Life with Poot-n-Toots

the *mother* of all treat bag posts....

O'kay ladies you've got 24 days to get your treat bags ready for this Halloween.

If you missed last year's tutorial you can find it HERE and if you want to remember all of your amazing bags you can find them all in the archives (on the left look under October 2009)

8 of you participated in making 12 bags in last year's treat-bag throw down and I'm expecting a few more of you to join in the fun this year since we've got some more babies in our blog-reading crowd.

So, to get your creative juices flowing, I've scoured the internet (and ETSY) high and low to find some awesome treat bags to inspire you.

For those of you that will have little princesses, check out these amazing bags at Kids Bowtique. She's got bags for Snow White, Tinkerbell, Jesse the Cowgirl (from Toy Story), Alice in Wonderland and many, many more. I think the tulle is super fun and girly.

 

Will you have a Frankenstein? I love how this gal, made the ears and bolts come out of the seams.

Will you have a monster or two this halloween? How about making one of these cool bags. I'm sure the kids would get a kick out of 'feeding' the monster.

For the Mommas of boys, will you be having a skeleton this Halloween? This bag is beyond cool.  I love how fun and funky it is.

This skeleton bag could work for a boy or girl (with or without the bows)

If you'd rather not have to make a personalized back each year, why not make ONE general personalized bag that can be re-used each year.

This Jack-o-lantern bag is adorable and seems easy enough to make.

This oneis super cute too (heck save time, and buy it from etsy, it's a mere 7 buck-a-roos)

I think this little candy corn bag is adorable. It would be easy and cheap enough to make a batch to give out to friends.

This bagis super girly too. If you're not crafty, consider buying a personalized bag from a site like etsy instead of a uber store like pottery barn.

With a few Halloween inspired fabrics you could make a personalized name bag fairly easily.

I LOVE this bucket style bag. So much so, I might have to order one for myself to have to pass out the candy. I love how simple it is, with the classic Halloween colors. I need to find a sturdy bucket style pattern, because these beauties are all over the crafty blogs I read.

Or how about this totally-over-the-top Minnie Mouse bag. I love how this one is super sturdy.

For those of you without little ones, why not make some of these super cute candy corn goody bags. Fill them up with some treats and give them to your favorite little gremlins or coworkers.

This isn't the best picture, but I love how this gal, used the ribbon to make the handles. I may have to try this technique out.

Consider using other materials than felt (my standby). This Mermaid Bag and Tin Man bag are great bags.

 This bag is so cool, she sewed strips of cheese-cloth to mimic the texture of a wrapped Mummy



 

Here's a bag that reminded me of the one that Erika made last year. If you're a poor artist like me, get a friend to sketch our the shape/item you want (Michelle sketched the red shoes for Ally's bag last year and the hat for Paige's glinda costume). You can also print it out on-line and then use that as a template.

Want a more sophisticated look? How about addding some of these cute little rosettes (you can find a billion and one tutorials on the web)

This Cat in the Hat Tote bag is really creative. I love it when the shape of the bag takes on the shape of the character or costume

 

I love how this gal used some contrasting embroidery thread in the center of the letters and on the handles. (her screen name on etsy is drfeltgood...get it? Dr. Feel Good, ha!)

 

And now for your over acheivers out there. You can make this AMAZING felt bag AND the felt candy to go with it. Seriously? That's beyond awesome.

Are you feeling inspired???? I can't wait to see the bags you all create. Send me a photo when you're done and I'll post it to the blog. Some of you out there that *SWORE* that you didn't have a crafty bone in your bodies came up with some of the coolest bags.

I bought all my goodies to make Paige and Ally's bag last week. Now I just need to scrounge up the time to make them.

Happy crafting!!!!

Alien Adventure...

 

I'm very proud to announce that I've made my very first quilt!!!!!

Really people, you should be standing up and applauding along with me, because I have indeed learned that sewing in a straight line is no easy feat.

.....go ahead and stand up. I'll wait.

...really, I'm not kidding.

.....did I mention that I even did some mitered corners?

.....and I learned all about walking feet, chalking, stitching in the ditch, and bias binding...

.....o'kay, ya'll may be seated, you're embarrassing me by  your thunderous applause...

All kidding aside, I'm super excited to share this with all of you, and hopefully without laying down an official 'throw-down challenge' I'm hoping that a few of you experienced and not-so-experienced quilters will get the itch to go over and register to make your very own quilt.

Here's the deal- THIS QUILT IS NOT FOR ME. In fact, it's not even for somebody I know.

After Paige's recent stay at the hospital, she was given 2 sweet hand-made dolls to help comfort her. These dolls really did make a scary experience less frightening. They comforted her then and continue to be a favorite toy. I imagine that they'll be a special keepsake for quite some time.

A few days after her surgery I was reading one of my favorite scrapbooking message boards. Someone had posted about finishing a quilt for Quilts for Kids and posted a picture of the finished quilt. The quilt was going to be donated to a sick child in a local hospital. Reminded about Paige's gift, I was intrigued, I clicked on the link and spent the next 45 minutes browsing through their site and learning about their company.

Here's how it works. Quilts for Kids is a non profit organization that donates quilts to children in hospitals and children of abuse.

Their mission statement reads: Transforming discontinued, unwanted and other fabrics into patchwork quilts that comfort children with life-threatening illnesses and children of abuse. Since 2000, Quilts for Kids has donated tens of thousands of quilts to children. Recently Downy partnered with Quilts for Kids by creating Downy Touch of Comfort. For each Downy product sold (with the special label), Downy will donate five cents to Quilts for Kids. Downy has committed to the goal of 10,000 quilts for sick and abused children. Actress, Chandra Wilson (Dr. Miranda Bailey from Grey's Anatomy) is the spokesperson for Downy and has recently been on Martha Stewart, on a few TV commercials and on the cover of The Quilter Magazine.

After looking through the site, I was inspired and frankly, I was feeling a little cocky about my sewing skills. So in a moment of bravado, I registered and signed up to make a quilt. In a few clicks of the mouse I had committed to making a quilt.

Now would be a good time to tell you that I DON'T SEW.

I craft. I'm good at trial and error, NOT at following a pattern. I can't even sew a straight line. Up until now, my cheap little Singer has spent its life sewing on PAPER, making TREAT BAGS and an occasional Halloween costume..

But, here's the best part...It's FREE. Yes, people. F.R.E.E. And I was eager and willing to suck it up and give it a try. It doesn't' hurt that I'm surrounded by talented seamstresses that I knew would bail me out if I screwed it up.

Here's how it works: you sign up HERE and register for your FREE quilt kit. (go ahead and click the link, I know you want to ..... I assure you, if I can do it so can you. Not convinced?...watch the video below)

My kit arrived in less than a week. I received a super cute retro robot and rockets print. All the quilt kits include the fabric for the top and backing of the quilt.  You will need to provide the batting (low-loft 1/8” – 1/4” poly or cotton).  The pattern and an official Quilts for Kids label is also included in the kit. 

So with some encouragement from Kelly and hand-holding from Charlene, I set about sewing and piecing together my quilt. The rotary cutter and plastic quilting block measuring-thing-a-ma-jig are quite helpful...

I learned that I can never use too many pins, that the iron is my friend, and straight lines are easier to make with some painters tape as my guide for a straight line. I seriously held my breath for every little line that needed to match up between the rows....

Kate held my hand through the 'sandwich making' portion as well as the 'stitching in the ditch portion',  thankfully I was able to 'baste' my sandwich with safety pins (this is also when I learned the importance of a walking foot).....

 

I measured and chalked all of my 'cross-hatches' (top quilting), this part was dusty and messy...

 

Charlene held my hand through the 'binding' portion and taught me about mitered corners....

 

Then I got to name my quilt and affix the label.....

and last night I washed my quilt with a color catcher, it's now perfectly puckered like a quilt should be, it's folded up and ready to be shipped...

 
Today I registered my quilt at Downy. This will enable the recipient (if they so choose) to log in and share their experience in receiving the quilt. This afternoon I'll be packaging up my quilt and sending it back to the Quilts for Kids headquarters.

I admit that there are a few flaws, but honestly I'm REALLY proud of myself and while I sewed this quilt I thought a lot about the little boy that will receive it. I'm certainly NOT an experienced quilter, heck I'm the epitome of a BEGINNER, but I'm certain that where ever this little boy is, he's NOT thinking about each little stitch, he's only going to care about the small little gift of comfort that comes in the form of a quilt.

***Thank you Charlene, Kelly, and Kate for holding my hand and encouraging me to see this project through..Thanks Gwen for teaching me how to sew, and thanks to my Mom for making me and my dollies matching clothes....

SLO farmers market 2009, a pirate, larry the cucumber, and a bumblebee....

Last night we went to the SLO farmers market to go trick or treating. On our way, we stopped at the Avila Barn to get our annual Halloween pictures. (note to the new Mommas..this is WAY easier and less stressful than trying to get a good picture on Halloween night). I was pleased with the one of the girls together, but had a hard time getting a good one of Ally...

Trick-or-treating...

Luckily, we were able to meet up with Kelly, Aubrey and Lynnette for a bit.

We really had a great time, without any of the drama from last year...

Treat Bag Updates

I'm so excited that Kirsten took on the treat bag challenge. She claims that she's non-too-crafty, but really, who is she kidding? Um... HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOO........... Check out this Bob the Tomato bag she made (her adorable son Adam is going to be Larry the Cucumber, and his sidekick fittingly, is Bob the Tomato). I love that not only did she reluctantly jump on the treat-bag-bandwagon, she knocked it out with some serious skill. Way to go Kirsten, I can't wait to see the costume! (to see how Kirsten made this incredible bag, click on her name and it will take you to her blog post)

 

This cool bag was made by Erika.. Her son Andrew is going to be a pirate.. Can you believe that she free-handed the skull? She claims that she's not crafty either....whatever. Way to go Erika, I LOVE it!

 

Brianne just sent me this photo of Jenna's bumblebee bag and I totally LOVE it. I must say that I really bullied Brianne into doing this, and I'm SO glad I did! The bag turned out quite impressive for this so- called 'beginner'. I love the antennae and the ribbon handles. (Brianne, you're quite the seamstress to change the thread around the top of the bag...I can't even see the stitching) Really people the next time someone tells me that they're just not crafty, I will politely remind them that  they're probably full of crap. I'd say that the beginners made some pretty fantastic bags...

a blue belt, and strawberry shortcake...

This past weekend Jason promoted to blue belt...

 
In true UFC fashion (mostly followers of Chuck Liddell) Paige decided that she wanted to paint her toes blue in honor of Jason's new belt...

 

Way to go Jason! The girls and I are very proud of you! (but please...when you eventually get that black belt...please, please, leave the toe-painting to the girls, ok?)

 

Treat bag meet Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Shortcake meet treat bag....This sweet little bag was made by Kelly. Is it cute or what??  I love the stitched name and the little seed detailing on the strawberry. I think too, that next year I might try ribbon for the handles, I like that it makes the bag look more delicate... Way to go Kelly, I can't wait to see the whole costume!

 
 

fall decorations, little Bo Peep, and a Sheep...

  
 
The wreath, apothecaries, pillar candles, fake acorns and fall potpourri mix are all from Pier One. Pumpkins, phallic looking squash (what can I say, I'm a 7th grader at heart), and gourds are from the Avila Valley Barn. I also got a small wooden bowl and filled it with the left-over potpourri'. My house smells awesome!

I'm on the lookout for a small swag of real leaves to put underneath the pumpkins and gourds... if only we lived where the leaves actually changed colors I could just go outside and collect 'em.

Thanks Mom for insisting that I 'needed' this and for getting it for me. I love coming into the living room now.

 

I'm pleased to announce that Holly accepted my 'throw-down challenge' and made these totally adorable Little Bo Peep and Sheep treat bags....

To top it off, she managed to accept my dare to include a Heidi Swapp bling circle. I love the sheep material on Ella's and the teeny tiny bell... and the ribbon stitching on Emily's is amazing (Holly said that she had to individually hole punch each hole...that's 120 holes by my count, wow!)

Really, I'm getting such a kick out of seeing all of these bags... I'm reminded that I'm lucky to be around such talented and creative people. I love that each bag has it's own personality, showcasing different techniques (and the talents of those that created them)....

I'm especially loving that experienced crafters and beginners are taking on this challenge. I know that there are a few more hold-outs out there ... don't be shy, you CAN do it! 
 

It's done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The girls' room is finally finished and I LOVE IT! In case you need a refresher, here are the before pictures....

We found a used bunk bed on Craigslist, and new bedding from Walmart......

 

Got a new dresser from Target, and oval mirror from Lowe's...

 

(this is what the room looks like if you're standing in the closet)

 

I purchased one matching curtain panel from Walmart for $19.97 . With it I sewed new bedding for the doll crib, and a new seat cover for the highchair....   

 

New liners for the small baskets...

Personalized pillows for the girls (the colors are a bit off in these two photos)...

     
 
A small pillow for the reading chair and a curtain topper....which I actually don't  love. I'm debating whether or not to change it out with a plain white topper. It seems like it's a tad too busy for me... it also looks weird because the stripes appear to compete with the stripe on the wall.... opinions?...

 

I made some quick little frames with the girls' names (I'm planning on re-hanging the girls' baby hand-prints under the shelves, I just haven't done it yet)....
 

re-painted the table...

bought a chair off of Craigslist, and a new slip cover from Pottery Barn (Auntie Kim, I finally used the gift card from Christmas 2007, I knew I was saving it for something special)... and I bought some cheap plain-white frames from Target and framed some of the girls' art work. This reading corner is BY FAR my favorite spot in the room.. The Chinese Lanterns are from Luna Bazaar and the little red tub that holds the library books is from Michael's....

Ally painted this family portrait and I just love it...

 

(view from in front of the bunk beds).....    

 

So there you have it....the new and improved room.

**for you inquiring minds I'll do a special post on the painted racing stripe later this week**

Trick or Treat Bag Tutorial.....

Melissa started this tradition of home-made trick or treat bags back in '04 and since then, the girls have had special one-of-a-kind bags to match their costumes. This year I've had a few people ask me how to make them (who am I kidding? It was just one person....) so I figured a tutorial was in order...

You'll need:

• 4 pieces of 9x12 felt to make the base of the bag. Felt can be bought at Walmart, Michael's, Beverly's, etc. for about .39 cents a sheet.
• Embroidery thread (2) in a contrasting color, needle
• a sewing machine/thread
• tacky glue
• scissors
• glitter
• ruler or tape measure

 

Sketch out a plan of what you'd like your bag to look like.....

To make the base of the bag you'll need 4 pieces of felt.I chose to make Paige's bag entirely of one color (light pink)......

Leave 2 pieces of felt whole. Cut the 3rd piece of felt into 3, 3 inch strips. Cut one strip at 9 inches. These strips will be the sides and bottom of the bag....

Sew the 2 whole sheets and the 2, 3x9 inch strips together to make the front/sides of the bag....

Take the 3x9 inch strip and sew it to bottom (making the base of the bag)...

which will then look like this....

Turn the bag, right-side-out and hem the top of the bag 1/4 of an inch (folding it in)...

Cut 2, 2 1/2 inch strips from the fourth piece of felt, to make the handles...

Hem both sides of each handle 1/4 of an inch....

 

Sew each handle to one side of the bag....

Getting the base of the bag together takes about 10 minutes (including cutting/sewing)

Now comes the fun part....Depending on your costume, you can make an applique of sorts...

I chose to make Glinda's crown for Paige. I sketched a simple crown on cardstock, cut it out, and traced it onto a white piece of felt.

 

which was then glued to the front of the bag....

outlined with glue and then glittered....

I used a chipboard star and a strip of glittered felt to make Glinda's wand...

Wrote Paige's name in glue and then glittered that as well...

For Ally's Dorothy bag, I used a different technique (the basic bag is the same)...

I made a yellow brick road (sorry Dad,I'm missing the masonry gene)....

Temporarily put the the bricks down with glue(BEWARE..if you're planning on stitching details on the front or back of the bag.... do this BEFORE putting your bag together) and stitched an outline...

followed the same template idea for the shoes, and the name...

and then stitched the seams with contrasting embroidery thread (this is really just to give it a fun finished look)...

 

and wa-la! Personalized trick-or-treat bags for 2009....

Here are some from years past.....

The original bags...Melissa used ribbon for the handles and contrasting colors for the sides...

This boot was also made by Melissa...I love that it's in the shape of a boot (although much harder to do), and has the handkerchief for the sides and handles...

Ryder's bag (also made by Melissa- seriously, this was my all-time-favorite-costume).....

Melissa made this butterfly bag too...you can't really tell, but she sewed a 3-D butterfly in the center..

My first attempt.....

Kelly's bag that she made for Aubrey last year (she was smart enough to sew the giraffe spots BEFORE putting the bag together)

 

Last years bags......

So there you have it, simple and fun personalized trick-or-treat bags. I'm hoping that a few of you will try 'em out and make them this year....Christy? Brianne? Karen? Holly? Michele? Marcia? Kristy? Kirsten? Tiana? If you do, send me a picture and I'll add it to this post..... Happy Crafting!!!!!!

Halloween 2008, it was worth it.....

We've spent the last two days celebrating Halloween, and it's been quite the adventure.....

I must admit that at about 7:00 last night, as we were fighting the crowds at the SLO farmer's market (which is no small feat when 1,001 people stop you to admire you kids' costumes....and photograph it, touch it, ask you how you made it, etc.) ....all the while listening to a litany of Paige's complaints; I was beginning to seriously wonder if all this work on the costumes and the bags was really worth it.

Suffice it to say, last night I snapped at Paige and informed her that next year I would be purchasing a generic costume at K-Mart, and she could forget the fancy treat bag, since she'd be using a pillow case to collect her candy.

Really, I was feeling a little put-out and under-appreciated.

I totally learned a thing or two this year:

• Don't put the kid that doesn't like attention from random strangers in the totally attention-getting costume
• feed your children before trick-or-treating (trust me, this is important)
• just because your kid asks to be a cupcake, and you do in fact make one, it doesn't mean that she'll love wearing it (even if it is the coolest costume ever made)
• just because the photographer from the paper wants to take her photo, it doesn't mean that she'll smile for them, or for her mother (although, she will in fact smile for numerous strangers and their camera phones)
• I vote NO on all the lame protesters at the farmer's market.....really, people....this isn't the venue for you. Let the kids trick or treat in peace without your silly signs.
• even though your kid complains for 30 minutes straight about how she's not having any fun, there's too many people, that she's hungry/tired/irritated etc., it is in fact possible for her to spend the 25 minute car-ride home telling you what an awesome time she had (what??????? was this child the same child who just spent the first half of the night in near meltdown mode?????????)

The most important thing I learned is that one tiny comment from a stranger makes it all worth it. So, to the sweet little gentlemen at the farmer's market who shouted: "good job, mama!"................... I love you, I really do. I so needed to hear that, at that very moment.

Tonight's round of trick or treating went SO much better. We did it right this time, we fed them first and then did a quick 25 minute jaunt around the block.

Jason didn't really believe me when I told him how many people stopped to admire Paige's costume last night...Tonight as we were leaving one house we heard a lady shout to her husband "hey honey look! It's the cupcake and baker from SLO!" ......at the same time Jason was actually filming a guy taking pictures of Paige, while a lady walked by and said: 'that's the best costume I've seen in my entire life!"

With those comments, I suppose it *was* worth it.

Thursday night at Farmer's Market......

     

Photos from the pumpkin patch after work today.....

   

The girls posing with their 'monies' from Nonna (Jason's Grandma) and Great-Mama (my Grandma)

 

Trick-or-treating at the neighbors

   

More trick-or-treating after dinner...

 

Two happy girls, and one tired Momma....

 

So tonight, I'm offically taking a moment to give props to all the Momma's out there that have ever either hunted down the *perfect* costume, or sewed one...just know that it *was* worth it.

Someday they'll thank us, right?

Halloween Sneak Peak...

Last night I finished the girls' trick-or-treat bags.....I still need to finish up the stitching for the edges, but other than that they're complete.  I tried to have Ally's be more 'baker-ish' but for the life of me, I couldn't cut out a realistic whisk. I finally gave up and went with a simple cupcake.

This morning at school Kelly was showing me the bag that she made for Aubrey.....Paige looked at Kelly confused and said "why does Aubrey need a bag, she's a baby, she can't trick-or-treat?" Silly kid- she has no idea that when she was a 'baby' she had personalized trick-or-treat bags too. I tried to explain to her that  when you're a baby Halloween is really just for the Mommies....

Tonight Grandma Nancy and her friend,Jane, came to stay for the night. Nancy is at the tail end of her bike trip (that started in Seattle), I think today marks the 43rd day of riding...whew, it makes me tired just typing that. The girls loved having her here and conned her into reading at least 20 books.

 

Tonight the girls helped me bake a cake for Jason's birthday. Tomorrow he's taking the day off to spend with the girls (I'm volunteering in Paige's class and Jason's going to pick her up at kindergarten). We're going to have a quiet little celebration for him in the evening.

From patch to porch....

Two weeks ago we headed out to the Avila pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins. This year the pumpkin patch was totally fun; we even ran into Kelly and her family. This year both the girls were interested in finding the perfect pumpkin, so we took a little hayride over to the furthest patch. We spent some time in the apple orchard picking apples, hunted down the perfect pumpkins, and then rode back to the stand to pay for them.

           

Tonight we carved our pumpkins and then made some tasty caramel apples. Paige was totally into the pumpkins. She actually carved the pumpkin all by herself (with minimal help for the nose). Ally, clearly can't be trusted with a knife and surprisingly was very leery of actually touching the pumpkin guts. She refused to take any part of it. Her only participation was telling me what she wanted the face to look like. The pictures of Ally not carving her pumpkin are my favorite.

Jason is the master de-gutter, while I carved both mine and his. Paige made me promise that this year I wouldn't carve any words. I thought last year's 'poot n' toots' pumpkin was awesome, but apparently she didn't agree.  

       

Here are the finished pumpkins. We took some quick photos on the kitchen table and now the pumpkins are currently residing on the porch. After all our hard work, we treated ourselves by making some quick caramel apples. Watching Paige try and eat hers without her two top teeth was pretty amusing.

       

As I looked back at last year's pictures of the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins, I'm reminded how different the girls look now compared to last year picture 1, picture 2.....sigh. Time really goes too fast.

Just looking at all these pictures makes me smile....there's just something special about fall and Halloween......the costumes are finished, now I just need to finish up the trick-or-treat bags......