{Teacher Gift} Crochet Infinity Scarf

 

This is our second year in a row with this teacher and my daughter loves her so much

 that she sometimes slips and calls her "mom".

 

We wanted to give her something nice for Christmas

and decided it should be a {handmade} infinity scarf.

 

 

We brainstormed colors and decided on Pagoda by Caron.

This scarf was made using a 6.5mm hook and almost the entire skein,

with rows of 32 Double Crochets, then slip stitching the two short ends together to connect.

 

 

This yarn is so soft, and using the slightly larger hook made this scarf drape so nicely.

It is super cozy.

 

We wrapped it in tissue paper, tied it up with the yarn scrap and tucked in a coffee card.

 

Teacher gift DONE!

 

We gave it to her at the Christmas Performance and she loved it.

Her son even said, "Mom, that is perfect for you!" 

 

What did you give your kids' teachers? I love hearing all the creative ideas and since I have another kid starting school next year I will need some:)

 

{Handmade} Felt Animal Masks

 

I was asked to make some "Nativity Animal" costumes for the children's ministry Christmas

 performance at my church, and they wanted about 60. Yeah...that says SIXTY.

Right away, it was decided that masks were what needed to happen.

 

Anyway, here are the pictures of the different animal masks I made.

I hand drew all the templates for these and after spending many hand-cramping hours

 working on these, I figured that I should share them.

 

Don't mind the crappy it-was-too-dark-and-I-had-to-use-the-flash photos. It was 4:30 in the morning when I finished these and I knew once they were delivered I would not be able to get pics. 

 

Cow, Camel, Donkey, Dove, Sheep, and Pig.

 

All pretty normal "Nativity animals", right?

 

Owl, Wolf, Duck, Koala, Raccoon and Penguin.

 

Weren't all of these at the Manger scene?

 

 Cheetah, Chick, Fawn, Polar Bear, Bunny and Monkey.

 

I'm pretty sure a couple of these could have been there, right?

 

Fox, Panda, Skunk, Zebra, Goat and Mouse.

 

Do you think maybe they wondered "What the FOX say"?

(Yeah, I went there)

 

Moose, Walrus, Peacock and Hippo, along with a picture of the finished stack of 60 masks and

a selfie at 4:30am (a few hours before the performance) when I was FINALLY done.

 

...and then things just got weird.

 

 

The performance was adorable and the kids(and parents) loved the masks so much that all of this was totally worth it. A labor of love. And now that the performance is done, the masks will go into the Sunday school dress up box for weekly fun. Totally worth it.

 

If you think I'm done, you're wrong. Now I get to make some for MY kids for Christmas.

Let me know which ones are your favorites so I can do those tutorials first.

FYI, probably not going to happen before Dec 25th.

 

 

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{Handmade} Luke Skywalker Costume

When we decided that Brooklyn would be Princess Leia, it only made sense to have Travis be Luke Skywalker since they are siblings. Plus he doesn't have his own opinions yet,

so I'm taking advantage while I can. Ha!

 He made a super cute Jedi.

For the Cloak I used Simplicity Costumes 5927

The pattern called for felt, but the costume needed linen so I had to add some length and hem.

To get the wrapped fabric look of the boots, I wrapped his rain boots with an Ace bandage.

 For the Tunic I used Simplicity Costumes 4797 and altered the front to a v-neck faux wrap.

For the pants I used Simplicity Costumes 3650.

Super easy sew.

The light saber was purchased in the toy section. The ones in the costume section were not as good quality and cost nearly the same, so it was sort of a no-brainer.

 Sometimes Luke Skywalker chases a Rooster with his light saber.

He loved his costume.

When I was making it he was so amazing about letting me try things on him and every time I pulled out the measuring tape he would stand super still with a big grin on his face.

He loves when Mama makes him things and I love when he wears them.

Winning!

You may find me linking up with some of these blogs: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Making The World Cuter, Dittle Dattle, Mad Skills Monday, Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac, Delicate Construction, Ask Anna, New Nostalgia, House of Grace, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Today's Creative Blog, My Craftie Life, Sew Much Ado, Seven Thirty-Three, Someday Crafts, A Diamond in the Stuff, My Girlish Whims, Somewhat Simple, Momnivores Dilemma, Paisley Passions, Fun to Craft, Make it, Wear it, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths, What Allie's Making Now, Finding Fabulous, A Little Knick Knack, Mommas Kinda Crafty, Its a Hodgepodge Life, Inspiring Creations, Be Different Act Normal, Wildflowers and Whimsy, Tatertots and Jello, The Idea Room, My Repurposed Life, Sew Many Ways, I Heart Naptime, Thirty Handmade Days, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Itch, Oops I Craft My Pants, Addicted 2 Decorating

{Handmade} Princess Leia Costume

My daughter Brooklyn as Princess Leia.

Perfect character for her: girly and strong and super sassy.

 My little Leia was asked a couple times if her freckles were real.

Yep. Straight from Jesus, super real.

Her hair got so much attention at the Halloween Carnivals we went to.

People kept wondering how we got them so perfect.

Sock Buns!!!

For the belt I used Jess from Craftiness is not Optional's tutorial.

I just added a couple inches to make it fit my daughter and it came out perfectly!

Thanks Jess!

The "hood" is not a normal hood, but is actually a rectangle of fabric with the short sides sewn into the collar. I made hers a little long, but I'm not stressing over it. She loved it.

The collar I had to free style and I am not thrilled with how it came out, but it was the best of the 4 that I tried. Yeah...4 collars that I sewed on and ripped off (gently with a seam ripper...not all Hulk-y).

I decided that I love it.

For the dress part I used the same pattern that I used last Christmas to make

Brooklyn's Mary costume: Simplicity 4797.

Brooklyn was treated like a celebrity all night and was even bowed to by a few people running booths.

I am not going to get away with store bought costumes for this girl anymore...

she loved how authentic she looked.

Poor cat.

You may find me linking up with some of these blogs: Fingerprints on the Fridge, Making The World Cuter, Dittle Dattle, Mad Skills Monday, Skip to my Lou, Craft O Maniac, Delicate Construction, Ask Anna, New Nostalgia, House of Grace, Sassy Sites, Not Just a Housewife, Today's Creative Blog, My Craftie Life, Sew Much Ado, Seven Thirty-Three, Someday Crafts, A Diamond in the Stuff, My Girlish Whims, Somewhat Simple, Momnivores Dilemma, Paisley Passions, Fun to Craft, Make it, Wear it, Gluesticks, House of Hepworths, What Allie's Making Now, Finding Fabulous, A Little Knick Knack, Mommas Kinda Crafty, Its a Hodgepodge Life, Inspiring Creations, Be Different Act Normal, Wildflowers and Whimsy, Tatertots and Jello, The Idea Room, My Repurposed Life, Sew Many Ways, I Heart Naptime, Thirty Handmade Days, Under the Table and Dreaming, Creative Itch, Oops I Craft My Pants, Addicted 2 Decorating

Two new things

It's been awhile since I last blogged and too much has happened for me to catch you up, so I will just share two things with you.

1. I am now a runner.

Yep. I always thought that I would be a runner when I grew up. Since this year I turned 33 I decided that I should probably start. I got a couple of girlfriends together and we did the Couch 2 5K program. It is awesome! If you are not (yet) a runner, and you want to be, you should check it out. It's a 9 week program that takes you from not ever running, to running 3.1 miles.

Tomorrow is my first race and I am getting so nervous! I am running a 5.3 mile leg of the Whiskeytown Relay with 3 girlfriends.

2. I have gone Paleo.

I have (mostly) given up dairy, grains, sugar and legumes. I say mostly because I will sometimes have those things as a treat but they are no longer a part of my daily diet. If you are wondering what's left to eat, I eat meat, eggs, fruits, veggies and healthy fats. ;) If you want more information on the Paleo diet, go here: What is the Paleo Diet?

I have lost 18 pounds and feel better than I have in years!

So, that's what's new around here;)

With the start of Fall and the promise of cooler weather (hopefully soon) I am planning to get back to blogging more regularly.