Sewing - Elf on the Shelf Skirt Tutorial

I am constantly calling the Elves ‘he’!  The girls keep informing me that they are ‘girl’ elves.  I told them that girls are not as bad as these two elves are but they insist they are girls!  The next time they showed up at our house, they were wearing skirts so I guess they really are mischievous girls!  There are lots of skirt tutorials on Pinterest.  This is what I did.

Cut the skirt fabric 4 inches long by 15 inches wide.  Chalk mark and press both long edges 1/2”.

Sew one edge for the elastic casing. Attach a safety pin to one end of 1/8 inch elastic cut to 4.5 inches long and insert into your casing.

Stitch to secure the elastic.

Open hem and sew center back seam.

I sewed some trim on the front catching the hem at the same time.

And that’s it.

I am constantly calling the Elves ‘he’!  The girls keep informing me that they are ‘girl’ elves.  I told them that girls are not as bad as these two elves are but they insist they are girls!  The next time they showed up at our house, they were wearing skirts so I guess they really are mischievous girls!  There are lots of skirt tutorials on Pinterest.  This is what I did.

Cut the skirt fabric 4 inches long by 15 inches wide.  Chalk mark and press both long edges 1/2”.

Sew one edge for the elastic casing. Attach a safety pin to one end of 1/8 inch elastic cut to 4.5 inches long and insert into your casing.

Stitch to secure the elastic.

Open hem and sew center back seam.

I sewed some trim on the front catching the hem at the same time.

And that’s it.

Craft - Bendable Arms and Legs for Elf on the Shelf

Here’s wishing you a wonderful and memorable Holiday season!  I’ll finish my Blog off with a couple Elf on the Shelf posts.  Honestly, I’m not sure who had more fun with these elves – me or the granddaughters!

I performed a little elf surgery and in an hour, the girl’s elves can now do all kinds of acrobatic stuff as well as bench pressing marshmallows as I’ve seen on Pinterest! They can even grasp things!

Get your wire cutters and cut four pieces about 6.5” long of any kind of medium weight wire.  Set these aside.

Elf has stitching at his knee and elbow joints.  Remove the stitching.  This takes the longest to do.  Remove the stitch from his hand as well.

Snip a teeny tiny hole in the back of his foot about an inch from the bottom.

Straighten out a length of wire and curl one end.

Shove it into the elf limb.  You might have to wiggle it a little bit.

Get the wire in there as far as it will go.  Snip off the excess wire, leaving just a little bit sticking out.  Curl this end now.

Wiggle the last bit in by pulling the foot over it, so that it doesn’t come back out of the hole later.

Repeat for all limbs.  I squirted a bit of Fabri-Tac glue in the holes to close them but you could stitch them closed.  The rule is that the kids can’t touch the elf otherwise he loses his magic, so no biggie whether anything is done to the holes!

For his arms, I snipped in his hand – on the top front of one hand and the bottom of the other hand.  Inserted the wire as leg instructions then I used Fabri-Tac glue to apply Velcro that covered my holes.

You now have a bendy elf.  Go and pose him doing something fabulous!  You would think what you pay for an elf, they would have done this for you!

Here’s wishing you a wonderful and memorable Holiday season!  I’ll finish my Blog off with a couple Elf on the Shelf posts.  Honestly, I’m not sure who had more fun with these elves – me or the granddaughters!

I performed a little elf surgery and in an hour, the girl’s elves can now do all kinds of acrobatic stuff as well as bench pressing marshmallows as I’ve seen on Pinterest! They can even grasp things!

Get your wire cutters and cut four pieces about 6.5” long of any kind of medium weight wire.  Set these aside.

Elf has stitching at his knee and elbow joints.  Remove the stitching.  This takes the longest to do.  Remove the stitch from his hand as well.

Snip a teeny tiny hole in the back of his foot about an inch from the bottom.

Straighten out a length of wire and curl one end.

Shove it into the elf limb.  You might have to wiggle it a little bit.

Get the wire in there as far as it will go.  Snip off the excess wire, leaving just a little bit sticking out.  Curl this end now.

Wiggle the last bit in by pulling the foot over it, so that it doesn’t come back out of the hole later.

Repeat for all limbs.  I squirted a bit of Fabri-Tac glue in the holes to close them but you could stitch them closed.  The rule is that the kids can’t touch the elf otherwise he loses his magic, so no biggie whether anything is done to the holes!

For his arms, I snipped in his hand – on the top front of one hand and the bottom of the other hand.  Inserted the wire as leg instructions then I used Fabri-Tac glue to apply Velcro that covered my holes.

You now have a bendy elf.  Go and pose him doing something fabulous!  You would think what you pay for an elf, they would have done this for you!

American Girl Doll A-Line Skirt, Ruffled T-shirt, Knit Panties Tutorial AG010

These three patterns are probably my most used patterns!  Love how they fit. Ordering info for this outfit is on my American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page if you are interested.

T-Shirt:– no sleeves to set in!  This can be found on newgreenmama’s website.  Once I printed out her pattern, I raised the front and back neck by ¼” and moved the center front fold in by ¼”.  I added ¼” on to the center back and shortened the length by 2” as I wanted a short top.

Cut one front on fold.  Cut two backs.  Cut fabric for ruffle about 1.5” wide by 6” long.  Run a basting stitch up the middle.

Pull to gather about 2” long.  Sew to center of t-shirt front.

Place the back pieces on top of the front piece with right sides together. Line up shoulder seams and stitch across. Hem the arms and neck openings by turning under ¼”.

With right sides together sew side seams with a ¼” seam.

Hem waist 3/8”.

Zig-zag down velcro.

Skirt: I love this A-Line skirt by WrenFeathers.  She has a lot of free patterns!  I did alter the pattern a bit by tracing the tops of the front and back straight across and making a ½” casing/waistband.  I added ½” on to the length.  I took ½” off the center back seam and placed it on a fold.

The skirt I am posting is a denim skirt from a different outfit .  The instructions are the same for this skirt.  Chalk mark top and bottom of skirts at ½”. Serge to clean finish.

Press on chalk marks.

Topstitch back waist only.  Insert 4.5” of ¼” wide elastic.  Stitch to secure.

Pin side seams.  Open front waist.

 Wrap the front waistband to the back.

Sew side seams.

Flip front waistband.

Topstitch front waistband.

Topstitch hem.

Cut two strips of knit each 8” long by ½” wide.  Stretch to curl.

Attach to side seams.

Knit Panties:

I used Molly’s Panties pattern to make these knit undies by AGPlaythings.  I cut the front down about 3/4“and the back down about 1“.  I also scooped the front at the waist.  I added about ¼” on to the side seams.

The undies I am posting is from a different outfit.  The instructions are the same tho.  Serge the legs to finish.

Sew one side seam.

Baste 9” of ¼” elastic at the waist.  Add a colored tag at the back.

Serge elastic for a clean finish.  Sew other side seam.

Click "Like" on American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page to receive updates when new items are introduced AND sign up to my Blog so you won’t miss any of my doll clothing tutorials!

These three patterns are probably my most used patterns!  Love how they fit. Ordering info for this outfit is on my American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page if you are interested.

T-Shirt:– no sleeves to set in!  This can be found on newgreenmama’s website.  Once I printed out her pattern, I raised the front and back neck by ¼” and moved the center front fold in by ¼”.  I added ¼” on to the center back and shortened the length by 2” as I wanted a short top.

Cut one front on fold.  Cut two backs.  Cut fabric for ruffle about 1.5” wide by 6” long.  Run a basting stitch up the middle.

Pull to gather about 2” long.  Sew to center of t-shirt front.

Place the back pieces on top of the front piece with right sides together. Line up shoulder seams and stitch across. Hem the arms and neck openings by turning under ¼”.

With right sides together sew side seams with a ¼” seam.

Hem waist 3/8”.

Zig-zag down velcro.

Skirt: I love this A-Line skirt by WrenFeathers.  She has a lot of free patterns!  I did alter the pattern a bit by tracing the tops of the front and back straight across and making a ½” casing/waistband.  I added ½” on to the length.  I took ½” off the center back seam and placed it on a fold.

The skirt I am posting is a denim skirt from a different outfit .  The instructions are the same for this skirt.  Chalk mark top and bottom of skirts at ½”. Serge to clean finish.

Press on chalk marks.

Topstitch back waist only.  Insert 4.5” of ¼” wide elastic.  Stitch to secure.

Pin side seams.  Open front waist.

 Wrap the front waistband to the back.

Sew side seams.

Flip front waistband.

Topstitch front waistband.

Topstitch hem.

Cut two strips of knit each 8” long by ½” wide.  Stretch to curl.

Attach to side seams.

Knit Panties:

I used Molly’s Panties pattern to make these knit undies by AGPlaythings.  I cut the front down about 3/4“and the back down about 1“.  I also scooped the front at the waist.  I added about ¼” on to the side seams.

The undies I am posting is from a different outfit.  The instructions are the same tho.  Serge the legs to finish.

Sew one side seam.

Baste 9” of ¼” elastic at the waist.  Add a colored tag at the back.

Serge elastic for a clean finish.  Sew other side seam.

Click "Like" on American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page to receive updates when new items are introduced AND sign up to my Blog so you won’t miss any of my doll clothing tutorials!

SU240 Greetings of the Season Owl Card

This Santa Owl was based on a card I found online using the Stampin Up Owl Punch.   It is so cute and a great addition to my Christmas cards.  To make him, I punched out his feet and very little of his chest in black, aligned and glued his white vest in place on the black.  I punched out a red owl, removed the feet then glued the vest and black feet to the red owl.  I cut a triangle for his hat about ½” wide by 1” tall, topped it with a flower pompom and used the horizontal slot punch to give him fur across the bottom of his hat.  I gave him a black belt, punched a ¼” circle from gold cardstock then centered the ½” circle punch over that for his belt.  Lots of fiddly little detail, but well worth it!!

Stamps – Greetings of the Season (Holiday Mini 2012)

Card Stock - Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, White.

Ink - Real Red, Garden Green.

Accessories - Red grosgrain ribbon, sponge, Owl Builder punch, 1/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Horizontal slot punch, unknown flower punch, Bird Builder punch.

This Santa Owl was based on a card I found online using the Stampin Up Owl Punch.   It is so cute and a great addition to my Christmas cards.  To make him, I punched out his feet and very little of his chest in black, aligned and glued his white vest in place on the black.  I punched out a red owl, removed the feet then glued the vest and black feet to the red owl.  I cut a triangle for his hat about ½” wide by 1” tall, topped it with a flower pompom and used the horizontal slot punch to give him fur across the bottom of his hat.  I gave him a black belt, punched a ¼” circle from gold cardstock then centered the ½” circle punch over that for his belt.  Lots of fiddly little detail, but well worth it!!

Stamps – Greetings of the Season (Holiday Mini 2012)

Card Stock - Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, White.

Ink - Real Red, Garden Green.

Accessories - Red grosgrain ribbon, sponge, Owl Builder punch, 1/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Horizontal slot punch, unknown flower punch, Bird Builder punch.

MDS 163 AG Doll Scrapbook Page - So Much to Choose From

This is page 7 of 11 that I scrapped for Olivia’s American Girl shopping adventure.
Background - Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Twitterpated - designer series paper\Twitterpated – 2.
Embellishments - Twitterpated - buttons\Twitterpated - Ridinghood Red large; Twitterpated - pleated satin ribbon\Twitterpated - Riding Hood Red.
Stamps - Seriously Awesome\Seriously Awesome - rectangle frame.

This is page 7 of 11 that I scrapped for Olivia’s American Girl shopping adventure.
Background - Designer Series Paper\_Designer Kits\Twitterpated - designer series paper\Twitterpated – 2.
Embellishments - Twitterpated - buttons\Twitterpated - Ridinghood Red large; Twitterpated - pleated satin ribbon\Twitterpated - Riding Hood Red.
Stamps - Seriously Awesome\Seriously Awesome - rectangle frame.

American Girl Doll Hospital Gown, Cast, Slippers, X-ray Tutorials AG012

Click "Like" on my American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page to receive updates when new items are introduced AND sign up to my Blog so you won’t miss any of my AG posts!

Hospital Gown

I wanted to try myagdollcraft Hospital Gown.  I found a housecoat at the second hand store, cut it apart, laid my pattern on the sleeves and cut it out.

I followed her instructions however, I did cut my bias 30” instead of 20” – just thought it would be easier for little fingers to tie it.

Sew shoulders together with ¼” seam allowance. 
Hem both sleeves with ½” seam allowance. 

Hem back centers with 1/2” seam allowance. 
Cut 30" of 1/4"double folded bias tape.
Find center in front gown piece and center of bias tape, mark each with a needle.
Fit bias tape on neck opening matching the two needles (your bias tape should be centered on neck and about 10" should extend on either side for tying the gown).
Sew bias tape on.  Sew both sides together.  Hem bottom with 1/2” seam allowance.

If I was to make this again, I would add ¼” onto the neckline so it fit a little tighter around the neck – that’s just my preference tho.

Hospital Arm Cast

I found a tutorial for this cast HERE.  Thought it would go perfect with my hospital gowns.

Cut one piece of white flannel and one piece of white craft felt each 3″ x 4.75″. With the flannel at the bottom and the felt on top, sew an X to hold them together.

Cut six strips of white t-shirting into 3/4″ widths by about 6” long.  Stitch the strips on your flannel/felt sandwich. The strips should be sewn the long way.  Don’t sew all the strips down in neat, straight lines.  Overlap them, and let a few of them go wonky to look like bandages wrapped around the arm.

From the wrong side, stitch around the outside with a small zigzag to prevent fraying.  Trim edges flush with the ‘sandwich'.

I made myself a cardboard template, mark a dot roughly 5/8″ from the top and 1″ from one side, placed it on my cast and then traced and cut a small 1/2″ square around that dot.  This will be for the doll’s thumb.

Zigzag around the hole two times to finish the edges.  Cut about 3″ of Velcro in half lengthwise to make a long skinny strip.  Stitch the Velcro strips to the short sides of the cast but remember to stitch one strip to the top side of the cast and the other to the back side.  I will leave it up to Olivia to ‘sign’ the cast with a fine point Sharpie permanent marker if she desires.

Hospital Slippers

For these, I cut a 3/4”wide x 4” long piece of fleece fabric and sewed 4.5” long of 1/8” elastic in the center.  Fit the fabric to the doll’s feet and glued a fleece sole to it.  Glued a foam sole to the bottom of that.

X-Ray Tutorial

Myagdollcraft also has a great idea for an x-ray!

1. Go to google and look for X-ray pictures for an arm or leg or whatever you want.
2. Resize them so that the bones somewhat match the size of your American Girl Doll.  You can use Microsoft Word or a similar computer program, they have rules for sizing.
3. Print.
4. Put clear packaging tape on front and back.

Pretty darn clever eh?

Click "Like" on my American Girl Doll Creations by Carole Facebook page to receive updates when new items are introduced AND sign up to my Blog so you won’t miss any of my AG posts!

Hospital Gown

I wanted to try myagdollcraft Hospital Gown.  I found a housecoat at the second hand store, cut it apart, laid my pattern on the sleeves and cut it out.

I followed her instructions however, I did cut my bias 30” instead of 20” – just thought it would be easier for little fingers to tie it.

Sew shoulders together with ¼” seam allowance. 
Hem both sleeves with ½” seam allowance. 

Hem back centers with 1/2” seam allowance. 
Cut 30" of 1/4"double folded bias tape.
Find center in front gown piece and center of bias tape, mark each with a needle.
Fit bias tape on neck opening matching the two needles (your bias tape should be centered on neck and about 10" should extend on either side for tying the gown).
Sew bias tape on.  Sew both sides together.  Hem bottom with 1/2” seam allowance.

If I was to make this again, I would add ¼” onto the neckline so it fit a little tighter around the neck – that’s just my preference tho.

Hospital Arm Cast

I found a tutorial for this cast HERE.  Thought it would go perfect with my hospital gowns.

Cut one piece of white flannel and one piece of white craft felt each 3″ x 4.75″. With the flannel at the bottom and the felt on top, sew an X to hold them together.

Cut six strips of white t-shirting into 3/4″ widths by about 6” long.  Stitch the strips on your flannel/felt sandwich. The strips should be sewn the long way.  Don’t sew all the strips down in neat, straight lines.  Overlap them, and let a few of them go wonky to look like bandages wrapped around the arm.

From the wrong side, stitch around the outside with a small zigzag to prevent fraying.  Trim edges flush with the ‘sandwich'.

I made myself a cardboard template, mark a dot roughly 5/8″ from the top and 1″ from one side, placed it on my cast and then traced and cut a small 1/2″ square around that dot.  This will be for the doll’s thumb.

Zigzag around the hole two times to finish the edges.  Cut about 3″ of Velcro in half lengthwise to make a long skinny strip.  Stitch the Velcro strips to the short sides of the cast but remember to stitch one strip to the top side of the cast and the other to the back side.  I will leave it up to Olivia to ‘sign’ the cast with a fine point Sharpie permanent marker if she desires.

Hospital Slippers

For these, I cut a 3/4”wide x 4” long piece of fleece fabric and sewed 4.5” long of 1/8” elastic in the center.  Fit the fabric to the doll’s feet and glued a fleece sole to it.  Glued a foam sole to the bottom of that.

X-Ray Tutorial

Myagdollcraft also has a great idea for an x-ray!

1. Go to google and look for X-ray pictures for an arm or leg or whatever you want.
2. Resize them so that the bones somewhat match the size of your American Girl Doll.  You can use Microsoft Word or a similar computer program, they have rules for sizing.
3. Print.
4. Put clear packaging tape on front and back.

Pretty darn clever eh?