Easy Wipe Off Placemats

My family is going to visit my sister Tiffany in October, so I have scheduled this post for then so that she won't know about these beforehand.  I wanted to share you an easy project that my toddler and I put together as a small gift for his cousin and family.  We wanted to make Easy Wipe off Placemats.  This is how they turned out:

We used the Yo Gabba Gabba Characters because that is what my nephew is into.  One character for each family member is on the front. Then "We love you" and Jesse's scribbles on the back with a border. Two sided! They are laminated in Contact Paper so you can just wipe them down and reuse them.


Jesse and I first cut a regular posterboard into 4 equal parts

Then we cut out our printed characters, glued them on, and named them for family members:

Then decide what you want on the reverse side, and if your child is helping, let them have at it:

Crafting in style:

Then cut out a big piece of contact paper that will fit over both sides and apply it (make sure the kids aren't putting bubbles in it if they are helping with this step).  Smooth out and there you go:

Simple but it will make dinner time more fun and remind them that their Cali family Loves them! 

O Christmas Tree-- You need an Ornament!

Aren't Ornaments the best? Tiffany and I have tried to exchange ornaments for Christmas every year since we both got married and I love the tradition.  Others love it too!! Check out this awesome Ornament Exchange and sign up! 

It should be lots of fun and you have until November 1st to sign up!  So hurry over there and sign up to make and receive an adorable ornament! 

Sometimes you need to make something for yourself!

I made this gorgeous number for myself last night:

I love it - and the best part (other than wearing it around town) is that it got me out of the rut of finishing projects I HAD to do for other people...now I'm re-excited about sewing some new stuff up! :)

And on top of everything, today is Friday! Hope everyone finds some time to get some sewing/quilting/crafting done today!!

Only 9 More Days!!!

In just 9 short days, my lovely sister Melissa and her "boys" are coming to visit me and mine! So exciting! I'm glad that I will meet my nephew, and she my son.  Hopefully the boys (her husband, mine, and the two little ones) will be able to entertain themselves a day, without disaster, so we can get some crafting done!  We have a couple cute projects in mind...so expect pictures...and maybe a surprise tutorial!  If we can fit it in with visiting, catching up, spoiling of nephews, etc :)

Enjoy the rest of the week!!

The joys of children!

A few days a week I help a friend and babysit their little one.  It's great playtime for my little man, since they are all but a couple weeks apart in age!
Some days, they nap separately, and weird things like this happen :

Isn't he a cute little goof?

Usually - the house looks like this:

We had to buy two brooms - they fought over who could "sweep".

Kids - endless entertainment :D

-Tiffany-

Oh boy! I've decided to enter

Oh boy!  I can't believe it! After talking to Tiffany, I was able to get up enough courage to enter my Santa's Undies into the Crafting with the Stars competition.  Go check out the competition and look at all the amazing ideas that people have put up so far!

Santa's Undies!

I know that is only October, but this would be a great thing to start on for stocking stuffers or to hand out to friends and neighbors!  

Santa's Undies!! 

These cute little things have candies inside!  Here is the saying that goes with them:

We looked for stockings but couldn't find a spare

So we ended stuffing Santa's Underwear.

Cute right? 

I made a Santa's Suit one, as well as a green pair.  Both are really cute.  Here are some more pictures of the front and backs:

My son going in for a grab of lifesaver candies

Chocolate covered raisins

Want to make some of your own?  This is my first attempt at sharing a PDF. Here is the pattern:

Santa Undies

Let's see if that works!

All you do is cut out the front and back and bum flap on felt.  I used a blanket stitch on the two shown, but I have previously hand sewn it just rustic looking. You could also machine sew it.  Make sure to attach the bum flap before you sew the front and back together.   Once you have sewn it, cut out a heart on card stock and write the cute message on it and attach with ribbon or embroidery floss.

Fill with candy and you are finished.

Wouldn't this be cute for kids, nieces, nephew, grandkids, friends, etc!

Little Trick or Treat Bags

My lovely lovely sister Melissa and her family are flying out to visit me and mine the end of this month.  I am so so so excited!  I haven't seen my little nephew yet, and he is almost 2!!!  This will be such an awesome visit!

Because it's so close to halloween, we will be doing some family outings for the boys in costume - Jesse will be Buzz Lightyear, and Everett will be Woody.  (We will blog and post photos when the costumes are done.)

So - since the kids will be dressing up, they needed treat bags! Quilts and More magazine - fall 2010 - had the perfect little bags on their cover!  I had the black skull fabric on hand, and ran quick to the store to buy some accenting fabric, and whipped up these two bad boys!

Insides

In my hand - so you can see how cute of a size they are!!!

I think I might whip some of these out for Christmas time - secret santas etc.  Can put some cute little gifts in and give as a thank you to someone, to a teacher, or even just a "just because" little gift!