Cookie Cutter Confections: A Simple Party Treat

Here is a simple last-minute sweet treat to use as a party favor or kid-friendly activity.

Read on for the quick DIY


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DIY Lunch Bags: 10 Cute, Simple, and Free Tutorials to Make Your Own Lunch Bags

It's just about that time! Can you believe it? Back-to-school time is here already. I remember, as a kid, how fun it was to get all stocked up with school supplies, and nothing was more exciting to me than a new lunch bag. So of course, I can't wait to make Scarlet a new one in any fabric she picks. I thought about writing a new tute, but there are already so many amazing ones out there, instead I'm going to share some love for these crafty ladies and their adorbs lunch bag creations. I've rounded up ten of the simplest, cutest, and most useful free lunch bag tutorials on the web, including zip lunch bags, oil cloth lunch bags, lunch bags for bento boxes, DIY sandwich wraps, snack bags, and more, so you are sure to find one that fits your lunch-packing style. Check out our round up here: DIY Lunch Bags: 10 Free Tutorials for Adorable Lunch Bags.

Make for Home: 25 Easy Tutorials for Making Your Own Kitchen, Dining, and Organizational Stuff

We've shared with you 25 Easy Projects to Make Your Own Gear, Bedding, and Nursery Stuff, as well as 25 of the cutest and Coolest Free Tutorials for Boys Clothing and 25 Free Dress Tutorials for Babies and Toddlers. So, how about making something for yourself now? Here's 25 Free 7 Easy Tutorials for making your own kitchen, dining, and organizational stuff. From placemats to aprons to oven mitts, these 25 free tutorials will have you cooking in style. Many are ideal first-timer tutorials, and all will inspire you to get creative in the kitchen this summer. Find the round up here: 25 Easy Tutorials for Making Your Own Kitchen, Dining, and Organizational Stuff.

Ombré Cupcakes

Do your kids just eat the frosting off of cupcakes and leave the tasty cake behind. Clare does. So in a effort to get her to eat her birthday cake, and score some "awesome mom" points by making another party element pink, I tried the Ombré trend in edible form. Since I can't pull off Ombré hair, these tasty treats will have to do.

Here's what I did...
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How to Make Dining Chair Cushions with Bonus Embellishment Goodness

So I've been redecorating the patio with my Membership Rewards points. I found some great chairs on superdeal, but the funky backs don't work for normal dining chair cushions. Because they are metal, my booty requested some coziness. Guess I'll have to make them!

Guess that's also why I am in my pajamas at 2 p.m, having been in a sewing frenzy all day. I added a little sparkly thread and heat transfer arrows to match my new ace-hotel inspired patio look.

Let me show you how to make Dining Chair Seat Cushions after the jump...
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How to Make a Snack Bag & Silhouette in Action!

We love our snack bags! It's awesome not to see all those plastic bags get trashed but most importantly (ha) we get to look at a pretty little scrap of fabric while we nosh. These are really fun to make because it's an easy scrap-busting project and the embellishment options are endless! I was inspired to try out the new interfacing from Silhouette to create an applique for one bag. Don't forget to enter to win! I made a sweet ribbon bow for the other.


Learn how to make a snack bag and see the Silhouette in fabric-cutting action...
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Oilcloth Lined Lunch Tote Tutorial

Little Essie takes a packed lunch off to school every day, so of course she demanded a cute homemade lunch bag.

I love these little lunch trays, but they are a wide size, so I had to make a custom shape.  I'll show you how to make a boxy bag like this in any size you need.

I made the lining from Kokka Large Trefle Matroyshka Dolls and Mushrooms Oilcloth in Red and the outside is matching quilting cotton. Which means I can wipe down the inside, but I can't wash it. Maybe not the best plan? A nylon outer would have been perfect, but she has been using this for 4 months with no issues so it worked out okay.  Get the Oilcloth Lined Lunch Tote Tutorial after the jump...

And remember to leave a comment, because this week's prize for fave comment is that awesome embroidery pattern from sublime stitching!
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DIY Vintage-y Hand Towels

When Jamie from Lovely Nest Designs emailed us these adorable embellished hand towels, we just had to share. This is such an easy way to spruce up the bathroom and so anthropologie-esque, for under 2 bucks!

Learn how to Make your own Vintage-y Hand Towels after the jump...

Don't forget to visit Jamie at Lovely Nest Designs for more inspiration, and leave her a comment here for your chance to win that gorg embroidery pattern!
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Scrappy Potholder

So, looking for some potholder inspiration for your entry into THE SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN contest?  Here's another take on our Pretty Potholder.

For this one, I delved into the scrap bucket to bust through some itty bitty pretties I'd been hanging onto.  Get the full Scrappy Potholder tute after the jump...

And remember, your comments could win you some pom pom trim. Hmm, pom poms on a potholder could be pretty cute, no?
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Zen and the Art of Cookie Cutter Maintenance

So it's finally happened, despite all of my anti-baking protests... I've become addicted to decorating fancy sugar cookies. Jacinda is a true expert at this craft, as you can see here, here, here, and especially here.

She once told me something I now understand to be so true: "Decorated sugar cookies are one of those things that people enjoy receiving - they love how cute they are and appreciate the hard work that went into them - but it's actually like fifty times more work than they realize." You sugar-cookie decorators know exactly what she's talking about, right?

Once you get into the craft of cookie decorating, you find yourself collecting various supplies (decorating bags, tips, flower nails, couplers) and of course, cookie cutters. After treating myself to a Sur La Table cookie-supply shopping spree armed with Jacinda's list of Ten Tools for Decorating Sugar Cookies, I set down to get organized. Decorating tools and cookie cutters require specific maintenance - from removing the sticky tags (note: why do they put sticky price tag goo right onto cookie cutters???? Don't they know we are going to put them on our food? There must be a better way!), to avoiding rust, to efficient storage and organization.

I'm going to share the details on how to care for cookie cutters and my take on Zen and the Art of Cookie Cutter Maintenance after the jump...

Let us know your cookie cutter maintenance tips in the comments, you just might win that gorgeous Kokka fat quarter!
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MONSTER SPRAY!!

We have a problem and its name is MONSTERS!  These dreadful beasts live in Scarlet's closet and they are such pesky creatures: even though daddy puts them in a jar and throws them outside every night, they keep coming back! We have had enough of their frightfulness and last week declared THAT'S IT: Time to make some MONSTER SPRAY!

Made with a few simple items from around the home and some secret monster-removal goo, MONSTER SPRAY! allows S to vanquish the beasts herself. This, along with The Tape Trick, has done a lot to ease our bedtime woes. Power to the babies!

Learn How to Make MONSTER SPRAY! and download our FREE PRINTABLE MONSTER SPRAY LABEL after the jump...
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Matryoshka Madness!

In keeping with our current Giveaway of Matryoshka Measuring Cups from Fred M I compiled 10 inexpensive (yet adorable) babushka cuties, check 'em out here: 10 Nesting Doll Themed Products for under $25.

Pretty Potholders

Potholders are superfun scrap busting projects, so customizable and great for a bit of fabric you want to see every day but don't want to like, wear.

I made this one with a little pocket for your hand, just because I prefer being able to grab a hot pan handle that way. Umm, I have old lady hands. Don't look.

I said don't look!

Sigh. Learn How to Make A Potholder after the jump...

Make one yourself and enter it into the SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN CONTEST for your chance to win a new Brother Sewing Machine!
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DIY Fabric Clothespin Gift Tags

The mod podge fabric clothespin is such a cute and quick project to bust through scraps with, and so useful. I was thinking about gift wrapping this year and it occurred to me it could be cute to clip the gift tag on each present with a cute fabric clothespin.

 Then it occurred to me to glue a magnet to the back of it, so the giftee could use it on their fridge later on.

This is a great little project to use up some fabric (or paper) scraps as well.

Get the Mod Podge Clothespin Gift Tag Tutorial after the jump...

Is this worth the effort?  What are you doing for gift tags this year?  Let us know in the comments and you might win those five amazing embroidery patterns!
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How to Make a Wine Gift Bag

Oh wine, how I love thee.

And how I love the anthropologie-rumpled look of this cotton-linen blend Heather Ross fabric for a gift like this. I imagine toting it to the park for a picnic where all the ladies are wearing forties-inpired high heels while casually sipping Malbec as the sun sets.

Or you know, a last minute dinner party gift, maybe with a few pretty wine glasses.  Learn How to Sew a Wine Bag after the jump...

And remember to leave a comment, because our favorite commenter is winning that super cute key fob set!
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Simple Serger Napkins with Bonus Video Fun!

I hope you all have sergers on your wishlist this holiday season - they bring joy into my heart. Homemade napkins are one of the easiest projects you can do with your new toy.   I just upgraded to the new Brother Project Runway serger, so to test out my rolled-hem skills I made a set of dinner napkins.

A simple rolled hem gives a crisp finish to the fabric edge, making them easy-breezy. And it's fun to have cute fabric napkins for a jillionth the price of store bought.

I almost feel like the machine just did it for me and it doesn't even count as actual sewing.  Why, let me show you in this dorky video...



Get the full Simple Serger Napkin DIY after the jump...

And remember that any comment you leave on my mad video skillz could win you a pretty key fob set!
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Bias Tape Table Runner: Part 2

When I saw Jaime's Bias Tape Table Runner I fell in love and just had to try one of my own. I thought it would be fun to do something Fall-ish for Thanksgiving on one side and Christmas-themed on the other. That way I can just flip it on November 26th! Also, I had just made this candy cane bias tape and knew it would work really well with our red dishes. The fabrics are Alexander Henry Farmdale Curio Oatmeal and Alexander Henry Merry Moderns.


Jaime's tutorial would also be excellent for placemats! We think we are catching the quilting bug!