School Valentine's Party Idea

Here is a an idea for a school Valentine's box that turned out really well and was able to be completed in one night. We did a SpongeBob box (since he is already "Box" shaped"). We got a USPS Flat rate shipping box (medium size...they give them away free at the post office) then cut a hole in the top (for the valentines to go in) and covered the top with yellow scrapbook paper (12X12 size works well) and the bottom with brown and then got white strips w/ a random wave to them for the shirt. We did an image search on-line and then printed out the eyes and mouth and then cut them out and glued them off (this made SUCH a difference on how it turned out looking, to have the eyes and mouth "just right" made the whole thing perfect). We colored circles for the sponge holes w/ a yellow-green crayon and we glued on a red tie shape and outlined anything needed w/ a black sharpie. It was super-easy and it ended up WINNING first place in the class valentine's box contest.


I also wanted to share a few ideas for the school Valentine's party. This was a for a third grade class so it would need to be adjusted for younger or older students. We played a conversation heart relay race. We divided the kids into two lines and then me and the teacher each held a mirror and bowl of conversation hears. Then the kids had to come up, one-by-one, and try to fill up a cup that they held on their head w. the conversations hearts by looking the mirror. Then we quieted things down a little with a game of "honey, if you love me, give me a smile" and then finished off the party with a game of pictionary using Valentine words while they ate their snack. The kids seemed to really have fun and the teacher mentioned several times how well the party went.

Nursing Cover Tutorial

These are step-by-step instructions for making a nursing cover (similar to a "hooter hider" or an "udder cover.")
Supplies:22 X 45 inch rectangle of fabric (pre-washed)
1 pkg extra wide, double fold bias tape
1/2 yard of boning
small strip of velcro

Step one: put on a Barney DVD (this is "step one" of all my projects)

Step two: Trim a 5 inch strip off of each of the short ends of the fabric (this should leave you with two rectangles, each 5 X 22 inches, in addition to your larger rectangle.) One of these smaller rectangles will become your strap. (the other is "extra." I use it to cover a travel wipe holder...I will maybe a put a pic of one of those on my blog too when I get a chance) To make the strap, fold the rectangle (right sides together) lengthwise and then sew with 1/2 seam along the long end and one of the shorter ends. Turn right side out.

Step Three: Round all the corners of the larger rectangle (I use a dinner plate as a guide)

Step Four: Starting toward the end of one of the longer sides, sew the bias tape around the large rectangle. (I like to first make sure the bias tape will be long enough to sew all the way around. It should be enough but sometimes it is close so I like to check and trim a little off of my fabric as necessary.) Sew very close to the inner edge of the bias tape but make sure to catch all the layers of the fabric and bias tape. Stop sewing when you are ALMOST back to where you started from. Leave a small opening to thread the boning through.

Step Five: Sew Across the ends of the boning so the inner plastic part cannot come out (slightly trim inner plastic section as needed) (just to clarify...this is not shown in the picture above. the picture above is still for the previous step)

Step Six: Thread the entire boning into the bias tape, along the long edge, through the small gap that was left between the beginning and ending of the bias tape (this is why you needed to sew close to the edge of the bias, so the boning can fit). Boning normally has a natural curve to it so make sure it curves toward the right side of the fabric (this leaves a little window which the mother can see down thru to the baby when it's all completed.) Center the boning so it's the middle of the top long edge (inside the bias tape). Finish stitching the bias tape to the end, folding under the raw edge

Step Six: Attach strap. Before attaching, measure to desired length and trip off excess of raw edge (I usually take about 5 inches off). Attach strap by turning under raw edge and stitching to the backside (along the top of bottom of bias). Match the outside of the strap with the outer end of the boning. Stitch across outside edge of boning (through all layers of bias and fabric) several times in order to make it strong and not allow the boning to slide. (FYI...I have broken needles before so I DONT Sew directly over the boning. Instead I stitch along the top and bottom of it and very close to the outside edge which prevents it from sliding)

Step Six: Cut small length of velcro to width of strap and sew one section to the other end of the strap. Then sew the other section of velcro on the backside of the fabric in a similar manner as above, matching the outer edge of the velcro to the outer of the boning. Sew across the end of boning several times again to keep it from sliding on this side.
Well, I think that is everything. See the top picture for the finished product. Let me know if you try to make it and my directions are clear. This is my first time so I am sure I left some parts out, but hopefully you can decipher it!

And, that it! Now you can discreetly nurse you baby in public without flashing everyone (or if you are like me, no one can tuck around the side of you so no one case see your back fat either!)

Jack of all trades, Master of None

According to Wikipedia (the ultimate all-knowing source for everything) "Jack of all trades is a figure of speech used in reference to a generalist: a person that is competent with many skills but is not outstanding in any particular one...Today, the phrase used in its entirety generally describes a person whose knowledge, while covering a number of areas, is superficial in all of them." Well, that pretty much sums me up. I love to sew and quilt but I am not great at either. I love to cook but I am definitely not a master chef, in fact, I like recipes that are simple and easy and usually start with something from a box. I love to find find a good deal, but I normally find them off of someone else blog. I like to make crafts and decorate my home but I am no Martha Stewart. I love to scrapbook and make cards, however, the things I make are usually copied from a magazine. In fact, I like to do a little bit of everything and that is what this blog will have on it...a little bit of everything. A little bit of whatever I happen to be interested in at the moment. It's not a sewing blog, an interior design blog, a scrapbooking blog, a deals blog, a cooking blog, or even a crafting blog...It's an EVERYTHING blog because I am Merri-of-all-trades....or for short. you can just call me MOAT. So, dont be afraid of MOAT, there are no dragons in here, just a random bit of everything that I am enjoying at the moment (and I hope you will to).