Tag Archives: easy

Self-Trimming Tissue Cover TUTORIAL

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As promised several Talk to Me Tuesdays ago, we have a super simple tutorial to make a self-trimmed tissue packet cover.

Don’t want trim? I have instructions for that, too!

I needed some instant gratification, so #tissuecovers.

Please note that this tissue cover is sized to fit Kleenex Facial Tissues. Mine are a generic version but are the same size as the Kleenex. Use the brand works for you.

Adjust the dimensions if needed. You can also play with quilt blocks and directional fabric as desired.

These little packets make great gifts, swap additions, and are perfect for keeping your tissues clean and safe in your bag or purse.

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First up! Self-Trimming Tisue Cover…

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You’ll need fabric in two colors. I’m using contrasting colors to make the lining and outside very obvious. For both the trimmed and non-trimmed version, the outside will be orange.

For TRIMMED Cover:

Lining/Trim – 5 3/4″ x 8 1/2″
Outside – 5 3/4″ x 6 1/2″

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With right sides together, line one end of OUTSIDE to one end of LINING/TRIM on the side that measures 5 3/4″.

Stitch a 1/4″ seam with backstitching at both ends.

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Line up opposite ends and repeat the 1/4″ seam with backstitching along the other 5 3/4″ side.

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Turn so that wrong sides of the fabric are together. Adjust so that each end of TRIM is approximately the same size.

Press.

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Using a ruler or rotary mat, fold right sides of the OUTSIDE together so that it is 3″ wide. If you’re using a rotary mat, you can align easily use the markings on your mat for this part. Edges should overlap in the approximate center.

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Once adjustments have been made to your liking and the width is 3″, pin or clip with sewing clips. Wonder Clips or Magic Clips work great. (I have both.)

Because this version has TRIM, you will not see the overturned edge during this step.

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Sew each end with a 1/4″ seam allowance, backstitching at the beginning and end.

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Clip corners & turn.

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Done!

See how the Lining/Trim makes a lovely accent? You can have fun playing with stripes, dots or other fun fabrics.

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Now, let’s make one that isn’t trimmed. We’ll use the same technique, but the fabric sizes will be reversed.

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You’ll need fabric in two colors. Just as before, the orange fabric is the OUTSIDE.

For UN-TRIMMED Cover:

Outside – 5 3/4″ x 8 1/2″
Lining – 5 3/4″ x 6 1/2″

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With right sides together, line one end of LINING to one end of OUTSIDE on the side that measures 5 3/4″.

Stitch a 1/4″ seam with backstitching at both ends.

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Line up opposite ends and repeat the 1/4″ seam with backstitching along the other 5 3/4″ side.

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Turn so that wrong sides of the fabric are together. Adjust so that each end is approximately the same width.

Press.

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Once adjustments have been made to your liking and the width is 3″, pin or clip with sewing clips.

Because this version doesn’t have TRIM, you’ll see the overturned edge during this step.

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Sew each end with a 1/4″ seam allowance, backstitching at the beginning and end.

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Clip Corners & Turn.

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Done!

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Recipe: Rice In The Box

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Rice.

It should be one of the easiest things in the world to make. And it is, really. Mainly, because I’ve started cooking it in the microwave.

Seriously! It works brilliantly and you can tweak the rice to go with whatever you like.

Rice In The Box

1 cup of white rice, any length grain (I’ve tried it with brown rice…it DOES NOT WORK, just fyi!)
1 3/4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs butter (optional…for that yummy, buttery flavor & shine!)

Add all ingredients to a round casserole dish with a lid. If you don’t have a round casserole, you can use a flat-bottomed round vessel with plastic wrap on top. Poke holes in the plastic for venting.

Microwave for 5 minutes on high, then 15 minutes on 50%. Leave the rice in the microwave for at least five minutes. Remove the lid carefully – there will be steam, so be careful.

Fluff with a fork or spoon and serve!

Variations:

Use chicken, beef or veggie broth instead of water, reduce salt to 1/4 tsp.

Add to cooked chicken

top with veggies or sauce

Use rice cooked with water for Rice Pudding!

My Mom’s Rice Pudding

1 c. rice, cooked
1 ½ c. milk
2 eggs, beaten
½ c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. nutmeg (optional)
1/4 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Instructions: Boil rice and milk over low heat, stirring often so you don’t scorch the milk. Slowly add eggs, sugar and vanilla, stirring constantly. * Pour into 1 ½ quart casserole. Mix spices and sprinkle on top. Place dish into a larger pan containing ½” water.

Bake 35 – 40 minutes at 350 degrees (F) or until knife inserted near edge comes out clean.

*optional – you can skip the oven and continue to cook until it’s a thick consistency. It gives the pudding a slightly different texture, but it’s still delicious!

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Recipe Review: Tortilla Soup

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The holy grail of soups in my world is Tortilla Soup (yes, capitalized, it’s that important!). We spent a very brief stint in the 1990s living in Southern California. The one thing I miss that I have never been able anywhere else is a Tortilla Soup as delicious as the variety I ate at Spoons in Tustin, CA.

I spent years ordering Tortilla Soup from every restaurant that we’ve visited. I’ve had some really good soups, including a creamy jalapeno tortilla that was eye-water and extremely delicious, but I’ve never found anything to rival Spoons’ recipe.

This is one of the versions I make at home. It is nothing like the fabled Spoons’ soup, but it’s still pretty darned good. It takes about five minutes to cook, too, which makes it even better on busy nights with music lessons and such that require the mom taxi to be on call.

Six Can Tortilla Soup

I first came across this recipe on allrecipes, but have since seen it in a number church and community cookbooks (something I collect). Wherever you find the recipe, it’s really hard to go wrong with!

1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth (I prefer using 1 32 oz carton of organic free-range chicken broth)
1 (10 ounce) can chunk chicken (I typically use leftovers, but this works, too!)
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained

Garnish: (not listed in the original recipe)

tortilla chips
grated cheese (sharp cheddar or Monterrey Jack are both excellent)
jalapenos (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Empty first five ingredients into a large cooking pot. Allow to simmer a couple of minutes and then ladle into bowls. Serve topped with garnish. This makes a fantastic side or starter. It’s great served with enchiladas, rice, or just by itself!

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Candy Cups for Giving

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Shared by my aunt, Amy, several years ago, Candy Cups have become a gift-giving standard for me. I’ve made them for Christmas and birthdays and with all sorts of candy.

They’re easy, inexpensive and make gorgeous gifts for the hard-to-shop for. Think teachers, friends and anyone that likes candy. Have a diabetic in your life? Sugar-free candy works, too!

Once all your supplies are gathered, it’ll take you about an hour to make one candy cup.

You’ll need:

Glass or Mug (I prefer clear, but any kind will work, the heavier the better!)
Candy with loose or twisted wrappers (example used approximately 40 oz. of peppermints)
Styrofoam ball (size depends on your glass or mug)
Filler for the cup – recycled paper or candy
Bamboo Skewer
Scissors
Hot Melt Glue
Greening Pins (also available at the hobby store with the floral accessories)
Ribbon
Cellophane

supplies

Push the bamboo skewer into the Styrofoam ball, all the way through the top. Put it in the glass to and push down until the ball is snug in the glass.

Snip off the excess skewer with your scissors.

With the skewer still in the glass, fill the bottom of with candy. Ideas are M&Ms, Hershey Kisses or Peppermints (though you could really use any candy). Another option is shredded paper, but the candy on the ball will make the cup top-heavy, so having a heavier filler keeps it from tipping over and gives the gifted a sweet bonus.

Place a small dot of hot melt glue on either side of the rim of the cup. Gently press styrofoam ball onto glue, holding in place until it sets.

candies in twisted wrappers

greening pins

Use greening pins to add candy to ball by poking pins through the loose end near the twist of the candy wrapper. Depending on the candy, you can get two or three on each pin.

Start at the bottom and work up to the top, going in circles.

part of first round

first round complete

first round, from the top

second round done

second round from the top

third round done

third round from the top

Fill in any holes with more candy & greening pins.

Final round complete, all the holes filled in.

Wrap in cellophane and embellish with a bow or ribbon. The cellophane is optional, but it provides insurance that your candy will get from point “A” to point “B” intact.

Gift it!

Variation with M&Ms and Coca-Cola glasses

Variations by Amy Maxey – toffee coffee & bubble gum soda glass.

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

Blanket Stitched Christmas Stocking Ornament

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December is almost here and that means a couple of things for my family. We have several family birthdays, including my son, brother and brother-in-law.

We eat too much, get to see family we haven’t seen for ages, and we craft. While crafting in itself is a daily thing for us, December crafting is different. We make ornaments for friends, family and ourselves. Just something about the cold weather, hot chocolate and waiting for Santa makes the crafting a little bit more special.

On that note, today’s craft is an old favorite of mine. It was originally designed to be an easy ornament to make during my daughter’s elementary school days. I wanted something that was inexpensive, took very little materials and would be easy to teach an eight year old girl how to do.

This simple blanket stitched Christmas Stocking is all of these things. The knots might take a little adult assistance, but other than that, it’s a craft easy enough for anyone old enough to thread a needle!

Make it as is and you’ll have a 4″ stocking ornament. Enlarge for a larger stocking; personalize, decorate or embellish!

Supplies:

felt stocking pattern
felt in two colors (I used red and sparkly white)
scissors
pattern
embroidery floss
needle with a large eye
ruler or ruler and rotary cutter

Cut pattern on the fold of red felt.
Cut a strip of white felt 1 ” wide by long enough to go across both sides of stocking (4″ shown).

Align white felt across top of red so that the tops are flush.

Attach the white felt by stitching across the bottom with a blanket stitch.
(How to blanket stitch from futuregirl.com)

Optional – personalize or decorate while the stocking is still open. I’ve left this one plain.

The back should look like this.

Fold stocking so white felt is outside. Pin in place.

Starting on the open side of stocking, stitch using a blanket stitch. You can hide the knot by starting under the white felt. Push the needle through the three layers of felt and then take another stitch through all four layers before beginning the blanket stitch.

Continue around all the way around, tying a knot on the inside top.

This is what you should have so far.

Continue blanket stitching around the top of the stocking, catching both the inside and outside layer in the stitch. Make sure to leave the stocking itself open.

Once you’ve made it all the way around, knot off the embroidery floss then make a loop about 1 1/2″ – 2″ long. Make a knot inside the stocking. Take a stitch and knot again.

The pattern is for a 3″ stocking, but it can easily be sized up or down depending on your needs.

featured on Dabbled‘s Christmas ornament post

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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

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.

T-Shirt Reconstruction: Reverse Applique Window
by Jennifer Ofenstein
http://www.sewhooked.org

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.