CUTE baby gifts!

There are 6 women who are pregnant at my church right now... Careful when you drink the water, there is something going on here! So, that means BABY SHOWERS!

Here is a great tip that I have for you to help you make an ADORABLE personalized baby gift, that any new mom will love!

Look on the registry for the receiving blankets they want, that match their bedding choice. Buy that pack of blankets and use it as fabric to make some adorable baby gifts. You get a lot of soft and cuddly fabric for a reasonable price!

The new mom is sure to love it since she pretty much picked out the fabric. remember not to check it off the registry since you are not actually buying her the receiving blankets.

Here is what I made for a baby shower I went to this past weekend:

I got this pack of 4 receiving blankets for 6.99 at target and I only used two blankets for this project!

I used the monkey and the stripes.

I made a cute and coordinating gift!

The diaper and wipes clutch is reversible to fit you mood.

And so is the changing pad!

With the extra fabric I was able to make an appliqued onesie!

A cute matching card is also a nice touch!

And since I only used half that pack it is like I only paid $3.50 for this great gift! How fun is that!
I did not make a tutorial for these projects, because, quite frankly, there are plenty of them out there already! But here are some links to projects similar to what I made in case you really want one:
Diaper Clutch From Toad's Treasures
Changing Pad from Homemade by Jill
Appliqued Onesie from Crap I've Made

Do you have any great tips for making baby gifts?

Linking to:

Iron Crafter: Paint Samples Top Ten! Come and Vote!

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Let me start off by saying that ALL of the entries in this rounds Iron Crafter were AMAZING!  Truly, I wish you could all be in the Top Ten! Click here to see all the Paint Sample Project entries!


Our guest judge, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, had a very decision to make! 

Jen says "Tell everyone that I loved their projects and thought they were very imaginative, creative and fun!" and I could not agree more!  To be honest I am glad that I was not the judge this week! 

Mommy Pads & More is giving the winner of the Iron Crafter Round 4 their choice of a personalized stamp or Notepad! A $32 value!

But that is not all! She is also giving Fireflies and Jellybeans readers a 15% discount if your use the code: MOMMY at check out!

Jen did a fabulous job and pick her Top Ten, and here they are in no particular order!

Vote for the project that you like the best. To cast your vote simply click on the star under the picture! You can check out all the projects by clicking on the pictures {This does not count as a vote...you need to click to star to cast a vote}!
Voting ends on Friday Sept. 3rd at Midnight (CST)



This round of Iron Crafter is sponsored by:
Your place for stylish girly goods and gifts!

Be sure to check out Mommy Pads &a More for all your girly gift giving needs!

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Sunday Spotlight: SOYS # 42 Favorites

WOW! The inspiration that comes from each Show Off Your Stuff Party is amazing!  So many great post this week! 

Here are some of my favorites from this week:

Feel free to take our "FEATURED" button if you were featured today!

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Some things I am loving Saturday!

I use my first official pattern to make clothes! It is this Hoodie Shirt from Lil Blue Boo. I LOVED it. It is very easy to follow and it is addicting. I have already made 2 shirts with it! The pattern shows you how to recycle your t-shirts so now, my hubby is a little concerned about what will happen to some of his favorite T's while he is at work (With good reason!)
{I bought this pattern and did not get any compensation for saying this}

I am also loving Etsy's new layout! It is bigger and better and easier to get around!

I am also excited about the fact that the new blogger editor now has SPELL CHECK! FINALLY! For awhile I would have to go back and forth between the old and new editors  because I like the pictures in the new editor and the spell check in the old, but not anymore!

What are you loving this week?

 

Show Off Your Stuff Party # 42

Welcome to the Show Off Your Stuff Party!
The place were we all get together and SHOW OFF OUR STUFF!

This week I am showing off:

My flash back project: Reuseable lunch bags from a tea towel


CSN Store Giveaway!

Iron Crafter Round 4: Paint Samples is going on right now! Be sure to link up your paint sample project by Friday night!

REMEMBER:

There are 3 places to link-up your projects!

One for Crafts/Sewing, one for DIY and Home decor projects, and one for Recipes...

Here are the rules:

1. Link up a post that you want to show off!

PICK ONE PLACE TO LINK UP YOUR POST: CRAFTS, DIY OR RECIPES... BUT PLEASE NOT MORE THAN ONE!!

Don't know where to put it... just pick on and go with it! : )

2. Add a link to your specific post, not the main page of your blog.

3. Please do not link up to something that you a just trying to sell. (If you are making it as a tutorial and selling in your shop as well that is fine.) This is not the place to advertise. Thanks :) Please don't make me be a meanie and delete these!

4. Link to this party from your post so everyone can get in on the fun. You can just grab my button!

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5. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a spotlight on Fireflies and Jellybean. (Proper credit and links will be given to you, of course!)

Sewing and crafts

DIY and Home Decor

Recipes

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Giveaway! CSN Stores!!

***This Giveaway is Closed!***





A little while ago I got the opportunity to review and item from CSN Stores. If you do any online shopping, CSN stores is your place to shop! They have everything that you could ever want, from le creuset cookware to outdoor furniture to car seats. You name it - they have it!

So, for my review, I ordered a couple things for the bathroom that we are adding to our basement. I got this towel ring and this shower rod.

Both are excellent! CSN is so easy to work with and they have WONDERFUL communication. I got an e-mail letting me know when my items were shipped and when they were expected to arrive. I love that! Plus A LOT of their items have free shipping which is a bonus!

CSN Stores are offering ONE LUCKY READER a $60 gift credit to go toward a purchase at any of their stores!

Here is how you enter:
1. Visit CSN stores and come back to tell me what you would get if you won.
2. F&J Followers get an extra entry.

This Giveaway ends on Teusday 8/31/10 at midnight (CST). 

This post Sponsored by:

A great place for shopping finds, reading/movie lists, crafts, recipes, giveaways, daily life and much much more.

Reuseable Lunch bags!

No new craft today... But I have a great flash back for you! Perfect for back to school! 
I hope you enjoy this reuseable lunch bag tutorial!

Materials:
2 coordinating Tea Towels
Iron on Vinyl
elastic hair band
button
Sewing machine
Scissors

FYI- all my measurements are in inches. All of my seam allowances are 1/4 of an inch unless otherwise noted.

1.) Iron your tea towels flat and cut off the finished edge.

2.) Cute a 13 X 28 rectangle out of each towel. (the liner and the outside of the bag are made the same way)

3.) Choose which towel you want to be the liner and iron on the vinyl using the instructions on the package.
4.) Fold in half so that you have a 13 X 14 rectangle and on the folded edge cut out a rectangle in each corner that is 2.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall. (this is for when we square off the bottom) Repeat with the liner towel- which now has the vinyl ironed on to it.

5. With right sides together sew the unfinished edges together. (I allowed for 1/2 inch seam) Sew from the top of the bag to the top of the rectangle you cut out. There should be 2 sides of the rectangle that have unfinished edges.

6.) Now we are going to square off the corners on the bottom of the bag. You want to pull open the rectangle so that the seam that you just sewed is in the middle. Your unfinished edge will be perpendicular to your seam. (Perpendicular means at a right angle)
7. Sew the unfinished edge. I like to use a zig-zag stitch when I do the corners. I feel like i make it stronger that way. Repeat for the other corner of the bag and the 2 corners of the liner.

8. Now your bag is coming into shape. Fold the outside towel out so that the right side is showing. You should see the bag shape now.
9. I like to iron creases where the folds of the bag should be. It helps keep the bag shape and makes the side stand up better.

Here is what it should look like after you iron: You do not have to iron the sides of the liner. The vinyl will give it plenty of strength.

Now you should have 2 bags, the outside and the vinyl-coated liner

10. With Right sides together put the "outside" into the liner and pin together.

11.) When you sew the two sides together it is easier if can take off the part of the tray so that you can place the bag around the sewing machine. My Sewing machine looks like this when I take off the part so that I can get to the bobbin. Sew around the top of the bag leaving a 2 -3 inch opening so that you can flip the bag right-side out.

12.) Flip right side out and top stitch to finish the edge.

13.) Now we are going to make the handle. With the left over material from the towel cut out 2 rectangles the size that you want the handle to be. Mine is about 3 X 12. I used one piece from each towel.

14.) With right sides together sew around 3 sides of your handle leaving one of the short sides open so that you can flip right side out.

15.) Flip right side out and top stitch to finish the edge of the handle.
16.) Now we are going to sew the handle to the bag. I took off the the part of my tray again so I could fit the bag around. It helps to sew the handle on. Sew the handle to the side of the bag. I used the seam to mark the middle. Turn the bag and sew on the other side of the handle.

17.) now we are going to make the closer piece. I cut out a 4 X 8 rectangle and then I cut off the corners on the top to make it look like a tag shape. You can make it any shape that you want. You could leave it as a rectangle or curve the edge or make it pointed. Be creative! I cut one of each towel again.

18.) On the RIGHT side of one of your pieces pin the elastic hair band in the middle of the top. (or where ever you want it to go) I have found that if I put a knot in it first it is easier to pin, just make sure the knot is above the seam.

19.) With right sides together sew you closer piece leaving 2-3 inch gap to flip right side out.

20.) top stitch to finish the edge.

21.) Sew the closer piece to the back of your bag.

22.) Pull on the elastic band to see where your button should go and sew on your button. (-How do you like my pink PJ pants and the camera lense cap in the bottom of the pic... I could have cropped them out but that would take time. : ) )

Ta-Da! Your very cute reusable lunch bag!!

Here are pictures of the other bags I made:

These reusable snack bags would be perfect with this lunch bag!

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