I {Heart} My Family

Super Saturday project idea number 1!  I made all the printables a few days ago, but spent my time yesterday canning 40 lbs of chicken and doing 400 lbs of laundry, WheW!  I am glad yesterday is over :0)  Today you can finally see some of my work.

I wanted a super easy, super fast stress-free project for Super Saturday that would be relatively cheap.  I figured this idea would work for any family, any size.  The ladies can simply buy a beginner set of the 3 word blocks and two blank blocks for photos, then they can buy however many additional blocks needed for thier family size.  Only have one in your current family situation?  Your blocks can display you and your parents, foster parents, friends, dogs, cats, fish...whoever/whatever your family is made of.  Everybody has a family of some sort and this project should accommodate!

I normally have 30-40 kits to get ready for a given Super Saturday craft.  This year we are combining with another group so the number of kits needed may double.  I really have to keep things simple and fast as far as prep time goes.  I made all the blocks out of 2x4s.  The "My Family" block is twice the width of the other blocks.  That way you can stack two smaller blocks on top of it with no problem. 

 I have my own saw, but if you don't and you want to do this project, your friendly neighborhood home improvement center will probably cut the blocks for you.  A 2x4 runs about $2, $2.50 for the premium grade 2x4's (I recommend the premium-it will save you hours with the sander).  Lowes does charge like $.25 a cut so if you have 7 cuts @ $.25 each, plus the lumber, this set would cost  around $4.25.  You can get 2 sets or more from one board so the project can end up being even cheaper.

**Note to self** a 2x4 isn't actually 4" wide.  It is more like 3 1/4 or 3 3/8, so don't tell the guy to cut them to 4" if you want a square.  Be sure to ask for 3 1/4 or 3 3/8" per block.  All of the small blocks are cut the same size, the photos are cropped to 3" square.

The "My Family" block is cut from a 2x4 board, 6 3/4" long.  I painted all the blocks black, let them dry, then used Modge Podge to glue the photos and printed papers to the blocks.  

Just in case you want them, here are the printables... 

The "I" and the "Love/heart" printables I usually send as photos to the photo printer-Costco is my fav!

or

Orrrrr...

*update* had a request for these...

The full page ones I email to Office Max or Staples and have them printed in color on cardstock.  I suppose you can just print them out on your computer, but I like the higher quality I get by having someone else print them, plus I think it is cheaper!!!  If you have never emailed prints over to a store, it is super easy!  Call the store you like to go to, ask for their email address for copies, and send the file as an attachment in the email. 

E-sea!

You can get the files HERE as a download with Dropbox.  Download those and then either email/upload to your favorite site, or burn onto a disk/jump drive to take in for printing.  Once they are printed, just trim them to the colored part and they should be sized ready to use.

Once the blocks are made you can arrange and re-arrange them however you wish.  I heard a funny story once.  This family had 6 kids, every kid with a huge 20 by something portrait on the wall.  One day, one of the kids found himself in a particular amount of trouble.  The mom turned his portrait upside down.  The family thought it was kinda funny and the upside down portrait quickly became the universal sign that you were in loads of trouble with mom.  I guess these blocks could work the same way :0)  Don't tell anyone you heard it from me, but if Eli comes in the door late for dinner again he just might find his block upside down, or worse, backwards with nothing but blackness in his place.  That is a little crazy, but I promise your kids will have a little too much fun re-arranging the blocks whenever you are not looking.  

They are also fabulous to let little kids hold and play with while learning names of all their relatives.

I did make another tag in place of "My Family".  The "My Grandkids" tag is on the same page.  I made that one for all those grandmas out there so obsessed with their grandbabies, that the very children that produced them have been completely forgotten  :0)  You can fill the blocks with the smiling dimpled chin babies instead.  It could be fun to put a baby picture of each child instead of the current photo.  Whatever floats your boat!

Let me know if you have any questions and I will be back shortly with another Super Saturday idea.

It's All In The Bag

Back in January I was looking for a fun project to do at our Crafting Weekend up in Vegas at my cousin's house.  I came across this pattern while perusing the online shelves of YouCanMakeThis.com.  You can find the pattern HERE.

Apparently I was a little more than optimistic when I thought I would walk you through the pattern today.  The after-vacation-chaos has been a little much so I will have to settle for showing you the finished bags instead.

I bought the pattern for $8, downloading it instantly and printing it out on my home printer.  However, I didn't end up touching it again until my recent trip.  The above shown bag was actually the bag that started it all.  I made in the middle of one very hot night when I gave up on sleeping.  Once my mother-in-law saw how darling it came out, she insisted I make more.  I was very easily persuaded.  Even though I finished 8 bags on the trip, I really can't wait to make more :0)

Each bag takes about 1 yard of fabric for the outside, and only 12" for the inside and yolk together.  You do need 12" of fusible fleece and interfacing as well.  I bought handles at Joanns and like them MUCH better than fabric straps.  Don't get me wrong, the straps are great, but the store-bought handles give the bags a finished designer look I didn't expect.  Joann's handles are between $5 and $15 a set full price so save those coupons ladies!!!

Here is the deal, I think to make a bag from totally new stuff from the store will run you between $25-$30 each.  If you hit your secret stash, coupons and sales, you can reasonably expect around $10 a bag.  Best of luck to ya!

As for the pattern, if you read and actually follow (I usually don't follow instructions until I mess up and am forced to :0) the bags come together easily and can be done in 2 hours by the average sewer.  I actually made 4 of these pink and brown bags at once.  It took me about 1.5 hrs for the prep work and about 1.5 hrs to finish them all together.  You will have to be the judge of how long the bag will take you, based on your own sewing skills, and the real kicker, attention span.  I would say you could easily finish a bag in a peaceful afternoon.

The pattern includes a pattern piece for an inside pocket!  How darling!  At first I thought, "Are you kidding me!?!  I don't do extra steps!"  But after a little pep talk from myself, I did the extra work-which ended up being almost no work at all-and now all the bags have a coordinating inside pocket!  How trendy :0)

I should mention that the pattern includes instructions and pattern pieces for 3 sizes!  I have only made the small size so far.  Madison and I both NEED a large bag so we plan to break the supplies out again soon to give the larger pattern a try.  

Here is a closer look at some of the other bags I made.  

I actually made this cupcake bag for my little niece, but Madison stole it away before I could even snip the threads.

Then I figured this bag would go to poor little niec-ie, but I fell in love and simply couldn't part with it myself :0)

There was one other cute little bag with the most darling blue fabric from Hobby Lobby.  I made these last bags while visiting my grandma in a Rehab Hospital in St. George.  Madison and I set up our own little sweat shop in her room and stitched away while laughing and visiting with Grandma to our hearts content.  I sure miss Grandma :0(  I was so very sad to leave her there.  I guess that was part of why I let her have my second favorite bag.  That, and it was like rent paid for the room we overtook with our craftiness :0)  

Thanks again Grandma!!!  

So, again, you can find that pattern at YouCanMakeThis.com.  If you click on "Handbags" you will need to scroll through page after page of patterns to find this one.  You just might want to do that anyway, could be fun, but otherwise, click HERE to go straight to the pattern.

Earlier today I cut my vacation photos down from over 1000 to 650 so you can expect to see some of those soon.  Also coming up faster than I can handle, Super Saturday!!!  For those of you that have never heard of it, it is the most crazy crafting day ever.  I will have my ideas popping up over the next two weeks!  Stay tuned and wish me luck :0)

We're Back!

I literally just walked in the door.  Our vacation was far more than necessary, but after almost 3 weeks, I am soooo ready to be home.  My cell phone broke the day we pulled out of the driveway and there was not a working computer in a single home I entered.  Therefore, I am suffering from the hugest technology withdrawal I have every experienced.  I may just lay here atop the keyboard for a moment and gently caress the keys :0)  A few sweet nothings may escape my lips.  I have very little control in this moment of weakness.

With more than 800 photos to cruise through before I can show you what adventures were had, I may need a few days.  But I tell you what, I made more than 7 darling purses on my trip.  How about I see you here tomorrow and I will give you the 411 on how incredibly easy they are to make?!?

Until then, enjoy each and every tech-loven' moment you can!  A good, solid, well working Internet surfing tool should NEVER be taken for granted!!!

Caker Flashback

Well, I find myself trapped in a virtual abyss, having not one computer at my disposal that is well enough to blog on :-O  Shocking, I know!  What do people like that do when they want to share their latest crafting adventure!?!

I am pushing this machine to it's absolute fullest to show you a few of my past projects since I cannot upload any new photos until I get home.  Today I decided to show you some of my past caker experiences.  I hope you enjoy them! 

Above is my Violin Cake.  I made the main body out of cake, but made the handle from 2x4 lumber.

This Ipad Cake was my very first fondant adventure.

  

I made this Noah’s Ark Cake for a friend's baby shower.

I made this Tiki Cake tutorial after not finding any ideas from a Google search myself.

This Pirate Ship cake was so very much fun to make.

This was one of the wedding cakes I made this year.  It was probably the biggest I made, next to my own :0)

I made this Baptism Cake for my boy Eli when he turned 8 and chose to be baptized.

I just realized I forgot the Wii cake.  Too bad I can't get any more pics to load :0{

You can click HERE to see it anyway.

As for cupcakes...

This was the first Cupcake Bouquet I ever made.

These Soda *Pop* CupCakes were made using mason jars!  I LOVE cooking in jars!

This was my first CupCake Cake and I made it for my sister Kira's Wedding.  You can find the full post by clicking HERE.

These are my favorite Baby Shower Cakes to make.  I make them any time I am asked to do a Shower Cake.  I love how sweet and simple they are.  They look adorable, break away from the traditional cake, plus make serving much less messy!

I recently posted the Super Mom CupCakes, but loved them so much I thought I would add them to the list.

Don't forget my updated CupCake Bouquet!  I used homemade picks instead of cups as the foundation.  Works great unless your using filled cupcakes.  I would stick to the cup formation if the cupcakes are filled due to the heaviness of the treats :0)

Umm, you may have noticed a slight obsession with Cake Balls/Pops on this blog this year.  Here are some of my favorites.  The Easter Cake Balls turned out especially adorable.

This little guy looks pretty spiffy himself.  You can find my Turkey Cake Balls HERE.

No matter how you look at it, these Ice Cream Cake Balls are my favorite by FAR!!!  They are so adorable, realistic looking, and easy to make look good, ANYONE can make them!!! 

Now for the Fake Cakes!!!

You didn't realize I had such a category, did you???

I made this Topsy Turvy Fake Cake out of Styrofoam, craft paper, and drywall mud.

Looks good enough to eat, don't you think???

I did a Fake Cake Re-Make and used the same cake for a different occasion.

This darling Felt Cake comes complete with tutorial after I searched all over the net for instructions.  I finally made them myself so you don't have to :0)

Let's not forget about the little cakes too!  I made this Fimo Cake after a small obsession with clay food.

I might as well throw in the mix my CupCake Towel Tutorial.  It is still cake, right?

I made these Bake Even Strips to combat a small problem I was having getting my cakes to bake evenly.  Worked like a charm!

These are sooo not cake, but how Cute are THEY!!!  There we go baking in mason jars again!

Now, these are not all the cakes, but a sampling of the things we baked up around the Sew*CakeMaker household this last year.  I hope you enjoy them.  With any luck I will be back with more flashbacks in the near future. 

(Anyone in Utah wanna let me use their computer?  This post's pics were courteous of My Hubbs posting them for me back at home in Arizona :0)