Just Add Snow... Snowman Kits to DIY

I have seen these kits in catalogs and knew I could make it myself.  In fact I decided this would be a great project to make for the grand kids and great nieces/nephews this Christmas.  Here's a step by step of how I DIM (did it myself).

Supply List:

Wooden closet rod or large dowel about 12 inches in length

Wooden drawer pulls, 3 round (buttons) and 2 square (eyes)

1/4 " dowel

Wood glue

Drill with 1/4" bit

Saws; miter and band

Assorted paint; black for eyes and mouth, orange for carrot nose, red & green for buttons

Spray shellac if not using outdoor paint

Time

Optional Supplies:

Scarf 

Hat

Bag to hold kit

Step 1

With a miter saw cut the closet rod into five 1/2 inch pieces for the mouth.  Use the remaining length of closet rod to shape a carrot nose with the band saw (or whittle it).  

Step 2

Cut eleven 3 inch lengths from the 1/4 inch dowel.

Step 3

Using a quarter inch drill bit, drill holes into the back of each mouth, nose, eye and button pieces.  Drill about 3/8 inch down but not through the wood.   Glue dowel cuts with wood glue to each piece. 

Step 4

Paint the pieces and let dry.

Step 5

Add button holes with your black paint.  Let dry.  I tried using white paint to make the buttons look like they had thread but did not like this look so I painted over them.

Step 6
After the pieces are all dry, coat them with shellac for durability in the wet snow.

If you want to go a step further, make a drawstring bag to place all the pieces in.  I used white fabric to make the bag and ironed on a design using this cute label I made.  I printed it on iron-on transfer paper that I purchase at JoAnn's.

I hope the kids have many years of fun snowman building.

Rice is Not Just for Eating! Bed Buddy Tutorial

Baby it's cold outside!  With all the snow and bad roads it's been easy to tackle projects that have been on my plate.  This one is just the ticket for a last minute gift or something to keep you and your family toasty warm,  rice heating bags or as I like to call them, Bed Buddies.  So simple to make and just a few ingredients;  fabric, thread, sewing machine and rice.

1.  Start with a medium weight fabric cut in a 15" x 27 " rectangle.  (You could also use a hand towel.)

2.  Fold the fabric in half wrong side out.

3.  Sew the right and left sides closed with a quarter inch seam allowance.  Stitch again for extra strength.  Turn right side out and press.  Press under 1/2 inch on open edge.

4.  Mark off from the fold to the open edge five row.  Each should be close to equal in width, approximately 2 7/8 inches wide if you started with a 15 inch wide piece of fabric minus the two 1/4 inch seams.  To find the exact measurement you can measure between your sewn edges, multiply by 5 and you get your row width.  Place pins at the top of each row.  You can draw a line with chalk, pin or eyeball your sewing line.

5.  Starting at the top using a straight stitch, sew from top to bottom to make your 5 rows, be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end to secure threads.  Hard to see in this photo because my thread blends in with the fabric pattern.

6.  Now the fun part.  Pour rice into each row about 2/3 full, approximately 1 1/4 cups of rice.  I do this over a pan and had my husband hold open the bag while I carefully poured.  I tried using a funnel, but the one I had, had too narrow of a neck opening for the rice to go down smoothly.

7.  Pin and sew the top opening closed.  I like to use a zig zag stitch and a straight stitch so that no rice can escape.

Almost finished but one more step... the heating instructions.

8.  Download the attached tags and print off if making a gift.  Bed Buddy Label

I like to print on cardstock and pin with a ribbon before wrapping up to gift.  If you don't want to use the tags the instructions are to microwave for 2 1/2 minutes and increase in increments of 30 seconds if you need it hotter.  Can also be frozen and used as an ice bag.  Do not wash as this will cause the rice to become moist and spoil.

My favorite use for this bag is to warm up at bedtime, place between the sheets at the foot of the bed for a toasty warm sleep. 

Enjoy and let me know how your project turned out.

Nursery Sewing

With an upcoming baby shower around the corner I offered to sew the nursery items... crib skirt, bumper pads, quilt and valance.  It was rewarding and I was given free reign to be creative.  Because I wanted to do this project I enjoyed it.  Some projects I wonder "what the @#&% was I thinking" but this was not one of them.

Unfortunately I do not have photos of everything I made but here is the quilt and a little stuffed elephant from scraps.

Isn't that elephant cute?   I have the tutorial for that.

Start by downloading this pdf pattern.

elephant pattern

You will need:

1/3 yard of fabric for body 

coordinating scrap fabric for contrasting ear

embroidery floss for eye

6 inches of cording for tail or use contrasting fabric

poly-fil 

scrap of quilt batting

Step 1

Print the pattern and tape the body to the head matching solid line.  

Step 2

Fold 1/3 yard of fabric in half.   Place pattern pieces on fabric and cut.

Cut contrasting ear on folded piece of scrap fabric and on quilt batting.

Step 3

Stack ear pieces in the following order; contrasting ear right side up, ear with main fabric right side down, batting.

Step 4

Sew 1/4 inch around ear leaving side of ear open for turning.  Hint: sew with batting on top.

Clip curves, turn right side out.  Fold open edge to inside, press.

Step 5

Attach ear to head using the dotted line for placement.  I used a blanket stitch on my machine but any stitch will do.  For a more whimsical look have the contrasting fabric side facing out.

  

Step 6

Using embroidery floss and hand needle, stitch an X on both sides of head referring to pattern for placement.

Step 7

Pin the ear down to keep it away from getting caught in the seam.  Pin tail to elephant referring to pattern for placement.  

Step 8

Pin pattern pieces right sides together.  Stitch leaving opening for turning and stuffing.  Clip curves of seam allowance, turn right side out and press.

Step 9

Begin stuffing elephant by starting with the trunk and legs.  Continue stuffing but do not overstuff.   Sew opening closed by hand with a slip stitch.

Show me your creation.  I'd love to see what fabric choices you make and other additions to the pattern.

Bedside Table Transformation

I recently took a class with Shizzle Design on using CeCe Caldwell paints.  I was inspired to change my bedroom look after some recent painting in the bathroom.   We had all the oak trim on our main floor painted white and the wallpaper stripped from the bathroom.  The bathroom was then painted with a deep berry color.   Now what color to use for towels and shower curtain... Gray was my choice and I love it.  What do you think?

Now back to updating the bedroom... I have had the same bedspread for over 11 years.   You must agree that it is time for a change.  Since the bathroom is attached to the bedroom I want to keep the color scheme flowing.  Here is my old bedside table.  The dresser matches, natural pine top with a wash of green over the rest of the piece.

Step 1

Wash the furniture with TSP, a simple inexpensive powder cleaner that is added to water.  This important step will help the paint adhere.  You can find it in the paint section of your hardware store near the paint stripper.

Step 2

I painted the piece with CeCe Caldwell's Seattle Mist, being careful to have the areas that I would later want exposed covered well with paint.  You can see the first coat drying in this photo.

Step 3

After the paint was dry (you can use a blow dryer to speed up the process) I proceeded with the second coat using CeCe Caldwell's Pittsburgh Gray.  Now let that coat dry.  I waited over 24 hours but that was not my original intention.   During the class we got word that there were tornado/storm warnings and I decided to head home.   I did not get back to my table for about a day and a half.

Step 4

Now the fun begins.  Using a wet, not damp and not dripping, rag, begin to gently rub the areas you want distressed revealing the first layer.   Don't rub too hard or you will get back to the original finish.  You can keep rinsing and re-wetting your rag as needed.  After rubbing all the edges and corners, I scrunched up my wet rag and gently rubbed the flat areas to create some dimension.   I went both with and against the grain.  Again let it dry.

Step 5

Tear a piece of paper grocery bag and use it to rub against all surfaces.   This helps make it smooth to the touch.

Step 6

Using CeCe Caldwell's clear wax and a waxing brush apply the wax.   For the entire bedside table I probably used 2 tablespoons of wax.  Work the wax into all areas going every direction with your brush.  Here is a tutorial link on applying the wax from Shizzle Design. 

Step 7

You can let the wax set a while or go right at it with a buffing brush or rag.  I used a wax brushing brush that attaches to your drill.  Easy to use and the time savings is worth it.  Another tutorial link from Shizzle Design.

Here is my finished product.

Now the fun begins... I need to paint the dresser, pick out fabric to sew window treatments, a window seat cover, pillows and possibly a new bedspread or duvet!   I will post my progress as I redecorate.  Wish me luck.

Thanksgiving Burlap Table Runner

Yesterday as I was thinking about my family coming to spend Thanksgiving with us I thought I needed to make it look fall-ish around here.  I went through my scraps and found some burlap.   After searching the Internet for images of painted burlap table runners, I found a few ideas I could use.

Step 1
Cut the burlap to the length you want for your table by measuring your table.  If you want it to hang over the sides I suggest adding about 16 inches giving an 8 inch drop per side.  For the width between 15 and 18 inches is common.

Step 2
If you have a sewing machine, zig-zag the cut edge to prevent fraying or turn under a 1/4 inch all around.   If you do not have a sewing machine there is a product called Fray Check that can be run along the edges to prevent the burlap from fraying.

Step 3
Now on your computer find a font that you like and print the words you want to use on your runner.  I used Zapfino font size 110 (I like the G and T on this font).  If you have access to clip art you can also print out a border or image to use.  I could not find what I wanted so I drew this wheat design on paper and then folded my paper in half to copy the image for the other side.

Step 4
Position the printed pages under the edge of your runner and secure so that burlap and paper stay stationary.  Using a fine tip black Sharpie Marker trace the image, you can see through the burlap so tracing is easy.   It's that simple, no painting involved!

Step 5
Enjoy your new table runner and think of the possibilities of your next project.   Maybe a pillow with your monogram Sharpied on!

In case you are wondering what the centerpiece is made of those are Osage Oranges from a friend's yard after the wind storm we had here two days ago.  They are not edible but should last through Thanksgiving.

A Little of Me

Welcome to Cloudy Creations, a place to charge your creative side.   I hope my tutorials make it easy for you to make your own creations.  

Friends tell me "you are so creative and talented", but truth be told, I need the visual to help me accomplish my projects.   Therefore I look at other, more creative blog sites searching for ideas to inspire me.   

So set aside the next cloudy day and get creative.