New Banner, new Button!!!

Yes, I finally did it. I designed and finished a new banner for this blog. If you have a button on your blog. Please swap it with this new one! Thanks. I want this blog to have a look of it's own. The old header is still on my vinyl blog and will remain there! Thanks!!!

60-ty & Fabulous Shirt

My darling mother-in-law turned 60 this weekend. I made her a shirt on her special day and would LOVE to give you the pattern. All you need to do is right click the picture to save it. You can then print it on iron-on's. Some of them require the image to be flipped. So I have done that for you. Pick which one you will need. Then cut out around the edges and iron it on! I did the main image on the front and then I cut the butterflies and lines out and did three on the front left of the shirt and did a trail of two more coming up to the main image. I then took the remaining two butterflies and lines and put then in the right corner on the back of the shirt, to give her a little sass to the fanny! She LOVED it, and I hope you will love it as well. Sorry, I didn't think to take a better picture of just the shirt! I use professional adhesive so If you would like me to print one for you please contact me about size and prices. Thanks!!!

How to Prepare an Old HINGE Window For Vinyl Lettering

Get your old hinge window ready to apply my vinyl decals on. Take your window like this one. Gather your all purpose cleaner, your glass cleaner, caulk, and your putty knife. If you have a different kind of window or if your window isn't in this kind of condition and needs to be repainted or needs glass replaced please check back soon for a tutorial. I have several windows I will be preparing for vinyl lettering.

Grab your putty knife and watch this video to learn how to get rid of the loose window putty.

Here are a couple pictures of a window that has the loose putty all taken off.

And a close up of what it looks like removed.

Remember you are just removing the loose putty on the back of the window. There will not be any on the front side of the window, leave it as is. Now take care of those hinges by watching this video.

Then clean the window and glass like in this video.

And then grab your caulk and refill in the back so the glass panels do not fall out. Learn how in these video's.

Here is the back of the window with the new caulk on it.

And here is a close up. Just remember it doesn't matter what it looks like because it's the back.

Stay tuned for more window tutorials and also how to prder and apply your vinyo to your window and see what you can transform your window into.

Nursing Cover Tutorial

What you need:

18 inches of boning (I prefer the plastic one, not the metal one)

thread

3/4 yard of 100 percent cotton fabric

3/4 yard of matching 100 percent cotton fabric

Instructions:

Take your two fabric choices and put them right sides together on the table. Pin around the entire outsides. Make a cut down one side parallel to the selvege three inches out from the selvege. Cut another strip another 3 inches over parallel to the selvege. Pin them along the edges as well.

Take one of the long strips and start sewing on one of the long edges. Go almost to the top about two inches left and angle the end to make a point. Sew in a diagonal across it to the end and then sew down the long end leaving the short end opened.

Clip off the diagonal excess.

Take the other strip and cut it into three pieces. Make the first one 6 inches. Take the remaining and cut it in half. (You will not use these two pieces, save them for an upcoming project that I am posting.) Take that 6 inch piece and sew down both of the long sides. DO NOT sew along the short sides.

Take the large piece and sew along the entire outside, leaving an opening in the middle of one of the long sides of the fabric (the side that will be the top), the opening should be around 8 inches.

Take the small rectangle and turn it right sides out and press.

Take the long strip and turn it right sides and press.

Take the large rectangle piece and turn it right sides. Press. When you get to the opening fold under and press.

Fold the top long side of the large rectangle fabric in half and mark the half mark with a pin. You can see it here in the bottom right of the picture. Then take your boning and place the middle of it on the middle of the pin and mark the edges of both sides of the boning with a pin in the frabic like shown on the left of the picture at the end of the boning.

Take the small rectangle piece and fold one end in about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.

Pin this to the top of the fabric where you put the pin on the outside of the boning. Let me clarify. The outer edge of this rectangle will match up to the pin at the end of the boning. Pin the opposite side of the fabric up and put it about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch down from the top. (The opening will be to the right of this piece)

Fold over the other side of the rectangle about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch. You are going to fold this over and match it up the same depth as the front. You can see in this picture the pin mark. It should be on the same place in the front and back of this small rectangle piece.

Take that pin out and put it through all the layers of this small rectangle.

This is what it should look like. The small rectangle is looped and attached to the fabric on the front and the back by the same pin.

Fold over the end of the long skinny rectangle with the point on the end. Fold this over about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.

Match up the outside edge with the other pin that marked the edge of the boning. Just like this. Pin in place so the contrasting fabric is showing.

This is what it should now look like. The opening in the large piece of fabric is inbetween the two straps that you have just pinned on.

Start on this short side of the fabric strap and sew through all the layers.

When you get to the corner turn and sew along the long edge.

When you get to the edge of the long side keep on sewing. Sew all the way across the other strap and sew right onto the long side of that strap.

Turn fabric and sew up the short end and stop by backstitching.

You will now have your casing for your boning. Open it up and slide it in.

Now you will sew along the top of the strap.

Turn and sew down the short side, sewing right through your boning. (This is why I use the plastic one, it is stitchable) This will make a complete rectangle. Now turn over and sew a complete rectangle around the back of the smaller loop strap, to make sure both sides are completely sewn on.

Go to the long strap piece, and complete the rectangle. Sew along the top and along the remaining short side.

Sew in the middle of the two straps along the top edge. Follow the edge of your presser foot with your fabric. After you have sewn that shut, go to the other edge of the strap and sew along the entire edge of the outside. When you get to the corners, turn fabric and continue until you have sewn completely around the outside. Make sure you DO NOT catch and of the strap in the line.

If you have a made by tag, sew it in. Like mine. (Remember this tutorial is for you to use for personal use, not to sell. If you would like to purchase one made, you can from my shop!)

Take the long diagonal strap and slide it into the loop and tie in a knot. Some people use a d-ring. I DO NOT like D rings, they are heavy and are hard on your washing machine.

That's it. You are done. Make one for yourself or for a friend. These are great baby shower gifts. Please remember that this tutorial is for your personal use. Do not make and sell them. If you would like to purchase one please do so through my shop.

These are reversible and allow you to sneak a peak at your baby. If you are nursing a busy baby that moves all around, you won't get uncovered. This covers every area and the neck straps make it so it does not fall off! Enjoy!

How to make a TUTU

You will need:

scissors or rotary cutter

elastic, enough to fit around the waist of the person you are making it for

thread

sewing machine

toille (1 yard of two colors for a light tutu, 1.5 yards of two colors for a medium tutu, 2 yards of 2 colors for a full tutu, or 3 yards of 3 colors for a full tutu.)

Step One. Cut your elastic to fit around the waist of the person you are making it for. The elastic should be 1/2 thick and non-roll.

Step Two. Take the two open ends and sew them together with a zig zag stitch. Put one end on the other end and zig zag over and over. I backstitch about three times. And this needs to be a zig zag stitch so it doesn't break when it is stretched.

Step Three. Take the elastic in both of your hands and really pull to make sure you have sewn it enough times. If it breaks. Sew it again!

Step Four. Lay your toille out and cut it into 3 inch strips all the way across. Do this with both of the colors you are using.

Step Five. Cut the strips of toille on the folded edge. Each piece should then be two pieces of toille. Which you will seperate. If you are making an extra full tutu do not seperate these pieces. Cut them just don't pull them apart. For any other fullness pull these pieces apart after cutting and use them as seperate pieces.

Step Six. Tie the toille onto the elastic. (If you are making the extra full tutu, you will be using double layers when tying them on. The rest will be single layers of tulle like the one shown in this picture)

Step Seven. Complete tutu. Give it to your little princess to prance around in!

Remember I post these tutorials for your personal use. These are NOT so you can make and sell them. If you would like to purchase completed tutu's please do so through my shop. Thanks!

Zipper Brooches

An elegant yet sophisticated way to take your everday outfit to the next level. This is a brooch made out of a zipper. Hand sewn by me in a smoke free, pet free, kid filled home. Come on a metallic pin, ready to wear. This could be attached to your jacket, backpack, hat, belt, anything you name it!

Apple Butter

First you need to go to this post. And make you some applesauce. Now let's turn it into apple butter. What is apple butter. It's a healthier alternative to butter or jam, etc. It's great on bread and crackers...Or my kids like to eat it alone.

Add your applesauce to your crockpot. (I used one batch of applesauce.) Turn your crockpot onto medium or low heat.

Add 2 tablespoons cinnamon.

2 teaspoons ground cloves.

and either 1 cup of sugar, splenda, or frozen grape concentrate (half of one can), or you can leave the sweetner out for a completly healthy version.

Stir it together.

Place knives or metal scewers across the top of the crockpot and put the lid on. This allows for steam to escape but covers the top completly to eliminate any splashing.

Keep on low or medium heat, and let cook for 4-8 hours. The longer you let it cook the thicker it gets. Check it at 4 hours and then every hour after until your desired thickness. I reach mine about 6.5-7 hours.

Put it in jars and process! Yummy!

This is also great in oatmeal! I always have it on hand!