5th Day of Christmas

Colorful Wine Coasters

This project makes a great gift for any of your wine/drink lovers.  I had found the tutorial quite a while ago, and just never had a chance to try it.  If I had realized how easy they are to make I would have started the project much sooner.  The original pattern can be found here.

The thing that took the longest was trying to pick out colors & coordinating fabrics (5 per coaster).  Once that was complete I cut a 5" square piece from each fabric.  Then I layered them one on top of the other, and traced the outline of a CD on the wrong side of one fabric.  I pinned them all together, so they would not move while cutting out the circles.

Next choose one of the circles to be the bottom and fold the other 4 in half wrong sides together and press.  Once that is complete it is time to start layering them onto the bottom fabric.  

With the bottom piece right side up place on of the half circles on top with the folded edge towards the center.

Do the same with another half circle to the left, layering it on top of the other half circle.

Again do the same by placing a half circle on the bottom.

Now, lift the original half circle up and towards the left and place the last half circle on top and replace the original half circle.

Finished look:

I then pinned each intersection, so the pieces would not move while sewing.  Next, sew around the outside of the entire circle with 1/4" seam.  Do no leave any openings and backstitch over the beginning to secure.  

Then turn the fabric inside out and they are complete.  I still have one left to do to make a complete set of 6 coasters.  However, I did not like any of my yellow/orange fabric combinations. 

They can be used around the bottom of wine glasses, and can help determine whose drink belongs to who.  Or they can be used as regular coasters and by placing the glass directly on top!

4th Day of Christmas

A Mason Jar Cookie Recipe

I have found so many great ideas for mason jar gifts, which are perfect for any occasion.  Around the holidays there are always plenty of freshly baked treats available.  This is a great alternative, because the recipient can choose to bake or use the gift when it is needed most.  Then the jar can be reused for something! 

There are so many different delicious cookie recipes available here, but you could also incorporate pancake mixes, smores, and other food items.

There are also some great ideas for non-food mason jar gifts.  

I decided to make cookie mixes in my mason jars, and I will be using a few for Christmas gifts and a few for baby shower prizes.  The recipe I used is available here. 

First Braden helped me mix up the flour, baking soda, and sugar.

I went to start filling the jars and realized the ones I had were too small.  So, we had to pick up some bigger ones (I think next time I would go with something a little smaller).  

Too Small

The website I used had labels that could be printed and used. I of course, didn't buy the wide mouthed jars, so I had to play around with creating my own labels and getting the sizing just right.

Also for the holiday version I had planned on using red & green M&M's, which I also thought we had in the cupboard.  So, I will have to wait to make those mason jars later.  Lesson learned - make sure you have all of the CORRECT supplies in hand before starting this project!  

3rd Day of Christmas

A Handprint Calendar

Two years ago we sent a photo calendar to Sister Kelly for Christmas.  We do not get to see her very often, so she really appreciated seeing the photos of family members and the special dates incorporated in the calendar.  This year Sister Kelly is in Ireland, so I decided to have Braden help me with a little calendar project that I think she will really love!

I found the handprint calendar idea here on this blog.  The post includes downloads for each of the poems and the cover page.  There is also a link to purchase a complete blank calendar from her Teachers Pay Teachers site.  I used Pages and created my own poem pages and then to conserve paper I printed the corresponding calendars on the back.  Towards the end it took quite a bit of bribing to get Braden to help me finish some of the handprints.  But I am really happy with how it turned out.

Also thanks to my connections at MMS I was able to bind each calendar myself.  But, you could easily have the pages laminated and bound at Staples.  

2nd Day of Christmas

A Family Christmas Tree Skirt

A few months ago my cousin Heather asked me if I would be interested in trying to make a burlap tree skirt for her family.  The basic idea was burlap with a ruffle around the outside and incorporating red or green chevron fabric.  She sent me a few pictures to give me an idea.

I followed most instructions from this tutorial but found a few other sites were helpful as well.  Now even though she mentioned this in August/September I didn't get around to actually cutting the burlap until November.  Then I gave it to her so they could put their handprints on first, that way the paint did not go through the backing of the final skirt.

 While I was waiting to get the skirt back I cut the red chevron into 6 inch wide strips and used the full length of the fabric.  I ended up having to match up the chevron pattern and attaching the strips until it was around 220 inches long.  Then I used the ruffler foot to create the ruffled look.  Then once I had the burlap piece back I sewed the ruffled chevron on to the outside edge and also attached a red chevron S.  

Finally I laid a large piece of muslin fabric down and put the burlap piece on top.  Then I cut out another circular shape, which would serve as the backing of the tree skirt.  I made sure that the right sides were together and pinned the pieces in place.  

This was the most difficult part to sew, because there was so much fabric and I didn't want it to slide or bunch up in places.  I left a small space to turn the tree skirt right side out and then finished off the edging.  I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out.  If I were to do it again I might have bought a bit more chevron and made the ruffle a little wider.  I also decided not to add velcro closures, because  thought it would easily wrap around itself when under the tree.  

Braden's 2nd Birthday

Before I could post about Braden's 2nd birthday I had to first write one all about his 1st Birthday.  So, here it is: Braden's First Birthday.

For Braden's 2nd birthday I couldn't quite decide between a construction/trucks or a farm theme.  In the end I went with the farm, because I thought the chances were pretty high that he would decide on a truck theme for himself someday.  Once again I found so many great ideas on Pinterest!  But before I get to the actual birthday party - there were plenty of other birthday festivities earlier in the week!

Grampy Ireland came for a quick visit to give Braden his birthday present.  We had planned for a beach day, but the weather wasn't cooperating.  So we went to Portland Headlight instead and then to Flatbread for lunch with Uncle Jon. 

Still afraid of the Buzz car and will not ride it - YET!

Foggy morning

He loved dropping the rocks & splashing

On his actual birthday we headed to Poland to spend the Fourth of July with the Oslin family!

Then on Sunday morning we packed up and headed home to get ready for his "farm" birthday party that afternoon.  This year I decided to just do a family party and tried to incorporate it into the 4th of July weekend, so that the Oslin's did not have to come back the following weekend.  

We even had some cowgirls among us!

Family & friends, hanging out, visiting and opening presents:

"Horse" rides

Cake time - Braden was a little shy while everyone was singing, but he knew just what to do at the end!    And he REALLY enjoyed that cupcake!

He was so hungry after playing outside.

Couldn't eat fast enough

Braden's new table & chairs from Mommy & Daddy!

Happy Birthday Braden - now stop growing up so fast.  Time needs to slow down!