Entertaining Kids.....

So, it's been one of those days that I'm trying SO hard to come up with things for my kids to do besides watch the Disney Channel...

My son keeps asking if he can paint, but I don't like to let him use my real paints and paint on my good wood....so I have a dilemma...
But, I came up with THIS.....It was stinkin' awesome. My kids were able to paint all over the sidewalks without fear of getting them ruined....the kids or the sidewalk...
It is so super easy, i super highly would most definitely recommend that any one with little kids try it at least once! You just mix water, cornstarch and food coloring....that's IT!!!!! Just remember to add enough food coloring so that when it dries it doesn't dry white. I actually put 10 drops in each little circle...
And, the bonus is that if they paint themselves, it dries quickly, and will wash off in the bath..

Bread

All 3 of my children are taking their naps/rests at the same time today! That doesn't happen very often...

But, for the first time in a LONG time, I decided to make some of this instead of doing some sewing...... My tummy thinks it's a good choice :)

Christmas Countdown!!!

Do you realize that it's LESS than 6 months til Christmas?!?!?!

I do!!
I can't wait - let's be honest! It was always a huge to-do when I was growing up, and I hope to continue that with my kids...


I have already started my sewing for the holidays, and just hope I can finish it all in time... I always get so many great ideas that I have a hard time deciding what to do, then I start too much and don't get it done... That's why I start early :) :) :)
I created a list of ideas that I had, and wanted to write them down so I have them somewhere... mostly so I won't forget all my plans and goals...

• Nieces Chirstmas Gifts
• Nephews Christmas Gifts
• In-Laws Christmas
• Kids Gifts
• New Tree Skirt
• Stockings
• New Snowman Something

I realized that all my photos didn't link back to where they should!!! I apologize for that, so for now I have only left up the one quilt that i KNOW where it came from!! Ya'll should definitely go check out here where I got this SUPER adorable snowman quilt!!

Funny Skirt

For as long as I can remember, my sister and I have wanted to have a skirt made out of ties! For some reason, we can never seem to get the pattern that we want in our heads to work on paper or with the ties...
So, my little sister (not really little, she's almost 21) is my inspiration for this skirt. It's just a practice one for now...I'm sure that I'll made another one, or two!
I made my daughter a basic straight skirt with elastic just at the sides, and then sewed a bunch of "ties" to the top and let them hang down! She thinks it's awesome, and loves playing with the pieces...but I would make some DEFINITE changes next time. I was talking on the phone when cutting, measuring and sewing the strips...BAD idea! I meant for the strips to be 2" wide so that they could over-lap a TON...they're only 1" wide, so I BARELY had enough and there's no overlap-age..... Also, I would like to put something at the top of them to tie the ties together. Right now, the ends are just cut off and frayed... It's cute, but not what I was going for...
Guess I'll just have to try again.....

Placemats...

I have been working hard on getting some place-mats for my fam. My kids are super messy when they eat, so I figured that it would be a GREAT project for me to do! I made some personalized ones, some fun ones, and some I just cut out of fabric... I like variety... I am trying to decide which ones are my favorite...and I just can't decide right now! I have sewn them all together and am going to take them over to the quilting machine sometime this week, and that makes me excited.....

Brave...or something like that :)

I have seen a number of people do scrappy sewing with their scraps, but I never really have done "scrappy" sewing with my scraps, just real stuff (planned out and everything)... I decided that it was time to be brave and try it.

I am making place-mats for my fam, and realized that I needed one more. But, I didn't want to have to design something to only make one of it...so I decided to do something scrappy!!!

So, I got out my scrap bucket and my scrap bag...I have 2, one for BIGGER pieces and one for SMALLER pieces...really I should just combine them :) Then the hardest part for me...truly, honestly picking pieces without looking! I always try to match (I know, not ok). But this time, I would close my eyes, pick a piece and sew it to the next piece without looking. There would be spots where I would CRINGE at what I picked out, but I still sewed it to the last piece...and this is what I got!
I am proud of myself...still not sure if i LOVE it, but it's not bad for my first try. I had a few pukas and a few 'gathers', but again...first try :) :) :) :)

Measuring Tape - FINISHED!!!!!

So, I finally decided to just start over and re-do my Measuring Tape. I was just so frustrated that I knew if I tried to fix it, I might say some bad words in front of the kiddos :) :) :)
So, with a little help from this handsome guy, I flipped it over and tried again!!
It is now finished and hanging on my wall...and the kids love it. They spent all day yesterday trying to touch it!