Tutorial: Easy Felt Thanksgiving Banner

Well, here's my first tutorial :) 

I made this banner this weekend, and I love how it turned out! I had the leftover fabric and felt from our wedding decorations and needed a use for it. All I had to buy was the ribbon. 

Supplies: Felt, Fabric, banner shaped templates, scissors, pinking shears, pins, ribbon, thread

I forgot to take a pictures of me cutting the letters, but I just free-handed them. I found a font I liked and tried to mimic it. Then cut out the banner shapes. I needed 13 of each.

Here you can see the pieces as I am setting them up together.

First I sew the shape/letter to the fabric. I used a straight stitch and slowly went around the cruvy shapes. Clearly its not perfect, but I dont mind. Then is clearly handmade with love :)

Finished turkey.

After the shape is attached, I attached the fabric to the felt banner. I did it this way so there were less layers to have to sew through, plus its a better look on the backside--not that that really matters much.

After they are all finished, I laid them all on the floor and pinned them to the ribbon.

I sewed right on top of the other stitching. I back-stitched at either end of each banner and just lifted the foot and moved to the next. This was less waste, and less hassle as far as cutting the thread in between each banner.

Here you can see what I mean. After It was all attached, I went back through and snipped the extra thread off each one.

The just fold over the ribbon to create the loop to hang it from. And thats it! :)

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 If I would do it over, and wanted to spend more time on it, then I would turn and stitch each fabric banner before attaching it to the felt layer. It would definitely look more finished or professional, but like I said, I really like the handmade look of it. Its more rustic and more homey. :) I hope this has inspired some of you!

Nikky

Thirty Days of Thanks

 

No doubt November makes you think of all the wonderful things in your life. Each day I will be posting something I am grateful for. Here are my days 1 and 2. 

Day 1: Today I am thankful for my amazing husband Scott! Without him I would be so entirely lost. Today I had a really crappy day, and he listened to my woes and is always so supportive. 

Day 2: Today I am thankful for my best girlfriend Billie! I went to visit her in her new apartment. It was so nice to get away for a bit and catch up. She is a shining light in my life!

 Looking for and recognizing the fantastic things in your life can really help you be more positive. It really has uplifted my mood today.

Liam's (Cloth) Diaper Bag at 4 months

Liam's Diaper Bag at 4 Months

I got this bag at Target about 5 years ago. It is supposed to be used for a laptop/briefcase. It has the two pockets that you see on the outside, and the one pocket on the inside you see below. It also had a cell phone holder and a place to clip my keys.

Everything really does fit in here! And I love how it keeps its shape. It does have a zipper closure and when I dont add the extra blanket, I can zip it closed.

Here is the overview, I cant believe all this really goes in here!

Top left going right... at least 2 burp rags, Liam spits up and drools a lot. My nursing cover--which I rarely use. My wallet and keys. A thicker blanket, an aden + ansi  blanket. I made that green and brown bag for his extra outfit and a few other items. Toys. Extra wet bag, nipple cream (just incase), sun screen. Boogie wipes, extra nuk, first aid kit, tide stick, mini notebook, and pens.

Extra outfit, extra hat, mittens, and my mittens. In that little black clutch I have tissues, pads, and nursing pads. The brown polka dot bag is a wet/dry bag, wipes, diaper cream, the green and brown thing is a changing pad I made. And two diapers. 

This is what I would pack if we were going away for a few hours. If we are just running to the store, I usually dont bring so much. I might just grab the wet/dry bag with the diapers, blankets, toys, burp rag, nuk, and my wallet.

My wedding day in pictures...

Being that its fall, and just over 2 years from our actual wedding date...I figured Id finally post some photos from my wedding. Our colors were chocolate brown and ivory. Each couple that stood up had an assigned fall accent color. The boutonnieres and the fabric flowers were hand made by me, my bff and my mom. Besides an exchanging of rings, we also did a celtic cord tying ceremony. The table decorations were tons of candles in jars or all sizes, as well as tin can candle holders. Some of the jars had a filler which was cocoa mulch--smells like chocolate. ;)  The fall leaves all over the tables were silk leaves from hobby lobby (90% off) from the year prior. Simple fabric squares in different fall-ish fabrics mismatched under maple leaf chargers (also the year prior's clearance at walmart) Little pumpkins and gourds (homegrown) on the tables as well. I really wanted a glowy mismatched homey feel, as if just sitting down to a dinner at home. We had cornstalks by the entrance, and bushel baskets filled with harvesty things. At each place setting was a little brown box with my homemade soap. They had a fall scent and a maple leaf stamped into the top. Right before the grand march, we offered a caramel bar with all sorts of caramel dippin goodies! Also fresh apple cider pressed from my stepdad's apples :) Best day ever!! <3

Whoops...Meal Plan...Wednesday

***I forgot to post this on monday...so its meal plan wednesday... oh well**

The way I meal plan is just to come up with 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 snacks, and 7 dinners. I dont plan a certain meal on monday, tuesday, etc. I just make what I feel like making, or what makes sense. Some of you may remember that I am doing in-home daycare for a 4 yr old boy. he is at my house from 6:45-8:30 and then again from 12:15-4. Anyways, I plan the breakfasts, lunches, and snacks basically for him.

I also thought Id mention the "theme" we are talking about this week. I cant help it, the preschool teacher comes out in me...if anyone is curious as to what activities we do weekly, feel free to ask.

Weekly Theme: Fire Safety

Breakfasts: (always includes some sort of fruit, and milk or juice)
Toast with Jelly
Waffles with sausage
Bagel with cream cheese
Cereal with milk
Oatmeal and raisins

Lunches: (always with a fruit, veggie, and milk)
Mac & cheese
PBJ
Pizza
Chicken Alfredo
Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Snacks: (usually with water or juice)
Goldfish crackers
Pretzels
Graham crackers w/ pb
Granola bars
Smoothies


Dinners:
Chicken Alfredo with Corn
Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner) Sausage & Egg Sandwich on Bagel
Veggie Stir Fry
Chicken and Sweet Potatos
Chili and Cornbread
Out for our Anniversary
Leftovers

I plan on getting back onto pinterest and having more interesting meal ideas soon. We'll see how that goes. :)