Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Apple Teacher Gift

Doesn't this apple look scrumptious? I made this apple to replace some candle apples on my shelf. I think its a rule or something that all country folks have to have some sort of stuffed fruit, vegetable or animal on their shelf. Anyway I decided it was time to replace the candles so on the computer I opened an oval shape that was 5 3/4" tall X 2 1/2" wide and printed it. I drew points on the ends and cut out 5 of these and sewed them together leaving one end slightly open. Stuff, add leaves a wooden stem and sew closed. This size is about the size of a real apple. My next apple will be shorter at 5" and slightly wider at 2 3/4". And you know Teachers never get enough apple gifts.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Wedding Veil


This Wedding Veil is for the Bridal shower. She choose not to wear a veil at the wedding but wanted one so her shower is the next best place to wear one. I searched on the Internet for different types of veils to give me ideas. I had an idea for a layered veil but I think she would prefer a simple veil. Then I searched the whole weekend for the comb, but I think I just looked in the wrong place at the hobby store. I cut two pieces of tulle, one at 19" and the other at 24", then I rounded the bottom corners. I used a large turkey platter to give me the large rounded corner. I tried sewing some trim on the edges and it was cute but I didn't have enough trim to complete both pieces of tulle so I scratched that. I gathered the top of the tulle and then folded it over and hand sewed it to the comb. I took a piece of ribbon, wrapped it around the comb and folded tulle and sewed it closed. I sewed on different size pearls and jewels until I was happy with the way it looked. I sewed small pearls to the bottom of the veil in groups of three. I tried to add jewels but it was too heavy for the tulle. The hardest part of the veil is figuring out what style to match the bride's personality. Straight, puffy, how many layers, beads, lace and how long. I hope she likes it, I really like the bead work. If this was for the wedding I would have said Prayers for the couple as I sewed it and I would have attached this poem to it.
Veil Prayers
I said prayers for you today
and know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
although he spoke no word.
I didn't ask for wealth or fame
I knew you wouldn't mind,
I asked Him to send you
treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He'd be near you
at the start of your Wedding day,
to Bless you with health,
love, kindness, forgiveness, understanding
and friends to share your way.
I asked for happiness for you
in all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care,
I prayed for most of all.




Monday, April 19, 2010

Family Fun Night

I went to my grandson's school carnival

this past Saturday and I saw this basket in the auction and I just had to show everybody. It was titled "Family Fun Night" and it had about 15 games and puzzles in it. The last bid I saw was $130.00 what a deal. My daughter bought the animal basket and donated it back to her son's classroom, what a great mom. She makes cakes and put 2 - $60.00 certificates in the auction for decorated cakes and I almost forgot, she also worked the booth. Every Teacher should have 1 mom just like her "Go To Mom".
They had this water balloon burst, you throw
a ball, hit the bull's-eye and the balloon with water in it bursts and drinches the person below. Well I didn't know the kid in the chair so I told him I would pay a lot if he let my grandson sit there and let me throw the ball to get him wet, (see photo to the right)........it was worth every penny.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

On the Fifth Day

For Vacation Bible school this year our theme is "The Creation". These felt birds will be part of my Fifth Day and they will be joined by some felt fish. I thought this would be easy and I think I've figured out most of it but the first two days are a doozie. Vacation Bible school is five days so I will have to join some of the days. As I finish the days I will post them with pictures.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Cute as a Button

I printed the words on scrapbook paper, used a punch to cut it out and inked the edges. I took a flower apart and glued the bottom three sections together, then I added the paper and the leaves. You could glue this to a photo frame or photo album and give it as a gift. You can glue it to a clothes pin or put a magnet on the back. Or how about change the saying, "JAM - Jesus and Me" or "Child of God" or "Margarita Mamacita" for my sister.

Blue Jean Apron #2

What do you do with all those jeans nobody wants anymore? Make aprons. I like the red and white polka dot ruffle at the bottom, and the rhinestones on the pockets. I left the edges raw and the pockets are still usable, machine wash and hang dry. I think these aprons are cute but with jeans getting lower and lower there's not much to work with anymore. I think the legs have material than this does but it's still cute.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Lace Bracelet

I was surfing through blogs and saw a
bracelet like this at tearosehome.blogspot.com. She had tiny white flowers and beads on hers but I think it was to girly for me so I added some metal. I sewed some facing on the back of the lace and ran elastic through it, then I sewed the ends together. I
sewed the metal beads on but I would think they could be hot glued on. I would like to make a few more and use crosses, buttons, beads and charms. Maybe I should add a big flower like a corsage, I could see myself wearing that.




Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Baptismal Braclet

I made the zipper bracelet for my daughter who was baptised this past Easter Sunday. I took 2 zippers apart and then sewed them to a piece of felt. I used fray check on the ends of the zipper and I hot glued the cross on. I was going to hang charms off of the zipper but I thought it hang out and scratch the kids so I hot glued it down but you can still hang charms from it. I tried it on after I was through and it was pretty snug so I quickly made the other bracelet, so now she has her choice of bracelets. God Has Blessed Her.

My Peeps T-Shirt

I saw this shirt at gilliangreding.typepad.com and I decided to try it myself. I bought the shirt for $3.00 and I had the pink material from another craft. I ironed wonder under onto a piece of pink material, traced the peep onto the baking paper, cut the peeps out, peeled the baking sheet off and ironed them onto the shirt. It looked pretty plain so I zig-zag stitched around the peeps with a darker color and that did the trick. When you mix acrylic paint with textile medium it becomes fabric paint. I placed a piece of tape on the shirt as a guide for the letters and with a stencil I painted on MY PEEPs and the eyes. I think next year I'll make one for myself.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Best St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake Recipe

This recipe calls itself a Gooey Butter Cake but I think it should be called a Gooey Cheese Cake. The recipe is great if you don't over bake it. The first time I made it I over baked it and it was dry, but this time it was fantastic with all that gooeyness.
Ingredients:
1 yellow cake mix with pudding
4 large eggs
1 stick of melted butter (Parkay)
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
8 oz soft cream cheese
3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
Cake Mixture:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13 x 9 pan with oil spray. With a mixer, beat the dry cake mix, 2 eggs, 1 stick of butter and vanilla. Spread evenly into 13 x 9 pan.
Gooey Mixture:
Melt cream cheese in the microwave for about 45 seconds. Beat cream cheese, 3 cups of powdered sugar and 2 eggs. This will be the Gooey part of the Gooey Cake. Pour the gooey mixture on top of the cake mixture.
The recipe said to bake for 30-40 minutes or until the top of the cake is browned. I cooked the first one for 35 minutes and it was dry, this time I cooked it for 25 minutes and it was great. If you look at the picture you will see the edges browned, when I pulled it out of the oven it was puffed up and when I shook the pan it wobbled like jello. It didn't look like it was ready but the cake will fall and then it looked delicious. Take the remaining powdered sugar and sprinkle on top. I tasted some while it was warm, to die for.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter Bonnets


When I was young, every Easter we got a new dress and
sometimes a bonnet and gloves. Lent was a time for preparing for the Resurrection and my Mom and Dad let us know this was a day to rejoice. Now, I have tried to instill this in my children, bonnets, gloves, rejoicing but parents often wonder "Did they get anything I said?". Well I am here to say THEY DO, just look at that little girl in her bonnet and gloves. And to top it off her mom was Baptised that day, what a great day.









I did it!!

I just had to egg somebody this year, I can't help myself. The Blevins left and little did they know that I was lurking around the corner. My other Easter post shows where to get the sign and then you're supposed to egg someone else but I did it the day before Easter so it didn't give them time. So...I printed my own sign, You've Been Egged, Love Aunt Val. Oh yea, I got the Kisers, Ryan, Jason and Eric, Happy Easter. Watch out, I may be lurking around your house next year.




Friday, April 2, 2010

Emily's Shirt

This is Emily's shirt that goes with the skirt and bloomers. The shirt is so small I had to iron on each letter by itself. Ruffled ribbon, rhinestones and bows on the sleeves, I can't wait to see it on her.
GO REDS!!!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Emily's Cheer Skirt

Emily's big brother Preston is playing baseball and she will be cheering him on in this cute cheer skirt and bloomers. This skirt looks pretty tiny doesn't it? Well it is but so is Emily, she is almost 1 year old. The boys have black pants and a red shirt, so Emily will match them. The front of the skirt has pleats and ties in the back and the bloomers have elastic in the waist and legs. Match this with a red shirt, white iron on letters and rhinestones and that little girl will "steal" the show.