Simple Personalised Stationary

If you are anything like our household, with our 3 boys, you will have 3 of everything.

This can get a little confusing with textas and crayons when they are all drawing at once and they are scattered all over the floor.

And when one child is a bit younger and a culprit of "dotting his textas" of course the other two children don't want their colours to end up wrecked.

So I simply use some of the million stickers we have in the house, sticking with one theme for each child

And a piece of sticky tape wrapped around each to provide a bit more protection and "stick".

Makes cleaning up heaps easier and each child knows exactly which colours are theirs.

Monster PJ Eater

I LOVE the PJ eater's that are getting around lately, so I decided to make one for a birthday gift.

I used the pattern from Sew Fearless, but made it slightly larger so I could just insert a cushion insert rather the stuffing and risk lumpiness.

And felt it needed a cute little poem to go with it (just in case the new owner didn't quite understand what it was for)

I am a friendly monster,

who loves to sit on your bed,

and every morning as you wake,

I get grumpy if I'm not fed.

I love to eat fabric,
It's my favourite food,
Just one pair of PJ's in my tummy,
It will keep me in a very good mood.

Nothing like making it personalised either.

Stationary Storage Tutorial

This tutorial does not require a stitch of sewing, but does recycle and organise. Two of my other favourite things to do :)

You will need:
Empty cereal box or box of similar size
Contact paper

HOW TO
1) work out how deep you would like your storage compartment, this will depend on where it will be stored, our draws were only 5cm deep, so I am making our compartments 4cm tall.
Mark this measurement all the way around and slice with a Stanley knife and ruler.

 

2) Using a strip of contact, slightly bigger then the box, and long enough to wrap the whole way around including an overlap.

 

3) Snip a "V" out of the corner.

 

4) fold the extra underneath the box, and also on the inside of the box.

 



 And you're DONE!
It's that SIMPLE!

Reusable Produce Bag Tutorial

We all try to be Eco friendly, and not use plastic bags, plus most of the stores don't even stock them... except when it comes to the fresh produce section!

And our fruit and veggies usually only sit in these bags for an hour while we finish the rest of the grocery shopping and bring it home to unpack straight into the fridge or fruit bowl.

So I'm going to show you a very simple way to make some reusable produce bags, that I look forward to using during my new grocery shopping trip!

You will need:
garment washing bag from cheap store (I bought the largest possible size they had, so I could get two produce bags from each washing bag)
cord or string
toggles

HOW TO

1) cut off the top of the bag, just below the zip.

2) Cut bag in half if you have one that is big enough to turn it into two bags.

3) Turn each half inside out and stitch up the newly cut side.
remember to back stitch a few times near the top opening as this will as much strength as it can
Don't forget to back stitch the top of the already stitched side as the thread would have been cut and leave it weak.

4) weave cord or string through the bag, towards the top and secure in place with a toggle (this step is not required as the plastic produce bags don't close)

Please ignore how empty my produce bags actually are, its end of the week and due for another stock up.

And you're DONE!
It's that SIMPLE!

Sew Very..... Cheap?

Just like sewing doesn't have to be complicated
It also doesn't have to be expensive

I always look for free patterns and tutorials online
It may take a little perseverance to search for what you are after using the right keywords in google.
Sometimes searching in google images helps, as you can see if it matches before clicking a heap of different links.
Or if your happy to browse and let the ideas come to you, Pinterest is a great place to start.


The library is another place I find great for sewing
I have borrowed MANY books that have a pattern fold out in the back.
Or pages with patterns you simple need to photocopy to the size they say.


Finding cheap supplies can be just as easy also.
Sometimes buying in bulk for small notions can work out cheaper. And while you might only need one or two at the time, you'd be surprised how often you would use zips, magnet clasps, key rings and swivel clips etc if you had them on hand!

I find plain coloured homespun fabric is cheaper in my local quilting store then it is to get solid colours from Spotlight or the likes.

And keep an eye out for fabric sales, or destash websites.

Pink in a House Full of Blue

Other than my coffee mugs and tea/coffee/sugar canisters, I don’t buy pink for the house, because it is my husband’s house also, and while I decorate it, I try not to make it too girly (although wouldn’t it be cool to have a house like Ellie from Cougar town with shabby chic in every room!!!)

So when hubby approved (and by approved I mean he had to pay for them) the boys’ recent Mother's Day suggestion of a pink towel set... I am taking it as an indication I am allowed to have pink towels in the bathroom.. YAY!!!!!

Wonder what other rooms I can bring some more pink in to.... and how long will it take 4 males to notice??