Another Urban Handbag

Well I decided to try again this morning to create a cute Urban Handbag and not mess up the closure.  I am happy to say that I DID IT and even the corners are nice and square.

I love packets of Fat Quarters.  Everything coordinates so well.  I decided to use white ribbon for the closure loop and green ribbon for the trim.  I didn't know what button to use so I waited until the bag was done.

I tried all the buttons against the fabric and the pink flower just looked to adorable.  The fabric is very Vera Bradleyish.  (yes I know that isn't a real word)

So what do you think????

Liberty Jane Urban Handbag

Here is another cute pattern from Liberty Jane called Urban Handbag.  Like all my first attempts at a project it comes out ok.

The only problems I had was the little loop for a closure.  I tried the directions for sewing one, but it is so thin that it kept getting eaten by my machine.  So I grabbed a small piece of ribbon. When I sewed it closed it didn't stay in well, so I just pulled it out.

Miss V said that it looks perfect with out it.

So here is Miss Kathleen showing off her new handbag.  I am sure that I will make more soon!

You can used different fabric or ribbon for the trim and strap.  The combinations are endless!

Color Block Dress

In an attempt to get sewing again, I printed out a pattern I bought a long time ago from Liberty Jane called the Color Block Dress.

The other day I picked Miss V up at school and we took a trip to Hobby Lobby and she picked out some fabric.

The next morning I attempted to make the dress.  Well it just really didn't work out as I had planned.  Some of the directions really didn't make sense to me.  Not saying it is a problem with the pattern, just me.

Love technology....

Anyway here is the finished dress

I was not thrilled with it and Miss V said it was ok.  She did not like the mesh overlay.  I promised that I would try again with some scrap fabric and rework it so it made sense to me and I made some of the pieces a bit bigger.

This morning I attempted the dress again without the overlay.  I even printed the pattern again and did notice that my scaling was on, but it really didn't look much bigger.  I made the waistband thicker and didn't cut out the lining.  Just the top was lined.  I also made the skirt portion much less wide.

This time it worked out much better, but just have one issue on the back.

It doesn't totally line up and stay closed.

I think this one came out much better than the first.  I will try again with some other scrap fabric before I use up her pretty Patriot fabrics.

Hi there!

Hi there!

I have thought it out and decided that I needed to make  a blog that doesn't have much to do with my Foodie Blog.

I have my Crafty Lynn, blog but it gets neglected a lot and I am more than just a foodie and crafty, so here I am at Twenty Five Fourty.

It will be a mish mash of what ever is going on.  Hope you stay and sign up for email notifications.

Pajama Pants - McCalls M6227

Miss V had the Monday after Easter off from school.  Since other plans that were supposed to include her fell through I took her to Hobby Lobby to spend some birthday money.

Well after a couple hours and a couple science kits later she mentioned that she really wants to learn how to sew this summer.

So we headed down to the fabric section.  I found a McCalls pattern, M6227.  It is for pajamas.  I figured that after some practice she would be able to make these.  I had her pick out fabric and she paid for that.

After cutting the pattern and not fitting it well on the fabric, I decided to make them more of a capri length. 

 

So while she was at school on Tuesday, I sewed them up as much as I could.  I also had enough scrap material to make her American Girl Doll, Kathleen a pair.

 

 

So when Miss V got home, I had her try them on so I could do the elastic and hem.

 

 

 

Miss V is very happy with them.



Professor McGonagall

Miss V is dressing up as Hermoine Granger for Halloween and wanted me to dress up like Professor McGonagall.  Cool I thought....then I went searching for a green velvet robe and came up with NOTHING!

So we went to Joanns and picked out a Pattern.

Then I went searching for green velvet fabric that was under $10.00 a yard.  I found some on sale at an online fabric store and ordered.  Well that experience was awful.  I got an email that my order was cancelled because they didn't have enough (when I ordered it said they had 20 yards and I needed 8).  So I called the customer service number to get the story.  The warehouse was moved and they lost the bolt of fabric and to call back in a few days when the rest of the inventory would be moved.  I called back and they still couldn't find it. 

So I kept watching the sales everywhere else. 

Finally Hobby Lobby opened a few miles from my house and I printed out a 40% coupon.  Then went to the grand opening weekend.  Everyone was so helpful and I got my 8 yards of hunter green velvet.

It took me a few days to gain the courage to cut the fabric.  Even at 40% off it was still a lot of money.

I sewed it over a couple of days and here I am...

The black crinkle skirt was $9.00 at Walmart and the button down black top was $13.00.  I had the black lace up boots.  I found a neat pendant at Hobby Lobby and used black suede cord to put it on.  The hat I bought on eBay.

I even have the Harry Potter theme song on my phone and will play it while walking around on Halloween.

Army Memory/Cork Board

I made this yesterday for Miss V.  It is a memory board made from a cork board.

Wrapped the frame in "digtial camo" Duct tape

The pictures are pretty much self explanatory.  The board itself has pictures of her and her big brother, the dog tags he gave her right after graduation and a coin he mailed from basic training, and a map pinned where his duty station is.  There is plenty of room for other special items.

Sponge Bombs - Easier clean up than water balloons

So...if I haven't already said this on my Foodie Blog, I love Pinterest!!!  I also love water balloons.  I just don't like filling them or cleaning up the bits of broken balloons.  So a few months back I repinned this from Inner Child.  Sponge Bombs.

So yesterday I have the brilliant idea to make some.  Did you know the dollar store does not have sponges without the scrubby side?  Well Walmart does!  So I bought out their remaining packages.

The pictures are pretty self explanatory.  I clipped the end of the zip tie with a cuticle trimmer and there were no sharp edges left.  Miss V didn't get to use them last night since it started POURING.

Cute gift idea for Teachers Year End gifts

So Miss V and I have been looking all over Pinterest for cute gift ideas for her "specials" (PE, Music, Art, Librarian and Resource) teachers.  We found a cute gumball idea, so I ran out to Walmart last night.

I bought a case of half pint jars, a large container of gumballs and two spools of ribbon that are the school's colors.

She filled the jars while I printed up the little poem.  The poem says:
Thanks for "chewsing" to be an awesome teacher this year!

To Mrs. XXXXXX
From VXXXXX

I have had a ball with you!

I used the script Anmari.

I cut them into circles and placed them on the lid and then screwed on the bands.

This morning she quickly put them on all their desks while they were not there.  She loves doing little surprise type of things.

Teacher Appreciation Week

I totally spaced this week and didn't know it was Teacher Appreciation Week.  Luckily another mom mentioned it.

I quickly googled ideas and found a cute cup idea.

They are travel cups found at Walmart for just a few dollars and they are filled with Country Time Lemonade packets and Crystal light packets.

The little poem for the teacher says "Mrs. XXXXXXXX Thank you for quenching our thirst for knowledge, Love Your Ducklings"  (that is the cute phrase she calls the kids)

I also made two others for Miss V's Resource Teacher and the Librarian.  With the same saying but just from Miss V and of course those are printed in her favorite color, LIME Green!

Oh and I will make some others for the teachers as year end gifts.  I will just have to find some other cute poem related to the "specials" (PE, Music....etc)

Easy shorts pattern for an American Girl Doll or other 18 inch doll

I found an easy way to create shorts.  I used the Simplicity Pattern #4297 and measured Kathleen's inseam.  I drew a line on the pattnern at 3 1/4 inches and folded the pattern.  Then I made a copy of each piece and cut it out.

I think it worked like a charm!!!!

Khaki Capri pants for an American Girl Doll or other 18 inch doll

I used the Simplicty Pattern #4297 and cut the cloth out a bit shorter to make a pair of capri pants.

Here is Kathleen with her new capri pants and a pair of sandals I found on ebay.

The ebay seller also has a store and it is called Dori's Doll Boutique.  She had the most reasonably priced shoes and a great selection.

Hawaiian Dress for an American Girl Doll or other 18 inch doll Version 2

I got the pattern at Liberty Jane and it is called the Hawaiian Sundress.  This time I tried the other bodice that came with the pattern.  I did mess up sewing the straps on.  Once I ripped them out and re-stitched them it was fairly easy to put the rest together.  I even used velcro on the back of the bodice!  Woo Hoo for me!

You know if Miss V could stock her closet full of dresses from Shaka Time she would.  She loves dresses like this for summer.

Hawiian Sundress for an American Girl Doll or other 18 inch doll

I have to admit...I messed up somewhere with this dress.  I have never made a lining and the directions were very clear (at least to me).

I got the pattern at Liberty Jane and it is called the Hawaiian Sundress.

Mine did not meet up in the back enough to add velcro.

So I bought a little box of hook and eye closures.

Worked like a charm!