Hat fail

Remember when I made Jake a t-shirt gown with a matching pilot cap?  I didn’t.  I completely forgot about the entire set.  It was going to be my favorite hat ever.  Now, not so much…

The gown fits him really well which means that the entire outfit never would have fit him at the same time since he’s just starting to wear a 3/6 months and the hat is obviously newborn size.  My boys have a rep for having a large cabeza but not Jake, he’s in the 5oth percentile so it really is the hat, not a large boy noggin.  I’ll save it though because who knows, I might have another 12 boys and I’m bound to remember it for one of them.  I kid! maybe.

Speaking of the littlest boy, here are some pictures and an update for Grandma.  Not the cutest background ever for a photo shoot but you’ve got to get them while they’re willing!  He’s 2 months old and 12 lbs of cooing smiling mama’s boy.

Back to snuggling I go.  Have a fantastic Monday!

A little nip and tuck

 

I’m giving the blog an updated look over the next few nights so don’t be alarmed if you can’t find something or things are moved around for the next few days.  She’s way over due for a little sprucing up.  Thanks a ton!

Saving soap one bar at a time (a tutorial).

A bar of soap wasting away on the bottom of the tub in slimy, over soaped, scummy bath water. Did a part of your soul shrivel like mine? If you come in regular contact with kids and bar soap it’s a problem.

We’re going to fix that today. I’m going to show you how to make Monster Soap Savers!

You need a bath sized washcloth (makes enough for 2), 12” ric rac trim, and black fabric paint for eyes. You’ll also need a sewing machine and basic sewing supplies.

Here’s a picture of how to cut out your pieces.

Cut the side of the washcloth so it’s 4” across. Cut that piece again so it’s 10” tall, that’s the body. You’ll have a little 4” wide by however long little snippet of washcloth which you’ll use for ears.

The extra larger portion you can use for bigger rabbit ears, arms and legs, or another monster. Or you can save it and pretend you’ll use it but really you’ll toss it in a few months when you forget why you were saving it.

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Now take your Monster body piece and measure down 3” and cut again. Set them both aside for a second. Make that 60 seconds.

Grab your ear piece and cut it in half so you have 2 squares. Pinch your pieces so the finished edges meet and pin. Sew them down along the bottom of the pinch and trim. Ears!

Pin your ears to the top edge of the longer body piece. Cut a piece of ric rac about 8” long and make a loop. Pin that between the ears. Set aside for another 60 seconds.

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Grab the 4”x3” smaller body section and sew ric rac to the finished washcloth edge on the underside. I purposely (um yeah, on purpose) chose the rounded edge for the ric rac so he would have a crooked smile. If that bothers you use the cut edge and turn it under before you sew the ric rac on so it’s straight.

Take your monster body with the ears and loop pinned to it and lay your smaller body section on the top, sandwiching the ears and loop, making sure the ric rac is facing you and matching the top edges and pin in place. Fold up the bottom over lapping your ric rac edge by about 1” to 1 1/2” and pin in place.

Sew around the outside on the 3 open sides to close it all up. I would zig zag around the edges so it doesn’t come unraveled later.

Turn it right side out and you have a very handsome and very yellow cast eyeless soap beast. I tried shoving some white eyeballs into the ears for pop out eyes (instead of ears) and it was really cute until I smeared a pupil with my paint, gave up, and just added 2 dot eyes to the body instead. The possibilities are endless for making it look as unique as your own little monsters plus you can have several in different colors. Everyone can have their very own with no mix ups and it can be washed and used again and everyone loves that. I have an order for a bunny and dog next.

Here’s the necessity behind the invention- I used to buy the kids soap that comes in a green super sudsy plastic cover for several reasons but really, unless you have one kid it gets a little dicey when it comes to who’s soap is who’s and who used it where last. Nuff said.

Have a fantastic and squeaky clean Tuesday!

A Cozy New Year

 

Ashlyn has been getting right to work with the new machine Santa brought her. I’m a little jealous that I don’t have it in me to join her this week.  How fun would that be, dual machines humming away.  I can’t begin to tell you how fun it is to teach an 8 year old to sew.  I can give her instructions and sit back and watch her actually follow through.  She’s a natural!  I’m not just saying that either. 

 

 

She quilted a cozy new doll quilt for Kennedy.  18 squares front and back and she did it all by herself.  For her first time touching a machine she did a phenomenal job. I’m so proud of her!

Tonight I’m so glad to be spending my New Years Eve watching movies with the munchkins, eating soft pretzels, and listening to little Mr. Mister coo and smile into the wee hours.  Here’s to catching the last days of sleeping in before school starts again.

Have a fun and safe New Years!