Jaiden's Bibile School Program

I've been very busy trying to replenish my supplies from the last Farmer's Market. I sold over 30 jars of jellies and such, so I have been super busy!! Here's some video from a local Bible School that Jaiden attended last week. She is in the pigtails with the "A" on her dress.

The series was called Boomerang Express and had an Australian theme.

Red Mommy's 1st Birthday & Giveaway!!

Tomorrow, July 14 is Red Mommy's Crafts 1st birthday!!! I never thought I would consider myself as a blogger!! Now, I take my camera everywhere just in case I see something interesting that I might what to post! I never thought my blog would reach close to 20,000 views and visitors from over 99 countries in just 1 year!!

A BIG THANKS

to everyone that has visited, left comments, and followed along with me for this past year!!!!! I have had so much fun sharing my crafts, recipes, and family stories!!

To celebrate Red Mommy's birthday, I am having a

GIVEAWAY!!!

I call this "A Taste of Cincinnati", and since Red Mommy Crafts is closely based out of Cincinnati, with this you will be bringing Cincinnati into your home. It is some of the foods Cincinnati is famous for: Montgomery Inn BBQ Sauce, Izzy Pickles, Skyline Chili, Frisch's Tarter Sauce, and LaRosa's Spaghetti Sauce.


All you have to do is leave me a comment and let me know that you would like to be entered. Giveaway will end Friday, July 17th at 2:00 P.M. EST (open to U.S addresses only)

Please still feel free to leave me a comment even if you do not wish to be entered!

I might have some other giveaways this week, so be sure to check back!

I Know What's for Dinner!!

I went out to the garden this morning and came back with these goodies: mixed greens, zucchini, cucumbers, and green beans.

I'm thinking fried pork chops, green beans, and sliced cucumbers for tonight.
Maybe tomorrow, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and greens.
Somewhere, I'll have to fit in some fried zucchini!


We also planted leaf lettuce and green onions; which are long gone, potatoes, tomatoes, vidila onions, sun flowers, watermelon, and beets.

Toddler Bed Flat Sheet

Why is it that kids still in toddler beds aren't supposed to need flat sheets??? This time of year it is just too hot for a quilt and they out grown receiving blankets. I have wanted to do this since spring, but just now found the time. I bought a twin sized sheet at the Thrift Store and was able to get a flat sheet and a pillow case out of it. I even had some sheet left over for another project, yet to be determined.

1. I found the standard size of a toddler/crib mattress to be approx. 52"x28". I added 10" to the length to give me a length of 62". This new length allows hems and for Jaiden sleeping under it comfortably. I measured from the floor to the top of Jaiden's mattress and it was 13" on each side. So I added 13" to the width of 28" to give me 41". This gives me an overhang of 6.5" minus hems for each side (also minus Jaiden when she is laying underneath it).

2. Cut your sheet to be 62"x41". Be sure to cut it so that any design follows your new sheet dimensions.

3. Fold over 2-3" on the top of the sheet to the back. Iron or pin in place. Sew. Repeat for bottom, only turning over 1".

4. Fold sizes to the back about 1/2". Iron/pin in place, sew.

For Pillow Case:
5. Cut a piece 29"x38" from the old sheet. Make sure to use the finished edge of the sheet to form the top/opening of the pillow case.

6. With right sides together, sew bottom and up the side.

7. Turn right side out, iron flat.





*I would suggest not making this for the littler ones. They might get the sheet tangled around their neck.

Ironing Board Face Lift

My ironing board was in desperate need of a new cover! I went looking for a new cover and they don't sell covers for the smaller boards, just the full size ones. So, I thought, why not make one myself? I had all of the supplies on hand, so it didn't cost me anything.


Supplies:
Material (I used an old sheet)
elastic (I used 1/4" for my small board)
1" thick foam

1. Turn your board upside down and trace shape onto foam. Cut out.

2. Trace your old cover (or trace the board and add an inch or more for overhang) onto material and cut out.

3. With the wrong side of the material facing you, sew on elastic. Make sure to stretch the elastic as much as you can while sewing. Go back and stitch again to make sure it is secure.

4. Place foam on board and cover with new cover.


This was my embarrassing old cover. I washed it and all of the elastic came out. The kittens also tore up the foam underneath (it was only 1/4" thick). It was definitely time for a new cover!!

Men's Shirt to Toddler Dress

I started making this dress for Jaiden about 2 years ago and forgot all about it. Today when I was going through some material, I found it! I decided I wasn't going to put it off any longer, and make it for Arya.

I found the instructions on Craftster from Cheytown. If you have sewing knowledge, the instructions are fairly easy to follow. I made some changes to the dress by not adding trim to the top, I just turned it down and hemmed it. I did not add trim to the bottom, I just used pinking shears to finish. And, I made the dress a lot shorter than the instructions stated, I am not a fan of long dresses on my girls.

Lounge Around Towel

I made this towel for Ryan because he loves to lounge around in a towel after his bath. Okay, I know TMI (too much information), but I wanted to explain my reasoning. Also, Ryan (and I) have a hard time trying to find towels that actually fit abound us. Not that we are "large" people, Ryan has a little more to love around his waist, so it's hard to find a towel that comfortable.

The great thing about this towel is, you can make it as big as you need to fit! If you need 4 towels, not a big deal, it will still look great! Plus, this is a pretty basic sewing project, just straight lines!

I bought the $1.50 towels at Walmart, so they are a little shorter than probably a more expensive towel. It took 1 1/2 towels to make this one for Ryan. Make sure your towels do not have any designs on the ends because of how the new towel will be put together.

Supplies:
Towels (1 1/2 will get you an approx 36"-44" waist)
1" elastic -length is your measurement minus 3"

1. Cut the towels in half. Even though I used a full towel, I still cut it in half to make it flow better for the finished look.

2. Cut of the finished edge of the short ends on the towel. Be sure to leave the edges on the long sides, this will be the finished edge of the bottom of your new towel.

3. Sew your towel sections together to form a ring.

4. Turn down about 1 1/2" to form a casing for the elastic and sew it, leaving a small opening to fit the elastic. Insert elastic with a safety pin. Sew elastic together and sew opening closed.

5. Flip right side out and admire your new towel that actually fits!!

Our Weekend

Friday night we took the girls to a free festival a local church hosts every year. After it got dark, the city let off some fireworks. We all had a good time!




On Sunday, Ryan and I went down to Conway, Kentucky for a family reunion on my dad's side. It certainly was an interesting trip! Ryan had never been "down in the holler" before so this was a new experience for him. My family is from Jackson County, one county over, so I had been down there several times before. Ryan saw things that a "city boy" just isn't used to!



It rained horribly! Lightening struck about 200 yards from where we were eating. I have never heard such a loud sound and seen such a bright light! This "river" is the dirt road we had to use to leave the reunion.

This is a retainer wall made out of old tires.

I just thought this was interesting! It's a beautiful house with an old, ugly trailer out front. (I realize they are just using the trailer until the house it built, but it's still interesting!)

This is the downtown Cincinnati area I took from the car as we were driving by. It was so good to back in Ohio after driving 300 miles!!

This is the stadium where the Cincinnati Bengals attempt to play football.


We had a great time, but were so glad to be back home! It's good to get away, but so nice to come home!

Introducing...

Ebie


D'Argo



Ebie (pronounced E-B)is the kitten Raven brought home the other night. We estimate him to be about 7 weeks old. Ryan fell in love with him because he reminds Ryan of his old cat, Tiger. We were calling him Freebie at first because we didn't have a name for him. Arya was calling him and it sounded like "EB", so that's how he got his name.

D'Argo was a gift from one of our neighbors. We had told our neighbor what had happened with Stormy, and he brought this kitten over to us Sunday and told us to give it to the girls. He has already been neutered and has been microchipped, a big plus! Ryan named D'Argo from one of our favorite TV series, Farscape. D'Argo is the same age as Raven, 3 months old.

Anti-Advertising Totes

I found these bags the other day while web searching. I thought these are so neat and considering how inexpensive they are, just too great not to share!

A BIG THANKS to Kathleen for allowing me post her idea and instructions!!!

Here's what she said, "LOVE inexpensive reusable shopping bags, don't love advertising the local establishment - in this case Walmart. So I covered it up, with fun fabric. Here's how ..."

Supplies:
2 - 50¢ reusable shopping bags from Walmart
1 fat quarter
ruler, rotary cutter and matte - or scissors and ruler
blue bobbin thread - as close as you can come to matching the color of the bag - if you care, if you don't, any color will be fine.
coordinating or matching thread for the top.
Iron
Sewing machine

1. Iron out any wrinkles or creases in your fat quarter.
2. Cut the fat quarter into four strips 4.5" x 22".
3. Sew two strips together along the 4.5" edge, matching the design of the fabric as best you can to hide the seam. Finished strip should be 4.5 x 40ish
4. Trim any excess so seam is 1/4".
5. Iron down 1/4" - 3/8" of raw edge, on both of the long sides of your strip of fabric.
6. Pin fabric strip over printed Walmart logo, starting and stopping, in the side gusset panel of the bag. Use a ruler to measure ~ 5" from the top of the bag to insure your fabric strip straight all the way around your bag. I found that the exact measurement varied from bag to bag, as the logo must have shifted a bit during the printing/sewing process.
7. Trim fabric leaving 1/2" overlap, plus 1/2" to turn under. Pin in place.
8. Sew fabric to bag, sewing, 1/8" from the edge. Sew down overlap flap.
9. Reinforce pre-stitched side seams of bag and handles if desired.


Again, a BIG Thanks to Kathleen!! Be sure to visit her site,Tiny Stitches

Star Spangled Dress

Last night I realized that I didn't get the girls anything to wear for the 4th of July! I knew I could go get an outfit, but I wanted something more than just something to wear once. I found this fabric at Walmart for $2.44 a yard and thought it was perfect! I am in the process of making them matching dresses to wear to the festival we are going to tomorrow night.

I made my own pattern for the dress. It is a lot like the Pillowcase Dresses I made last summer, with the exception of a more A-Line type skirt than the straight line. If you are uncomfortable making your own pattern, you could buy New Look 6578. Just use the front panel of the dress and cut straight across the neck line instead of making a scoop and straps.


I think the best, and cheapest, way to make a pattern is to buy the paper bag looking wrapping paper Dollar Tree sells. It works great!

Supplies:
1 yd. material
60" bias tape/ binding
12" thin elastic ( I think I used 1/4")
pattern paper/pattern

1. Fold your paper in half and make your pattern. The pattern shown is for Arya's dress; she is about a 2T. Fold your material in half and place pattern on top. Cut out. Repeat for back of dress.



2. Sew the front and back together, right sides together, from the bottom of the arms down. Fold over about an 1" on the front and the back to make a casing for the elastic. From here, I followed the directions of the Pillowcase Dress starting at #5 to the end.


I made my own Bias Tape for this, but you could buy it also. I have $2.50 invested in each dress!

Furry Flip Flops

My mom made these furry flip flops for the girls and they just love them!
They are really easy to make and right now, you can get flip flops on sale at Hobby Lobby for $0.50! All you do is wrap yarn around the strap of the flip flop! There is are endless possibilities with the huge assortment of yarn and different colored flip flops! You could even mix two colors for a totally different look.