Lots of Completed Projects

Wow - what a productive week I had home from work!! I finished up almost everything I wanted.

Teacher Gifts

These were the Holiday gifts for Megan's teachers - the cup is a disposable coffee cup that came in a package of 10 from WalMart. I covered each cup in holiday patterned paper. Inside the cup I included: package of hot chocolate, candy cane, chocolate dipped Oreos, and chocolate dipped marshmallows.

Gift Card Holder

Both my mom and sister recieved gift cards as part of their Christmas gifts and I created these to hold the gift cards. I used the Dove Chocolate envelope (with the 3 individually wrapped chocolate pieces) as a pattern and cut these from cardstock. I added the chocolate and gift cards and tied the envelope with more cardstock and some holiday ribbon.

Birthday Party Guest Gift

I wasn't done with the Dove chocolate envelopes just yet... I made 20 more as guest gifts for Megan's first birthday party. Instead of ribbon I added cupcakes cut from the Cricut machine, and these have Hershey bars rather than Dove chocolate. After making 20+ envelopes I think I'm done with these for awhile!

A Little Something For Me

The day of Christmas Eve I decided that I needed a little something for me. I already had everything I needed to put together this apron so I thought I would "whip" it up. What I didn't notice was that the stitch time for the applique was 45 minutes - add in how slow I am at changing thread and trimming the fabric for the appliques and it probably took me an hour and a half to complete. And I love it! The same designer has appliques for Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving... I think I need those designs.

Personalized Casserole Dish

My mom attends lots of potluck dinners so I thought she would like a personalized casserole dish. A little vinyl, the Cricut machine, some glass etching cream and 30 minutes later I had this super cool casserole dish! I can't wait to make one for me!!

Megan's Birthday Outfit

Another use of CarlaC's A-Line top from http://www.youcanmakethis.com/ - I just love this pattern! It goes together so quickly and it looks great on Megan.

Birthday Goodies

Here's the rest of the items I made for Megan's birthday party - the Wilton Giant Cupcake pan and smaller version of the pan (I don't know what it's called - Not-So-Giant Cupcake??), a party hat (which I couldn't get on her for even a second) and the plate from my previous post.

All and all I had a GREAT Christmas week! I'm really not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. At least it will be a short week.

Checking Things Off My 'To Do' List

I've been able to check a couple of things off of my Holiday and Birthday Party to-do list - Yeah!!

Megan's Christmas Top

I love this pattern! It is so simple and goes together quickly. If the weather is cool for Christmas day she will wear it with jeans and a red turtle-neck onesie.

Megan's Birthday Plate

I did a test stitch of the cupcake applique that is going on Megan's birthday outfit and it came out good enough to use. Then the question became - what to use it for? I want to make her a birthday hat to match the outfit, but the cupcake is a little too big for that. Then I remembered that I purchased a Design-My-Own Plate and Bowl set a couple of months ago. The design fit perfectly. So now Megan has her own special plate for the party.

Megan's Birthday Outfit

The A-line top has been cut out. I had run out of stablizer after testing the cupcake applique, so today I purchased some and hope to get the embroidery done and the top put together tomorrow.

I still have lots to do over the next couple of days, but with the nasty weather we are expecting tomorrow, and being off work next week (with the little one going to day care) I should be able to get everything done without too many late nights.

Not Much Sewing Going On Around Here...

Another weekend has come and gone, and I didn't get as much crossed off my 'To Do' list as I wanted. I did piece together the backing and make the binding for 2 quilts (hopefully in the next few weeks I'll be able to get them quilted on Mom's Long-Arm Machine) and I got the Christmas cards and Birthday Party invitations addressed.


The little one has been sick for the last week... 2 doctor visits, antibotics, breathing treatments, Rx diaper rash cream... we had a wild week! But she's on the mend and is back to her usual happy self.


So here's what I need to complete in the next week and half (in order of importance):

1. Megan's birthday outfit (A-Line Top & Easy Fit Pants by the wonderful CarlaC)


2. Megan's Christmas outfit (with fabric Chris picked out)


3. Personalized casserole dish


4. Finalize details for Megan's birthday party


5. Make a few Christmas gifts

And I'm sure I'll come up with more before Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Vacation Day

I took a much needed vacation day Friday. I've been so stressed from work, and knew I couldn't make it to Christmas without a day away from the craziness.

It was a wonderful day! I got to sleep in an extra hour (to 5:30!!!), got some cleaning done around the house, ran some errands, and got a few things knocked off my To Do list. I even had time to make dinner (ok - it only had 3 ingredients, but at least it wasn't another stop for fast food!)

Gift Quilt

I pieced together the top of the gift quilt that I will need by the end of the month. I loved the fabrics when I picked them out, and then as I was piecing the quilt I didn't like them together. But now that I've been looking at the completed top for a couple of days I like them once again. The finished top is 42.5" x 42.5" - just a little lap quilt. I'm going to use the purple floral for the backing with some of the striped and light blue pieced into it. Maybe next weekend I'll get over to Mom's to quilt it on her Long Arm machine.

Test Bake

Megan's first birthday is at the end of the month and we will be having a cupcake-themed birthday party. I received the Wilton Giant Cupcake pan for Christmas last year, and this summer I bought myself the smaller version that makes 5 individual cupcakes, knowing both pans would be perfect for Megan's party. Ok - is it sad that I was planning her first birthday before she was even here?

A couple of months ago I tested out the small version of the pan. Boy oh boy was it a mess!! I couldn't get the cakes out of the pan. I ended up tossing the entire thing into the trash. So I decided to test out the large pan Friday. And it worked! I quickly covered the cake in a can of purchased frosting before we dug in for the taste test. It doesn't look pretty, but I'm so thrilled that the cake came out I don't care.

After looking at a number of pictures on Flickr I thing I'm going to make the bottom cake chocolate, the top cake yellow, and cover just the top in frosting (homemade buttercream) with my large star tip.