The Perfect Baby Blanket!

  24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects

The Perfect Baby Blanket!

I am so in love with these blankets! The weight is absolutely perfect, they take about an hour to make, and they are really cute!  

Simply take one yard of cotton print, and one yard of minky dot print, and stitch them wrong sides together.  I sewed around the edges - about 5 dots in one the long sides, and 3 dots in on the shorter sides  

Then sew whatever pattern you would like to "quilt" the two fabrics together.  I did four diagonal stripes across this one.  The dots on the minky fabric make this so simple!  

Then to finish the blanket, roll the edge over twice, and sew.  I did this rather thinly, but for the next one I'll make the edge much thicker, or use a second fabric for binding..  I didn't have a second fabric that worked well with this one.

To see more 
24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects
http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2013/11/24-days-of-simple-christmas-crafts.html


Felt Embroidery Candle Wraps

 
Felt Candle Wraps

I'm so excited about these, they are my favorite new craft.  Wrapped around a $4 candle from Michael s, these will make great hostess gifts, & teacher gifts, this Christmas.

Last year while shopping at a small, locally owned, department store, I found these:
This is a simple velcro wrap to go around a jar candle.  The possibilities for these are endless, and are going to be great for all the little cross stitch projects, felt embroidery, small quilting projects, punch needle embroidery..  there are all sorts of craft skills that could be used to make these! 

I started with felt embroidery, because it is the fastest simplest craft I know.  

The wrap is just a little bit longer than a standard felt rectangle, so I used my sewing machine to stitch a piece on each side to lengthen it.  This was the only time I used my sewing machine for this project.  The pieces could have been hand stitched, or even hot glued, or you could buy larger pieces of felt to start with.
Next time I would just sew the dark blue material, and I would do all the embroidery on the lighter blue first, then attach the lighter blue to the darker.  Or, embroider first, then add the pieces to lengthen it.  


I used a hot glue gun to attach the Velcro.  Remember to put it on the front on one end (shown on the right), and the back on the other (not visible,on the left).

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An Index Of My Craft Related Posts

24 Days of Simple Christmas Crafts - A Scarf

24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects

A Very Simple Scarf

This is so simple, it is a great "learn to crochet" project.  Or you could do a fancier pattern, or knit it, if you already have experience with knitting and/or crocheting.

Charisma Loops & Threads Yarn

I like this yarn - it's soft and warm works up beautifully.  It goes on sale 2 for $5 at Michaels, although it's 2 for $7 this week.  

For the scarf above, all I am doing are 18 stitches of triple crochet, using a J/10 crochet hook.   I'll use two skeins for this scarf.  Count your stitches every row or two, to make sure you do not drop or add any stitches.  I did the amount shown above one evening while watching tv..  I'll easily finish it in a second evening.

There is a simple tutorial with photos on how to triple crochet here:
http://www.lionbrand.com/faq/116.html
(The site above has both step by step photos, and a video tutorial)

Or go to YouTube and search triple crochet - YouTube is great for learning how to knit and crochet.


To see more 
24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects
http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2013/11/24-days-of-simple-christmas-crafts.html




Why I Won't Wear Pink In October


Today I put the bright pink cover on my miche bag.  I checked the calendar first, to be sure it was November, and that it is once again safe for me to wear pink.

I know it practically makes me anti american, but I will not wear pink in October.  I will not buy pink duct tape, or pink shopping bags.  Even when the pink flatiron with the ribbon on it goes on 75% clearance, I'll  pay more for a non pink version - it bothers me that much. 

I avoided an entire town for the month of October, because they were "painting the valley pink" for October.  All of the stores were decked out in pink, one with bras used outside as a "humorous"  display.  I didn't research how much of their profits they were donating to any sort of cancer research or support - but my guess would be that it's awfully close to 0%.  

Because that's the second lie in all of this pink.  That by buying pink, you are supporting something - research, or mammograms, or something.  (Amazingly, most people have no idea what they are even contributing towards - and not all cancer research money is spent equally. )
 
"Get your very own FREE Think Before You Pink® Toolkit containing all the information and tools you need to deepen your understanding of the politics of breast cancer and help others learn the truth about breast cancer and pink ribbon marketing. - See more at: http://www.bcaction.org/2013/09/10/pinktober-alert/#sthash.OW6EHYUl.dpuf"

But the first lie, the one that annoys me the most, is that wearing pink shows support, or promotes awareness.

High school football teams all across the area have a "pink out" night.  Some of the cheer squads spend around $100 for pink uniforms & poms just for that night.  The football players wear pink socks and pink arm bands.  Pink balloons & streamers decorate the stadiums.

How does this make one single person more "aware" of breast cancer?  I do know of one local High School that fundraised before their pink out night, then at half time presented a check to a non profit cancer society.  Kudos to them.  That kind of action I can get behind. 

"People go around showing off their new pink swag like they're the bee's knees, but ask them what the symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer are, or if they've heard of triple negative breast cancer, or lymphedema, and you'll get a blank stare and a change of subject. Thinking you are becoming more aware is a hell of a lot different than actually being more aware. " http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seporah-raizer/cancer-messed-with-the-wr_2_b_4202781.html
 
Pink socks on my football player?  Pink pom poms and shirts where none of the proceeds go towards anything at all?  That annoys, and baffles me.  One mom told me it's because "so many of the boys know someone who has suffered from breast cancer and they want to show their support".  Ok...  Then how about on a Saturday they mow the families grass, rake the leaves, buy her a meal and deliver it, wash her car...  We are teaching our children that saying we support something shows our support, when we should be teaching them the actions that actually are helpful and supportive.

"The monthlong celebration of breast cancer awareness, now known as "Pinktober," kicked off last week when the mailman delivered our family's copy of Sports Illustrated for Kids. On the cover was a pink-clad NFL-er promoting -- along with everyone else -- breast cancer awareness month, or BCAM.   We have reached the happy point where Pinktober now targets a demographic group of 11.5- year-old boys with a vague "awareness" message."  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-reid/poverty-breast-cancer_b_997417.html

What might be enlightening, for pink out nights, ONLY those directly effected by breast cancer wear pink.  If your mother, aunt, sister, or cousin has breast cancer, wear the pink socks, or pink t-shirt.  One night of the year, not all month.  

And think about that a minute please.  Veterans Day is one day.  Pinktober is 31 days.  Please, let that sink in.  

Do a google search on "Pinktober" and you will find story after story after story from women who are suffering from breast cancer and shudder to see the color pink.  It doesn't support them.  It annoys them.  It hurts them.  It embarrasses them.  Those who are proud to wear pink are often, intentionally or unintentionally  completely self centered.  "Look at me!  I'm wearing pink!  I donated 2 cents to some random charity I know nothing about so I can wear this pink shirt and you all will know how much I care!"  

"A friend shared with me what happened at the beginning of the Kansas City Chiefs game.  Here's the video in all it's non-glory (assuming you can get through the 30 second commercial at the front end).  Forty-nine...yes 49 planes flew over Arrowhead Stadium spewing pink smoke.  kctv5.com/video I watch that video, and I just have to wonder -- How many mammograms that would have paid for???" 

And the 3rd lie..  Breasts are the most important thing about women.  "Save the tatas".  We'd never hear "Save the testicles", now would we?  There's no month devoted to some color for colon cancer, or testicular cancer, or even, pediatric cancers.  (I can't imagine a local business displaying jock straps the way they displayed bras this month) An entire month, year after year, devoted to breast cancer.  Not human trafficking, not support for our Veterans, not even cancer in general.   

The most ridiculous "support" advertisement I saw on facebook this year was "free the tatas!"  A day to go bra-less, to "show support".  Uhm..  avoiding the obvious disrespect for women who have just had mastectomy's due to this illness you are "showing support for" - isn't going bra-less an obvious physical sign of LACK of support?  I'm assuming some man came up with this idea, in order to get his co-workers and female friends to take off their bras.  What amazes me is how many women I know who spread this around facebook.

So, so, so well written.. share this instead of the graphic below!
Look at the Ad. Not the half naked woman, READ what it says above it.  This was all over facebook this month.  "Support Breast Cancer".  Not support awareness, not support research - support breast cancer.   Oh yes, aren't we all very "aware"...  

Next October, instead of wearing Pink, send this article to your girlfriends:

Schedule your mammogram, and nag your friends to schedule theirs.

Or don't wait.  Share it now.  Because breast cancer, contrary to popular belief, is not an October disease, and wearing pink will not stop it.  

Basic Baked French Toast

I found that by baking french toast, instead of frying it, it gets nice and firm and crusty on the outside, and has a better cooked through texture in the inside.  This is officially my favorite way to make french toast!

Thick Slices of Bread (I used a loaf of homemade wheat here)
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups of milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
splash of vanilla
a sprinkling of salt

1. Mix all ingredients, except bread, together
2. Dip bread in mixture, soaking both sides
3. layer in a pan, bake at 375


Snowmen from Electric Tea Light Candles

24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects
Day #1

Snowmen From Electric Tea Light Candles

These candles are pretty easy to find at the Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General - any of those stores with the word "Dollar" in their name.  :-)  Depending on the store, they are 2 or 3 for $1.  Most of us will have the embellishments on hand in our craft stashes, making this a really cheap starter craft.

I used E600 glue to attach the hat, and the ribbon to hang them.  (You can find e600 glue in the automobile section of Dollar General) a white gel pen to accent the hats (which are simple black card stock) and a black sharpie for the faces.

 These will be really cute hanging off gift bags this Christmas!

I saw this idea on pinterest, then googled it and found that it is not a new idea at all..  and the variations are endless!


This is the very basic idea that I started with.  Drawing the face on is so much easier than I expected..  I found that for me, 5 dots for the mouth worked well, and the "secret" is to make the eyes a little bigger, if the face doesn't look quite right.  (she has some other candle ideas in this post as well) http://christyrobbins.blogspot.com/2012/11/four-holiday-candle-ideascheap.html


This one has an adorable hat and scarf, and has a magnet on the back.  What a great idea!  At the bottom of her post she offers to share her cricket template if you email her.
http://noelmignonlayouts.blogspot.com/2012/12/easy-snowman-magnet-with-free.html



This Stampin Up Demonstrator got fancy with hers - and she gives you step by step directions.  I love the scalloped punch she used on the back of hers, I used that idea from her.  I like the paint she used in place of the sharpie too, for extra dimension
To see more 
24 Days Of Simple Christmas Projects
http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2013/11/24-days-of-simple-christmas-crafts.html


Linked on:


Lovely Ladies Linky

24 Days Of Simple Christmas Crafts


24 Simple Crafts
 that can be used for small Christmas gifts this season. 
Why 24 & not 25?  Because 3 across worked better for the size of my blog.  :-)
Almost all of these can be completed in an afternoon.




 1
Tea Light
Snowmen
 2
 3



6



9
Tea Lighted
Felt snowman




10
11
Soap Dispenser



Personalized Books

Soap




16

17
18



19

20

21




22

23

24