When the cats away the mice will play.

I think that is the saying, right?  My hubby is out of town and I have definitely been addicted to the sewing machine the passed three days!  I have gotten so many sewing projects done, it’s been fun!

I had totally forgotten that I had saved this cute tutorial on a quilted wallet a while ago.  I was looking through my favorites and found it again.  I immediately said I had to do it now!  So I got my last couple of supplies… a few fabric quarters and snaps for the closure and I locked myself in the sewing room.  Next thing I know I am done and it is so late!  But I am happy with the way it turned out… I can see a couple of imperfections but that is just because I am critical of myself.  Though it is great looking.  I was going to make my own tutorial but I didn’t really get a picture of each step since sometimes I would just forget!  So here are some pictures of my completed wallet.  I have a black and grey Coach purse so I picked the colors to match.

The front:

The inside:

The snap closure:

I am really pleased with how it looks!  And it wasn’t terribly difficult.

My Sorority Tshirt Blanket

A couple of weeks ago I had started to recycle my old sorority tshirts.   I really like the idea of turning it into a blanket and that is what I set out to do. 
The stretchiness of the fabric of the tshirts was definitely a challenge for me since I am novice but I think all in all it turned out great!  I might add a couple of more embellishments but it is complete.

You can see the front here:

And you can see the back here:
  
I am so glad that I decided to do this since I didn’t want to just throw them away.  It definitely came out perfect!

Dollar Store Craft

I finally completed my first Dollar Store Craft.  I made a library tote out of two placemats and a belt all found at the dollar store.  It was hard finding two placemats of the same fabric.  Imagine if I needed 4 of the same one… they didn’t have many placemats that matched!

This is especially great because I have been going to the library a lot lately and usually get three or four books at a time.  Now I have a cute bag to carry them in.

 

Here is my final project.
 

This is definitely a great gift as well since it is such a quick and inexpensive craft.

So I lied…

 

 

Yesterday I said that my next project would be a fall wreath but actually I just sewed a camera case.  Today I decided to scope out Joann’s sale and bought quite a few yards of cheap fabric, some for specific projects and some just to have around just in case. 

Earlier I was looking through my sewing websites and I was looking on the Sew, Mama, Sew! Blog and came across this super cute project.  And I fell in love!  So I hurried upstairs to the craft room and started my own camera case.

  

Here is what the finished project looks like.

Here is a how-to.  I tried my best to get a picture of each step.

Cast of characters:
  
12” x 4.5” piece of brown lining
12” x 4.5” piece of batting
12” x 4.5” piece of fabric
Fastener (not pictured) – I used velcro.  You can easily use snaps or buttons.
*Please note that you can adjust it to fit your own camera, so you can add to make it bigger or subtract to make it smaller.

1.  Sew velcro piece to the ‘right’ side of the lining.

2.  Stack lining, batting and outside fabric piece in this order:
batting on bottom; outside fabric piece ‘right side’ up; lining piece on top ‘wrong side’ up.

3.  Next pin around the edges.

4.  Sew around the edges (1/4” seam) leaving about a 2”-2.5” opening for turning.

5.  Turn right side out.  Make sure to use push the corners out using a pointy object.  I used a pencil.

6. Tuck the opening in and then press.
7.  Sew both of the shorter sides.  Make sure you sew the opening that you left to turn it right side out.

8. Now it’s time to sew the other piece of velcro.  At the opposite end from the other piece of velcro and on the outside piece of fabric measure 1/2” from the edge and sew the velcro piece.

9.  Now fold bottom half up 4”. 

10.  Pin sides and then sew.
  
11. Now you are done!

Here it is in action:

It took me about an hour and a half to finish but next time it will definitely take less time since I won’t be reading a how-to.  I really wish that I had some white velcro but I didn’t.  I only had black because I had gotten it for another project.  It was super easy to do and I can’t wait to do more!

Oh and here’s a tip:  I used those fabric quarters that you can get at the fabric store for like $2.   So this was a super cheap project.

My own Dollar Store Craft.

So my next project will be a ribbon wreath similar to this one I found on Casasugar:

 

 

 

 

I was looking online to an idea of what they look like, different styles etc. and I came across this wonderful site.

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/

This is so great!  I actually bought my supplies for my ribbon wreath from the dollar store.  I am really excited to try some other crafts and projects from supplies from the Dollar Store.

I found a cute sewing site…

I found a really cute sewing site the other day.  It is Mada’s Place and it has so many neat sewing projects.

   I just love the fabric that she chooses for her projects.  I can’t wait to see other projects she uses and hopefully learn a few things and make some projects of my own.

Chocolate Oreo Balls

If you love oreos then you'll love these oreo balls.



Ingredients:
1 package of Oreo cookies (I used double stuffed)
1 package of cream cheese at room temperature (I used fat free)
2 8 oz packages of dark chocolate chips

First chop up oreos using a food processor.
Next mix in the cream cheese until thoroughly mixed.
Once mixed shape dough into bite sized balls, set on cookie sheet lined with wax paper.
Put cookie sheet in the fridge and let the oreos harden and chill for about an hour.
Meanwhile, melt chocolate in double boiler.
Once the oreo balls have hardened dip them into the chocolate.
Return the balls back to the cookie sheet and place the cookie sheet in the fridge to set about an hour.
Once hardened place in serving dish and add some powdered sugar on top.

So yummy!

Panko Crusted Tilapia hold the Panko, please.

I found a great recipe in one of my Family Circle magazines for tilapia. My dear husband hates fish but will eat tilapia since it's not too fishy, so I love finding new tilapia recipes. The recipe called for panko bread crumbs but I didn't see it at the store so I just used regular bread crumbs. I also substituted broccoli for the brussel sprouts sicne I have never had it and wasn't going to experiment now. It was super delicious.




I really wish that I could post a link to the recipe but Family Circle's recipe website is acting funny for me.