Tag Archives: diy

A Visit to Portland (Maine)

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

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I got to spend this past weekend in beautiful Portland Maine. I went without the kids for my cousin’s baby shower and managed to get a whole day to myself walking around the city.  I haven’t been in Portland for years, but was happy to see some of my favorite stores were still alive and well.  The flight from JFK takes only about 45 minutes and the airport in Portland is about a 15 minute drive to downtown.  The city is full of good food and beautiful views and old cobble streets.  Here are a few treasures from the weekend:

*Yarn, yarn, yarn and patterns for baby sweaters from KnitWit on Congress Street.  I especially liked their selection of Maine-made yarns and picked up some pretty Swans Island colors.  (I got a little ambitious, and am trying for three sweaters for the new baby by August).

*German Kite Making Paper from Circa Home on Congress Street.  I can’t wait to look up some kite patterns to make with the girls.  Circa Home is relatively new and has a well-edited and affordable mix of vintage and new housewares, toys and office/art supplies.  I fell in love with a set of vintage children’s gardening tools in the window.

*One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey, Seaweed Soap and Cotton Dishtowels by the Yard are from Folly 101 on Exchange Street.  I remember my Great-Grandmother always had dishtowels like these, bought by the yard and then hemmed at home.  I picked up the One Morning in Maine book as a shower gift.  It has the most beautiful vintage illustrations and makes me want to move out to a remote island on the Maine coast.  McCloskey also wrote and illustrated Make Way for Ducklings – one of our all-time favorite books.  Folly 101′s owner Astrid is also a stylist and has a great eye for simple, beautiful housewares.

I had a great weekend visiting family, watching the water and wandering around Portland.  But I am happy to be home again with my family, and happy to have some new projects to look forward to.

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Pinning

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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A New Project.  I love the beginnings of a new sewing project: ironing the wrinkles from the fabric, laying out tissue pattern pieces, smoothing and fitting and pinning.  I like having all of the pieces ready and then starting out with something new.  There is always such potential at the beginning stages.  No mistakes yet, no starting over or ripping out…just thoughts of what is to come and a path to set out on.

DIY Felt Magnet Alphabet Gift

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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Alphabet1Alphabet2Alphabet3Alphabet4

I posted directions to make these Felt Alphabet Magnets a few months ago.  Ada has used her set on our fridge since she was first learning her letters.  I wanted to make an alphabet set as a gift for my niece, but wasn’t sure how they would look when they arrived through the mail.  (The magnets are really strong and they tend to stick together when they get the chance).  I decided to stitch the letters down to some card stock and then layer the sheets with tissue paper inside a box.  To make your own Felt Alphabet Magnet Gift you will need to:

1. Follow directions here to make alphabet letters

2. Cut card stock to fit snuggly inside box

3. Using thin thread and a needle, stitch up through the back of card stock. Catch the bottom of a felt letter and stitch it down, being careful not to poke through the top of the letter.  We used 2-3 stitches per letter to hold in place.

4. Place down your next letter and repeat.

5. When all letters are secure tie off thread.

6. Place tissue paper in box and layer card stock with letters in alphabetical order from the top down.

7. Fold tissue over the top of the letters and wrap up the box.

Here are some other felt projects you may enjoy:

Heart1

Raindrops5

Fish6

DIY Framed Crayon Heart Valentine

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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CrayonHeart1CrayonHeart2CrayonHeart3CrayonHeart4CrayonHeart6CrayonHeart5This Framed Crayon Heart Valentine starts out with some good old-fashioned scribbling.  The kids, (or adults) can be as messy as they want with the coloring and the frame will contain and define the heart shape.  To make your own Framed Crayon Heart Valentine you will need:

*Crayons in Reds and Pinks

*Card Stock

*Exact-o Knife or Sharp Scissors

*Double-Stick Tape

*Thin Black Marker

1. Cut two pieces of card stock- one to form the card and the other slightly smaller than one side of the folded card.

2. Color one side of the smaller card stock making sure you go all the way to the edges.

3. Fold card in half and draw a heart on the inside front fold.

4. Using an Exact-o or scissors, cut out the heart shape.

5. On the outside of the card draw designs around the heart frame as shown.

6. Place double-stick tape along the inside of the card, around the heart shape.

7. Tape the colored card stock inside card, with coloring facing out through the heart frame.

8. Write your message inside card, place in the envelope and pop in the mail.

*One more week till V-day! XO

DIY Conversation Heart Flower Valentine

06 Wednesday Feb 2013

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ConvoFlower1ConvoFlower2 ConvoFlower3Conversation Hearts are some of my favorite Valentine’s Day candies.  Choosing the perfect message for someone took up a lot of our time back in grade school around this time of year.  This simple card is made using Conversation Hearts and tiny flowers.  To make your own Conversation Heart Flower Valentine you will need:

*Card Stock

*Envelope

*Conversation Hearts

*Small Flowers

*Pen

*Green Paper

*Craft Glue

*Double-Stick Tape

1. Cut out two rectangles from the card stock, one slightly larger than the other.  These will make the frame for the flowers.

2. Double-stick tape the frames, one inside and on top of the other.  Center frame on card and stick down.

3. Put thin strips of double-stick tape on green paper and cut out leaf shapes.  Pull tape backing from leaves and stick onto frame.

4. Draw stems.

5. Using craft glue, stick on heart and flowers.

6. Allow to dry completely before placing in envelope.

*The bulk of the Conversation Hearts make this card difficult to mail.  It is best delivered by hand.

DIY Woven Washi Tape Valentine

01 Friday Feb 2013

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Woven1Woven2Woven3Woven4Woven5Happy February!  February 1st kicks off Valentine season around here.  We are digging out the decorations today, hanging wax hearts in the windows and fabric garland across the mantels.  I know some people like to hate on Valentine’s Day, but I really do love it.  Flowers, chocolate, pretty cards and grouping of red colors are some of my favorite things.  We are working on a few different DIY Valentine cards and will post the how-tos over the next few days.  This is a good project to make with kids as the washi tape tears easily by hand.  To make your own version of this Woven Washi Tape Valentine you will need:

*Card Stock

*Washi Tape in Red, Pink and White Colors

*Scissors

*Pencil

*Envelope (Optional)

1. To make heart shape, fold card stock in half and draw half a heart with the folded line in the center.  Cut out half heart while folded and then unfold.  Reuse this pattern by tracing on to other pieces of card stock.

2. Stick tape down on heart in alternating vertical and horizontal lines.  Be sure the tape extends to edges of heart, as you will trim excess at the end.

3. Once desired pattern is achieved, turn heart over and use scissors to trim excess tape.

4. Write your message and place in envelope.  These square vellum envelopes from Envelope Mall are our favorites.  We buy them in bulk and keep them ready for letter writing.

5. XOXO

Welcome Home Daddy!

28 Monday Jan 2013

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DaddyWe missed you!

I have a new-found appreciation for single parents.  It is hard hard work with little break and it is totally exhausting.  We are so happy to have Daddy home again.  Ada worked on presents and built block towers for Daddy all week.  She had me write out the words ‘Welcome Home Daddy’ and copied the letters to made this big banner.  Josie helped work the glue stick for attaching the decorations.  We punched holes in the corners and threaded the papers on ribbons for hanging.  Ada gave a little squeal in her sleep when Chris told her he was home last night.  Happy girls, happy family.

DIY Knitted Hot Water Bottle Sweater

25 Friday Jan 2013

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WaterBottle1WaterBottle2We caught a family cold this week and this sweater-covered hot water bottle has been in heavy rotation.  Luckily the girls were angels when it was Mommy’s turn to be sick.  Yesterday Ada took Josie downstairs, made butter sandwiches for them both (yes butter, not peanut butter), swept up the crumbs and put them in the compost bin.  Sometimes four-year-olds can amaze you when you really need them to.

The hot water bottle’s knitted cover (or sweater as Josie calls it) keeps it toasty for most of the night but also buffers little tummies from too-hot rubber.  I modified this pattern from Garment House (formerly Green Olives Design).  (Elly’s pocket water bottle cover is even cuter).  The pattern is simple, quick and takes less than a ball of worsted weight yarn.  We used a simple loose stitch to close up the bottom and stitches can be undone for a good hand-washing.  A hot water bottle and a box of clementins are high on our list of cures for the common cold.

Party! DIY Mini Felt Hats

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

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PartyAnimials1Hat3Hat2HatWe have been planning to make the animals some felt party hats for a while.  Now that the holidays are over and the weather is gloomy the animals are ready for a party.  We loved these paper party hats from Oh Happy Day!  We wanted to make our hats a little more durable for play so our version uses felt, glue and elastic thread.  Ada made the flag banner in the background with color chips and a hole punch.  To make your own Mini Felt Party Hats you will need:

*Card Stock or Paper for Pattern

*Assorted Felt

*Mini Pom Poms

*Scissors

*Needle and Thread

*Glue

*Elastic Thread (We used 9mm)

1. Using the pattern above, cut out felt shapes to fit your animals.

2. Stitch two straight edges of felt together.

3. Stitch pom pom on top and tie thread.  (I pushed the needle up through the top of the hat and then through the pom pom).

4. Using the needle, bring elastic thread through two sides of hat and tie knots inside.  Adjust per animal as needed.

5. Squirt glue inside hat, spreading evenly along the inside.  Allow hat to dry on its side, being careful not to squish the hat out of shape.  The glue will cause the felt to stiffen as it dries, making it more durable.

6. When hats are dry, dress the animals and bake a cake!

DIY Glitter Thank-you Postcards

03 Thursday Jan 2013

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GlitterPostcards2

I originally planned to make our thank-you cards by cutting apart holiday cards once the holidays were over.  Ada decided she wanted to keep the cards forever in her “special papers” box and refused to let the scissors anywhere near.  Luckily, she got glitter for Christmas.  So we cut some card stock into postcard sizes, rounded the edges with this corner-cutting rounder and let the girls go crazy with glue, glitter and crayons.  I love this set of glitter’s rainbow colors and variety of shapes.  (Thank you Aunt Anna!)  The glitter tubes are just small enough for little hands to grasp, and the shakers on top do a good job of controlling the glitter storm that usually erupts when a four-year-old gets to do her own shaking.  To make your own postcards you will need:

*Card Stock

*Scissors

*Corner Punch

*Crayons

*Craft Glue

*Glitter

1. Trim card stock to postcard size (The standard is 4″ x 6″).

2. Using the punch, round corners.

3. Let the kids color, glue and glitter.  (This works best if you color first.  I liked the cards that combined Josie’s coloring with Ada’s glittering).

4. Allow cards to dry, write your message and addresses on back.

5. Pop them in the mail.  Thank-yous done.