Here’s another one for ya…

Yep. That’s vasoline. All over Canon’s hair, and face, and hands, and clothes… It never stops…

-K- so some of you saw my tutorial last Tuesday; well… I have the second half of that little duo for ya this week:)

Wanna make a fun little table runner?  It’s really one of the most simple sewing projects you can make.  So easy in fact, that you could make one for every season of the year if you wanted!

Ok, here’s whatcha need…

Supplies:

Choose three main fabrics for the six squares you will use in the runner.  You can use any neutral fabric for the sashing and border.  I chose white to go with my very original theme of red, white, and blue:)

• You’ll need about 1/4 yard of each main fabric. (you’ll have leftovers)
• 3/4 yd of your neutral fabric for sashing and backing
• 1/4 yd of binding fabric
• 1/2 yd of batting
• self-healing cutting mat
• rotary cutter
• ruler

Step 1:

Cut all your fabric pieces.  First, you only need two 6 inch squares of each of your main fabrics.

Next, you’re going to cut your sashing.  You need to cut three 6X3 inch strips.  Then cut two 15 X4 inch strips, and two 15X5 inch strips.  I like to lay everything out before I pin and sew.

Step 2:

Pin your smallest sashing strips between each of your two squares.  Sew together and then press your seams open.

Next, sew your longer strips to each row of squares.  Press the seams open again.

Step 3:

Measure and cut your backing fabric and your batting.

I do this by placing my finished quilt top on top of the backing and batting, and then cut around it leaving enough room on each end to have it quilted.  You’ll need a good 4 inches on each end, and 2 inches on each side.

Step 4:

If you’re uber talented you could quilt it yourself at this point, or if you’re like me and have lots of other projects waiting in line, take it to a quilter!

Step 5:

Trim up each edge to prepare for your binding.

Cut your binding fabric into three 2 1/2 inch strips from selvage to selvage.

Sew these strips together end to end to form one long continous strip.  Press the seams open.

Step 6:

Fold the entire long strip in half length-wise and press.

Line up the binding strip along the edge of your quilted top, raw edges together.  Sew in place with a 1/4 inch seam.

When you get back to beginning you have to tuck the end inside the other. Cut it at an angle, tuck it inside and sew in place.

Step 7:

Next, you’re going to fold the binding strip over to the back and pin all the way around.  And finally, hand-stitch in place.

All finished!!!  Next you need to find a cute centerpiece to go with it!!!

Didn’t the Quilting Cottage do a great job with the quilting…  I LOVE the detail of the loops and stars.

Linking up with these fabulous blogs…
Including:

Ok, you will want to eat your computer screen when you take a look at this most deliciously amazing chocolate cake!!!

Told ya!!!

Seriously though, I just made this for a family gathering and it was gone in seconds and is still being raved about:)

Thank you Sister’s Cafe!!!

Directions:

Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl and set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in cocoa. Add water, buttermilk, add eggs, stirring well. Cook stirring well until mixture boils. Remove from heat, add to flour mixture and stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully spread peanut butter ( I heated it in the microwave for a minute to soften it) over warm cake. Cool completely. Spread with chocolate frosting. Cool and slice.

I would eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Hello you sassy readers! I’m Jax from Aly&Ash and I’m so excited to be swapping with Staci today! Not only is she a mega talented craft/sewing blogger BUT she is also a great friend and my beautiful cousin! You’ll have to head over to my blog Aly&Ash to see what she’s teaching today because as always, it’s awesome! But while I have your attention here, let’s talk about me shall we! I’m a STHM of an adorable little boy who is ADDICTED to Yo Gabba Gabba! Honestly if anyone knows a 12 step program for a 9 month old please send it my way! On the plus side it does allow me to get some crafting in each morning!

 So on with today’s project: I am way into leggings and tunics this summer. But I hate the rope belts that always come attached to the tunics. (No offense if you love them!) I always pull them off and cut off the loops that once held them and belt with a “real” belt or leave without. I knew there was something I could do with said rope belts so I held onto them and then thought, Hey! Why don’t I make a headband! It’s crazy easy and quick so let’s get to it!

Tutorial:
Nautical Headband

Step One: Grad some rope belts or braid together some yarn etc.

Step Two: Roll to measure how big you want your circles and tie two knots in the braid to cut between.

Step Three: Repeat until you have your desired lengths and quantity of rope.

Step Four: Roll circle while gluing with hot glue as you go.

Step Five: Tuck the end around the back and secure with hot glue. Once dry you can cut off the knot.

Step Six: Hot glue buttons or fabric covered brads into center and glue onto headband.

Easy Peasy! Now you have a nautical summer headband!

 Well that’s it for today! If you haven’t been over to Aly&Ash before make sure to come check out my other projects! Here’s a little preview:

Thanks for having me & have a great week!
-Jax

Hi friends!!

Just wanted to let ya know I’m guest posting over at Aly and Ash today… Go check out a super fun Classy Chiffon Ruffled Headband tutorial!

Thanks and stay tuned, Jax will be posting something fun for us…

Welcome Naomi!!!

This our tiniest, cutest, most perfect little miracle baby niece…
She’s finally here, after some pretty intense battles…

So grateful for miracles.

Can I just tell you how easy and so much fun this was to make!!! 

So, I just finished my quilted table runner (super fun and cute, tutorial next Tuesday), and had lots of scraps, as usual.  Of course I needed a patriotic centerpiece to go with it…

I had this fun jar I got for 50% off at Hobby Lobby.   That was my inspiration.

Supplies:

• Large glass jar with lid
• Scraps of fabric long enough to wrap around your glass jar
• Ric-rac long enough to wrap around
• Embellishments you want to use for the side and or lid
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Step 1:

Cut your fabric to desired width and length.  You want it to wrap around with just enough of an overlap to glue.

Step 2:

Secure the end piece of your fabric to the jar with hot glue. 

Wrap around the jar securing with hot glue as you go. Glue the other end of the fabric piece over your starting place.  As you can see, mine isn’t exactly straight but the ric-rac covers it up.

Repeat that step using whatever ric-rac or ribbon you would like to use.

Step 3:

Use whatever embellishments you have to cover the ugly overlapping area, and the lid of the jar.

You can stop now, and use as a cute centerpiece or get some function out of it as well…

So here in Utah, we celebrate Pioneer Day on the 24th of July.  Our patriotism extends through the month of July. 

My kids and I decided to make this a conversation jar, filling it with questions about our patriotic holidays.  We put enough strips in the jar for us to read a few together each day throughout  the month.

I had my little helper rolling the strips and stuffing them in the jar…

Soooo fun huh!! I can’t wait to play:)

Linking up with these fabulous blogs this week…

Including:

Ok, you’re not going to believe me anymore when I tell you this is my favorite dessert ever!

But this is my go to dessert that my messed up logic tells me is kind of healthy…

I’ve tried many lemon bar recipes, but this is the absolute best…  Thanks again to Barefoot and Baking for the amazing recipe!

Delicious Lemon Bars

For the crust:

1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the filling:

6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
3 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.
Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.
Cut into squares and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Linking up to these fabulous blogs!

I’m making a picnic quilt for my family!!  I’m running out of time I know, my goal is to have it done for fireworks on the 4th…

But isn’t this the happiest fabric you’ve ever seen!!!  It’s a line from one of the best, Michael Miller.

I just want to start dancing it makes me so giddy:)

Can’t wait to see the finished product…

Hi everyone, meet troublemaker Canon.  He likes to take off all his clothes and play in the mud.  He likes to put mud all over my patio, his brother, and the new puppy.  However, he doesn’t like getting it washed off…