Halloween Bats Tutorial

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Every year, my family and I break out our big orange and black box full of Halloween decorations, cauldrons and punched aluminum candle holders. Folded and tucked into the side of the box are these sweet bats we made years and years ago. They’ve adorned several front doors, including our current home of almost ten years.

Halloween Bat Door Decoration

Super easy and adorable to boot, these anything-but-scary Halloween bats take about five minutes to whip up.

Supplies:

Felt Bat Template
1 piece of black acrylic felt for each bat
scissors
pin
hot melt glue gun & glue
google eyes
round magnets

Gather your supplies

Fold the acrylic felt lengthwise in half. Pin the Bat pattern on the fold.

Cut around the bat shaped pattern, leaving the fold intact. Fold fabric out.

Use hot melt glue to attach google eyes, being careful to use only a dot of glue. Use pattern placement as a guide.

Use the same method to add the magnets to the back of the bat, using the placement shown on the pattern.

Two sizes of eyes.

Looking great!

Once the glue has dried, your batty friends are ready to display!

This is part of my “Way Back Craft” series’; patterns, crafts, tutorials and general crafty memories before the days of this craft blog.

Happy Crafting!

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this tutorial also available on cut out + keep

Chocolate Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

And Now For Something Completely Different: Crocheting Along

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Sometimes, when the paper pieced designs aren’t coming easily, or my mind is filled with stress or other things that occupy my time, I find succumbing to another designer’s pattern a lovely way to unwind and unravel the tangled strands of my brain.

Lion Brand has been hosting a Crochet Along for a lovely Sampler Afghan. It grabbed my attention at once as being a project that would be fun and portable, which is how I usually like my crochet! Using their pattern, I created my own sampler, with Harry Potter-inspired colors! The actual idea I had was to make an afghan that resembled the four House scarves. The project, from beginning to end, took about two weeks. For lots more awesome variations, check out the Crochet Along Flickr Group. There’s a black, gray and white version by chooosy40 that I really like.

Hogwarts Scarf-ghan

Another great project that I just finished last night was for my dear hubby, who is currently running Call of Cthulhu with his gaming group. Inspired by his eagerness for props, what better than Cthulhu himself? Wee, evil Cthulhu made from this pattern. He’s my first animiguri and while it was a little hard on my hands, I’m quite please with the way he turned out.

Tiny Cthulhu

I regulary quilt and crochet for a local blanket making charity, The Linus Connection, but I’m always on the lookout for other ways that I contribute with my crafts. Coats & Clark’s Special Olympics Scarf Project caught my eye and I just had to make a scarf! Knitters and crocheters can use any pattern they choose, but I opted for their recommended pattern, which is the same as their Wizard Scarf pattern. I’ve made quite a few of those for my family and fellow Harry Potter lovers, so I knew the pattern was a fast and easy one. It worked up really quickly and I made sure to tie one of my “handmade by” labels to it with a note for good luck at the Games to whoever receives it!

Special Olympics Scarf

One of my Livejournal friends, caitirin, has turned me on to an excellent new yarn source! Angelicrafts Discount Yarn offers a variety of brands of yarn at discount prices. Just to give them a try, I ordered the Red Heart Mill Ends “Odds and Ends” box. The price of the UPS shipping was totally paid for by the sheer amount of yarn packed into the box. It’s all store-quality, without the sleeve and came with a personal note from the owner, which I thought was a very nice touch. I will definitely be ordering from them again, once I deplete my now ample supply of yarn!

Yarn from angelicrafts

Another fantastic Livejournal friend of mine, the multi-talented crochet goddess, hp5freak, shared a pattern recently for a Tiny Witches Hat . It’s an adaptation of another pattern that was written so that the hat was made in two parts. Her is easy-peasy and is made all in one piece. I had a brilliant time making this. It whips up in no time and is just the right size to put on a tiny pumkin. This pattern also introduced me to the Magic Adjustable Ring (also called Magic Loop), which I had never tried before but know I will now have a million and one uses for!

Wee Witch Hat

I’m currently hooking another Lion Brand Sampler Afghan, this one a smaller version and in baby colors for The Linus Connection. I’ll be keeping track of my progress on Ravelry. 🙂

Happy crafting!

Video Tutorial: Freezer Paper Stencils

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I love t-shirts. I love them in a BIG way. I love to reconstruct, redo and, most of all, stencil my t-shirts!

Some time ago, I was asked by some friends for a stenciling tutorial. What I ended up posting was a video tutorial covering how to make a basic freezer paper stencil. The shirt shown was for my partner in a Twilight swap I participated in on craftster.

I hope you enjoy the video and give stenciling a try if you haven’t already!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Recipe: Chocolate Saucepan Cookies, a.k.a. Cow Patties

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This is one of my mom’s recipes. I can’t even guess how many times she made these chocolatey wonders for my brother, sister and I when we were growing up.

They are amazingly simple, yummy and cheap to make and I love making them for my own family.

One caution for those that like to change recipes and use what you have (as I do!) – you can’t substitute anything for the instant oats or the cookies won’t set properly and you’ll have a gooey mess.

Chocolate Saucepan Cookies
better known as “Cow Patties” or “Mud Cookies”
by my mom, Leona

8 tbs (one stick) butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar
4 tbs bakers cocoa
3 cups quick-cooking oats (also called instant oats)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter (optional…extra yummy with crunchy!)

In a medium saucepan, bring butter, milk, sugar and coca to a boil. Boil for two minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and immediately add oats, vanilla and peanut butter. Stir well. Drop by 1/4 cup-fulls on to wax paper (an ice cream scoop works well).

Allow to cool completely. The cookies will get firm and lose their shine as they cool.

Store in an airtight container. Try not to eat too many…or you’ll get a tummy ache!

boiling in the saucepan

Enjoy!

Way Back Craft: Golden Snitch Antennae Ball

T-Shirt Reconstruction: Reverse Applique Window

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My son got this great orange t-shirt at the science fair he participated in last year. Unfortunately, it was way too small and *gasp* not black, which is his favorite t-shirt color. We talked it through and he agreed that if it was part of a black shirt, he’d definitely wear it.

I used one of my favorite “save a t-shirt” recon techniques, a reverse applique window. It’s easy peasy and takes only about 15 minutes to complete. The sewing machine and rotary cutter are totally optional here. This recon could easily be done with just plain old scissors and a needle and thread.

You’ll Need:

2 t-shirts
straight pins
chalk
ruler
rotary cutter (optional)
scissors
sewing machine with ball point needle OR needle & thread

Slit the shirt that will be in the “window” up each side and open out.

Using a rotary cutter and ruler OR a ruler and chalk with scissors, cut a square out of the front of the window at least 1″ larger than the image on the shirt.

Turn the intact shirt inside out. Center the square with the image on it right side down on the inside front of the intact shirt. Pin clockwise – this makes it easier to remove the pins as you stitch.

Stitch around, removing the pins as you go so as not to stitch over them. If using a sewing machine, choose a stretch stitch.

Turn the shirt right side out. You can faintly see the stitching line here.

Draw a chalk line 1/4 – 1/2″ inside of the stitching line. This will be your cutting line.

Near one of the corners, pinch the fabric of the intact shirt away from the applique piece on the inside. Make sure you just have one layer of shirt. Cut a small hole with the scissors. Trim carefully towards the chalk line.

Cut around the chalk line and remove the center piece.

Voila! Reverse applique t-shirt!

Happy crafting!

Find my free patterns on Sewhooked & Fandom in Stitches.

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Recycled Cereal Box Labels

♥ Jennifer O

Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links to help cover the cost of my website. I thank you for your generous support. ♥

Recipe: Autumn Apple Cookies

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Sometimes, the best treats are the ones that you never planned to make.

My kids have been under the weather and everyone has been feeling a little low. I wanted to make a treat to bring up the general household spirit, but a quick rummage through the kitchen (and the knowledge that tomorrow is my grocery day!) determined that I had precious little to work with. Among other things, I found a couple of apples and some nuts. Throw that together with some basic baking supplies and Autumn Apple Cookies were born.

Sweet and a little bit fluffy, they hit the spot and made everyone feel just a tiny bit better!

Autumn Apple Cookies
by Jennifer Ofenstein
http://www.sewhooked.org

3/4 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup whole oats
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup apples, peeled, cored & finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream shortening and sugar, add milk. Blend in eggs one at a time. In a separate bowl, mix flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to creamed mixture. Stir in vanilla. Fold in apples and nuts.

Drop by teaspoonfuls (or with a cookie scoop) onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool two minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.

also posted on cut out + keep

Quilty Tie-In…

While we’re talking apples, how about an apple paper pieced block? It’s zero calories and just as fun to make!

For more patterns, visit Paper Piecing on sewhooked.

DIY Outside: Tire Swing

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From the first moment we saw our house, the biggest selling point were the trees. Huge, full-grown Live Oaks and an Elm that shade the back and side yards. Having kids, my first though was tire swing! My kids were too small at the time and then it took me ages to find a tire. I finally found a local thrift store that sells old tires for $5 each. I picked the best tire in their stock and our tire swing was born at last!

Recycle an Old Tire…Into a Tire Swing!
You’ll need:

old tire
3 large eye bolts with nuts
6 large washers (big enough for the bolt to go through)
4 Quick Links (rated for enough weight to hold the tire swing + kids)
3 pieces of chain, approximately 3′ long (rated for enough weight for a tire swing + kids)
chain to attach tire swing to tree (*see note below)
chalk
drill with large (3/4″ – 1″) bit
safety glasses

Mark three spots on the tire with chalk, equal distance apart. Wearing the safety goggles, drill holes in each spot.

On the opposite side of the tire, drill 3 or more holes. These are for drainage, so they don’t need to be as evenly spaced.

Insert one eye bolt in each of the first three holes. Screw the nut in place.

Add the Quick Link to one end of a 3′ piece of chain. Attach to the eye bolt. Repeat for each eye bolt.

Gather the other three ends of the chains and attach to another Quick Link.

Attach the quick link to a chain* hanging from the tree of your choice.

*Please note: The length and size of the chain will depend on the height of your tree. My swing is hanging from about 8′ of chain attached to the tree with a plastic coated heavy-duty chain and a Quick Link.

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