Bunko Babes...

What is more fun than a bunch of friends gathering together for a meal and a game of Bunko?  The chance to WIN! :)   

How we began...   A few years ago I was a substitute for my neighbors Bunko group.  It was so much fun I kept thinking about starting my own group.  When I found out that the small private school where I had taught for 15 years was closing, I knew I needed to do something for a number of reasons.  One, was just to keep in contact with my friends that I wouldn't be seeing on a daily basis.  Two, was I just needed something to look forward to each month.   

I put out some feelers and we started last January at my house.   We have a wonderful group of woman.   We keep a list of substitutes incase someone can't make it.  Each month a different lady hosts at her home.  The host provides dinner and dessert and a $15.00 Boobie prize.  After we eat dinner we start playing.  It's just rolling dice.  EASY RIGHT?   We play 2 rounds, eat dessert, and then play two more rounds.  We each contribute $5.00 towards the prizes and they are awarded as follows = Highest score ($40.00) Most bunkos ($20.00) and Lowest score gets the 'boobie' prize.  We rotate around the three tables so you get to chat with everyone as some point in the evening.  The beauty of it is you host it one time and then for the rest of the year you just go and enjoy.  For more info on the rules of Bunko go here. 

My husband created an awesome Excel file for us which makes figuring out who wins easy.  It calculates all the months so in December when we had our Christmas party we had prizes for overall scores too. If anyone is interested in the spreadsheet he created I would be happy to email it to you.

I think one of the things I enjoy the most, besides all the laughing, are the new friends I've made this year.    

Here are some pictures from our group.

Chicky preparing to feed all of us!

  Connie, Karen, Ms. Connie, and Trish

 

Julie and her sister in law, Lisa

Lisa, and Me!

It's my turn again this Friday!  Maybe I'll win this time!!  :)


Thanks for visiting.  Have a blessed day!  

Sweater Re-make

 I saw this idea in a craft book I got out of the library and thought I would make one for my daughter.

Materials/Supplies:

• Solid colored, long sleeve button down sweater - I found this one at a local consignment shop.
• Co-ordinating fabric for the ruffles, covered buttons and flower.  I believe I bought 1/4 yard.
• Fabric for the leaves for the flower.   I used a piece of brown wool that I felted.  (Washed in hot water and dried in dryer.)
• Fabric glue for flower.
• Pin back and hot glue gun.
• Co-ordinating ribbon for sleeve ruffle.
• Button kit sized to match the buttons on sweater- I bought mine at JoAnn's.

Here is a close up of the fabric I used.

Directions:

1.  Decide where you want the ruffle to start (somewhere near the elbow).  Measure and mark both sleeves, then cut.

2.  Cut two pieces of the co-ordinating fabric 5" by 22" inches.  This is for a XS sweater so you might want to make it longer and wider for a larger size.  

3.  Sew the short seam together on both pieces.  

4.  Hem one end of each ruffle.

5.  Make basting stitches on the unfinished end.  Make sure you back stitch when you start. The fabric will gather better if you use two lines of basting.  Pull both top threads to make the gathers.  

6.  Pin right side of sweater and right side of ruffle together and stitch.

7.  Using the ribbon you chose, sew it down where the two fabrics meet.

8.  Using the button kits, cover the new buttons with the co-ordinating fabric. 

9.  Use remaining fabric to create a flower pin.  Take a long strip and start rolling it up, twisting the fabric (turning it over)  every half turn or so, gluing as you turn. Let dry. Cut a circle with leaves attached out of felt or wool and hot glue the flower on.  Hot glue a pin to the back.  

All done!  A spiffy new look for an old sweater.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!

Everyone Should Have a Pretty Apron

This Christmas I made a few aprons as gifts.  I had seen one similar to the first two on Etsy and thought I would try to make one.  Since I didn't have a pattern I used two of my own aprons as a guide, making sure the bust area was large enough to actually cover a bust and for the length.   

This one was for my daughter in law who has a black, red, and white kitchen theme.  I bought one yard of the cherry fabric, one yard of black polka dots, and a red flat quarter.  It is lined with the polka dot. There was enough fabric on the flat quarter to make both pockets and the ruffle trim.  I used a vest buckle at the neck so you don't have to tie it.  I placed the ruffle low enough at the neck so that if they wear it with the other side out you can't see it, although there aren't pockets on that side. 

 This one is my mom's.  I tried to match her kitchen colors.  

 I made this one for my daughter.  The colors in these pictures are not accurate.  The picture below is a close up and shows the actual colors.  I saw it in a craft book I got out of the library and thought it was so cute.  It is totally reversible down to the tie that has little button holes to pull it through to the other side.  I love the way it turned out.

Here is a close up of the bodice.


Now that Christmas is over I am going to make myself one.  Maybe it will inspire me to want to cook more than I do now.  We'll see!


Thanks for visiting.  Have a blessed day!

A Parade of Snowmen

I just finished putting away my Christmas decorations and thought I would post pictures of some of the snowmen I've made in the past.

This one is made of muslin, felt hat, fabric scarf, wood heart buttons, 

twigs and a painted face. 

 Rolled up batting.  Purchased felt hat. Big, honking nose made from styrofoam, 

twig arms, buttons for eyes.

 This one made from round wood boxes.  Just paint with a little fabric for his 

hat and scarf and buttons.

 I love this one.  My husband used his band saw to cut it out and I made these for all my kids teachers throughout the years.  I stained the top part.  The snowman is painted with white textured paint for the snow and he has a paper twist scarf.  

 I made this at a ladies craft night at our church.  The lady who taught the class 

cut them out for us.  He is holding a little broom in his one hand!

 This one is just a 1x6 painted white (black at the top) with a piece of thin wood for the brim.  He has button eyes and mouth.  I just noticed he's lost a few buttons on his tummy.  I used textured paint on him and a fabric scarf.  His nose is a dowel I whittled at the tip that is way too big for his face!

This one is my favorite.  The Weber snow family. I made it from a pattern 

using white flannel and batting.  Fabric scarves, one hat is made with felt 

the other from a sock, buttons, and a sharpie:)

You can tell I made it a while ago because Michael is now taller than my husband Frank, Thomas is as tall as Frank, and Jocelyn is as tall as I am! Even with Michael married almost 3 years now I can't bring myself to change it.  I know I should either re-do the whole thing and add Michaels wife or take Michael off.   But I tell you it is still very weird for me not to write Michaels name when I sign Christmas cards so for now I guess it will stay like this. Has anyone else felt like that?

Thanks for visiting!

Blessings!

My First Hoo are You? Post!

Link up and join the fun!

1. Did you make any New Year's Revolutions?

I did not.    I've never really been one to do that.

2. What are some goals you have for 2011?

I do want to do better at planning meals, cleaning my house regularly, drinking 8 glasses of water a day, exercising and crafting more.  I need to learn how to use my cricut!

3. What is something that you got for Christmas?

My parents gave me a gift card to Kohls which I've already spent! :)  My mother also gave me a pincushion that my grandmother made years ago from a tuna can that looks like a chair that I will treasure.  I got 2 new perfumes and 4 new Yankee candles!

4. Did you see any good movies over the holiday season? 

We never go to the movies but I do get them from the library.  We watched Date Night.  It was really funny.

5. Do you do your own taxes or have someone do them for you?

My husband does them and waits till the last minute which makes for some stressful days.   I tried to organize all the files this summer so it will be easier to actually find the paper he needs....  We will see how it goes this year.

SEW Wall Art

Are you sensing a theme here? :) Here is another gift I made for my daughter for Christmas.

I am trying to remember if I bought the letters at JoAnn's or Michael's. I bought letters at both stores and then decided I liked these better so I returned the other set. The backs of these have the hole for hanging. They were already painted white so I didn't even have to paint them! I have to tell you that I am not a scrapbook-er but I LOVE scrapbook paper. I think it could become a problem for me. I found this paper at Michaels. The flowers were a pack in the scrapbook isle I found at JoAnn's.

Supplies:

• Letters
• Scrapbook paper
• Modge Podge
• Brayer
• Flowers or whatever you want to add. I tried making some fabric flowers but didn't like it so much and since the patterns on the paper were a bit 'busy' decided the flowers were a better choice. I added buttons to the centers of each flower.

Here is something similar.

Directions:

1. Place the letter on top of the paper and trace all around.

2. Cut the letter out of the paper, cutting on the inside of the pencil line.

3. Using a brush cover top/front of letter with Modge Podge.

4. Brush back of paper with Modge Podge.

5. Place on top of letter and use the brayer to get it smooth.

6. Let dry.

7. Brush another layer of Modge Podge on top and sides.

8. Decorate as desired.

That's it!

Enjoy!

Sewing Ham and Roll

Here is another gift I made for my daughter Jocelyn. I made her a super huge sewing ham and a sewing roll. I did find a pattern at JoAnn's but wasn't loving the shape so I made my own version. It is supposed to have wool on one side and cotton on the other. I wasn't crazy about any of the wool I found at JoAnn's so I went to the thrift store and found a cute wool skirt for $3.00 that had purples and oranges in it. I bought coordinating cotton fabric for the back. When I was researching sewing hams every site I found said they were either stuffed with saw dust or wool scraps. I decided to go with saw dust but wasn't sure how I was going to get enough for both of them. I called a local lumber yard and asked if I could buy some from them. When I got there with my bucket they were kind enough to fill it for me for free! So nice!

Directions:

1. Make a pattern for each shape out of cotton fabric. I just used scraps I already had. Here are the finished dimensions of the tops for the two I made. Ham- 14" top to bottom and 10" across the center and the Roll- 20" long and 5" across.

2. Cut out 2 pieces of fabric for the inside, 1 piece of wool and 1 piece of cotton for the outside of each shape.

3. Sew all along the edges of the inside fabric keeping the bottom (straight-ish) part open. Turn it right side out and fill it with saw dust. This was hard. You have to really pack it in there using whatever means available! When filled, hand sew the edges closed. Do the same for the roll leaving one of the rounded edges open.

4. Now make the outside using the wool/cotton fabric. Once turned right side out pull it over the 'inside'. Tricky, but do-able. Then hand sew the bottom closed. Repeat for roll.

I realize you can buy these at JoAnn's and with a coupon it's a deal but my daughter wanted/needed a larger ham than what they sell there. Plus, I couldn't find a roll anywhere. My daughter has been home for Christmas break and has been using it quite a bit. That makes me smile!

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings!