Tutorial: Pillowcase Sleep-mats

Materials:

4 pillows

4 pillowcases

coordinating thread

coordinating ribbon
and a sewing machine

Step 1:

 Take 2 of your pillowcases and line them up, so that the openings are on the same side. Sew along one of the long sides.  Then take another pillowcase and line it up along the unsewn, long side. Make sure that the openings are on the same side.  Sew together along the long side of the pillowcase. Repeat the process again with the last pillowcase.  

Step 2:

On the final pillowcase, on the unsewn side, attach a ribbon (to tie-up your sleep-mat, when you are not using it).  I used my arm span to measure out the ribbon (not very scientific, I know).

Step 3:

Stuff your sleep-mat with your pillows.

Step 4:

Add kid and enjoy your new, comfy sleep-mat!

Tutorial: Freezer-paper stenciled tees

Materials: 

a t-shirt

freezer paper

an iron

craft knife and a cutting board or self-healing mat

fabric paint and a sponge brush

Step 1:
Pick the design that you want to use for your shirt. For this shirt I just typed up what I wanted my shirt to say in Word.  Than I held my freezer paper up to the screen and traced it.

Step 2:

Cut out your design, using your craft knife and cutting board or self-healing mat.

Step 3:
Iron your freezer paper stencil onto you t-shirt.

Step 4:
Before you start to paint, I always put a piece of cardboard inside the shirt, just in case I'm a little heavy handed with the paint, I don't want it to bleed through.  Then paint over your stencil.

Step 5:
Let your paint dry just a little, before peeling off your stencil.  I have discovered that if you let it dry too long, the stencil is harder to peel off.

For a double-sided shirt, just do one side at a time.  Let the first side dry before starting the other side.

Step 6:

Enjoy your new, super-cute, completely customized shirt!

Tutorial: carseat canopy

Ahhh...my first tutorial, let's see how this goes. I'm starting with something pretty easy, so hopefully I don't mess it up. I know that you can already find quite a few "carseat canopy tutorials" on the internet, but this is Amie's version (that I'm stealing for this tutorial). 

 Materials: 

2 pieces of fabric, 1 yard each 

some coordinating thread 

some coordinating ribbon 

something to mark your fabric with 

a large plate 

scissors 

and a sewing machine 

 Step 1:
Lay out your fabric wrong sides together. Trim edges if needed, to make both fabrics the same size.

Step 2:

Use the large plate to trace a curve around all four corners (of both fabrics).  Cut rounded corners.

Step 3:

With wrong sides still together, sew around edge, leaving a 1" seam allowance.

Step 4:

Lay your canopy over the car seat, so it is positioned how you want it. Mark where you want the ties to be. Then lay your canopy out flat and line up your ribbons with the marks that you made.  Pin and sew your ribbons to the canopy. (I just sewed back and forth several times to make sure the ribbon was secure. And I always seal the edges of my ribbon by melting it a little with a lighter)

Step 5:

Clip around the edges of your canopy (careful not to clip through your stitches) and wash to fray.

If you do accidentally clip through your stitches (like I did, twice), just mark where you did it.  Then when you are done clipping, go back to your sewing machine and sew back and forth over the spot a few times.

Step 6: 
Tie your new carseat canopy onto your carseat and enjoy! :)