Diggers on the Brain

This week has been a week of starting projects. I have so many ideas rattling around in my head I just need to get them out. Mostly it's Easter and Little Boo's birthday bring out those ideas that just need to be created.

For Easter I've started two dump truck Easter baskets, one for each boy. I got started, again, on quilts that were suppose to be Christmas presents, but will now be Easter presents. I'm also thinking I'll throw in a crayon roll for each boy. Surprisingly they don't have any crayon rolls.

For the Little Boo's birthday I had to create a stuffed digger. I saw this one (pictured below) while surfing the net and I had to make a stuffed digger for Boo. Since I drew the plans (pattern?) out, I just keep thinking: diggers, loaders, rollers! How can I make those thing too! It's been occupying way too much of my thought process.

Along with all of that going on in my brain I also managed to get some work done on my donation to Angelheart Children's Shelter and do a total dog-scape. Look at my poor dog! He's so embarrassed but he'll be happier when it starts to warm up and he can swim instead of sink. All that furry fluff just drags him down.

Making Crayons

Crayons are fun to make! Crayons are easy to make! Fun shaped crayons are a thousand more times fun to draw with than regular crayons and when they have swirly awesome colors they are ever more fun! 

Supplies: Crayons and a Mold 

The mold I used is from Ikea for 2 dollars. By the way Ikea is having a spring break special, free pasta food for the kiddles along with events everyday from 12-3.

Take all those little itty bitty crayon bits from the bottom of the crayon box or de-paper big crayons and break them into small pieces. Let your little helpers put all those small bits into the molds.

Put some foil down (or use a cheap pan that you don't mind if it gets ruined because you are all out of foil....) to save your oven from crayon goo!! Pre-heat the oven to 250 and let those crayons cook for about 10 to 15 minuets.

Once all the crayons are melted down pull those bad boys out of the oven and let them chill. At this point I left the crayons to cool down and took the boys out to eat and run out more Spring Break/No-Longer-Sick Energy.

Once we returned to the Castle we popped those fishy crayons right out of the mold and broke their little fishy tails right off!

On a second try I ran the mold under some hot water 

and then the fish crayons (tails and all) popped right out. 

 

And look how cute they are!

I'm already seeing the potential for the Littlest Boo's birthday party: Digger Shaped Crayons! And look molds! 

Oh, yes, those broken fish? I saved them! I put them back into the mold and made a second batch of crayons. Their tails reattached perfectly. =)

Beware though, any mold you do use will be forever a crayon mold as the crayon will stick to it's sides.

 

Crayon Roll

My Kyle got invited to his first birthday party! That means mom (ie: me) either has to go out and buy some overpriced toy or create something from an already large fabric stash. With gas prices the way they are right now I’m making the gifts. 

There are a lot of crayon roll tutorials out there. A LOT! Well, let me add to it with one of my own.

Supplies:

3 pieces of fabric cut 13 x 5

1 piece fusible webbing 13 x 5

1 piece of ribbon cut 24 inches

This pattern uses a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Level: Beginner

Pick the fabric you want the pocket attached too and iron the fusible webbing to the wrong side of it

.

Fold your pocket fabric in half hot dog wise (that’s long ways for all you over 4 year olds) and iron flat.

Pin the pocket fabric to the fabric with the webbing so that the sides and bottom raw edges are touching. Your pocket fold should be on the top. 

Starting 1 ¼ inches from the side sew a line. Remember to back stitch at the top to secure the thread! Sew a line every inch until you have 11 lines.

Next fold the ribbon in half and pin it right in the middle of one side of the pocket fabric piece. Take the last poor unused piece of fabric and place it on top of the pocket piece, right sides together. Make sure you pin the ribbon out of the way! Sew along the edge leaving a 3 inch gap at the bottom for turning. Clip the corners and turn it right side out. Iron flat.

Sew along the edge of the crayon roll as close to the edge as you can and you’re done!

Now admire your work. 

Look at that cute crayon roll with all the rainbow coloring crayons in it. Just ready to go! These are great for little ones starting school, travelling, or gifts like this little crayon roll is to become! 

And look at the cuteness all rolled up with its big floppy bow!