Temple Embroidery Project #PittsburghTemple

I had a time to relax on Sunday, so I decided to make a little embroidery of the coming Pittsburgh Temple.  

I planned to do this as an activity for our Primary children at Activity Days, so I wanted to try it out first to see if it was on their skill level.  

Here's how you can create a simple embroidery pattern out of any temple picture:

First, print out a photo of your temple in the correct size.  It does not need to be in color.

Next, tape it to a window and trace the simplest outlines of the temple onto a plain white paper using a thin black marker.

Then place muslin cut to size over your pattern.  Trace the pattern onto your muslin (again trace it on a window creating a lightbox effect).  I started to trace using a disappearing fabric marker, but mine wasn't exact enough, so I switched a pencil, which I could easily cover with my stiches.

Back your muslin with quilt batting and put your work in an embroidery hoop.  Mine is a 4 inch wooden hoop.

Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, stitch the outlines in a color of your choice.  I did the "shading" with random/free-hand stitches, but the rest of the piece is sewn using a "back-stitch". (Here's how to back-stitch.)

When finished, trim the excess fabric a bit and secure to the back, using your hoop as a frame.  I used masking tape to secure the fabric as a short-cut.  

You can loop a thin ribbon through the metal part to hang and display.

(As you can see in this last photo, my disappearing marker is still showing in blue.  You just rinse that off, if that's the type of marker you used.  I'd recommend just using pencil since it blends in so easily and does not need to be erased when finished.)

I really like the way this turned out!  And I enjoyed it for like two days before I gave this one away in a "favorite things" Relief Society activity.  

Now I need to make a new one!

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Temple Softie Tutorial

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This temple softie set will be a great addition to your child’s room or as a fun sewing project to make together during General Conference weekend.  My temple softie was inspired by the beautifully detailed temple toy by Becca of Made By Bedtime Tales.  

(You can access her original pattern here.)

I made this one about a year and a half ago to use as an alternative craft for Day 12 of my Family Proclamation Lessons (and my kids still adore it!).  As you'll see, my take on the temple softie is simple enough for a beginning sewer or to be made with a child.

In addition to being so sweet and lovely, it allows you to tell the story of your own temple marriage.  The bride and groom tuck right inside the temple and come out to play whenever your child wishes!  It is very quick to sew and will be even more treasured by your children if you allow them to help!  Were your children sealed to you in the temple in a live sealing?  Adapt this temple softie toy to represent your family’s experience in the temple by creating child dolls and pockets to put them in as well.  


(Special thanks to Made by Bedtime Tales for graciously allowing me to share my knock-off version of their cuddly creation.  Please be sure to link back to them when you show off your family's temple softies!  Can't wait to see what you come up with!)

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Princess Party Crowns

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Everyone is helping with this whirlwind princess party that we are having tomorrow for Scarlett's birthday.  Guy sewed the yellow crown and Scarlett sewed the purple one.

My computer cord isn't charging anymore, so I'm without my laptop until I get a new cord.

But I just wanted to give you a little preview of what's to come...

Here's how I made these

PRINCESS PARTY CROWNS:

1.  Print the crown templates found here.

2.  Trace onto poster board and cut out.

3.  Spray one side of crown with spray adhesive and adhere to wrong side of fabric.  Let dry for one hour.  (It should be "permanent" at this point.)

4.  Trim fabric and sew around edges to secure.  (I had to go the extra step!)

5.  Measure child's head and attach self-adhering velcro to crowns to fit accordingly.

We are all excited, especially this little girl!

And what is this?  Wouldn't you like to know...Stay tuned...

Click here to see how the princess party went!

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Resurrection Plant & Craft: All Things Testify of Christ

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I'm so pleased to introduce you all to my sister Dawn who will be our first guest blogger for this Easter Blog Party!  Dawn is an extremely talented artist and has been drafted for many stamp and paper design teams.  If you need some stamping inspiration, you'll be sure to find it at her blog:  Sunnyside Up.


Now, here's Dawn!


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The Resurrection Plant


"All things testify of Christ."

That is something that I grew up hearing...and now I am saying it to my own kids.  What a miraculous thing is Spring!   It is a time when all that was dead comes back to life.  Here in the Great Midwest, we really do enjoy the return to lush and green and life.


Years ago, my parents gave me this plant.  Don't you think it looks great?  ....  haha

Or...maybe...it's more like dead now. 

But this is what it looks like most of the year as it sits on a top shelf in the cabinent. 

As Easter approaches, we put it in a bowl of water. 

And to our utter amazement each year...

 After a few minutes,

A few more minutes...

Tick! Tick!

Tock! Tock!

And Finally...

(Elasped time: 1 hour 10 mins)

A green plant once again.  A miracle that happens before your very eyes.   I am grateful to be reminded of the miracle of Christ's Resurrection each Spring and each day of the year when I notice the reminders that are all around me in nature.

{For more Easter ideas, check out the #MyForeverFamily challenge}

Or check out my BEST EASTER IDEAS PAGE and my Easter Book List.

Now, here's a fun spring craft you might want to make for yourself, friends or family. Perhaps when you wear it, you will be reminded how after the winter, plants come alive again.  After this life, we will continue to live, just as Christ rose from the dead on the third day.

Spring Wristlet

Supplies:

1 inch (or wider) ribbon

fabric strip...1 inch wide..36-44 inches long. 

felt flowers (cut from a die or by hand, your choice)

buttons (or other embellishments)

button thread

needle

glue gun/glue sticks

scissors

extra felt if you want to cover up the back side of your wristlet

1. Tie a knot in your thread. Turn the short edge of your fabric strip over and stitch it down.

2. Sew a running or basting stitch down the length of your fabric strip. The longer the strip, the fuller your flower will be. You may also want to use a ribbon if you don't want the frayed look. I also use fray check after my flower frays a little just to keep it from completely fraying away. As you pull the thread through, the strip will start to wind up, like a snail shell.

3. Then arrange the layers to look like a flower. Stitch through the middle to pick up all the folds to secure the blossom.

4. Add a fun button or bead or bauble.

5. Sew/decorate felt flowers. (Not pictured. But you are all so creative!)

6.  Cut off a piece of ribbon for your wrist. The length will depend on your wrist size and how you want to tie it on.   It can be tied into a knot or a bow. Or you can add velcro to make it easier to wear.

7. Using your glue gun, glue the blossoms onto a piece of ribbon.

8. Add an extra piece of felt to the back side of your wristlet, if you prefer. I like to bend the corsage over my wrist as the hot glue is drying. This will give you a a curved area that will fit nicely on a wrist.

9. Add fray check to the ribbon ends.

10. Tie it on and enjoy your new corsage wristlet.

You can easily make one to coordinate with your Easter dress or other new outfits! 

Another example...with extra ribbons!


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The Power to Win

Every time I hear the Primary song "Scripture Power" I cry.

I don't know why.  

I wasn't in Primary the year that song came out.

My children weren't either.

But I clearly remember sitting in the audience hearing the Primary children singing that song for the first time, holding up their scriptures as they enthusiastically (nearly) shouted out

"Scripture Power!"

Here are the lyrics to Scripture Power by Clive J. Romney

1. Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,
I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.

[Chorus]
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

2. I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.

[Chorus]
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

I guess it makes me cry because I hope with all my heart that my children will grab on to the power found in the scriptures so they can live happy, peaceful, rewarding lives.

I hope you are keeping up with your reading of the Book of Mormon.

Remember we are all trying to read it once through by Easter,

by reading 5 and a half pages a day.

Try to read through Alma 15 today.  

If you are behind, just read extra each day until you are caught up.  

Or go online and listen to the scriptures while you work or work out.

Curious about my robot scripture cover?  I made this for Guy for Christmas this year.  I just used a regular, soft-cover Book of Mormon.  I added cardboard to make it a "hard cover" and sewed the fabric right through both the cardboard and the soft-cover.  Then I added the straps for carrying.  He loves to carry it to Primary, just like the big kids.

There are also some cute boy/robot fabric covered Book of Mormon selections here.

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New Year, New Apron, New Me

One thing I'd like to do this year is "consume less".  And by "consume" I am not referring to what I do when chocolate is around, I mean what I do the moment I walk my cart-full of kids into Walmart.  For some reason, I just have a desire to walk away from our society's practice of spending money and time on  getting things, and spending more than we actually have for more than we actually need.  Living in Central Pennsylvania must be having an effect on me, or maybe it's all those hours of PBS Kids shows about recycling, because I'm ready to disconnect from a lifestyle of consumption and live more simply in the new year.  Weird, what is happening to me?

I have pledged to myself that, with the exclusion of some essential items, I will do everything within my power to not purchase a single new item in 2011.

At the very least, I'll most likely spend less, and maybe I'll learn some new skills.  If there is something that I need for myself or for my family, I will get it used or thrifted or I will attempt to make it instead of buying brand new.  ALL gifts that I give to other people will also be stylishly and lovingly "upcycled".  As a result, I hope to be sewing a lot more clothing this year for myself and my children, which is another one of my goals.

If you have any ideas for me on how to do this, please send them my way!
Wish me luck!

Ok, now let me show you this apron that I sewed for myself last night.  The main part of the apron is a piece of fabric that I bought at Goodwill along with the pillowcases a few weeks back.  I paid 47 cents for it, and it was already bound, so I didn't have to do much to turn it into this:

Cute, eh?

So, I obviously added this pink, wrap-around tie that makes a pretty bow on the side.

But I thought it needed a bit more utility, so I also added attachable washcloths that act like hand towels.  I also bought these at Goodwill for 47 cents each.  There is a blue one and a purple one, so one can be in the wash while the other one's being used.  Or use both.

They simply snap on for when you are really working and you can take them off to wash just the towels or for when you are strictly playing hostess.

Since the tie wraps around, you don't see the snap when you are wearing the apron without the towels.

My husband's reaction to the apron was, "Oh, you are wearing a dish towel."

My daughter's reaction was one of awe when she said, "You look fabulous.......like China."

My husband has been to China like four times, but I am going with my daughter's opinion on this one.  (I LOVE that girl!)  What do you think?

(Total cost of apron:  somewhere around $1.50!)

 

  

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Project Cherokee: Steve's Gift to Me

Steve's gift to me was a total surprise:  hand-sewn sheepskin moccasins to keep my feet warm around the house.  He went to great lengths to procure the materials:  the shearling pelt, cowhide for the soles, waxed thread meant to imitate sinew, and a leather "S" needle.

Here's what the bottom looks like.  And here are some photos that Steve took of the moccasins in progress:





He did not work from a pattern, but used my running shoes to get the sizing right.
(I know, he's amazing!)

The blue pieces are shoe inserts that he used to provide padding for my feet.

These things are so warm and super soft!  And because they are made of all natural materials, my feet breathe perfectly.  Using the left-over materials, Steve whipped up some ultra-soft, divinely warm mittens for Autumn.  She loves them!  Once they go on, they stay on, and her sweet little patties stay nice and warm!

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Making Spirits Bright

We had a blast making gifts for each other this Christmas!

Here is the princess dress that I made for Autumn.

She hasn't taken it off willingly since she got it...

She has worn it to church and even slept in it!

I didn't have a pattern to work off of, so I followed the design of the dress that Scarlett got from Santa last year, and I am thrilled with how it turned out.  I hope to sharpen my dress-making skills in the new year, so this is an encouraging start.

Another gift that Autumn refuses to remove is the necklace that Guy made for her.  Guy stamped her middle name and first initial into two flat metal pendants, and I helped him make them into necklaces for each of the girls.  I showed you Scarlett's necklace previously.  Here is Autumn's necklace as viewed through the thrifted jewelry box that accompanied it:

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Pillowcase Apron Tutorial

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Whew!  You girls sure show up for gore.  Well, sorry to disappoint, but there will be no stomach-turning photos of dirty floors in this post (or possibly ever again)!  But thank you for indulging me one gross-out post per year.  

Instead, we'll return to our regularly-scheduled broadcast of everything lovely or of good report!

I had a blast last night with the women of Relief Society during our cookie exchange.

Having 13 Girlfriends in my home, laughing and chatting until the wee hours of the evening was quite therapeutic, and yes, I made everyone admire my sparkling clean floors.

My husband said that he could hear me laughing the whole night, and that made him happy.

What a sweet man I have.

But enough about that.

Here is a neat idea for a last-minute gift...if you need one.

During our Secret Sister gift exchange last week, a sister gave a homemade apron sewn from a vintage pillowcase.  She had never sewn anything in her life and it turned out so sweet.

So I decided to try it out myself.  Here is an apron that I made for a dear friend for Christmas.

It's fairly self-explanatory, but here's a link to the original tutorial.

Start with a pillowcase.

Cut it like this.

Then cut the smaller piece into strips and a pocket and sew and you're done!

Or you can change it up a bit with different fabric for the tie like I did...and add scrappy fabric flowers on the pocket.

My son just asked me, "Did you put cupcakes on that apron?"

What a cutie.

To make these I just twist the fabric and then twist again around itself until it looks flower-like and then I hand-stitch the back until it is secure.  Sounds right to me anyway!

And when it's all said and done, you'll have this to give away to someone sweet and wonderful who has made this year special for you!

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