Condensed Milk Painting

I found this idea on Pinterest awhile back while looking for ideas for entertaining the kids.

The older Little Man likes to paint.  A lot.

He would paint everyday if I would let him.

This is a super easy thing to do, however, if you don't want condensed milk everywhere, 

I suggest towels on the floor and close supervision. 

It didn't take long before we were painting on our bellies.

That is usually the best way to paint, according the the younger Little Man.

Bath time immediately afterwards is necessary, at least at our house,

but that just means that you can start painting

faux goatees and temporary tattoos, courtesy of Daddy.

They had a blast, so we'll most likely do it again.

Outside sounds like a grand idea.

Anyway, just mix food coloring into condensed milk.  The mini muffin pan worked great.

It takes rather a long time to dry, but it dries thick and glossy. 

It stays sticky for awhile, though, so you can't really stack them up afterwards.

Don't leave them on the floor, or your dog will try to lick the paint off.  Ha ha. 

It sort of crystallized a bit after awhile too, so I scanned these in order to save them.

I am thinking I'll put a selection of our paintings into the annual photo album,

Then I won't have to feel guilty about tossing them at some point.

As you can see from the last photo, there was plenty of paint left, 

so one can is more than enough.

More Striped Quilts

Hello again.  I've been quilting some more.  It just takes me a lot more time that it used to!

After I made this quilt for my nephew, I figured I'd make a couple more for my kiddos.  They liked the puppy on it and were excited about having one themselves.

It is pretty easy and quick to put together the top.  This time I hand stitched on the applique and I embroidered their names on the bottom. 

I had trouble with quilting the first one.  The top just kept wanting to shift down, so by the time I got to the bottom edge, it had shifted a good half inch or so. What in the world?  I swear I used to be better at this quilting thing.  I finally figured out that I needed to adjust the pressure dial and I took it the whole way down to zero before it seemed to work okay.  It turned out alright, though.  I just had to trim the sides down a little more than I wanted to.

And wouldn't you know it?  The older Little Man didn't even want his quilt.  In fact, he came right out and said so and he wanted it off his bed.  I was annoyed with him so I asked if I should just throw it away then.  He said yes.  So I folded it up and its been in my closet ever since.  The younger Little Man could care less about his either.  Figures.  They really would rather have "cozy" blankets instead.  Whatever.

To be fair, he does have the hand quilted quilt on his bed and he's perfectly happy with it.  Perhaps he just couldn't see a reason for having another one.

Solid Quilt

Hey!  Look at this.  Two posts in one month!  Its a miracle!

I finished another quilt though.  Are you shocked?  Me too...

This one I started ages ago.  I wish I could remember just when, but it may have been before my first son was born (nearly 4 years ago!).  It was intended for him. 

This is a blatant copy of a quilt that I have loved at Serena & Lily - their Slate/Bay Blue Cabin Quilt.  They have several colors, but this one was my favorite.

In order to have the same look, it had to be hand quilted.  I wasn't quite sure how to baste for hand quilting, so I bought some fusible (I think it was fusible?) batting.  I smoothed the layers together and carefully ironed them.  I was concerned about it being annoying to quilt or how well it would hold together, but it actually worked quite well.  I did have to re-iron it once or twice after getting some of the middle section quilted, but it stuck back down and there were no real problems.  Perhaps hand quilting is a little more forgiving?

I used some 1" painter's tape to mark out the rows and then I quilted beside them with some pearl cotton.  It comes in several thicknesses, and I chose a thinner one, but I can't remember what size exactly.  That's the problem with taking so long to complete a project, isn't it?

 

It is approximately 45 x 60, but I did have to trim some off the sides to make the quilting line up right with the binding.  It turned out perfectly, though, and I and I am contemplating making a matching sham to go with it.  I might have to buy more fabric and I can't remember exactly what colors I used.  Kona coal gray maybe?  Who knows what the blue was.  I might have some extra of that.

I finished it at midnight and threw it in the wash (who can wait?).  I was a little concerned about the thread, but it is just fine and turned out wonderfully wrinkled.  Yay!  I shocked myself by putting it on his bed the same night and it is still there.  Do you have any idea how much time is in this quilt?  I figure approximately 50ish hours.  Yeah.  I might be crazy to give it to him.

So now I should really make another one for his brother, shouldn't I?  It seems wrong to give such a wonderfully hand made quilt to one son and not another, doesn't it?  Wonder how old he will be when I finish.  10?  15?  Ha ha.

You should really go check out Thimbleanna's yo yo quilt that she just finished.  Isn't it beautiful??

I Made a Quilt!

Sadly enough, I think its been two years since my last one.  Two.  Yikes.

This one was for my sister-in-law.  She had their first baby, a boy, in January.  She was doing her nursery in gray/white/yellow, so this is what I came up with.  It was inspired by this striped alligator quilt at PB Kids.

The puppy image I found in an image search and it was an embroidery design that I enlarged and used as an applique instead.

It was my first time doing machine applique and it was atrocious.  I did, however, have lots of help from two eager little boys who were intrigued by the idea of their Unkem Tim having a baby boy (our first boy cousin!) and they really liked the puppy on this quilt.  I did the applique with a little boy on my lap who was very excited to be helping.

The back of the quilt was done with a Riley Blake's willow dots fabric.  I loved the tiny pale gray polka dots and I did a matching crib sheet with it as well (which you can sorta see in the first two pictures).

I really liked the stripe quilt so much (and so did the boys) that I've decided to make them their own versions.  I've got the tops made and the puppies are half stitched on.  I just need to get some more of the polka dot fabric for the back.  We'll see how long it takes me to finish those!

Embroidered Kid's Plush Blanket

I was making a last minute run to the store to get supplies for our customer Christmas gifts for work when I spotted a bin of little blankets for $5 at Walmart.  I don't buy many gifts for the kids because they have plenty of stuff and we had already bought them their big gift - a Lionel electric train for around the tree.  I really only had books, PJs and a few odds and ends bought for them, so I decided to grab these as well.

What I really wanted to buy them was one of these Sherpa Stroller Blankets at Pottery Barn, but by the time you add monogramming and shipping, it seems a little silly.

When I spotted these little cheap-o blankets, though, it occurred to me that I could monogram them.  I really should have grabbed a few more for gifts for nieces and nephews, but I didn't.  Maybe if I see any similar items again I will do that, because I think they would make for nice gifts.

Christmas time is crazy busy for me, so these were monogrammed in my basement at 1:00 AM on Christmas Eve while I made my poor husband blow up a bunch of balloons to have scattered around when the kids got up in the morning.  Procrastinate much?  Ha!

 

I really like how they turned out.  I was going to attempt their names, but it seemed like over-kill and I was worn out and still had gifts to wrap (of course!).  I am never really sure how to make sure the spacing is correct between letters, either.  Maybe I should figure that out.  So a single-letter monogram it is!

Train Display Box

So, its been almost a year since I last posted.  Whoops.  I'm just too busy to keep up with everything.

I do have a few things to show you now.

We are really in to trains at our house and we've amassed quite a collection.  The Man and I recently finished making a display box to house all of our trains.  Isn't it cool?  It was completely inspired by this one posted by Green Kitchen.  I found her version ages ago and loved it, and every time I showed it to the Little Man, he really liked it too, although I think he was more fascinated by the trains in it.

We used a thin sheet of luan for the back and some 1/4" thick poplar boards from the hobby section of Home Depot.   I gave The Man the dimensions I wanted it to be and he did the actual construction.  He put dividers on each shelf because the wood is pretty flimsy and he was just sure that the two little monkeys would try climbing it.  I wouldn't put it past them!  I put a few coats of Minwax Provincial stain on it (same color as our floors) and considered trying some sort of grayish glaze to darken/antique it, but I'm calling it good.

I'd love to keep all the trains in it all the time, organized by color, but that doesn't happen, of course!  Ha ha.  But at least there is a place for them to be when they aren't being played with.  This makes me very happy!

We store the wooden track in the basket below (yep, that's all track in there!).  This box is big enough to hold all of our current trains with room for a few more.  At the rate that we are accumulating, though, we are liable to run out of space.  It will do the trick for now, at any rate.

 

Knitted Hoodie

I finally finished a project.  Can you believe it?!

I started this ages ago.  Over a year ago, I think...

Its the Favorite Hoodie pattern by Lion Brand Yarn.

I am proud of myself for actually knitting something, but on the other hand, I didn't quite do that well with it.  the knitting is fine, but the reason it took me so long to finish it was the sewing of the seams.  I'm not very good at it and I don't know what I'm doing and it shows.  My other complaint is that it seems to be rather short.  Perhaps it would fit better for a shorter, fatter baby?  Ha.  My babies aren't exactly thin, though.  It seemed a bit tight on his neck.

I am glad I did it, though.  I feel like I learned with it.  And I'm glad its done.  Ha!

Another Hat

One last baby photo post . . . maybe.

I bought this hat pattern a couple years ago for his big brother. I've made it a ton of times since then, but I always have a hard time getting the sizing right. I crochet too darn tight, I think, and it all depends on the yarn as well. It always wants to be too small. Or maybe my babies have big heads? I think his head size was 90th percentile at the last appointment, so perhaps that is part of the problem.

Anyway, this one I made before he was born and it fits just fine. I added a band and buttons this time and I really like how it turned out. So cute.

Now, I would really like to make something like this. So darn cute.

Striped Pixie Hats

I made these awhile ago from a pattern I got from Etsy. I don't have any pictures of them on, cause the Little Man doesn't leave hats on very long and of course, the other little man isn't here yet. But the idea was that perhaps I could get a photo of the two together wearing them. Wishing thinking, I'm sure.


But it was interesting to learn how to knit them. These two were knit on regular needles and sewed together. I don't like sewing knitted stuff up - mostly because I don't know that I'm doing it right. But since these hats won't get a lot of use, it will be fine. I just procrastinated on finishing them for a long time because I was too lazy to sew them shut. Sad, I know.

Anyway, I'm stockpiling a few ideas and trying to think how I'd like to photograph the little guy when he makes his appearance. I'd love to hire a photographer, but I don't think I can justify it. So I will try my hand at it myself. I've got a few other things made up, like this, although I'm not sure if I'll be brave enough to try it. I guess it depends on how big this baby is when he gets here! Ha!

Yet Another T-Shirt

Found this black t-shirt in the clearance clothes at Target the other day and decided to grab one and make another shirt for the Little Man. The Man wears a lot of black and adding the dog to it made me think of him. Its a Belgian Malinois, in case you're wondering what kind of dog it is...it is rather abstract, isn't it?

New Dresser for the Little Man

We switched the Little Man to a toddler bed a few months ago, so that he could get used to it before his little brother arrives. It went very well, except that the little monkey who never gives up now has an entire room full of distraction that he can use to keep from taking a nap. Sometimes this means his room is a disaster twice a day. Oh well. He does great at night and he entertains himself fairly well during his "nap," so I will be happy with that. The Man keeps reminding me that I can't make him sleep, and he's right.

We also needed to get him a new dresser because we planned on keeping his original dresser together with the crib, since they match. We had a hard time finding anything that we liked, or rather, the right combination of price and quality.


So we bought a toddler bed that we liked from Amazon and went ahead and decided to go cheap and bought the Hemnes dresser from Ikea to go with it. Since they don't match anyway, I wanted to try painting it. I did it a few weeks ago, and it wasn't really very fun to maneuver around my big belly. It took a few hours per coat, since I painted the insides as well, and I put on 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of paint that I think was supposed to be self-priming.

I am really liking the paint color in his room. I wanted to use the London Fog (the gray I've been using in the bathrooms and on his little stool), but while it looks plenty dark enough on the walls of the bathrooms, its really pretty light on the stool. So I went a couple shades darker and used Plymouth Rock instead.


We'll see how well it really holds up to the little monkey over time. Its already got some chips here and there and the some has rubbed off on the drawers because, quite frankly, the drawers don't fit perfectly. I like the dresser overall, though. Hopefully he won't try climbing in the drawers, because they will never hold his weight!

Anyway, hooray for progress! I just feel like I need to move some stuff on his wall now, but we'll see. Probably won't get around to that. Baby number 2 is due in three weeks!

Here's another freezer paper stenciled t-shirt that I made for the Little Man a while back. Its a stylized version of the Pittsburgh skyline found here.

Another T-Shirt

I'm enjoying the whole freezer paper stencil thing. If I had any more good ideas for designs, I think I'd do more. I picked up this t-shirt and some red shorts for the Little Man at Once Upon a Child and decided to do a lifeguard shirt. It just seemed to go with the outfit. Since he is two, I added the "swim at your own risk" to be funny.

My little paleface looks good in red, I think. It seems to be his favorite color.

He got a new toddler bed recently so that we can use the crib for the new baby (the switch went very well, by the way - yay!) and we didn't want to make the switch at the last minute and let him feel like he gave up his crib for the new kiddo. Anyway, since he is now free to climb in and out of his bed at will, he's been getting in his dresser and emptying things out and spreading toys and diapers and clothes everywhere. It never fails, though, that he finds the two red shorts he has. If anything is pulled out of the dresser, it is a pair of red shorts. Sometimes he brings them back to bed with him. Why? Heck if I know . . . it must just be his favorite color. That's all I can figure.

The Time In Between

Life gets away from me, I guess. I'm not sure if I should just drop the blog altogether or start blogging about more of my personal life. It doesn't really matter either way, I suppose. I just have very little time to really create much any more. Oh well.

I do have something to show you. I've been itching to try freezer paper stenciling for awhile now. I bought freezer paper a year ago or more (ha!) and bought some plain t-shirts for the Little Man over the winter and I've never gotten around to doing it. No good reason why, other than I can't seem to settle on a design.

But I finally sat down and did it last week. I figured if I didn't do it now, he'd grow out of the shirts I bought! I started with a white & navy t-shirt that I found at Once Upon a Child for $1.50. Can't beat that. I bought some Jacquard textile paint at JoAnns (months ago), because I read somewhere that it was good paint. And here it is:

I think the design could be a little crisper. I wasn't sure how to long iron the freezer paper on, but I think perhaps it should have been a little longer than I did. It turned out pretty well though, and the navy paint is nice and dark. I haven't washed it yet, so hopefully it lasts as well. After it dried, I put the little H on the front. It was actually super easy and didn't take too long, either.

In case you don't know how to do it, here's the short version. Cut your freezer paper to 8 1/2 x 11" and tape the corners to a sheet of printer paper. Print your design on the paper side of the freezer paper. Take off the printer paper and cut out the stencil with a cutting mat and exacto knife. Iron the stencil to your shirt with the plastic side down. Make sure its on there well, but don't burn your shirt. Put something inside the shirt (I used cardboard) to keep the paint from seeping through and paint on the design. When the paint has dried, peel off the stencil and heat set the design with your iron. I turned the shirt inside out and put a cloth on top of it so that I wouldn't burn the shirt, because that is something that I would do. Voila!

I tried another shirt as well. This one has a more detailed design, but it worked perfectly. I found a black and white Superman logo online and added the type to the bottom. It takes awhile to cut out the tiny letters, but it wasn't bad. I ironed the stencil a little longer on this one and it is nice and crisp. I put this design on the back as well, because this shirt has a pocket on the front. I'd rather have had it on the front, so next time, I'd pick that pocket off and put the design on the front. Otherwise, its great. I have to go find some more shirts and designs to paint. This was rather fun!