Book Report And Update

Sorry I'm not back with my favorite things post yet, I'm still gathering a few items to photograph...Don't worry it will be here shortly...

However I wanted to talk about the book I just finished reading. Remember I posted about it here?

Well, it's an easy read. It was kind of fun because I didn't know it but the author writes about a small city right next to where my husband grew up, which is in the middle of nowhere because she was raised around their too. Other than that. It was okay. It was fine to read once, I wouldn't read it twice. I guess it's just not what I expected. Did any of you read it? What were your thoughts? I was hoping it was going to be funnier than it actually was.

As for this month I've picked up this book. My brother in law recommended this one to me. This one is an LDS book (meaning a book that has to do with my religion, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints) and talks about the signs of the second coming. It's written by the same man that wrote The First 2000 years. Let me know if you have read it or if you plan on reading it! I'll be back to discuss it when I'm finished.

My New Site Is Up And Running!

I know I told you it would be towards the middle of March, but I finished early! Exciting isn't it!

So...drum roll please...

I introduce you to ShannonMakesStuff.

Don't fret. This blog is not changing. Shannon Makes Stuff just has all of my information compiled in one place. All of my blogs and shops. I will also be selling my vinyl designs on there, starting the middle of march. And if I have anything super important to say, I will post it there too with any specials that I might be running.

So please, feel free to check in every now and again! And you can see that underneath the header you will now be taken to my home page to access my tutorials, interviews, recipes, etc!

I hope you like it as much as I do!!! And I hope it makes things a little easier for you!

If you haven't entered my giveaway it ends tomorrow morning... so visit the post before this and leave a comment!

Can I toot my own horn??? ***GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED***

Well today, I am 29! Can you believe it! 29. Yep. I'm getting older and older and older...O'well, that's what happens right...At least I'm getting wiser...or so the saying goes...

But for my birthday, since my husband lives...well...in Ohio...and I am in Salt Lake...I got to get my own gift. (Okay so that's really how it usually goes even if we are under the same roof). This year. I decided on one. And I can't wait to get it!!! It shipped yesterday!!!


Yep! I've advanced from the duct tape dress form! And I'm thrilled!!! If you're interested I got mine here after majorly studying the brands. (this one is used on Project Runway)

But because it's my birthday, I thought I would also do something fun! Hmmm... A Giveaway? Of 29 of my favorite things! And when the winner is announced I will also show you all what those 29 things happen to be!!! You won't want to miss it...

To enter, if you are still hanging out with me, leave a comment, and please share with me one of your favorite things!!! I'll choose the winner On Monday, which happens to be the 31st, sometime in the morning! Good luck!!!

An answer to your question...

I've had several people ask me what the best way is to cut the fabric for the clothes quilt top I made in this post. So I decided to help you out! First you can head on over there to the original post and get the sizes of the pieces you need to cut. Then gather all of your clothes for your quilt top.

Soon you'll have this with these few tricks.

If you are cutting a shirt lay it down flat pulling the side seams out all the way. Then cut the widest piece you will need, 7 inches in the center of the shirt.

Move the two side pieces out of your way. Starting from the bottom cut off the hem then measure up 7 inches and cut. If you can fit another 7 inches go for it. If not than do a smaller piece that is 4 inches like I did.

Then take the side pieces and lay them out so the bottom hem is flat.

Trim off the hem and cut 7 inches higher up and 7 inches wide.

Take the sleeve piece that you cut off.

And cut down the seam of the underarm.

Lay it flat out.

Then cut 4 inches up from the hem.

And then cut what fits. Either a 7 inch piece or a 4 inch piece.

This side wasn't wide enough for a 7 inch piece so using my ruler guide I cut a 4 inch square.

Then you can discard any remaining pieces that aren't large enough to cut at least a 4X4 square.

And for another tip. Cut off the necklines and save them. I make adorable flowers out of them. Tutorial coming soon.

The goal is to use the most of the material from the clothes as you can. The more squares and rectangles you can get the better. So for pants or shorts. You want to line the outer seam on the legs up and lay them flat.

Then cut down the crotch seam.

Then cut down the inner leg seam.

You can then open up each side of the leg and lay them flat and cut as many pieces as you can out of each pant leg.

I hope this helps! I have now made three quilt tops from my boys old clothes, one for each one of them. And I have enough material from their clothes that were stained or had memories that I am doing the same pattern only in reverse for the back of the quilt. However, it's a project I didn't get to bring with me, so it's in storage for the next 9 months. As soon as I get it again and start working on it, I'll let you know how it goes and keep you updated! Good luck in your scrap clothes cutting! You might get blisters but it's so worth it to see all the memories on one quilt! And my boys love pointing out the outfits they remember on their quilt tops and even can tell me a little background about each one!

How to mend... a ripped bum...

My husband is really funny about his clothes. He wears them until he wears them out. And then he wants me to fix them so he can wear them more. He can't throw old clothes away. He said it's too hard to find a comfortable worn in pair of shorts or jeans. I don't get it, but hey...whatever floats his boat. So I thought I would share with you how to fix a tear in a pair of pants. This one happens to be in the bum.

The first thing you will want to do is grab an old pair of jeans, I always keep one on hand. You want to cut a piece big enough to completely cover the tear you are fixing. Place it underneath the tear and pin one side of the tear to the jeans.

Then pull the other side of the tear right next to the other side that you just pinned down and pin into place.

Stitch around the tear with a coordinating thread. In this case I used black so you could see, and because where this tear is it gets hidden with his t-shirt so I just used thread I had on hand. From the back it will look like this.

And from the front like this.

Now you could just leave it like that. Or you can reinforce it by zig zagging along it. Move your stitch width to the widest, in my case a 6, and the stitch length short, in my case a .5. Then completely zig zag the length of the tear.

Once you do that cut the remaining jeans material off.

And you've done it. Saved your husbands favorite pair of pants for a few more months of wear.

I tweet...

Did you know I tweet? I have for a while. Just don't know if I've ever shared that bit of useless information with you all.

I do not, I repeat I DO NOT facebook it. I love facebook don't get me wrong...but that website can really suck me in...and the next thing I know...it's five hours later...and the kids are starving, half dressed, and I don't know what happened! So I avoid it at all costs...

But I'd love for you to come follow me on twitter if you'd like!

Tweet

Fixing Holes In Your Jeans

Back In APRIL I posted about how to fix holes in your jeans. And since then, I've fixed alot of jeans, and have somewhat mastered my technique. So I thought I would share with you how I am now fixing jeans.

A wonderful blog reader ( I really do LOVE you all and read every comment you send in...I LOVE them...so comment away) posted that she (assuming it's a she, it was left anonymously and I would LOVE to give her credit) opens the side of her jeans. GENIUS. So open the side of your jeans that does not have the outer top stitching. Open it from about an inch above the hem at the bottom to about 4 inches above the hole in the jeans that you are fixing. You can do this with scissors or a seam ripper.

See this side of my pants has a top stitch. Don't mess with that side it's harder to close.

This is the seam you want to open, with no top stitching. I have found that on most jeans it's the inside seam, in between the legs. If both have top stitching, it's okay, open the seam that is the less bulky.

You will than take an old pair of jeans and cut two rectangles big enough to completely cover the holes and then some. Layer the two pieces on top of each other. We are going to make the knee area double the strength so they don't rip right through again! Slide the two pieces into the pant leg through the opening you created.

Then lay the jeans flat so you can see the two layers you just placed through the hole neatly.

Head on over to your sewing machine and sew a zig-zag pattern through the three layers of jeans. Make sure you start well ahead of the hole and end well below the hole. This will make the knee area more durable.

And it gives a really cool look to the jeans. If you don't want your stitching as obvious, don't use gold jeans thread, use navy or white.

Turn the pants inside out and your rectangle piece will stick out.

Trim around the edge of the sewn lines to get rid of any extra fabric.

Then place the two sides together that you originally took apart and sew down the edge. To create the seam in the leg. If you had to unpick an edge that was top stitched like I did. You simply sew with the pants right sides out down the seam line as close to the edge as you can get.

Repeat with the other knee, assuming they are boy jeans, because there is probably a hole over there too. And then you have it!

A fixed pair of jeans with enforced durable knees. Hopefully you won't have to fix them again before they are outgrown!

Heaven knows at my house, I can't fix my jeans fast enough, and the bank account doesn't allow for my to just discard them... However, this way I haven't had to redo...yet! How do you fix your jeans?

Look! It's really out!

My sewing machine is really out. And I'm really sewing. No it's not a craft. It's a scout uniform, and I can't believe I am old enough to have a scout. But besides that. I've finally unpacked, am getting my new schedule figured out...and I'M CRAFTING!

It feels like it's been forever! And I've really missed it! It might be a slow start but it's coming along...I'm trying to finish up the last bit of the tutorials I have promised you...you know...the pillow pals... They are coming in a few days...the patterns will follow shortly!

Thanks again for hanging in there with me through all of this adjusting! Moving stinks.

Congratulations!!!

It's been a busy weekend but I finally got around to picking the CSN Giveaway $35.00 dollar credit! And it goes to...number 21...

Tammigirl said...
CSN has so much that I think I'll never find it all.

Please email (shannon_staker at hotmail dot com) me so I can get you your credit! Thanks!!!

What I'm Reading...

First and foremost...Are you all ready for some new things coming your way? The end of March I have an entire blog makeover coming and a new website! It will be so much easier for you to navigate through~! My tutorials will be so easy to find, same with my recipes, tips, interviews, and more.

My vinyl designs will FINALLY be up and able to purchase as well on that new website! And so will my crafts...including custom scripture covers. Yep, for your bible or/and book of mormon.

And since I'm changing things up a bit once a month I will be posting a little bit about What I'm reading! I'm not very good at reading, in fact, I hate it. Only because I would much rather be doing something else. But it's so so so good to read. I read every night to my boys without fail for thirty minutes, but I'm kind of getting tired of Diary Of The Wimpy Kid, Series Of Unfortunate Events, and The Magic Tree House, etc. So, I figured I would broaden my horizon and start reading a book a month. Easy enough.

So this month... The book is...Surviving Your Blessings By Lynn C. Jaynes.

It's about blessings coming in the most unlikely packages! Next month I'll let you know what I thought of it, and if you pick it up and read it you can chime in as well! And then I'll let you know what book is up for next month! I'd love it if you wanted to join in with me in a reading adventure!

How To Get Your Security Deposit Back...CLEAN!!!

Since I'm pretty much a moving expert, and have moved 11 times in the last 10 years, and each and every time I have received my full security deposit back, I thought I'd share with you some of my tips, tricks, and favorite products!

First things first. For your bathtub and toilets. Use a wet and dry sandpaper sponge. Seriously. Just do it. It can take off any toilet bowl circle, Even ones that were there before you moved in. And it can remove any and I mean ANY hard water stains.

Second. Mr. Clean Magic erasers. Enough said. It takes off the hard to get off marks on floor and walls.

Third. Microfiber towels. You can get a set of four at Home Depot. It comes with a Stainless Steel Cloth that is white. A Dusting Cloth that is yellow. A Mirror and Window Cloth that is blue, and an All Purpose cloth that is green. And yeah, they are amazing. They clean your stainless steel appliances perfectly. The thing I like the best is that you don't need any chemical with them. You just get the cloth wet and wipe.

Fourth. Paint. It's worth it. Just do it. If you live in a house that has FLAT paint it's a must. This wall below is our stairs. I have three boys. This is after I wiped it clean.

Uh huh...it's not clean AT ALL. It's so much easier to spend a little money and paint in order to get all your security deposit back. And it's not worth the time you spend rubbing those walls when they still look dirty. You can see the difference below. It's the exact same paint color. Look how dirty my boys made the walls.

Now for the carpet. No matter how much of a Food Nazi I am with the carpet things like this happen. Little spots of dirt and stuff on the floor.

Meet Folex. You can purchase it at Home Depot.

Just spray it on the spot.

Rub a few times. Literally just a few. Like twice.

And it's gone.

Repeat on the other spots, and you have like new flooring.

I hope these little tips and tricks help you out! It's so nice getting your full deposit back, and my mom and dad always taught me to Leave whatever you find or get cleaner than you found it or got it. Hopefully it's something my kids will learn from me as well.