DIY Crayon Roll

So here is my second {and my favorite} project from last Friday's "Fabulous Friday" spent with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, the crayon roll!  I was so excited when I saw it on the list, as I was have been dying to make these!  In fact, if my friends/family with kids are reading, this is a sneak peek at your kiddos Christmas/birthday presents this year!  I made the canvas fabric flower for Lola's room, so I went with more boy colors for this crayon roll, so I would have something to bring home to Kyan!  Without further adieu...

Supplies Needed:

Two pieces of fabric measuring 5 x 16 and 1/2 inches (they can match or not, your call)

One piece of fabric measuring 6 x 16 and 1/2 inches

One piece of flannel fabric or lightweight fusible interfacing measuring 5 x 16 and 1/2 inches

Ribbon (approximately 36ish inches?!)

Sewing Machine and coordinating thread

Crayons

How To:

Step One

Place one of your 5 x 16 and 1/2 inches of fabric across the flannel fabric.  Take the larger piece of fabric (6 x 16 and 1/2 inches) and fold it in half.  Pin it to the  fabric/flannel, with the two ends towards the bottom.

Step Two

Measure and mark at 8 and 1/4 inches.  From there, measure an inch to the left and to the right and mark.  Continue to do so until you get to the end of the strip.

Step Three

 Once you have marked and measured each inch, sew a straight stitch from the bottom of the fabric (that has the added folded fabric) until you get to the top of the folded fabric, back stitch to make sure it holds.  Clip off extra thread.

Step Four

Take your ribbon, fold in half.  If it has a design, like mine did, put like sides together.  Sew a straight stitch over the ribbon.  I went back and forth to make sure it would hold!

Step Five

 Place your other piece of fabric that measures 5 x 16 and 1/2 inches on top, like sides together.  Sew around the edge using a straight stitch, leaving {about} a two inch gap where the ribbon is.  It will make it easy to do the next step.

Step Six

 Cut the corners off pretty close to the stitch.  This helps when you turn your fabric and doesn't make the corners bulky.

Step Seven

Turn your piece inside out {which will reveal the correct side}!

Step Eight

Once you have your correct side all out, sew along the edges using a straight stitch one last time {I ironed the piece out before I did so}.  When you sew along the edge, you will close up the 2 inch gap/hole that was previously there!

Step Nine

Add crayons!

Step Ten

Roll it up when you are finished.  Stick it in your purse, diaper bag, drawer of your cabinet...wherever!

If you can sew a straight stitch {or can get close to it} you can do this project!  It is so easy and it literally cost me next to nothing, as I had the fabrics and the ribbon!  

These will make such a fun gift to give and can be customized for any boy or girl!  I plan on adding a coloring book or two to go with it!

Fabulous Friday w/ Family

This Friday I got to hang with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, for an evening filled with girl time, food, and crafting!  You know me and my camera, I needed pictures and wanted to make sure that I got one of the three of us {which ended up four, as Lola wanted in there too} and now I know where the hubs gets his feistiness from about taking pictures {look very close at the picture, I couldn't not put it on her, I thought it was hilarious and spoke volumes about Rae Lynn Friday night}!

So here it is close up, without the bird, sort of!

Once in a while, Donna's {MIL} church organizes these evenings and we were finally able to go to one together!  It was a blast!

 And, I got to hang out with Alyssa for an hour or so and that pretty much made my night!  I miss seeing her beautiful face each morning in homeroom!  If I haven't mentioned her already, she was the glue that held me together at times!  She was my key finder, organizer, story teller...you name it, she rocked it!  Love every chance I get to spend with her!  The first picture pretty much sums up our relationship and I think is my favorite from the night!

 Basically how the evening works is this; a list of crafts is presented to the women of the church and they have the option to sign up for any or all of the crafts.  You pay for the materials, but have options to pay a little bit less if you bring your own fabric {for some of the crafts}.  I signed up to make two of them, but am kicking myself that I didn't make one more {the boys watch}!

So tonight, I will show you the first of two of the projects that I made:  The flower canvas.

I opted to bring my own fabric, since I have way too much of it in my closet and because I have been itching to do a project with the fabric I found at grandma's estate sale last year, I just was waiting for the right one!

What you need:

21"x21" {give or take} piece of fabric for the back of the canvas

1 yard of coordinating fabric {I choose to have them be the same, but lots of women did not}
18"x18" canvas

Staple gun

Glue Gun

Scissors

How to make your own:

 Take the 21"x21" piece of fabric and staple all four sides to the the 18'x18' canvas

Next, take the yard of coordinating fabric and cut {or tear, like Rae Lynn did...I just couldn't with the fabric that I used} into strips.  I did mine about 3", Rae's seemed closer to 2-2 and 1/2"...just saying.  The thicker they are, the fluffier the flower is {I think}.

 Next, sew the strips using a straight stitch, getting it ready to gather {or ruffle, as I would rather call it}.

Then beg your mother-in-law to help you ruffle the fabric so that you can go work on the next project!  She did this by pulling on one end of the string so that it bunched up or gathered.

Then, glue the pieces of fabric down onto the canvas.  Start on the outside and work your way in.

Time ran out at this point, so we packed it up and dropped Donna off at home and then headed back to my house to finish working on our projects!

Here is mine, all finished.  I plan on hanging it in Lola's room.

And here is Rae Lynn's, she plans on hanging hers in her bedroom or bathroom or her new house when it is finished!

Same project, two totally different looks!  I love them both, even if it was after midnight when we finished them!
 

Golf Buddies 2011

 A few weeks ago, we had our golf buddies over for our annual homemade Italian made meal {the one where we cook for them and they come to eat after they finish up a long, hot round of golf for the day} and I think that it is safe to say that this one was the BEST yet!  The boys came over and were hungry, so we ate Auntie Jan' secret recipe {that's not so secret anymore, you can find it here} that we whipped up the night before and then took a dip in the pool!  Kyan was in heaven and got in on a few games of PIG with the boys!  He even had a few trick shots up his sleeve and was making the big boys jump off the rocks!  It was hilarious!  Lola got in on the action with them as well and tried to steal some of Kyan's thunder.  She thinks they are now her golf buddies as well!

Thanks boys for spending the evening with us!  We love our time with you!

Meeeeeee-haaaaawww!

Those were the exact words that continously came out of Lola's mouth the second her cowboy hat went on her head.  

Over

and over

and over

and over

and over.....

okay, you get the picture!

 Thank you Dollar Store, for existing! 

I had to run to Staples yesterday to grab cd's and dvd's and decided to sneak into the Dollar Store to see if they had anything that I couldn't refuse buying {and that is one place where I don't feel bad splurging, everything is a dollar...duh}!  Well, they had all of their Halloween decor and costumes out and I first spotted the hats and thought that the kids would have fun with them!  Then, I noticed the knives, so I grabbed two {Kyan is obsessed with them and if I got one for him, I had better get one for Lola too, so they could "hunt" together}!  Then, the mustaches!  They came in a packet of six and they were a hit!  I need to go back and buy more!  The kids LOVED wearing them and they were so cute to boot!  Best $5 I have spent in a long time!

Kyan even decided that he wanted to be a cowboy for Halloween this year!  We are on the hunt for some new boots, as one of the boots that grandma got for him a few months ago broke!  And maybe some chaps?!  As for Lola, she does NOT have a choice, she will be wearing her dance costume {you know, that one that I spent over $40 on and then she quit dance the week before the recital?!}.  Yeah, she is gong to be Cinderella.  No cowgirl costume for her.  Maybe next year she can choose.  Maybe.

 

Love my little mustache wearing babies, BIG!

Remembering.

I can remember exactly where I was 10 years ago.  My mom called me frantic that morning and urged me to turn on the news (I had just woken up and was getting ready to go to class at ASU).  I told her that I really didn't have time for news, that I had to get going...I said this as I turned on the television and saw what she was seeing.  I felt numb, I thought it was a joke, it couldn't be real.  I quietly told her that I loved her and then hung up the phone, glued to the TV.  How was I supposed to go to my classes today with what I was witnessing on the TV?  I went to class and the teachers couldn't teach, for those that showed up, we sat together and watched the news.  I didn't know anymore who worked in the Towers, nor did I know anyone in New York City, but my heart broke for everyone who was there.  And for those who weren't there, but lost someone they loved.

This past week in my classroom, we spent remembering those on September 11th.  With each year, my students get younger and younger (and don't really remember where they were, this year they were between the ages of 3 & 4) and it really got me thinking about the children of 9/11/01, those that were left without a parent after that tragic day.

I ran across an issue of People and I thought about them even more when they interviewed parents and the children born to heroes that year, after it happened.  The kids never were able to meet their fathers, but in the article it talks about how they know them and how they are doing today, at 9 and 10 years old.  When I was finished reading, I had a big knot in my throat.

Then, this morning, as I was on my way home from my normal Sunday grocery shopping trip, this song came on and I cried my eyes out.

My heart breaks for anyone that lost a loved one that day.
For the heroes, thank you.

Ummmmm....?!

It's like I don't even know where to start!  To say that I have been beyond busy is an understatement, I hate that I haven't posted in over a week, but the truth is, I haven't found any time to do anything but grade papers (for three hours after I get home from working)!  Mid-terms were already due this week!  Can't believe that!  I am already getting observed this week too!  Crazy!  Time is very much flying already this school year and the countdown is on for fourth quarter and Romeo and Juliet (wink, wink)!

The kids are LOVING school!  Homework started this month for Kyan and he continues to bring a long sleeve shirt every single day to school even though it is 115 degrees outside.  His teacher's classroom is freezing!    And there isn't a day (almost) that goes by that I don't receive some word from Lola's teachers about something silly and sassy that she is doing at school!  Recently, she broke up with one boyfriend who stuck his tongue out at her (probably got sick of her bossiness), while another boy swooped in about 10 minutes later to steal her heart!  She just giggles when she talks or is asked about it!  She did do PE last week, but there was a substitute, go figure!

LOVING the three day weekend and while I took ZERO pictures, I do feel like I have a lot to say about it!  Lemme break it down for you:  Friday night we went to meet my parents at the club at Estrella.  Chad's mom and dad went too!  It was so much fun, just visiting and catching up!  Something about that place is so peaceful.  We were having a blast, until Lola stood in a red ant pile and had her feet tore up by them!  She was so scared and it hurt so bad.  I stood in them for all of 2.5 seconds and they bit me good too!  Kids came home with us that night, since they had spent the night the night before with Grandpa Jerry (they didn't have school on Friday) so they could run to Grandma Julie when they picked her up at the airport that morning!  Saturday was a dream come true for me.  My parents picked me (love spending time with just them) up about 8 am and we just drove and stopped at every garage sale we spotted!  I scored some deals for sure (OLD glass baby food jars, an entire box for $2, a huge mason jar for $1.50, air fresheners for $3 a pop {the ones that cost like $5 at the store}, a vintage camera & lunch pail, and a very old scale!  After we finished up at a major estate sale, we headed to sun city, where I scored lots of fabric and some pinking shears (which I have wanted for a long time)!  Something about old scissors makes me happy, they just work better!  I could have shopped garage/estate sales the rest of the day, but my mom was getting cranking and hungry, so we headed to the mall, where she is the most happy!  I scored two new pairs of shoes and a pretty new dress!  I had so much fun just getting to be with them!  But all good things must end and when my dad's car was finished at the shop (it had been there for almost a week), our time had to end too!  I was dumped at home, only to turn around and get ready for my date with my mother in law!  I was cashing in on my birthday present, movie and dinner!  We had talked about going to see "The Help" as soon as we knew it was being made into a movie!  I had read the book as soon as it came out, but that is a book that sticks to your guts during and after you read it and I knew that I needed to see how the book was made into a movie.  It was beautifully done and one that will make you laugh out loud and cry like a baby.  Bring tissues, for real.  After the movie ended, we ate dinner at a little sandwich shop called Which Wich?  We talked about the movie and what we thought, but more than that, we talked about life.  I think it was one of my most favorite talks I have ever had with Donna (did I mention how much I love my in-laws yet, because I do, I love them all).  I can't even really explain how the conversation went, just that it touched on the phrase, "if you really knew me".  Like, we see people every day, just living, but do we really know them and know what is behind closed doors?!  No.  Not like secrets, but their struggles.  I thought about my students, what they come to school with each day that I have no idea about, I thought about my friends that I don't always find the time to talk to each of them every day to see how they really are, and I thought about myself and the fronts sometimes even I put up (professional and personal) to guard how I really feel.  Sometimes people have no idea what is going on, but it makes a difference in understanding someone.  We don't need to know details, but just need to be sensitive and aware that we aren't perfect.  Did that even make sense?  Hope so, it made sense to me on Saturday with Donna :) I brought Chad home some dinner and we enjoyed an episode of True Blood, while the kids were sleeping away at grandma and grandpa Nebraska's house (where they would rather be anyway)!  Sunday I met my parents for church and breakfast and then we slaved away on the single car garage!  It was a disaster and a place where we store a lot of things, but it was getting to the point where we couldn't walk through it!  My dad is bananas and while my mom and I thought we were pulling only the stuff off of the shelves and the ground and going through it, my dad pulled out all of the toys too!  We have a jet ski and quad that take up way to much space, but with the help of my pops, he figured out a way for them to take up less!  He went and picked up even more shelves and hooks (so much stuff got hung, praise the Lord) while everything was out in the blistering sun!  Six hours later, the garages (we cleaned out the garage where our cars sleep too) look stunning and is now walk through-able!  THANK YOU MOM AND DAD!!!  Chad had a draft out in the east valley, so I spent the evening with the kids and my parents out at their place!  It was a fun way to end the evening!  Monday (today) we spent the day again up at Estrella, bbqing with family and friends before we headed to the waterpark for one last round this summer!  Fun times as always were had!  Kyan pretty much slid down the slide the entire time, although this time he did manage to play on the Big Dipper for quite awhile!  He is finally not afraid of the water bucket dumping on him!  Lola went down both little slides, but spent most of her time swimming without her floaties in the little pool!  Her confidence in the water is awesome to see!  After saying a very sad goodbye to grandpa and grandma Nebraska, we headed down the mountain.  Lola has been asleep ever since (4:30ish), I think the four day weekend has caught up with her, poor girl!  We sure are going to miss them BIG!

I am off to have sweet dreams of another weekend like this very soon!   I promise to not let almost a week and a half go by without posting again!  You know how life goes sometimes....just kinda gets in the way!


 PS-so excited.  Not sure if you remember me mentioning in my last birthday post, but I hired my sis-in-law to clean my house and this week is cleaning week!  So happy a clean house makes me!