Ruffle Apron

Since I got One Yard Wonders I have wanted to make the ruffle apron for my niece. I finally decided to just do it last week before vacation. However, I only got the pieces cut out so I didn't get it finished til yesterday. I used a fat quarter pack that I bought a while ago and I love how all of the patterns look together.

How cute is that?

I actually had to piece together fabric for the ruffle and the tie, but I don't think you can even see the seam unless you are studying it! I also had just a smidge of white thread left so I decided to use contrast thread and I love how it turned out! I think I like it even better than if I could have used matching.

The apron is actually reversible so she can wear it either way. I only made one change from the directions in the book. I decided to make it a tie back instead of velcro so I had to make the ties longer. I just think it's gonna look so cute when she makes pancakes with her uncle or mixes up some cupcakes with me!

Camera Strap

Before I went on vacation last weekend, I wanted to make myself a new camera strap that was longer. I wanted it to be able to fit around my neck and one arm (messenger bag style) and still have enough movement that I could use it from that position.

I love what I was able to come up with!

My strap started at 3.5 inches wide and 50 inches long. I pieced together some fabric scraps that I had and that I thought went really well together. The front of the strap is the zebra and yellow and the back is black dots, small pink dots and some teal tonal floral print. Once I pieced it together, I'm pretty sure the strap is about 48 inches and then I folded it over some D rings, so I'm not exactly sure of the final dimensions.

I just put the two strips right sides together sewed them up the sides, then flipped them right side outside and topstitched them. I was dangerously close to running out of white thread (and forgot to pick more up) so I used yellow to zigzag it to the D rings.

I also zigzagged a ribbon to the end and used the hardware from my actual strap to connect it to the camera. I bought some clips but they were too thick. I am hoping that I can find some clips and lose the ribbons. After trekking around Canada for a few days, they are all twisted and frayed and not looking so great anymore!

Overall, I absolutely love it! It's longer and wider than the average strap and it fits my needs perfectly!

New and Improved Camera Strap

I finally decided to make a pretty strap for my camera--I have been wanting to make one since I started sewing and I finally accomplished it yesterday. I didn't really have a direction with this. I just make a tube with the fabric and eyeballed the rest. And apparently, my eyeballing was crappy because I cut it too short or something so I had to add on a bit at the end.

But I ended up really liking the pink on the ends--breaks up the dark fabric and brings out the pink a little bit more.

I just used the camera strap from my old camera and covered it. I actually sewed my fabric to the strap  unlike other tutorials I have seen.

Wish I could take a picture of it on my camera...it looks so cute! But alas, the junky camera's batteries are deader than a doornail and I haven't a clue where the charger is! I bought some big D rings and, as soon as I can find a small enough clip, I am going to make a longer, wider strap.

Handmade Baby Gift

The sweet guidance counselor at the school where I have worked all school year is having a baby this summer. Some of the teachers and I are throwing her a baby shower next week and I wanted to sew her up some baby gifts.

I used a few tutorials online for my gifts. First, I used this tutorial to make a soft, cozy blanket. I got the brown minky onsale for 50% off and I only ended up using half of the yard. The green and brown dot fabric was on clearance at Joann's. Basically the blanket cost me about $5 in materials and not very much time.

So simple. Cut 2 rectangles, sew right sides together leaving an open to turn. Flip it and topstitch--Finished!

A note: Apparently you can't iron minky. Mine was embossed with dots and when I ironed it (not knowing I wasn't supposed to) the dots disappeared. Grrrr.

Next, I made some burp cloths. I used this tutorial because I couldn't resist the soft fabric on the back. This blue minky (is all the soft material called minky? i don't know...but it's really soft) was on clearance for $4 for a piece that was 30x36--but really it was an inch short which threw my game off, but whatever. The outside fabric was on clearance for 96cents per fat quarter, which made 2 burp cloths and a little bit leftover.

I followed the tutorial exactly and it worked amazing! I love how they turned out. I also made the band for the outside to class it up! :) I didn't really measure to make it...just did what I thought looked the best.

I also made a tag blanket...well, it's not a blanket because it's little. I think I like it. I wish I would have made the ribbons smaller so I need to dwell on how I feel about it some more.

I love the color combo on this gift set! So pretty for a baby boy.

I also made a swaddle blanket from some brown and white checked flannel.It was really hard to take a picture of it without a baby.

I can't wait to give it to her next week! I am sure she will love it!

Boo @ the Zoo

Oh, how we love the zoo! I mean, seriously, we went like 20 times last year--and I have only been once this year so far. Not cool! I am going to remedy that by enjoying a few hours at the zoo by myself on my birthday and I know we will go a bunch this summer.

This is one of two layouts that I am doing for Boo at the Zoo last October. This is one of the best times I have had at the zoo. The niece and neffie were decked out in their costumes and the weather was perfect! Interestingly, I don't have one single picture of an animal from that visit--it wasn't about the animals though. There was so many fun things to do.

Very little Cricut on this one, which is quite unusual for me. I got all of the paper and embellishments at Walmart after Halloween for like no money!

Just had to add "at the" to the title from Makin the Grade. I didn't put a lot of stuff on it because I think the paper is quite busy and I didn't want to make it crazy!

And we all know, I'm a simple scrapper!

Scrapping with my friends on Saturday--hopefully that means I get something done! :)