Vinyl Dry Erase Pockets

I have been trying to figure out a way to make my sons activity pages easier to use and to be used again and again. I went the lamination route during the summer but it was getting a bit pricey as I added up everything I wanted to laminate. So why not create something that would hold the papers. This is what I came up with:

 

There is a pocket at the top that the papers can slide into. You can use either dry erase markers or dry erase crayons and they work like a charm. I should have thought about this sooner!

 

So here is how I made them. Supplies for one pocket are: 1/2 inch binding your choice (you can make your own or buy it, I went the easy route and bought mine) and two 9.5" x 12" vinyl plastic pieces (You can find it on the big rolls at most craft stores, you can get 2 pockets out of the length of the vinyl)

 

So here are the two pieces of vinyl

 Cut two strips of binding for each piece. I cut them to 10" and then trimmed after attaching it. (Note: Keep the paper backing on because that will help the plastic go through the sewing machine.)

Place both pieces of plastic together paper side out, once again so that they don't stick to the sewing machine. Then take the long strip of binding left over (you will need about a yard) and starting at the top where you just sewed the top binding on, fold it over a 1/4" inch and add the binding all the way around the project until you reach the other side of the top binding. Cut 1/4" inch past, fold over and finish. Then go back and fold the binding over and stitch that binding in place. (If you have never sewn with binding check out this tutorial here, it will help a ton!)

 This is what it should look like when finished. There should be a pocket at the top.

 Tear out the paper

 Use your dry erase markers/crayons to have some fun!

Frame Makeovers

I was introduced to covering frames by my sister-in-laws. It was a craft they chose for our latest girls craft day. I was only able to do one at the time and ever since I have wanted to make some more frames. I found some inexpensive wood frames at JoAnn's ($4 max) and dug through some paper I already had to find some prints that would match my living room and bedroom. You basically just trace the frame on the paper, cut it out and glue the paper to the frame. You could embellish but I chose not to. I am one who keeps it simple. I love the way they turned out and they look amazing in their places in my house.

 

 (5x7 frame $2.50)

(2 4x6 frames $4 each)

Crayon Wreath

It is back to school time and my son is going on his second year of preschool. I absolutely love his preschool teachers and both me and my son wanted to do something for them. So I remembered a while back that I bookmarked a crayon wreath. You can see the inspiration here. I wanted to create one so here is what I came up with:

 

His teachers loved it and it wasn't very expensive to make at all, especially with all the back to school sales on crayons! To make it I used the inside pieces of a 10" and 8" sewing hoop and a box of 64 crayons. Super easy!

No Piece Quilt

I had found a pattern for a quilt that required no piecing and I jumped all over it. I made my first blanket last year, see here. I had enough fabric left over to make two more fronts and I just needed to buy the backing fabric. So I bought it last year before it went out of stock. It was the Riley Blake, All Star 2 fabric line. I wish they still made this line of fabric because I just love it. Anyway I have made two more blankets and I thought I would share the process of how to do it.

So here is my pattern:

I cut all my squares up front

 Then on my front fabric I found center by folding it in both directions and finger pressing in the corner. Lay it out on the floor and then lay the first piece, I base everything off of this one piece so you need to make sure it is on it's mark.

 From that one piece I start laying all the rest of the middle (inside the 3 x 3 squares) an inch apart.

 This is the middle all put together without the 3 x 3 border

 Then I add the 3 x 3 border in the same way as the middle

 Next take your good old fashion Elmer's glue and place a small dot of glue in each corner of each piece. Let it dry.

 I then lay my back piece on the floor with right side down, then place the batting on top and finally the top piece on top. You are making a sandwich out of everything. Spray baste it all together.

Next I get out a chalking pencil and I make lines 1/4 inch from every edge of the glued on pieces both directions. This makes it much easier to sew through the bigger pieces, your lines will be straight!

 I hope you have a ton of safety pins because you pin the blanket to death. Pin all the pieces down in the chalked squares that are big enough to hold one. You are pushing the pins through all the layers. This prevents the pieces from moving but it also holds the whole blanket together while you sew. 

 To make it easier to sew on your sewing machine and for you I roll up both sides and then stitch on the chalk lines. Do it on all your lines both directions and then remove all your safety pins.

 Bind it how you like, I did a rolled binding but you could make your own binding and add it at this point. Then once you have bound it, wash it and dry it. It washes out your chalk lines and the basting spray but it also rags the squares. Trim all the strings and enjoy!

 Here is a close up of the squares, the edges are rough and all cleaned up. Just don't look too close at the lines, some aren't exactly straight! It gives it character, right?!

These blankets whip up really easy and fast. I love them!