Applique: The Ultimate Stain-Fighter

When my mama was here for Christmas, she took pity on poor Clare's favorite dress. You know the one? The one that mysteriously disappears from the hamper and reappears on your kid's back? It's covered in soup stains but you can't quite toss it because she just loves it so? Yup, that's the one. So Grammie pulled out some fabric scraps, ric-rac and a needle and thread and fixed that little polka-dot number right up. Grammie decided some yo-yo flowers were the way to go and Clare and I could not agree more. Clare is so happy that her dress is allowed in public again!

Did your mama teach you how to make fabric yoyos? Do you need Prudent Grammie to show you the ropes?

Introduction to Cheater Quilts

Cheater is such an ugly word for such a beautiful thing. Cheater quilts are a perfect project for new sewists or folks with little time for craftiness. Featuring fabric designed and printed to look like patchwork or applique, a cheater quilt allows you to skip the huge task of doing piecework on a quilt. All you have to do is quilt and bind. I quilted this lovely baby quilt in about 30 minutes. All that's left to do is bind it, which can be done quickly on the machine or heirloom quality by hand. Stay tuned for upcoming posts on the different ways to bind a quilt.

But I know the big question, right? What is that gorgeous fabric? It's Jay-Cyn Designs Storyboek for Birch Fabrics - Field Stroll Cheater and the back (which I think would be so cute for Christmas) is Field Friends Coral. Both are on sale right now at Fabricworm.

And the baby... is Gordon, who is totally man enough to pose with a pink quilt. Thanks buddy, I owe you the boy version.

Read on to learn more about how to make a cheater quilt.
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Hot Mess Mommy Hair. Do this!

A break from the regularly scheduled programming to share the news that I will never again subject my husband, children or the dry cleaner to my signature fuzzy ponytail. I have discovered Sonya from Parlor's Knotty Bun Tutorial. Go try this now. So easy. It's the hair you WISH you had for your wedding.

And by the way... have you ever tried to take a picture of the back of your own head? So hard.

Will you try this? So cute, right?

Floriani Heat N Shrink and Free-Motion Quilting

I've told you how much I love hanging out like a shameless groupie in my local sewing shop, Arlington Sewing Machine Supply Company, so when my friend Emily asked me to tag along while she bought her first sewing machine, I jumped. It seems I can't walk into that place without getting schooled. And I mean that in the best possible way.

While Shannon helped Emily load up on supplies, Carla pulled me aside to show me the cutest lil' girl nightgown that a customer had made. The nightgown featured a yoke with sweet puckered fabric. It looked a little smocked, a little quilted and all the way adorable. Then they showed me how she did it with Floriani Heat N Shrink. Have you seen this stuff? Take a look at the process and tell me what to do with my flowers...

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Genuine Germ Drops!

Louise from I'm Feelin Crafty made up a batch of our Monster Spray, and it was so succesful at vanquishing the beasts in her child's closet, that she was inspired to create these germ drops. We loved them so much, we asked her to share. Take it away Louise...

I'm so honored to be posting here at Prudent Baby! Wow! Yep, I'm blushing again!
Have you made Prudent Baby's Monster Spray yet? We concocted some spray of our own earlier this year. And let me tell you.... It gets rid of our monsters like nothing else! There are those nights where we have to spray down the room. And there's been at least one night that Daddy ran around the outside of the house spraying a 'No Monster Barrier' around the house while chanting 'NO MONSTERS, NO MONSTERS, NO MONSTERS'! Who knows what the neighbors thought about that, but who cares, our little guy was able to sleep peacefully! So then when the medicine comes out for the boo boos and all I get are screams, I had an idea... Genuine Germ Drops!

Find out all about Louise's Genuine Germ Drops and get the free downloads after the jump...
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How to Make Sunbutter: The Best Sunflower Butter Recipe!

Sunbutter looks and tastes much like peanut butter, but instead of peanuts, it's made from sunflower seeds. Sunflower butter is 30% lower in fat than peanut butter, chock full of vitamin E, and bonus: when you make it yourself it is entirely free of preservatives & added sugars, AND it is totally safe to send off to nut-free environments. Sunbutter has become a school lunch staple in our household. This stuff costs a fortune to buy pre-made, which is silly because it is SO EASY for Prudent Mamas to make at home.

I've heard many home cooks express frustration with their attempts to make sunbutter, so I thought I'd do a sunbutter recipe and photo tutorial to explain the key to making rich, creamy, nutty-flavored sunbutter. It is all about time.

Get our super-simple sunflower butter recipe after the jump, and prepare to lick your fingers, the spoon, the bowl, and maybe even that spill down your toddler's shirt (don't judge me)...

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The #1 Reason Sewing Machines End Up in "the Shop"

When I spent a few glorious mornings in Arlington Sewing Machine Supply learning about my new Sewing & Embroidery Machine, I met Charles. Charles is one of the men who services the sewing machines on site at the shop (It's very important to find a shop that repairs machines on site.) So I stalked Charles everywhere he went in the shop and asked him a million idiotic questions. He was very nice and answered them all. He also told me the #1 reason machines end up damaged and what you can do to prevent it! Any guesses?

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How to Sew Sequins

Sequins, sparkles, shiny things - they're all around me now! I thought this princess/dress-up silliness would be one of my least-favorite parts of parenting a daughter, but I was SO WRONG. I adore watching my daughter dress up in a sparkly costume then run around playing with bugs in the yard.

When else in her life will she be able to live such a fantasy existence? And the look on her face when I hand her a sparkly homemade treat is pretty much the greatest gift I could ever hope for. So to that end, I have been sewing a lot of sequins lately.

I thought I'd take a minute and show you how. It's quite easy, it just takes a little patience. But you know it will be worth it. And don't try to tell me sequins are only for girls, I can totally see a sequin pirate patch or mustache on little gordon, no?

Learn How to Sew On A Sequin after the jump...
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The Craft Room Redesign Project: Hidden Workstation

Before:


After:

The Craft Room Redesign Project is in full swing, thanks to all of your great advice. I've installed new flooring all by myself, thrifted some furniture, repainted a brass table, and upholstered a chair I found on the street. But the eyesore of my crazy workstation overflowing with supplies was making it feel more like a garage and less like a room. So here is my solution.

What do you think? Is it weird, or do you think it works? Is there a corner of your house you might try to turn into your own workstation? Let us know in the comments and you could win that Kokka fat quarter. Check out more pics of the Hidden Workstation after the jump...
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The Sewing Machine Shop Experience

If you "like" us, you know that Jaime and I have been hanging out in local sewing machine shops, asking a million questions, learning a ton and basically becoming total groupies in awe of these experts!

I found myself in Arlington Sewing Machine Supply because I needed an introduction to the line of Brother Embroidery/Sewing Machines (if that perks up your ears, you are a clever kitty) but I learned so much more. That got me thinking, besides the opportunity to hang out with these insanely fun experts in all things machine sewing/embroidery/quilting, what are the reasons to do your shopping at a small business sewing machine dealer?
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The Lazy Quilter: Easy Half Square Triangle Trick

I do so love the idea of quilting. But in actuality, the precision is not something I naturally excel at. I'm all about pretty fabrics and quick projects. Therefore I deem myself the lazy quilter.

I whipped up this pieced pillow for the Craft Room Redesign Project in about an hour and a half, and I want to share with you the secret for making half square triangles in a jiff. I don't even have a 1/4" presser foot or any fancy quilting paraphernalia. You can use half square triangle units to make pinwheels, which are adorbs and very trendy right now. You can also make sailboats and lots of other cuteness with them. Give it a shot, it's a good first-quilting-step.

Get the Easy Half Square Triangle Trick after the jump. And tell us, are you a lazy quilter? Do you have any lazy quilting tips for us? Your comment could win you a gorg Belle & Blue Chair.
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Party Craft Stations Four Ways. Ole!

For our FIESTA we went all-out with four different craft stations. We picked up about 12-16 items for each station and let kids pick and choose which they wanted to do. We had about 60 kids so everybody got to take home something.

I whipped up little signs with the fancy printer we are giving away, then glued them to cardstock and made easel backings to stand them at each craft station.

The four craft stations included painting maracas, decorating sombreros, planting succulents, and decorating tamborines. All huge hits, though I think the tamborines went first.




Learn how to create Party Craft Stations Four Ways and get our sources for the least expensive stuff after the jump...
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How to Paint Brass Finished Finds

Before:

After:

So many adorable things are in an outdated shiny brass finish, much like this sort of awesome table, one of my thrifty finds for the Craft Room Redesign Project. I read all of your advice, then looked at the space, then still couldn't decide, then just went for a bright shade of red.

There's a few tricks to re-painting brass finished items, but overall it's easy peasy. Imagine what you could do with cheapo thrift store brass light fixtures! Find out how to repaint brass after the jump...

What do you think of the red? Have you re-painted anything brass or brass-finished? Tell us abuot it in the comments, or post a picture on facebook. You could win some adorbs ueklele fabric!
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10 Bath Time Bests for Baby

I've shared our absolute go-to items for bath time over on Babble today. Check it out.  Mamas have already added their favorites on Facebook. What do you swear by for bath time?

Make Your Own Butter

I had some cream that was about to go bad so I did what I always do in that situation (well, sometimes I make scones): I whipped up some butter, literally. It's crazy easy, you will be shocked at the simplicity and start making butter all the time. For realz.

Find out how on our post: How to Make Butter.

Recycle a Crib Skirt into a Window Valance

What can you do with a crib skirt when you don't need it anymore? You spent a ton on it. It's adorable. But it's kind of useless once kiddo moves to a toddler bed (or even once he/she is standing and the crib mattress gets lowered). Well, we have an idea of what you can do with a crib skirt: Turn it into a window valance!

My friend Anna called me ever so excited with her brilliant idea and asked me if I thought I could make it happen. I was like, girl, you're a genius! Not only did we make it happen - it's a NO SEW project! Crazy easy! And the windows still match the bedding, woo hoo!

Learn How to Turn an old Crib Skirt into a Window Valance after the jump. What do you do with old crib skirts or bumpers?  Let us know in the comments, this week's favorite comment wins that adorbs elephant sewing pattern!
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Free Motion Quilting Tutorial & VIDEO!

Ever since my Mother-in-law gifted Quinn a beautiful baby blanket featuring Free Motion Quilting, I have been obsessed with learning how to do it and then showing you Prudent Mamas. Imagine my delight when I found that Vanessa from Lella Boutique and Heidi from HoneyBear Lane had already done the work for us. Thanks ladies! Don't forget, any comment you leave this week could win you some Sparkly Kreinik Thread.

Learn all about Free Motion Quilting after the jump.
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Keep Raw Fabric Edges From Fraying

Is your fabric stash falling to pieces after a spin in the dryer? Mine was. Look at those poor tangled beauties! Get a quick fix to keep raw fabric edges from fraying after the jump.
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Simple Photo Tips for Better Product Shots

I whipped up a potholder that sadly didn't turn out quite as I had hoped, BUT it will serve a purpose for us in this post, modeling some common photo errors we often make when shooting pics of our creations. Now I am no photography expert and most of the shots on Prudent Baby are taken with a fancy camera, but I do have a few tips to offer that will work with basic cameras. I whipped out the old point & shoot to show you a few common photo mistakes that you can easily address to make sure your product photos (and maybe your SEWING MACHINE DOUBLE DOWN CONTEST entries) are as good as can be, whatever camera you are working with.

Find some Simple Photo Tips for Better Product Shots after the jump...
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Stuffed Animal Storage Solution

We Prudent Mamas have discussed toy storage over the years (check the Toy Storage: Nooks & Crannies post for how we roll in the Curtis household); it's a first world problem for sure - where to put all these luxurious toys our tots are lucky enough to possess? I've found that as baby grows, the stuffed animal collection grows at a 10X rate. I had a little eureka moment when I spotted this laundry bin and it's worked out so well, I thought I'd share.

The stuffed animals go into the laundry bin. Because it's a wire hamper, they can be pulled out the sides, without toppling said bin. They also always feel accessible, as opposed to boxes, closet shelves, or those nets you hang from the ceiling. It works for us, do you think it would work for you? Find out where I got it and links to some more storage and organization tips after the jump...

Give us your stuffed toy storage tips in the comments, and you might win some of that pom pom trim Jacinda's been petting.
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