Friday, March 27, 2015

Milestone Birthday – 4 years old – B04aa

Since my previous card looked a little too boyish, I switched it up to make it suitable for my little 4 year old girls.  This time I used the Flowers, Daisies #2 sizziz die to make the flower. Here is the birthday poem I used for this 4 year old card.

Today is a very special day!

Who could ask for anything more!

Today is the day we celebrate,

because you are turning 4!

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, white, Candy DSP (2005/06), Barely Banana, Regal Rose.

Ink: Regal Rose.

Stamp: Small Script, Look Who’s Turning, Well Scripted, Circle of Friendship.

Accessories: Flowers, Daisies #2 sizziz die, sponge, Coluzzle and Companion to make a 3” oval, ribbon from my stash, Regal Rose for ‘th’, mounts.

Punches: corner rounder, ¾ inch circle, small oval, ½ inch circle.

Font: #4 is Broadway size 72, th is CK Penman size 48, birthday is CK Script size 36.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

American Girl Doll Tiered Dress Tutorial AG027


What a cute little Easter dress this would make for the 18” dolls eh?  Too cute!

Bodice
I used Dollar Doll Clothes pattern for the bodice.  When I printed out the pattern, this is what I got.  I added ¼” on to the front fold and I cut away ¼” around the armholes.
Sew ric rac down the center.  With the right sides of the fabric facing you, lay the wrong side of the fold over elastic underneath so the fabric reaches the center fold line of the elastic. Sew the elastic to the fabric edge using a basting zigzag stretching very little.  When you have finished, reset your machine to a shorter, narrower zigzag.  Turn the free edge of the elastic to the front, encasing the elastic.  Stitch again, on the right side, towards the bottom edge of the elastic.  Refer to AG018 for pictures on how to do this if you do not understand.
Trim edges of the elastic.
Cut 2 pieces of fold over elastic each 8” long for the straps.  Sew as for elastic above.

Press and set aside.

Skirt
Cut top tier 2” x 18” (green) – chalk mark one long edge in quarters.
Cut middle tier 2.25” x 22” (pink) - chalk mark both long edges in quarters.
Cut bottom tier 3.25 x 27” (yellow) – chalk mark one long edge in quarters and press the other long edge at ½” for the hem.

So I've pinned a few articles on Gathering with a Serger!  Who knew you could do this!  These instructions were taken from eymm.com page.  They sure worked for my White Superlock 634D serger.

STEP 1: Loosen your pressure foot!
This allows for it to gather more. To do this simply locates the pressure foot adjuster directly above the pressure foot on your machine. Loosen it… remember, lefty loosy, righty tighty, about 3-5 turns, but every machine is different.

STEP 2: Adjust differential (if you machine has it) & Stitch Length
You want to turn it all the way up to the highest number. It is important you do this FIRST because when you set the stitch length it will adjust it on most machines.  I set my Superlock to .7.

Now that your differential is set you want to adjust your stitch length to the longest possible… this is 5 on most machines. This may change the differential, that’s okay, just leave it alone.

Step 3: Adjusting Tension & Looper Threads…
Eymm said she turns both her looper’s up one number, however, I did not change mine – my Upper looper was set at 2 and the Lower looper was set at 3.   Then turn your needle thread tension up to 9 or the highest number available – I was only using one needle (right).

Step 4: SEW!
Put your fabric in the machine, put the presser foot down and serge!  DON’T pull or push the fabric, just let the serger pull it through, just keep it lined up straight.

Remember this is trial and error,  ALWAYS test it first to see how it gathers and to figure out how much I need. If you serged it and it’s too long you can simply gather it a little by hand or try running it through the machine a second time. If you gathered it TOO much you can break a few strings and carefully ungather it a bit until it fits.

If your needle thread(s) break… turn your tension down by .5 and try again. Some machines don’t like it that high! The lower your tension # the less gathers.

Gather one long edge of the middle tier (pink).  Look how nice it gathers!
Match chalk marks to the top tier (green) and sew to join.
Gather long edge (opposite edge from hem) of the bottom tier (yellow) using the serger.  Match chalk marks to the middle tier (pink) and sew to join.

Gather waist on the top tier (green) using the serger and attach to bodice.

Make sure to first put ALL your serger settings back to where they were and serge tiers and center back seams to clean finish.  Topstitch at waist towards bodice.

Sew center back seam 4” from bottom.  Hem skirt.  Pin straps to fit doll and sew.

Add a ribbon belt.  Attach velcro.

Frayed Flower
Found this idea on maizehutton.blogspot.  I started out using green gingham but I changed it to yellow instead.
Pick a fabric which frays really easy. For the larger flower, cut a strip of the fabric 1” wide by 14” long.  Fray one long edge.
Fold over one short end and secure it with a stitch.
Flip it over and start a running stitch along the bottom of the unfrayed strip of fabric.
When you've reached the end of your strip, pull the thread so the fabric bunches up.  Shape the fabric into a circle.
I cut a small scrap and glued it to the back.  Set aside.

Cut smaller fabric (turquoise) ¾” x 7.5” to 11”.  Fray one long edge and repeat as large flower.  Attach a button to the center.  Leave the needle and thread attached.

Cut a piece of 1/8” ribbon 10” long, fold in half and sew to back of small flower.   Stack the small flower (turquoise) on the large one.

Secure all the layers by stitching through each and securing at the waist.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Recipe - Green Power Smoothie



In honor of St Patty’s Day, I thought I’d share our morning smoothie since it is the right color for today!  It is just so good and very easy to do.
Place in this order in a blender.
½ cup juice, any kind
½ cup almond milk
1 small yogurt, any flavor
Zija SuperMix drink powder, optional
Add:
1/2 orange
1/2 banana
1/2 apple
Handful of frozen mangos and/or peaches
Then add:
A handful of spinach or kahl
A glob of peanut butter
Blend for 2 – 3 minutes or as long as it takes you to clean up your mess.
Perfect!
I get one large and one small glass from this mixture.  Works out good as I’m not a very good morning eater so a small drink suits me fine.


I have frozen these in individual baggies – just remember to place them in the fridge at bedtime so they are slightly thawed come morning.  Just try it!  It is soooo good!

Here is the recipe again.

Green Power Smoothie
½ cup juice, any kind
½ cup almond milk
1 small yogurt, any flavor
Zija SuperMix drink powder, optional
1/2 orange
1/2 banana
1/2 apple
Handful of frozen mangos and/or peaches
A handful of spinach or kahl
A glob of peanut butter

Blend for 2 – 3 minutes.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Milestone Birthday – 4 years old – B04a

Cute little card for a 4 year old!  Fairly straight forward.

I hope Happy Birthday-ness comes your way

Coz you’re very nice, you deserve a special day,

So here’s wishing happy birthday-ness

Today, especially for you,

With lots of your very favorite things

In the year ahead too!

Happy 4th Birthday

Cardstock: Old Olive, Holiday Thyme DSP ’06, Bashful Blue, Chili card by Magenta.

Ink: Black.

Stamp: Small Script, Animal Stories.

Accessories: sponge, Coluzzle to make a 3” oval, mounts, white ribbon, old olive grosgrain ribbon.

Punches: corner rounder, large oval.

Font: #4 is Broadway size 72, th is CK Penman size 48, birthday is CK Script size 36.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

American Girl Doll Sleeping Bag and Sleep Mask Tutorial AG015


From flannel print, cut one piece each:

11”wide x 22” long for the outside back piece; 11”wide x 17” long for the front, outside.

From plain flannel, cut one piece each:

11”wide x 18” long for the inside back piece; 11”wide x 17” long for the front, inside; 11” wide by 6” long for pillow.

From a flannel sheet, cut one piece each:

11”wide x 18” long for the back; 11”wide x 17” long for the front.

Lay the front print (11x17”) onto the sheet lining.


Sew ½” around all 4 edges.  Cut sheet edges off to reduce bulk.


Drop the feed dogs on the sewing machine and do so doodling to the entire front.


Place right side of plain flannel (11x17”) to the quilted piece and sew across top.


Turn, press and topstitch.  Set aside.

Make a sandwich with the remaining pieces.  Make sure the print is on the bottom.


Sew ½” around all 4 edges.  Cut sheet edges off to reduce bulk.


Draw an X or star shape with a chalk pencil on to the plain flannel and stitch on the chalk lines.


Lay the front piece on the back piece.  Draw a chalk line at the top of the front piece onto back piece.


Lay the pillow piece onto the bag aligning the top and sides.  Fold back seam allowance so it just meets the top edge of the front.  Press.


Now lay right sides together.  Stitch around all four sides with 3/8” seam allowance.  Finish edges with a serger.


Turn and press.  Add stuffing to the pillow.


Match pillow to the chalk line.  Pin and sew closed.


Sleep Mask


This pattern was from funthreads blog.  Print out pattern and glue onto cardstock.

Use scraps of plain and printed flannel.  Interface the printed flannel.


Stack the plain and printed flannel with wrong sides together.  Trace pattern with a chalk pencil.


Stitch on the chalk line and trim close.


Place mask on a light weight piece of paper.


Satin stitch around edge and tear away paper.


On the back of the mask transfer the dots from the pattern.

Pin 8” of 1/8” elastic at the dots. Make sure the elastic isn’t twisted.  Set the machine back on a straight stitch.

First sew with elastic flat on mask.

Then bend the elastic over itself and sew in the ditch of the zig-zag stitching to attach the elastic.
 
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