Amanda

Taylor Swift 1989 Launch Party

October 28, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

taylor swift 1989 party ideas

October 27th 2014 could not come fast enough in our house! We are big time Taylor Swift Fans!!! To celebrate the much anticipated day, we threw a 1989 Launch Party with all our friends. It was fun to come together and celebrate our favorite artist Taylor Swift!

We had everyone come dressed in 1989 inspired outfits. When the girls arrived, we put fluffy bows in their hair. We watched a special message from Taylor Swift then put on the Shake It Off video and danced around.

1989 taylor swift_6

1989 TRACK SCAVENGER HUNT

Then we went outside where and had a scavenger hunt. I had printed off a paper that listed each track on the 1989 album and we had previously hid an items representing the track. The girls had to figure out which item went with which track. Here is the list:

Track #1 Welcome to New York – I Heart NY T-Shirt

Track #2 Blank Space – White piece of paper

Track #3 Style – Make Up

Track #4 Out of the Woods – Large Stuffed Deer

Track #5 All You Had To Do Was Stay – Stuffed “sitting” dog

Track #6 Shake It Off – Salt & Pepper Shakers

Track #7 I Wish You Would – Birthday Candles

Track #8 Bad Blood – Syringe from toy doctor set

Track #9 Wildest Dreams – Tiger in a baby bed

Track #10 How You Get the Girl – a small doll in a net

Track #11 This Love – Heart Doily

Track #12 I Know Places – Road Map

Track #13 Clean – glass cleaner

We put all the papers in a basket and drew a winner and she got a prize.

After the scavenger hunt, we had Welcome To New York refreshments, Out of the Woods cookie decorating, and Shake it Off shirt painting.

1989 taylor swift_24

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

NY Pizza Dip, recipe HERE – my husband declared this his new favorite food, served with bagel ships and baguettes

NY Cheesecake

Jewish Rye Deli Sandshiches

York Peppermint Patties

Yankee Stadium Popcorn Balls

Black and White Cookies, recipe HERE

The Big Apple apple dip, recipe HERE

OUT OF THE WOODS

1989 taylor swift_25

We made sugar cookies inspired by the woods: acorns and leaves. The girls decorated them. 1989 taylor swift_19

SHAKE IT OFF

I cut stencils on the Cricut that said “Shake It Off” and the girls painted shirts. They turned out super cute. We just used acrylic paint and a stencil brush.

Shake it Off

1989 taylor swift_16

DRAW MEREDITH AND OLIVIA

We had to get Taylor’s kitties involved in the party, so each girl was given a sharpie and a paper plate. They were to draw a picture of Taylor’s cats by holding the plate on their head and not looking at it. 3 of the moms were the judges and the winner got a prize.

LYRIC CHALLENGE

Throughout the night we stopped the music and had 3 girls come up for a Lyric Challenge. I read a line from one of Taylor’s newest 3 singles and they had to correctly say the line that followed. This was super fun and the girls totally know all the words to the songs!

For the prizes I got the latest InStyle magazine with Taylor on the cover, some cute infinity scarves, knee socks, and a few other items.

PHOTO BOOTH

No party is complete with out a photo booth. We used Taylor’s Subway app to “Take a Selfie with Taylor”:

We also used the #1989 Photo Booth to create these fun photos inspired by the 1989 Album Artwork.

Taylor, we LOVE you and your 1989 Album is so AMAZING! THANK YOU!!!!!

Filed Under: entertaining, FEATURED, party, Taylor Swift

SPOOKY CAT Pillow

October 20, 2014 by Amanda 1 Comment

Can you believe how fast October is flying by????? It’s crazy! Here is a quick Halloween project – with a black cat of course – that you can sew in about 30 minutes. By using their Heat n Bond EZ print sheets, you can print the pattern pieces onto the appliqué paper in your own printer!

Supplies

20″ x WOF duck cloth or neutral light weight canvas
fat quarter or similar black fabric
Heat n Bond® Lite EZ print sheets
22″ or longer zipper
20″ pillow form

Instructions

Begin by cutting (2) 20″ squares from the neutral fabric

Print the cat pattern (here) and SPOOKY pattern (here) then iron them to the wrong side of the black fabric. Cut out on the pattern line and peel off backing.

Position the pattern pieces as desired or as pictured below on the 20″ square and press into place. Using black thread, stitch around each appliqué piece.

To finish the pillow take the second 20″ square (pillow back) and cut 3″ off:

Insert the zipper and press. Trim off excess zipper.

With zipper pull positioned in the center of the pillow, pin the pillow front and the pillow back right sides together. Sew all the way around the pillow using a 1/2″ seam.

Turn right side out and insert pillow.

In my dining/living room I like to decorate only with black, white, neutrals, and metallics. I love how the pillow looks on the neutral chair – a perfect compliment to the “31” pillow!!

It also looks cute in the family room with some pops of orange!!

Filed Under: appliqué, decorating, FEATURED, Halloween, Heat n Bond, pillow, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial

Halloween Pillow Tutorial

October 16, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I can’t believe how fast October is flying by!! I made this festive pillow for a friend for her October pillow. Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies:

20″ x WOF background pillow fabric

1/4 yard orange fabric

1/4 yard black fabric

scrap of white fabric

Therm O Web Heat n Bond Lite

20″ pillow form

22″ or longer zipper

Pattern, Click HERE

Begin by cutting (2) 20″ squares of the background pillow fabric

Trace the chevron print on the Heat n Bond Lite. You will need (2) 20″ sections of chevron

Roughly cut the chevron strips out and press them to the wrong side of the orange and the black fabric. Then cut along the chevron pattern lines.

Trace the BOO onto the Heat n Bond Lite or print on the Heat n Bond EZ Sheets. Iron it to the back of the black fabric. Do the same with the ghost pattern and iron it on the back of the white fabric. Peel the paper back off the Heat n Bond and position as pictured below. Press into place. Outline stitch with black fabric. Cut 3 small circles/ovals for the ghost eyes and nose out of the scraps of the black fabric with heat n bond on the back. Add to the ghost.

For the pillow back, cut a 3″ strip off of the 20″ pillow back. This is where the zipper will go.

Sew the zipper joining the 2 pieces of the pillow back. Press.

Trim the excess zipper off and position the zipper pull in the center of the pillow. Place the pillow front and the pillow back right sides together, aligning the edges. Pin. Sew, using a 1/2″ seam all the way around the pillow. Then turn right side out. Insert pillow form.

It’s so cute – I may need to keep it 🙂

It looks so perfect with my Halloween Disappearing 9-Patch quilt!!
owee

Filed Under: appliqué, FEATURED, Halloween, Heat n Bond, pillow, sewing, Therm O Web, tutorial

Riley Blake Flannel Baby Quilt and Burpers Tutorial

October 6, 2014 by Amanda 6 Comments

I am so excited to be participating in the Riley Blake Flannel Blog Hop! Thanks for stopping by! Let me introduce myself….I’m Amanda, a Southern California mom of 3 children who LOVES fabric, sewing and quilting! I love sharing my projects and patterns on my blog and connecting with people who share my same interests.

First let me just say how much I love Riley Blake flannels. I have been sewing with flannel for years and the quality and durability of Riley Blake flannel is amazing – plus it comes in so many cute prints! My tutorial today is for two projects. #1 Easy Quilted Flannel Baby Blanket and #2 “Old School” Baby Burpers

…..yes I know super “Old School” but this burper pattern has been in the family for 40 years – since I was a baby!! Each generation of babies and mommies has loved using these.

Let’s get started….

Quilted Flannel Baby Blanker

Supplies:

1.5 yards top fabric, I used Riley Blake Country Girls Patchwork in Pink….I love this because it already looks like a darling quilt

1.5 yards back fabric, I used Riley Blake Country Girls Country Floral Navy plus extra for the appliqué letter

1/2 yard flnnel for binding and accent square

cotton batting

Heat n Bond Lite

Basting spray

I love sewing with flannel, especially quilting because it is soft and it doesn’t move around when you sew! I always prewash my flannel.

The first part of the project is pretty much just quilting the two 1.5 yards of fabric together. Pin baste the back, batting, and top fabrics of your quilt just like you would any quilt. If the edges don’t line up perfectly, don’t worry. After you quilt it you will square it up. Quilt as desired. I quilted free motion meanders. Square up.

Attach the monogram:

Cut a 9″ square of accent flannel.

Print your desired letter in reverse. I choose a “J” because I am giving this to my friend who is having a girl and naming her Juliette. Trace the letter onto the Heat n Bond Lite and iron it to the wrong side of the flannel.

Cut out the letter, peel off the backing paper and press it to the center of the 9″ accent square. Using basting spray or pins, position the accent square as desired on the quilt.

Using a 1″ seam, sew around the square. Then sew around the letter sewing close to the edge. Cut little slits into the edge of the square like this:

I choose to add the letter after the quilting so the letter would have a quilted look as well. After a few washings, the fringed edge of the square should look more ruffley similar to a rag quilt.

Cut (6) 2.5″ strips of flannel for the binding. I choose to machine sew my binding on so it would hold up nicely after many washings.

I think it turned out so cute! and it’s sooooo soft and snuggly!

Old School Baby Burpers

Just a word about these baby burpers….. My mom sewed this same style burper when I was a little baby. As a toddler I would carry one around like it was a little blankie. I called them “Night Nights”. I’ve continued the tradition with my children. Below are ones I sewed 16 years ago for my first baby. The flannel selections were so sad back then – but I made do! I made stacks and stacks of these and boy did we go through them! Since my children are older, I found a new use for them – dusters! They are perfect for dusting the piano, the china hutch and for other finishes you don’t want scratched!!

Supplies

1/2 yards of assorted flannels

ric rac

Pattern, click HERE

Begin by printing the pattern and tracing it onto tissue paper. Note, the pattern is only for half the burper, trace both sides onto the tissue paper and cut it out. Pin it to the flannel, I like to cut 4 out at a time. Cut around the pattern line.

Cut the desired amount and choose matching ric rac.

Beginning and ending on the side of the burper, take one of the pieces you’ve cut and sew the ric rac on; line up the edge of the ric rac with the edge of the burper. Sew the seam in the center of the ric rac. Start and stop on the side, overlapping the ric rac and having the edges outside of the seam like this:

Pin the second piece right sides together with the first piece. Sew along the seam created by sewing the ric rac. Start and stop on the side leaving a little opening to turn.

Turn right side out, press seams so they lay flat and edges curve nicely. Top stitch. This will close the opening that was left open for turning.

Now do this over and over until you have a nice stack! These are great to make and keep on hand for baby gifts.

I love that they are coordinating! What a perfect gift!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Filed Under: appliqué, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, quilt, Riley Blake, Therm O Web, tutorial

Riley Blake Flannel Blog Hop

September 30, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

The Riley Blake Flannel Blog Hop is well under way! Today’s tutorial is this darling flannel seat cushion from Heidi of Fabric Mutt. You can go to her blog and get the full tutorial.

Here is the schedule for the upcoming tutorials and hop locations!!9/5 Riley Blake Designs – Flannel Play Dress9/9 Quiltscapes – Pajama Pants & Pillow9/12 Fishsticks Designs – Reversible Button Bibs9/19 The Stitching Scientist – Toddler Nightgown9/23 Sassy Quilter – Patchwork Dog Bed9/26 Simple Simon & Co. – Flannel Pajamas9/30 Fabric Mutt – Seat Cushion10/3 Just Let Me Quilt10/7 Jedi Craft Girl10/10 Rose and Odin10/14 Sew We Quilt10/17 Haberdashery Fun10/21 Leigh Laurel Studios10/24 The Cottage Mama10/28 Flannel Queen10/31 Lucy Blaire11/4 Riley Blake Designs Final Post + GiveawayHope to see you there!!

Filed Under: Riley Blake

Heat & Bond One Direction Concert T-Shirts

September 29, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

one direction concert t-shirt_7

In celebration of One Direction’s release of their new song, Steal My Girl, I thought I would share how to make your own 1D concert T-shirt. I love going to concerts and we always make some kind of fun T-Shirt to celebrate the occasion. (click HERE and HERE for Taylor Swift Concert T-shirt ideas) A few weeks ago One Direction was playing at the Rose Bowl so my husband and I took our 6 year old daughter. To quote her, “This is my dream come true!”

Then the following night I took some cute girls (so their moms wouldn’t have to go) and we rocked out! Yes – I am officially a One Direction Groupie!

DIY one direction concert t-shirt 2

Here is how you can make your own shirt!!

Supplies:

Small piece of red fabric

Small piece of white fabric

Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets

Black T-Shirt

Begin by printing a heart and 1D logo in reverse onto the EZ Print Lite sheets. These sheets are great because you can run them through your printer and not have to draw the pattern. I created the heart in MS Word and googled the 1D logo – easy peasy! Once you print the images, roughly cut out the heart about 1/4″ away from the heart. Press the heart to the wrong side of the red fabric. Do the same with the 1D. Cut out the heart and 1D on the pattern lines.

HeatNBond_EZPrintLite

Next peel off the backing on the 1D and press onto the heart. Leave the backing on the heart for now.
one direction concert t-shirt

I thought it would be easier to sew the 1D and then iron the heart onto the T-shirt – it’s hard to maneuver a T-shirt in a sewing machine – especially a small, child’s t-shirt. Sew around the 1D in black thread.

This is how the back should look:

Now, peel off the backing paper on the heart. It may take a little time to peel off all the paper in-between the letters. Now, press the 1D heart onto the black T-shirt. Sew around the heart twice in black thread.

I love to personalize my concert T-shirts with the date of the concert. I cut out the words on my cricut in vinyl. Then I removed the letters to leave a “stencil”. I put the vinyl stencil on the T-shirt and using a stencil brush and craft paint I stenciled the letters. Let the paint dry completely then remove the vinyl. It looks pretty good!!
one direction concert t-shirt diy

one direction concert t-shirt_5

DIY one direction concert t-shirt

We had too much fun! Here is a little video clip!!

1D Concert Clip

Filed Under: Heat n Bond, sewing, t-shirt, Therm O Web, Uncategorized

Garage Sale Halloween Wreath {DIY}

September 26, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I have two front doors and I never know what to hang on them. Do I just hang one wreath? Do I leave them plain? Oh, and it can’t be anything heavy that will scratch the paint when the wind blows or the door opens. And one more thing, I don’t want to spend a lot of money, because I like to spend all my money on fabric 🙂 That being said, I found these red berry wreaths at a garage sale for $1 each. I actually think these might have really been my wreaths from 20 years ago 🙂 I knew they had some Halloween potential. Halloween Wreath 2

Black spray paint is your best Halloween decorating friend. One coat of shiny black spray paint, some chevron ribbon left over from last year and a black crow…..It’s the perfect CHEAP Halloween wreath for my door.

halloween wreath diy craft

And there are two of them! Cheap, won’t scratch, and spooky!

Filed Under: crafts, decorating, DIY, Halloween, paint, thrifty

Monogram Peasant Top, a modified tutorial

September 22, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am still loving Geofabulous from Blend fabrics! Here is outfit #3 for Sally! I followed the peasant shirt pattern in this McCall’s pattern:

The front and back pieces are cut out of solid pink cotton and the sleeves are the Stained Glass Navy print.

I printed the letter “S” on my computer and traced it to Heat n Bond Lite in reverse. Iron it to the wrong side of the monogram fabric. Cut out the letter, peel the back off and press to the front of the peasant top piece. Top stitch in matching thread.

Follow the instructions in the pattern to complete the top. I added a ruffle to the bottom. To do this, cut (2) 5″ x WOF pieces of coordinating fabric, I used Symmetry Pink.

Sew the (2) strips end to end, forming a big loop. Sew a rolled hem by folding the bottom edge up 1/4″ and then another 1/4″ and stitch close to the fold. Gather the top of the ruffle pieces by lengthening the stitch length to the maximum. Pull up threads and gather by hand. Match the seams on the ruffle with the side seams on the peasant top. Pin into place, distributing the ruffles. Sew along gathering stitching. Press the seam and top stitch if desired.

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, clothes, FEATURED, patterns, sewing, Therm O Web

Geofabulous Girls Peasant Top

September 17, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am the world’s most impatient sewer. It’s a problem of mine I’ve been working on for some time – there are just too many things I want to sew! I love being able to sew for my daughter and what I love even more is being able to sew her a peasant top in about 30 minutes!! The fabrics for this top are from Blend’s Geofabulous line – and the fabrics just happen to have every one of Sally’s favorite colors!! I wish I had a brand new peasant top pattern you can just download for free – but 99 cent patterns at JoAnn Fabrics are the next best thing! I picked this pattern up not loving it but thinking for 99 cents I can do something with it. You wouldn’t know it from the picture but there is a pattern for a peasant top and peasant dress (the white clothing worn underneath the jumpers)!! I followed the pattern, using different fabrics on the sleeves then on the main body, I added lace trim to the bottom and a fabric bow for some detail. Super quick and easy!!!!!

…and we do need a nice cool, breezy shirt as it is 110 degrees today!!! I think I might sew one more of these while I have all the fabric and pattern pieces all over, I mean neatly folded on my cutting table 🙂

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, clothes, FEATURED, sewing

Blend Geofabulous Skirt & Shirt

September 16, 2014 by Amanda Leave a Comment

No matter how much fall baking or decorating I do it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still over 100 degrees here! Everything in the stores is long pants, long sleeves and sweaters. I decided to make this fun girl’s outfit – perfect for a HOT September day. The fabrics are from Blend’s Geofabulous fabric line. The colors are amazing!

The tiered skirt pattern is from the Sassy Skirts book, my go-to skirt book for girls. Super quick & easy!

The matching shirt needed a little embellishing. I decided to try something beyond my standard quick appliqué shirt. To make a ruffle for a shirt, cut a 3.5″ strip by 2 times the length of the neck from shoulder seam to shoulder seam. Sew a rolled hem on both lengths of the ruffle. Then hem the 2 ends. Sew a gathering stitch down the center and gather. Fit the ruffle around the neck, pinning as you go. Then sew along the gathering stitch. I had plans to add a flower, but I ran out of time.

Super quick an easy – and better than getting in a hot car and driving to the store to look for a new skirt. It’s 108 today!

For some other fun projects using the Gefabulous line, check out these links!

Rail Fence Quilt by Sew Can She

Gathered Pouch Pocket by Tie Die Diva

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, clothes, FEATURED, sewing

Taylor Swift 1989 Launch Party

SPOOKY CAT Pillow

Halloween Pillow Tutorial

Riley Blake Flannel Baby Quilt and Burpers Tutorial

Riley Blake Flannel Blog Hop

Heat & Bond One Direction Concert T-Shirts

Garage Sale Halloween Wreath {DIY}

Monogram Peasant Top, a modified tutorial

Geofabulous Girls Peasant Top

Blend Geofabulous Skirt & Shirt

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