P.E.G.S. bag

Here's another gift that I gave at Christmas, this time to my mum :)

Being one of eleven children and number eight in line, my mum has received lots of lovely presents over the years and has a house full of Willow Tree figures (I would have a small collection, but I'm currently down to one!...my kids love looking/playing/touch them, oh well).

So I tried to think of something that my mum would use most days, that would make her smile, and let her constantly know how much we love her, especially as we are a five hour drive away!!...Basically, I wanted to give her a big KugAll in a pressie.

And hey presto, the cogs got working and I came up with the idea for a P.E.G.S. bag...Positive Expressions Generate Smiles!!

click here for to download

 P.E.G.S. image

You need to print the image onto a medium weight fabric, by ironing freezer paper to the back to help stiffen it up so it will go through your printer like a piece of paper...here's the link to my post 'How to print on fabric using your printer'.

I was sooo excited when I was making this and then getting the kids to write on the pegs what they loved about Grandma, and of course I had to write on some too...I couldn't believe I was having one of my excited, clapping my hands with joy moments over a peg bag and some pegs, haha!!

My mum absolutely loved it, and she can't wait for this lovely English weather to brighten up so that she can use them...and if that doesn't happen any time soon, I'll be making her an indoor washing line for her Christmas present next year, haha!! ;) 

Quick and Easy tips for PEGS bag...

• buy a peg bag, print off the PEGS image onto your fabric, and then sew on the front.
• buy a peg bag, and use a sharpie pen to write the phrase on.

Easy Peasy Cushion Covers

I made these cushion covers last night and I love 'em...I'm thinking I might get protective of them when it comes to sticky fingers!! I made the plain cushion at the back in 30 minutes (from start to finish) and the ones at the front took me just over 45 minutes to make....my mind is whizzing with all the possibilities for the ones at the front. :)

The cushions are made from just one long piece of fabric and as I haven't attempted zips yet so they are just envelope style.

Measure the width and height of the pillow you want to cover.  Mine measured 18" wide and 13" high, so for the width I multiplied it by two, added on 1" for seam allowance and then 5" for the overlap on the back (you could make the overlap slightly larger if you want)...so total width added up to 42".  For the height I just added on 1" for the seam allowance.

I cut my fabric using my measurements (42" x 14").

Overlock the smaller ends of your fabric (so I sewed my two 14" ends)...my overlock isn't too great on my machine so I use my zig zag stitch and let one point go off the fabric so that it rolls the edge and stops it from fraying.

Turn over the now overlocked ends (1-1.5cm) and sew using the edge of your machines foot along the edge of your folded fabric.

Ignore this bit (and the next few) if you are just doing a plain cover...pin your printed fabric making sure it sits central to your cushion, make sure to check the over lapping of the fabric on the back is fairly central.  For how to print onto fabric click here for one of my previous posts.

I sewed round my fabric twice, the first time I just did a straight line, the second time I did a bit of wiggling...I like the finished result and the frayed edge, but you could appliqué etc.

Have the front of your fabric/pillow face up, then fold one end over and then the other...work the fabric so that it is the width of your pillow (making sure if you have attached a design/fabric that this is still central) and so that the overlap is fairly central again, then pin along the top and bottom.

Sew along the two pinned edges using the 1cm guide on your sewing machine, and then overlock the two edges you've just sewn to stop them from fraying.

Turn the pillow the right way out and ta da you have a super duper pillow case for your settee.

Nephite vs Lamanite game

This game is basically naughts and crosses but with Nephites and Lamanites on the reverse side of the relevant symbols.  I made a drawstring bag to keep the playing pieces in with the square grid printed on one side and the title of the game on the other.

This is what it looked like on my computer screen.  I then printed them off onto my calico fabric using my 'How to print onto fabric using your printer' post as a guide.  Just a note when making yours, make sure you leave enough space around the edge to allow for seam allowance and more space/fabric at the top so that you can make it into a drawstring bag.  I also used the same technique for printing the cartoon images and lettering.

Unfortunately I can't share my file of this as I got my pictures from a disc I bought years ago called 'LDS Clips 10,000' by Inspire Graphics :(  But hopefully there might be some free ones that you can download on the web??

I made this for my sister's family for Christmas and they love it, now I've just got to crack on and finish making the one for us.  It makes a great family gift and doesn't cost too much for the materials etc...just takes a bit of time (and love) to get it made :)  It's also super for a FHE game and a Sunday activity.

I am a Child of God tote

Sugardoodle posted a link the other day to a wonderful blog entitled 'My Computer is My Canvas' that has a load of free printables and cute stuff????????  She's done some really cute images for the Primary Theme this year 'I am a Child of God'.

My Computer is My Canvas

From this site I downloaded the 'I am a Child of God' SUBW...6x20.jpg (1022KB), when I went to print I noticed that because of the American sizing I would miss some of the lettering, so I right-clicked on the image to copy it and then opened up Microsoft word and pasted it onto my page...I had to shrink it a whole lot to get it to fit, and then centred it and left more of a gap at the top of the page to accommodate for seam allowance and attaching handles (see picture below).

I then printed the above onto calico fabric using my 'How to print onto fabric using your printer' post.  I then used the printed fabric to make a cute little tote and drawstring bag, but you could make a cushion, frame it etc.  My little tote bag worked out to be the perfect size to fit a Book of Mormon in :)  And yes, I am still squealing with delight every time I print onto fabric, haha...what am I like!!?!!?

Sunday 'cans'

I was buying for my sister (and her family) this Christmas, and she said she'd like some 'reverent' toys and activities for a Sunday.  So I looked through my pins on Pinterest to get some inspiration, and got loads, now which ones to choose!?!??! 

I decided to do some Sunday 'cans'...a small 'can' full of ideas of activities that can be done on a Sunday, plus a big 'can' that can be used to store games/book/activities etc.  I used the tutorial below from 'Shabby Beach Nest' blog to help with the general idea for making my lollipop sticks for the smaller can.

Shabby Beach Nest

101 Idea 'I'm Bored' Jar

I used some ideas from the Friend magazine to help come up with a list of activities that were appropriate for a Sunday....

20 Things to Do on Sunday

Flannel Board Sunday Box

Sunday Box: Sunday Can  

The 'Sunday Cans' labels and list of ideas can be downloaded below and then printed on your chosen paper or card.

Sunday Cans File

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Cut the paper into equal strips, then apply lots of DIY Mod Podge to the back of the paper/card strip...

Hold the large lollipop stick and the wet paper/card strip up to the light/window and line them up so that the words are central and push together hard, smoothing all out bumps.  Then lay them out to dry.

Once dry, trim off any excess paper using scissors and then brush around the edge with sandpaper, it gives them a nicer finish as you can see from the lollipop sticks as the top of the photo below.

I made some blank sticks as well so that my sister could write on activities/ideas that I hadn't listed.  

For the cans, I used my DIY Mod Podge again to stick the card to them, and then I brushed the Mod Podge all over the top of the card too, just to make sure they were stuck on real tight...and they're done!! :)

Reverence Marble Maze

I'm currently chuckling to myself at my photos above, you can't see the maze on one and the ultimate thing is you can't even tell that there is a marble in there, but there is I promise!!  Sorry to sound repetitive but this was another idea that started from another of my pins on Pinterest.  Here's my original 'pin'.

Trajectory in Fabric

by lilla-a-design

I liked the idea of getting from one point to another, and thought what better than trying to get to the temple.  I printed onto some calico fabric (click here for 'How to Print on Fabric using your Printer Tutorial'), and put our temple near the top right and some children further down in the opposite corner.

I got a matching size of soft fabric and trimmed it down to a rough square (but you can do any shape you want), sewed it together right sides facing each other, leaving a gap to turn it the right way, then turn it the right way :)  Popped in a marble and sewed up the gap nice and tight.

I used the sewing machine to make a 1/4" 'frame' around the whole edge of the fabric/maze to make sure that the marble had no chance of escaping.  I then sewed the walls of the maze using my tailor chalk marks as a guide, pushing the marble out of the way as I went.

I'm hoping this entertains my kids as much as it has entertained me...only time will tell :)

Christmas Pouches

Another idea that originated from Pinterest, wahoooo, I'm actually making something that I've pinned!!!!!  Below is the original idea.....mmmm, me thinks, I need to invest in a new camera and some photography classes very soon, lol :) 

picture source

I thought I'd make this gift more religious as the candy cane can represent the shepherds staff.  So I used Microsoft word to do a template, I changed the page format to landscape, and divided the page into 4 columns, typed out the words and added the graphics below.  I used the candy cane as a guide to the size up both the white and red pieces of paper/card. 

I then lined them up and sewed along the edge of the white front, remembering to reverse over the beginning and the end of the stitching to hold them firmly in place, trim the loose threads, slide in a candy cane....and it's done :)  These work out really cheap, but make great gifts for neighbours, friends, teachers, postman etc.

I also made another type of 'pouch' using vellum for the front so that the chocolate gold coins could be seen inside.  I then use a hole punch to  make a hole at the top and threaded through some gold ribbon...this one works out a bit more expensive, but is sooo cute (I know I'm biased!!)

You could make these pouches in all different shapes and sizes and fill them with lots of different and exciting things, the possibilities are endless!!!

Two Beginners Tips for using your sewing machine

I'm three weeks into a dressmaking course, and I'm loving it.  I'm learning so much and it's already teaching me how to control my machine better....as all I used to do was straight lines and full steam ahead, lol!!

Anyway, in our first lesson our teacher handed out a driving test for our sewing machine, we didn't use thread and had to manoeuvre our needle round sharp corners, curves and wiggles...we were allowed 3 mistakes and surprising I only made one, so I passed first time!!  Below is one that is similar to the one I did in class.  I might let my girls have a go at this too, so that they get use to the feel of my sewing machine before I let them loose on it :)

                                                                      St Bedes RC School 
                                                                Sewing Machine Driving Test

Our teacher then suggested that we make a stitch book for our machine, so that we could see what they look like on fabric and be able to choose the right stitch for the job in hand.  Up till now I've just stuck to the same old stitch for everything, so I felt like a bit of a dare devil trying out the new stitches, haha!!  As I did each one, I referenced the stitch with the number on my machine.

I will let you know of anything else I learn in class that might help a newbie like me :)

Rice Hand Warmers

I can't bear to throw my material scraps away, but the challenge is finding what to do with them all!!

Well, my fleece scraps finally have a purpose, yeahh....I found loads of tutorial for making fleece rice hand warmers, and couldn't believe that all I had to do was sew two pieces of material together, leaving a small gap so I could put some rice in, sew the gap, and that was it!!  I don't know why in my mind I pictured it being more than that, but they really were so quick and easy to make, which was very 'handy' as my scraps will soon be no more, mwahaaha!!

picture source

I whipped up some pink ones for my mother-in-law....and she loves them, I think??!  I made a little tag to go with the gift too...

....in my rush I forgot to take a photo of the finished project, whoops, still getting use to all this documenting your every move blog thing.  I then wrapped them up in some cellophane and attached a ribbon.