Bow/Clip Holder

A girl in our ward makes these and gives them as baby shower gifts. Ever since the first time I saw one she made I have wanted to make one for my daughter Mckynlee. Our ward actually made them for a super Saturday, but I had already bought the supplies for mine. She just gets a long board from Lowe's or Home Depot and cuts it down, but since I just wanted to make one I just went to Michael's and bought an unfinished wood plaque. So here's what you need:
A unfinished wood plaque (Michael's or Joann's, or of course if you want a bunch buy a big board from the home improvement store and cut it down)
-Paint (one for the base color and then another color for the polka dots)
-Ribbon (mine was 7/8 inch wide)
-stable gun
-drill
-A vinyl letter of your choice (I got mine from my wonderful friend Kyra, she has her own vinyl lettering business, check out her website here.)
Take your plaque or piece of wood and drill two holes at the top. Sand and paint your base color (I did several coats so the imperfections in the wood wouldn't show). Then paint on the polka dots. The girl that makes these uses vinyl, she has a cricut machine and just has it cut her dots. I found these cool sponge brushes in different size circle shapes at Walmart and I used those. Just dip them in the paint and then press where you want your polka dots. After your paint is dry apply your vinyl letter in the center. With the ribbon I just guessed the size. I threaded it through the holes and tied it in a bow until I got it to hang the length I want. As for the bottom ribbon I just cut those the length I thought I needed. My friend just has one ribbon hanging down from hers but my daughter has so many clips and bows I did three. After I cut them I light a match and run the edges through the flame to seal it, or you could use fray check, just do it so your ribbon doesn't fray. Then I officially tie the top one in a bow and staple gun the 3 other ribbons evenly apart on the bottom backside of the plaque and then your done and can hang all your bows. (I think it would be fun to make an adult version for all those adult clips I have to put in my hair).

Sweet Little Dress

I've been wanting to buy this pattern forever and finally did. I had bought fabric especially for it and it has just been sitting with my sewing stuff. I finally bought the pattern and made the dress for my daughter. I think it turned out so cute. You can find the pattern here at the Leila and Ben etsy shop. It's so easy to make and you can mix and match fabrics or use the same fabric for the whole dress. They have two patterns one that is 3 months -12 months and a 12 months - 5T. I bought the combo pack that had both patterns for just $12.

I decided I wanted to have a tie around the dress so I made my own tie (not included in the pattern)

Here is my little one with her new dress. I also made her a headband out of the coordinating fabric. I went the size smaller so it could fit as a long shirt too. It was so easy to make!

Doesn't it look cute paired with jeans? I used Heather Bailey fabric for her dress. I liked the dress so much I already have 3 more in the works that I'm making her.

Finnegan Fox

I made these foxes to put in my boys stockings at Christmas. I find with sewing I'm always drawn to making things for my daughter, there are just more fun girly things to sew. So, I get excited when I find things here and there that are fun to sew for my boys. They love their foxes. Again they are patterns from Bit Of Whimsy Primms, click here to shop her patterns.

Bumble Bee Plushie

Just another pattern I got from the bitofwhimsy etsy shop. I loved this one. I made this bumble Bee for my daughter to put in her stocking at Christmas. Click here to get the pattern.

B-Movie Monster

Awhile back the Bitofwhimsy etsy shop was having a sale on all of their patterns, so I stocked up. This is the same shop where I got the Jo Doll pattern. My boys have been wanting me to make them something. So in the shop she had a stuffed monster pattern that I thought was so cute, so I had to get it. I made one for each of my boys. The picture above is the two monsters I made for them, so cute huh?! You can click here to shop her patterns.

Buttercup Bag

So several months ago while looking at another craft blog I came across this bag. I thought it was so cute and what more the pattern is free! I had to make it. So I checked out the girls blog that created the pattern she has other cute patterns you can download for free also for your personal use. But, if you love making them so much and want to sell them you can also purchase the pattern for like $10 and it comes with permission to sell the bags you make. Click here to download your free copy of the pattern. It only takes a Fat Quarter to make the outer bag and handle and a little less than another fat quarter for the lining, so its super cheap to make. I just added the flower embellishment and attached it to the bag. The bag above I made for my friend Kate for a Christmas present. It's perfect to take out on a date with your hubby, or a night out with the girls!

I'm in my ward's Young Women Presidency and back in September we were putting together our Young Women In Excellence night. Our theme for the night was "'Purse'-suit of Excellence". This was right after I discovered this pattern. So my friend Katie, who was also in the presidency, and I got all our fabric scraps together and made enough purses for all our young women as a hand out after the program. The picture above is a close up of some of them.

Here are all 20 bags that we made. We stuffed them with tissue paper and used them to decorate the Relief Society Room for the big night.

We put a cute little quote inside and after the program the girls got to go up and pick a bag. They loved it! So if you're in Young Womens and looking for Young Women In Excellence ideas, this was so much fun.

Carseat Blankets

One of our friends bought a pattern for a carseat blanket. So a few of us that had babies got together and made carseat blankets. The picture above is my daughter in hers. Once we figured out the pattern they were super easy. I love mine and use it all the time, especially with the weather getting cooler. Click here if you are interested in getting the pattern.

This week I made one for my friend for her baby shower. My daughter is modeling it above. She is having a little boy so I made her a boyish one, which was a bit easier because I didn't have to do a ruffle, I just edge-stitched the outside edge. My other friends that have boys also just cut the edges so it could have the frayed edge look. The second time around I made the belt/buckle openings a little smaller, I thought mine were too big. Anyways, I love mine and I think they make great baby gifts!

Clip Board Treats

These are super easy, inexpensive and make great homemade gifts for teachers, neighbors, or friends. I used a mini clipboard from Office Max.

Directions:

1. Paint sides, back and metallic clip of the board (if desired).

2. Create a template for the clipboard by tracing the outline, then trimming around the clip.

3. Using your template, trace onto cardstock scrapbook paper.

4. Paint a thin layer of Modge Podge Matte on clipboard, quickly lay paper on top.

5. Paint a thin layer of Modge Podge Matte on top of paper.

6. Smooth wrinkles out with credit card.

7. Let dry. Antique Edges with coordinating paint.

8. Clip on your favorite Christmas treat in a clear bag and recipe on top.

9. Tie a few coordinating ribbons through hole in clip.

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cracker Cookies

Ritz Crackers

Peanut Butter

Almond Bark, Milk Chocolate, or round chocolate melts

Colored Candy Sprinkles

1. Spread peanut butter between two crackers to make "sandwiches".

2. Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water. Reduce heat and keep chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water.

3. Dip each cracker "sandwich" in chocolate, allowing excess to drain back into pot.

4. Place coated crackers on wax paper and add sprinkles. Allow coating to completely set, placing in refrigerator for 15 minutes.