Homemade Hand Lotion

 

I have really dry skin, especially in the winter. Add living in a super dry climate, and well my hands can become quite the hot mess. It is not pretty...all cracked and craggy.

So I am always looking out for good lotions. I have had lots of recommendations over the years. I have tried lots too. Lots of them are really good, but they still don't completely soften or heal all the crackiness. At least not long term.

The Hubs feels my plight, quite literally, every time he holds my hand. Being all great and everything, he researched it out to see what he could come up with.

The result.

Dreamy, rich Homemade Hand Lotion that makes my hands feel softer than soft.

A softer than soft that lasts, and it lasts all the live long day. Day after day in fact.

Oh my hands are so very happy.

This lotion is SO easy to make and it only takes three really easy to find ingredients.

To make the lotion you need--

Johnson's Shea & Cocoa Butter Baby Lotion
Vitamin E Creme
Vasaline

Whip together the entire bottle of the baby lotion (15 oz), 8 oz of the Vitamin E Creme, and 8 oz of Vasaline. Make sure to whip it long enough that all three ingredients are completely incorporated.

Transfer the lotion to a lotion pump or another storage container. The recipe makes quite a lot. I put half of the mixture in a mason jar (you know how I love mason jars) and the rest I put into this adorable green glass vintage looking pump from Target.

Eek! Now not only do I have lusciously soft hands, but I also have a super cute lotion pump too.

This lotion will not disappoint your winter dry hands! Give it a try.

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Embellished Christmas Flour Sack Towels

I decided my kitchen could use a little Christmas-fying.

Since I am running out of time it had to be a quick little project. I gathered a few of my favorite supplies--flocked heat transfer vinyl and trim. Lots and lots of trim.

Add those two things to a super inexpensive flour sack towel, and you my friend have just about the cutest kitchen towel ever.

The flour sack towels are under $2 for a set of two. I purchased my favorite trims in a bright and jolly red. I used my red flocked heat transfer (which I buy from Expressions Vinyl). I downloaded the Santa and Reindeer image from Silhouette and then cut it out.

First I took out the flour sack towels and I ironed them out flat. Then I ironed them in half lengthwise and then in half again.

First I laid out the trim how I liked. I made sure to cut extra on each side in order to fold it over the front flap of the towel.

Once I sewed everything in place it was time to adhere the vinyl.

And done!

Now here is the disclaimer, these towels are not really for using. These are just for looking. Hence the stripey towel hanging with the pretty towels. That is the hand wiping towel.

I have threatened my boys with sloppy kisses and hugging them in public if they touch those towels with their cute grubby little mitts.

They have totally kept these towels pristine, and it has already been FOUR WHOLE DAYS. Woot! Woot! Pshaw only 16 more days. Totally doable.

Good job, Little Men. Thanks for indulging your mom. I love ya.

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Halloween Bat Garland {Tutorial}

Guys. Guess what?

I am done with Halloween costumes. 

Say what?! 

Shocking I know. 

Normally I am sewing at least one of my Little Men into their costume minutes before we hurry out the door.

It is kind of a Halloween miracle.

Since the costume hullahbaloo went ahead of schedule I was able to decorate a little for Halloween. I shared my Black and White Halloween Mantle and I said that I would share a bat template for my Halloween Bat Garland.

To make this garland, all you need is--

black felt

black thread

template (link below)

Download HERE

1. Print of the template.

2. Cut lots of bats from the black felt.

3. Sew them all together. Feed them through the sewing machine one right after another.

4. Cut two strips of black felt. Fold in a "V" and then sew one onto each end.

5. Hang up.

I am working on photos of the a fore mentioned Halloween Costumes. I am kind of geeking out about showing you. If you follow me on Instagram (@larissa_anotherday) then you probably know the theme for this year.

Thanks for stopping by!!

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Apple Week: Apple Picking Tote How-To

Welcome back to Apple Week! Yesterday there was a little break from all things apple for a Monsters University and Visa Gift Card giveaway. Don't forget to go and enter yourself!!

Now we are back for this Apple-tastic week.

In years past, we have used everything from plastic grocery bags, plastic storage totes, our shirts, and/or strollers to gather our picked apples. Nothing fancy, but it always got the job done.

This year I wanted to make an apple picking bag that was a little more fun and a little more lovely.

This bag was SUPER easy to make. Basically I upgraded an already made white canvas tote. You know the ones you get in packs of three from craft stores. Yep, this apple picking tote started out as one of those plain Jane bags.

Here is what you need:
plain white canvas tote
red and green Tulip fabric paint
1 apple cut in half
foam craft brush
red belting
1/2 yard coordinating printed fabric, I used gingham
thread

First, paint the bag.

Slip a small stack of newspapers inside the bag to keep the paint from bleeding through. Apply red paint to one half of the apple with a craft brush. Use the apple as a stamp. Firmly pressing the paint-covered apple where you want it. Repeat each time you stamp.

I chose to do rows of three by three. I did more of a randomly placed pattern (aka not perfectly straight). Your kids could totally help at this step.

I did nine red apples and one green. You could do any combo you wanted.

Allow the paint to dry for about 2 hours, or bring out a hair dryer and speed up the process (which is what I do because I am SUPER DUPER impatient).

With your tote painted, now we just have to add a few more pretties.

Measure the handles, and cut two strips of belting, that will be sewn to the handles, to the same size. Measure the bag. Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 1" wider than the width of the bag and 1 1/2" taller than the height of the bag.

Pin the belting underneath the tote handle, centering the tote handle. Then sew the tote handle to the red belting.

Sew the rectangles of fabric together, right sides facing,  down one side, across the bottom, and back up the top. Leaving the top open. Hem the top by folding down a 1/2", ironing, and folding down another 1/2" and ironing again. Turn the bag out.

Insert inside the tote, wrong sides facing. Pin the hem of the lining to the top of the canvas tote. Sew around the top securing the lining to the tote.

DONE!

See how easy that was.

Go from a simple white tote, to a fun apple picking tote in no time!

Now all you have to do is fill it with glorious and delicious apples.

Hope you are enjoying Apple Week.

Come back tomorrow for more!

Linking Here:
Tatertots and Jello,

First Day of School and Duck Tape Grade Numbers

If you follow me on Instagram (hey and if you don't follow me well then you should just go ahead and follow @larissa_anotherday--just sayin'), you know school started this week. In fact, this is the second time I am mentioning the start of school on the blog this week.

Yeah, I am kind of excited about it.

I love the start of school. I loved it when I was in school and I love it now with kiddos in school. The start of school is a fun and exciting time.

I thought I would share a couple of pictures of Oldest and Middle's first day of school.

I had their clothes laid out. Middle very obediently put what I picked out on. Oldest, well he made some modifications. I guess he is at that age, right? At least he kept on the red shoes (Ruum).

We got ready in record time. They had to. The bus comes quite a bit earlier now.

In fact, the Duck Tape Grade Number pictures were actually taken after they got home from school. A keepin' it real moment for ya. I was pretty amazed that they looked as put together at the end of the day as they did before they went to school. Well, I did have to make Oldest tuck his shirt in.

I thought I would throw in a quick how-to on making these Duck Tape Grade Numbers. They are easy peasy to make.

You need:
Duck Tape
Foam Poster Board
Exacto knife

I used some old foam board, so ignore the red stripes.

1. Write the number on the board.
2. Cut out around the number with about an inch to a half inch boarder.
3. Tape off edges first.
4. Starting at the bottom, rip off pieces large enough to wrap around the part you are covering. Keep layering up, trying to match the pattern best you can. Cover the whole number.

In the end, your number will look like this.

So easy.

Now that the project is done, the photos are taken, and the first day of school is done...

We can have cookies and milk.

 

 Thanks for reading!

A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie (Tutorial)

The fact that I love a good Little Man bow tie is absolutely no secret. You can pretty much guarantee that on any given Sunday at least one of my boys will be quite dapperly (totally a word) be sporting a bow tie.

I just can't get enough of of them. Kind of obsessed. If Hubby would only allow me to put him in one, my bow tie dream world would be complete. Goosh!

For several years my boys sported the Dapper Little Man Bow Tie. That was the first bow tie pattern I made. I love it and I love that it is tied like a grown up man bow tie, but that it ties easier because of a bit of elastic. Plus it made me feel pretty legit to learn how to tie a bow tie.

So if I love it so much...why don't I marry it...

Ehem...sorry my 10 year-old self took over there for a minute...

So if I love it so much, why change it up? Why fix what isn't broken.

Three reasons...

1. a cute, but weasely four-year-old
2. my little mister bean
3. the near impossible feat of tying a bow tie on anyone under the age of 5

Since, like I said earlier I really rather enjoy a gentlemanly bow tie on my Little Men, and that includes the little wiggly ones too, I had to come up with another solution.

Hence the birth of the A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie. 

When I was coming up with this pattern, I really wanted the bow tie part to look like it would if I had tied it by hand. You know get the same look with WAY less tying effort.

I am so happy with the end result. I have actually had this pattern in my arsenal for several months. I most recently made one for Little for our family photo session. Whilst (yes I just got fancy) I was making it I realized I should share with you guys how to make one.

So I whipped up a little tutorial showing you how to make A Little Man's Faux Bow Tie.

What you will need:

1/4 yard fabric
fusible interfacing
velcro
needle and thread
Faux Bow Tie pattern

First cut out all the fabric pieces. You will need to cut out--

1. a knot piece cut according to the pattern
2. 2 main bow tie pieces
3. a neck piece cut according to the pattern
4. 1 piece of interfacing cut just smaller than bow tie piece

Iron the interfacing piece to the wrong side of one of the bow tie pieces.

Pin the bow tie pieces together, right sides facing.

Start at one of the flat edges, sew all the way around the edge with 1/4" seam allowance but leaving the edge where you started open.

Turn out the bow tie and iron.

Iron the raw edge of the open end in. Then hand sew the opening closed.

This is the only tricky part, I promise.

Lay the bow tie out flat. Start at the left side and fold over towards the right so that you make a bow loop on the left side. Then fold the bow tie piece back over to the left making a loop on the right side.

It should start looking like a bow tie without the knot.

Pinch the middle in slightly so it looks gathered. Then secure the bow tie in place by using a zig zag stitch.

Next sew the neck piece by ironing the long strip in half (lengthwise) and then iron the edges into the middle crease. Iron the whole thing in half. Sew all around the perimeter to secure. Cut a 2" piece of velcro and then cut it to fit the newly made neck band.

Lay out the band flat on the table. Sew one velcro piece to the left end that is facing up. Sew the other piece on the opposite end on the side facing down towards the table.

Next, sew the bow tie to the neck piece. Place the bow tie over the neck piece in the middle. Sew the tie to the neck piece.

Now for the knot piece.

Take the knot piece and iron it in half, wrong sides facing. Sew the with a 1/4" seam allowance on the raw edge. Then move that seam to the back and iron the piece flat so that that seam is in the back.

Take the newly ironed neck piece and wrap it around the bow tie now attached to the neck piece. Fold over the edge that will show. Sew the knot piece together and in place by hand.

Now you have a simply dapper Faux Bow Tie. Ready for any little gentleman to wear to what ever fancy function strikes his fancy.

I hope you have as much fun making little bow ties as I do.

I would love for you to pin or share on facebook.

I would also love for you to follow along with Just Another Day in Paradise

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Thanks for reading!!

Linking Here:
Not Just a Housewife, Sugar Bee Crafts,
Rae Gun Ramblings,  Sew Much Ado,
Ginger Snap Crafts, 

Dyed Twill Boys' Belt

I have this tendency to get into my head exactly what I want...especially where my Little Men's clothes are concerned.

Last year I posted about wanting a certain belt for Oldest's first day of school outfit and then I shared a tutorial on how to make his Twill Parachute Clip Belt.

We recently just had our family pictures taken (more to share about that coming soon). We do not have that done a lot and because it is such a special occasion, I was super freaking out about what the boys should wear. I mean stressing of epic proportions.

I know that is surprising, because I seem so even keel...

Are you laughing?

So okay, I am a stresser-outer...hence the whole freaking out about not finding the right clothes...and in this exact scenario...

A belt.

Yep, folks this is all about a belt.

I really, really wanted green belts. Our family photos were mostly khaki, blues, white and faded reds. I also really, really really wanted light green accessories.

Don't ask me what goes through my head, because I can absolutely not tell you. Partly because most the time I don't know. Then also, because I can't let all that crazy out or people might judge me.

So on my search for the green belt, I came up vastly disappointed.

So two days before pictures, I ran to JoAnn's and I picked up the necessary supplies to just make my own.

I picked up:

a yard and a half of cotton twill white belting
D-rings (I ended up just using the 1 1/4" ones)
Apple green Rit Dye

on hand I had:
pleather scraps (left over from this lovely project)

First, I dyed the belting per their sink instructions except I used less dye and less water because I was only dyeing the belting and I wanted it to be a lighter green.

After about 35 minutes, I rinsed it out. Then I ran it through the wash all by itself. Yes, yes that was a very inefficient use of my washing machine. Oh well, what's a gal to do?

  Once it was dry I measured my  boys' waists and then added about 6-7 inches.

I then cut my pleather pieces to about 1 1/4" x  2 1/2" for the end of the belt with the rings. Then I cut a 1 1/4" x 1" for the other end.

I put the D rings folded into the larger piece of pleather and then sandwiched one end of the belt between the pleather.

Then I sewed a rectangle with a 3" stitch fastening the leather buckle to the twill belting.

Then on the other end, I folded it in half  and again sandwiched in the other end of the belting. Then I just ran a 3" stitch along the bottom.

 
Bam! Belt done. Easy! So stinking easy.

Plus, it was a perfect edition to these faded blue chinos that Little wore. So very Hamptons if I do say so my self.

I have another little tutorial coming for another accessory I made for him for pictures. So excited to show you!

Have a very peachy day!

Thanks for reading!