Chantal's Getting Crafty

Crafting for Boutique in the Barn

2010-10-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

I am getting ready for another boutique. Every boutique I sell something different that is usually because I am using supplies I already have, last boutique was zipper flowers and close pin dolls. This time I made some monsters and crayons rolls.

Katie has already chosen her favorites.

I also made some car rolls for the boys!

I love the daisy button!

Can't Blog Now I am Busy Crafting!

2010-04-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Seriously I craft way too much, I dream in zippers and fabric My finger tips are melted off from hot glue! Well just kidding about the dreaming but serious about the hot glue. I spend every minute that I am not doing dishes, laundry, making dinner, helping with homework, etc...crafting. I am getting ready for Jenny's (my sissy) Second Boutique in the Barn.
I am so excited! this time there is gift bags for the first 50 people! AND an awesome giveaway on her blog! She has a bunch of vendors all selling different quality unique goodies!

I have been making beautiful zipper flowers

Clothes pin dollies

crochet flower broaches

doll cradles and a few extra items

I don't know if anybody even reads this blog so if you do I want to know! Come and see me and tell me you read and I will give you a free item! Also enter the give away and show up Early for a free gift bag! May 1st 8:30am see the blog for an address!

Coconut and Chocolate Haystacks Make Yummy Spring Nests!

2010-03-31T08:27:00.001-07:00

These nest are so yummy! all it is is:

toasted coconut (instructions are on the bag)

melted milk chocolate chips (instructions are on the bag)

Mixed together then spooned onto wax paper add eggs and let cool

This year I added a spoonful of peanut butter, so yummy! I think I will try some caramel drizzled over. Also I don't always toast the coconut, it is good either way.

I like the Spree Jelly Bean candy best. The eggs are the right size and the colors are vibrant. I am so excited to share these with my Dad! Last year we were in San Diego when I made them so he didnt get any he and my mom love coconut, ooh I am so excited to make them again.

I got the idea from Family Fun Magazine like 8 years ago!

Sock Bunnies

2010-03-31T08:05:00.001-07:00

I made these sock bunnies last year and never posted them. Now Ive gotta hurry and do it before Easter is over! This year I made bunnies with more with colorful socks.

They are both pretty cute!

Here are the instructions that I like best, I tried 3 different online instructions.

Some things I changed was putting a little rice in the hands, feet and tail to hold them down,

Don't stuff them too full and I like the look of the big tail better then the little ones.

The tail is not in the instructions I just hand sewed a little tight beanbag like ball made with leftover sock fabric and rice into a tight ball and put it in the heal curve of the sock. Then I gathered the fabric around the tail and sewed it together. I added the tail after I stuffed the arms and before I stuff the body and legs. Get it?

They are super easy and a big hit!

dollar store craft: Easter Egg Wreath

2010-03-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

I spent $4.00 at Dollar Tree on eggs, wreath, and moss then the girls and I made another wreath for cheep cheep cheep!

St Patricks Day Shamrock Wreath and Rainbow

2010-03-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Katie needed to do a craft. We made the rainbow with chenele wire and the shamrocks are from last year after they went on sale. I got them all for .50 cents! Katie placed all the shamrocks where she wanted them then I glued and hung the rainbow.

Chair-ity

2010-03-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

Yep I made that. No big deal. Didn't cost me anything.

Really, this was made with a lot of charity and talent from my MIL she just thought up how to build it, all with materials she had then showed me and my 2 sisters how to make them. It was lots of fun and these chairs will last FOREVER.

Here are my sisters rocken chairs

Can't craft all day with our some help from the kids! Susan Drilling and Gordio sleeping in his 'bouncer' sucking his thumb

And some messages make it even more special and personal!

Zipper Flowers

2010-01-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

In January I made lots of zipper flowers, Brian and I went to the Temple and I saw 2 girls with head bands on and zipper flowers on them. Then I came home and saw one on this blog. I told my sister Jenny about them and she said she saw one over the weekend also. SO I told my MIL about them ans she showed me a whole drawer full of polyester sippers of lots of different colors so I went to work and make about 10 zipper flowers! This was my favorite I sent it to Charmaine for her Birthday. The rest I will sell and of course save a few for My self and Katie REALLY wants one!

Maybe when my camera is fixed I will piost more photos. I make more flowers every couple of days.

Crafting for baby boy: baby shoes

2009-07-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

There are some super cute ladies in my ward that I first saw there babies sporting shoes like these. They are pretty easy to make and the ideas are endless! I got the patterns from

Star Dust Shoes and Molly Chicken Blog. The back and white ones macha shirt I made to sell on etsy a few years ago cute!

crafting for baby boy: Tie applique onesies

2009-07-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

I have been very exacted to make some crafts for a baby boy. When Jr was born I did not sew and craft as much as I do now. Also I did not get as many ideas. These onesies' with a tie is not an original idea or very new, but it is new to me. I am so exited to take jr. jr. to church in them. Especially this one I spiced up the plain tie and onesie by adding a vest. nice.

Like so many of the things I make the idea is not original I saw something I liked and made it my own. The idea came from this creative item etsy seller. Thank you designer of this adorable vest onesie and matching booties you inspire me!

4th of July Table Runner

2009-06-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-06-10T16:50:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-04-02T20:55:00.001-07:00

My sister Charmaine is amazing, talented, pretty, fancy and smart! She is always so willing to help me out when I need it, thanks Charmaine. She is the first one I go to with my graphic design needs, she studied graphic design and has natural artistic talent. She has made lots of banners, Christmas cards, and fliers for me, as well as wedding anouncemnts, shower invitations, birth anouncements and logos and for others. How wonderfull!

Lucky for all us She now has an Etsy shop: myluckyblue so now you can get some of her goodness too!

AND She is having a giveaway worth up to $100.!

Charmaine also offers photo editing and retouching. This is a great giveaway check it out: on her blog

My Lucky Blue Giveaway

Meet The Man of Your Dreams!

2008-12-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

I have been super busy. We just got back form Az last week, our second trip in November and we are going back for Christmas! Brian Sr is gone all the time getting ready for Finals. I am sewing fancy Christmas pj's and Dresses. I am making Katie and Susan some adorable clothe pin dolls and I am getting ready for Christmas.

As a gift to my brother I am going to blog about his awesomeness and I will not post here for a while but come check out the Get Sam Fuller Married blog.

instruction-less tutorial

2008-10-07T22:35:00.000-07:00

This wreath is easy and fun to make, try it out!

My Sister gave me the idea she copied it from this smart and very cute girl.

Thanks everybody for the inspiration and Mardell for some fabric!

How To Make a Jack-O-Lantern Table Runner: For your Halloween Decorating and Crafing Pleasure.

2008-09-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

With some preparation, this table runner can be a quick project. It is great to do by hand during your favorite TV show (or during the October Session of General Conference). It can also be done by machine as an easy project for a beginner to sewing and for practice with straight and curved lines. Kids love to help with suggestion to the face expressions of the jack-o-lanterns. Enjoy!
Materials and Tools

Materials
-Orange and black felt:
-Synthetic felt (Sold by the yard or sold in sheets 9” by 12”) .10 cents a sheet
-Or wool felt 1 yard of each back and orange (in makes no difference if you are sewing my machine or hand which felt you chose. Wool felt will last longer, synthetic is easier to find and cost less.)
-Black thread or black embroidery thread for hand sewing

Tools
-Tape measure
-Pumpkin outline (you create the jack-o-lantern face)
-Pins
-Scissors
-Sewing machine or sewing needle for hand sewing

Step 1 Determine the length of table runner you want to make. Measure your table and purchase felt accordingly.

Step 2 Design your jack-o-lantern face. The template is helpful for the size of pumpkin. On the template sheet draw your pumpkin face. When designing the face don’t make spaces too big like a mouth to wide open it will not lay well. Also remember you will be sewing around the shapes you may want to keep them simple. Kids will love to help decide the facial expression of the pumpkins.Step 3 Cut the template leaving ¼ inch edge around the shapes. Remember not to use your fabric scissors to cut paper.Step 4 Pin the cut out template to the black felt and cut the black felt. After cutting the felt remove pins and template.
Step 5 Cut the boarder around the pumpkin template off leaving an exact pumpkin ¼ inch smaller. Step 6 Pin the cut out to the orange felt and cut out template and cut the orange felt.Step 7 Pint the orange felt on top of the black felt. Remember to pin all around the edge and around the mouth.

Step 8 Begin sewing! Hand sew a running stitch with black thread on the orange pumpkin 1/8th inch from the edge the orange felt. Or sew by machine on a long stitch setting or zigzag around the pumpkin and openings on the face. Remember this is a Halloween craft, you stitches may not be perfect its all right it looks scary. If you are not satisfied with a length use your seam ripper and start over, or go over the stitch a second time and create 2 lines over lapping each other.

Step 9 Continue to sew around each pumpkin, the number of pumpkins will differ according to the length you want. I have 8 pumpkins after all pumpkins have been sewn together lay them out and decide how you want them to look. Mine are in a pattern from long to short, facing right, to facing left, and smiley face, to scary face.

Step 10 After you decide how you want them laid out attach then by first pinning then sewing overlapping a few inches of each pumpkin. Next display it accross your table and enjoy your finished project.

Not sure I'm a specialist but I'll try.

2008-09-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to be the Sewing Specialist for my Church (ward)! At our church there is an organization of women called the Relief Society, the RS women meet each Sunday during the 3rd hour and talk spiritual things, Christ Love, becoming better women, serving others, prayer, scripture study etc... Then during the week we gather for various activities, called Home Family and Personal Enrichment or Enrichment, every ward has different enrichment activities. Our ward has playgroup, luncheon group, a natural health group, book group, "A Heart Like His" group, a craft group, and now a sewing group.
I am very exited to lead this new group/ class! I am on my own journey to learn sewing so I am ready to learn as I teach. I love to organise gatherings so I have already started to organise the class and get talented women to come tech us. Mary used to teach the 7th gr6ade homeeconomics and sewing. Mardell is a TA at Mesa college for the sewing classes, she has also been my personal sewing coach. Jeni, and Jennifer have showed me that sewing is trendy and you can be very cool while sewing, and lastly the world wide web of craft bloggers has opened so many doors to sewing possibilities. I hope to share these things with my class.

Here is the flyer I handed out today. I am actually going to set it up like 7th grade sewing class. Mary gave me her worksheets and crossword puzzles, diagrams and projects. We will mix that with some great Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas projects. Can you tell I am exited?! Now open invitation to the world come to our class!
I almost posted all that personal information! If you really want to come and don't already know the info. leave a comment.

Bragging a big mistake

2008-09-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have a problem, when I think I have done well, or accomplished a goal. After I gloat, and brag, then I stop trying as hard. For example I lost some weight for a cruise then fit into a new smaller dress for the formal night. After the cruise I gained most of the weight back. and donate the dress to a thrift store.

I was on fire with the aprons a few weeks ago. I made a lot for the week! I still like them but I can not get it right again! It took we all week to make a chefs hat and a long time to figure out what to do with the next apron, the fabric has a huge print and large empty space. Anyway sorry for all that bragging. Maybe now I will be able to make a few more aprons, Wish me luck!

I mentioned my success and failure with my big sewing project in a talk I gave I in church today, check it out, if you wan to read a long curchie talk.

FYI in the LDS Sunday church service members of the congregation are asked to speak on an assigned topic for a given amount of time usually 5-15 min. Our talks were about the spiritual blessing of paying tithing, but I was able to fit sewing in!

Warning bragging on my aprons! Waring getting spiritual while sewing!

2008-09-06T23:20:00.001-07:00

I am getting very exited about these aprons! Jenny and Shawn came to San Diego for a few days. In between the beach, going out to dinner, babysitters, and the Zoo, we crafted. Our husbands were so nice to watch the kids and go to bed without us while we sewed late into the night. It was so fun to sew with Jenny, get ideas from her, she is so creative, and teach her some sewing tricks.

I made a bunch of bias tape all at once, a whole lot! Then my plan was to to all of the aprons with black bias tape then move on to the next batch of bias tape color and coordinating aprons.

I know my progress is going so well because, the aprons got better as I went. After I made the first one I was really happy with my work and accomplishments. I can tell I am developing as a seamstress. It came together quicker the the first one I made (back in December) and looked very nice. Then I did the matching little girls apron, and love it even more, with a sweet little bow.

Next I moved onto a new fabric, it was kind of a plain fabric just back and white. After encouragement (thanks jenny, Shawn, and Brian) I added color, with ruffles, ribbon, and a flower, then I was in love! I thought this apron was my favorite!
(Its got lots of bling) . Then I made the matching daughters, and love it more, man I am good! I am so talented, I make beautiful things. I have a fabulous sister..brag..brag..brag..

I really do love the aprons and hope others do to, as I plan to sell them. I think some people might want less bling on an apron so I will make more of both styles. What do you think? More bling, ribbons, bows, ruffles, flowers, or less, keep it simple.
*Warning now I am going to get church-ie* I really think I was doing so well, and having lots of success when sewing because I made it a priority to read my Scriptures and Pray every day.
My mom said one time she thought she was able to "figure out the computer" ( email, word programs, photo and video editing etc..) Because she was reading her scriptures. I will admit I thought she was a little silly to relate the two, but now I see she might be right. I sew better when I read the scriptures and pray daily, what a blessing!

Back to School Cupcakes

2008-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

A sweet and talented friend brought over some back-to-school cupcakes. I thought they were so cute that they needed to be shared.

honey I bought more fabric.

2008-08-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

Seriously that is what I will have to confess to my honey when he comes home. I bought a lot, but I love it! These will make fabulous aprons!

apron season

2008-08-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

My Sister and fellow crafter Jenny has recruited me into this boutique put on by another crafty friend of ours. Jenny is very talented and is making very awesome, trendy, shirts and other cute stuff.
Jenny asked me to make aprons similar to the ones I made for her and her and my Niece for Christmas. Here is my niece, super cute and full of personality Lacy sporting the apron I made last year. I will make these and some women's aprons for her to sell at the boutique. Check it out!

I have been putting off starting until Brian Jr starts Kindergarten (one week) :( Tonight I bought some of the fabric I will be using. I love them I will go buy 3 more fabrics that are more fun colorfull, and youthful when the huge fabric store near by has its big sale on Labor day.

The solid prints will be the bias tape( or the edge that boarders the apron) I think to make the kids aprons more cutsie I will add buttons or bows or ric-rack.

Tutorial: How to make a glow-in-the-dark-star necklace: for your camping pleasure.

2008-08-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

This tutorial is very easy to complete. With some preparation by you, the kids will get to express their creativity and complete this project with and a handmade work of art to wear and play with when the sun goes down. We enjoyed this craft on our family our camping trip. The idea is ingenious and the project is simple. It begins with glow-in-the-dark stars and a glow-in-the-dark beads hot glued too the back. With the bead glued on the back you can then string the star along with mixes beads for a fun creative necklace. This was a hit with the kids camping but would also be fun at a sleepover party, or anytime you wanna craft and glow in the dark. I did this craft while camping so that is how I will refer to in the tutorial.
Tools

Hot glue gun and glue

Materials

plastic lacing -also called, lanyard, boondoggle. or any thread, lacing, string of your choice.

mixed beads I close nature inspires beads for our camping trip

package of glow in the dark stars-available in the children's toy section of most stores.

glow in the dark beads

If you are going to do this craft with kids or especially when camping steps 1 through 3 need to be done before.

Step 1. Glue the the bead to the back of the star. With the glue gun squeeze a small amount of glue near the top of one of the stars points.

Step 2. Position the bead onto the glue quickly. Make sure the bead its on its side so that inside of the bead can still be threaded.

Step 3. Continuing step 1 and 2 change the directing and position of the glue to add some variety to the stars position on the necklace.

Step 4. Now you have completed the preparation easy! Be sure to pack the materials, and head to the campground.

Step 5. I found it easiest to leave the lacing uncut and let the kids thread their chose of beads and stars, or tie a knot in the end. It looks best with 5 beads then a star to space the stars. Step 6. After they have filled the length appropriate for a necklace cut the lace from the bundle, if you already have continue, and tie the ends together for a completed glow-in-the-dark star necklace.

Craftin with Sculpey

2008-08-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

In Mexico I found an adorable little tea set with this tiny basket.

I decited the little basket neede some veggies. And this bowl needed fome fruit. I made these with Sculpey. I did not take a very good picture reflecting the size but these little fruit are tiny, the basket is about 1' 1/2 inches tall.

Something Special

2008-07-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely outing today. Mardell my life savor here in SD took the big kids for a few hours while #3 and I went out for a drive and some window shopping. I have driven by 'Something Special' before but never was brave enough to go into the boutique with 3 elephants I mean kids. While in 'Something Special' I found a new idea for some tea cups and saucers I have. Maybe I will make something like this for my girlie girl's room...someday.

Also on the same street as something Special I walked past Artsy Smartsy. Its a great idea but, bery-bery pricey.

So much to blog

2008-07-31T21:19:00.000-07:00

This has been a month of lots of projects! I painted the mirror frames for the 3rd time, this time adding ribbon(love em) I stamped the mat on 2 picture frames.(not sure how I feel about em) I mod podge hanging monograms with scrap book paper, again. Now I'm working on paining some awesome frames from thrifting. I will post about the thrifted frames when the project is done. Also I will back up and post on the projects a little more.