DIY Super Hero Towels

Because who wouldn't want those?

I know what you're thinking,

"Meg!!! Stop with the towels and bath accessories already!"

But in all fairness, my nephews have a super hero obsession. and a super hero bathroom, for that matter...

sooo....

they obviously needed these.

Not to mention, this again fell into the realm of "quick and easy" DIY Christmas gifts

and are making feel a bit less guilty about not making things this year for the bulk of my family.

Once again, I'm going to get real with you here and say that I would post a tutorial,

but it would be an insult to tutorials. They're that simple.

Strip of fabric (these are about 8" wide to include the most heroes possible).

Iron under.

Sew.

Serge edges.

For those of you that sew, you know that licensed fabrics can get really expensive and don't go on sale too often,

so when I found this on sale and could use a coupon on top of it, I snatched it up.

I got a lot of bang for my buck, too, since it's just one strip on each towel.

Super bonus: I got the towels on Black Friday for 1.50 each.

Total cost was under $10 for two towels.

Not bad.

I, of course, got the nephews something else to go with the towels.

Something "for fun", perhaps.

But hopefully these will make bath time a little more fun, too. :)

Quick and Easy Grandparents' Gift

I'm alive!

It feels like I haven't posted in a year!

I have been really busy here with Christmas orders for my Etsy shop,

trying to stay on top of my household chores (although I'm critically losing that battle),

and maybe just maybe trying to squeeeeeze in some time for my own holiday gifting.

I take this time to apologize to my family:

you will most likely not be getting anything handmade, as I'm too busy making something handmade for someone else's family. : /

Apparently, I can't have my cake and eat it, too.

Anywayz,

I thought I would return to you all with a gift that I did manage to complete for my own family.

 Pros:
It's fast.
It's easy.
Total cost was less than $5.
It'll make your heart feel oh so warm and cozy.

Cons:

none.

don't be a scrooge.

This project was so simple that posting a tutorial would be a mockery to tutorials.

I purchased the wooden Christmas tree (it already had the mounting hardware on the back).

I purchased the stars (and have approximately 10 million left over).

Painted them in green and metallic paints, respectively.

Then, I wrote on the stars and glued them to the tree,

making sure to leave plenty of extra stars for "expansion" (if ya catch ma drift).

Finally I added the tag with a verse of Scripture written on it. I found it particularly appropriate because of the stars on the tree and the fact that my mother in law LOVES the seashore.

Done and done.

Hope she likes it.

Advent Calendar Revisited

 

 

 

 

Hello interwebs.

 

 

 

 

If you were tuned in last year for my Jesse Tree Advent Calendar posts, then you can probs just disregard this whole post.

If you weren't, or if you're of the beautiful few that have asked me for details,

it's your lucky day... ahem.

 

 

 

 

I love love love Advent and Christmas. a lot.

And I love Advent calendars, but last year I wanted one that was more biblically "reason for the season" based.

So I made this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 24 ornaments so it doesn't aactually run the liturgical season of Advent which changes every year. Rather, it begins on the 1st of December and ends on Christmas Eve (like most Advent calendars).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the individual ornaments and scriptural references.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day One: Creation

Genesis 1:1-31; 2:1-4

 

Day Two: Adam and Eve

Genesis 2:7-9 and 18-24

Day Three: The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:1-7 and 23-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Four: Noah

Genesis 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22

 

Day Five: Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3

 

Day Six: Isaac

Genesis 22:1-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Seven: Jacob

Genesis 25:1-34; 28:10-15

 

Day Eight: Joseph

Genesis 37:23-28; 45:3-15

 

Day Nine: Moses

Exodus 3:1-15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Ten: Samuel

1 Samuel 3:1-18

 

Day Eleven: Jesse

1 Samuel 16:1-13

 

Day Twelve: David

1 Samuel 17:12-51

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13: Solomon

1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28

 

Day 14: Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

 

Day 15: Mary

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

 

Day 16: John the Baptist

Mark 1:1-8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 17: Jesus is Wisdom

Sirach 24:2; Wisdom 8:1

 

Day 18: Jesus is Lord

Exodus 3:2; 20:1

 

Day 19: Jesus is Flower of Jesse

Isaiah 11:1-3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 20: Jesus is Key of David

Isaiah 22:22

 

Day 21: Jesus is Radiant Dawn

Psalm 19:6-7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 22: Jesus is King of the Gentiles

Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20

 

Day 23: Jesus is Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:14; 33:22

 

Day 24: Jesus is Light of the World

John 1:1-14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each ornament has the name/theme of that day embroidered on the back.

 

And then I attached ribbon loops to the tops of each for hanging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I embroidered the numbers on squares and then made those into pockets at the bottom of the banner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I sewed a channel in the top and fed a dowel through.

I also drilled holes in each side of the dowel to string a ribbon through for mounting on the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want even more details?

For the original posts:

 

Click here for Part One (Days 1-12)

Click here for Part Two (Days 13-24)

Click here for Part Three (Making the banner and the finished product)

 

Are any you making an Advent calendar? Or have you already made one?

I would love to see pics!
I you want to share, email them to me at handmadebymeg@gmail.com
and we'll have an Advent calendar sharefest here on the ole blog.

Storytime

I think maybe it my famous blog friend, Jodi, that described the months before Christmas as

"the time when crafting blogs fall silent"

Amen, sister.

 

Things have been so so so busy here.

I've been creating like crazy!

And I'm psyched to share all of my stuff with you all,

but alas...

They're gifts!

Don't open til Christmas morning!!!

So things will definitely be quiet here on the blog front

as most all of my free time will be spent sewing, gluing, wrapping, and whatnot

(darn).

:)

 

 

So no craft sharing today.

Instead, I wanted to share a couple stories (for whoever will listen)

that truly had me humbled this week and last.

 

Story One:

Before Mass on Sunday, Chris and I were trying to decide if we would take one or two Angel Tree Tags this year. For those of you who may not know, many many churches do an "Angel Tree" this time of year. The tree is filled with ornaments, and each ornament represents a child (or adult) who is in need. You purchase a gift for that person. Simple. Great.

 

Our angel tree benefits a ministry called the East End Cooperative Ministry. I love this ministry. They help kids. They help adults. They give shelter to the homeless. They feed the hungry. They give winter coats to those in need. They share dress clothes, resume writing and interview courses, and rides to men and women who have fallen on hard times and need a job. Awesome. Really awesome.

 

Anywho, Chris and I get an ornament every year, and I was really hoping to purchase for two this year, but with everything else going on it was going to be a stretch. So after Mass we're standing in line to get an ornament and I see one for a 12 year old boy who asked for a winter coat (probably because he doesn't have one). So I pick it up, and just as I'm about to pat myself on the back for being so "selfless" (yeah right), I see another for a 10 year old boy who asked for... wait for it... a book.

They tell these kids that the can ask for WHATEVER THEY WANT!

And he wants a book!

And a couple hours earlier, I was struggling to come up with things to put on my son's Christmas list

because he wants for nothing.

Okay, God... very clear, thank you. We're getting two.

 

Humbled.

 

Story Two:

My junior high youth group is a really great collection of kids.

Don't get me wrong, they're a bunch of prepubescent crazies, but I love them.

We had a particularly great Bible Study last night.

Pat on the back, Meg!

 

but no wait!

(and this is a real conversation I had with one of my volunteers afterward)

 

Volunteer: Meg, there's a chance that I'll be out for a few weeks in December.

Meg: Is everything okay?

Volunteer: Oh yeah, I'm just having some tests done.

Meg: Yikes. Anything I can pray for in particular?

Volunteer: Well I'm just fine, but I'm being tested to give my kidney to someone.

Meg: What? That's nuts. A family member?

Volunteer: No. I actually don't know her, but she's dying of kidney failure, and I have two so...

Meg: How did you even hear about this?

Volunteer: There was a bulletin announcement, and I felt like it was for me, so they tested my blood and I'm a perfect match!

(and the conversation continued)

 

I mean, really, God? A bulletin anouncement.

 I'm the youth minister. I'm over here singing "Call Me Maybe" and I think I'm the one doing ministry??? This guy is donating a major organ to a total stranger!

Via bulletin anouncement!

 

Double humbled.

 

If you made it this far, congratulations.

I don't usually share overly personal blog posts,

but this was a such a kick in the pants kind of week, that I just had to share.

Because lets be honest. I need a lot of work.

 



Pardon My Progress

Soooo... I haven't posted anything in awhile,

And I would like to give excuse by sharing a quote from the wise, Jodi, at Sew Fearless,

"Christmas: when crafts blogs go silent."

I have been ITCHING to share some photos of the crafts that have been keeping me so busy...

but it will have to wait until after Christmas...
I'm buried under fabric in my studio right now. January will definitely be the month of cleaning and organizing that space, as well as replenishing my stash for my Etsy shop.

But for now: CHRISTMAS, and I am having SO MUCH FUN making gifts for everyone.

I can't give anything away to the recipients just yet, though, so you're left with vague close ups of crafting supplies.



Not to worry (I know you were). All will be revealed in due time, and I promise to get some cool tutorials up.



Some of the gifts turned out great, and I am PSYCHED about it.
Others, I guess I'll have to secretly post to Craft Fail. :)

In the meantime, here's something that will change your life for the better:

My mom's (grandmothers?) pecan tart recipe, a bite sized taste of my sweet home, Georgia,

which, by the way, is the leading domestic source of pecans. Eat that, Texas.

but I digress...

Here's the recipe. It's simple. It's awesome. Enjoy.

Cream 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter and 1 package (3 oz.) of cream cheese, softened. Add 2 cups of sifted flour. Using mini muffin pans, shape 1 tsp. of dough into each cup and press into the sides, making a little cup shape. Flute the edges with a fork if you're feeling ambitious... I was not.

In a bowl mix together 3/4 C. brown sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 2/3 C. pecans.
Put a tiny bit of filling in each dough cup (it will rise a little).

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 250 degrees and bake for 10 minutes more. Remove to a rack to cool.

Advent Calendar- Part FINISHED!

I'm in love! I'm in love! and I don't care who knows it!

With my Jesse Tree Advent Calendar.

And better still is that I finished it [not before the beginning of Advent but] before the 1st!

If you've missed the details on the ornaments, check them out...

Days 1-12
click here

Days 13-24
click here





For the pockets, I embroidered the numbers on light blue squares.
This took quite a bit of time, but I think it was worth it.

Then, I backed the blue squares with more white felt.
I wasn't planning on this step, but it turned out much better, so I'm pleased with it.

phew... 24 squares later...





I spaced the squares on my red felt for the banner


Note: I got mine from the remnant pile at the fabric store.You need a good amount of it, and the felt by the yard is usually nice and thick, so I'm hoping that it will wear well.





I pinned them all in place, double-checked that I had them in numerical order since my brain has turned to much, and sewed the left, bottom, and right to make a pocket.






Next, I placed my ornaments on some green felt and cut ouf the tree around them.

I marked spots for my bottons and sewed those on....

I found a scrap of brown felt for the trunk...


Then pinned the trunk and the tree on the banner in place.

I hand-sewed them on with matching threads.
I sewed the edges (about a 1/2 inch seam allowance) on the left, right and bottom,
and sewed the top, leaving an inch so I could put the dowel through.
The dowel was the only thing that I didn't have on hand, but it was 99 cents so I didn't feel so badly about it.
I sawed off one end to shorten it to the right length, drilled a hole in each side and threaded matching ribbon through, and done!





Put my ornaments inside...










and it's finished!

Now, we're just waiting for tomorrow to begin the countdown!







But for a sneak peek...



I'm pretty psyched.








If anyone would like my exact dimensions for the banner or some templates for the ornaments, I would be happy to provide them

(with the condition that it probably won't happen until I get more Christmas presents finished)

Just leave me a comment below, and I can post them for you. :)

Happy Advent, everyone!

Advent Calendar- Part Two

As promised...

here are the ornaments for days 13-24 of my

Jesse Tree Advent Calendar.

If you missed days 1-12,

click here...

Day 13: Solomon

1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28

Day 14: Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

Day 15: Mary

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

Day 16: John the Baptist

Mark 1:1-8

On December 17th, the Church begins the "O" Antiphons. The following ornaments are based off of these antiphons from the Liturgy of the Hours.

Day 17: Jesus is Wisdom

Sirach 24:2; Wisdom 8:1

Day 18: Jesus is Lord

Exodus 3:2; 20:1

Day 19: Jesus is Flower of Jesse

Isaiah 11:1-3

Day 20: Jesus is Key of David

Isaiah 22:22

Day 21: Jesus is Radiant Dawn

Psalm 19:6-7

Day 22: Jesus is King of the Gentiles

Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20

Day 23: Jesus is Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:14; 33:22

Day 24: Jesus is Light of the World

John 1:1-14

So it's crunch time! I'm getting the pockets embroidered right now for the ornaments to live in before their time comes... phew. slowly but surely...

14.5 down, 9.5 to go!

Tune in next week for a post on the whole shebang.

I'm pretty excited about getting the calendar portion together.

Let's just hope it's finished by December 1st!