While He Was Napping

Bundles of Baby: Scented Heat Bag

2012-03-06T13:56:00.000-08:00

With this pregnancy, my primary complaints have been back pain and some raging migraines. I’m banned off all the good drugs for the headaches, so I spend those days wallowing on the sofa. But my back has been killer this entire pregnancy. Like from day numero uno. KILLER. I’m sure part of that is that I have a two-year old to tote around this pregnancy, as well. It only took me twice of being so stiff and sore at night and hardly being able to move the next morning before this little baby came to light. Meet my new best friend:

Here’s the How:
1) I apologize for the lack of photos of the process, but it’s fairly self-explanatory. You will need:
-Approximately 1/4 yard of flannel
-coordinating thread
-6 cups of rice
-essential oils (optional)

2) You can make your rice bag however large you’d like. I wanted one that I could use all over my entire back all at one time, so long and skinny is what I decided to do. I folded my flannel with the right sides together and sewed together the three open sides, leaving about a three inch gap to turn and fill my bag.

3) I turned the bag right side out. This is where you fill the bag (typically) but, I had a problem. The rice in all my little bags always fell to the bottom of the bag. Thanks for that, gravity. So, I sewed a square swirl pattern onto the bag. This made tubes and ensured the rice would stay put. Here’s the downside to that: the heat pack doesn’t stay warm as long as it would if I could move the rice around in it easier. However, it still serves it’s purpose and actually helps keep the temperature low enough that I don’t overheat (being too hot makes me nauseous and it doesn’t take much when you’ve got your own little heater on board. It also works well for Little Monkey if he’s achy and sore without being too hot). If you opt to put tubes in your bag, I would suggest only sewing together two of the sides and leaving one side open. Then sew tubes down the bag and fill them through the open end. This will make step 5 WAAY easier than what I did!

4) Fill a bowl with your rice and add some essential oil to scent your rice. I used lavender and eucalyptus mint, relaxing and invigorating. This step is optional; but, it can have a slightly funky smell if you don’t scent it. Mix the rice well.

5) Fill the bag with the rice. Because I did the spiral design, filling the bag took a million years. Ok, it probably took a few hours. I had to put in just a little at a time and push it all the way to the end. Then I used straight pins to hold it in place while I put in a little bit more and repeated the process… for hours. This is why I suggested sewing tubes instead of a swirly spiral pattern.

6) After you fill the bag, sew up your fill hole. I just hand stitched it, but you could use a machine. Your bag is now ready to use. Pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on size, and sit back and enjoy the warmth.

This has worked wonders for my back and I know it has not seen the last of it’s useful days! Here’s to sore-no-more muscles!

Krista

Bundles of Baby: Car Seat Strap Covers

2012-03-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

This was originally posted on While He Was Napping on August 27, 2010... when the only person who read my blog was my mom. Except my mom doesn't actually read my blog. So, I figured I'd do a little re-post.

_________________________________________________

So, my Little Monkey has recently moved from a rear-facing to a forward-facing car seat. He LOVES it. But, seriously, who wouldn't?!? Staring at the seat back every time you go anywhere in the car... BORING!!! Well, with his new car seat the straps look like they dig into his poor little chubby neck. So, car seat straps to the rescue. Now, we had one pair that we used on his infant carrier, but we invested in 2 car seats (one for our car and one for my mom's car). The strap covers we had before came from Wal-Mart and were a whopping $4. Not that bad, but... Hi, my name is Krista and I have "I-could-do-that-cheaper" syndrome. Also, we got them at a Wal-Mart in Idaho and I couldn't find any here. So, I decided to just make them.

First, I cut two identical sized pieces of fabric. If I were to do this again, I would make them about and inch or two longer. That's what I get for being too lazy to measure I guess. Then I pinned them to hem, allowing an 1/8" seam. Hmm, maybe my subconscious knew they were too short from the very beginning...? If you make them longer, you can allow for a bigger seam. Then, I hemmed all the long sides. Iron the seams and short edges of the fabric flat. It makes it a lot easier to put on the Velcro if the fabric will lay smoothly.

Next, fold the short edges of the fabric in 1/4" to 1/2". Use a strip of Stitch Witchery to "glue" the fabric in place. I hadn't used Stitch Witchery in so long I forgot how awesome it is, definitely something I won't be without in my sewing supplies ever again... but I digress. If you've never used it before just follow the package instructions. It's pretty simple. However, I will reiterate to place a paper towel between you fabric and your iron. You don't want to get glue on your iron!

Next, take a strip of Velcro, cut to size, and pin it on top of one of the raw edges that you just glued down. I prefer Velcro with an adhesive back, it seems to help it stay in place while I'm sewing better than just pinning it. I stitched around the edges of the Velcro, although you could just use some heat and bond if you want a no-sew solution. And, since your raw edge is underneath the Velcro, it wont fray. For the other side where the Velcro won't cover the raw edge, I just did a quick seam to help hold it together before I sewed the Velcro down.

And, Ta-Da! You've made a pair of cute, simple car seat strap covers! Easy peasy, right? Just a side note... These are not padded. My little boy still has a lot of his baby fat in his face and the padded set we have sometimes seemed to squash his face when it was getting close to needing to readjust his straps. If you want a set of padded covers Serena at Nap Time Crafts has an awesome tutorial on how to do that. She's got a lot of other cool stuff too, so if you don't know her blog yet I highly suggest you check it out! Have fun!

Weekend Wander #70

2012-03-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

I've missed you all! It's been awesome having some time off and I am loving all the snuggles and cuddles happening around here, but I sat down at my sewing machine yesterday (only for a few minutes) and it was like seeing an old friend again. Totally worth not eating a hot lunch. That's what the microwave is for, right? I miss the creating that has been taken over by pumping, nursing, dirty diapers and spit up. By the way, come back next week to meet our new little man. Sans all the aforementioned ick, of course.

Anyway, welcome to the party. I wanna do a couple shout outs from the last few parties. I haven't been around much, but I have spent my fair share of time checking out the parties while I nurse and pump. So... the most clicked links from the last three parties... in no particular order...

From Cupcake Kisses 'n Crumbs... St. Patty's Day Decor

Domestic Imperfection shares a great pantry reveal

My baby belly cringed at the ab workout shared by My Skinny Tale

Thank you to everyone who has shared links over the last few weeks. Seriously, I'd have spent even more time on Pinterest without your awesome projects. Now, on with the party!

Bundles of Baby: Double Duty Diaper and Wipes Case

2012-02-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

We have two kiddos in diapers at this point. Not ideal, and not what we were hoping for, but the three or four times we tried potty training Little Monkey didn't even notice (let alone, care) that he'd wet his big boy undies. And potty training is exhausting even when you aren't hefting around an extra 15 pound belly. So, we decided to wait. But that means double the diapers. Ugh. I have never really been a big fan of the diaper bag. It's so gigantic and I'm already trying to wrangle a wiggly two-and-a-half year old and a baby in an infant carrier. The diaper and wipes cases are nice for quick trips (you know, like when you're out of milk and there's a cake waiting to be mixed... or infant ibuprofen and your kiddo has a fever of 103...oh, and My Mr Right is out of town, of course), it's a grab and go. But with two kids, we needed something a little more hefty (and with a little more room...)

Here's the How:
Ok, sorry I don't have many photos of the process. I lost the battery to my good camera and the camera on my phone was suffering some serious lag issues (like ten seconds to take one photo... and no one can hold perfectly still for ten whole seconds, so a lot of the ones I took were really blurry). Bear with me and, if you have questions, leave a comment. I'll get back to ASAP with more explanation that will help you understand better. It's actually fairly simple, but sewing is kind of hard to explain. If you can't figure it out, let me know.

Supplies-
- 1/3 yard outer fabric
- 1/3 yard liner fabric
- Velcro or other fastener (you'll need a set of two pieces)
- Thread
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine

Directions-
1. Cut out your pattern. I included one below that you're more than welcome to use. I ended up making mine a little bigger so Little Monkey's size 5 diapers would fit. The pattern below should fit up to a size 3, no problem. And you could probably get a few size 4's in there too. It's two pages. You'll have to print and tape them together. The first should be the size of an 8.5x11" piece of paper.

2. Pin one of the liner pieces to one of the outer pieces, right sides together. Repeat with the other set. Stitch as close to the edge as you dare (I did about a 1/8" seam and then put some Liquid Stitch on the seam to help it hold) around three sides of the pouch. Doesn't matter which three sides. Snip your corners to reduce bulk and turn your pouches right side out through the side you left open. Stitch up the open side.

3. Lay out each piece of fabric. Fold the pieces so they create pockets. Determine where you want your fasteners. You'll have to put one half of the velcro or snap or whatever on the pointy top part. Then fold the flap down and mark where it hits on the bottom part of the pouch. Unfold the pouch and pin the other half of the velcro to your mark. You only want to sew through the one layer, not both or your pouch won't open. Sew your velcro on. Repeat with the other pouch.

4. Pin the top halves of your pouch pieces together with the outer fabrics touching. Fold the bottoms of the pouches up to create the pockets, like you did in the previous step. Double check that your closures still match up. Sew as close to the edge as you can around the sides and bottom of the pouches. I ended up with about a 1/4" seam. My sewing machine and needle weren't quite up to the job of sewing through all 8+ layers of the fabric, so I had to sew on the inside of the previous seam. For this reason, my pouch ended up being a little short for the size 5 diapers. They still fit, you just have to kinda scrunch them up on the end. I already enlarged the pattern a little, so you should be ok.

5. Fill the pouches with diapers, wipes and other diapering accouterments. Bask in knowing you're ready to run out the door, should the occasion arise. Just don't forget to grab your supply bag. Or keep it in the car, for those times when you do forget.

* If you'd like the pocket between the pouches to close (to store desitin, powder or hand sanitizer, sew one half of a strip of velcro (or a zipper) across the back side (on the outer fabric) before step 4. I probably would have done this if I'd thought about it before I sewed the two pouches together. Alas, pregnancy brain strikes again. *

Bundles of Baby: What to Take to the Hospital

2012-02-28T16:51:00.000-08:00

When I was pregnant with Little Monkey, I read all the books and searched endless lists of what to take to the hospital. There were all kinds of ideas, so I packed a nice big bag of things to do. Now, every woman labors differently. While in L&D last time, there was a wide range of reactions to labor. The lady that delivered in ten minutes and acted like she was there for coffee, the woman with the TV turned up loud enough for the entire floor to hear, and the screamer. Whoa. It was a hopping joint that day on the L&D floor.

Back to that big bag... I didn't use a single thing in it. My contractions were mainly in my legs and it felt like I was being drawn and quartered. Not even U2, Maroon 5 or Depeche Mode could make me forget some invisible source was trying to rip my legs off. But, that epidural was magic medicine. Even after that, I didn't feel like a rousing game of Sudoku. I'm a silent sufferer... basically, I just laid there and wanted to die. And there sat my bag, in the corner, completely unused.

What did I wish I'd had? How about:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- My Boppy Knock Off (for feeding times)

- Lotion
- My Contact Lenses (I had a pair of glasses, but I like my lenses so much better)
- Sleep Mask. (We had an incredibly obnoxious Nursery nurse that came in every two hours during the night, flicked the lights all the way on and spoke at the top of her lungs, in case we were hard of hearing or something. No one slept... until she went off her shift. Those little plastic blinds just don't block out much light. We went home ASAP.)
- Snacks. My hubby was starving the whole two days. And seriously, how many fruit cups can you eat before you never want to see another one again?

(Via)

- Comfy nursing bras. I used my nice ones the first few days and, oh my goodness, once my milk finally came in, they ended up being a little too supportive. I liked the sports bra style of nursing bras better the first few days. There are no words for the pain of engorgement when your milk first comes in.
- Breast pump. My milk took almost a week to come in. Apparently, somewhere my biological clock missed the "make milk" memo. We had to feed Little Monkey something so he had formula the first few days because I had nothing to give. That little delay in milk production caused so many problems with breastfeeding. I wish I had just pumped the whole time. Usually, you can rent pumps from the hospital, but they didn't have any available. This time, I will be taking my pump... just in case.
- Breast pads. I didn't need these in the hospital, since my milk took so long to come in, but they were for sure a necessity after it finally did. No one wants to be drippy... and it's just awkward to be sporting the "wet t-shirt contest" look when visitors show up.

(Via)

- Undies. If you aren't a fan of the mesh undies the hospital gives you, take your own. I personally liked the mesh ones because then I wasn't ruining any of mine. I'll admit I wore them for a few days after coming home too. You already feel like you're wearing a huge bulging diaper, the mesh undies lessen some of the bulk.
- Comfy clothes to go home in. Your body goes through some serious trauma during labor and deliver. Don't try to wiggle back into your pre-preggo jeans. Things will be sore. I wore yoga pants and a tee shirt home last time. This time, my outfit will be along the same lines. Besides, you'll still have that belly for a while. Ugh. I know.
- Toothbrush and toothpaste. I sent my mom to the store as soon as she'd handed the baby off because I soo badly wanted to brush my teeth. Labor and delivery is one of the most disgusting things I've ever done. I felt so gross, I just wanted something to be clean.

(Via)

- An extra bag. We got soo much stuff from the hospital, it was a little difficult getting everything out to the car. Our Nursery discharge nurse was awesome and totally hooked us up with extra blankets, hats, formula, diapers and bottles. Then we had all the paper work too. And all the stuff we'd brought with us. It was definitely an armful.
- Manila envelop. For all that paperwork.

By the way, with all the complaining and whining I've done about wanting this kid out, you'd think I'd have my bags already packed, right?! Well, at least I have a list I can direct My Mr Right to when I wake him at at 3am with that "It's TIME!"

What are your must-haves for the hospital?

Bow Tie Onesies

2012-02-27T07:03:00.000-08:00

I haven't had a chance to sit down and actually write out a tutorial for this yet. But, I had to share. I made these for a friend who had a little boy back in January. Actually, he wasn't so little... over 9 pounds! My original plan was to give them a newborn sized onesie and a 0-3 months size. He could use both onesies with all the bow ties. Alas, he was WAY too big for the newborn onesie and only got the bigger size. Hopefully, I'll have the time to sit and write out a tutorial soon... until then you can get them in my Etsy Shop... or just wing it.

Weekend Wander #69

2012-02-23T21:05:00.000-08:00

Hey, everyone! Welcome to the party. It's been a busy week... hope yours has been productive and you're ready to relax. Let's get right to the good stuff! Show me, whatcha been doin'?

Bundles of Baby: Boppy Knock Off

2012-02-22T13:11:00.000-08:00

I made this while pregnant with Little Monkey, so I don't have a lot of process pictures. There are lots of mommas that swear by the Boppy. I was all for it. Until I saw the price tag. When we were looking at these, we had a great big long list of baby stuff we needed and didn't have an extra $30 for a Boppy. So... I made my own.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
- Pillow. I bought a two-pack at Wal-Mart for $5.
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine
- Thread

Directions-
1. Cut one of the sides of your pillow open and pull out all the stuffings. Set aside, you'll need it later. Decide what shape you want your supportive pillow to be. I made two pillows (what else was I supposed to do with the other pillow?), one was a donut-shape and the other was a blocky U-shape.

2. Cut the pillow casing to your desired shape and stitch it up. Leave a hole that you can turn the pillow through as well as stuff it. Go ahead a leave a decent sized hole to make things easier on yourself.

3. Stuff your pillow. I used all the stuffing that was in the pillow to begin with. In the U-shaped pillow, I wish I'd stuffed it fuller. It was great at first, but flattened after a while. The donut-shape pillow was a little fuller than it needed to be.

* Also, the donut-shaped pillow is a little small. And, I'm a pretty small person. If you want a donut-shape, I would suggest using both pillows to make the one donut-shaped pillow. I primarily used the blocky U-shaped pillow. It was AMAZING.

4. Sew the opening of your pillow shut. That's it. Ok, that's not it. I made removable pillow cases for my pillows so I could wash them. Which was the best thing ever, because I can't tell you how many times spit up, breast milk, formula and other baby liquids got on these.

This pillow you have to push all the way through the cover, as it opens on one of the ends. I did the U-shaped pillow with a strip of velcro on the long side. It was WAY easier to get the cover on and off. Which made washing it not a big deal. The circle shaped pillow didn't get washed as often...

5. To make the covers, I just traced around the pillows, added some seam allowance and sewed it up. I used velcro to seal the covers over the pillows. It's not super pretty, but it's definitely functional. And $10 bucks for two Boppy knock offs vs $30 for one Boppy without a cover. I'll deal with the imperfections.

Guest Post: Personalized Ribbon Taggie by 19elephants

2012-02-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

Today, I have Beth from 19elephants here to give you a fabulous tutorial on a great personalized baby gift. Beth has some great stuff on her blog and I highly recommend you head over and say hi... after you check out her fun tutorial, of course. So, let's get to it!

__________________________________

Hi!! I am Beth from 19elephants. I am so excited to share with you my tutorial for a Personalized Taggie Lovey. I made my first taggie lovey when my daughter was 4 months old. She LOVED playing with and chewing on the tags on her toys. I had seen taggie lovies before, so I decided to try to make one. I couldn't resist adding a personal touch and putting my daughter's initial on her lovey.

She still loves to play with it, and I have enjoyed making more taggie lovies for baby gifts. I always like to give a gift that is handmade, and I love that this is a gift that the new baby can use early in life. I also love this project because you can put so many personal touches on it, and the possibilities for color choices are endless. You can also use as many or as few different colors and kinds of ribbon as you want. This is my first tutorial, so I hope it is easy to understand, and that you have as much fun making your taggie lovey as I did making mine!

First, let's gather our materials

You will need:

*Cotton Fabric measuring 11" x 11" (I chose dark blue)

*Cotton Fabric measuring 8" x 8" (This is for your letter. I chose lime green)

*Soft Material measuring 11" x 11" (I chose a micro fleece in light blue. A minky material would work great, but I don't have access to a store locally that sells minky. Any extra soft material will work)

*A stencil for your letter. I simply chose a font I liked, made it the biggest I could to fit on one page, printed it off, and cut it out.

*Crinkly Material measuring approximately 11" x 11" (optional). I used an empty plastic wipes container

*40 pieces of 4" ribbon. I like to use a variety of textures and colors

*Coordinating thread (I like to use a color that will coordinate with the color of my letter)

Iron your cotton fabrics. Cut your large background piece and fleece piece to 11" x 11". I like to use my cutting board and rottary cutter, but scissors work just as well.

Using your stencil that you have made, trace your letter on the BACK side of your smaller piece of fabric. **Make sure that you trace your letter backwards, so it will be correct on the right side of your fabric. This is not as important when using a letter "A" like I did, but this is obviously very important when using a letter like "B." I simply held down my stencil, traced around with a pen, and then cut it out. Place your letter on your square of fabric where you want it and pin it down. I like to place my pins in the middle of the letter, so I don't have to worry about removing them while I sew down my letter.

I have very little experience with sewing applique, but this is a pretty simple project to start with. I use a zigzag stitch. You do not need to backstitch when sewing on your letter. We will pull our threads through to the back and tie off when we're finished. This gives you a nice even stitch around your letter. When sewing around the letter, keep the right side of your stitch just past the outside of your letter. You want your stitching to be almost exclusively on your letter (on my green fabric). Make sure that your needle is in the down position when turning corners. To keep your corners nice and neat, sew until your needle is on the right side of your zigzag stitch, turn your fabric, and keeping sewing. When sewing around both a straight part of your letter, and a curve, keep your foot in a straight line. This will give you even stitches.

When you come back to the beginning of your letter, do NOT backstitch. When pulling your threads, hold them down against your fabric to prevent your stitches from pulling. You can either thread a needle, and sew your threads to the back of your project, or you can use a simple trick that I like to use. Turn your fabric over, and on the backside pull your threads. A small loop will form. Using the backside of your seam ripper, catch the thread and pull it through. Tie your threads together several times. Clip your threads. You will now have two knots. Don't worry, no one will ever see this part of your lovey.

Our letter is now attached to our fabric. Honestly, sewing around the letter is one of the trickiest parts of this project.

Iron your project so it is nice and pretty, and ready for all the ribbon.

There are endless possibilities when choosing your ribbon. I always have a lot of ribbon on hand because I also make hair bows, but this project can be done with two, or ten different kinds of ribbon. I like to use a variety of textures and sizes so the baby will have lots of different ribbons to feel. For this lovey I have chosen ricrac, satin ribbon in two different sizes, and grosgrain ribbon in two different sizes. I like to have a lot of ribbon on my lovies, but you can use as few or as many pieces as you would like. I used ten different kinds of ribbons in four different colors, and I needed four of each kind, so I cut 40 pieces of ribbon in all. Cut your ribbon in 4" pieces.

I like to lay my ribbon out so I can get a visual of what my lovey will look like.

When making my first few lovies, I pinned each piece of ribbon on my project. ****IMPORTANT**** When pinning/sewing on your ribbon, make sure the loop faces inward on your fabric. This way when you turn your project, the ribbon will face out. I do not want to admit the number of times I have done this incorrectly, and realized it halfway through, and had to rip out my stitches and start over. Fold your ribbon in half and pin your ribbon along your project. If you are a type A person, this will probably be the method you choose because it will allow you to space your ribbon exactly how you want it to be.

If you're like me, and you're not someone who thrives on orderly things (I wish I was more Type A, and I'm sure my husband does too!!), you might want to skip pinning your ribbon. I put my ribbon in stacks in the order I want to sew them on my project.

Now comes the fun part!! Using a straight stitch (don't forget to backstitch!) sew your ribbon onto your lovey. You want your ribbon to hang off your fabric about 1/4", and I also sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Don't worry, we will sew over the ribbon two more times, so it will be reinforced, and we won't have to worry about it coming loose and becoming a choking hazard. Since I don't pin my ribbon, I just add a piece every little bit. I like the variety and randomness that this gives to the lovey. Sew your ribbon on all four sides of your lovey.

Tada!!! Doesn't it look like so much fun??

I like to add crinkly material to the inside of my lovey to give the baby an extra little bit of delight. What baby can resist a fun, crinkly lovey?? I use empty plastic wipe cases that I have cut to make flat. If you don't use wipes, you can use any kind of crinkly material. The bag that cereal and chips come in will work just as well. I would suggest washing it off so your lovey doesn't smell like raisin bran or cheetos. If you prefer a noiseless lovey, skip the crinkly material. Lay your soft material with right sides facing. Then lay your crinkly material on top of your soft material. As you can see, my crinkly material is not quite 11" x 11". This is no big deal, you just want to make sure that your crinkly material is 11" in either width or heighth, so it will be sewn to your project, and won't get bunched up with use. Pin all of your layers together.

Sew around your lovey, leaving about a four inch gap along one of the sides.

Turn your lovey, and use a non sharp instrument to poke out the corners. I like to use a mid sized crochet hook.

Doesn't it look fun??? Wait, we're not quite done.

Now, using your zigzag stitch, stitch all along the outside of your lovey. I like to start on the side with my gap so I can take care of that right off. Simply fold in your fabric, ribbons, and soft material and zigzag stitch over the opening. I like using a zigzag stitch here for a variety of reasons. It ties in the color of your letter, it reinforces your ribbons, and it adds an element of fun to your lovey.

Now you have a super cute, super fun, personalized baby gift. Enjoy!!

I would love to see pictures of your finished lovies. If you have any questions, or there are any problems with the tutorial, please comment below and I will do my best to offer my help.

You can find the lovies for sale in my etsy shop. Thanks so much!!

__________________________________

Thanks so much, Beth! Sewing tutorials can be hard to write well. Isn't this one fantastic?! And aren't those just too cute. I might have to go order one for our new little guy. So, now you should go check out the other cute stuff at 19elephants, as well as all the goodies in her shop.

Bundles of Baby: Rag Edge Burp Cloths

2012-02-20T01:48:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone who has left such sweet comments and for all the congratulations and well wishes on our newest little bundle of fun. You guys are the best! We made it a whole seven days with a newborn before Little Monkey came down with a fever of 104! Luckily, so far, we seem to have kept the boys separated enough that Little Monkey didn't share. Which was awfully hard, because he LOVES being a big brother. He is such an awesome help. Anyway.

My name is Krista and I'm addicted to fabric. Every time Jo-Ann puts their flannel on sale, I can't help myself. It's a compulsion! So, I have A LOT of flannel laying around my house. Like, several boxes of it. So, what's a girl to do? Although I could make a really cool fort or something, I opted for some burp rags instead. Much less work. With Little Monkey we got some hand-me-down burp cloths that were flannel and shaped kinda like a peanut. They were awesome. It fit over your shoulder without bunching up around your neck. I used the same shape for these.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
- 1/3 yard Flannel (You can adjust the size of these to suit your needs. A 1/3 yard will give you a 12" long burp cloth. I actually made mine about 11" long, the size of a single sheet of printer paper.)
- Coordinating thread
- Sewing Machine
- Good snipping scissors (You can buy spring-loaded scissors that pop back open, but a regular ole normal pair of fabric scissors is what I use)

Directions-
1. Draw out a pattern on paper. Unless you are really good at drawing symmetrically (I am not), fold you paper in fourths and draw only a fourth of the pattern. Or just print off the pattern below. Click the image and save it to your computer. Print it off. I believe it's formatted to a single 8.5"x11" sheet of printer paper. And, you're welcome. You will need to cut 2.

2. Wash your fabric. Iron it if it sits damp in the dryer for a day or two... just sayin'. You will want your fabric to be two layers thick, so fold it in half with the selvage edges together and the wrong sides touching. You should be able to see the pattern on your fabric. You can cut two separate pieces, but I figure why do it twice when you can fold it and do it once. (And know you know why some of my projects don't turn out, hmm.)

3. Pin your pattern and cut out your pieces. Remove the pattern piece.

4. Stitch around the outside of your burp rag. Remember, the fabric should have wrong sides together (you should be able to see the print on both sides). You can use whatever seam allowance you want. I opted for about an inch. You will want it to be big enough that you can snip the edges.

5. Take your scissors and snip all the way around the perimeter of the burp cloth. Don't cut your seam! You can get as close as you dare, but if you cut the seam your whole burp cloth will start to fall apart. So, be careful.

6. Wash to start the fraying process. I only washed mine once. I figure it'll see the washer time and time again. And, the best part, it will only look better every time it does. This can be completed in about half an hour. Maybe an hour if you're a slower seamstress or just learning. So, give it a try.

Bundles of Baby: Maternity Must-Haves

2012-02-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

While growing a baby, you spend nine months in agony and pain. Ok... not everyone has miserable pregnancies. I have a sister-in-law that adores being pregnant. She looks amazing the entire nine months, never feels sick and loves every minute of it. Me... not so much. I have never had heartburn in my life... except when I'm pregnant. And this time, well, let's just say I have to count the number of antacid tablets I take in a day so I don't go over the maximum dose. Seriously. And morning sickness is an all day thing for at least six weeks. My feet swell, my ribs are so incredibly sore sometimes it hurts to breathe, those horribly painful calf cramps, the round ligament pain, the Braxton-Hicks, the acne. Don't you just want to run out and get pregnant?!?

Actually, I'm pretty lucky. I spend my pregnancies (at least, so far) uncomfortable and slightly miserable, but I haven't had any serious health issues. No gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, edema, eclampsia, placenta previa or other problems and I always manage to gain a healthy amount of weight without too much trouble ... except when I went to the doctor a few weeks ago and they told me I'd gained almost 15 lbs in three weeks. I about died. Turns out, the nurse was in a hurry and didn't bother to be very accurate. I'd only gained about 3 lbs. Whew.

So, what's a gal to do? Accept misery and defeat? Nope. There are some things these days that make those nine months as an incubator bearable. Now, are these items truly "must-have" items? No. Millions of women have survived pregnancy without them. But, I sure have found them handy these last few months...

1. Antacid Tablets. I live off of these babies. Like I have to count out the tablets and limit how many I take a day, so I don't exceed the maximum dosage. This kid will not have any sort of calcium deficiency, that's for sure. Are they gross? Yes. I have a texture issue with them. But, the nasty chalky texture is a mild step up the throat-on-fire issue.

Source

2. Drawstring pants. Oh my heck. Especially this pregnancy, I have a lot, I mean A LOT, of yoga-pants-days. Thank goodness for knits. And with a drawstring, I can loosen the ties as I continue to expand. The pressure on my belly from tighter-fitting pants is just too much most days.

3. A rubber band. Actually, I use a hair tie. Not for my unruly mane that has a mind of it's own more than ever before, nope, I use them to hold my pants up. Or at least together. Sometimes, the "up" part is a whole 'nother issue.

Source

4. Belly band. These babies are pricey. My mom bought me a couple when I was expecting Little Monkey. However, it's crazy how heavy babies get to be. And it's not like I had amazing abdominal muscles before I was pregnant. I have more stretch marks on my hips than I do on my belly. The belly band is soo nice for the extra support. It's like finally finding that awesome bra that holds everything up... only it's your belly. Over at Make It and Love It, there's a tute for a DIY version of the belly band. And you can wear your pre-preggo pants with a belly band, at least for a little while longer. With Little Monkey I was able to button my jeans the whole pregnancy. I have no idea how long the rubber band trick has been in play this pregnancy, but I've used it more than I haven't this time around. And the belly band helps with the aforementioned "up" issue.

4. The rice bag. Oh goodness, this thing has been a life saver. My back has been so sore this pregnancy I think I might have died without spending hours and hours with this thing on my back. Some days I spend more time with it than I do my husband. And with my hormones, he's probably grateful for that. I've had a lot more back pain this pregnancy, especially after sitting in horrendously uncomfortable chairs for three hours every week at church. They should have a section of La-Z-Boy recliners for expectant mommas... (and maybe a snack bar...)

5. Shoes that you don't have to tie. While pregnant with Little Monkey the last few months were in the summer time. Hello, flip-flops. This time... it's January. Flip-flops are a no-go. So, boots have been my new besties. The lame, boring ones that don't tie or zip or anything. I can't even see my feet anymore... what makes you think I can reach them?!

Source

6. A good bra or two. Now, I've always had a hard time shopping for bras. There just aren't many companies that make a size 34D. A size 34DD?! Ha. It's nearly impossible to find. And bras are expensive! Seriously, I'm gonna be changing bra sizes again in three months and again in six months when I start nursing. And when I stop nursing, the changes will continue... I don't have an endless bra budget! The trick is to invest in just a couple good quality, supportive bras in the sizes you need. 'Cause those girls will get so heavy they'll hang to your belly button. Wait until you need them though, so you're sure to get the right sizes.

So, with Little Monkey, I invested in a couple basic nursing bras that were sports-bra in style that I could sleep in comfortably (and my grandma gifted me with a few, good quality nursing bras... that fitting session was a little awkward, but you get over it quick when you see the total on the cash register). And I invested in two good bras for this pregnancy. You know, the kind your grandma wears (and leaves hanging in the bathroom when company comes over...) - the ones with thick straps and so many fasteners it nearly takes two people to do them all up... they are my baby-growing bras (not to be confused with 'baby-making bras'... those ones live in the drawer labeled "mommy's pretties" which has been locked since about week 23 of this pregnancy...)

7. An extra pillow. I've needed some extra support while sleeping with this baby. Our memory foam mattress is pretty great, but that totally unflattering pillow between your knees can feel like heaven to aching hips. I often sleep with my back against My Mr Right's back for a little extra support too. Or you could go with a pillow like this... although I'm not sure my bed is big enough for all of us...

Source

8. Lotion. A good moisturizing lotion. Whether or not you believe the cocoa butter theories, you'll need a good lotion for your whole body. Cocoa butter has never prevented stretch marks for me, but it's an awesome moisturizer and I use a knock off of Palmer's Belly Butter. My stretch marks have stretch marks, but at least I'm not crazy itchy.

9. Healthy snacks. As you run out of room in your torso, your stomach will lose the space to expand when you eat. Therefore, you will find yourself eating much smaller portions and ALL DAY LONG. Having snacks like yogurt, string cheese, rolls and lunch meat (after you heat it, of course), and fruit will be so much more convenient. Once you're hauling around an extra twenty pounds, you won't want to do a whole lot of standing in front of the stove... Just sayin'

Source

10. Extra undies. Well, let's sit an extra 15 pounds on your bladder, wiggle it around and see what happens... 'cause every time you sneeze, laugh, cough or when your baby moves, you'll be glad you sprang for the ultra bulk package.

Any more suggestions on Maternity Must-Haves?

Weekend Wander #68

2012-02-16T21:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome Party People! I'm still adjusting to life with two children (as if having a newborn isn't enough, right? Let's throw in a two and a half year old who doesn't believe in sitting still for more than .0001 second). We love having our little one here and it's been nice that My Mr. Right was able to take some paternity leave too. It's been some great bonding time for our little family. Ok, anyway... Let's party! No features this week, but I'll come back to last week's party and do features in a couple weeks. So, show me whatcha been doin'?

Bundles of Baby: Self-Binding Strip Quilt

2012-02-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

I set the goal for myself that I would make each of my children a blanket before they were born. So far, so good. Little Monkey got this Safari Quilt and it was one of my first projects I put up on this blog. And, that translates to: the tutorial on it is less than impressive. So, I used the same binding method on this new little baby's blanket as I did on Little Monkey's quilt and figured this was as good a time as any to re-visit that post. This blanket was my first strip quilt and, let me say, easy peasy! I spent more time cleaning out my sewing machine because my thread kept tangling than I did on the actual quilt ( I'd never cleaned my sewing machine before... I got the machine for my 16th birthday... probably a miracle it still worked at all.)! There will definitely be more of these types of quilts and blankets in my future.

Little Monkey's Quilt with a Double Roll Binding

Strip Quilt with Double Roll Binding

Here's the How:

Supplies:

- Coordinating fabrics. I used four different cotton blend fabrics. I cut mine to 12" wide, but you can make them wider or skinnier if you want.

- Coordinating thread

- Backing fabric. How much will depend on how big you make your blanket. I chose a minky brown and used a little less than a yard.

- Ruler
- Fabric Marker (I actually use chalk)
- Scissors

Directions:
1. Wash your fabric to prevent shrinkage after you sew your blanket together.

2. Measure and cut each fabric to your desired width. My strips are 12 inches wide.

3. Pin the long sides of the fabric right sides together and sew a straight stitch so you get one long rectangular piece. Iron down your seams.

4. Lay the strips of fabric piece face down on the floor. Position your backing fabric on top. Wrong sides should be touching. The backing fabric will need to be smaller than your strips of fabric piece. You may have to cut it down. My minky backing piece was a remnant and I ended up having just enough.

5. Do a double roll on your hem with your strip fabric. Catch the backing fabric in your second roll so it will be inside the hem.

The first roll should have the edges of the two fabrics touching.

The second roll should roll down over the top of the backing fabric.

Pin your rolls down. Make sure you pin through all layers of fabric.

It can help to iron each roll so things will stay in place better as you sew.

6. Sew a straight stitch along each edge to finish your blanket. I really like this method because it hems your fabric and binds the blanket all at the same time. It's easy, quick and looks great. Unless your thread catches and you don't notice it. Ask me how I know that...

I didn't do any kind of quilting on this blanket. I may have to go back and do that. The back of the minky is pretty slick and I may need to do at least a few straight seams to help the blanket keep it's shape. If I do, I'll update this. You may want to go ahead and do that so you don't have to re-visit this project again... Just a though.

Guest Post: Re-Purposing Old Clothes by Homegrown & Healthy

2012-02-14T07:23:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you're all having a good day. My plans include diapers, my new role as a dairy cow, and watching "Valentine's Day" (it seems fitting and I'm all about the romantic comedy). I've got a 4-day-old newborn, so I'm exhausted and will be doing as little as possible. Luckily for me (and you!) I have a great guest post for you.

Amber, from Homegrown & Healthy, is here to share a fantastic secret! I know when we found out we were expecting Little Monkey almost three years ago, and that he was indeed a "he", we started getting hand-me-downs by the box full. For which we were incredibly grateful. Baby clothes are SPENDY! And your kid will wear them for maybe a couple months... That's a lot of money on hardy used clothes. But, with those boxes came some stained outfits that just screamed "Please throw me away!" Kids are messy! Life happens. Come along with Amber and she'll show you a frugal and easy way to make those "throw aways" into "good as new". Take it away, Amber!

________________________________

If you’re like me then with each newbaby announcement came a flood of hand-me-down baby clothes. Okay, with athrift store in the family and a reputation for being, um, frugal, I may havegotten a little more than the “average” new mom. But when those nestinginstincts kick in and maternity leave begins you may just appreciate this lowkey, work at your own pace, project. Regardless of your level of craftiness,with a little time and elbow grease anyone can up-cycle those used baby clothesand make unique outfits that are eco and wallet friendly.

With two little girls and an activelifestyle I just assume that messes are bound to happen. Between art projects,playing in the mud, and eating with our hands (for the sake of appearing ladylike, I’m going to just pretend that one was for the baby) I end up throwing alot of clothes away. But no longer! This project is easy enough to complete ina nap time, depending on how much you plan on dyeing.

The dye that I used is available atall of the grocery stores that I've ever been to and costs less than $3 andbelieve me, each packet of dye will cover a lot of articles. Follow theinstructions on the package, and remember to read everything. Mine recommendedadding salt and laundry detergent to my dye pot. It also instructed me towash the garments afterwards until the water ran clear. That was clearly aprank, as the water WILL NEVER RUN CLEAR, EVER.

After I gave up washingit in the sink I even took my clothes into the shower with me, and it STILLNEVER RAN CLEAR. The next batch I got wise and put all of the newly dyedclothes, partially hand rinsed, into the washing machine together. This ensuredthat all of the extra dye came out all at once and I didn’t have to worry aboutthe dye bleeding off onto our other clothes come laundry day.

Honestly, I don't know what got ontothat thing in the before pictures. It's most likely tomatoes, as she tends tostain most of her clothes with those guys. You can see in the after picturethat, like magic, the stain is gone! I know that it won't cover allstains, but for all of the clothes I've tested so far it's worked (except tocover paint).

Now all you have to do is add a fewcute accessories. With babies you need to be careful of choking hazards, butthere is plenty of ribbon and other frills that you can use to embellish. Haveyou used iron on transfers before? They’re incredibly easy, inexpensive, and agreat way to get a “custom outfit” on a shoestring budget.

Now find a cute model. Presto! Newclothes in no time at all.

_______________________________________

Look at that! You can't even tell that dress was used and a little abused. It looks fabulous! Thank you so much for sharing with us, Amber! I'm off to sort through some little clothes in search of stains, because I've got to try this!

Valentine's Pennant Banner Printable

2012-02-13T00:04:00.000-08:00

In case you missed my exciting news... I get to be a contributing poster over at Lil' Luna! How cool is that?! I'm super excited that Kristyn asked me to do some printables for Lil' Luna. So... if you don't follow Kristyn, well, get on that! Watch for yours truly to show up over there every once in a while. And check out these printables that debuted last week on Lil' Luna.

Well, tomorrow is Valentine's Day and everyone is thinking about... love, right?! February is an especially mushy month in our home... Our wedding anniversary is 8 days before Valentine's Day. We tend to 'live on love' that whole week. To help bring some of that love to you, here's a set of printables! Don't have time to put them up this year? That's ok, save them for next year!

This set is formatted to 8x10". There are three color variations. Free, watermark-less copies are available at the links listed below the images.

http://www.4shared.com/photo/__BNS446/Be_My_Valentine.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/o-1cmZ_I/Be_My_Valentine_Red.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/QkZTEIAx/Be_My_Valentine_Purple.html

This set can be printed off and cut apart to make cards. There are two cards per sheet. You can cut horizontally or vertically, depending on your preference.

http://www.4shared.com/photo/-KfWeh7G/Be_My_Valentine_Cards3.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/gFdUHMky/Be_My_Valentine_Cards2.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/yYnegfqb/Be_My_Valentine_Cards1.html

Enjoy! And Happy Valentine's Day!

Mini Donut Box Valentine

2012-02-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

For our anniversary this year I was 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant. Ever been 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant? If so, I bet you can relate when I say I felt less like a pretty little vixen and more like a hippopotamus. So, instead of lingerie or some other frilly something, I gave the gift of sugar: a case of Dr. Pepper and a fun box of mini homemade donuts. At this point, what's an extra pound or two?!

This would be a fun gift for Valentine's Day too - food is always a winner, right?

And you could easily make this for teachers, friends, grandparents or neighbors.

Here's the How:

Supplies-
- Mini Donut Maker (We got one for Christmas from my cousin. You can find them HERE for about $25 and HERE for $20.)
- Donut Recipe (I just used the basic one that was included in the instruction manual.)
- Chocolate chips and sprinkles for glazing and decorating your donuts. (There were also some fun glazing ideas in the instruction manual, but chocolate is always a sure winner in this house.)
- Old small flat-rate Priority box
- Scrapbook paper
- Tape or glue
- Plastic zippy bag

Instructions-
1. Mix your donut batter and bake according to the recipe you choose to use. I did a basic recipe included in the instruction manual, but there were recipes for cherry donuts, butterscotch donuts, wheat donuts, and a bunch of others.

2. Let the donuts cool. Melt your chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second increments, stirring between each set, until they are melted. Glazing rule of thumb is 3 parts chocolate chips to 1 part milk or water (I used milk). Dip the tops of your donuts in the glaze and set on wax paper to dry. Add any sprinkles you desire before the chocolate starts to dry.

3. While your donuts set, take your priority box and cover it with the scrapbook paper. I used tacky glue and packing tape to get it all stuck. Before you cover the top of the box, cut out a window, if you want one. I also cut the side tabs off the top of the box and on each side. If you want a sturdier box, leave them intact. Cut your sandwich size zippy bag so that it folds open into a long rectangle. Tape it to the top of the box and then cover the top of the box with your scrapbook paper. You can also cover the inside of the box so you can't see all the "PRIORITY MAIL" text, but I didn't take the time to do it.

4. Lay down a piece of wax paper in the bottom of the box and fill the box with your donuts. I got ten donuts in the box. You could also come up with some cute and cheesy tag with a saying along the lines of "Thanks for the most amazing four years! I love you! "Donut" forget it!" or "I'm so lucky that we're friends. 'Donut' ever change. Happy Valentine's Day" I didn't get a tag done before My Mr Right arrived home from work and busted me in the process of filling the box.

He still liked the gift, even though it was no longer a surprise. ANND... he'd already found the case of Dr. Pepper I hid in the laundry room... guess I need a new hiding spot. Good thing he doesn't like surprises, huh?

Weekend Wander #67

2012-02-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome. Sorry, I didn't get time to do features... I'm having a baby Friday, and as of Wednesday, I still haven't packed a bag. What are your plans? Hopefully, your plans don't include sitting around a hospital... although snuggling a new baby just might make up for it... almost. I'm sure I'll be up in the middle of the night nursing a million billion times in the next week, so I'll need something to check out. Let me see what'cha been doin'!

And, if you've got a second, I'd love for you to fill out this short little survey. It's only six questions long and will only take a minute or two. Thanks so much!

Bundles of Baby: Pamper Mommy Package

2012-02-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

New babies are lots of fun. Lots of work, but still fun. After all the sleepless nights and stressful days, momma could use a little TLC (and a nap!). With this kit, she'll have some of the basics every new momma needs. Ready to put your own Pamper Mommy Package together?

Here's the How:
Supplies-
- Bath Salts (I made my own from sea salt, epsom salts, and essential oils). What momma couldn't use a soak in a nice hot tub? And the salts will help things heal up...
- Sugar Scrub (Again, made my own. Find the recipe HERE. Or purchase some HERE). Some days with a newborn make you feel like you are completely caked in spit up, urine and other bodily fluids. Scrub it off with some gentle cleansing sugar scrub.

- Decadently-scented lip balm (Again, made my own. You can purchase some HERE). I always get chapped lips, especially in the winter time, when I'm breastfeeding (or pumping, in this case). Lip balm isn't often high on the priority list with a newborn.

- Hand Cream (Yep, made my own once again). How many times a day does a new momma wash her hands? A thick, moisturizing hand cream will help restore the dry, chappy skin that washing your hands brings.

*If you would like to purchase your own little kit, let me know. I'll set you up with a reserved listing on Etsy and get you a deal.

Directions-
1. Whether you use purchased items or make your own, you'll need something cute to put it in. This could be anything from a cute gift bag to something more like the mini paint can I used.
2. Arrange your items in your bag or other container. Wrap up nice and pretty. And give to a mommy-in-need.

Other things you might consider putting in your Pamper Mommy Package:
- hair ties
- sleep mask
- yummy smelling body wash, shampoo and conditioner
- body spray
- hand sanitizer
- take out menus with some cash
- chocolates or other favorite treats
- a new nail polish color (and offer to paint her nails...)

Do you have any other ideas of what to include in a gift for a new momma? Leave a comment...

Every Love Story {Printable}

2012-02-08T13:28:00.000-08:00

Click the links under each image to download free, watermark-less copies of these images.

http://www.4shared.com/photo/rIkB1FmT/Every_Love_Story_blue.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/tQ3HhlUH/Every_Love_Story_purple.html

http://www.4shared.com/photo/9JDbLag5/Every_Love_Story.html

To My Amazing Husband-
Every love story is beautiful, but ours really is my favorite. There are cheesy parts, sad parts, beautiful parts, hard parts, ugly parts, and wonderful parts. It's not a perfect fairy tale, but it's ours. And for us, it is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing because I absolutely love where we are, who we are - You and me as a couple and myself individually. All the struggles and challenges have taught me that, no matter what happens, we can get through anything if we stick together. It won't be easy and there may be times when being married will be hard, but you have my heart, my whole heart. And I don't want it back. Thank you for your love, support, friendship, help and for tolerating the bad that comes with the good. You are my everything. I love you. Always and for always. Happy Anniversary!
Love,
K

Guest Post: Bumper Covers by One Hot Crafty Mama

2012-02-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

Chelsea, from One Hot Crafty Mama, is here today to share a SUPER crib bumper tutorial with you all. This was a project I kept saying, "I should do that!" and never got around to it. I ended up buying the set we used with Little Monkey. Some times, time is worth more than money. Chelsea makes it look super easy and maybe, just maybe, I'll have to give it a go with this little one. Take it away, Chelsea!

____________________________________________

I am beyond super excited how this turned out!!! I found this fabric on clearance at Joann's and fell in love with it, so I bought the rest of the bolt it ended up being about 2 1/2 yds, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it but I knew that I would think of something, this is what I thought of!!

Our first child was a daughter and EVERYTHING that she had when she was a baby was either pink or purple. It was all gifts, so I'm VERY VERY grateful for it don't get me wrong. But when we found out that this baby is a boy, I was kind of in a spot of now I need everything for a boy and nothing we have is neutral. I have been looking at bedding for the crib online and have been shocked how much stuff is. That is when I decided that I can make a cover for the bumper that we already have, using the pink bumper as my guide I made what I think is a pretty cool cover.
I was able to cut on the fold and get twice as much length out of the fabric then before and it was the perfect width.

I then cut 2 1/2" strips of fabric to make ties with.

Everything was made into tubes, the actually cover was easy to flip with the right side out. The ties were a little harder, but I have found that using a pencil helps it out a lot.

Again using the bumper as a model I measure the distance between ties and sewed them the same distance apart on the cover.

On one end I added Velcro so I could easily remove it if I need to.

____________________________________________

Isn't that fabric adorable?! Love it. Those turned out so great. I want to make a set of those, it looks so easy! Thank you for come over and sharing with us, Chelsea. Now, make sure you go check out more of Chelsea's awesome talent over at One Hot Crafty Mama.

Disclaimer: Before anyone jumps down my throat about how dangerous crib bumpers are, let me tell you, I've heard it before. However, there are very few consumer products available that don't have some sort of warning on them, whether in print or implied. In my mind, it is a personal judgement call on which ones to use and which ones to avoid.

Whether you are for or against crib bumpers, that's your personal choice. Please respect the choices of others and keep any negative comments in your head. Or feel free to mutter them aloud, if you wish..

Bundles of Baby: BundleMe Car Seat Blanket Knock Off

2012-02-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

We have some friends that have a little boy two months older than our Little Monkey. Back when the boys were just little (like in infant carriers kind of little), they were given a BundleMe Car Seat Cover. I liked it A LOT! It was warm, attached to the seat (who doesn't love picking wet, dirty blankets up off the ground?), and you can still put the seat belt straps up against the child like they are supposed to be fastened.

And then I started doing some looking for them. I about died when I saw they were around $50! For the light, cheap versions. The heavier version I wanted was closer to $90! Uhm, JJ Cole, I'm not made of money! So, I set out to make my own. Wal-Mart was having their polar fleece on sale and so I decided to use that for our knock-off. I spent less than $10 on my knock off and bought other stuff {you know, like diapers and wipes} with the $80 I saved on the JJ Cole version.

Here's the How:

(Because this project was pre-blog, I don't have process pictures. It's fairly self-explanatory though. If you have questions, please email me or leave a comment {and make sure your email address is enabled so I can answer you back!}. I will get back to you as soon as I can.)

This is the car seat with no cover.

Car seat with my version of the BundleMe.

Supplies:
- 4 yards of polar fleece. I did two yards of brown and a yard and two yards of green to match our car seat. If you want a lighter, single-layer cover, you'll only need two yards.
- Velcro. I prefer the non-sticky back for sewing.
- Scissors
- Coordinating thread.
- Zipper. You'll need either two shorter ones or one great big long one. I couldn't find one long enough to go all the way around the bottom of the cover, so I ended up with two shorter ones, one on each side of the cover.

Instructions:
1. Lay your fleece out in the car seat so you'll kind of have an idea of how it will fit. The top of the fleece will sit at the top of the car seat. It should lay flat in the car seat and then fold up over the bottom to make a blanket.

2. Lay your fleece out, right sides together. Pin and sew the fleece together. Leave a hole that you can turn the fabric through. I left one whole side open to flip my cover through. You could leave a smaller opening if you want a little more finished look to your cover. If you opt for a lighter, single layer version, skip this step.

3. Turn the fabric so your seams are on the inside. Lay the cover out in the car seat again and mark the locations of the buckles. Make sure you get all the holes for the shoulder straps and the strap that goes between the legs.

4. Cut a small slit just wide enough to get the bottom buckle (the one that goes through your little one's legs) through the fabric. Stitch a small rectangle around the slit to help hold the fabric in place. Because fleece doesn't fray, you don't have to hem it.

5. For the shoulder straps, I cut a vertical split that runs from the top slit to the bottom slit. Sew a length of velcro along the slit. Your shoulder straps will slip through the velcro and you won't have to sew individual slits for each position.

6. Figure out where your cover will fold back up and cover your little one's legs/torso. Ours is actually long enough to hang on the canopy of the car seat, which we did with Little Monkey. (With this new kidlet, it will be more like a blanket and we'll use the car seat cover as the over-the-top cover.) Pin your zippers in place and sew them down. I didn't tuck them in between the seams. (If you want to do that, you'll need to place and sew your zippers in before you sew the two pieces together.)

You'll end up with this:

7. Insert into car seat. Compare the $90 JJ Cole version to your $10 version and admit it may not be as pretty, but you have an extra $80 in your wallet...

JJ Cole Version

(Source)

Bye-Bye GFC - What Will You Lose?

2012-02-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

So, you've probably heard that the GFC Followers is going away in March for non-Blogger blogs. And, quite possibly, it will go away for everyone in time. Google is trying to consolidate their services (which will be nice to not have 30 different accounts anymore...) and promote Google+. However, that means everything associated with GFC will disappear. Frustrating, I know. All those blogs that have thousands of followers... yep, all non-Blogger blogs will lose all those followers.

I do use Blogger so there won't be a ton of change for While He Was Napping come March. BUT, I know a lot of my fave blogs are not Blogger-hosted. Do you follow any non-Blogger blogs (I'm sure every one of us does)? But, I'm working on transferring all my GFC content to my Google Reader so I don't lose or miss out on anything. So, how do you make sure that you don't lose all those blogs you've worked so hard to find in your reading list?

(Via Google)

My preferred method is with an RSS Feed. I use Google Reader because I have the reader app on my phone. And, right now, it's fairly easy to go back and forth between GFC and Reader to transfer my subscriptions. It's great and I love that it's easily accessible on my phone, tablet and on the web. When I'm bored (like waiting for the doctor - which I do A LOT of these days) I can just pull up my reader and catch up on all my favorite blogs. It's great because it's got everything all in one spot. {I just wish there was a "Pin This" option in the reader.} Anyway, there are several options as far as RSS readers go: Yahoo!, Google, Bloglines, Windows Live, and more. To sign up and follow While He Was Napping in an RSS Feed, click HERE. You'll be taken to feedburner, where you can choose which reader you'd like your content sent to. Just keep adding more blogs to the same reader and, in no time, you'll be all set up.

There is also an option in the left side bar to sign up and receive all post updates in your email inbox.

I also have added the option for you to follow with Bloglovin', Networked Blogs and Linky Followers. There are follow widgets in the left side bar to make it easy. Just click on the "Follow" button. Bloglovin' also has apps in the App Store and Android Market. The Android app is free. Networked Blogs links to Facebook. And Linky Followers is a new option, run by Brent Riggs (you may know him as the guy that runs Linky Tools, a popular link party service). It's a free service as well. It'll keep all your blogs in one place. I've only started playing with it, so I don't know a whole lot about it yet, but it seems pretty easy to use.

(Via Bloglovin')

(Via NetworkedBlogs)

(Image via The Design Confidential -

Check out her explanation of Linky Followers.

It's great.)

You can stay updated on the basics by following on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest. You won't get full post content, but you'll know when something new is posted. The social media buttons under "Get Connected" at the top of the left side bar will take you to the respective While He Was Napping site/profile.

{These buttons are also active links to the same sites... Just FYI.}

You can always email me:

Or find me on Etsy:

I know that's a lot of info I just threw at you. If you have questions, let me know. I'll do my best to answer them. Good luck getting everything transferred.

Weekend Wander #66

2012-02-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Is it party time already?! Wow. It feels like it should only be Tuesday or Wednesday. Well, welcome party people. Don't forget about the Baby Linky too. Come party there too!

A couple features from last week:

Curtido Recipe @ They Call Me Hypo

Organizing the Laundry Room @ Saving4Six

Play Make-Up @ Here Comes the Sun

20 Homemade Cleaning Products @ Happy Go Lucky

I Am Home Printable @ Crafting in the Rain

Congrats! And thank you to everyone who linked up.

You know what to do!

Let's get this party started! Show me what'cha got!

Love's Little Rewards Date

2012-02-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

So, in trying to make room in our teeny little apartment for a baby {I forgot just how much stuff babies need!}, I found some props for a date I'd planned... and we never did. Eek. Well, it might end up being our Valentine's date this year, since we will have a 4-day old newborn and it's already planned. And it can be done at home, with the kiddos or after they are in bed.

Click the images. Right click and "Save As" to your computer. You can then print.

Here's the How:
You'll Need-
- Love Bucks
- Love's Little Rewards Brochure
- A bottle of your favorite bubbly drink
- Dinner (ingredients or money)
- Lotion or massage oils (optional)

Directions-
1. A week or so before the actual date, start handing out Love Bucks for things your sweetheart does to help out. Be generous. Did he take out the trash? Five Love Bucks. Do the dishes? Ten Love Bucks. Bathe the kids? Forty Love Bucks. You get the idea. And you decide how much each task is worth. You might even want to clue him in and let him award you Love Bucks too.

2. The morning of your date, give your sweetie the Love's Little Rewards brochure. Don't say anything else, just hand it to him as he walks out the door. He'll figure it out (hopefully) or just be really confused (maybe).

3. When he gets home, ask him what he thought. His choices will determine your date. If you chose to award each other Love Bucks, take a few minutes, sit down and decide what you'd like to do together. Now, get ready for your date to begin.

4. Follow through with the things he (or both of you) chose from the brochure. Enjoy your evening together. A week of kind acts and a date? Sounds like win-win to me.

These images have watermarks on them If that's ok with you, feel free to use them. If you'd like watermark-free images that have more editing possibilities, you can find this date kit in my Etsy Shop.

February Subway Art

2012-02-01T07:07:00.000-08:00

So, continuing on with the monthly subway arts... Here is February's. Click the link to download a watermark free version. The January Version is available in my Etsy Shop (as I said it would be after January was over).

Free download HERE

Free download HERE.

Enjoy! Grab it while it's free. At the end of February, it will join the January edition in my Etsy Shop.

Guest Post: Birds Themed Baby Shower by One Artsy Mama

2012-01-31T07:52:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Today I have a special treat for you! Amy from One Arsty Mama is here! She's got some great baby shower ideas! Come check this out!

_______________________

Hi! I'm Amy, aka One Artsy Mama, and I am so excited to be here today to share with you about a baby shower I threw for one of my best friends. As for me, I have one adorable "Little Crafter" of my own, who I love like crazy, and a handsome hubby who knows how to ballroom dance {yes, that's really us!}.

I'm passionate about my family, dancing, Ravens football, and Jesus, and I'm a total Starbucks addict.

I love all kinds of artsy-craftsy things and am happiest when I'm creating something...especially if it's for someone I care about. Which is what made this baby shower extra fun to plan!

Here's me with my girl, Jess.

Since she and her hubby {who I lovingly like to call the brother I never wanted} decided not to find out the baby's gender, our little planning committee had to come up with a neutral theme. We went with birds and bird nests, which turned out to be really adorable. We had to be super-sneaky and get her to think she was coming over for a "girls day out" where we were going to make some jewelry.

We must have done well; Jess was totally surprised, just like we hoped she would be!

One of my favorite things was these fun cupcakes! Here's how I made them:

BIRD'S NEST CUPCAKES

You'll need:

cupcake mix of your choice

cupcake liners: I used blue and green

white icing {you can make your own, or I used Duncan Hines}

blue food coloring

shredded coconut

Jelly Belly jelly beans

Step 1: Bake cupcakes according to package directions. Let cool.

Step 2: Toast coconut. I placed mine on a foil lined tray in the toaster oven and kept a close eye on it, stirring it around and pulling it out when it was nicely browned.

Step 3: Add blue food coloring to icing and mix until you get your desired shade.

Step 4: Spread icing on cupcakes and add a liberal amount of toasted coconut on top of each one.

Step 5: Add 3 jelly beans to each "nest."

They were really quick and easy to make and turned out so cute! {and tasty too!}

As for some of the other details:

Here's the diaper cake my mom and I made {I even made the little stuffed owl for the top}:

Here's a look at the favor table. Our other friend "Tall Jess" made the adorable seed favors; she put fabric scraps in these tiny flowerpots, added a bag of seeds, a few cute silk flowers, and a sweet poem. I made the bird magnets...for a tutorial, see here. The centerpiece displayed the game prizes, bird nest necklaces.

I was so pleased with how everything turned out, and I think Jess had a great time, which was the most important thing.

Well, actually, the most important thing is right here...

Meet "Baby S"...I'm an honorary aunt! Such a cute little peanut! Congrats, Matt and Jess...and let me know anytime you need someone to snuggle him.

Thanks for having me here today, Krista! And I'd love for you all to come visit at One Artsy Mama sometime, after all,

__________________________________

Thanks for coming Amy! How lucky is Jess? That shower was amazing. Gah, did you see those adorable cupcakes!? They are just too cute. I'll have to make some of them... just because I can. What's another pound at this point, right? Make sure you head over to One Artsy Mama and check out the rest of Amy's amazing talent!

Bundles of Baby: Gender Reveal

2012-01-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

The only thing more exciting during pregnancy than those two little pink lines is the anatomy scan sonogram. At least, that's what I think. By the time you go in for the scan, you've probably felt movement and it's sunk in that you are pregnant. You probably got your first glimpse of your little gummy bear at that first pre-natal appointment, but the anatomy scan always makes me realize "it's a baby!" and not just some weird alien or gastrointestinal disease. And I always anxiously watch the screen looking for tell-tale signs of team pink or team blue...

Which brings me to today's post. My Mr. Right and I have been able to pick out the fuzzy black and white lines on the screen, so there isn't really any surprising us, but announcing it to everyone else is still a lot of fun. With Little Monkey we sent a picture message of My Mr Right holding a Tonka truck and the message that soon we would be playing trucks in the dirt with our little boy about an hour after our ultrasound. This time, we waited a little longer and held everyone in suspense for a few days. And since we live a lot closer to my parents this time around, they thought they were going to die from curiosity. We had Little Monkey help with the big announcement this time. Before I spill the beans on that, here are some other ideas on announcing which team your little womb-dweller is on.

Photo Announcements:

Via Pinterest

Via Offbeat Mama (via Gwyneth Colleen Photography)

Via julieblanner.com

Food Reveals:

Via The Cake Blog

Via Flickr

Via Sugar Derby

Via Love to be in the Kitchen

Activities:

Via Pinterest (Via Betsy Marie Photography)

What a fun idea...

Via The Mombot

Those are just a few ideas. Google "baby gender reveal" or search on Pinterest. Oh man, there's tons of ideas. You can click the links below the photos for more info on each idea.

We revealed our little one's gender in a couple ways. My Mr Right and I went to Monterey, California the weekend before our anatomy scan. Little Monkey stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. While he was there, he watched an Elmo DVD about cooking. He learned how to spell hot. We decided to try and teach him (help him memorize) how to spell his new sibling's gender. We weren't sure if he would be able to pull it off. When we asked him, he wasn't always consistent with his spelling. But, leave it to my champ! Little Monkey got to tell Grandma that we are having a B-O-Y! We also made soft pretzels and colored one of them blue. My Mr Right didn't believe me that it would work and so we only did one. My youngest sister thought since it was the only one, it must be growing mold and wouldn't eat it. Ironically, they were still warm from the oven...

This is how we announced the news on our family blog.

[The little munchkin was face up the whole ultrasound,

except with the tech was taking the images she gave us.

The whole ultrasound was kinda disappointing... but that's a whole 'notha story.]

This photo is how we announced it to family and friends on Facebook.

My Mr. Right's family just got phone calls. He's not very creative... Sorry guys.

Do you have any great ways to announce the gender?

A Little Housekeeping

2012-01-30T03:38:00.000-08:00

Not actual housekeeping. Bloggy housekeeping. The kind I can do from the couch... =) Ready?

It's HEEERRE! Bundles of Baby is finally here. I have been working like crazy the last month or so and have some great baby-themed tutorials, gifts and ideas for you. I have a few guest posters scheduled (if you would like to guest post, let me know - baby themed or not) and they have some more awesome ideas.

There is a baby-themed linky open and I encourage you to link up and check out the great stuff others are sharing. If you've been around here long, you know that I am all about the personalized, handmade gifts. They are so much more special and personal than a store-bought gift (although, I do those too...). So, come share your awesome baby tutes! P.S. Weekend Wander will still happen each weekend, so you can still show off your other projects too.

And... don't forget about the giveaways! Right now, there are two of them going on: the Cutting Edge Stencil giveaway and a giveaway for a New Momma Gift Package. Don't worry, you don't actually have to be a new momma to enjoy it. So, head over and get your entries in. The stencil giveaway closes Feb 6 and the gift package closes Mar 4. Check back if you've already entered, more entry opportunities may be added.

Over the next couple weeks, I also have a few Valentine's ideas to post about. It'll be busy around here. Don't miss a thing and follow along with GFC (follow button in the left side bar) or an RSS feed. I will also do my best to keep you all updated on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. So, feel free to join me there as well.

Oh, and by the way, have you been over to Lil' Luna lately? Maybe you saw Kristyn's big announcement? If not, you should check it out... I'm awfully excited about it! You'll have to scroll down the post a little ways to really understand why. And, if you don't follow Kristyn, now would be a good time to start... Just sayin'.

Bundles Of Baby: Link Party

2012-01-29T04:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Bundles of Baby series here on While He Was Napping. We will be adding a new little one to our family in February 2012. Babies are so much fun. So much work, but fun too. Come help us celebrate babies. Link any baby-related posts and be sure to check out all the other good stuff out there. Linky will remain open for the duration of the year. Weekend Wander is still happening. If you have links that aren't baby related, please show them off HERE.

Giveaway: Pamper Me Kit

2012-01-29T02:30:00.000-08:00

During this series you'll see a post on a great gift idea for a new momma. Well, actually, it would be a great gift for any lovely lady (and maybe even some of the men in your life...?). Well, here is your chance to get your hands on some of those goodies for yourself. And be on the look out this month for more details on putting together a New Momma's Survival Kit. Here's the deets:

Not all items are pictured.

See below for complete prize details.

You could win:
- One 2 oz bottle Sugar Scrub for Face and Body (will come in a clear, smaller bottle)
- One .5 oz sample packet of Moisturizing Hand Cream
- Two .15 oz Lip Balm tubes (only one pictured)
- One 2 oz bottle Creamy Body Butter (not pictured)
- One 1 oz sample packet Bath Salts

These will all come in your choice of scents. You can go with one or two complimentary scents or totally mix-and-match it up. There's a list of scents to choose from below all this mumbo-jumbo or we can try to create something unique. It's your choice.

I'll be using Rafflecopter again for this giveaway. It seemed to work fairly well on the last one so why fix it if it ain't broke, right? This giveaway will last all month, mostly so I have a chance to get my brain back before I seriously let someone down with a gigantic delay in delivery of their prize. Giveaway closes on March 4th, 2012. Products are available through my Etsy Shop if you would like to get them sooner. If you would like to create a custom kit, like this one, please message me and I'll set you up. Completed orders are shipped within 3 business days.

Could you use a little pampering in your life? Who couldn't, right? Or do you know some one who could? Well, to get your hands on this awesome goodness, here's what'cha gotta do:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck!

Available Scents:
Raspberry
Chocolate Raspberry
Banana
Green Apple
Wintergreen Mint
Coconut
Sugared Almond
Lemon
Lime
Lemon Lime
Citrus Sage
Citrus
Fruit Cocktail
Lavender
Eucalyptus Mint
Fresh Linen

Weekend Wander #65

2012-01-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome. Let's just get right into this, shall we? There were some pretty fabulous link last week? Did you check them out?! Here are some of my faves:

Craft Room Organization @ Saving4Six

Totally JEALOUS!

Handwritten Lampshade @ Joyful Homemaker

DIY Terrariums @ Small Garden Love

Man, oh man... If only I didn't have a two-year-old...

Congrats, ladies! Grab a button in the sidebar if you'd like one. Thank you to everyone who linked up. There were so many awesome projects and ideas shared. Your talent continues to impress.

Ok, real quick, a little housekeeping...

1. Make sure you enter the Cutting Edge Stencils giveaway. This is a super fantastic way to liven up your home. The Cutting Edge Stencils staff is amazing to work with. And $50 worth of product for free? Yes, please. So, go get on that. After you link up, of course.

2. Don't forget Bundles of Baby starts Sunday, January 29, 2012. I've got some super fun baby stuff to share with you. There will also be a baby-themed link party. So, bring your baby game and show it off. I'll try to do some features from that linky through out Bundles of Baby.

3. And, just a heads up, I have the link parties set to post for the next month or so. However, if I don't get time to do features, I'm sorry. Life will be getting a little hectic and crazy around here for a while. Please continue to link and visit each other and I'll get my head back in the game ASAP. And make sure you check out the Bundles of Baby series that will last all next month. Even if you don't have any babies, you probably know someone that does...

Ok, the good part. And.... GO!

I Love Us {Printable}

2012-01-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

I really like this quote. It's so true. My Mr Right and I are amazing together. Don't get me wrong, we fight and argue, just like most couples. But, we get along really well. When I was pregnant with Little Monkey, My Mr Right lost his job a week after we got the pink lines on the pregnancy test. He was unemployed for almost six months. We spend every single day together. It was amazing. Every day wasn't fantastic and magical, and we disagreed and argued, but I'm so grateful we had that time together before we brought children into our family. We are awesome. I love us.

Maybe there's an "us" you love too? Shout it from the rooftops... or picture frame or card or whatever. For your printing pleasure... click HERE to get a watermark-free copy

In Case Of Emergency Kit

2012-01-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Some of the men in my life are SOO hard to gift for. My husband is the kind that is incredibly particular about what he wants. He is a computer geek to the max. And I am not. I don't know enough to get "the good stuff". My dad is one of those guys that has everything and wants nothing. Except he doesn't really have everything, he just doesn't care. So, Christmas is rough. I have to get them both gifts! So, this past Christmas, they both got an In Case Of Emergency Kit. It was a fairly inexpensive gift, $15-$20. I got most of the stuff at the Dollar Tree. This fits under the seat in my dad's truck and in the back of our Jeep.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
- #10 Can with lid
- Variety of items. Examples: Utility knife, electrical tape, duct tape, rain poncho, individually packaged and sealed beef jerky, individually packaged trail mix, rope, bungee cords, water purification tablets, band-aids, triple antibiotic ointment, flash light and extra batteries, tissues, small screwdriver set, small sewing kit, manicure set, chapstick, matches, superglue, toilet paper, emergency blanket, hand sanitizer, tire gauge, shoelaces, heat pack, lighter, alcohol swabs, aspirin, eye drops, other first aid items, ect.

Directions-

1. Put all your items inside your can. I had to unwrap some of the items. Some didn't fit in the can in the packages and some of the items I split between my dad's kit and my hubby's kit.

2. I made labels to attach to the front of the cans. And a contents label for the back. I just taped the lids shut with packing tape. I wanted an easy way to seal the can, but I want it to be easy to get into as well. Since, well, "emergency" usually means "hurry".

You can download the labels at 4shared. The first link is the main label. There are two variations of the contents label. You can download the image and make any needed changes in Paint or Photoshop.

http://www.4shared.com/photo/_twkM1Fj/Emergency_Kit_Label.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/dJCMk3wI/Emergency_Kit_Contents_Label.html
http://www.4shared.com/photo/iBZJ4m29/Emergency_Kit_Contents_Label_2.html

Review & Giveaway: Cutting Edge Stencils

2012-01-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

I'm just going to cut right to the chase here. That way we can get to the really good part! Stenciling. Ever tried it? I had done little stencil projects, but nothing that involved an entire wall or anything. What I knew about stenciling could fill... a very small container. Pregnancy brain is making me draw a blank at the moment. Anyway, I saw a few other blogger that had used stencils in some of their projects and they had some impressive results. But, they were bloggers that had built their own furniture and taken on some projects that I never would have (especially nine months pregnant!).

And then I got an email. Cutting Edge Stencils wanted to know if I'd be interested in reviewing one of their products. Since we're renting, my first thought was "not in this house." But, while we were at my parent's house for dinner, my mom brought up an idea she had for her bedroom. She wanted to put a large tree on the wall and make it a Family Tree. Then she turned to me and said "You're the creative one. Do that for me, ok?" I had that deer-in-the-headlights look for about ten seconds and then remembered that email.

First off, let me say that working with Cutting Edge Stencils was fantastic. They were quick and responsive and so willing to work around my crazy, hectic holiday schedule. Shipping was fast and everything arrived in great condition. I would definitely order from them again. Not only that, their variety and selection of stencils is fabulous. They really do have something that will appeal to everyone. I knew I was looking for a tree; but, even then, it was hard to choose which tree! And, one of my favorite things about stencils is that they are re-usable. So, even though this was done in my mom's house, I can use this again some day when we have a cute little nursery to decorate, or a sunny entry way, or somewhere else in our home - when we get one...

[All images courtesy of Cutting Edge Stencils]

So, I got this awesome box and was totally excited to check it out. But, due to the aforementioned holiday craziness, the box sat in my parent's living room for a couple weeks... It didn't occur to me to unroll the stencil... fortunately, it didn't cause any major issues or damage to the stencil.

Now, I'm no pro when it comes to stenciling. Cutting Edge Stencils provides some great how-to videos to help those of us who are less than experienced (or completely clueless, like me). These were super helpful, so don't be intimidated. These videos will walk you through it, step-by-step.

After the crazy died down, we set aside a day and planned to get this tree on the wall. We used Valspar paint samples from Lowe's. My mom chose a brown for the tree trunk and branches and two shades of green for the leaves. The paint samples were more than enough to cover the entire stencil. And we spent most of our day trying to decide on which colors. My mom is a little OCD and indecisive... not a productive combination.

This is the wall before

.
The first part of the stencil was super easy to put up and paint. It's suggested to use a paint roller, which i did for the tree trunk. I ended up using a sponge brush for the smaller branches and leaves though so I had better control over what colors went where. After I did the first part, I made my mom wait for 15 minutes so the paint wouldn't drip or leak. Apparently, that's where I get my patience from (or lack thereof).

The second part of the stencil was a little more difficult. We had to line up the trunk of the tree, but that part was pretty easy. Because the top of the tree was all one stencil it was pretty big. That made it was so large and had a lot of bridges and detail, it was hard to get everything to lay flat on the wall all at once. I ended up doing the top in two sections. I got the left part laid down and then painted. Well, mostly. The stencil fell off the wall once and we had to re-align it. {Note to self: splurge on new painter's tape...} We let that dry overnight (mostly because it was after 9pm and I'd decided I had smelled enough paint fumes for the time being.) We took the stencil down for the night. I came back the next day and we re-positioned the stencil, lining it up in the middle and working outward to get the right side to lay well. It worked out just fine.

TA-da! This is the finished stencil.

My mom has since gone back in and bridged all the gaps.

OCD, remember?

The total time I spent painting was maybe two and a half hours. It took probably about an hour or so to do the lay out of the stencil. Laying down the bottom piece was super easy. The top piece took a little longer (especially since we had to put it up again after it fell down).

The only things I didn't love about the actual stencil was that it was clear. I'd make it in a semi-frosted finish. The clear stencil made it a little difficult to tell if I'd gotten all the pieces. A semi-frosted finish would have made it a little easier. This particular pattern may have been easier if the top of the tree had been two pieces instead of one big one, but it all worked out okay. However, for a first time project, I'm happy with the way it all turned out.

Overall, it was a pretty easy project. The results aren't perfect and I will go back {eventually} and paint over the bridge gaps to make it a solid image. The leaves on the tree were awfully forgiving and I didn't worry too much about seepage or drips under the stencil. We just call it 'nature's imperfection'. There are some places I will have to go back and clean up a little. But, if my OCD mother can deal with it, then I'd call it a success!

_______________________________________

Now, here's the really fun part! Cutting Edge Stencils wants to give one lucky While He Was Napping Reader the opportunity to try their hand at stenciling. One winner will receive their stencil of choice (up to $50 in retail value).

I'm trying out Rafflecopter with this giveaway. Simply select the entries you wish to complete, make sure you complete all steps in any multi-step entries and fill in any additional info required. Submit and you're good to go. Let me know if you're having problems with it. I've entered a few giveaways with Rafflecopter before, but I've never hosted one with them, so... Thanks for being my guinea pigs. =] Good Luck!

P.S. Sorry you have to click the "Read More" link to get the entry form... I'm trying to figure out a way to make it show up without doing that. If you know, clue a girl in, please?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Valentine Massage Kit

2012-01-22T14:56:00.000-08:00

My Mr. Right got this in his stocking for Christmas, but Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Here's a romantic gift idea for the sweetie in your life. Need {or want} to spice up your love life? Well, let's just say that being nine months pregnant has put a bit of a damper on my love life. So, in order for my sweet hubby to still get some (much needed) attention, I put together this massage kit. It's fairly basic for the most part, with a little flair added at the end. Looking for a tempting and easy gift for Valentine's Day? Look no further.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
- Massage Coupons
- Body Butter (something not too girly or greasy)
- Bath Salts
- Bottle of Sparkling Beverage
- Something to gift it in (optional)

Directions-
1. I made my own body butter, but used some bath salts we had sitting around.

2. I made up the coupons in Photoshop. Make them whatever you'd like.
Some ideas: scalp and neck massage, back massage, foot massage (with or without a hot water soak), hot stone massage (if you do this one, keep it safe. We use a small rice bag heated in the microwave and sandwiched over our rocks for a couple minutes to warm them. Be very careful they aren't too hot. And, remember, different parts of the body have different heat sensitivities.), hydro-massage (hot shower or tub), full body massage, ect. Be creative. Get your own copy of these massage coupons in my Etsy Shop.

(Click the images to enlarge)

I also included an "exclusive members" coupon that pulls out all the big spa-like treatments. Hot soak in a bubble bath with bubbly beverage, full body massage with lotions and oils, facial, his choice of other massage technique, ect. He can use that one when he's had a rough day, or week, out in the field doing heavy labor... or after a long Drill weekend...

3. Stash it all away in your cute little container. Put it in a gift bag and wrap that baby up. Gifts are always so much more fun when they have been wrapped. Just a thought... And, Happy Relaxing!

Weekend Wander #64

2012-01-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

I feel awful that I only got one post up this week! Agh. Especially since I actually have been super busy... some of the projects you'll just have to join me for Bundles of Baby in a couple weeks and some of the busy has been things like laundry (I hate folding little tiny clothes), dishes (who knew we had so many bottles?!), and trying to re-arrange our house to accomodate all the things a baby needs (like, ya know, a bed...).

And, of course, going to the doctor. Weekly visits just depress me. There's that hope that maybe this will be over soon, only to find out "yeah, just like last week. I think you've got a few more weeks." Well, hopefully it will be over sooner, rather than later. I'm anxious to meet the little one wreaking havoc on my guts. And I am ready to sleep again, even if it's only in short, interrupted, sporadic and unsatisfying bursts. Oh and that minor detail of breathing...

I did hop on the Twitter bandwagon though, so... Come be my friend? Pretty please?

Follow @WHWNKrista

Anyway, enough of that little ramble. A few features from last week:

Anna has a fabulous series going on. She's helping you organize your house. This will be a series I will get more involved in... In a couple months... I'm running on fumes these days. But, you should check it out!

I love skeleton keys. Over at Bargain Bound, Emily found some cute ornaments. I love what she did with them.

This is adorable. I love all these furniture-turned-play-kitchens. Every one of them is so different and unique, but still the same idea. I want to make one so bad... but, it won't happen as long as we're in this house. Guess I'll just have to keep drooling over everyone else's. Over at 3KrazyChics, you can check out this awesome version.

Congrats ladies. And thank you to everyone who linked up. Sorry about all the mix-ups last week. I've got a serious case of pregnancy brain. It's a miracle any of my projects are turning out... =) Now, the good part! What'cha been doing?!

To Tweet or Not to Tweet...

2012-01-19T12:39:00.000-08:00

So... Twitter. I've been debating Twitter for quite a while. My hesitation has been that I'm not sure how much I'll actually post to it. And well, what if no one wants to follow me? Man, it's like high school all over again... one big popularity contest. And I wasn't very good at that game back then. I know I don't take full advantage of my Facebook page and Twitter is just one more thing to do. Hopefully, with all the great mobile technology now, I'll be able to do a lot of it from my phone (which is attached to my palm, it seems).

But, I have an opportunity coming up and Twitter would be awfully helpful (assuming I get any followers, of course). So, I did it. I jumped on that little blue bird bandwagon. If you'd like to be my friend on that {not so} little bandwagon, you can find me here:

Follow @WHWNKrista

I'll be working on a twitter icon for the top left side bar, as well. Until a matching one gets made, we'll have to settle for the generic Twitter button...

Simple Valentine Printable Subway Art

2012-01-16T16:19:00.000-08:00

I have been so focused on "baby" the last week and a half that I've pushed Valentine's Day (and our anniversary...) to the back burner. My theory this year is simplicity. It's going to have to be the thought that counts, because I can't always do a whole lot these days. I don't think the ABC's of Love will be happening in our house this year... Kids throw everything off.

But, I did sit down and make a little Valentine printable... So, for your printing pleasure:

Download a watermark-free version HERE.

Check out the top left sidebar for more Valentine Ideas, including more printables, dates for Valentine's Day and romantic recipes. Annnd... there are more printables and Valentine's gifts in my Etsy Shop. {I'm pretty good at custom orders, too.}

Weekend Wander #63

2012-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Oh, good grief. I just can't seem to get ahead... because I thought it was Wednesday, I set the link to open tonight instead of last night. Sorry. It is now open and you can link to your heart's content. The linky is open now.

Welcome to the party! I'm glad you came to join us! Real fast... if you haven't entered the Say It On The Wall giveaway for $30 of your choice of vinyl, click that link so it'll open a new window/tab and you won't forget to get your name in the running.

And, sorry this is late. For some reason, I was thinking it was Wednesday. Whoops...

Ok, features from last week. Wow... there was a lot of super great stuff! You guys are awesome. It was really hard to only choose a few, but I buckled down, got to work and chose:

Personalized Key Chains @ Ellen's Creative Passage.

Guess what these are made out of?!

Library Book Bag @ Sew Delicious.

I'm in the process of designing a new diaper bag for us.

I wish I could use the saying on this bag though...

Peanut Butter Dazzler Cookies @ RACKS & Mooby.

I this version of an ever-popular classic.

Free Printable @ Little Rays of Sunshine.

If you haven't seen this movie, you need to.

My Mr. Right even enjoyed it.

Alphabet Beanbags @ Increasingly Domestic

Amy did the letters of her son's name.

Congrats ladies, grab a button in the right sidebar if you'd like one. And let's get to the good part. Whatcha been up to?

Gingersnap Cookies

2012-01-12T14:02:00.000-08:00

This was part of my Christmas baking, and we gifted some, but these were so scrumptious that they will definitely be joining my cookie arsenal. Just enough sweet to curtail my incessant sweet tooth, but not a total sugar overload. I ate probably half the batch by myself... What? The baby made me do it...

I found this recipe on My Crazy Life as a Farmer's Wife and adapted it.

GINGERSNAP COOKIES

Ingredients:
1/2c. vegetable shortening
1/2c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/4c. molasses
2 eggs
4c. flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4c. milk

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the molasses, milk and eggs. Slowly add your flour, salt, soda, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Blend thoroughly until combined and smooth.

2. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls. Roll tops of the balls in granulated sugar.

3. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for ten minutes. Cool on a wire rack and store in an air tight container or in zippy bags.

Makes about 48 cookies

These cookies were moist and had the perfect blend of spices. These will definitely be made in this house again. It's perfect for my sweet tooth, but not overwhelming. You can dip your cooled cookies in white chocolate or almond bark, if you want. I decided I liked them better without.

And my back was killing me at this point. It didn't really sound like a lot of fun to spend another 30 minutes on my feet, dipping cookies.

Some times, simple is better.

Giveaway: Say It On The Wall Gift Certificate

2012-01-11T04:10:00.000-08:00

Guess who's here?! It's Laura over at Say It On the Wall! Annnd... she's giving away $30 of your choice in vinyl!

You could get your hands on some of this:

Bahahaha... I love this.

I need me one of these. Our neighbors are CRAZY noisy!

"We may not have it all together; but, together we have it all."

There is also a great selection of vinyl quotes for your walls, logos and images for tiles, glass blocks, family decals for your car windows, vinyl LDS temples and a great selection of embellishments! Want your chance to choose $30 worth of vinyl goodness?! Here's how:

Mandatory Entry:

Like Say It On The Wall on Facebook

Extra Entry:

Follow the Say It On The Wall Blog

Leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry you complete. All entries will be verified. This giveaway will close Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. Please leave an email address [or at least make sure yours in enabled] so you can be contacted if you win. Good Luck!

Guest Post: Recipe Box Re-Make by Lisa's Craft Blog

2012-01-10T06:41:00.000-08:00

So, today I want to introduce you to Lisa. She's fabulous and has just re-launched her blog: Lisa's Craft Blog. She's got some great stuff, so be sure you check her out. Lisa did a re-make of my Recipe Box Renovation. To help her celebrate her grand re-launch, we wanted to share her take on the recipe box remake. So, take it away, Lisa!

____________________________________

Hi there!! I'm Lisa and I blog over at Lisa's Craft Blog!! My blog started as just a place for me to share my love of crafting with my friends and family. Last year, I decided to change the focus to a more mainstream craft blog and am loving meeting so many new and wonderful people!!

A while back I'd found Krista's Recipe Box Renovation tutorial and thought it was a wonderful way to personalize a plain old recipe box!!

I decided to try it myself and put my own spin on it!! Today I'm going to share with you how I made my Recipe Box Renovation version. Let's get started on the tutorial!!

SUPPLIES

$1 Recipe box

Various papers

Fabric

Cheesecloth

Decoupage medium

Glue

Lace (or ribbon)

Stamp & stamp pad

Buttons

Step 1: COVER PRINTED IMAGES

To keep these images from showing through, cover them with torn pieces of brown craft paper. Use your decoupage medium to adhere the craft paper to the recipe box.

Step 2: TEAR PAPERS & FABRIC

Tear your paper and fabric into small rectangles and squares that are less than an inch wide.

Step 3: DECOUPAGE

Decoupage the torn pieces onto the box, making sure to cover all visible areas.

Note: Keep your recipe box closed as much as possible while working on it and while it dries. If you decoupage it while it's open it will not close!!

Step 4: ADD CHEESECLOTH

Cut random pieces of cheese cloth. Decoupage the cheesecloth onto the recipe box in random patterns. Let dry.

Note: I did not incorporate the ribbon method that Krista did in her tutorial, but I wish I had and may still find a way to do it. I highly recommend you refer to Krista's original tutorial for how to get around that wonky fold in the back.

Step 5: ADD LACE

Glue a length of lace on the lip of the box, which is only 3 sides of the recipe box.

Step 6: ADD LABEL

Stamp the word "Recipes" onto a pretty piece of scrapbook paper and cut it out. I glued mine to some chipboard so it would stand out a little bit. Glue the label to the front center of the recipe box.

Step 7: EMBELLISH

Add buttons or other embellishments at this point. I added a few wooden buttons which matched the color scheme of my recipe box perfectly.

FINISHED!!

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial!! I know I had so much fun with it, especially getting all messy with the decoupaging!! hehehe

If you like step-by-step tutorials, I hope you'll stop by Lisa's Craft Blog because I have many for you to browse through. The 3 most popular tutorials right now are the Puzzle Piece Ornaments Tutorial, the Wire-Wrapped Tree of Life Ornament/Pendant Tutorial, and the Christmas Card Book Tutorial.

If you happen to stop by before January 31st, you can even enter my Grand Re-Launch Giveaway to try and win one of 3 crafty prize packages that have a combined value of over $175!! How fun!!

Thanks to Krista for allowing me to share my version of her great tutorial!! I've had a great time here at While He Was Napping, but now I must head home to Lisa's Craft Blog and give my readers some attention!! hehehe

Thanks for reading!! Until next time...

________________________________

Isn't that a great re-make?! I love the buttons and other embellishments! Lisa, awesome job! Thanks for coming and sharing with us! Make sure you head over to Lisa's and check out more of her great tutorials. And don't forget to enter that giveaway she's got going on!

Weekend Wander #62

2012-01-05T21:18:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this year's first party! It will be one of many fantastic parties, I'm sure.

Just real quick, you may have noticed that cute green button in the sidebar? It's for the Bundles of Baby series that will be happening here in just a few weeks. I'm still looking for guest posters to help me out right before and after this little one gets here. If you have a baby-related tutorial you'd like to share, I'd love to have you join the series. If you have a different topic you'd like to post on, I would love to schedule you in during my "maternity leave". Posts don't have to be new, I just ask that they posted before October 1, 2010 on your blog. You can click that little green button over there for more info or shoot me an email.

Ok, I hope your holidays were fantastic! Ours were incredibly busy. I've spent the week drowning in laundry and suitcases. And, with only 6 weeks of this pregnancy left (Thank GOODNESS!), I am about out of steam with a ten-mile long to-do list! How does six weeks seem so long and short at the same time?! Anywho, I haven't done a lot of crafty lately... but, I can't wait to see what you've been up to, after some quick features, of course.

While the holidays may be over, gift-giving never ends. There will always be a 'next time'. Over at Homegrown Beanes there are some great teacher and neighbor gift ideas. And, while the reindeer marshmallows are seasonal, they are just too cute. She's got some other great ideas, too!

And check out this cool little DIY Jewelry Holder at Fun with the Fullwoods. It's adorable!

Featured buttons are in the sidebar ladies!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to share in the goodies!

Now, let's get to the fun part!

January Subway Art Printable

2012-01-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

This will kick off a new little series. This series will last all year long. Each month, a new subway art freebie will grace these pages for your enjoyment. There will be two versions of each piece. One in black and white that you can print on whatever paper you would like. And a color version. They will be fairly simple pieces to help them fit in with many different decor styles.

Here's the catch. Each piece will only be available for the month it represents. These are limited editions. I will have a listing in my Etsy Shop for the entire year's worth of files (that's 24 of them) as soon as I get them all done. There will also be other versions (different color options, pieces with pictures, ect) only available in my shop. Hopefully, this will be a fun way to get some new pieces out there.

So, here is January's. This piece is now available only in my Etsy Shop.

Make sure you come back next month for February's freebie!

Homemade Marshmallows

2012-01-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

Oh my heck. This project was like the recipe from you-know-where. And it's not a good place. Ok, not really. It just took me A LOT longer to do than I had expected. It all started when we oh-so-spontaneously decided to make a 300 mile trip for Christmas... in four days. Eek. And we had no Christmas gift for our gracious hosts. Like, we didn't even have any gift ideas, not just zero gifts. And we were at the end of our monthly budget. So, I called on the powers of Pinterest and saw something I'd wanted to try last year and never got around to it. Perfect, right? Ha.

I found this cute cocoa basket on Under the Table and Dreaming, complete with homemade marshmallow recipe. So, we set out to make our own cocoa basket (our cocoa mix wasn't homemade though). On glass mugs, I etched our recipients' names. I put a hot cocoa mix in a quart-size mason jar, some mini candy canes in a half-pint jar and then set aside a pint jar for some homemade marshmallows. And then the adventure began...

HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS

Ingredients:

2 1/2 Tbs of unflavored gelatin (apparently, I live in a cave and didn't know what this was. But, My Mr Right knew. You can find it in the baking aisle for about $1 a box around the Jell-O. Knox is a common brand.)

1/2 c. cold water

1 1/2 c. white sugar

1 c. light corn syrup

1/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbs vanilla extract (you can substitute peppermint extract... or any other extract, for that matter)

1/2 c. water

Confectioner's Sugar (the powdered sugar you find in the baking aisle)

Directions:

1. Combine gelatin and 1/2 c. of cold water in a bowl. (If you're using a stand mixer, put it in that bowl.) Let stand for 30 minutes.

2. In a medium-sized sauce pan, combine white sugar, corn syrup and 1/2 c. of water. Place on medium-low heat and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves.

3. {This is where I ran into issues... and how I fixed it.} GRADUALLY, increase the heat to high and continue to stir until the mixture begins to boil. When the mixture boils, stop stirring and insert a candy thermometer into the goop. (Technical terms, I know.)

4. Let the mixture boil until it reaches 244 degrees on a candy thermometer. When you reach the temperature, remove the pan from the heat immediately.

5. Slowly, pour the mixture into your bowl with the gelatin. Turn your mixer onto low and combine the syrup and gelatin. Add in the vanilla or other extract. (I forgot that last part... so my marshmallows are a little bland.)

6. Increase the speed to medium or medium-high and beat for approximately 15 minutes until the mixture is white and very thick. It will nearly triple in volume.

7. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and sprinkle a thin, yet generous, coat of powdered sugar all across the pan. I used a baking sheet and got super thin marshmallows. However, I was trying to speed the solidifying time, as I needed to get the gift put together before we left. If you want thicker marshmallows, I'd suggest using something more along the lines of a 9x13" pan. Pour your mixture into the pan. Just a heads up: this stuff is SUPER, SUPER, SUPER sticky. Like marshmallows-melted-over-the-campfire kind of sticky. A little warm/hot water and it'll clean right up though.

8. Put a thin, yet generous, layer of powdered sugar on top of the mixture. Pat and shape the marshmallow mix so the top is generally flat.

9. Let the marshmallow sit on the counter top until solid. I put mine in the fridge (trying to hurry the process along) uncovered for somewhere between 3-4 hours.

10. Pull the waxed paper, with the marshmallow on top, out of the pan and lay it on the counter top. Cut your marshmallows down to size. I used a plastic cake cutter to cut my marshmallows into strips. Because my marshmallows were so thin, I rolled the strips to get a little more mallow for my money and give it more of a store-bought shape. Dust any sticky edges with powdered sugar to keep them from sticking.

11. Store your marshmallows in an air-tight container. They will keep for about a month.

It's a good thing this was my first recipe of my Christmas-baking marathon... I probably would have given up after the sugar syrup boiled over all over my stove and I had a huge, stinky hot mess to clean up. However, should you need to clean any of it up, hot water will work wonders. It was a much simpler clean up than I expected. And when you clean out your bowl, let it soak in hot water for five to ten minutes and it will wash right out. And, next time I have a few tips and tricks to {hopefully} make this go a lot more smoothly. Although, next time might not be til next Christmas....

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, Everyone! I hope your celebrations were happy and safe. I just wanted to put a few reminders out there...

1. If you would like to participate in the Bouncing Bundles of Babies series at the end of the month by guest posting or hosting a giveaway, please contact me. You can also find more info HERE. Also, shoot me an email if you have any questions (you can leave a comment, but please make sure your email address is enabled if you'd like an answer...).

2. I'm still looking for participants for the Toddler Busy Bag Exchange. If you would like to participate, please read the info HERE. Contact me with any questions or comments. I have about 7 people signed up now. If I can get at least 14, we'll go ahead and do it. As soon as all the spots are filled, we can get started, so I'd love any help in spreading the word. If you know any friends with toddlers, see if they want in on the action. If I don't have at least seven more participants by Jan 15th, 2012 I'll postpone this idea until closer to this summer.

So, this is when all the "big" blogs (or that one's that have their stuff together...) put out a big welcome to the new year, invite you to come join in all the new and exciting things that will be happening and promise a great year of crafts {or insert whatever the blog focuses on}.

I'll be honest. Our New Year celebration included a rousing game of Rack-O with My Mr Right, half a bottle of sparkling cider, some of the most seriously deadly heartburn I've ever had, two and a half batches of Muddy Buddies (uhm, maybe that's why I had the heartburn?!) and, of course, a midnight kiss. Oh, and don't forget the incessant attack on my insides in the "Great War for More Space". I'm not completely sure, but I think this kiddo is kicking my trash on the war front. I know, you're totally jealous, right?! No?

Basically, I've been focusing on getting Christmas done, and then my brother's wedding, and now his reception next week. And then I just want this kid OUT! It'll be a long month and a half... and I haven't even really thought about what I'm going to post about this year... so, welcome New Year. Let's make it a good one. I hope you'll stick around I'll work on coming up with some good ideas to make you want to come back.

In the meantime, feel free to check out some Ready for Romance and ABC's of Love ideas from last year to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day (I know, it's only Jan 1, but within a one-week time span, I've got our 4th anniversary, Valentine's Day and the little bean's due date. I can use all the time and help I can get).

The Best of While He Was Napping 2011

2011-12-31T06:32:00.000-08:00

Since I am about 300 miles away from any of my craft supplies and my kitchen... and since I can put this together while sitting at my sister-in-law's kitchen table while My Mr Right is engaging in a "to-the-death" Nerf gun war with our nephews, niece and brother-in-law downstairs... I figured I'd put together a "Best Of..." post.

According to Google Analytics, the five most popular posts (not including any free printables) in 2011 were:

20 Minute Teriyaki Chicken & Rice:

Daddy's Six Pack (Father's Day Gift):

Poppin' Peepers:

The Magic Cleaner:

Dressing for Your Body Shape:

I love how it's such a wide variety of subjects! I know you can't please everyone, but that doesn't stop me trying apparently. Some of my printables are right up in there too, which gives me the encouragement to keep them coming. You guys have made it a wonderful year! Thank you!

These are my top faves, in no order:

As far as quick, easy and cute, the conversation heart rings were fabulous!

Looking for a great collection of recipes? The Recipe Exchange was my fave link party this year:

I couldn't decide between Homemade Soft Pretzels and Pizza Rolls as my fave recipe. They are similar though, and both are oh, so delicious.

My fave blogging post was 10 Things I Hate About Your Blog... because of all your comments! I learned a lot about what you guys like and don't like. It was great! The Stand-Alone GFC Follow Button was a close second, though. Mostly because it meant I didn't have to deal with GFC's glitches all the time!

In the "romantic gifts" category, this Personalized Wood Burning was my favorite project:

This has come in soo handy, I couldn't leave out the Mason Jar Organizer:

While this project was a little frustrating (mostly due to the "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" construction approach I took), the DIY Stamped Washer Necklace was still one of my faves.

What was your fave post of the year? Is there something you'd like to see more of in the upcoming year?

Happy New Year! Celebrate safely.

I can't wait for a great 2012, I hope you'll join me while {they} nap.

New Year's Subway Art Printable

2011-12-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

Help ring in the New Year with a little festive cheer. Print this little beauty out and frame for an easy as pie, 1-2-3 table centerpiece for your big New Year's Par-tay!

Click HERE to download the watermark free version of the black and white piece (which you can print on any color background).

Click HERE for the color version.

Enjoy your celebrations and remember to be safe!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas! Enjoy your family and friends! I will probably be in and out sporadically until after the new year. We're visiting family and my little bro is getting married in less than a week. It's all kinds of crazy around here. Enjoy the holidays and I'll see you in a few days! In the mean time, feel free to check out and link up to the current Weekend Wander party. It'll be open until Jan 2nd at 11:59pm PST.

Weekend Wander #61

2011-12-22T21:02:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the party. I thank you for dropping by on this busy of busy weekends. I hope these holidays find you happy, healthy and celebrating with your loved ones.

This party will be open ALL week, so come back and link up some good stuff (oldies, but goodies are always welcome) while you wait for the ball to drop us into 2012. Since I've still got a to-do list that's a million miles long this will be short and sweet.

Last week's most viewed link:

Quick and Easy Christmas Candy @ Sew Fantastic

Alrighty, link up all that crazy stuff you were madly trying to finish this last week (or was that just me?). Don't forget, you can come back and keep linking all week! Enjoy your holidays and be safe!

UPrinting Giveaway

2011-12-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

So, I know it's a little late to print out holiday cards... but in case you're a little behind (like me) or have a need to get some announcements made (hum, like me, new baby coming soon and all)... UPrinting is offering one While He Was Napping Reader a great little prize package.

How does 100 Postcards on 5"x 7", 14pt Cardstock in Gloss finish sound? You'll receive front only printing with a two business day turnaround and FREE shipping!

Want you get your hands on this sweet little deal? Here's the how:

MANDATORY ENTRY:
1. Click the little "Like" button below to like UPrinting Postcard Printing on Facebook and leave me a comment here telling me how you would use the postcards if you win the giveaway. Please leave an email address I can contact you at should you win.

That's it. Super easy. This giveaway will close at 5pm PST on Thursday, December 22, 2011. We're doing this quick and fast! Winner will be announced Thursday evening. Sorry, but this giveaway is open to US residents only. Winner must be at least 18 years old.

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive postcard printing service for hosting. Please visit them for more information about their printing services and for your printing needs.

Christmas Round-Up

2011-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick little round up of the Christmas posts that have been on While He Was Napping, in case you're still looking for ideas and have missed anything here. You can also check out the Gift Guide for more ideas if you're in panic mode like I am (we decided about 2 days ago that we will be going to see some family for Christmas... and we have zero gifts for them. Then add the stress of packing for a trip. Gah!)

Terra Cotta Candy Jar

Candy Bags

Printable Candy Toppers

Hot Cocoa Gift Basket

Hot Cocoa Basket Recipe and Printable

DIY Play Dough Stocking Stuffer

Kid's Activity Coupons Stocking Stuffer

Kid's ABC's at Church Book

DIY Luggage Tags

Personalized Glass Dishes/Mirrors

Naughty and Nice Coupons for Him/Her (Templates)

Or buy ready-made ones HERE. All you have to do is print and cut apart.

Super Simple Fudge

(like 3 ingredient kind of simple)

Homemade Chocolate Pudding

Personalized Families are Forever Sign

Simple Coasters

Holiday Greeting Blocks (For all year)

Personalized Chalkboard Sign

Printable Gift Tags

International Christmas Wishes Printable

I hope you are all getting those crazy to-do lists crossed off! It's a busy time of the year. Don't forget to stop for a moment and remember the reason for the season. Enjoy your family and friends. Be safe in your celebrating. Merry Christmas!

Hot Cocoa Basket Printable

2011-12-19T14:53:00.000-08:00

This year we gifted my most favorite cousin and her hubby with a Hot Cocoa Gift Basket. Here is the tag I included with the hot cocoa mix. Also, my recipe for the cocoa mix. It's a quick and easy last-minute host gift for your spontaneous, unplanned Christmas trip in less than a week... Oh, maybe that's just me.

Hot Cocoa:
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows

Layer the ingredients in a quart sized bottle. Fill any remaining space with mini marshmallows and roughly crushed candy canes. Seal and tie the tag around the neck of the bottle. Ta-da! Easy and super quick neighbor gifts.

Click the link below the image to download.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Curling Iron Case

2011-12-18T12:50:00.000-08:00

This is really similar to the $1 Flat Iron Case tutorial I posted last week If you missed that, check it out. The differences include $.50 more and 45 minutes less of construction time.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
1. An oval-shaped pot holder. I got mine in a two pack at Wal-Mart for $3.
2. Sewing machine, coordinating thread and scissors

Sorry this picture is so terrible...

Directions-
1. Take your pot holder and fold it in half.
2. Sew the two sides together. Leave one end open. You will want to check with your specific curling iron to see where the best place to stop sewing will be. That's it.

Seriously, this took me like ten minutes. And that was because I ran out of bobbin thread half way through the first time and then broke my needle the second time. The doubled pot holder is pretty thick, so go slow and take your time. It'll keep your needle from breaking.....

Because the pot holder is an oval shape, it leaves the little lever thingy exposed while still covering the entire iron part. I fit mine to my big combo iron (that I only use the curling iron part of...), but my smaller one fit in there ok too. Once again, if you wrap up the cord, it will also fit inside the case. Everything will be confined in your suitcases.

Weekend Wander #60

2011-12-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome. Let's check out some of the goodies from last week and then we'll this party started!

Christmas Charger Plate @ Burton Avenue

Printable Christmas Advent Calendar @ Dew This

Burlap Advent @ All Things Homie

Fondant Penguin Tutorial @ Fowl Single File

Great Activities for Younger Kids @ Suburbia Momma

Featured buttons are in the side bar, ladies! Awesome stuff!

Thank you to every one who came to the party. I enjoy looking at all the great things you guys come up with and it's always a challenge to only choose a few each week.

Also, if you're thinking about ordering anything from my Etsy Shop, please do so by Sunday, December 18th to ensure delivery by Christmas. Digital items can be ordered until Saturday, December 24th at 10pm PST and you'll have the files within 2 hours.

Now, let's get to the party! Link 'em up. And have a super weekend!

Homemade Play Dough: Round Two

2011-12-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

Waay back in March/April, I made some play dough for Little Monkey. It was cool. For a while. Then he got tired of it. I didn't have any food coloring when we were moving into our apartment and so the play dough was a lame brown color, which I'm sure didn't help matters.

Back at the beginning of November, I was trying to hurry and get gifts done so they could be delivered when we were around for Thanksgiving. We have a set of friends (we gave them THIS GIFT) who have a little boy a few months older than Little Monkey. So, of course, we gifted for him too. Little Monkey was so jealous that he didn't get to play with the cool colors. But, he will be getting some new play dough in his stocking this year, in way more than four colors...

Here's the How:
This recipe came from An Art Nest, and Pinterest has held it hostage for me.

Supplies:
Makes four 3/4 cup sized balls

1 1/2 cups of flour
3/4 cups salt
1 1/2 cups water
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 Tbs cream of tartar (this will give your dough a 3-6 month shelf life)
food coloring (I just used the cheap Wal-Mart brand liquid)

Mix all the ingredients, except for the food coloring, in a medium pot on medium-low heat. Heat for about 5-10 minutes. When it looks like dough, instead of batter, and the goop sticks together, remove from heat and dump it onto a floured cutting board or counter top.

If the dough is too hot, let it cool before you begin kneading it. Separate your dough into four balls (more or less, depending on how many colors you want to make). Add flour as you need to reach a consistency that doesn't stick to your hands. I probably ended up adding another cup or two of flour to the whole thing.

Push the dough out to form a rough bowl shape and squeeze 3-5 drops of food coloring into the middle. Wrap up the edges to seal the coloring inside. Knead and knead and knead until the color is evenly distributed. Add more color for darker shades. (I probably ended up using closer to 10-15 drops of color). Don't forget, you can make some really unique colors by mixing the food coloring together. I love the way that orange came out! And the lime green!

Once you have your color distributed, place each ball in an air-tight container (or zippy bag) and seal. Enjoy!

*The biggest time factor here is getting the color distributed evenly through out the dough. Your hands will get tired, as it requires a lot of kneading. Maybe save that part for a stressed-out friend... If you want to color the dough before you begin kneading it, cut the ingredients into fourths and then add the color to the pot with all the other ingredients and mix well.*

$1 Flat Iron Heat-Resistant Case

2011-12-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

Oh, wow. Please tell me I'm not that only that thought last week was an incredibly long and unproductive week... This baby is getting big enough that I'm uncomfortable all the time, don't sleep well and just generally want to do nothing other than lay on the couch. All. Day. Long. Not only that, mortality seems to have the theme for last week. A friend unexpected lost her husband to spinal meningitis and now is the sole provider and caregiver of their three young children. Health is such a fragile thing. It's shocking and scary how quickly things can change. Annnd... to top it off... My Mr Right wrecked on his motorcycle last weekend. He's fine. He really just scraped and bruised his knee. And it's mostly cosmetic damage to the bike. But, it was a bit of a wake up call when he walked back in the door A LOT sooner than I expected him with a bloody knee and torn clothes. Definitely made me remember the important things in life and that I never want to take my most favorite people for granted. So... How was your week?!

Ok. Here is a super quick and easy (and SOO CHEAP!) little project. It's actually part of my little sister's Christmas gift. She never reads my blog though, so I'm safe. We do a fair amount of traveling, but if you have little kiddos around this would also be fabulous to have. Little Monkey has been the victim of burns from my flat iron. He's only ever touched it once while it was hot... he's no dummy... but a case like this could have prevented it. Ready? A Flat Iron Heat-Resistant Case.

Here's the How:
Supplies-
An Oven Mitt (I bought mine from the Dollar Tree)
Sewing Machine
Straight Pins
Scissors
Thread to coordinate

1) Take your mitt and cut it down to fit your iron. I used a mitt, cut the thumb off and thinned it down a little. You could definitely do this with a hot pad too. Just fold it in half and sew the top and side together. Just make sure you leave enough seam allowance for your iron to fit in the mitt once you sew up the open edge.

(I had originally planned to use the thumb as another case,

but it was so skinny and thick I couldn't get it flipped right side out.

I ended up just tossing it out.)

2) Turn your mitt inside out and pin it so the edges meet. Sew the side of your mitt together. Secure with a good back stitch at each end.

3) This is, by far, the hardest and most time consuming part of this whole project. Turn your mitt right side out. This took me a good twenty to thirty minutes and several hand cramps (because the mitt is so thick) to get it right side out. I ended up using my teeth... so if you can borrow an extra set of hands, it might be helpful... just sayin'.

4) Wash the mitt, 'cause well, you used your teeth and there is spit all over it, right. Eek. TMI? =) Make a cute little box or something to gift it in.

Ta-da! Even with the thirty minutes it took to turn it right side out, I still had this project done in about an hour. An hour of my time and buck from my pocket? I'd call that a super duper gift.

Little side note: I didn't purposefully leave the sealed end of the mitt wider than the open end, but it worked out very nicely to have that little bump as a place to store the cord when you wrap it up to put it in your suitcase or whatever. It goes in even better than the last photo of this post shows, I just wanted you to be able to see that the iron was in the case.

And... There is a set of printable Kid's Activity Coupons now available in my Etsy Shop, if you're looking for some cheap and easy stocking stuffers... Just FYI.

What Do You Think?

2011-12-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: As of 01/01/12 I am looking for at least 7 more participants. If you're interested, please let me know. If I don't have enough people by 01/15/2012 this will be postponed until closer to this summer.

So... I had this idea and I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm still torn on it though, so I thought I'd ask for your ideas and opinions. In January, towards the middle/end of the month, I will be doing a series on babies. If you're interested in helping out with that, read THIS for more info on it.

My idea is this: A Busy Bag Swap for Toddlers.

I'm sure that life will be crazy for a while after this baby gets here and it would be nice to have some new things to keep Little Monkey busy while I'm doing things like feeding the baby or trying to shower or eat. I'm not sure how many of you would be interested in participating. So, keep reading for some basic info and leave me a comment if it sounds like something you'd be interested in participating in.

The gist of the swap would be this:
1. I will create a list of activities that are creative and educational for toddlers and pre-schoolers (ages 2-4). Ideas and suggestions are more than welcome. I will try to find activities that won't cost a lot to put together. I know what it's like to have a limited budget.

2. You sign up to participate. By doing so, you agree to make X amount of one kind of bag. I'm thinking for this swap, I'll probably try to keep it fairly small so I don't get too overwhelmed. It will also depend on how many people want to participate. I'm thinking like 20 bags or so, but it may be more or less. {Right now, I'm shooting for 15 bags.}

3. There will be approximately an $11 fee to participate. This will be used to cover shipping costs of getting the activity bags to you. It'll be the cost of a USPS Medium Flat Rate Box. You will also be responsible for the cost of putting your bags together as well as shipping them to me, so I can distribute them to all the participants. I don't care where you get your supplies from or what method you use to ship them to me, as long as they get here by the deadline. I'll give you a week to ten days to get your kits put together and mailed.

4. This whole process will probably take about 4 weeks, from sign-ups to getting your collection of activity bags delivered to your doorstep.

Source

~~I would like to try to do this during the month of February or so~~. I decided that was too close to my baby's due date and didn't want to be stressing out about that, as well as trying to do last minute prep for our little one. So, the sign up deadline is January 15th!

Let me know what you think and if this is something you'd even want to participate in. You don't have to have a toddler/pre-schooler to participate. If you've got grandkids, these would be cool to have around when they come visit. It would also make a great birthday gift for younger children and something their parents would appreciate (not ANOTHER toy...). It would also make a wonderful gift to a family that already has young children and are expecting a new baby.

I've been a little hesitant about this, partly because it sounds like a lot of work coordinating everything and I'm sure I'll have a lot to do in January/February as it is. However, it would be REALLY nice not to have to put together 20 different activity bags for my Little Monkey all by myself. If there is only minimal interest, I may hold off the idea and bring it up again closer to summer. Maybe things will have settled down here by then. And maybe not.

Anyway, let me know if you would want to participate in a comment below. Thanks!