Diaper/Wipes Case and Some Burp Cloths

 

I made these for a friend of mine who has a baby shower coming up.

(I hope she doesn't see these ahead of time!)

The diaper/wipes case is big enough to fit a travel size wipes case along with 2-3 diapers. These come in handy when you use more than one diaper bag... Just pull this out of one bag and put it in the other! The closure on this is a magnetic snap, but velcro would work just as well.

With the burpies I couldn't decide on what I wanted to make them out of. I wanted something absorbent... and I know that flannel will probably have the spit up roll right off. (Although I have tons of baby print flannel that I need to use up!) So I bought some terry cloth fabric... washed it and sewed one. I didn't really like the texture of it. A bit rough for newborn skin. So the next one I made with some white minky. Perfect. I'm not sure how absorbent minky is, but it's super soft!

I've decided I'm giving her both of them... I figure the one with the terry cloth would be good for some of the bigger messes as the baby gets older.

I'm definitely going to be making lots more of these in the next month or so. I need a diaper/wipes case to match my new diaper bag! I also need a bunch of new burp cloths for Baby Josiah coming next January. Not to mention for my sister and her new baby coming in February! :)

I have LOTS of sewing to get done in 4 months.

My New Diaper Bag

I found this cute owl print corduroy fabric on sale at Joann's a couple weeks ago and I couldn't resist. I knew I wanted to make something for myself out of it... I decided on a new diaper bag. I've been dreaming of sewing myself a bag for about 5 years now. (Crazy, right?) So I finally took the plunge yesterday!

I think it turned out really cute!

This bag measures about 18.5" wide by 12" tall. Magnetic snap closure on the top. 3 pockets on the outside front, one large pocket in the back and a large zippered pocket on the inside.

Now that I've finished the bag and have put all my personal belongings in it I can see a few improvements I would make for the next time... 

Instead of just putting interfacing in the pockets, bottom and straps I would also add it to the main body of the bag. Not sure why I didn't... I guess I figured having the pockets lined would be good enough. It works ok without the extra interfacing, but I think I like the feel of a more sturdy bag. 

I would also add a Velcro or button closure to the large back pocket... or even splitting up the back pocket to 2 smaller pockets. As it is right now it kind of falls open when the inside of the bag is full.

Another thing I would add is 2 pockets on the inside. One to fit my cell phone and one to fit my camera.

Other than those small improvements I really love this bag and I'm happy I decided to make it. I'll probably make one for my sister as a Christmas present with the improvements and see how I like it. Once I get things right I might even decide to start selling these! We'll see...

A Great Way To Save Their Art Work

Right now my sons mostly just scribble. 

They'll tell me it's a rabbit or an airplane... but it still looks like a bunch of scribbles to me. 

So I can't wait til they can start drawing real pictures that I can save just like this...

Isn't this so cute?! 

It sure beats just hanging it on the fridge!

The finished project can be found here.

More on how to make it can be found here.

Cream Cheese Buttscotch Brownies

Don't those look sooooo yummy?! 

I've been in the baking sort of mood lately... only it's been too hot to even attempt it.

So for now THESE will just have to wait on my to-do list.

....patiently waiting on the real fall weather to start...

Toddler Backpack Pattern

I saw this tutorial last year and have been meaning to make it ever since. Now that I have a new sewing machine and some cute fabric to work with I have the motivation! I'm thinking these will turn into some Christmas or even birthday gifts for the boys. (There's really no difference since their birthdays are so close to Christmas anyway...)

 

I love that this tutorial even has a free pattern that you can download and print out. Can't get much easier than that! And can you imagine all the fabric possibilities with this one? I'm thinking a SpiderMan/Red one for my oldest and maybe a car/truck/blue one for my youngest.

Throw Pillow Slip Cover - Made by Me!

What's this? Something that I actually made? AND I'm posting about how I did it!?

Weird.

I've been meaning to make a slip cover for this pillow form since I was pregnant with Brady... He's now 20 months old. It was originally meant to be made into a Disney Princess pillow for my niece. (I can't find the fabric any more. Opps.) So for now it has a Chargers slip cover in honor of my football team!

(Go Bolts!)

So here's how I did it:

1. I started with a pillow form that I bought from Walmart long, LONG ago. It measures 13" x 13". (Seems like a weird size to me, but that's what it is...)

2. Cut one big square measuring 14" x 14". (Added 1/2" all around for the seams.)

3. Cut 2 small rectangles measuring 9.5" x 14". (These pieces are the same length as the square piece on the long edge. The short edge is the length (14") divided in half  and add 2.5" ) Make sense?

4. I used a drinking glass to help me round the edges for a neater look. Rounded all 4 corners of the square piece and the top 2 and bottom 2 of my rectangle pieces.

5. Next I did a straight stitch across the edges of the straight sides of the rectangle pieces. Folding the fabric over twice to hide the raw edges.

6. Once I finished sewing, it was time to pin everything in place. Right sides together I pinned the top rectangle piece to the square. Then I pinned the bottom rectangle to the square.. overlapping the top rectangle.

7. When every thing was pinned in place I sewed around the entire square. Starting and stopping in the same place. 

8. Turn the slip cover right side out and stuff your pillow!

 

 

All finished and sitting nicely on my rocking chair. 

When football season is over I'll probably make a new slip cover to match our living room a little bit better. :)

I see more slip covers in my future now that I've realized how easy the are to make without using a zipper. Zippers are something I haven't mastered yet. They intimidate me!

Smores Brownies

I love brownies and I LOVE S'Mores!

...and that's why I have to try this recipe!

Don't they look soooo yummy?!

Mmmmm...