Happy "Home-made" Halloween

When I was growing up (back in the dark ages), we never bought Halloween outfits.  We always made our own.  This year, that's the path we traveled.  Matter of fact, Nikolai did not decide to be a zombie until last night in church! 

Here's my boys for Halloween - a zombie and a hippie!

Nikolai cut his outfit himself.  He made the zigzag cuts for his pants and shirt.  The shirt was too little for him and the jeans were in the worn out, play pants pile.  His cost?  0$!!  We had everything on hand for his outfit.  He even used my make-up for his face.   This suits him, don't you think?  He was careful NOT to smile because, "Mom, zombies do NOT smile!"

Deniska wanted to be a hippie, a love child.  Now, I do admit that we paid a little for his wig and glasses but not much - under $5.  He had tie-died his t shirt at a birthday party back in August.  He is very proud of his outfit.This suits him as well.  He was born about 40 years too late!

And, finally, their sweet daddy has taken them for Trunk-or-Treating at one of the local churches tonight.  Tomorrow, they go to their daddy's office for trick-or-treating.  They do not want to go out tomorrow night because they say they will have too much homework to do!

Since this was all made with supplies on hand, I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Monday!

Happy "Home-made" Halloween everyone!!

Make Do and Mend Mondays - Battery Storage

Batteries everywhere!  Not any more!  For my project this week, I would like to show you how to store your batteries.

Yesterday, I reached into my refrigerator to get an onion and ended up organizing and cleaning out the refrigerator.  What prompted this task was when a battery fell out of the onions.  I decided then it needed some attention. 

I keep my batteries in the refrigerator because I had always thought it would extend their life.  According to the research I did yesterday, it does for 5%.  While not a huge amount, I suppose every little bit helps!  I can't take credit for this idea - it comes from Better Homes and Garden.  I saw it on Pinterest and thought it was so clever.  Dennis had some old pill boxes in his closet that was not being used and they became the new keepers of the batteries.  It would be nice if the batteries would stand up like the original post, but this works just fine.  We use a lot of batteries in this home! 

I hope you can use this tip for your home.  I am linking to Heidi's Make Do & Mend.  I think this is definitely a Make DO!  I am also linking to My Junk Drawer. 

and, to:

Thanks for dropping by!

Make Do & Mend Monday - Re-Furbished Mouse Pad

Don't you just love this sweet mouse pad?  This is my Make Do & Mend project for the week.  When I was cleaning out my closet yesterday, I found this mouse pad.  Look at the picture below.  As you can tell, the boys really liked this mouse pad as well.  *grins*

As you can see, it has seen better days but I couldn't bear to throw it away because it is one of those really thick, nice mouse pads.  So, I decided I would just give it a new life by a make over!  I found a scrap of material that I loved (with cats on it of course!). I traced around the mouse pad on to the back of the material and cut it out leaving about an inch margin all the way around.

After I cut it out, I ironed the material on to wonder under (any type of fusible web will work).  I then ironed it on to the mouse pad and trimmed around the mouse pad to get my new top!  Easy as can be!  This took me about 10 minutes to do.  How simple is that?

Just be careful not to cut the mouse pad as you are trimming the material.  I just love it!  Best of all, since I had all the materials on hand, it didn't cost me a thing!  That's a good thing!

I am linking this to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Monday.  (I know, I am one day late - as usual!)

Thank you for dropping by!

Make Do & Mend Monday - New Pincushion

Well, here it is Tuesday and I am already a day behind!  The story of my life these days....LOL!  For Make Do and Mend Monday, I decided to make a pincushion.  For some unknown reason to me, I have the hardest time keeping up with pincushions of anyone that I know.  I put it down, I go get something to drink, I come back, and it's gone!  I suspect little hands or paws take it off.  So, I decided to make a heavy pincushion and one that I would not lose. 

I decided on this teacup since it is rather small and it is blue.  (I really like blue!)  And, it reminds me of Holland, where my friend Heidi lives who hosts this wonderful day of the week for us.  This is an extremely easy thing to do.  I took a luncheon plate, traced the circle on my fabric, cut it out, and put a running stitch around the perimeter.  Then, I drew the thread and stuffed the circle.  After I had stuffed it, I finished drawing the circle and sewing it shut.  All, that is left was to put it in the cup.  You could put a tiny but if glue around the inside of the cup but I did not do that since I stuffed it tight.  You could also decorate the cup with rick rack, and I might do that later.  But, for right now, it is just right!  The best part?  It was free since I had all materials on hand! 

I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Monday! 




Sew thankful you dropped by,

Tablerunner, Candle, and a Happy July 4th!

I wanted to make a table runner for the 4th of July and ran across these bandanas.  So, I thought I would use them.  After all, one needs to use the resources on hand.  Plus, I did not want to drive to town in the sweltering heat to the only cloth store within 50 miles and spend money!  And, the boys no longer wanted to use them to play cowboy.  A win-win situation for all! 

 I sewed them together and put some rick-rack on the seams because rick rack makes everything look happy!  The white bandana was a different size so I cut it to use on the ends.

Then, I decided I need a candle or something to go on top.  So, I took a white candle and wrapped a holiday napkin around the base, glue the edges together, and put it in a hurricane.  This way, I can take the napkin off after the 4th and put a different cover on the candle.  I thought my candle was quite pretty, even if I do say so myself! 

Now, the best part!  Cost?  Nothing!  I had all materials on hand! 

I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Mondays

"Sew" thankful you all dropped by!

Making Cloth Napkins

Tomorrow is the first day of summer and what better way to celebrate it than to make new cloth napkins?!  I have been on a cloth napkin kick lately since we seem to go through paper napkins like water in a bucket with a hole!  Now, I know some folks can make an argument over paper versus cloth but since I am washing towels anyway, I figure those cloth napkins are not going to take up much space.  And, besides, who doesn't love a nice cloth napkin?  

On our 10th anniversary we went to Hawaii and I bought this fabric around that time.  I had originally thought I would make D a pillowcase but never got around to making one.  I thought this was perfect for summer napkins!  Who wouldn't want to be in Hawaii?!!  And, it did use some of my stash that "he who does not understand why I have so much fabric" keeps pointing out to me.  *grins*

If you want to make your own cloth napkins, there are many excellent tutorials on the web.  Here are a few that I like:

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/04/20/make-your-own-cloth-napkins/ 

http://blog.maggiemakes.com/sing_forever/tutorial-cloth-napkins.html/

http://www.filminthefridge.com/2008/11/19/make-your-table-pretty-a-reversible-rick-rack-napkin-tutorial/

I have plans to make lots more napkins this summer.   For today, I am linking to Heidi's Make Do and Mend Challenge.  Hope to see you there!

Heidi's

Sew Thankful you dropped by,