Feature Friday and Fabric

Are you CRAFTY? I'd love to feature YOU on this site! I'd like to offer an opportunity for those of you that may not have a craft blog (or do) to show off one of your favorite projects HERE on Nap Time Creations. If you are interested (Gretchen?) e-mail your project description with a few photos to emilyrschroeder(at)hotmail(dot)com. I'll create a post just for YOUR project! If you have a blog post already done that you would like to share, e-mail me and I can tell you how I would like that sent. I can't wait to see what you have all been up to! Spread the word, its going to be blast!

Today a friend and I took four kids (in two strollers and two Ergos) and made the treck down to the fabric markets here in Hong Kong. It's really a great experience and we had a blast browsing through fabric. I came away with a couple great finds, so it was worth it! It's a bit overwhelming to dig through all the piles of fabric, and the toddlers don't last forever, but here are a few pictures of our trip.

Love the ribbon street!



resizing toddler shirt for baby - tutorial

I found this REALLY cute shirt at H & M last week... My sister-in-law and niece and nephew are coming to Hong Hong in a couple weeks, so I thought this would make a great shirt for the cousins to wear.  My son LOVES his already!

The only problem with my plan is that they didn't sell shirts small enough for my 5 month old. The smallest size was 1-2 years. So, I bought it! Along with three others for the kids. Here is how I resized it so it fits the baby!

1. Cut the shirt apart. I also cut off all the seams. You can reuse the hems on the sleeves.

Here's another view. 

2. Find a different shirt that is about the size you want to make.

I wanted to make this shirt still a little big so it will fit this summer.

I'm really only reducing by about one size.

3. Trim the sides and bottom of the shirt. Also cut down the sleeves.

 I didn't have to cut much off the sleeve.

4. Now, onto the sewing! Pin the sleeves back on and sew each one.

5. Pin and sew the sides.

6. Serge or zig-zag the bottom, then fold up and pin a hem. Because of the large graphic, I had to sew part of the face. I sew a double seam for the hem to replicate the original as best I can. My machine did not like sewing over the rubbery graphic.

You may have some puckers in the hem, but its on the back, so I don't care.

Yeah! It fits! At first he wasn't so into showing it off, but I did get him to smile. This will look great with the four cousins wearing the shirt, and will still fit him this summer!

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Check me out Saturday

Motivate me Monday

Sew Cute Tuesday

Seamingly Smitten

Look What I Made

Much needed cards...

 

My card box was empty... literally, I think I was down to one last birthday card and it was for a little girl... It was time to make more. So, I've spent the past several afternoons making cards... Birthday, birth, anniversary, thank-you, thinking of you, friendship, and other random ones.  

On the back of each one I stamp my signature:

 

It feels SO good to have my card box FULL again.

 Once I get going, I make several cards with the same paper and theme, but no two are exactly the same.

If the boys take good naps I can really crank out the cards. If my two year old wakes up, he loves to help with the paper-cutter..:o)

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SYTYC #5

Saturday is Crafty Day

Happy Valentines Day!

Take your favorite sugar cookie recipe and at the rolling stage, finger roll some long snakes. Then wrap them around to create the lolly-pop look. You can dye the dough for a "pink" look. Stick a craft stick in before baking. Let fully cool before moving or the stick comes out. (we HAD to eat these failures :o). Decorate with chocolate or frosting, yum!!!

Linked to:

Motivate me Monday

Labels and Cookies

I was inspired by this post on the blog MADE to get some labels made. Now, I did check out her site, then decided I couldn't spend the $250 minimum order to just make a few labels. I didn't need or want anything fancy, so I found the site It's Mine (don't you love the name!) and made a batch for a decent price. They don't have the selection of design options, but if you want simple, it's a good place. You can get sew on, or iron on too.

Here's how mine turned out:

These cookies were my take-a-longs to the super bowl party we attended, they were a hit! I left some without the chocolate for the "healthy" version, but the chocolate was really yummy too!

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies:

2 1/2 cups wholewheat flour

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp lemon zest

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 sticks softened butter

1 egg

1/2 cup applesauce ( or use more and reduce the butter)

1/2 cup honey

1 cup finely chopping apples

raisins and chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 300'F

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, the oats, salt, soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and zest. Whisk all together to combine all the dry ingredients.

3. In another bowl, beat the brown sugar and butter until the mixture is light and fluffy. With the mixer running, add the egg, then the applesauce, then the honey.

4. Gradually add the dry ingredients, 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition; then add the chopped apples, raisins and chocolate chips.

5. Drop by the spoonfuls, onto ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 min. cool, eat, and enjoy!



Car, cars, cars....

This project has been long in the planning. I bought the paint months ago, and just haven't had the time to get it on the wall. With my husband home last week, I was able to get the painting done.

I put one continuous "road" around the room. Then put on the car decals, and finally we used yellow electrical tape to put the strips on the road. What a great finish to our transportation themed room.

Paint

cars...

yellow strips

Paint

cars...

strips

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I'm Crafty #4-So you think you're crafty

We did it Wednesday

Saturday is Crafty Day

The Girly Batch- Big/Lil Sister shirts

Gong Hei Fa Choi! It's Chinese New Year here in Hong Kong today and we are ushering in the year of the rabbit! I'm getting three special packages ready to mail out on Monday when the holiday is over. I've been busy working on these this week, with a few interruptions and problems along the way. Dying issues, machine issues and finding the time, but they are finished and I am so excited to send these all over the world! Scroll down to find out where these shirts will be ending up. This was SO much fun for me becuase I don't have girls, so working with pink doesn't happen very often... I am thankful for wonderful friends having new baby girls!

Going to Saudi Arabia...

To Chicago...

to Cambodia...

Do you have any ideas for changes or modifications? I am sure I will be making more of these as gifts in the future and am always looking for new ideas. Let me know what YOU think!

Linked to:

Backyard Eden-Make it Yours

We Did it Wednesday

Seamingly Smitten #7

Look What I Made

Market Yourself Monday

So you Think You Are Crafty