Shamrock Topiary

My mom came to visit for a week, and brought me some supplies to make this cute little shamrock topiary! It was so fun making this craft together. She was kind enough to be my model in several of the tutorial pictures. :)

Finished it in a naptime, and I'm super happy with it.

Here's what I used to make this:

3/4" dowel (cut with chopsaw to be 12" long)

3/4" drill bit and power drill

2x4 block (cut with chopsaw into a square)

shamrock template

1/3 yard St Patty's print fabric

green acrylic paint

sponge brush

rhinestone embellishments

tule ribbon

Step 1: I bought a package of these cardstock shamrocks last March at JoAnn's (I've seen them at all kinds of stores, however). This is the template for the shamrock. Fold fabric in half, then place template on the two layers of fabric, and trace. Cut.

Step 2: Place fabric shamrocks wrong sides facing, and topstitch around edge of shamrock, about 1/4" from edge. Leave about 3" unstitched for stuffing the shamrock. Leave bottom of stem unstitched also (where the dowel will be pushed through).

Step 3: Using poly-fiberfill stuffing, stuff shamrock firmly. It needs to be pretty full so that it has enough gusto to stand up straight when mounted on dowel. Topstitch the opening closed.

Step 4: Paint dowel piece with green paint. After letting dry, glue the end of the dowel piece and fit into hole in block.

Step 5: Smooth glue bubbles, then paint block with green paint.

Step 6: Spray with sealer for a more finished look.

Step 7: Glue the top of the dowel, and push stuffed shamrock up and through shamrock.

Press firmly onto dowel and let dry.

Step 8: Tie bow with tule, and embelish shamrock and tule with rhinestones and buttons.

Cute!

Peek-A-Boo Quiet Book Page

I have a problem. I'm obsessed with these quiet book pages! I recruited 14 crafty ladies for aquiet book group here in St Louis in December, and LOVED the result. So much, in fact, that I organized another group with friends from college and we're exchanging those pages next month. I can't wait to add to the book!

Here's what's been occupying my life, and dining room table for the last couple of weeks. A Peek-A-Boo page where you can switch out the pictures or flashcards in these vinyl pockets behind the shutters, chimney, windows, and door.

For the detail stitching on the shutters, I found a quick method (since I ended up stitching horizontal lines across 40 of these bad boys):

I fed each rectangle through the machine, one after another. The pic below shows how they're all in one long attached banner, and then I just trimmed the strings and detached them after. You have to be sure to backstitch at the beginning and ending of each line on each rectangle.

I'm thinking of adding a little something to the door for a doorknob. Other than that, all 10 pages are finished!

Now that these pages are complete, I can finally get back to focusing on St Patty's Day again!

2 Year T-Shirt Applique

Did you know that a Cricut can cut fabric? My life will never be the same.

My daughter's birthday was this week, so I put this together in about 10 minutes for her to wear on her big day. Fuse some Heat `N Bond to a fabric scrap, and press CUT! Stitch onto the shirt, and you've got it!

Happy Birthday girl!

Toddler Schedule

I've been feeling like my daughter is old enough to understand and anticipate events in her day, so I made this daily schedule for her. It's a magnet board that Shannon got while in college, then passed it on to me when I went to college! Ha!

My daughter can easily place and remove the event cards as we advance through the day.

On the back, I can store the extra cards that don't apply for the day.

It's made from a Word document- print, cut, laminate! Then I used those adhesive magnets on the back. :) My little lady really seems to like it.

Happy Birthday David!

My hubs recently reached an important and memorable age. He turned 30! I wanted to surprise him by making a cake for him. Here's what I came up with.

All you need is

• a round cake pan
• 1 cake mix
• black fondant
• yellow fondant
• orange fondant
• circle cookie cutters - different sizes
• number cookie cutters if desired
• letter cookie cutters if desired
  

I baked and iced the cake with buttercream icing. I saved some buttercream and dyed it black to outline the center circle. I set the black icing aside for later use.
Next, I rolled out the black fondant and placed it on the cake.
I then rolled out the colors and cut out David's name. I placed the letters on the cake and then followed with the circles and numbers.
Last, I outlined the center circle with black buttercream to make it POP! So fun, and easy!

I linked up to CraftOManiac. Check out more fun craft ideas there.

Card Club!

We started a card club, almost 2 years ago, where we meet every month and exchange handmade cards. I've seen some super classy and fun cards during this time, and so I thought I'd better document these! I'll be posting pics of all the goodies after each "meeting," but until then, here are just some of the cards we've seen...

Great work, ladies!

Celebrate the BOY!

Alright. Do you moms of boys ever feel frustrated that bloggy land crafts are comprised mostly of Tu-Tus and hair bows? Well, here's an event for you! Just head over to MADE this month. They are doing a month long event called, CELEBRATE THE BOY. It's so great! There are lots of fun prizes and give-aways along with a ton of cute and studly items you can create for your little guy.
I love it! I hope you do too. Enjoy!