Keeping Busy Making Cards

Greeting cards by my 13 year old daughter.  She just used construction paper, cut into shapes and glued down.  I love the colors, shapes and negative spaces.

These are also by my daughter.  She used colored pencils.  I really enjoy the variety in these cuties!

Feline Friday

Emma is posing with my son's Vacation Bible School project-a house that Jesus might have lived in growing up.  The kids had a great time making people, pottery, bed roll, furniture etc.  My son added a pet rat to the roof (next to the oven).

Emma has been very interested in it.



Circular Weaving at Ginter Botanical Gardens

On a recent visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens we saw these wonderful circular weavings hanging in the children's garden.  No doubt a fun activity for kids, all I could think was "I want to do that!".  The large ones are on hula hoops.  They had some on wreaths too.

This one was on a much smaller ring.  I have no idea how long they will be there, but I am inspired to grab my scrap bag and get started.  Now where did I put that old hula hoop?



Feline Friday- Stuffed Cat

I sewed this Color Me Cat close to 10 years ago and I've made a bunch since then as gifts.  This one's ears have seen better days.  It is plain broadcloth or muslin, stuffed, about 18" tall.  I always include Crayola washable markers because they are the most reliable for washing out.  My kids love drawing on their cats and then sending them through the washer so they can do it again!  Color Me Cat is great for 2-10 year olds for playing with and drawing on; then as teenagers they can use permanent markers and get all their friends' autographs.

I sewed Color Me Cat, Jr. this morning.  He is 10" tall.  I made more pronounced ears on him too.  I just free-handed the shape- I think it adds character.  Remember to add seam allowance.  Stitch around twice to reinforce the seam.  Clip the curves to the stitching before turning.  Stuff and sew the opening shut. 

Easy Kid Projects

 My son and I did this several years ago (he was probably 5).  I had some scrap fabric laying around (imagine that!).  He arranged the fabric squares and I simply stitched them down with him on my lap.

 He enjoyed arranging the fabric and then later playing with the finished blankie.

This little cutie is by my daughter (again several years ago-8 years old?), sewn from scraps.  I love him!  The fabric actually looks like he has a mustache!

Easy Gift for a Child- "Color Me Cat"

I have sewn this cat many times for gifts.  I include washable markers.  The child can then decorate it again and again, front and back.  Just throw in the washer and dryer and it is ready for a new look!

Color Me Cat is just 2 pieces of muslin, sewn right sides together, turn right sides out and stuff!

It is really that simple.  You could use any shape.

I have found that Crayola Washable Markers wash out the best.

For older kids, include a permanent marker and it becomes an autograph cat.

My son had fun doing the sample above.

Kids' Crafts- Baby in a Basket and Dinner Plate

I just finished up Vacation Bible School at our church (it was great fun!).  Here are 2 projects that are incredibly easy to do at home or in a group.  Plus they don't need to have a religious aspect to them, if that doesn't suit your needs (such as a secular playgroup or birthday party).  The kids were 5-10, boys and girls, they all enjoyed making them.  Allow about 30 min.

This first one is Baby (Moses) in a Basket.

This is my example. 

With the kids, we cut the top half off a lunch bag, and rolled the sides down to form a basket.

Then roll up the handle and trim to the right size.  Staple to the basket bottom. 

The baby and blanket is a 9"x9" square of fabric.  Place several cotton balls in one corner for the head.  Wrap a pipe cleaner around the neck.

Add a face.

Decorate the baskets and "blankets" as time allows.

Everybody loved their babies and each one is delightfully different!

The Dinner Plate was about loaves and fishes, but you could really make whatever the kids wanted to.  We used newspaper for the fish, cut 2 out, staple together and stuff with bits of paper.  The bread is the same.  The greens are just flat.  They got to decorate them anyway they wanted.

Easy projects, no glue or paint that needs drying.  Plus, the kids can express themselves by how they decorate the projects!

Super Easy Summer Dresses

These are so easy it is almost embarrassing! I found this fabric with one edge already shirred with elastic and hemmed. Just buy enough to stretch around the body. I sewed straps but you could also use ribbon. Simply sew the one side seam and attach the straps. Hem the bottom edge at the right length or just use the selvidge! And Voila! Mom is a hero- my daughter is thrilled with these 2 I made for her. Sewing doesn't have to be complicated.

Bowls made of Thread!

At a recent American Sewing Guild neighborhood meeting, I learned how to do these fun bowls! So easy. You need 2 pieces of water soluble stabilizer and thread, yarn, embroidery floss etc. I used embroidery floss for my first bowl. Arrange or just drop the thread onto one piece of stabilizer. Place other piece on top creating a sandwich. Stitch all around. When satisfied, very briefly dip the bowl into warm water and drape over a bowl to dry. You don't want all the stabilizer to wash out. After a day of dripping, it is done!

I was thinking of an azalea bush when I did this with embroidery floss.

This bowl is from serger trimmings from a recent skirt. This is fast and fun. I can see kids having fun making these too. You could make a flat one to use under a vase. Thanks Rose for showing us how!

Donated More Cat Beds

Just got back from donating 4 more cat and dog beds to the SPCA. They are really easy to make. Here are instructions: http://catsongstitchery.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-make-pet-pillow.html The kids love seeing the animals enjoying the beds. It uses scraps and old rags that would be thrown away otherwise.

Kids Sewing Projects

On a recent weekend, my kids decided they wanted to sew something. My daughter, 10, designed the owl. She is fully capable of sewing it herself, but she ran out of steam so I assembled the pieces.

My son, 7, drew the griffins on fabric and then I sewed around them. He helped stuff. I try not to pressure my kids into sewing. I wait until they are ready to work on a project. Hopefully this approach will lead them to view sewing as a fun hobby (not something Mom made them do!).

Easy to Sew Letter Pillows

I made these for my niece, but I've also taught classes to kids on sewing letters. They are fun and easy. You can choose a mixed look or use all the same fabric. It is a great gift for young kids just learning how to spell their names. Older kids like them as decoration for their rooms.

One thing to keep in mind, cut the letters larger than you want them. They will end up smaller due to seam allowance, stuffing. For letters with a hole (a,b,d etc.) I applique the "hole" before stitching together.

Stuffed Fabric Gnome

My son loves gnomes, so we were very excited to see gnome fabric at Quilting Adventures! www.quiltingadventures.com We sewed the front and back together, stuffed it and now he sleeps with it every night!

This is the back view before it was sewn. Pre-printed panels are a really easy sewing project for beginners or children who just want a quick, fun activity that won't take forever to finish.

How To: Sew a Wrist Pin Cushion

This is an easy project that I use at the start of my 7-week beginner sewing class. It gives students a real sense of accomplishment right away!

Cut two rectangles 4"x5" and one piece of elastic 4 5/8" long. Make a sandwich: fabric is right sides together with the elastic in between. Machine sew with 1/2" seam allowances, leaving a 2 1/2" opening in one side. Clip corners diagonally across without cutting the stitches (this reduces bulk). Turn the cushion right side out. Stuff firmly. Slip stitch the opening shut. Ta Da! My beginning students love this because the very first night they leave with a finished project and in the process they learned about grain lines (my cardboard patterns have this marked on it), cutting out and measuring, sewing on the machine and keeping seam allowances even, stuffing and hand sewing. They can now make a simple pillow!

Granola-The Breakfast of Craftspeople

I make granola every few weeks and eat it every morning for breakfast. Just 1/2 cup granola with Silk Light soy milk and craisens keeps me going all the way to lunch! Lots of energy for sewing all morning! My kids love to make it with me too.

I have altered it slightly, but the original version came from "More-with-Less Cookbook" by Doris Janzen Longacre; an excellent book.

Simple Granola

Makes 2 1/2-3 qts.
250 degrees
1 hour

In a large bowl: 6 c. rolled oats, 2 c. whole wheat flour, 1 c. coconut, 1 c. wheat germ, 1/2 c. each slivered almonds and walnuts, sprinkle cinnamon on top and mix.

In a smaller bowl: 1/2 c. water, 1 c. oil, 1 c. honey, molasses, syrup or any combination of those equaling 1 c. total, 2 t. vanilla, 1 T. salt and mix.

Add the small bowl to the big bowl, mix and spread on a greased pan or 2. Cook 1 hour, allow to cool completely and store in a closed container for several weeks. Enjoy!

Not only is it tasty, it is good for you and cheaper than store bought cereal.