Amanda

Santa’s Little Helper Quilt

December 12, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Hey good lookin’! Whatcha got cookin’? How ’bout cookin’ somethin’ up for me!

I’m so excited to be participating in Riley Blake’s Stitchin’ Kitchen blog tour! Thanks for stopping by and welcome to my little corner of blog land!!! I’m a Southern California mom who loves cats, quilting and sewing!! You can follow Mufasa and I and our sewing antics on Instagram @jedicraftgirl.

I love sewing at Christmas time and I am loving all the amazing projects everyone is creating as part of the Riley Blake Stitchin’ Kitchen Blog Tour! I created this fun little throw quilt with inspiration from our elf, Ritchie. My kids love our Elf and they love writing him little notes. This special Santa’s Little Helper Quilt has a pocket on the back of the quilt for children to leave notes for their elf and for the elf to leave notes in response. It’s a magical quilt and it was created with a little help from some magical elf friends!

Let’s get cookin’! All fabrics are from the Santa Express fabric line.

Recipe yields 1 quilt 32″ x 42″

1/4 ” seam allowances

Ingredients

1/4 yard each: blue santa, green snowflake, reindeer, and stripe fabrics for strips

1/3 yard solid white for pinwheels

1/3 yard Riley Blake Basics prints in red

1/4 yard for pocket

1 1/2 yard backing

batting

1/2 yard binding

a sprinkle of elf magic

Directions

Preheat your television to play your favorite Christmas movies while you are bakin’ up this project!

Begin by cutting the red basics and the solid white fabrics into 4 1/2″ squares. You will need 20 of each.

Using a sprinkling of elf magic use the directions below to create some magical half square triangles.

It’s almost like magic how the half square triangles appear! Make sure to cut off the little “dog ears” of the pinwheels.Pressing the seams open helps the pinwheel lay flat.

Once you have pinwheel blocks constructed (dry ingredients) you can now add them to the side strips (wet ingredients).

Sewing blocks with partial seems also seems a little magical! Lay the 20 blocks out and sew them together in rows. Pressing seams alternately and pinning at intersections.

Quilt as desired 🙂 Add binding.To make the little envelope for the back, follow the instructions below:

Hand stitch the envelope on the back of the quilt as you would hand applique a quilt label or applique piece.

I just love this little pocket! You could use this same idea for a tooth fairy quilt!!

With the quilt all finished, it’s time to enjoy some homemade gingerbread cookies! These are my family’s favorite! We’ve been making this recipe every year since I was in Kindergarten!

They are so spicy and yummy and your house will smell delightful!!!

Be sure to follow along with our Stitch ‘n Kitchen blog tour for holiday project tutorials and favorite recipes!

12/1 – Riley Blake Designs

12/2 – Simple Simon

12/3 – Mode de Lis

12/4 – One Little Pooh

12/5 – A Bright Corner

12/7 – Quiltscapes

12/8 – Life After Laundry

12/9 – Crafting Chicks

12/10 – Melly Sews

12/11 – Choo Choo Skadoo

12/12 – Jedi Craft Girl

12/14 – Polka Dot Chair

12/15 – Sew Like My Mom

12/16 – Sugar Bee Crafts

12/17 – Fort Worth Fabric Studio

12/18 – Messy Jesse

12/19 – Leigh Laurel Studios

12/21 – The Happy Housie

12/22 – The Flannel Queen

12/23 – Riley Blake Designs

12/24 – Riley Blake Designs

12/25 – Riley Blake Designs

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, quilt, Riley Blake

12 Days of Meowy Christmas {Catch Up}

December 9, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I’ve gotten a little behind with blogging about the 12 Days of Meowy Christmas! I’m much better at keeping up on Instagram! Here goes:

On the 7th day of Meowy Christmas my true love gave to me, a fun excuse to get quilty! This adorable cat quilt pattern is free from Blend Fabrics. You can download it here! I think it would be so cute in Christmas fabrics! I’m hoping to make it before Christmas 🙂

On the 8th day of Meowy Christmas my true love gave to me, an apron with a had stitched kitty! Kerri from Sew Deerly Loved is sharing this darling tutorial for a vintage inspired apron with kitty embroidery! Go check out her blog for full instructions and pattern!!

On the 9th day of Meowy Christmas my true love gave to me a lion that is soft and cuddly! Lucy from Lucy Blaire has created this pattern called Lyle the Lion. You can purchase it on her blog or enter to win one today on Instagram!

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, Meowy Christmas

Christmas Cat Sweater

December 7, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I don’t know if I’ve ever posted about an item of clothing that I didn’t sew but I am so in love with my new Christmas sweater that I had to post a few pictures! The sweater has cats all over it and bells all over it and bows all over it! I JINGLE when I walk!! I got the sweater from Tipsy Elves .com. I saw them in an episode of Shark Tank – their sweaters are amazing and they even had several cat themed sweaters to choose from! I wore it to our church Christmas party and i attracted a lot of attention 🙂

I’m not one for a lot of pictures of myself – but if I’m wearing a cat sweater it’s all right!! It was very difficult to get a picture with Mufasa – he was pushing away from me as I was trying to hug him – he ended up snagging the sweater 🙁 I can’t help but smile when I see this sweater! I wish it wasn’t 80 degrees today so I could wear it!

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, FEATURED

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 6} Gingerbread Cookie Cats

December 6, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Today I’m taking a little break from the sewing machine and enjoying my FAVORITE gingerbread cookies – shaped like cats! This recipe has been our family’s favorite since I was in Kindergarten! It is super easy but the most flavorful gingerbread recipe you will ever have. I just brought them to our church Christmas party and a few people were fighting over them 🙂

Amanda’s Famous Gingerbread Cookies

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1/3 cup water

3 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp + cinnamon

2 tsp. ginger

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the molasses. Next beat in the water. (it will look a little weird)

In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.

On a floured surface roll out the dough 1/4″ thick and cut with cookie cutters. If the dough seems a little sticky, just add more flour as you are rolling out.

Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Let cool. Dip in dipping chocolate or pipe with royal icing.

Gingerbread dipped in chocolate is one of the best flavor combinations in the whole world!!!I collect little vintage cats – they sit in my kitchen window and keep an eye on the baking! I didn’t want to cover up the detail on the cats, so I just dipped their heads in chocolate 🙂

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, FEATURED, Meowy Christmas, recipes

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 5} Kitten Softies

December 5, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

These cute cat softies are ones my mom made in the early 80’s. She is also a crazy cat lady, I think it is hereditary! These cute little kittens can sew up in a snap and look darling tucked in a Christmas tree. Download the pattern HERE. I think I will make some in some updated fabrics! Every tree needs kitties in it!!!

I have a cat themed tree upstairs in the hallway. Don’t worry, there are plenty of cat ornaments on all my other trees!!!

I bought this Mufasa ornament when I was at the Farmers Market in New Jersey!OK, I may have bought 2 Mufasa ornaments 🙂

Just a sampling of some of my favorite cat ornaments I’ve collected 🙂

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, FEATURED, Meowy Christmas

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 4}

December 4, 2015 by Amanda 2 Comments

For years my mother has purchased little catnip pillows at her veterinarian’s office and sent them to her grand-cats. My cats have actually worn the pillows out because they love them so much. They are super simple just a square stuffed with fiberfill and catnip! They are purrrrfect little stocking stuffers for your furbabies!

This is the old one – not even made with cute fabric!

Let’s make some Christmas ones!

Supplies:

Bright cheery Christmas fabric, mine is from Riley Blake Designs

Fiberfill

Catnip

a word about catnip…..for years I have grown catnip. It grows easy and doesn’t need a lot of care. In fact if you start growing it you might find it growing in other parts of the yard. However, if there are any cats in the neighborhood or if your cats roam outside, they will find the catnip, roll in it, sleep in it, eat it and ruin it! You can purchase dried catnip at pet supply stores. You should definitely give your cat fresh catnip sometime just to see their reaction!

Cut (2) 3.5″ squares for each pillow. Mine were a touch smaller then the ones my mom sent. I think they were cut 4″.

Sew using 1/4″ seams along 3 sides, back stitching to start and stop.

Turn them right side out.

Fill with catnip and fiberfill. I alternated so the catnip wasn’t just at the end. catnip pillow toy 4

Turn the raw edges under 1/4″ and top stitch closed.

It’s best if you sew them when your cat is not sleeping right behind the sewing machine. The smell woke Mufasa and this is what happened!

Mufasa loves his new catnip pillow! catnip pillow toy 12 Don’t touch my pillow!

Filed Under: cat, Christmas, Meowy Christmas

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 3}

December 3, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Today’s Kitty inspired Christmas project comes from Tina @emilyannskloset and One Little Pooh Blog. She made this Christmas Cat and Quilt block and is giving a custom block away on Instagram today!

The kitty quilt is part of The Snapshots Quilt Along and is available as a free download by clicking HERE. How cute would this be as a Christmas pillow or a mini quilt!!!

Filed Under: Meowy Christmas

Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Key Fobs

December 3, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I whipped up a few of these Jingle Bell Key Fobs because it’s nice to jingle everywhere you go in December! They make fun gifts and I really do love having one on my key chain. If you would like the tutorial, click HERE.

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, gift, Therm O Web

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 2}

December 2, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

meowychristmas Bev from Flamingo Toes is hosting Day 2 of Meow-y Christmas! She has the instructions for making this adorable embroidery hoop art. It’s the purrrrrfect gift to the cat lover in your life, or for yourself 🙂 Hop on over to her blog for this cute project and tons of other inspiring gift ideas! You can also follow her on Instagram @flamingotoes.

Filed Under: Meowy Christmas

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 1}

December 1, 2015 by Amanda 1 Comment

Hi, my name is Amanda and I am a crazy cat lady – there I said it!! There is something about Christmas and cats that it so much fun! Whether the cat is climbing the tree and batting ornaments around the house, clawing at the wrapping paper on the gifts, or drinking the milk for Santa, Christmas and Cats were made to go together! Each day December 1-12 we will have a Christmas Cat themed project for you to make! I say “we” because I have teamed up with some talented ladies for some feline fun! Tina from @emilyannskloset, Melissa from the Polka Dot Chair, Bev from Flamingo Toes, Tasha from a Little Sweetness, Kerri from Sew Dearly Loved, and Lucy from Lucy Blaire Handmade will be joining in the festivities!

Today I am showing you how to make these vintage inspired cat ornaments. I LOVE vintage prints especially if they involve cats. Let’s get started!

Supplies

Sizzix Mitten Die

Small Ric Rac

White fabric

Tinsel

Felt, 2 colors

Heat n Bond EZ Print Transfer Sheets

Spray n Bond

Ribbon

Bakers Twine

Begin by printing the cat images (click here to download) in REVERSE onto the Transfer Sheets.

Roughly cut out the image and place it face down onto white cotton fabric.

Place the pressing sheet over the image and press with a hot, dry iron for 20 seconds. (Read the instructions from the manufacturer just to be safe). Let cool completely and then peel off the backing paper. Cut out with scissors.

Mufasa my Kitty Helper was sleeping on the job!!! For the mittens, die cut the felt using the Sizzix mitten die.

You can die cut up to 4 at a time. You will need (2) mittens and (2) mitten tops per ornament.

Using Spray n Bond, spray the back of the kitty image and position on the top of one of the mittens. Spray the back of the small ric rac also, and position it around the kitty image. Start and stop the Ric Rac at the top of the image. The Spray n Bond keeps all the pieces firmly set so they don’t move during sewing. Sew on top of the ric rac.

Using the basting spray, spray the wrong side of one of the mittens and stick the 2 mittens together. Choose a decorative stitch and sew around the mitten. Start and stop at the top.

Spray the (2) white mitten tops with basting spray and position them on opposite sides of the mitten. Top stitch around the mitten top in white thread. Cut a piece of narrow tinsel by the yard and zig zag it along the mitten cuff.

Thread a piece of baking twine on a needle and add a loop at the top of the mitten. Hot glue a little bow at the top of the ric rac.

Hang on your vintage tree!!! These are so fun and easy to make! They would be purrrrfect tied on top of a gift, tied on a plate of cookies, or simply tucked into a Christmas card 🙂

Filed Under: Christmas, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, Meowy Christmas, sizzix, Therm O Web

Santa’s Little Helper Quilt

12 Days of Meowy Christmas {Catch Up}

Christmas Cat Sweater

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 6} Gingerbread Cookie Cats

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 5} Kitten Softies

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 4}

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 3}

Holly Jolly Jingle Bell Key Fobs

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 2}

12 Days of Meow-y Christmas {Day 1}

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