4th of July Table Runner

Back when I made the pumpkin table runner I thought of all these fabulous ideas for holiday table runners but haven made any more until now. Decorating for holidays is to fun with kids around, they love it! They talk all month about the upcoming holiday and the decorations. That makes me feel so good that they love the decorations as much as I do.

This table runner was pretty easy. I got the inspiration from this one (for sale in some catalouge). In this one the stars come unbuttoned from each other to be used as place mats. I thought that was a good idea but I did not like the way the stars laid, mine would not lay with all the points pointing out very well and if the kids knew they came unbuttoned I would be fixing it all day!

To create it I sewed 6 individual stars red and blue backed with white, I should have chosen a heavier fabric for the back or added interfacing to stiffen it. Then I overlapped the stars in a way I liked and sewed them together. Tada!

here is Jr saying "Mommy, take my picture!"

Kids Craft; 4th of July Freezer Paper Stencil T-Shirts

We made these shirts the first day of Summer, Last Tuesday. Isn't that weird for all you zonies getting out for summer June 16th?

I love freezer paper stencil shirts I have used freezer paper a few times and and pleased every time.

This craft was a little more difficult bc we used real paint that sticks to clothing. So the kids painted in their undies.

The night before I cut a bunch of stars out of freezer paper to make stencils and cut-outs. Before they painted I let the kids decide where they wanted the stars. I ironed the stencil in place and told the kids where to keep the paint to get the best star.

They had fun and I remained calm the whole time. After they dried Katie and Susan added sparkle. I love the way Jr's turned out! The all look so good! I think a t-shirt craft will have to be a new first day of summer tradition!

While the shirts dried we left the house(so the kids wouldn't touch them and ruin all the work) we went to the car wash, the library to get books and start the summer reading program, McDonald's to play, and back to the Library for a magic show. Very busy day! THEN we came home and kinda celebrated Daddy's Birthday. (Daddy didn't want a celebration bc he is busy studying for the California Law Bar, it is a beast!) The kids had a great first day of summer!

here is a silly video of the painting project:

Fourth of July Garland

We made our first 4h of July craft last weekend. After the kids kept askng to do a a craft. The kids had fun cutting, Daddy did most of the folding and I hung the stars. It was simple and quick and cute!

The star folding pattern is from family fun , and The preschool class gave me the idea to hang them with clothes pins for an festive garland.

Water Balloon Sandals

I wish I could take credit for this idea. Like most of the things I do, I take something I saw once or read about and make it my own. My little sister, Clarissa, made something like these once by simply tying water balloons to the straps of some sandals. I hope the birthday girl I teach in primary will love them!

And keeping it real, here is Katie modeling the sandals in her princess dress-up clothes, Standing on the kitchen table.

Dotty Rick Rack Dresses, Fancy Christmas Jammies, Sock Bunnies, 3 Flannel baby blankets, and more.

There are a lot of crafts that I finished and wanted to blog about from Christmas and Easter. I don't think I will play catch up very well so I will show some pictures of the projects that got them taken then keep my crafting pace then blog the new projects better. There are a lot of new projects ahead, it seems I always have a few ideas of what I want to craft rolling around.
First quick catch up on the old things;
Christmas I sewed 2 dotty rickrack dresses Mardell gave me the fabric and Katie's pattern. Mardell also surprised me with a bow tie for Jr, a tie for Sr and a matching skirt for me Saturday night just in time for Church. We were a very machy family!








I sewed 3 fancy Christmas jammies, The older kids jammies were more difficult projects with button up, collared, long sleeve shirts, with a pocket. I love the way they turned out!

For a little nativity skit I sewed simple Mary, Joseph and Sheppard costumes. Also photoed are the angles, which I did not sew but still super cute girls!

As a Christmas gift to my girls I made super cute lollipop dollies or close pin dolls, that look similar to these. I really hope to get photo of mine some day. I also made a travel size chalk board and chalk bag (no photo) and Sr made Jr a handy man tool kit.

Easter I made a few sock bunnies and a couple Easter egg bean bags. (no photo)

Now I am on to baby things
I have sewed 3 flannel blankets I will blog about today:
The first one the kids helped sew the edge, they sewed straight and zig-zag lines on the boarder. I couldn't get the fold on the corners just right so Mardell had the great idea of covering it up with an applique palm tree. The kids are very proud of there sewing and it makes a cozy blanket for our new baby boy.

Second is a simple flannel blanket with some stripes on the back, and a zig-zag edge.

Third was an experimental project. I had seen a rag quilt type process done on another quilt but could not find anything about it online, so I experimented. I used 2 different cuts of flannel, one fishy ocean seen on the front and second is blues for the back. Then I used a third cut of bubbly water looking fabric that would be the middle. I then sewed wavy lines to quilt together all 3 fabrics. next I cut between the wavy lines only one the back blue flannel exposing the bubbly water under the blue fabric. After I washed the blanket it has that rag quilt feel and ocean waves look (get it?)

That is not easy to explain hopefully the photos will tell it better. I kept thinking I should take photos as I go but, I did not want to stop sewing.

The ocean blanket turned out just as I hoped it would. Hoary!

Here is me keeping it real Katie, was holding the broken clothes line, for the perfect place to hang a quit for a photo.

While I was in the back yard I notice the banana tree we planted over a year ago is growing some bananas! Hoary! Brian will be so excited when he comes home, both Brains'.

And here is why I can hardly ever blog. This is to my right, and this to to my left, and Susan is currently decorating my lower back with a washable grey marker, as Katie wipes it off with a rag. Anything to keep that girl busy for a few minutes.