Super Cape

Trevor is going through a serious super hero phase...or just the beginning of a lifetime of obsession.  He spent 4 days in a Batman Cape, 3 days in a Spiderman suit- with muscles and a few nights as Captain America so far.  Iron man makes short appearances.  He has taken a Wonder Woman from my office (I have a few to chose from!).  His collection is pretty good, but he does not have anything Superman.  He cried like crazy last night after I told him that he would not be getting a Superman suit anytime soon.  It's not Christmas, it's not his birthday...and we are REALLY trying not to buy him everything he asks for.  He has so much already.  This new resolve has kept me busy "making" things like a Batman belt out of duct tape and a hand drawn detail on paper for the front, painted foam paper for Batarangs...why not a Superman cape?  I have been wanting to sew something and this was a perfect excuse.  So, here it is...a couple hour sewing project to give Trevor a stand-in Cape until he can get a Superman suit for Christmas.

Trevor was a bit concerned because Superman's cape "is not blue, it's red" and the Super Logo goes on his chest and not on the cape.  I explained that once he gets a Superman suit, I would make him a plain red cape to go with it...this is just something for fun.  He is a real stickler for detail.  He always asks for babysitters and grandma to pull up pictures of Super Hero's so that he can color them correctly!

1. Red & Goldenrod Fat Quarters- on sale for $0.99.  Iron on Wonder Under adhesive before cutting.  Trace the Super Shape and exacto the "S"

3.  I had some trouble squaring off such "silky" fabric but a little patience paid off.

4.  Use 2 triangle seams at the top to add darts for the shoulders.

5. I hemmed all the sides with a simple straight stitch.

6. Wonder Under is AWESOME but I wanted to zig zag around the Super Logo to give it a finished look.  The straight edges are easy compared to sewing letters on pillow cases.

Craft Table Bliss!

I finally have a HUGE workspace for sewing, cutting, crafting and storage!
It is missing the bins from the top shelves but they are perpetually out of stock at IKEA- I couldn't wait to post anymore!! 
Materials Cost = $190.00 (shelves, plywood, cutting mat, hardware)

Are you really going to sew...standing up?  Yes Ma'am (or Sir)...for most quick craft things that is easy peasy
If I needed to do a big project I could move out to the dining room table
I  am much happier with a tall table to stand at than a table I can sit at...
and it keeps projects farther from my precious 3 year old's little mitts!!


The extra large cutting mat means that my entire workspace is indestructible...almost!

The size of my new workspace- never has to be cleared away! 

The size of my old workspace at the dining table

2 more things that don't need to be put away anymore

Now- lets get down to how and how much??

Tons of storage...IKEA & Home Depot
Green bins- $3 each (IKEA)
White/short bins for top slots- $2 each (IKEA) these are perpetually out of stock but I will get them someday!
Khaki bins- $5 for 3 clearance (Home Depot)

Rectangular Drawer organizers- already had them so I am not sure how much they are, but they are cheap (IKEA)
This is on the inside/underneath the table since the Khaki bins don't fit the entire length of the bottom

IKEA Trofast Frame (kids section) $39.99 each
IKEA Trofast Wall Unit (kids section) $24.99 each
The wall unit is 1/2 the width of the shelves but it creates a nice extra flat shelf for freezer paper/bolts of fabric

Home Depot- Cabinet Grade Plywood On Sale- $23 per sheet cut down to 39X60 (free since first 2 cuts are free)
A lot of DIY craft table posts on Pinterest use MDF but if the guy at The Home Depot is right:
MDF does not stand up to moisture- at all...any water on it will make it swell
Since this is for crafts as well as sewing, it is possible that it could get wet...
that and my tea getting dumped over on it (it will happen...I am sure!)
Regular Plywood is cheap but it is not smooth and usually already bowing at the store
Spend the extra $5 and get a piece of cabinet grade plywood...say NO to slivers!


How do you make it sturdy?  I am sure there are many ways...but, this was the easiest and cheapest
Home Depot Wood Joiners- in the clamp aisle
*These are sharp (my finger still hurts where I grabbed one on the wrong end)*

Nail 4 on each end to join the cabinet to the wall unit
Use the remainder to secure the plywood to the wall unit
It is sturdy and HEAVY at this point so make sure it is right where you want it before you put it all together
This also takes at least 2 people since the shelves are white laminate and are slippery-
you need someone to sit on it while you join the unit together

2 wood joiners on each end

1 on each end and 3 along the length

The cutting mat is from JoAnn Fabric- It is normally around $80-100 for one this large (38X59)
Keep a look out for deals....I got it for $32.99 on a one day sale
The cutting mat was actually my inspiration to create the table and the reason it is 39X60
It is also what lead me to the Trofast at IKEA...the pieces are exactly 39 inches in length

I also chose to cover the plywood with fabric:
1.  to bring in some color and fun
2. to make it more versatile
3. to save myself time in having to finish and paint it (but you could do that)
4. it acts as a quick pin cushion on the edges of the mat

*if you look real close...my scrapbooking containers are on the floor underneath...
these shelves as a base are not the best option if you are a scrapbooker (which I am not)
since they do not fit in the shelves

And, if you come visit...it's still my guest room and you can have it all to yourself!

Gabba Land

I found that finding Trevor's friends from Gabba Land was much harder than actually making the bag!  $60 for a stuffed Muno...hell-to-the-NO!  So, I settled for a set of 5 Gabba friends for the bathtub and used Plex, the magic robot as our bag friend. 

I put the rest of the Gabba Land friends on the shelf under the TV, lined up and waiting for Trevor when he got up this morning.  He looked like it was Christmas morning when he finally noticed them.  He spent the rest of the morning carrying Muno, Fuffa, Tutie and Brobee around like he was collecting acorns.  So cute!  I hope he is as excited when he finds out where Plex has been hiding when I bring out the bag for him on Halloween.

Yo Gabba Gabba Bag



Mom's Trick or Treat Bag for Trevor!

And, all around fun bag for trips!

Craft Night

Episode 1

The Gabba Land
Folks are on their way from Amazon.com!

Crafts!!!

Spent my lunch shopping at City Craft and JoAnn Fabric for craft night next Tuesday.  I think we will need to have 3 more craft nights just to get started on all the projects I want to tackle right now.  But, project #1 is recreating this YGG bag for my man, Trevor!  Pictures from craft night will be posted next week! 

Making Your Own Baby Shower Gifts

Knit Hat, Receiving Blanket w/ Name & 3 Burp Cloths

Knit Hat 1/2 skein yarn
Cast on 80 sts
Knit in the round until it measures 5" from roll
Decrease each row as follows:
K2tog, K6
K2tog, K5
K2tog, K4
K2tog, K3
K2tog, K2
Decrease to 10 sts, continue to knit 10 sts for a 4" tail. Bind off and loop knot.
You will need to use double ended needles as sts decrease to continue in the round.

Receiving Blanket & Burp Cloths-
Purchase a 5 pack, flannel receiving blanket package. Use 2 full blankets to create named blanket, sewing back to back once name is sewn on. You will need to square off the fabric, they are never the same size. Use the other 3 blankets to create letters and long strips for burp cloths. Use pre-fold, white diapers for burp cloths. Wash and iron all fabrics BEFORE cutting or sewing since they all tend to shrink or pucker. Use Heat Bond Light to tack letters and strips to the fabrics, then use a simple zig-zag stitch to sew the edges. Tie 3 bows with matching ribbon and hand sew at the middle of the bow at the end of the diaper.

Kiddo Pillow

The kiddo pillow is easy and can be done in the theme of the birthday party if you can find the fabric. It helps to have a die-cut machine for "perfect" fast letters, but tracing and scissors works fine too! You can stuff it or just sew another pillow case for the inside so that a regular pillow can be inserted and it is easier to wash the case alone (and probably more sanitary if they really are going to sleep with it!).

Supplies: 1 yard of juvenile fabric, stencils or die-cuts, 1 or 2 pillow cases, HeatBond Light, & matching thread.

Detail Photo- Click Here

• 1 pillow case and stuffing material for closed pillow
  
• 2 pillow cases, sewn back to back at the open edge after the embroidery stitching is completed. I purchase a pillow so the gift is ready to go when it is given! This is also faster...stuffing a pillow is a lot of work!
• Use HeatBond Light to adhere appliques to cases instead of using pins
• Be sure to wash juvenile fabric and pillow cases and then iron both prior to sewing.