts for my niece. 

You will need 3 strips of ribbon per flower.  I used the thinner ribbons so the flowers didn’t overpower the shorts.  I cut mine in 2 ½” lengths for the big flower and 1 ¾” lengths for the little flower.  Twist the ribbon into a loop and pin to secure.

For the stem and leaves, draw them onto iron on paper for appliqués, I use Heat-n-Bond Lite. 

Then iron them onto the back of a scrap of green fabric. 

Once they cool, cut them out and determine placement on the shorts.  Once you have them in place, iron them on.  You will then want to sew them in place using a blanket stitch.  I shortened the lengths of my stitches just a little just because the appliqués are so little.

You will then need to start placing your ribbon petals. 

Sew the middle petal in first using a close zigzag.

Then place and sew on the remaining 2 petals. 

Finish the flower with a button for the middle and enjoy! 

For the smaller flower, I twisted the petals the opposite way because of the print on the ribbon and to change it up a little.

I’m thinking I might change these up again and add them to pillows.  Stay tuned.

I linked up to

The Everything Tote

I always seem to need an extra bag and never have one, so here is a quick and easy tote pattern so you always have a bag for everything.

What you need
All the fabric is printed outdoor fabric, or you could also use another heavy weight fabric.
3/4 yard of main fabric
1/4 yard of fabric for straps
1/4 yard for pocket and sides
1/4 yard of double sided iron on heavy weight interfacing
1 1/4 yards iron on interfacing
Matching thread


Your first step is to cut all your pieces to the right size.
Out of the main fabric cut two 14” by 16” rectangles, and two 6” by 16” rectangles

You then want to take your pocket fabric and cut one 8” by 10” rectangle, and two 6” by 14” rectangles.

Then for the straps you need to cut two 4.5” by 44” rectangles.
Also cut two strips of iron on interfacing the same size. Iron on the interfacing to the wrong sides of both straps. Then fold the right sides together and sew with 1/4 inch seam down the long side.

Then turn both straps right side out and press.

Next we take our main fabric and pocket and hem tops of all with 1/4 inch hem. (fold fabric 1/4 inch then another 1/4 inch and topstitch) 
Place your pocket 3 inches from both sides of main fabric and match bottoms. With basting stitch sew down both sides of pocket.

Pin on strap to from side of tote 2 3/4 inch from both sides of front.Then sew top stitch up the side around and back down the other side. Repeat on other side of strap.

Sew back strap the same as front strap.

Next cut the double sided heavy weight interfacing 5” by 15'’.
Sew bottom fabric wrong sides together with a 1/4 inch seam, leaving one short side open. Slide interfacing into the pocket made by bottom fabric. Sew the last side with 1/4 inch seam.

Iron both side of bottom to fuse interfacing to fabric.

Take front of tote and bottom piece placing right sides together sew a 1/4 inch seam along bottom of tote. Finish all seams with a zigzag stitch.

Next take the back of tote and sew right together and sew 1/4 inch seam.

Then take the sides of tote and sew wrong sides together with 1/4 inch seam. Press all sides of tote to finish off.

Now you have a great tote to use for anything your heart desires.

Cupcake onesies

It seems that everyone I know is having a baby right now, but instead of just giving them some onesies, why not dress it up a little and give them cupcake onesies.

Breakfast for Dessert

We’ve all had those days when it is time for dinner, nothing is planned, and we end up throwing together “breakfast for dinner”.  Well, how about breakfast for dessert?  I love breakfast and am willing to eat it 3 times a day, most days anyway, one of my favorites is French toast!  With its yummy cinnamon egg soaked bread, cooked to perfection, then smothered with butter and maple syrup.  What could be better!?!  How about French Toast Cupcakes?

First, Gather your ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled

2 eggs

1 tsp maple extract

1/2 cup milk

In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, butter, eggs and maple extract until smooth

Alternately whisk in flour mixture

and milk

making 3 additions of flour and 2 of milk.  Stir until smooth.

Scoop batter into pan lined with cupcake papers.  (I like to lightly spray my cupcake papers with cooking spray to help them come out easier).

Pop them into a 350* oven and bake until golden brown for 20-25 minutes.  The tops of the cupcakes will spring back when lightly touched. 

Let them cool in the pan on a cooling rack for about 5 minutes, then remove and cool completely on rack.

Then to make the frosting gather,

2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cups butter, at room temperature

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp maple extract

pinch of salt

In a bowl, using electric mixer, beat together powdered sugar, butter, maple syrup, maple extract and salt until smooth.

Either spread or pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

To pipe the perfect cupcake, use the 1M tip.  Start in the middle of the cupcake, putting even pressure on the piping bag slowly go in a circle moving out from the center.

When you reach the beginning, continue to pipe toward the center again, bringing the frosting up on the cupcake.

When you are back in the center, release pressure on the piping bag and pull straight up.  You’ll have the perfect cupcake in no time!

Then sit back and unwrap, and enjoy the fruits of your labors.  These cupcakes are fantastic, and really do taste like French toast. 

Goofy Bird Masks

I am a lucky grandma who gets to see her grandkids quite often. We love to play dress up and pretend. I keep a box of dress ups just for those occasions. As the kids are getting older and growing out of the clothes I am doing more just accessories such as masks, hats, capes, etc. I always get to be a vampire named ‘Alice” and they are various other characters. These are our Dodo Bird, Canary, Baby Penguin, and Parrot.
I keep them in our ‘Dress Up’ box to use over and over again.

They are made out of Craft Foam. Gather a variety of colors. They do fit on 8 1/2 X 11 inch size. I like to use the sticky back foam for the eyes and beaks, it is so much easier and the small kids can do it.



Gather Materials: Craft Foam (variety of colors), Glue or sticky back foam, Elastic Cord.


                         
Cut out all the pieces, The Dodo bird and Parrot have longer ‘hair’. Make sure you cut out the eyes. Then glue or just stick the white face of the penguin, whites of eyes, colored part of eye, beaks to mask.



I use a very small hole punch to punch holes for elastic. Measure child’s head and cut elastic about 14-15 inches long. Depending on child’s head size. Trim around the eyes if the layers didn’t match up like you would like.
Be creative and make your own birds. Do a pink one for a flamingo. Just have fun.

Download the patterns below.

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