Who? What? Me???

You guys!!!!! You are all AH-mazing. Did you see that over there? No, over there on the side bar? See it?

500 followers...CRAZY. 

No not you guys are crazy, but that it is crazy my little spot in the blogosphere has more than my mom, mother-in-law, hubby, some family members I guilt into it, and friends I pay by watching their kids, reading it.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 

Even though this blog sometimes sends me to the grocery store rushing down the aisle to buy the last of the Pepto, I am grateful for an outlet to create. I am grateful for the people I have met through blogging. I am grateful for the time you guys take to say hi. 

Basically I am grateful to all of you.

So today, thanks to you, I can go with a smile on my face back to my giant getting-ready-for-Hawaii-To-Do-List (I know boohoo, right?).

Twenty Minute Headband Tutorial

If you have everything on hand, this can totally be made in 20 minutes...okay AND if your kids are napping, at a friends house, down for the night, hiding treasure in the backyard, occupied in their fort....you get the point.

Twenty Minute Headband Tutorial

Here is what you need:

1/4  yard of fabric, cut into the following

     -3 -1 1/2" strips, the width of the fabric

     -2 -1/2" strips, the width of the fabric

a plastic headband

felt (optional)

hot glue (I know sometimes fabric glue can be used for headbands like this, but let's face it, I craft with what I have on hand...I ALWAYS have hot glue...fabric glue uh not so much)

Start first by wrapping the plastic headband with the 1/2" strips. Cover the bottom of one end.

Secure in place with a dab of hot glue. Start wrapping, applying glue every so often.

Wrap tightly and evenly over the entire headband. Most likely you will have to use your second strip part of the way through. When adding the second strip, make sure to glue it on the underside of the headband.

Continue wrapping until headband is completely covered.

Now it is time to start the flowers.

Start by folding the end of 1 of the 1 1/2" strips in half lightly and twisting. You will do this in small increments. 

Place a dab of glue on the end and start wrapping the twisted strip around itself to make a flower shape.

Continue to glue every so often. Wrap until desired size. My biggest flower was about 3" in diameter.

When done with flower, place a good amount of glue on the end.

Press the back side of the flower onto the glue. Make sure none of that fabric can be seen from the front.

Repeat with 2 other strips of fabric to make 2 smaller flowers.

Now you can either cut small circles of felt and stabilize your flowers to them before gluing them on to the headband OR you can just glue the flowers directly onto the headband.

Glue the flowers with one of the smaller flowers placed in the middle and then gluing the other two down the side, big one in the middle followed by the other small one.

If you haven't made one of these yet, I highly encourage it...especially if you have the supplies just laying around.

Fabric Flower Headband

My BEAUTIFUL baby sister (probably can't call her a baby since she is 18..oh well I am gonna for the rest of our lives) came to visit me a couple of weeks ago. Besides getting sick and then sharing the wealth, we also crafted. Woohoo!

I had seen these fabric headbands ALL over the place and figured I would finally try to figure it out and whip some up. It was SUPER easy. They are SUPER gorgeous when all done.

What pretty girl couldn't use one of these on her pretty head?

Tutorial coming tomorrow.  Meant to have it up for today, but someone fell asleep on the couch at 9 o'clock at night. Lame. I am not gonna lie, it felt GLORIOUS.

Old MacDonald Puppet Tutorial and Pattern

EDITED NOTE: A couple of you have reminded me that I didn't show a picture of poor Old MacDonald. MY bad! HERE is where you can find a lovely picture of Mr. Farmer. Thanks for bringing it to my lovely attention.

DRUM ROLL....

Here is it!

I have scanned and downloaded the actual patterns into this post, but I am also posting the link to download them instead. I know sometimes Google documents doesn't work for everyone so I am trying to give you two options. BUT as always, email me if neither work and I will email them to you. 

There are 7 pattern pieces.

Puppet Pattern

Ears and Faces Pattern 

From Behind Pattern

Odds and Ends Pattern

From the Front Pattern 

Noses and Such Pattern 

Farmer's Clothes Pattern

Supplies you will need:

Felt in following colors-

tan

brown

white

gray

yellow

blue

cream

black

pink

orange

Coordinating thread

Old MacDonald Patterns

Basic Instructions:

You will cut out each pattern piece in the color of felt depicted in the pictures of the whole set of puppets. I would have both the picture of the front of the puppets and the back of the puppets in front of you as reference.

The hardest part really will be cutting out all of the pieces. Once you have done so, group all the pieces for each animal together. I recommend putting each animal kit in a separate plastic bag.

I will be showing how I sewed the horse, but the same basic instructions apply to all the animals, with just a few variations, which I will specify.

First:

Lay out pieces that go on to the front of the puppet with 1 piece of the hand puppet, and then pieces that go on the back with the back piece of the puppet.

Second:

Prepare all the individual pieces.

-sew the EARS by laying two pieces on top of each other and sewing around the edge. Repeat with the other ear.

-sew all pieces on individually, layering appropriately...ie the white part of the horse's nose goes first and then the brown nose part goes on top.

-sew all the pieces onto the back.

-do not sew the hooves or ears on yet

Third: 

Once all the pieces are sewn on, except the ears and hooves, pin the front and back pieces together right sides facing. Make sure the ear pieces are pinned in place on the inside. With the horse you will also pin the top hairs into place...HORSE HAIRS- take each strip and fold in half to make...folded edge will be pinned on inside. Sew together with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Fourth:

Turn out. For all the animals but the ones with hooves, you are done.

Fifth:

For animals with hooves...

Sew two pieces of the hooves together, just on the top and side edges.

Place hoof opening over the very top of puppet arm. Pin in place. 

Finish sewing around the bottom edge to secure hoof onto arm.

Repeat for the other arm.

Now you have a set of completely ADORABLE puppets that your little ones will LOVE to play with.

I know this was a VERY basic how-to. I hope that you were able to follow it. Basically making these comes down to some simple steps--

1. Cut out

2. Lay out

3. Sew on all pieces on front and back

4. Sew front and back together

5. Turn out

The only variations were really in the shape of the sheep's head and the chicken and duck arms, both which were labeled in the pattern.

HAVE FUN with this. I would love to see how they turn out for you. 

THANK YOU for giving these OH-SO-Cute puppets so much love.

Italian Meatball Subs

Hubby loves a good meatball sub. I made these last week for our anniversary. Since hubby and I are celebrating our anniversary in Hawaii in a couple of weeks...did everyone just see me get up and do a happy dance???...I decided to make something yummy for our anniversary dinner at home.

My recent recipe rule of thumb, is when in doubt head over to Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

This recipe does not disappoint. I made only a few very minor adjustments. We all loved it, and happily wiped the sauce off our faces at the end of the meal.

Meatballs:

1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

3/4 cup shredded Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, mixed

1/ 2 cup milk

1/2 cup beef broth

1/2 cup fresh parsley (yeah used from HERE)

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

2 teaspoons dried basil

2 pounds ground turkey

To dredge the meatballs:

1 1/2 cup flour in a shallow dish

Sauce:

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

bread rolls

sliced provolone cheese

Meatballs-

In a large bowl mix all the ingredients EXCEPT the meat. Let it set for 10-15 minutes this allows the breadcrumbs to soak up the moisture. Add the meat and mix well with your hands.

Preheat oven to 400. Line a jelly roll type pan with foil and lightly grease it. Form golf ball sized meatballs and dredge them in flour until lightly coated and then place them on the baking sheet. Bake for 20-24 minutes until the meatballs are completely cooked through.

Make the sauce by combining all the ingredients in a med sauce pan and bringing them to a low simmer. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Do this while meatballs are cooking. 

When meatballs are done cooking, let them rest. Gently remove any fat that may have drained off while cooking. Place meatballs in a baking dish. Pour hot sauce over meatballs.

Slice rolls, place a slice of cheese on one half and then lightly toast in the oven at 400 until the cheese is golden and just melted. Load the roll up with 3-4 meatballs and dig in.

Remember...you will need napkins!

OLD MACDONALD PATTERN COMING TOMORROW!