Tutorial- Embellished Burp Cloths

My most favorite thing to make for upcoming new babies are burp cloths. Really. It’s because they’re so fast to make, way cuter than the store bought versions, and I pull them out every time I burp my baby so they get maximum exposure. Literally, I go through a couple a day. Having tried a million different burp cloths made from every material under the sun and in every shape you can think of in the last 11 years these are what work best for me and my little spitters- a 9” x 17” knit 3 layered burp cloth made cute with a fabric panel or patch on the bottom front.

-Here’s how to make your own-

For a burp cloth with fabric along the bottom front you’ll need-

1 rectangle flannel 1o” x 18”

1 rectangle soft knit (cotton interlock or jersey- not ribbed) 10” x 18”

1 rectangle soft knit 10” x 13.5”

1 rectangle 10” x 5.5” of your favorite fabric print.

To make a solid white burp cloth with a patch at the bottom cut 1 layer flannel and 2 knit rectangles 10”x 18” and skip the fabric print.

First lay your fabric print right sides together on top of your 13.5” long piece of knit along the bottom edge and sew along the bottom using 1/2” seam. Press flat so it’s now your front piece that measures 10” x 18” like the other pieces.

If you want it embellished now’s the time to make it pretty before you move on. Add ribbon, ric rac, patches… whatever makes your heart pitter patter. If you’re making a solid burp cloth and want a patch on the front here’s where you add your patch to the right side of one of your knit pieces.

Continue… (said in a French accent).

Lay your pieces out so your flannel layer is on the very bottom, your solid knit piece is right side up on top the flannel, and your knit and fabric front piece is facing down on the very top like so.

Sew around the outside edge using 1/2” seam leaving a hole at the top about 3” wide for turning. Turn your fabrics right side out between the 2 knit layers so the flannel layer is on the inside.

Tuck the edge of your 3” gap towards the inside and pin. I didn’t pin mine so pretend I’m a pro and pin my stuff like I should. Do what I say, not what I do ;).

Sew around the outside edge of your burp cloth. I used my presser foot edge as a guide. When you get to your gap just sew along the edge and it will close it up for you as long as your seam along the outside is less than 1/2”.

That’s it!

Here’s a close up of the patch and reverse appliqué I did. Of course I had to use my new Silhouette heat transfer material, it’s too fun not to apply it everything I own. I used the yellow for the star and the white to make my own diamond patterned fabric for the number 1, to add stripes to the blue ribbon, and to write “little” on the green ribbon.

Here’s how you add the transfer to ribbon. I used grosgrain, satin, and twill with perfect results. You just cut out the design you want and the clear backing is a little tacky so it sticks to your ribbon making it really easy not to shift your design and screw it up.

Throw a pressing cloth over your ribbon and transfer and heat with your iron on the cotton setting (no steam) for 60 seconds or so. Great way to put whatever you want on ribbon without shelling out the big bucks for customized stuff.

If you want to get some heat transfer and other great stuff to try for yourself don’t forget to enter the giveaway here!

Have a fantastic Monday. I’m off to make more baby stuff. Not much time left!

Giveaway Day: Silhouette Accessories Bundle!

I promised you last week that I had an exciting giveaway to share and today is the day! I love giveaway days. I’ve had so much fun and really want one of you to have just as much fun as I have so go check it out.

If you love making stuff, I assume that’s why you’re here ;), or want to try your hand at it you won’t want to miss this.

~Read more about it and enter the Giveaway here~

A little Vitamin C

It’s my Creative Team Monday at The Button Shop blog and I could hardly stop biting my nails this morning. I couldn’t wait to show you what’s been pent up in this noggin of mine for over a month. I chose Tessa Ann’s Orange Tree buttons, oh my gosh are these things adorable! And completely detailed. The branches are awesome. Here’s what I came up with-

A comfy and sweet newborn outfit set. I made the hat from my own pattern (a Pyrex bowl was involved, I’m such a pro) using white stretch jersey and a little inspiration from my mom circa 15 years ago. I made the booties from my own pattern out of cotton and embellished a store bought newborn shirt. The shirt was an after thought but I was having so much fun I couldn’t stop. If I would have given myself more time I would have made pants to go with it all, I had 2 buttons left ;). If you’d like to see some close-ups you can visit Tessa’s blog here.

I have another project in the works that I can finally share on Friday. All these secret projects are killing me… and my poor nubbins for nails. I hate secrets so how about a giveaway to pass the time? A secret giveaway. Make a guess about my newest project and you’ll be entered to win something related to it. Edited to add *here's a clue- it's girl or boy*. You don't have to answer correctly to win though, just leave a comment. I'm a sucker for comments.

Good luck and I’ll pick a random winner Friday.

Button Shop Giveaway

Monday was another great Button Team creative feature on The Button Shop Blog with a tutorial by Rachel. Some really creative stuff going on there let me tell you, I hope you’re checking it out each Monday. I also wanted to let you guys know that Tessa is having a giveaway at the bottom of that post so you can have a chance at winning a grab bag of her buttons!The winner will be announced 4/24, it’s not something you’ll want to miss.

I’m having a blast with my buttons. In fact I’m having a blast with them today, my feature is next Monday and I can hardly wait to show you so stay tuned.

Did you just double dip?

You dipped…

and you dipped again!

Jeremy has been know to double dip more than just giveaway winners, but that’s an entirely different post. He was going to draw a few more times and I’m sure he would have picked everyone if I would have let him, but I had to stop him somewhere. Congrats Amy and Katherine- not one but two winners today. I’ll be emailing later!

To those of you who weren’t so lucky this time I do have great news. The apron top pattern will be back, it’s just going to undergo some back surgery first and it will have a buddy soon as well! Things are working out great, I just need to take some time to get it all together. So hang in there and I’ll let you know when it’s back (with a back) and other great stuff.

Have a great weekend, I know Amy and Katherine are going to have a much brighter one at least ;).

One lucky little someone will get…

**The giveaway is closed**

A new apron top. I tease you not it’s giveaway time! I know, it’s about time right. Well better late than never. I absolutely love sewing these and it’s a good thing because I was going to give away the top Kaci modeled but she “really really really” wanted to wear it for the rest of the day. She wouldn’t take it off and it looks like her so it’s hers.

So how about a custom apron top in your choice of size from 2 to 10? I don’t have any wildwood fabric left so the winner will get to choose from either the Amy Butler black (olive technically) combo on the left or the Amy Butler pink combo on the right.

So here’s the low down-

*Anyone can enter just leave a comment on this post with your email address if it’s not in your profile to be entered to win. Unless you are that yucky \/iagra person who keeps leaving gross comments, you sir/madam cannot enter and will not be counted ;).

*One comment per person please.

*If you are a follower of this blog you get one extra entry. Just include “I’m a follower” or something like that so I can count you twice. For example If you are a follower you could leave something like this-

Even though you never learned how to whistle and that’s weird I want to win and I’m a follower so I want to win twice.

I’ll shut this puppy down in one week so you have until Wednesday night to enter. Good luck and if you’re as lucky as I am don’t worry. I’m almost finished with the tutorial so you can make one if you don’t win.

Have a fantastic Thursday!

An early Boo for you -tutorial style-

Edited to add- the giveway is closed and a winner was announced, thanks to all who entered!

I’m in love with burlap banners right now and even though it’s too early to start decorating for Halloween, it’s never to early to make the stuff to decorate with. Like this-

Minus the green star, I had to take the picture of my front door open so the sun wouldn’t shine through the burlap and make it hard to see. Want to make one?

Here’s what you’ll need to get if you don’t have them on hand-

Freezer paper (or letter stencils)*

Burlap*

Black paint

Glitter paint- optional

Hemp cord

You’ll also need a glue gun(or sewing machine/iron on hemming tape), scissors, paint brush, ruler, iron, piece of cardstock or cardboard 8 1/2" x 11", and your computer printer.

*You can find freezer paper in the foil/cling wrap isle at the Super big box stores. It comes in a huge roll for about $5-$6 but one roll will last you a lifetime. Really. It would be a good project to split with a couple of friends. In fact if I know you personally and you want some paper just give me a shout and I'll bring some next time I see you. I have plenty! I also got my burlap from the fabric section in my super store, it was just over $2 a yard, next to the batting by the yard. If you have a JoAnn's or other fabric/decorating store check there too.

1. First lay your burlap out horizontally and measure 11” down the left side of the burlap. Find the strand of burlap that’s at the 11” mark and pull it all the way out .

2. That makes a nice even line so you can cut it straight across without all those annoying fuzzies.

3. Cut through that line.

Now you should have a piece of burlap that is 11” tall by however wide, mine was 36” wide since I bought it by the yard. If you cut 2 pieces of burlap 11”x36” you will get 14 pennants, enough to spell Happy Halloween if you wish.

4.Next you’ll take your cardstock and fold it in half. Place a ruler or other straight edge from the top corners to the bottom middle and mark then cut out your triangle.

5. Lay your triangle on your burlap and line up the top edge of the triangle to the top edge of your burlap strip. Cut your burlap, I found it easier to use my ruler and rotary cutter for this- less mess.

6. Flip your pattern over back and forth cutting as you go (6).

7. Now lay out your burlap pieces and measure a length of cord that’s a little more than twice as long. Just eyeball it, but it’s always better to cut long and trim later. Cut two extra pieces of cord that are about 28” long (sorry, no picture).

8. Lay one burlap triangle down and squirt some hot glue close to the top edge. Lay the middle point of your cording in the middle of the glue and fold the top edge of the burlap over your cording(8a). If you glob on the glue it will come out the front side of the burlap, if this is a problem you can always just zig zag stitch with your sewing machine or you can use the iron on hemming tape (8b). All three ways work just fine- it tried them all.

9. Repeat step 8 with the other two (or more) burlap pieces leaving some space between each piece to hang, until you get to the outside edge. Stop folding about 1” from the outside edge, give it some more glue, and stick the end of one of the 28” cord pieces over the glued cord and burlap. Do this for each end piece. Fold the burlap over both hemp pieces. This gives you an extra bit of cord to hang it with for tying onto things.

10. Now cut your freezer paper stencils. You can follow my instructions for that here if you’ve never done it before using an exacto knife and computer printer. You can also run freezer paper through your cricut/silhouette machine like I did if you have one and skip the printing and cutting it yourself. Print/Cut your letters about 4 1/2” tall. I think my font was set at 350 pt and I used the blue cap with the shiny side down on the mat (silhouette). You can free hand or stencil them however you want if you don’t want to freezer paper it.

11. Iron on your individual letters using the high/cotton setting, using the letter piece you took out for reference on where to iron on the “o” hole and “b” holes- for lack of a better term ;).

12/13. Cut a piece of freezer a bit bigger than your stencil and iron it on the back. This keeps the paint from going through the burlap onto your work surface. Paint. I mixed some glitter paint in with the black and then sponged off some of the paint with a paper towel to give it a more see through look. Let the paint dry, tear off the freezer paper pulling from the top down so you don’t pull out any strings that should stay in the banner, and viola`. You have a new banner!

Don’t be afraid to play with this. If you make one don’t forget to show it to me- I love seeing them!

Oh, I almost forgot- if you made it this far you deserve a treat. A boo banner treat. So leave me a comment and you could get one of your very own without needing to make it! I’ll draw a random winner from the comments on this post in a few days, just make sure to come back and see if you’re the winner- I don’t hunt people down well ;). Good luck!

Did I hear luxury and free in the same sentence?

My shirt transformation is coming along very nicely. In fact I’m finished but now I have to make something else to go with it, it just needs something else. Thankfully I got another new shirt I decided to hate and cut up to complete the look. I love to hate my clothes.

Speaking of loving and hating things, how do you feel about UGG boots? I love them. I know, I know, people with size 10 feet should not love them or even like them. I do. And I don’t care how large my peds are. I don’t actually own a pair as my conscience and my mom won’t let me (her and her size 7 feet…) but they look so comfy and inviting. I’ve almost bought a pair at least a dozen times. I can imagine myself curled up in a ski lodge next to the fire with leggings and a fair isle sweater and hat, sipping hot chocolate with my super comfy ugg’s on.

Look at that thick plush lining, don’t these just scream “Come, sit by the fire”.

That dream can now become a reality because, minus the ski lodge and the fact that I don’t ski, Whooga boots is offering a free pair of Whooga ugg boots every month! Get out! Or stay in if you have giant feet and own a pair ;). As they say on their site “The only thing better than the super indulgent luxury of a fresh pair of Whooga boots is the super indulgent luxury of a free pair of Whooga boots!” -here here.

I think they are super super cute on little girls with cable knit tights and sweater dresses. I should know, my girls wore some like it with their Christmas sweater dresses last year to church. They looked stinking adorable if I do say so myself. Even grandma approved.

While you are there for the giveaway you should try out their build a boot link on the top of their site. Cody and I had so much fun with that. I made a really cute Chocolate brown pair with pink inside I could just see Ashlyn wearing to school while Cody made… well lets just say his pair were better left as a prototype lol.

Have a great Wednesday!

A lamb named Pixie.

Well what an exhausting week it's been! Holy smokes. Everything that could go wrong did in every aspect of my life. I was beginning to feel like I had been hit by a bus and then kicked while I was down... several times. But on the bright side everything's looking up, that's the great thing about feeling so low- it's only up from there :).

There's also nothing better than a giveaway to brighten your mood. I love getting things but I love giving them even more. So I decided to sweeten the pot and draw two winners from Mondays giveaway. I really needed cheering up! I let Ashlyn pick her favorite and I've got to tell you she has had a blast reading all those birthday wishes and has been dancing around on cloud nine all week, thank you.

I don't think this ever happens in the history of give aways but she chose Emma who was comment #1. She picked Emma because she mentioned pixie dust and that was the name of her substitute teachers baby lamb (or maybe it was a goat?). 7 year olds are funny creatures.

We threw the other names in a bowl and tossed them around a bit. Ashlyn pulled out comment #2 Crystal.

So the name art goes to comment #1 Emma (email me with your choice of shape and word/name) and a little something random will go to comment #2 Crystal. Just drop me a line with your snail mail address to dontlickthefloor@hotmail.com. I still can't believe #1 and #2 got it, just goes to show you sometimes it pays to comment first... and second. Thanks again to everyone who left a comment. I love giveaways!

*edited to add* I forgot to mention the 4th reason I was celebrating was because it was my 300th post Monday! That was most of the reason for the giveaway and I forgot to mention it. I've been putting people to sleep in 300 different ways ;).

3 reasons to celebrate today!

First, Ashlyn turns 7 today! I can't believe what an old lady she is. That's 49 in dog years, she's gonna love that. She was my tiniest baby (7 lbs 9 oz.) and my first girl so to see her losing teeth and asking for digital camera's and cell phones breaks my heart. Pretty soon it will be laptops and boyfriends... heaven help me.

The second reason to celebrate is today is the last 1/2 day of school! WAHOO! Now I have more slaves to help me pack, I mean now I get to spend quality time with my oldest two. No more homework freak outs!

The third reason is in honor of Ashlyn's birthday and my kids letting me sleep until 6:30 instead of 6:00 today I'll be doing a giveaway. How about one of these?

Just leave a comment wishing Ashlyn a happy birthday, remember she's 7 so nothing your momma would blush at please, and I'll let her pick her favorite comment and post it on Thursday. The winner will get just the canvas 8 x 10" art in his/her chosen object or animal and name (anything you want) without the frame. If the winner doesn't show his/her face by Saturday I'll re-draw, I'm not a fan of hunting anyone down like a dog to force you to take your prize so please come back Thursday if you've left a comment.

Have a great Monday. I'm off to carve a butterfly out of a round layer of cake. That's how much I love her.

Truth or Dare?

This post- this one right here- marks my 200th blog post! I've written 200 separate blurbs about the life of the not so rich and not so famous Bridget Baxter family. Reflecting back on my old moldy posts I've talked about everything from mommy stuff, craft land, my reproductive status, life in the sticks, and nose beads to mention a few. My personal favorite post is and probably always will be this little ditty right here mostly because that's pretty much how I talk all the time. I find in the bloggy world I'm just way too self conscious to post reality or talk about how I really feel because of the possibility of someone actually reading it, and I can't be the only one who feels that way.

So for today in honor of my 200th post I'm going to share a little mom truth with you, but just a little because I don't want the DHS people to come and snatch my kids all at once ;o). I get asked a lot how I manage to craft and sew and still get the mom stuff done with 4 little criminals running around. Truth be told- I don't. Whenever you see a project on my blog completed it's because I've successfully ignored, pacified, put off, (what-ever works at the time) my kids, the house, and my personal hygiene. I clean so I can craft and craft until we need clean underwear or spoons and then repeat.

I once found a dust bunny so large it could fill up a tea cup- sad but true. So there you have it. I'm really only together one day a week where I look decent, my kids look decent, and the house is relatively clean all at the same time. Please don't come to my house this week. No really.

If you would like to share a not too risque mom truth with me, non-perfectness loves company (or is that misery?), I'll share the products of my recent craft room clean up as a reward. Just leave me a comment mentioning a tidbit of "real mom" and whether you would prefer the scrapbook stash or the fat quarter stash. When I have more than 2 comments or the next time I post I'll pick 2 random winners. You can be anonymous if you like just check back here to see if you won. The fabric bundle looks a little sparse so I'll most likely add some to it between now and then.

Random Scrapbook supplies

Fat quarters, ribbons, and whatever else I scrounge up within the next few days.

Good luck and thanks in advance for making me feel better!

Cupcake Purse Tutorial...

Here's the second half to my giveaway, my very first stab at a tutorial for the cupcake purse. I tried to take pictures as I went along while making a pink and a white one so some of the pictures show a pink top and some show a white but I promise it'll turn out the same in the end ;o).

On a sewing scale I wouldn't recommend this for beginners because the small size makes it harder to sew and the scallops can be tricky but if you make it bigger and do a straight seem instead I think almost anyone who knows how to straight stitch and zig-zag can pull it off.

Feel free to make as many copies of this pattern as you'd like, I just ask that you use my pattern for personal use only- no selling please, thanks!

Pattern Pieces:

I used an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of chipboard for my pattern to make a 5"-6" purse. If you want a larger or smaller purse just print the pieces bigger or smaller- they should all be proportionate. I use a 1/4" seam allowance on all seams, if you would like to take a larger seem just add another 1/4" or more to the pattern pieces. I don't think it's pictured but I also zig-zag the outside edges of all my seams to keep it together and neat, especially important on the satin. I used a pretty heavy duty interfacing so the cupcake would stand up with the bulky chenille on top, personal preference but I think it looks nicer that way.

Step 1: To start trace pattern pieces and cut out, making sure to mark button holes and trace around scallop edge -DO NOT- cut out scallop yet, just mark it on your fabric and cut straight across about 1/2" under scallop. Your pieces should look like this-

Cupcake Bottom

Step 2: Iron on interfacing to the wrong side of the cupcake bottom and do the same to the side piece fabric either using fusible interfacing or fusible web to connect them together. The interfacing and fabric should be "one" piece now.

Step 3: Pin the rectangular bottom side piece together at the short side seam and sew so the interfacing is out and the fabric is on the inside (right sides together).

Step 4: Fold the circular bottom in half and make a mark on the edges, fold again the other way and do the same so the circle is basically marked in 4th's. Fold the bottom side piece in fourths and mark. Pin the bottom circle to the side piece connecting the marks from the circular bottom to the marks on the side piece. Pin generously all the way around.

Step 5: Sew around the the circle on the outside. Turn so the right side's facing out (you can see if it looks o.k. or if it needs adjusting at this point).

Step 6: Set bottom aside and repeat steps 4-5 for lining. If you're using satin for the lining I recommend pinning the snot out of it so it doesn't pucker as much.

Step 7: Turn the outside "cup" and the lining right sides together matching side seems and pin. Sew around outside edge leaving a 2"-3" gap for turning. Turn.

Step 8: Push the lining into the inside and pin around the top edge folding the lining under at the gap and pin in place.

Step 9: Edge stitch as close as you can all around the top edge. Viola`, the bottom "cup" is done- set aside.

Cupcake Top

Step 1: Sew button holes in outside "frosting" fabric.

Step 2: Pin lining to "frosting" fabric right sides together and sew following the scallops marked along the bottom edge.

Step 3: Trim around scallops as close as you can. I would definitely recommend not trimming too close if using satin for a lining as it will pull out when you turn- if this is a problem for you then I would recommend trimming just the chenille first, zig-zagging the chenille edge to the satin, then trimming the satin so the chenille bulk is gone but the satin still has some length.

Step 4: Turn right sides out and press the scalloped edge using a pressing cloth. This helps get a nice crisp scallop. Take the "frosting" piece and place on table with right sides facing you and pull the lining down. Pin the lining edges right sides together and the "frosting" edges right sides together and pin. Sew the sides together at the side edges.

Step 5: Turn right side out and tuck the lining back to the inside and press. Fold over top edge 1/4" for both the lining and the "frosting" fabric and pin. Sew around the top and stitch very closely to the edge.

Step 6: Sew around the top again under the bottom of the button holes. This becomes the casing for the ribbon closure.

Step 7: Now you're done with the "cake" part and the "frosting". Slip the frosting top over the bottom cake. I just pull mine down until the right amount of "cake" is showing- no real measuring here. Pin in place and sew the cake to the top from the inside.

Step 8: Cut two lenghts of 3/8" or smaller ribbon about 24" long or so. These become the handles. Thread one ribbon through one button hole and tie the ends together. Repeat with the other ribbon and last button hole. If you'd like longer handles just use longer ribbon but for young kiddos I liked it shorter- almost wristlet length so it's not a chocking hazard. You can't see the handles on mine because I tied them in a bow at the top but you get the idea.

That's it, it seems like alot but it really doesn't take long at all. If I've left something out or you have a better way or suggestion let me know. Enjoy!