Tutorial: Shiny Hieny Wipes Case

So, first let me say that I have apparently been living in a closet (or I just have two kids under 3), but these wipes cases are EVERYWHERE! All over etsy.com and in all sorts of boutiques. I was first given one by my great friend Kim, and at that time had never seen one before (like I said, two kids under 3). I was later asked to make a gift for a baby shower and decided to try one out myself. Surprisingly easy and really fun, these little cases not only can make a great gift, but if you have to carry a wipes case in your purse or diaper bag why not have it be fabulous?! So here's a little tutorial for you!

List of supplies:

Travel Wipe Case (Use the same basic steps for a large wipe case, you will just nee more fabric)

Base Fabric- less than 1/4 of a yard will be used (but due to all the cutting and gluing you should start with at least 1/4 yard.)

Fleece- or any other type of batting you would like (it all depends how "fluffy" you want it.)

Hot glue gun

Mod Podge and sponge- you could also use photo spray glue, but that gets MESSY

Ribbon

Scissors

Optional:

Any other embellishment

Coordinating Fabric

1. Apply mod podge to top of case.
2. Apply fleece (batting) to case. Make sure to get out all creases and bubbles.
3. Apply mod podge to fleece.
4. Apply fabric. Once again, get out all creases and bubble.
5. Now, you can do steps 1-4 then cut one side, then repeat steps 1-4 on the other side, then cut that side or just wait and cut both sides at the same time. (Do you like how confusing I made that?) Basically if your fabric isn't so big that it's getting in your way while you work on the second side, just wait to cut it...it's easier. Also, you are going to cover all the raw edges with ribbon, so don't worry about cutting perfectly! (I love this kind of crafting)
6. Now, if you don't have a coordinating fabric, just skip this step. If you do, you'll want to cut it now.
7. Still skipping this step if you don't have a coordinating fabric...Hot glue your fabric to both edges of your case.
It should look like this below (I'm realizing I took a ridiculous amount of pictures)
8. Now hot glue your ribbon; covering up the raw edges of your coordinating fabric.
9. Now, starting at the back, hot glue your ribbon around the edge of both sides of your wipe case.
Almost finished! (You could actually be finished here if you wanted to, but I like to add a little "something")
Harper was also crafting; sewing up a hippo puppet. Teaching her young!
10. Add embellishment. I crocheted a little bow and then hot glued it on, but you could add anything; buttons, jewels, fabric flowers, etc.
Finished project! I also added a jewel in the middle of the bow, as well in the back where the ribbon meets (this was my friend Kim's idea, just thought I'd site my source).
Here is a picture of a large case. I have a few of the travel cases and some coordinating sets (travel and large) in a local Children's Store; once again, cute baby shower gift!!

Enjoy!

My daughter's the cutest...and these headbands are alright too.

After an argument about her outfit (that ended in her crying and me bribing), I finally got the crazy girl to model these headbands I had made. And by model, I mean follow her around and beg her to be still for 2 seconds while I snap a photo. But here they are...

This flower pattern I found here and the headband I just made up, it was super easy, maybe I'll post it another time.

For this bow headband I simply crocheted around an elastic headband, and then attached the bow (go here for the pattern.) They both turned out great, but I didn't love them until this cute girl put them on!

Chubby Little Legwarmers

OK first of all let me say before I start this that I got this tutorial from Samstermommy.blogspot.com and you should really consider just pressing on the link and learning how to make these cute little legwarmers from her. However, if you're choosing to stay then here we go.

Materials needed:

A pair of women's (or men's) socks

Rotary cutters or scissors

Pins

Sewing machine

Step 1. Lay out your socks (I got these beauties from Target for $2!)Step 2. Make 3 cuts. You want to cut the toe off and the heel off.Step 3. You should now be left with two pieces. The main sock piece and the part of the foot that was neither the heel or the toe (see I told you just should've gone to samestermommy.blogspot.com) You want to take the foot piece and fold it in half.Step 4. Place the folded piece around the main sock and pin.Step 5. Sew. Be careful not to pull your fabric.Ta-dah! Little legwarmers for the chubby little legs in your life.My Chubby Little Legwarmer model.

No Nap Hair Bows

So it's pretty inevitable that on any given day one or the both of my children will either a.) Take forever to get themselves down for their nap, or b.) Refuse a nap altogether. Well today, Harper chose "b," and after 35 minutes of yelling, and out of fear that she would wake the big man; I threw in the towel and went and got her up. Usually I work out during my kids' nap, but that was going to have to be delayed (I will be doing that after this post is done. Yay.) So I decided we would make some hair bows. Harp got very excited and actually told me that was very "kind of" me...she's so cute...today. I made some actual bows, but the ones I like the best are actually a kind of "flower." They're super easy.

Materials Needed:

-Ribbon

-hot glue gun

-button (or anything else to go in the center..beads maybe?)

-hair clip (head band, or brooch pin)

Before we get started let me say that yes, I do most crafts on the floor of my living room, I spread everything out, and make a complete mess, I am not ashamed of this. Okay, now that's out of the way, here we go.

Make a loop with the ribbon and secure it with a dot of hot glue
Make another loop, secure it with another dot of hot glue and trim the end. Repeat those first two steps and then attach both pieces with more hot glue (this is a running theme).It should look like this. While I was taking this picture...

Harper was doing this. Oh the joys of no nap.
Now choose another ribbon (or stay with the first if you like). Once again, secure the ribbon with hot glue, make a loop, secure with hot glue...told you, running theme.Repeat the looping and gluing until it looks like this.
Glue onto the hair clip (or head band, or brooch pin). I like to put a little ribbon on the back, just in case any glue had seeped through.
Attach a button (or bead, or whatever you want), let it cool and Ta-Dah! A little hair bow for your "no napper."These were some of the other ones we made. I let Harper choose the ribbon and the buttons, the girl actually has pretty good taste.

Hats in March?

It does seem silly to make wool hats in March, but they are just so fun! I used two balls of mutli-colored wool yarn and was able to make three hats. I have spent years making up my own patterns, but using someone else's does really help you learn...try this one.

Things That Happen While Babysitting

Last week, while Harper and Lucie (the little girl I babysit) were napping (Thank you Jesus that they were both down at the same time!) I decided I needed a new cell phone case; Harper had dropped mine while we were taking a walk in the park and by the time I realized it, I was watching a woman waiting for the bus picking it up and putting it her purse (she must have needed it, right?). Anyway, this led me to this little case. It was super easy, here's the patterns:Materials:

6 mm crochet hook

Medium weight acrylic blend yarn (really anything will work)

sewing needle

button

fabric and sewing materials for lining (optional)

Chain your desired length, I have a LG Voyager from Verizon and I chained 18

row 1: sc in second chain from hook. Continue to sc in the rest of the chain, do not turn. Sc on the other side of the chain all the way down, do not join round.

Row 2+: Continue with this pattern (sc on both sides) until desired depth is obtained. (Once again, for my phone I sc 12 rounds).

Button hook: On your last round SC until middle of second side, chain 9 or so (depends on thickness of phone) skip one SC and join chain to next SC, continue to SC to finish round.

Button: Choose any type of button and sew to opposite side of button hook.

I decided to line mine, which I think is cute, but the cover would work great without the lining also.

1. To line simply measure the width of your case and then add 1 inch. (This will give you a 1/2 inch seam on each side.

2. Measure the depth of your case from the bottom of the inside to the row that you want to attach the lining to (I chose the second stitch from the top). Multiple your depth by two and then add 1 inch (For example, if your depth is 5 then it will equal: 5 x 2=10+1=11 inches).

3. Measure your fabric and cut.

4. Fold fabric in half (pattern side in) length (depth) wise. Iron. Measure a 1/2 inch seam at the top of each side. Iron fabric out.

5. Pin along sides of folded fabric and sew a 1/2 inch seam on each side. Iron side seams out.

6. Sew the top 1/2 inch seam.

7. Fit lining into case and hand sew in. Be sure to sew only on the inside stitch so it doesn't show through on the outside of the case.

If you haven't sewn before these instructions are going to be very confusing! If you need pictures go to Futuregirl and check out her tutorials on "How to sew a lining" and how to "Sew a lining into a crocheted bag." Don't you wish I would have told you this before?

GOOD LUCK!

Leftovers

What to do with the leftovers? If you crochet or knit then you know that eventually you will be left with a little bit of a lot of different yarn. Well I figured out something to do to not waste all those little bits; I took all my leftovers and cut them in various lengths an then tied them all together in a random order.The result was this scarf/cowl. I know it's not everyones' taste, but I'm kind of into it!

It's also a super easy pattern!

I used a 10mm hook and leftover yarn, but obviously you could use any yarn you like.

Chain 120 (or to your desired length)

Row 1: Treble stitch in 4th chain from hook and in the rest of the chain.

Row 2: chain 3, turn, Treble stitch in back stitch only all the way down the row

Row 3: chain 3, turn, Treble in front stitch only down the row

Row 4+: Continue with pattern (Back stitch, front stitch) until desired width is obtained.

Finishing: When rows are completed, single stitch around border, tie off and weave in ends...or not, who cares it's a leftover scarf! I also stitched the two ends together, and then twisted it up and around my neck.

Snow day projects

Today was a wonderful day for crafting due to the fact that it was 16 degrees and snowy! I had some lingering projects to work on, like my Heart Purse, which I had crocheted but I hadn't completed the liner, (which is still not finished, but in progress.) Next comes the arduous task of hand sewing the lining into the purse. (For a great tutorial on sewing lining into a crocheted bag check out the Future Girl link.)

Avoiding the lining I turned to crocheting a new bag. I found a great pattern on Marlo's Crochet Corner (which was maybe meant to be since Marlo is my middle name!) I liked how the bag turned out, and I already had some great fabric for the liner!