Day 98: Trunk or Treat Star Wars

This was my first experience with a trunk or treat.  I had less than two days to get it all together so I think overall it went pretty well. Although I am reminded of my age when probably half the people didn't know what the theme was, jeez! 

 

My little Chewbacca chillin' in his Millenium Falcon while the battle for the galaxy goes on in the trunk. I dressed as Princess Leia and no I am not including that pic. :)  The black board in the trunk has lights on it acting as stars.  They looked boring while it was still daylight, but much cooler when the sun went down.

Day 95: Strawberry Shortcake Costume

Strawberry Shortcake Halloween Costume

 

My daughter was set on Strawberry Shortcake as her Halloween costume for about the past month or so.  I figured it would be pretty simple to make it, so of course I did. I took a white shirt and made it into a dress by adding an attached skirt.  I started by using a blog about making a t-shirt twirly dress, but once I cut the fabric I realized the blog didn't explain how to fold the fabric very well.  Luckily, even after cutting the fabric I still had enough to use.  I ended up using a simplicity dress pattern I already had.  It is one that you make the top and skirt out of different fabric.  So it was easy to manipulate the pattern to what I needed.  I used only the skirt pattern pieces and just extended the length of the skirt to the total length I wanted the added part to be plus an inch for the hem. I made the green diamonds and strawberry out of felt and hand stitched it on.  I figured I could easy remove these later and she can wear this dress as a normal dress incase she doesn't want to keep it for dress up. The hat I had another simplicity pattern for.  The leggings I bought at Toys R Us.

 

This one shows a little bit better view of the hat. 

 

Day 87: A-10 Applique Blanket

A friend asked me to embroider on a chenille blanket for her.  This is a new one for me.  I thought an applique might work out better.  I think it worked out pretty well. 

Supplies

If you haven't seen this tip before, it is way easier to put your stabilizer in the hoop and just pin whatever you are sewing onto.  It makes it so much easier to line everything up correctly!

Here is what the blanket looked like after I sewed the image.

Then I took my applique scissors and cut around the image, leaving a shaggy look and feel. The photo shows the final baby blanket. I think the new mom will love it.

This wasn't an actually applique image, just an embroidery one so it didn't have the auto satin stitching around the edges.  I didn't want to add that free hand because it would take so much more time and also I wasn't sure that the chenille would work well with too much stitching. 

 

Day 79: Pumpkin Jar Tea lights

My daughter and I did this a few days ago, but then we ran into a stomach bug and have been busy these past few days.  I have been saving baby food jars not sure what to do with them but knowing we would find something.  This was a fun craft that my daughter could be a part of and then after the holidays we can just throw them out.  (probably wouldn't last if I saved them because the paint easily chips off) 

The finished candle holders, we even gave one a mustache in honor of my husband.

My daughter drawing the faces. 

 

First we cleaned the labels off the jars.  They rip off easily but leave behind two small glue residues.  I use an abrasive scrubbing pad and warm soapy water to help remove them.  Then we drew faces on masking tape.  Next, cut out the peices of the faces to use as a masking.  Place the tape face on the outside of the jar.  Then paint the outside of he jar with acrylic paint.  Once dry, peel away the face and you have a window to see the tea light inside. 

I've seen this idea many ways and many places.  This particular one I saw in a Better Homes and Garden magazine.  I didn't have any sealer to seal the paint on the outside.  Otherwise I am sure the candle holders would last longer.  Also, the magazine recommended using the battery powered tealights.  I have some somewhere....I could only find one, so I used real tealights.