I’ve been asked several times how I made the following projects:

The answer is with Freezer Paper Stenciling.  It’s super easy.  I’d say the hardest part is cutting out your design with an exacto knife.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Freezer Paper (I got mine at Walmart in the section that has Aluminum Foil, Wax paper, etc.)
• Exacto Knife (also purchased at Walmart, in the sewing section)
• Fabric Paint (I got mine from Hobby Lobby and Walmart.)
• Iron
• Paint sponge/brush
• Cardboard

I’ve made up a video to describe the process for you.  One thing though, at about 50 seconds into the video, I gave the wrong info. . . .  You actually put the middle sheet of paper waxy side UP (not down, as said in video).

Some extra information . . .

• ****I’ve been told by one person that she had a problem with printing her image (the paper got really stuck).  Sooo, you might wanna be on the safe side and trace your image onto the paper side of the freezer paper.
• Freezer paper is rolled up like wrapping paper.  I like to cut mine in 8.5x11 inch sheets, so they can go directly in the printer.  If you don’t want to print onto the freezer paper, you can print onto a normal sheet of paper and then trace the image onto freezer paper.  Regardless of how you print, you want your design on the freezer paper to be on the paper side because you want the waxy side to be ironed onto your fabric.
• Also, cut the image with an exacto knife on top of cardboard, cutting board, or a rotary board.
• I open the shirt and insert a cardboard in the middle, so the paint won’t bleed.
• You can use tweezers to remove the small bits of freezer paper after you’re finished painting.

Any questions?

Several women have commented on Lydia’s car seat tent, so I’m finally getting around to doing the tutorial.  It’s SUPER easy!

I remember going out with Abigail and getting frustrated, trying to keep the sun completely out of her eyes with the car seat sunshade.  And don’t even get me started about when it would rain.  Also, the wind, oh the wind where I live is killer and blankets would always blow off, and it was a hassle to hold her car seat, while trying to keep a blanket over her.  So, thank goodness I discovered an awesome way to cover up your newborn with a car seat tent.  Here’s what you need to have on hand to make one yourself . . .

Supplies

• about 2 yards total of fabric (if you want it to be reversible, you can use 1 yd of one color and 1 yd of another color, or you can simply use two yards of the same fabric)
• thread
• velcro (not the adhesive kind; buy the kind for sewing)

Okay, so I started typing up a tutorial for this but erased it all, but I don’t have the patience to remember what all I did, since it’s been about 4 months since I made this.  So, I’ll just leave you some links to some car seat tent tutorials that will be helpful.  Also, here are some of my measurements that might help you (keep in mind that this won’t make sense to you until you look at the tutorial links):

• I cut 2 inches off the bottom; it left my fabrics to be 36 L x 42 W (35 long when sewed)
• For my velcro straps: soft side up, facing back (velro down, facing front) 7-8 inches long
• When I measured the cloth front to back, I sewed the straps directly in the middle lengthwise (21 inches) and measured side to side; 12.5 from outside (7 ¼ in b/t each other).
• 

On Tuesday, Brasil will be playing their first game in the 2010 World Cup!  Finalmente!  We’re gearing up for tomorrow’s big game; here’s my to-do list:

1. Make Abigail a Brasil soccer shirt with freezer stenciling (Check out the picture.  I’ll do a tutorial for how you can make your own personalized shirts–if you want–at some point in time.) ✓
   
2. Make Lydia a Brasil shirt  ✓
   
3. Get a new WC Brasil shirt for me ✓ (thanks Judy!)
4. Make Brigadeiros
5. Make Pao de Queijo ✓
   
6. Have Guarana ready to drink  ✓ (thanks Daniel!  I only have two left from my Xmas/Bday gift.  I’m drinking on for Brasil’s opening game and saving the other for the final, in which I hope Brasil will be playing.)
7. Pray that the girls will be napping or otherwise not needing my attention during the game. ✓
8. Celebrate like crazy

Va Brasil. O tudo mundo tenta, mas so Brasil e penta!!!

So, it’s still not 100% done, but I just can’t wait any longer to show you pictures of Abigail’s new big girl room.  Now why didn’t I ever take pictures of the room before when it was just an office/guest room??  Oh, I know, because it looked awful!  So, sorry you don’t get the full effect of before and after shots.  Just imagine an ugly off white wall with ugly brown doors and brownish, ugly carpet.

Okay, here are two pictures I found of the day we started doing the redo.

And here are the “after” pictures

I made her wall letters.  Here are instructions of how to make your own.

We painted a block wall (I talked about it here).  Eventually, I’ll do a tutorial for you.

Jonathan painted her doors; they used to be a nasty brown wood.

The window treatments are made from tulle.  A friend made the bow holder.

Jonathan and his dad made the clothing rack.  The shelf has picture of Abi at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 weeks old.

Still lots of work to be done.  I want to make tissue paper flower pom poms.  We need to convert her crib to a toddler bed.  And we need to get new door hinges and knobs.  And I want to make a wall decal and vinyl lettering.  Oh, and Jonathan’s going to build her a low play table that we can put her baby doll house and barn on top and store her toys underneath.  But overall, we’re pretty satisfied with her room, and she loves it!

If you’re planning on nursing your baby, here are some wearable items that might be of help to you:

1. Nursing Bracelet:  In the beginning, you need to feed your baby every couple of hours.  When you’ve got a newborn (and let’s face it, even when your baby is 9 months- like mine), you can’t keep track of time or remember when you last fed your child.  So, you need a simple nursing bracelet.  I bought this bracelet which enables the mother identify which boob she last used to feed her baby, track how long baby fed, and remember what time to feed again. 
2. Nursing Necklace: When Abby got to be about 4 months old, she started getting really distracted.  If she heard Jonathan cough or Sabra’s collar jingle or me turn a page to a book, she would stop eating.  This was very frustrating!  So, I asked around and got advice to buy a nursing necklace to keep her occupied.  I found one here on Etsy.  They’re made with a special chord that said to be 10x stronger than steel, and the clasp on the necklace is strong as well.   
3. Nursing Apron: My talented Mother-in-Law made me an apron that looks similar to this nursing cover.  It’s helpful for times when Abby needs to eat while church or a friend’s house. 
4. Tummy Hider: These are like the Belly Bands for when you’re pregnant, but they can also be used when you’re nursing to cover your stomach.  It looks like a layered t-shirt.  They’re a great alternative to nursing tops.   

Any other helpful nursing products to wear?

I’m not a very crafty person, so that’s why you can know that this project is very easy. Plus, I’m a cheapo, so you know this didn’t break the bank. In fact, it saved me $98 from not buying them online– no joke! And I was proud of myself for making the letters below for my DD’s nursery, with the help of my very good friend Tiffany.

Here’s what you need (I got all of these items from Hobby Lobby):

• Wooden Letters. The ones I found were already painted white.
• Mod Podge
• Sponge/Foam Brushes
• Scissors
• Scrapbook Paper– or any construction paper. I got four 12×12in paper.

Here’s how to do it yourself:

1. Trace the wooden letters onto your scrapbook paper. I could fit 2 letters on a page.
2. Cut these paper letters out. We cut them shorter than the tracing so that there would be a white outline on the letters.
3. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to a wooden letter. Try to make sure there are no bubbles or big globs.
4. Cover with the patterned (or solid) paper. Smooth it out so that you can’t see any gaps or bubbles between the letter and paper.
5. Apply a few coats of Mod Podge on top of the patterned paper, drying between coats

Quick, easy, and inexpensive. I think the total cost was around $12. A lot better than spending $15+ per letter, plus shipping. Maybe I should start making and selling them. Hmm.