Simple Baby Blanket

          I mentioned in one of my previous posts that it’s baby season in my family… half of my cousins have had a little one in the past few months and they’re still coming! My cousin Tracy’s baby shower just happened and although I made this blanket at the beginning of the month, I couldn’t post this tutorial without spoiling her gift! I had found myself in Joann’s wandering in the fabric idles (like the vortex they are) and somehow ogling over the cutest baby prints I have ever seen. If you’re like me and don’t have kids, you might also be like me and jump at the chance to use those ADORABLE fabrics that you would never have a reason to sew with – unless a baby is coming. So, I filled my cart. Then I emptied my cart like a good girl, and picked just a few of my favorites. Tracy has a theme for her nursery – grey and gold-yellow. I also know that she loves elephants, but none of the elephant prints lived up to my standards of gushingly cute. So I got some whales, which her mom confirmed she also likes haha. And this is what I did with them:

Simple Baby Blanket

You Will Need:

• One Yard of two different fabrics (I used some soft flannel)
• The Usual Suspects: thread, scissors, sewing machine

 Step 1: Press and square off your fabric. I struggle with this every single time I make anything. I’m still looking for the best way to do it. I followed this video that helped: Squaring Fabric

Step 2: Once your two fabrics are square, make sure they line up and are the same size – adjust accordingly.

Step 3: Place fabrics right sides together and sew along entire edge, leaving a small opening at the end to turn the blanket right side out.

Step 4: Turn your blanket right side out. Blind stitch or top stitch that opening closed.

Step 5: Sew a second topstich seam along the edge of the blanket, approximately 1 ½ inches from edge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Bridget, XOXO

Braided Fleece Scarf

      In honor of our post-Christmas snow storms, I’ve found a bit of inspiration for warm-wear. I’m also winding down from the holiday craze. I found myself back home yesterday, in a suddenly very quiet apartment, putting away gifts. No more dressing up, no more loud family members, and no more roast or cheesecake. For someone who lives quite a ways away from family, I caught myself being a little nostalgic; it’s amazing how insane and wonderful family can make you feel. There really is nothing like it. So to keep from feeling down, I did some crafting… and then some shopping. Try not to judge.

Braided Fleece Scarf

What you will need:

• Scraps of fleece – ideally, two 6-8”wide, scarf length pieces
• The Usual Suspects: thread, sewing machine, scissors
• Optional- cutting mat and rotary cutter, also extra scraps of fleece for colorblock end.

Step 1: cut your two scarf-length pieces of fleece to match so edges are even.

 

Step 2: Place two pieces of fleece on top of one another with all edges matching up.

Step 3: At a 45degree angle, cut strips in fleece leaving a ½” edge on one side. See pictures for more detail.

                Note: a 45degree angle is not necessary, but it is necessary that all cuts are at the same angle, no matter what angle you choose.

Step 4: Flip top piece of fleece over, realigning top edge of scarf.

Step 5: Start to weave the strips, lining up ends of strips with edge of fleece. Be patient here, this can get overwhelming if you don’t take it one strip at a time.

Step 6: Adjust any ends that don’t meet or any spots that look too loose or too tight.

Step 7: Head to sewing machine. Sew ends of scarf. Then sew each side with a ¼” seam. Go slow and steady, catching all those loose ends and lining them up with the edge of the scarf. This will create a polished look.

Step 8: Optional: Add a color-block end. I did this because my braid wasn’t long enough to be the whole scarf.

1. Cut two pieces of fleece for each end and sew with right sides together, leaving one end open.
2. Turn right side out.
3. Sew to ends of scarf by folding edge of color block in and topstitching. I found it helpful to cut the corners so they were less bulky once folded and topstitched.

Finito!! Fabulous, darling. Now that's a good lookin' scarf!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers, Bridget

XOXO

Tablet Cover

Now that Christmas is over, I have a lot of tutorials to dish out – so many of my friends and family check out this blog that I knew they would all discover their presents if I posted them before Christmas. Hopefully you guys can still find value in them after the holiday! This one might even be good for those of you who received tablets for the holidays!

My Dad gave my Mom a tablet for Christmas and asked me to make a cover to go along with it. I started searching the internet and Pinterest for ideas and patterns and came across this awesome one by Chica and Jo – Table Cover Tutorial. But I had to adjust the dimensions to the Nexus 7 that my mom got. Easy – just measure your own table and add a half in to each side.

Here's how mine turned out!

I made a few changes to mine: I added batting to the outer side of the cover, between the cardboard and outer fabric.

Check out the link for this great tutorial! It takes patience, but it really turns out great!

Let me know if anybody wants the dimensions for the Nexus 7 :)

Bridget, XOXO

#26acts

           It has been a tough week for us here in Connecticut. As many of you know, Newtown, CT suffered an immense tragedy last Friday and we are all still reeling from it. I have found myself struck with grief from time to time during the last week, constantly reminded of the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary. I feel helpless. Our little world has been shaken and there is little we can do to help - except to help each other.
          Ann Curry of NBC News has presented us with an opportunity to make some good of this tragedy; to honor the lives of those lost. She has presented #26Acts - a movement to do 26 good deeds or 26 random acts of kindness in honor of the 26 lives lost last Friday. If you are on Twitter, tweet your acts of kindness and #26acts to inspire others to follow this movement.

Be kind to one another.

Bridget, XOXO

Fish Scale Coasters

      By now I think it’s clear that anything I can, I will paint with chalkboard paint. So check out these adorable coasters – they make great gifts or stocking stuffers! With only a couple coats of paint and a paint pen, you can make these coasters in under an hour.

Fish Scale Coasters

What you will need:

• 4x4 ceramic tiles
• Painter’s tape
• Chalkboard paint and brush
• Paint pen or pens in any color – I used silver
• 4x4 felt squares
• Glue

Step One: Clean your tiles and tape off the section of the tile that you don’t want to paint. Hint: for sharp lines, press edge that will touch paint with your nail or something like a credit card – this will prevent paint bleed.

Step Two: Paint two coats of chalkboard paint and let dry between coats.

Step Three: After chalkboard paint is dry, peel off painter’s tape.

Step Four: Using your paint pen, draw on the fish scales – just make U’s along top and repeat on each line by moving over a half U on each row. I love this pattern and it really spruces up these coasters!

Step Five: Once paint is all dry, glue on felt squares to back of tiles.

--- Done!! ---

If you have any questions or are making your own coasters, please comment!

Happy Holidays! Thanks for Stopping by!

Bridget, XOXO

Fresh Christmas Wreath

 This year, Joe and I got our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving (I know, where did we find so much motivation?). We like to cut down our own tree – we get a bigger selection, we support local farming, and Joe gets to exercise his manly side and use a saw. Who can blame him? I know I don’t mind J

          So after we haul the biggest tree we can fit on the car to the apartment, we always have to do a little trimming of the bottom branches so the tree fits nicely in the stand and gifts fit underneath. And, you know me, I have to keep each and every branch that comes off that hunk-a-big-ol-tree. And then they sit on my porch for a few weeks… or sometimes until January.

          This year, I’m recycling them – finally. I made my own fresh Christmas wreath! I was intimidated at first, but after looking at numerous tutorials, YouTube videos, etc., I gave it a go… and it was seriously simple. Any of you who are getting your own fresh Christmas tree this year, you are bound to have a few clippings… save yourself the money and make your own wreath! It smells amazing, takes less than a half hour to make, and is almost free.

Fresh Christmas Wreath

What you will need:

• Wreath form – I used an 18” here, but it made a massive wreath. Go smaller if you have less clippings or a smaller door. Costs only a few bucks at any craft store.
• Evergreen clippings – cut up those branches from the bottom of your tree into smaller pieces
• Shears
• Floral wire
• Ribbon (optional)

Step One: Get your supplies ready. Chop up those branches, make a pile. Spread out some newspaper if you want to protect your surfaces from sap. I highly recommend this if you are doing this inside.

 Step Two:  The first piece needs to be knotted in place. After this, you will just keep wrapping the wire around the wreath form and evergreen twigs.

Step Three: Keep placing clippings along the wreath form as you make your way around – don’t worry about perfection, you can always go back and add pieces here and there, as well as clip some of the stray odds and ends.

Step Four: Hang that bad boy up and check it out. Mine was a little heavy on one side, so I added some twigs in the lighter areas, just taking some floral wire and tying them in.

before

after

Step Five: Add a bow and hang up that gorgeous creation! I use two upside-down hooks on the inside of my door. This way, when I don’t have a wreath up I don’t have to just look at the hooks.

Happy Holidays! Thanks for stopping by!

Bridget, XOXO

Limoncello

          I have been very busy making Christmas gifts this past week, but all the posts that I’ve written can only be put up after the Holidays! So, I have a few post coming up that won’t spoil anything. I put together and bought a couple gifts that I could almost give anybody this year. I have a small fear that I'm going to forget somebody or need a last minute gift grab. With this in mind,  I have been wanting to make Limoncello for a while because it’s really easy to make, and it’s delicious! I made a batch this week and jarred it up for some of my favorite people! 

Limoncello

What you will need:

• 1.5L bottle of Vodka
• 10 lemons
• 3 cups sugar
• 4 cups water

Zest the lemons with a vegetable peeler. Combine the zest and vodka in a pitcher, cover and let sit in a cool, dark space for 5 days.

  After 5 days, strain the mixture using a strainer and coffee filters; discard the zest.

Then, combine water and sugar in a saucepan. Simmer until sugar dissolves, making simple sugar; let cool. Combine vodka mixture and simple sugar.

Can be kept refrigerated for up to a month.

I jarred my limoncello in mason jars to give a gifts and favors. Simple, sweet, and yummy J

Happy Holidays!

Bridget XOXO

Small Business Saturday

          Happy Thanksgiving weekend y'all! I hope all of you had a splendid holiday and kick-off to holiday shopping yesterday. I also hope that none of you got trampled on your way to pick up the biggest TV you could fit in the car! I had a surprisingly laid back shopping experience yesterday. My Dad and I went to Target around 8:00am and found the place quiet (the super-shoppers had come and gone and the normal shoppers hadn't woken up yet!). We got most of the items we wanted and a few more... for us. I can't lie, I'm a terrible holiday shopper... I end up buying just as much for myself. One for you, one for me... two for you, one for me. Honk if you can't resist a great deal!
          In the spirit of thanksgiving and giftgiving, I want to remind everyone of what great day it is; Small Business Saturday! Give those small businesses in your area a shot today and take advantage of some of their deals and personable service. It is incredibly hard to maintain a small business in this economy and they can use all the support we can give them. Not to mention, supporting small business puts money directly back into our communities - fueling local economy. So think small and SHOP SMALL today and throughout the holiday season!

If anybody would like to check out my Etsy Shop: CraftyBridge , I sell small handbags, clutches, and a various assortment of other gifts and accessories. I update new items frequently, so check back often!

Did you shop small today? Let us know how you supported your local economy!

Cheers, Bridget XOXO