Robot with Balloon Sweatshirt

I don’t know about you, but it’s always a challenge for me to find blank clothing items for my son to decorate.  I love adding my own touch to his clothing, but find it cheaper to buy clearance items….that already has a truck or saying on it.  So, when I found this blank sweatshirt for $6 something at Target a few weeks ago, I snatched it up.  He wore it blank for awhile, until I finally decided to slap on some heat transfer vinyl.

I’ve worked with heat transfer a few times, and have always had a really hard time getting it to stick.  This time, I used a mini ironing board that I had been given recently, and set it on the floor.  This way, I could put all my weight into the iron, and I found that it worked really well!  I got my vinyl from expressions vinyl, and it is their easyweed.

I wanted something that didn’t involve lots of thinking, something I could slap on and be done.  So, a robot holding a balloon was of course in order! I did have to free draw the string to make it long enough for the robot, but it wasn’t hard.

My son is enjoying his new sweatshirt, and I’m loving the fact that this was a quick project that I did during the last few minutes of nap time!

Thanks for hopping over,

~Lynette

Vinyl Covered Wipes Case

Hi there everybody!  It’s been a busy summer for us.  With as busy as I’ve been, you’d think I was doing fun things, but I’m just keeping up with the garden and my toddler. :)

Anyways, I have a little project to share.  I saw this week’s free shape at silhouette, and decided it would be cute on a travel wipes case.  I had tried this project before with clouds, but I don’t think it ever got posted.  This one is cuter.  I got the idea here, but had to make my own template because my computer and printer are no longer speaking to each other (and I’m not a very good mediator apparently).  I was sure to trim the vinyl so it didn’t wrap around the edges of the sides of the case.  My other one peeled really bad, and I think it’s because the edges needed a trim.  I’m hoping this one will hold up better.  I just may have to do one with tools everyplace in black vinyl. My son LOVES tools.

I’m submitting this project to the weekly shape challenge over at the silhouette blog.  I’ve made some super cute stuff for my son lately, I will need to snap some pictures and post them soon.

Have a fantastic weekend and thanks for reading!

~Lynette~

Layered Fabric Hair Clips with Silhouette Cameo

Hi there everybody!  I woke up at 5 this morning, and couldn’t breathe with allergies, so I decided to get up instead of risk waking up my family with my loud breathing sounds!  I finished these clips last night, and decided to get them posted.  I haven’t attached the hair clips to them yet because I need felt of the right color, but better to post them almost done than not at all, right? :)

I had seen this tutorial from The Thinking Closet last week, and instantly had to try it myself.  I hadn’t been successful in cutting fabric before with the cameo, but once I figured out that you peel off the paper of the interfacing, and stick the sticky part on the mat, it worked just fine!  I have used both Steam to Seam 2 and regular old Heat N Bond, and both have worked well for me.  So don’t stress too much about getting the silhouette made interfacing, although I’m sure it works great!  I just like to use what I’ve got.  I did set my blade to a 4 because it’s getting dull, and double cut everything.  I hopefully will get a new blade soon, and that should help it work a bit better!

I followed everything from the tutorial, but I didn’t sew the buttons on!  All those layers of interfaced fabric was just too think for my needle and thread!  I cheated and looped the thread around the button holes, and then tied a knot in the back to get the sewed look.  I glued them on with trusty E6000, and called it good! :)  The shapes and sizes I used are listed at the bottom of the page!

I made several of each fabric, and then I could make several clips.  I have enough to keep, and giveaway to several people!  The small ones are just a bit bigger than 1 inch, and will be perfect for baby shower gifts or little girls’ Birthdays.

Well, that’s all for today!  I promise I have been doing non-silhouette crafts lately as well.  I need to snap a few pictures and share, don’t I?!?  I’m thinking more of these clips will definitely be in my future.  I’m even thinking of using one as an applique on a zipper pouch!

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for reading!

~Lynette~

Shapes Used: 

I drew a circle in the soft ware.  Sizes:  1.5 inches, 1 inch, and .75 inch

Layered Petal Flower Sizes:  I sized the largest flower to just over 2 inches for large flowers, and just over 1 inch for the small flowers.

I found a scalloped circle I have (I didn’t save this file—whoops! so I don’t know what I used).  Sizes:  2.5 inches, 2 inches, and 1.5 inches.  The 2.5 is a little bigger than I like, so I did the others a bit smaller!

Favorite Things Friday: Baby Items (What I couldn’t live without!)

Hi there everyone!  Today, I decided to share some of my most favorite baby items with you.  I think every mom could make a list, and they would all be a bit different.  I’ll go through some of the big items, and the small items that I have absolutely loved.  And maybe sometime next week I’ll share with you some of my not-so-favorite items too! :) (There’s only a few of those.)

Alright, so the big stuff first:

Chicco Keyfit 30 Car Seat (Color: Midori): I wanted a car seat that had the adjuster strap in the FRONT so I could cinch it tight each time I used the seat.  I also wanted one that was easy to install.  I was back and forth between getting a seat that could handle up to a 30lb baby, I still don’t know which is better.  I ended up with the 30lb seat, and am still using it as my son is still in the 20lb range.  This has been a fantastic seat for us, and I’m really glad we like it.  We DO NOT have LATCH in our cars, and it was a very easy install.

Chicco Cortina Stroller (Color: Midori):  I needed something that could handle pavement, since I have very few sidewalks in my neighborhood.  I wanted something that had an adjustable handle, and that would recline all the way flat (ya, some of them do not).  I put several miles on the stroller a week, and it’s holding up beautifully after nearly a year of using. It’s easy SUPER easy to fold and put in my car, and I love it. 

What I don’t like:  The stroller is kinda big (but what one isn’t these days).  I had a Camry, and it took up all the trunk space.  I upgraded to a 4 Runner, and now I have room for the stroller, a large box of diapers, AND a Costco run.

We got this as the travel system, and I love that the car seat snaps on easily to the stroller.  I love this system.  Yes, it’s expensive, but it was a gift---and one I use everyday. 

Crib- We didn’t have any preferences, and I think we have a Carter’s one.  It’s great.  My son is chewing the rails, so don’t stress about a fancy one.  They get teeth and decide they need to leave their marks on it.

Highchair-  I have a dining set with 6 chairs and didn't want an extra one to clutter up my kitchen.  My cousin has a fisher price space saver high chair, and I decided to get one as well.  The chair straps to one of your existing chairs, so it might work for some families but not everyone.  Mine has a different cover, but it’s the same chair.  What I like about it:  I can take the cover off easily to wash it.  I have had crusty dried food on it, and it always comes out clean.  The five point harness was fantastic when my little guy was too small to sit well.  The five point harness is removable as well---and easy to get off.  The chair also reclines and can be raised or lowered.

What I don’t like:  I wish the fabric was slick so I could just wipe it off, but I do like that it washes up so well.  If it was sticky, my kid would probably stick to it as well, so it’s probably fine.  The waist straps are hard to take out…I think you have to disassemble the whole chair to get them out.  My straps are stained and need a wash, but I haven’t messed with it.

Fisher Price Bouncer Seat:  We have a small home, and didn’t want to clutter our home with a baby swing, pack n’ play, Johnny jump up, etc.  so we were very selective on the equipment that we got our son.  We did have a bouncer made by fisher price, and used it EVERYDAY for about 4-5 months.  My son loved nap time in it, and I could get something done while he rested.  We just had the basic one, and it was great.  It did have a vibrator, and we used it sometimes, but I don’t think fancy toys or stuff is really necessary.  Our cover is zoo animals, but this is the same model (judging by price range and overall look).

Once my son was mobile, I was finding him in the kitchen…down the hall…everyplace—and I couldn’t even cook dinner.  I was going absolutely bonkers! We got the Evenflo Exersaucer  in Mega Town.  We chose this because I can easily move it from room to room, it has a little bit of “bounce,” to it, and it was affordable.   This was the only ‘splurge,’ item we really got, but it is a lifesaver when I need to open my oven or take out the trash.

The only other thing that we have and I’ve loved is a changing table.  We got it off Craigslist for $15.  It’s simple, but it was really nice before my son got too squirmy for it.  The only thing I don’t like about it is that it’s open shelves.  I have baskets on it, but I sometimes wish it had drawers instead.  But I can’t complain about a $15 item!

That’s all the big equipment we have for our son.  I have wanted a pack’n’play mainly for travel, but my mom has one and I’ll just borrow it when we need it.

Other things I’ve loved so far include:

Munchkin Dishwasher Basket:  Once my son started using sippy cups (We like the Nuby ones with handles for learning and the Gerber ones with or without handles after that), I NEEDED one of these.  I had valves, lids, etc. all over the place.  This is a lifesaver. :)

Munchkin Spoons:  I tried the Gerber spoons first, and they were okay.  Then I went back needing more, and saw that the munchkin were cheaper…and WAY cuter.  They look kinda like crayons!  These are fantastic.  The only thing I DON’T like about them is that they have to be in the top rack of the dishwasher, so get a basket (mentioned above).  The handles are longer on these babies too, and my wrist doesn’t get as tired.

Lingerie Bags:  They are cheap-like 1.49 a piece at Target.  I got several and put my baby’s socks, bibs, washcloths in them.  This way they don’t get eaten/lost in the wash.  Fantastic---and because of this method I haven’t lost very many socks (so far).

I honestly can’t think of anything else.  What are some of your must have baby items?

~Lynette~

Journal Cards Created with the Silhouette Cameo

Hi there everybody!  Today, I decided to share with you a little bit about how I am documenting my baby’s life.  Let’s keep a few things in mind:

1.  I am NOT a scrapbooker.

2.  I don’t have nor WANT to dedicate a lot of time to keeping his book.

3.  I only have about 5 years of my life documented, and I wanted something that I could do to keep his life documented, and not feel overwhelmed if I get behind or need to stop at some point.

4.  I won’t be sharing layouts because my husband and I don’t like the idea of our pictures out on the internet, BUT I will show you the journal cards and the type of book/layout I am using.

Alrighty.  I had seen this idea on pinterest over a year ago, and it stuck with me.  I played around for awhile on doing project life, but with as expensive as it was I decided not to.  I also didn’t like the idea of only having ONE book for the family.  What’s going to happen WAY down the road and my kids only have 1 book between them to have our memories?  I want all my kids to have their own books.  I will also do one for our family with trips/holidays, etc.  So, I scrapped that idea.  I do, however, LOVE the way Project Life looks.  I love how there are different cards, and designs, and places to journal with your pictures.  So I imagine I will get more creative as I go, but this is what I’ve done so far.

 

A sample of my journal pages made with the silhouette cameo.

The Book: Recollections Photo Album.  400 4 X6 spots (40 pages).  I found it at Michaels.  I paid $18 with a 40% off sale, but remember they always have 40% coupons floating around as well.  I loved this books because they have places for pictures to go vertically AND horizontally on both pages.  They have nearly every color of the rainbow, and I plan on getting myself a purple one to catch up on my life once my baby’s book is well established.

(Don’t bother going to Joann’s. They didn’t even know what I was talking about, and all they had was scrapbooks or silly photo books with horizontal spots only.)

My Layout:  I use 5 pockets on each page for pictures, and 1 for journaling unless the material requires different.  The journal cards change positions each page, depending on how many vertical/horizontal pictures I have.

The Journal Cards:  Here’s what I did.  I created a rounded rectangle in silhouette studio.  I sized it just under 4 X 6.  Then I chose my shapes: T-Rex, Moon, Gears, Wrench, etc.  I placed the shapes on the rectangles where I wanted them.  Then I grouped the shapes, and cut out the cards.  After that, I had cards with cut outs.  I grabbed scraps and glued them behind the cutouts (see picture below).  I kept the shapes that had been cut out for future projects.  I could glue these on plain journal cards, or use them for complete different projects.

Backside of journal cards so you can see how I glued my scraps to fill in the cutout.

The cards were generally easy to do, and I had them cut out and some written on all in one nap time on a Sunday afternoon.  So, there ya go!  That’s how I am memory keeping, and journaling along with the pictures.  If you have any questions about specific shapes, or anything else, feel free to leave it in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

Lynette

Stenciled Car Seat Cover

About 2 weeks before Dash was born, I decided I should probably make a couple things for him.  I had the fabric shown above from a previous shopping trip, meant for a boy car seat cover, but I had never gotten something for the other side.  I looked and looked for boy fabric at a reasonable price, but couldn’t find anything.  I had a yard of plain cream fabric that would go, but I wanted something fun and boyish so the cover could be reversible. 

So I got out my trusty silhouette and cut out a stencil of vehicles.  I made 9 grids, ironed them onto the fabric, and then started painting everything one by one.  I used acrylic paint mixed with fabric paint medium, and it worked great. 

The ironing took FOREVER, but it was worth it because this project used only on hand materials.  (I would probably never do this much stenciling with freezer paper again, and probably recommend doing this with stamps, but my budget demanded creativity, and it was pretty fun to paint all those cars by hand!)

The whole process took a week or so because I got tired often, but it turned out great.

I finished the blanket part of the canopy a week or so before we had Dash, but I never got around to attaching the straps.  About 5 days after Dash was born, my sister grabbed some ribbon, and attached it so we could use it.  It’s completely reversible, and we love having something to cover up the baby with when it’s windy or around strangers.  And the best part is that nobody will have fabric like this! :)

Thanks for reading!

Lynette