Milestone Birthday – 5 years old – B05a

I found the hand on some clip art and computer generated the High and 5.  I splattered the Green Galore with green acrylic paint using a toothbrush.  I hand drew the tag.

Here is the verse I used for inside.

You’re not exactly big, and you’re not exactly little,

But being Five is best of all,

Because it’s in the middle.

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Always Artichoke, Green Galore, White.

Punch: 1-1/2” circle, 1-3/8” circle.

Accessories: Green acrylic paint, toothbrush.

Stamp: Stampin Up.

Fonts: High is Segoe Script size 72, 5 is Sybil Green size 72.

I found the hand on some clip art and computer generated the High and 5.  I splattered the Green Galore with green acrylic paint using a toothbrush.  I hand drew the tag.

Here is the verse I used for inside.

You’re not exactly big, and you’re not exactly little,

But being Five is best of all,

Because it’s in the middle.

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Always Artichoke, Green Galore, White.

Punch: 1-1/2” circle, 1-3/8” circle.

Accessories: Green acrylic paint, toothbrush.

Stamp: Stampin Up.

Fonts: High is Segoe Script size 72, 5 is Sybil Green size 72.

American Girl Doll Paper Bag Skirt and One Strap Bodysuit Tutorial AG021

I found different Paper Bag Skirt patterns on Pinterest.  With a combo of a few, I came up with this pattern.

Newberry is SEARS brand of the 18” doll.  Zoe is one of their Holiday Edition Dolls for 2014 and has come to live with us.  The AG doll clothes fit her just fine.

Paper Bag Skirt

Cut your fabric 7.5” in height and 20” in width.  Chalk mark the hem at 1/2 inch.  Chalk mark the top part of the skirt at 1- 1/4 inch.  Make sure that after folding and pressing, the skirt will be at least 5 to 5.5 inches in height.  Serge all raw edges to clean finish.  Press on chalk lines.

Sew the top or waist on the serged seam.

Sew again at ½ inch from the fold for a casing for the elastic and set aside.

Cut fabric 6 inch long by 1-1/4 inches wide for belt loops.  Serge one long edge (not necessary if using a selvage edge).

 Fold into thirds with the selvage edge or serged edge on top.

Sew a straight stitch on both sides about 1/8 inch from the edge.

Cut three strips measuring about 1.75 inch each.

Find the center of your fabric and mark with a pin.  Measure about 2 inches away from the center on both sides. That is where you will sew the belt loops.

Lay the right side of the belt loops on the right side of the skirt below the casing and stitch.

Fold belt loops up above the casing and stitch.

Feed 10” of ½” elastic through the casing with a safety pin on both ends of the elastic to prevent pulling it through.  Secure elastic.

With wrong sides together, sew the back seam with a 1/4 inch allowance.  Add a ‘back’ tag.

Sew the last belt loop at the center back seam.  Hem the skirt.

To make a tie belt, cut a strip of fabric 26” long by 1.5” wide.   Serge the short ends to clean finish.  With wrong sides together, sew the long sides at 1/4 inch allowance. Turn to the right side and tie a knot at the short ends.

Tack the belt at the back of the skirt with a couple of stitches.

You can also use matching or coordinating ribbon if you wish.

Bodysuit can be worn with other outfits if you desire.

One Strap Bodysuit

Wanted to give funthreads Dance Body Suit a try.  I had to alter the pattern as it would not fit Isabelle.  You can see my alterations in green on her original pattern.

Cut out 1 piece for the front and 1 piece for the back.  Cut 2 lining pieces.  I am using ‘cotton’ type fabric, not a knit.
Place one outer fabric and one lining fabric together with right sides together. Make the edges even and pin.   Sew the upper arm openings and shoulder strap using a ¼” seam.  Sew the leg openings.  Repeat this step for the second set of fabric. They will be opposites like the photo.  Carefully clip a small triangle off the corners.  Do not cut your stitches.  Pink or serge to clean finish the edges.

Turn right side out and press neatly.  Topstitch the front and back.

NOTE:  I caught a piece of soft sided Velcro to the wrong side of the front shoulder strap and one to the right side of the back shoulder strap at the time I was doing the topstitching.

Place the front and back together with right sides together. Make the edges even and pin.  Sew the side edges using a 1/4 inch seam.  Sew the crotch using a 1/4 inch seam.  Pink or serge to clean finish the edges.

Press.  Very quick and easy to make!

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!  Ordering info for this outfit can also be found on my Facebook page if you are interested – if it’s not there, just ask me about it.

I found different Paper Bag Skirt patterns on Pinterest.  With a combo of a few, I came up with this pattern.

Newberry is SEARS brand of the 18” doll.  Zoe is one of their Holiday Edition Dolls for 2014 and has come to live with us.  The AG doll clothes fit her just fine.

Paper Bag Skirt

Cut your fabric 7.5” in height and 20” in width.  Chalk mark the hem at 1/2 inch.  Chalk mark the top part of the skirt at 1- 1/4 inch.  Make sure that after folding and pressing, the skirt will be at least 5 to 5.5 inches in height.  Serge all raw edges to clean finish.  Press on chalk lines.

Sew the top or waist on the serged seam.

Sew again at ½ inch from the fold for a casing for the elastic and set aside.

Cut fabric 6 inch long by 1-1/4 inches wide for belt loops.  Serge one long edge (not necessary if using a selvage edge).

 Fold into thirds with the selvage edge or serged edge on top.

Sew a straight stitch on both sides about 1/8 inch from the edge.

Cut three strips measuring about 1.75 inch each.

Find the center of your fabric and mark with a pin.  Measure about 2 inches away from the center on both sides. That is where you will sew the belt loops.

Lay the right side of the belt loops on the right side of the skirt below the casing and stitch.

Fold belt loops up above the casing and stitch.

Feed 10” of ½” elastic through the casing with a safety pin on both ends of the elastic to prevent pulling it through.  Secure elastic.

With wrong sides together, sew the back seam with a 1/4 inch allowance.  Add a ‘back’ tag.

Sew the last belt loop at the center back seam.  Hem the skirt.

To make a tie belt, cut a strip of fabric 26” long by 1.5” wide.   Serge the short ends to clean finish.  With wrong sides together, sew the long sides at 1/4 inch allowance. Turn to the right side and tie a knot at the short ends.

Tack the belt at the back of the skirt with a couple of stitches.

You can also use matching or coordinating ribbon if you wish.

Bodysuit can be worn with other outfits if you desire.

One Strap Bodysuit

Wanted to give funthreads Dance Body Suit a try.  I had to alter the pattern as it would not fit Isabelle.  You can see my alterations in green on her original pattern.

Cut out 1 piece for the front and 1 piece for the back.  Cut 2 lining pieces.  I am using ‘cotton’ type fabric, not a knit.
Place one outer fabric and one lining fabric together with right sides together. Make the edges even and pin.   Sew the upper arm openings and shoulder strap using a ¼” seam.  Sew the leg openings.  Repeat this step for the second set of fabric. They will be opposites like the photo.  Carefully clip a small triangle off the corners.  Do not cut your stitches.  Pink or serge to clean finish the edges.

Turn right side out and press neatly.  Topstitch the front and back.

NOTE:  I caught a piece of soft sided Velcro to the wrong side of the front shoulder strap and one to the right side of the back shoulder strap at the time I was doing the topstitching.

Place the front and back together with right sides together. Make the edges even and pin.  Sew the side edges using a 1/4 inch seam.  Sew the crotch using a 1/4 inch seam.  Pink or serge to clean finish the edges.

Press.  Very quick and easy to make!

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!  Ordering info for this outfit can also be found on my Facebook page if you are interested – if it’s not there, just ask me about it.

MMS 168 Ladybug Scrapbook Page Layout

Here is my first page using the new digital scrap book program, My Memories Suite.  I used one of the free downloads called Watermelon and Lady Bugs by designer Ronda’s Scrap Bits to do this page.  I found their program ran identical to My Digital Studio by SU! so I didn’t have to learn much, which for me, was a good thing!  With MDS, you can get a list of everything you used on any page; I didn’t find that option on MMS – maybe it’s not offered or I just haven’t found it.  Because I tend to bounce around from kit to kit, I will be disappointed if there is no option for this.  Anyways, I was pleased with how this page turned out!

Here is my first page using the new digital scrap book program, My Memories Suite.  I used one of the free downloads called Watermelon and Lady Bugs by designer Ronda’s Scrap Bits to do this page.  I found their program ran identical to My Digital Studio by SU! so I didn’t have to learn much, which for me, was a good thing!  With MDS, you can get a list of everything you used on any page; I didn’t find that option on MMS – maybe it’s not offered or I just haven’t found it.  Because I tend to bounce around from kit to kit, I will be disappointed if there is no option for this.  Anyways, I was pleased with how this page turned out!

Milestone Birthday – 4 years old – B04c

Found this Ice Cream template at All Kids Network.  Looked through my stash and found some cardstock that I had used to create some fancy background paper using metallic markers so I used some of this for my ice cream.  I sponged both the ice cream and cone with Chocolate Chip ink.  Here is a poem I found on the net that I figured suited this card.

Ice Cream and Jello

Whistles and Balloons

Shouting and Singing

Rhymes and Tunes

Gifts and Surprises

Fun things to do

It’s time now to wish

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Cardstock: Real Red, White, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel.

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Real Red,

Stamp: #4 is from a set bought at Walmart,

Accessories: sponge, Swiss Dots EF, Square Lattice EF, Honeycomb EF, clear EP, mount.

Punches: 1” circle, 1.25” circle,

Found this Ice Cream template at All Kids Network.  Looked through my stash and found some cardstock that I had used to create some fancy background paper using metallic markers so I used some of this for my ice cream.  I sponged both the ice cream and cone with Chocolate Chip ink.  Here is a poem I found on the net that I figured suited this card.

Ice Cream and Jello

Whistles and Balloons

Shouting and Singing

Rhymes and Tunes

Gifts and Surprises

Fun things to do

It’s time now to wish

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Cardstock: Real Red, White, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel.

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark, Real Red,

Stamp: #4 is from a set bought at Walmart,

Accessories: sponge, Swiss Dots EF, Square Lattice EF, Honeycomb EF, clear EP, mount.

Punches: 1” circle, 1.25” circle,

American Girl Doll Popover Dress and Hair Piece Tutorial AG023

Oliver and S has this cute Popover doll dress on her sight for free.  As usual, I did a few changes.  I cut ½” off the top front and shortened the hem by ¾”.  Since I didn’t want a yoke in the back, I added ¼” to the back top.  I didn’t want to use ties at the shoulder so I added ½” on to the center back to allow for Velcro.

Newberry is SEARS brand of the 18” doll.  Zoe is one of their Holiday Edition Dolls for 2014 and has come to live with us.  The AG doll clothes fit her just fine.

Sew the side seams.   Serge across the top of the backs, down the center back seams and across the hem.  Press the hem at 3/8”.  Press the top of the backs at ½”.

I wanted a bit bigger front yoke so I cut it 3” wide by 5” long and folded it in half.

Sew yoke to front.  Yes, it is a bit long but we will fix that.  Press towards yoke and topstitch.

Find center of yoke by matching armholes and pin.  Mark the center of the yoke with a pin.  Chalk mark 1-3/4” away from each side of the pin.

Trim matching armhole curves.

Sew across the top of the backs.

Cut a bias strip 17” long by 1-1/2” wide.  Fold strap in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.  Gently press the fold to create a center crease.  Open the folded strip and lay it flat, wrong side up.  Fold one of the straps long raw edges in toward the center fold and press a crease into this folded edge.  Repeat for the other long raw edge.   Cut in half – one for each armhole.

Starting at the front and with the right sides of the garment facing you, lay the wrong side of the bias underneath so the fabric reaches the center fold line of the bias.  Sew the bias to the fabric edge using a basting zigzag.

When you have finished, reset your machine to a normal to shorter zigzag.  Turn the free edge of the bias to the front, encasing the garment.  Stitch again, on the right side, towards the bottom edge of the bias.

Continue to zigzag or straight stitch the remaining bias closed.

Sew center back seam about 4-1/2” from the bottom.  Hem bottom.  Add Velcro.

Put dress on the doll to fit the straps.  Trim and satin stitch the ends.  Add buttons.  I found it easier to sew the buttons on by machine as it was fairly thick for a needle and thread.

Hair Piece

Checked through my stash and found these silk flowers.  I glued two together and machine attached a button – not that these were thick, just because it was quicker!  Then I used Fabri-Tac to glue a barrette to the back.

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 AG tutorials!  Ordering info for this outfit can also be found on my Facebook page if you are interested – if it’s not there, just ask me about it.

Oliver and S has this cute Popover doll dress on her sight for free.  As usual, I did a few changes.  I cut ½” off the top front and shortened the hem by ¾”.  Since I didn’t want a yoke in the back, I added ¼” to the back top.  I didn’t want to use ties at the shoulder so I added ½” on to the center back to allow for Velcro.

Newberry is SEARS brand of the 18” doll.  Zoe is one of their Holiday Edition Dolls for 2014 and has come to live with us.  The AG doll clothes fit her just fine.

Sew the side seams.   Serge across the top of the backs, down the center back seams and across the hem.  Press the hem at 3/8”.  Press the top of the backs at ½”.

I wanted a bit bigger front yoke so I cut it 3” wide by 5” long and folded it in half.

Sew yoke to front.  Yes, it is a bit long but we will fix that.  Press towards yoke and topstitch.

Find center of yoke by matching armholes and pin.  Mark the center of the yoke with a pin.  Chalk mark 1-3/4” away from each side of the pin.

Trim matching armhole curves.

Sew across the top of the backs.

Cut a bias strip 17” long by 1-1/2” wide.  Fold strap in half lengthwise with wrong sides together.  Gently press the fold to create a center crease.  Open the folded strip and lay it flat, wrong side up.  Fold one of the straps long raw edges in toward the center fold and press a crease into this folded edge.  Repeat for the other long raw edge.   Cut in half – one for each armhole.

Starting at the front and with the right sides of the garment facing you, lay the wrong side of the bias underneath so the fabric reaches the center fold line of the bias.  Sew the bias to the fabric edge using a basting zigzag.

When you have finished, reset your machine to a normal to shorter zigzag.  Turn the free edge of the bias to the front, encasing the garment.  Stitch again, on the right side, towards the bottom edge of the bias.

Continue to zigzag or straight stitch the remaining bias closed.

Sew center back seam about 4-1/2” from the bottom.  Hem bottom.  Add Velcro.

Put dress on the doll to fit the straps.  Trim and satin stitch the ends.  Add buttons.  I found it easier to sew the buttons on by machine as it was fairly thick for a needle and thread.

Hair Piece

Checked through my stash and found these silk flowers.  I glued two together and machine attached a button – not that these were thick, just because it was quicker!  Then I used Fabri-Tac to glue a barrette to the back.

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 AG tutorials!  Ordering info for this outfit can also be found on my Facebook page if you are interested – if it’s not there, just ask me about it.

Transferring MDS components into My Memories Suite

I am super sad to hear that Stampin' Up! has decided to discontinue My Digital Studio by the beginning of June.  Apparently the sales were not there and they have decided to stick with their paper products instead!

Because they decided to stop supporting My Digital Studio, does not mean that you can no longer use it, it just means that if you have a problem with it, you will not be able to get assistance.

I am really disappointed that MDS is going away but Story Rock, the "Creator" of MDS has a compatible program called My Memories Suite that we can move all our MDS items into. Since there will be no updating or supporting MDS in the future the only way we can continue to use MDS is to move over to their program.

My Memories Suite is providing a discount on their version 6 or version 5 for free for MDS users. When ordering, you simply put in the promo code "upgradeMDS". 

They provide very easy instructions for transferring MDS components into MMS using Windows or Mac.

I have done some playing around in MMS and have found it very similar to MDS.  I do find their kits to be very artsy for me.  I say that, and then watch out - I will be changing my ‘look’ to artsy!!

I am super sad to hear that Stampin' Up! has decided to discontinue My Digital Studio by the beginning of June.  Apparently the sales were not there and they have decided to stick with their paper products instead!

Because they decided to stop supporting My Digital Studio, does not mean that you can no longer use it, it just means that if you have a problem with it, you will not be able to get assistance.

I am really disappointed that MDS is going away but Story Rock, the "Creator" of MDS has a compatible program called My Memories Suite that we can move all our MDS items into. Since there will be no updating or supporting MDS in the future the only way we can continue to use MDS is to move over to their program.

My Memories Suite is providing a discount on their version 6 or version 5 for free for MDS users. When ordering, you simply put in the promo code "upgradeMDS". 

They provide very easy instructions for transferring MDS components into MMS using Windows or Mac.

I have done some playing around in MMS and have found it very similar to MDS.  I do find their kits to be very artsy for me.  I say that, and then watch out - I will be changing my ‘look’ to artsy!!

Milestone Birthday – 4 years old – B04b

How cute is this Cookie Monster punch art!  Lots of inspiration on Pinterest.

Inside poem reads:

This woopidoo Birthday wish

Is sent to you today,

That you have the bestest birthday

In every, bevery, wevery way

Happy 4th birthday

Oscar: Head - Old Olive using scallop circle punch, Mouth - black using small oval punch, Tongue - Real Red using 1/2" circle punch, Eyebrows – Soft Suede using Slot punch, Eyes – ½” circle punch for the whites and ¼” for the blacks.  Mounted onto 1-3/4” Real Red square.

Cookie Monster: Head – Brilliant Blue using scallop circle punch, Mouth - black using 1” circle punch, Cookie – Soft Suede using ¾” circle punch and dotted with Early Espresso marker, Eyes – ½” circle punch for the whites and ¼” for the blacks.  Mounted onto 13/4” Summer Sun square.

Big Bird: Head - Summer Sun, Beak - Summer Sun cardstock and small oval, Tongue - Pretty in Pink cardstock and small oval.

Stamp: Look Who's Turning for 4, 3/4" circle punch and black marker.

Happy Everything stamp and small oval.

Mounts.

How cute is this Cookie Monster punch art!  Lots of inspiration on Pinterest.

Inside poem reads:

This woopidoo Birthday wish

Is sent to you today,

That you have the bestest birthday

In every, bevery, wevery way

Happy 4th birthday

Oscar: Head - Old Olive using scallop circle punch, Mouth - black using small oval punch, Tongue - Real Red using 1/2" circle punch, Eyebrows – Soft Suede using Slot punch, Eyes – ½” circle punch for the whites and ¼” for the blacks.  Mounted onto 1-3/4” Real Red square.

Cookie Monster: Head – Brilliant Blue using scallop circle punch, Mouth - black using 1” circle punch, Cookie – Soft Suede using ¾” circle punch and dotted with Early Espresso marker, Eyes – ½” circle punch for the whites and ¼” for the blacks.  Mounted onto 13/4” Summer Sun square.

Big Bird: Head - Summer Sun, Beak - Summer Sun cardstock and small oval, Tongue - Pretty in Pink cardstock and small oval.

Stamp: Look Who's Turning for 4, 3/4" circle punch and black marker.

Happy Everything stamp and small oval.

Mounts.