Turkey Wreath

I had a straw wreath that I got at the senior center for $1 and orange and brown yarn so I decided to make a Thanksgiving wreath. I saw a yarn wrap wreath at Hobby Lobby and it looked so simple I went ahead and tried it. 

First I wrapped the straw wreath in Saran Wrap because the yarn was catching the straw. 

Then I tied the yarn around the wreath to start. I continued wrapping the orange yarn around the wreath until the whole ing was covered. 

Next I took some newspaper and made it into a ball for the turkey body and used a second piece of newspaper and made a smaller ball for the turkey head. Using the brown yarn I wrapped each newspaper ball and squeezed and shaped it until it looked like a turkey body (at least I think it does). Then I used some felt to make the feathers around the turkey and a small beak. I hot glued it all together. 

I hot glued the turkey to the wreath. i decided the wreath needed something more than just the turkey. 

I decided to make some felt flowers to go around the turkey. They were super easy to make. I had made the rosette flowers before and used this website to learn how to make the other flowers: http://www.papernstitchblog.com/2011/12/14/diy-felt-flowers-five-ways/

Here they are:

Instead of sewing the bottoms of the flowers, I just hot glued them. Can you tell I like my hot glue gun? Then I glued the flowers around my turkey and added some leaves. Ta-da! I think it will look pretty cute for turkey day! 

While I worked on my wreath the doggies were doing this: 

I think maybe they like each other. 

Candy corn centerpiece

Today I wanted to make a few more decorations for the house but didn't want to spend money. I went to Walmart and got two bags of candy corn and two candles for fifty cents. I also got the crow and the spiders at the dollar store. I had the jars at home.   

First I got some branches from the yard and spray painted them back with the leftover paint from making the fence tombstones. 

Next I filled the jars with the candy corn and put in the candles. I tied some twine around the top for a little decoration. After the branches were dry I put them into the third mason jar and poured in the candy corn around it. Last I added the spiders, web, crow and put the little scarecrow girl next to it, Here it is: 

Monkey Sign and tree

I also made a monkey banner to go above his closet. It's the same as the spring banner I made last spring.

Here's the Grow Love Tree my second grade students made for baby boy last spring! 

Sock Monkey Mobile

My friend Sam gave us a plain, white mobile with a music box to decorate and turn into a sock monkey mobile.

First I cut out a large rectangle and folded the corners around the mobile. I used heat and bond to make the corners stay. I added ribbon to the edges. 

Next I sewed a skinny sleeve to go over the plastic arm holding the mobile. Last I added the 4 cute sock monkeys.

Changing table

Originally we were going to have a dresser in baby boy's room, but our room is much too small. I looked on Craigslist and we picked up a changing table for $25! It didn't quiet match the finish on our crib so I painted it to match the contrasting wall in his room.

After it was sanded

Painting the table. I used a sample size container.

All finished! 

Sock monkey tree

Our friend Carolynn gave us the idea to make a sock monkey tree by the crib. She had cut down two large branches for us to use. We went to Home Goods and purchased a large vase. We put the branches into the vase and then decorated with all different sock monkeys! 

Sheet and Curtains!

To finish up our long day of projects, Mom and I worked together on the curtains and sheet for the crib. These are the simple curtains we made. The fabric matches the crib skirt. We added sock monkey ribbon to match the lamp and changing pad. 

 We're planning to make more sheets another day, but needed a prototype first so we could decide what we wanted to change. We also wanted to see how it fit the crib mattress. 

Here's the crib sheet. Pretty cute, huh? This was scrap fabric! Basically we made the changing pad cover in a larger version, but only put the elastic in the corners.

I think it was a pretty successful day! We finished a lot of great things for the nursery and it's starting to come together.

Crib Skirt: No Sew!

Earlier this week I made a no sew crib skirt to match the curtains I'd planned to make with my mom. The cool things about this skirt are: 1. It can be moved up and down with the crib moves up and down as the baby grows! 2. Did I mention it's no sew? I just used heat and bond.

The crib skirt is the red polka dot material at the bottom. It's also on the sides of the crib. It was very easy to make and fun! Thanks to Scultsavy for the great instructions. http://sculptsavvy.com/2013/04/14/diy-crib-skirt/ I did use 45" fabric and just measured it the long way instead. It worked great. 

Burp cloths and a sock monkey changing pad cover!

Today Mom and I finished quite a few of the projects I'd started at home but needed a sewing machine to complete. We made curtains, sheets, burp cloths and a changing pad cover. Below you can see the finished products.

Here's the sock monkey changing pad cover! It matches the lamp from last week. It was incredibly simple to make. I got the instructions from this website: http://www.beaninloveblog.com/2013/02/diy-changing-pad-cover.html Since these instructions were so great and easy to follow, I didn't take pictures while making it like I normally do! I think it turned out great and is going to be very soft and cozy.

These are the burp cloths. They're cloth diapers with a strip of cute fabric to brighten them. I got the tutorial from this website:http://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/03/27/burp-cloth-tutorial-for-the-beginner-sewist/ These were also very easy to make.

Sock Monkey Lamp!

The second job I completed today is a sock monkey lamp. I was thinking about what else I wanted in his room and decided I wanted a cute lamp. Well, the shade alone is $26 and that didn't include a lamp. I remembered we had an Ikea lamp in the office we haven't been using so I decided to turn that into the baby's lamp.

I went online to Better Homes and Gardens and read about how to recover a lamp. All I needed was a yard of fabric, fabric glue, scissors and ribbon.

I cut the fabric to the size of the lamp leaving about 1/2 inch on the ends to glue on the lamp.

First here's the lamp shade with the fabric being glued down on one side. It's a paper one so a little bit harder to work with because it's collapsible:

Next I continued wrapping the lamp. I folded the edge when I got to the end and ironed it. I pulled the fabric as tight as I could get it and glued the fabric overlapping the edge. 

Then I started folding and gluing the edges inside the lamp. 

Then I put on cute sock monkey ribbon along the top and the bottom, again using fabric glue. 

Last I tied a sock monkey on the lamp's switch. Here it is: 

Pretty cute, huh? I think it'll look great in his room! 

Sock Monkey Tie Blanket!

I haven't put anything on in quite a while. First I was suffering from hyperemesis, and then it was the end of the school year and between the two, I wasn't making a whole lot of "stuff."

This week I've been busy getting the baby's room ready! I've attempted to paint it, but realized I'm not so great at that and Brad will have to do a second coat on the green wall, do all the up high stuff and the touch-ups.

On Tuesday I went to Hobby Lobby and Pacific Fabrics with my mom and Carolynn to pick out some sock monkey fabric.

Yesterday I worked on cutting and pinning the fabric for burp cloths and will sew those on my mom's machine one day next week.

Today I got two jobs done. First I made the little monkey a tie blanket with fleece from Joann's. Here are a few pictures:

One side of the blanket finished

Cutting the strips to tie 

Tying the two pieces of fabric together.

Here's a finished picture. You can see the back and the front!

Baby Advice Onesie

My sister in law is having a baby in July. We are busy planning her baby shower and want to give her some advice and tips on having a new baby!

Using green and blue papers I drew a onesie and then traced it on to other paper.

Then I cut out each onesie and put the black marks around the arms and legs to give it some dimension.

I added some animal stickers since her shower theme is jungle!

Last I made a cover for the book.

At her shower I will hang a piece of twine on the mantle. Then each person will write some words of advice and hang the onesie with clothes pins along the laundry line!

Spring!

Last weekend I took down my Valentine wreath and made a cute pennant to go across our hearth. First I painted the chip board letters pink.

Painting the letters

Next I traced the pennants on the cute spring paper and cut them out.

Then I put Modge Podge on the pennants and glued the paper down. 

Then I hot glued the pink letters on the pennants.

Last I punched holes in the corners and strung twine through it and added two rosettes.

Then I strung it across our hearth! It looks great with my grandma's homemade Easter bunnies.