T-Shirt Flower...just in time for spring!!

Spring has sprung and with all the flowers are starting to bloom...fabric flowers that is! I love the look of these puffy flowers but don't love the $15-$20 that anthropologie and Downeast want for them. So I started digging in my craft "garden" to see what I could "grow." I was able to make a pretty good replica for the grand total of $0!!!
Below is a step by step if you want to do some fabric flower "gardening" too!

Start with an unwanted T-shirt, This lovely yellow number was in our bin to be given to goodwill

Create your templates. One 3" Circle and one 5 "petal" flower approximately 3 1/2" wide
(You can really free hand it, it doesn't have to be perfect)

Cut one circle out of coordinating felt and 9 flowers out of the T-shirt
(I found that you really needed to pin the template to the material when you cut, made it much easier!)

Fold one of the flowers in half

Then fold it in half again

Repeat with 3 more (You will need a total 8 folded flowers for the whole thing)

Glue four folded flowers to the felt circle.
 (I used liquid stitch glue but I am sure hot glue or even tcky glue would work too)

Now glue your folded flowers to themselves
(so the are glued to the felt then unfold that second fold and glue there)



Now add a second layer of petals perpendicular to the first
(Glue second layer to the first layer and again glue your flowers to themselves as you did with the first layer)



Next you'll create your center "bud." Fold your petal in half but instead of folding again this time roll it up. 

Your bud should look like this



Next trim the bottom third off of the bud



Use a LOT of glue and glue your bud in the center of your folded flowers.
(really push it into the center hard and hold it for a few minutes to let the glue set a bit)

Now to pull it all together. Glue the sides of your folded flowers to the bud in the middle
 (place glue were shown)



Glue your pin on the back. I used E-6000 glue here for a stronger hold



Fluff it up a little and here is your flower

Voila!! The finished product!!

She's Moving....

The girl is Mobile!!! Little A is all about moving and grooving now. Crawling, Rolling, Standing, Pulling herself up, she is a PRO! I think she will be walking really soon. How fast the "baby" time flies!

Sitting...Old Hat!

Crawling!

She now can follow Big A all around!

Walking Instruction!

A little help?? Big A is ready for Little A to walk!

My Version of Parmesan "Sizzler" Toast

When I make Italian I like to have a bread side (Yes I like carbs with my carbs). I've tried the frozen garlic bread (soggy!), Grocery store Garlic Bread (either too garlicky or not garlicky enough) and home made garlic bread (never seem to have fresh bread around). My answer is Parmesan toast (like you get at sizzlers). Oh it is so easy, so good and works as good with stale bread as it does with fresh! Perfect!

Slice up what bread you have (I used a large baguette this time, it even works with good old wonder bread. Really whatever you have on had should be fine)

Spread with Butter or Margarine (I use country crock since it spreads so nicely)

Sprinkle with grated Parmesan (really cover the whole side)
(You can add garlic salt at this time for extra kick, we like it better just parm)

Slices all ready to go

Turn burner on medium

Place toasts cheese side down on skillet



Grill till browned and crispy (carefully lift to check)



Voila!
Serve warm

It's also nice to have a sweet helper!

Daylight savings...weird for a 3 year old!!

First night of Daylight Savings.....
Me: "So Buddy lets go get jammers on."
Big A: (Laughs and keeps playing)
Me: "Come on, Jammer time."
Big A: laughing "Momma, it's NOT Jammer time, it's still light out!!"
ME: "Well in the spring we do daylight savings so now it's going to be light when night starts and be dark when you get up."
Big A: "That is really weird!"
......
SO we go up and I'm getting his Jammers on
Big A: Mumbling to himself "I can't believe I'm putting on Jammers and it's light out."

Bouncy Girl

When Big A was little he had a bouncer and never liked it. He would play in it for like 2 minutes and then he was done. Little A is quite the opposite. This girly girl LOVES her bouncy. She could play in it forever (or at least 30 minutes at a time!). Oh and that is not a reflection on her chin, this girl is a drool monster!!!

Recipe...I laugh in the face of a recipe

My Mom is the greatest cook. Especially baking, she really is amazing. I however doubt that I will ever be able to follow in her footsteps. Case in point, I called her this weekend for her chocolate frosting recipe. She gave me a list of ingredients then...so I asked her "Well how much of each thing?" Her answer, "Well I don't measure anything." ...Well great. The frosting turned out okay but definitely NOT as good as hers!!

Snow? Now???

SO we had no snow for Christmas...really no snow in January and NOW that it's march and we are all geared up for spring...the snow hits?!?! Sigh! But at least we can have some fun Snowman times!!