Tie-Dye 101 {the classic spiral|}

(above center spiral with purple and black dye)
Ah, the Classic Spiral.  My favorite Tie-Dye design.  I can’t get enough of this simple fold.
Prep:
Follow the steps HERE to make sure your shirt and dye are prepared correctly.
To achieve the tightest spiral, you want to flip your shirt over so you are working with the back of the shirt.  Lay it out flat on your work surface.  Decide where you want the center of your spiral – this will make a huge difference in the design.  Here we are pinching the center of the spiral at the bottom left corner.

Spiral:
Pinch tightly and begin a slow turn – you decide if it should be clock-wise or counter clock-wise.  Hold the fabric tightly as you swirl it.  Help the pleats along to keep them crisp.

Continue turning the shirt until the entire shirt is incorporated in the spiral. (the example below we are spiraling from the center)

Keep in place with 3-4 rubber bands like this:  When you flip your shirt over to the front, you will see how nice and tight the spiral is on the front.

Dying:
Decide how many colors you want in your shirt.  Choose sections like a pie and fill in with colors.  Play around with making small pie sections and large sections and using different colors.  Once you have died the front, turn it over and dye the back.  You can choose to follow the same color pattern, or off set the colors by 1 or do totally different colors.  Each will provide a different effect.

The shirt below is dyed using the “pie section” technique, spiral on the shoulder. Colors: blue, purple, orange, lime
Pie section technique, spiral in the center. Colors: yellow, lime, purple, turquoise black

This shirt we did not color in pie sections, rather, we followed the swirl.  We call it “spiderweb”.  This will make the spiral pattern a little different.  We used teal and black dye.  Alternate the spiral with your colors.

Here it is finished

This one was dyed the same way:
This one also:

This spiral is dyed with the center one color and then colored rings going out…kind of like a bulls eye.

This is how it looks once it’s dyed:

This one was dyed the same way – only with a larger yellow center:

This baby onsie was dyed in a pie pattern with fuchsia and purple dye.

These Red Spirals are died using only red dye and leaving white spaces on the pie.  We centered the spiral on the bottom, left side.  We will be wearing them to the Taylor Swift RED concert!!!
You can see how using more dye results in less white showing and less dye allows more white to show.  It’s a preference.  I like white showing in my shirts and my brother like the shirts completely colored.

This swirl is centered over the shoulder.  I used blue, orange, and fuchsia dye.

You can take the spiral to the next step and do a double or triple spiral.  For this shirt, we spiraled over the shoulder then at the opposite bottom corner.  We spun the spirals away from each other.  I love this one – it’s one of my favorites!
Another double spiral:
Now it’s your turn to try a spiral!  You will love all the possibilities!!

Amanda

Tie-Dye 101

 

We are a little Tie-Dye crazy in my family.  Growing up in the bay area, I guess Tie-Dye is in our blood!  Every summer we get together for weeks of swimming, eating, hanging out and Tie-Dye.  Every year gets more and more intense!  So, here’s and invitation to you: put on some hippie music, grab some white T-shirts and fabric Dye and join us in the fun. (the fun turns to crazy really fast!)

Fabrics:
100% cotton shirts and clothing work the best.
95% cotton 5% spandex – these work good as well
50% cotton 50% polyester – Stay away from this combination – colors will be muted, there will be a light fuzz over the dye and they just don’t look good.
The key is to have a good quality cotton.

Prep your clothing:
If your clothes have never been laundered, run them through a light wash or a rinse cycle.  If you have shirts that you want to pre shrink, rinse them and then put them in the dryer, then rinse them again.

Your clothes need to be damp (not wet) to tie…despite what the directions say.
Giant batch of damp shirts!!

It is 106 degrees as we are doing this project – so we are in our swim suits.  We alternated swimming and tying for about 8 hours – almost 200 shirts.

Soda Ash:
You can dye your shirts without soda ash – but we all agree that this helps keep the colors vibrant.  The package instructions say to soak your shirts in the soda ash for 20 minutes.  We have tried this method and found the shirts were too wet and very drippy which makes the colors run.

We developed a new method which will let you maximize your soda ash.  Mix the soda ash according to the instructions (1 package makes 1 gallon).  Place in spray bottles.  We sprayed our shirts with the soda ash before we tied them.  I like this the best.

Prepare your work station:
You need to have a flat work surface to tie your shirts on.  We had 4 adults working at once so we needed a few tables.  Here is our set up:

Spray both sides of your shirt with the soda ash mixture.

It’s best to wear tie-dye and listen to hippie music while doing this!!!

Tying:
This is the fun creative part.  There are so many ways to tie your shirt: classic spiral, double spiral, triple spiral, deep V, stripes, scrunch, etc.  (at the bottom of this post are links different methods of tying.)  You need rubber bands, string, and maybe a needle and thread.  I like to put my tied shirt into a baggie and label it so when it comes to dying I know what I am doing.  This shirt was a crazy tie design:


The Dye:


We used Tulip brand Tie-Dye.  They offer a wide range of colors, it’s not too expensive, and it’s sold at all craft stores and Wal Mart.  We have a lot of dye!

The caps are colored.  Once the caps are removed and the dye is mixed, it’s impossible to tell which color is which.  Using a Sharpie, write the color of the dye on the top of the bottle – this makes it SUPER EASY!

Mix the Dye:
The dye comes in the bottles and you fill the bottle up with water and shake.  The dye is best used within 30 minutes of mixing.  After that the colors can loose intensity.

Dying:
Wear gloves!!!
Work fast but carefully
Consider your color choices before you mix the dye – it saves time – the dye is the most potent during the first 30 minutes so DON‘T mix all the die at once
Set up a rack on top of a bucket or bowl.  The dye will run off an needs somewhere to drip.
Wear old clothes or tie-dye – it can be messy is messy.

Once the dying is done, wrap the shirt in plastic wrap or a baggie. The instructions say to let sit 6-8 hours.  I wait at least 24 hours.  It’s really hard to wait to see how they turn out!

Final Thoughts:
After you have waited about 24 hours, unwrap your shirt and cut off the string or rubber bands.  I like to hang my shirt up and let it dry completely.  Then rinse each shirt in the faucet or the hose and squeeze as much dye out as you can.  Then, put them through the rinse cycle in your washer and dry them.  I rinse like colors together.  Now you are ready to wear your awesome Tie-Dye Shirt!!!

Amanda

Monster Truck Baby Quilt

Modern Monster Truck Quilt

I came up with the idea for this quilt when I was invited to a baby shower for a friend who loves going to Monster Jam.  I wanted a cute, modern take on the monster truck and this what I came up with. To begin, select fat quarters  of various prints.  I choose gray, white, black and green.  You can choose any prints or patterns you like.  I only had 8 different fabrics, but I would have liked 12.IMG_1708

Next, cut your fabric into 12.5″ strips, then sub-cut into the following measurements:monster truck measurements
Do this with each of your fabrics.  Now mix up the pieces and sew the following 12″ (finished) block:  (quarter inch seams)monster truck quilt block
You want the top and bottom pieces to be the same fabric, and the center to be different.  Press the seams toward the 6.5″ piece.
I love personalizing quilts, especially if they are gifts.  To add a name to the quilt block, print the name using your favorite word processing program.  I tried several different fonts until I got the one I liked.  If you can, reverse the image when you print.  Take your Heat N Bond® Lite and trace the reversed name in pencil.  Iron the piece of Heat N Bond® with the name to the WRONG side of your fabric.  Then, cut the name out.  Peel the backing off and arrange the letters how you want on your quilt block.  Finally press to attach it.
I outlined the letters using a straight stitch.  I went around each letter twice to give it the “sketch” feel….which I love.
IMG_1743
  After you make 11 of these blocks, lay them out.  For the truck applique block, cut a white square 12.5″x 12.5″
  IMG_1709
Next,  follow the same technique using Heat N Bond® Lite to applique the monster truck to the quilt block.  Click HERE for the truck pattern.
To finish the quilt, sew the blocks together to form rows and sew the rows together.  Quilt as desiredIMG_1782
IMG_1783
IMG_1784
IMG_1787
Note: These are big blocks which help make this a fast, easy quilt to put together in a day.  If you would like the same look, but with smaller blocks here are the measurements:
For a 10″ finished block: cut pieces 10.5″ x 5.5″, 10.5″ x 2.25″, 10.5″ x 3.75″
For an 8″ finished block: cut pieces 4.5″ x 8.5″, 1.5″ x 8.5″, 3.5″ x 8.5″
Essentially the bottom strip is 1/2 the block size, the top strip is 1/3 the block size and the center strip is 1/6 the block size.
Here is a little peek of the baby shower – we centered the colors and theme around the quilt.  We even hung the quilt in the entry way so it was the first thing people saw as the entered.
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I love that we were able to get a stack of tires!!
Monster truck cupcakes – complete with “dirt” on the top.IMG_1805
IMG_1808

 

Amanda

My Favorite Zipper Pouch {tutorial}

I am excited to share the pattern for my “Favorite Zipper Pouch”.
I needed a few gifts and whipped up some zipper pouches.  I have made lots and lots of zipper bags.  This is the one I always go back to.  It holds a lot but isn’t huge.  I have probably made over 50 of these!

 

 

Are you ready??
Prepare the bag:

 

Iron the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the outer bag fabric.
Measure a 1 1/2″ square and cut a notch out of the bottom corners of the outer pieces and the lining pieces.  This will create the pleat in the bottom of the bag.
Prepare the zipper:
I like to put little tabs on my zipper so the zipper is not directly sewn into the seam of the bag.  It reduces bulk and helps it lay flat.  I always measure my tabs larger then cut them down.
As you can see, I like to buy larger zippers than I need.  You can always cut them down for smaller projects!
Cut off the metal ends of the zipper.
Sew one of the prepared tabs to the end of the zipper.  Backstitch several times over the zipper teeth.
Now measure over and sew the tab on the opposite end of the zipper.  There should be 1″ of tab on each side.  The excess will be cut off in a minute.
Use your zipper foot and sew along the zipper.

 

 

Now you do the same process to the other side of the zipper.  Place the zipper face down on the right side of the outer fabric.  Line up the edges.  Layer the lining on top right side down. (pictured below)
Sew the zipper using the zipper foot.
Finish the bag:
Top stitch about 1/8″ next to both sides of the zipper.  This will hold the fabric in place and it won’t catch in the zipper.

 

 

 

Make sure the bag is unzipped!!!

 

 

Turn the bag right side out.

 

 

Stuff the lining down in the bag and press the bag as needed.  Done!!!

 

Amanda

Sewing an Invisible Zipper {tutorial}

I love finishing my pillows with invisible zippers!  Once you try it you will love it too!

I cut my pillow squares the exact size as my pillow inserts (I try to always use 20″ pillow forms)

Zipper – I like to buy my zippers longer than I need so I can cut off the extra and not worry about how it will fit, at least 22″
This instruction will show you how to sew the zipper in the bottom seam of your pillow.

 

 

Make sure to start and stop at the 2 1/2″ mark.  Now, pin the other side of the zipper to your other square of fabric.

This next step can seem tricky.  You are going to put on your zipper foot  and sew a seam that will close up that 2 1/2″ space on both sides of the zipper.  Below I have shown exactly where your seam should be and where it should start.  Notice it starts about 1/2 inch from where the first seam ends.  It is ok that the seams don’t meet up.  When you press the pieces, it will lay really flat.  In fact, the closer you get to the first seam, the more pucker-y it will be.

 

To finish the pillow, place right sides together and pin all the way around.  MAKE SURE THE ZIPPER IS PARTIALLY OPEN.  Sew 1/4″ all the way around the pillow, starting and stoping at the zipper.  Turn right side out.

 

Amanda

Day 14 – Easter

 I can’t believe today is Easter.  What a fun 2 weeks it’s been.  My plan was to hike up the hill by our house to watch the sunrise.  However, it has turned cold and I don’t want to make everyone sit in the freezing cold for a lesson.  So, we are getting up early and sitting around the fire and sharing our thoughts and feelings about Jesus and reflecting on the past 2 weeks.  We are also going to watch the video, He is RisenWe will write one last entry in our journals of our testimony of Jesus Christ.
I hope you and your family have a memorable Easter and I hope you have enjoyed this journey with me.  Thanks for reading!!!

Day 13 Resurrection

 
Resurrection Eggs
Preparation:  you need 12 plastic eggs.  Number them 1 through 12.  Below I have the number and corresponding items and scriptures.  (you could also place a little treat in each one.)  Place them inside the eggs.   Hide the 12 eggs.Have the children find the 12 eggs.  Open the egg and read each scripture beginning with egg #1.  This will take you through the Easter story.   There are pictures to go with just about every scripture.  Click HERE for the pictures.  The scriptures began with Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.

Here are the Scripture references for the 12 eggs:
1. Ride on a Donkey – Matthew 21:1-9
2. Silver Coins – Matthew 26:14-16, 46-50; 27:1-5
3. Passover Cup – Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28
4. Praying Hands – Mark 14: 32-42
5. Leather Whip – John 19; 1-15 Matthew 27:26-31
6. Crown of Thorns – Matthew 27:29-31
7. Nails in the Cross – John 19: 16-22
8. Dice for Gambling – John 19: 23-25
9. Soldier’s Spear – John 19:31-37
10. Linen Wrapping – Matthew 27: 57-61
11. Stone of the Tomb – Matthew 28:1-3
12. Empty Tomb – Matthew 28:5-8

Activity
For the past 15 years it is a tradition in our family to make “Resurrection Rolls.”  I didn’t come up with this recipe – it’s one of those things that gets passed around.  This is how we make them:

Ingredients:
Crescent Rolls (I was NOT happy with the Wal Mart brand)
Cinnamon & Sugar mixture
Butter
Regular size marshmallows
Step 1 – Roll out the dough
The cresecnet rolls come in triangles.  Each person needs 2 triangls.  You need to pat them into a rectangle or square.  Make sure there are NO holes or thin spots.  This dough is going to represent the tomb (you will see why in a minute).
Step 2 – Melt the butter – you only need about 1/4 cup.

Step 3
The Marshmallow represents Jesus’ body.  Take the marshmallow and dip it in the melted butter and roll it in the cinnamon & sugar mixture.  This represents the oils and spices used to prepare the body.

Step 4 – Next place the marshmallow in the middle of your dough rectangle.  I added a little more cinnamon on top of the marshmallow.  This next part is tricky.  You want to wrap the marshmallow inside the dough without having any holes.  They don’t look pretty – don’t worry….they will taste yummy.  Keep working the dough till it covers the marshmallow completely.

  The process of putting the marshmallow inside the dough represents Jesus’ body laid in the tomb.
Lovely!  Now bake at 375 degrees for about 12 minutes.  I baked them on parchment paper.
You can see where our seam separated.  Most likely the steam will find its way out.  You want the marshmallow to puff up, letting the dough around it puff up and hold its shape while baking.  Ours turned out okay.  I would like to blame the Wal Mart brand dough.  It was not fun to work with.
When you cut it open, it will be hollow inside and the marshmallow will be gone.  The is just like when the tomb was found empty because Jesus had been resurrected.  My 5 year old was very concerned where the marshmallow went!!
I hope your family enjoys making these.  This is my children’s favorite part of Easter.  We look forward to making these every year.  AND they are super delicious!!!
Handout:  Click HERE
Journal
Make sure to write in your journal.  Maybe the children can summarize the events that took place and the scriptures they read.  How do you feel knowing Jesus died for you and suffered all things for you that you may have eternal life?

Day 12 Gratitude

Attention Activity:
Slice a lemon into sections and let everyone have a taste.  Talk about how sour it is.  What do we usually do with lemons?  How do we make lemonade?  Have you ever heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”  What do you think that means.  What about this saying, “When life gets sour….sweeten it with Gratitude.”  You can make lemonade now, or at the end of the lesson…if you want.
Gratitude Video
This is a quick 1.5 minute video on gratitude.  Click HERE
Scripture Example:
Read Luke 17: 11-19.  This is the story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers and only one giving thanks to Jesus.
What blessing came to all the lepers?
What additional blessing came to the leper who gave thanks?
What do you think the difference is between being healed and being made whole?
Adults as well as youth are often guilty, being disobedient and unthankful to their Heavenly Father who gives them all. Many fail to show their gratitude through service, through family prayers, etc.
“Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.  This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.  We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” Thomas S. Monson
Discuss things you and your family have gratitude for.
Things you can do TODAY to start showing Gratitude:  source
Start a gratitude journal.
Tell someone you love,
how much you appreciate them.
Send a thank you note to someone.
Start a list of things that make you happy.
Offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
Sit down to dinner and share
something you grateful for today.
Copy a quote about gratitude
and put it on your fridge
(or somewhere else you will see it often).
Give something away.
Do something nice for someone else.
Give at least five compliments
to people you see.
Be more obedient to one of
the Lord’s commandments.
Start and end your day with
a grateful thought.
Make a scrapbook page about
something you are thankful for.

Give thanks before meals

Gratitude Game:
Ahead of time, write items on slips of paper.  These can be anything: trees, birds, fish, pets, house, rocks, grass, our country, tissues, teachers, music, cell phones, our country, fruit, hot water, school, teachers, etc.

Divide into 2 teams.
One team will select a piece of paper and read it out loud.  The other team will have 3 seconds to say what they appreciate about that item.

Other Gratitude Activities: 
Play gratitude pictionary or cherades.
Have the children take pictures or collect pictures of things they are grateful for.  Make a family gratitude board out of the pictures or play a game where you have to guess whose picture it is.
Take turns going around in a circle naming what you are grateful for – only you have to name things in alphabetical order.
Write letters of gratitude and send to people

 Craft: Make Gratitude Rocks (I found this idea on MetroFamily)

You need river rocks, paint, Mod Podge (or white glue), magazines

Collect your rocks – you may need to wash them.  Have everyone paint their rocks.  Put your name on the rock.  We got creative and the children painted them many different colors!!

Next get your magazines out and cut out words describing why you are grateful for each person in your family.

Use a paint brush and brush the rock with Mod Podge.  Arrange the words all over the rock and Mod Podge the top, making sure to smooth out the papers.  Let dry.
I think they are so fun and unique – just like each person.  I also think I will be less likely to throw these painted rocks in the trash!!
Handout:
If you have lemons – it might be fun to make lemonade to tie back into the beginning of the lesson.  Click HERE for the handout.
Journal:
Write things you are grateful for.  How can you have more gratitude in your life?

Day #11 Parable of the Bicycle

Today’s lesson is my favorite modern-day parable.  It is the Parable of the Bicycle written by Stephen E. Robinson.  It was first given in a BYU Devotional Address in 1990.  If you have time,  I recommend you read the entire address.  I have read it several times and just read it again.  I think it is life-changing and inspiring.
The story was published in an illustrated children’s book titled, You are Priceless, the parable of the bicycle.  This is one of my favorite books to read to my children and I always end up crying as I read it.  If you don’t have the book, here is an excerpt from the devotional talk by Stephen E. Robinson.
Read as a family:

“After I had come home from school one day, I was sitting in a chair reading the newspaper. My daughter Sarah, who was seven years old, came in and said, “Dad, can I have a bike? I’m the only kid on the block who doesn’t have a bike.”

Well, I didn’t have enough money to buy her a bike, so I stalled her and said, “Sure, Sarah.”
She said, “How? When?”

I said, “You save all your pennies, and pretty soon you’ll have enough for a bike.” And she went away.

A couple of weeks later as I was sitting in the same chair, I was aware of Sarah doing something for her mother and getting paid. She went into the other room and I heard “clink, clink.” I asked, “Sarah, what are you doing?”

She came out and she had a little jar all cleaned up with a slit cut in the lid and a bunch of pennies in the bottom. She looked at me and said, “You promised me that if I saved all my pennies, pretty soon I’d have enough for a bike. And, Daddy, I’ve saved every single one of them.”

She’s my daughter, and I love her. My heart melted. She was doing everything in her power to follow my instructions. I hadn’t actually lied to her. If she saved all of her pennies she would eventually have enough for a bike, but by then she would want a car. But her needs weren’t being met. Because I love her, I said, “Let’s go downtown and look at bikes.”

We went to every store in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Finally we found it—the perfect bicycle, the one she knew in the premortal existence. She got up on that bike; she was thrilled. She then saw the price tag, reached down, and turned it over. When she saw how much it cost, her face fell and she started to cry. She said, “Oh Dad, I’ll never have enough for a bicycle.”

So I said, “Sarah, how much do you have?”

She answered, “Sixty-one cents.”

“I’ll tell you what. You give me everything you’ve got and a hug and a kiss, and the bike is yours.” Well, she’s never been stupid. She gave me a hug and a kiss. She gave me the sixty-one cents. Then I had to drive home very slowly because she wouldn’t get off the bike. She rode home on the sidewalk, and as I drove along slowly beside her it occurred to me that this was a parable for the Atonement of Christ.

We all want something desperately—it isn’t a bicycle. We want the celestial kingdom. We want to be with our Father in Heaven. And no matter how hard we try, we come up short. At some point we realize, “I can’t do this!” That was the point my wife had reached. It is at that point that the sweetness of the gospel covenant comes to our taste as the Savior proposes, “I’ll tell you what. All right, you’re not perfect. How much do you have? What can you do? Where are you now? Give me all you’ve got, and I’ll pay the rest. Give me a hug and a kiss; enter into a personal relationship with me, and I will do what remains undone.”

There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is that he still requires our best effort. We must try, we must work—we must do all that we can. But the good news is that having done all we can, it is enough—for now. Together we’ll make progress in the eternities, and eventually we will become perfect—but in the meantime, we are perfect only in a partnership, in a covenant relationship with him. Only by tapping his perfection can we hope to qualify.”

Journal:
How do you feel knowing we can’t make it back to Heavenly Father on our own and that Jesus, our Savior, is there and has made up all the difference?  How can you earn your “61 cents”?  How can we do all that we can?  How does this give you hope?

Handout:
I made a pink bike version and a green bike version.  Click HERE to download.
 

If you have time, it would be fun to take a family bike ride!!

 

 

Parable of the Talents Day #10

Today is Day 10 – the Parable of the Talents
Attention Activity:  Talent Hunt
Preparation: You need some kind of pretend coins.  We are using chocolate coins.  Before the lesson, label each coin with a “talent”.  Here are a few ideas:
good friend
kind
good listener
obedient
piano
singing
math
example
sports
patient
caring for others
creative
good leader
smart
funny
Hide the coins and tell the children to try and find as many coins as they can.  Each child will most likely find a different amount of coins.

Scripture Discussion
Read the parable of the talents Matthew 25: 13-30.
In the parable, the talents refer to pieces of money. For us talents mean abilities we can develop to bless and help others.

  • Why did the Master give different amounts of money?
  • How do your talents differ from your friend’s talents or members in your family?
  • Why does Heavenly Father give us different talents?
  • What did the servants who were given five and two talents do with their money?
  • How do you think they were able to double their money?
  • How can hard work be a blessing to us?
  • What did the servant who was given one talent do with his money?
  • Why do you think he did this?
  • Why do you think some people don’t develop their talents?
  • What happens to people’s talents if they do nothing with them?
Have each child read what talents they found during the talent hunt.  Decide who got the most talents.  Discuss how we should feel toward that person.  Who got the least amount of coins?  Have each child consider the talents they found and talk about how they can bless the lives of other people with these talents.

Journal Activity:
Have everyone write their name on top of today’s journal page.  Pass the pages around and have each member of the family list a few talents of that person.  Encourage your family to look for talents that may not be obvious.  Once you get your own journal page back, have everyone read what was written.  Then have everyone write in their own journal what additional talents they have and how they can use these talents to bless the lives of other people and glorify God.
Handout:
Click HERE to download today’s handout.  Have the children glue a penny in the circle.  (I found the poem on Sugerdoodle, the author is anonymous.)