Name Banner for Child's Room

My 9 year old daughter and I rearranged her room yesterday and I was noticing how blah the wall above her bed was looking. It just needed something to brighten it up a bit.

I'd seen these banners in pictures before and figured they were fairly simple, but had never really taken the time to figure it out.

Let me tell you how simple it was.

I made a triangle pattern out of freezer paper. I just cut out a shape- no measuring or anything. You can't get much easier than that. I guess if you're a perfectionist on measurements and all you could use a ruler, but I didn't.

The reason I like to use freezer paper is because you lay the shiny paper side down on the fabric and iron(on a low setting) and the pattern piece (freezer paper) adheres to the fabric. That makes it so easy to cut out- no pins! Then you simply peel off the freezer paper and you have a triangle shape. I made seven of these using 4 different colors.

***Just a note*** I used pinking sheers to cut out my triangles so I wouldn't have to sew them. Plus, I like the way it looks!

After cutting out your triangles, lay them out on the floor or table. Then, use the binding tape or ribbon to pin the triangles to form your pattern. I held it up on the wall after pinning just to check and see how it would look.
Sew each triangle to the binding tape. I used a zig-zag stictch.

Tie the ends in a bow or knot and hang on the wall.

I had some chipboard letters in my stash and thought they'd be extra cute on it. You could make the banner without the letters if you didn't have them. They just add to it a little bit.

I wasn't sure how to attach them, but I remembered that I had some spray adhesive. It worked great! I just sprayed the back of each letter and stuck it on. After it dried, I hung it up. Kayla loved it! I got an extra hug for it, too. I'll always take those :)

Krayon Keeper- Great Gift Idea!

A few years ago I found this website http://www.girlythingsbows.com/
while researching how to make bows. They have lots of super cute "free" tutorials on making bows, hair accessories, bow holders, clips, and of course, Krayon Keepers.

These can also be called crayon rolls. They roll up and you just use a button and ribbon for the closure or you can use two ribbons and tie it together.

When I give this as a gift I like to put new crayons in it. I guess you wouldn't have to even put any in it, but new crayons are so much fun.


And now is a great time to stock up on crayons. They usually run them very cheap in the "Back to School" sales. I usually stock up and buy enough to last me until next year's sales.

These are such cute little gifts paired with a coloring book. My children love to give them to friends on their birthdays. I have made some for boys, too. I just forgot to take a picture :(

Also, if you have an older child that you think wouldn't want one there are ideas around the internet to make art rolls- changing the size to accommodate colored pencils. I've been wanting to try it, but haven't taken the time. Maybe that will be my next project.

Sewing lessons

Several years ago, I began showing my oldest daughter how to sew. I am by no means a

seamstress or anything near that, but I really enjoy making things. I especially enjoy making

dresses for my daughters.

I tend to take sewing in spurts though. I'll sew for a while and then put it down for a while. I

haven't sewed much lately. Seems school and sports have taken a great deal of our time.

Now that we've completed our school year, I'm planning to set a time each week to work on some

sewing projects.

Last week, I asked her (9 year old daughter) to make a list of 5 things she'd like to make or

complete projects that we've already started. (Yes, we have began things and never finished

them.)

She was very eager to look at her patterns and sewing book she received for Christmas

and make her list.

Today we began working on a doll shirt that we started a few months ago using this pattern:

We worked on sewing the facing to the shirt front and back. I think it looks pretty cute myself.

And she loves it and that makes it worth all the time in the world!

Busy weekend and summer project progress

Well, we're back from my brother's wedding. It was absolutely beautiful! We are tired, but glad to be home. It was busy, busy!

Now about our progress for my summer project list. We're still working on Psalm 1. My oldest has it memorized. My son can say it all with a little help from me. My 3 year old also knows it pretty well. It's amazing to me that a 3 year old can memorize so quickly. She knows the first 3 verses well and can say a little more with help from me. I'm still working on it, but can say a good bit from memory.

Last week my oldest daughter and I worked on a cute skirt. She really wants me to teach her how to sew. She's a very eager learner, but I'm trying to go slowly with her. I showed her how to cut out a pattern and press the fabric, etc. She just watched, but I want her to see what goes into putting something together. She was ready to go play after she realized it took a long time to get that part done. I showed her a little more and then she came and watched part of the sewing process. She was so excited to see her skirt finished. Hopefully, this week we're gonna make a couple of doll skirts together.

We're not doing as much reading as I wanted to this summer, but I'm reading to them most every night and they read books throughout the week. It's hard to believe there's only a few weeks left of summer for us.

T-shirts

Here's a picture of the 4th of July t-shirts I made. Check it out here: http://ourcozynest.blogspot.com/

It's super easy! Just don't look to close at my stitching :) This is the third one I made so therefore this one looks better than the others. :)

I also made the girls some cute and easy bows. I'm having so much fun making these.

What I've Been Up To

I am back from my trip with my husband and I'm glad to be home. It's always nice to go away, but it's nice to be home, too! I've enjoyed our summer so far. I've been trying to get my house in better order. It seems like there's never time with school and regular housework. So I've tried to take time this summer while we're on break from school and work on it. The children have enjoyed swimming in the little pool in the backyard and one day they enjoyed getting sprayed with the waterhose.

I've also enjoyed making a few things. I finished up two aprons- one for me and the other for a gift. I made three t-shirt dresses. They turned out cute(at least I think so!) I'd always wanted to try those, but never took the time.

I found several tutorials and combined them to make this dress.

I also found a cute tutorial on making 4th of July t-shirts. I bought some plain white t-shirts for the children about a year ago and never did anything with them. I think they were 80 cents each! When I saw this I knew this is what I wanted to do since I've been wanting to try my hand appliqueing (sp?) Check this out:

http://ourcozynest.blogspot.com

I'll post some pics later today of the shirts and the cute bows I made for my girls to wear with them. I'm having so much fun making bows!

My Summer To Do List Progress

Well, we're well into the summer here and I've been working on my to-do list slowly. Tonight I've been working on the apron I'm making. I found a cute and easy pattern on-line. I'll post pictures later. On Thursday, I let the kids loose with the box of craft supplies and they (especially my crafty seven year old) went to work on making lots of stuff. She used up a lot of stuff, but had so much fun. Here's a pic of her work, plus a couple of things my son made. He wasn't quite as interested as she was. At least not for as long anyway :) The newspaper makes it hard to see, but as you can see she was very busy. They both made little men/monsters out of the styrofoam balls and toothpicks. As for the rest of my list, I'm spending lots of time working on organizing/decluttering lots of rooms. Yesterday I rearranged/added furniture to my office/schoolroom space. I'll get it straight one of these days. One day at a time! We had our VBS the first week of June. It went well and it's another thing completed for the summer. I can't believe how fast June is flying by. Lots to do before it's over.

Sewing

Our homeschool group has a Girl's Club for 1st grade and up. Yesterday they learned how to sew. They made a little pin cushion. Kayla was so excited! I'd been wanting to show her some basic stitches and teach her a little handstitching, but I just hadn't taken the time. So many times I have lots of good intentions and never follow through with them.

I remembered that today in our homeschool lessons we were supposed to make a patchwork quilt. We've been studying the pioneers and the curriculum suggested making either a paper quilt or a simple doll quilt. I'd planned to go the easy route and make a paper quilt with them. :) I'm kind of spontaneous sometimes. So this morning I decided that we can do this little doll quilt. I went digging around in my fabric scraps and we got to work. First, we put Bethany for a nap and the others watched a little tv. Then we got busy and started cutting and sewing. Kayla does really well pinning fabric and sewing on the machine, especially considering she's only done it twice. She did some of the sewing and I did some. It was a joint project, but I hope she realizes there's a lot she can do now. She is a very excited 6 (almost 7) year old!

Before we even started, she said she wanted to make it a doll quilt for her little sister, Holly. It was well worth it to see her make something to share with her sister. You can tell Holly was proud of it! Kayla is very giving and I hope she continues to want to give to others.

It is the little things that matter to children. I realized today that things like this mean so much to them and I'm teaching her something that she can use for a lifetime. I pray that I take the time to do "small" things with my children more often.

On a side note: I can get very frustrated sewing. I tend to be very picky with my work and so I just never start or get finished with a project. I tried not to be that way with her and just let it be what it was. It didn't matter to her at all. It doesn't need to be perfect to please children. Showing them and working with them is what matters. I need to be reminded of that lesson more often. :)