Guest Post: Banners

Hello, Sassy Babies readers!! My name is Ashley and I am a nap-time seamstress and crafting addict!

I love sewing and creating for my 3-year old, 2-year old and 5-month old and
I am excited to share with you a short and sweet tutorial on making banners! Handmade touches sprinkled throughout our house make it feel more like a home and certainly bring smiles to my kiddos!

I always find our house to be a little sad and in need of some cheer after we take all the Christmas decorations down...so if you're like me and want to add a splash of color and some fun to your late winter decor, maybe you'll find this little tutorial helpful!! I just love the look of banners in a room or entryway--just a touch of spunk and liveliness! Each of my kids' rooms and our playroom/sewing room (okay, it's mostly my sewing room now!) have a banner (or two!) and if you've visited Sassy Babies in the past, you may have seen some banners I made for the shop a few years ago! Banners are also great for birthday parties and festive occasions! And best of all, they are sooo easy to make! So let's get started!! We just had a baby boy and after two girls, the nursery desperately needs some boy decor, so I'll be making a banner for his room in this tutorial!
you will need:
-a sewing machine (all you need is a simple straight stitch, so you don't even have to have a fancy machine!)
-fabric (yardage amount will depend on how many different prints you'd like to incorporate and how long you'd like your banner to be...rough guess--if you have 1/4 yard of 6 prints, you'll be able to create a 3 foot banner (9 yards) aren't these just the cutest fabrics by the way!
-one package of double fold bias tape (or two if you'd like a longer banner!) i love making my own bias tape and getting to use fun prints but store bought packages work just as well!

-thread in the same color as your bias tape
-pinking shears (if you like the jagged edge look to your pennants)
-I like to use my rotary cutter, straight edge and cutting mat, but those aren't necessary
-a room or wall or party that needs a little pop!
alright, here we go!!
-I decided to do without the pinking shears this time around and just made straight edge triangles for my pennants... so layout one of your fabrics and cut a triangle in the shape and size you'd like...for this banner, I cut my triangle like so: about 10 inches per side.
-once you have that piece cut, you want to be sure all the pennants are that same size, so fold that pennant in half and use it as your template to cut all your other pennants out of each of your other fabrics... cut, cut, cut until you have all the pennants you would like! I like to divide them by prints and then stack them up in the order I'd like them to be positioned in the banner...

-unfold your bias tape and insert your first pennant an inch in from the bias tape edge.
-fold the edge of the tape inside itself so no raw edges are exposed. pin.
- then pin your pennant into the fold, making sure to catch the entire top of the pennant and both sides of the bias tape.

-continue pinning the pennants into the bias tape...you don't have to pin them all in at once, but can pin then sew and then pin again until the banner is complete.
-finish the end of the banner in the same way you began it...by enclosing the raw edges--just fold the bias tape in on itself and sew to secure with back stitching. Once you reach the length you'd like--you're done!! Go find a wall and hang up that beautiful banner!! I usually use push pins to secure the banner to walls or ceilings!

you can see more pictures of our little guy's almost finished room here!

Thanks for reading this tutorial!! If you have any questions or want to share your projects, feel free to email me at chickadeechickadee at gmail dot com or come visit me at my blog or facebook page!

Guest Post: Valentine's Day Cards

I am so excited to be guest blogging for Sassy Baby.

My name is Tracy Rushton and I am a “do-it-yourselfer” and “Craftaholic” all rolled up into one little person. 

I love sharing crafts with others and over the past 20 years have taught sewing, tole painting and cake decorating classes to friends, neighbors and anyone who would sign up and listen to me.  However, my true passion is scrapbooking and paper crafts.  (There is just something about the smell of paper that sets my heart a flutter.) I have worked, designed and taught for a few of the Local Scrapbook stores in the Salt Lake and Bountiful areas and also in Wyoming.

I have been married to my best friend for almost 24 years and we have 6 children, although most are teens or young adults now.  We have 5 girls, who let me create all sorts of girly items for them; and 1 boy who tolerates the “craftiness” as best he can.  Our home is usually crazy and a little chaotic at times but I wouldn’t change a thing.

I hope you enjoy these fun little Valentine cards and envelopes.  They were a lot of fun to put together for you.

PS My baby (who is 11) can't wait to make some for her own class party this year :)

Products used to make 12 cards and envelopes:  We R Memory Keepers Love stuck Line

Additional Supplies:

White, pink, blue and green cardstock

ATG  Gun or other tape runner (glue sticks will not work well)

Scop-pal or trimmer with score blade

Scissors

Optional Supplies:

1” Circle punch

Heart punch

Ribbon or other embellishments

Instructions

1. Start by cutting apart the tags. 

2. If you would like you can decorate the fronts with more heart punch outs, ribbon or ink. 

3.  With staples or glue, add ribbon or circle cut outs to make tabs.

4.  You can add a 3.5 x 2.5 scrap of paper to the back to leave a message if you would like

.

5. to make the envelope cut a piece of cardstock 3.5 x 7.5

6. score at 2.25” and again at 5.5” on the long side of the card stock

7. Use a circle punch and punch a half circle in the middle section of the envelope. (optional)

8. fold on score lines

9. turn envelope over, run tape on the right side of the middle section (across from the circle cut out)  and the bottom.

10. Fold top of envelope down and then the bottom up.

11. Decorate the front of each envelope using strips of printed cardstock, heart punches, ribbon and other embellishments.

That’s all there is to it.  Decorate all your envelopes, slip the tags in.  Have your child sign his/her name and even add a message.  

To print of the PDF for these instructions, click below: 

Valentine Cards

Thanks Tracy!  Have fun making your own cards!  

Down with Cabin Fever!

If you don't have enough to do this winter, I have a few more ideas for you. You have to check out our Boutique. There are all kinds of fabulous toys to get your kids through the long and cold winter months.

Check out this super fun retro play kitchen. What little girl wouldn't love to spend her time cooking up the yummiest of pretend meals here!  So what if you can't go outside and ride those bikes or go to the park?  Just stay home and make some hot chocolate and some pretend sweets. (You know you have to be done with the real ones! :)

This adorable giraffe is also a pillow and a blanket!  Otherwise known as a Zoobie pet. Zoobie Pets are fabulous fuzzy friends that transform into what you need.  These are great for traveling, or just for toting around the house.  Sassy Babies has a great selection of Zoobie Pets, so if your little one has a favorite animal, you just might be in luck.  Be sure to check out all of our Zoobie pets to find the right one for your family. 

And if your kids love puzzles, they will get hours of entertainment from this 36 piece puzzle.  I love Where the Wild Things Are and this is another great way to introduce your kids to that great book.  If Where the Wild Things Are isn't your cup of tea, be sure to check out the other puzzles on our site.  

Whatever you choose, don't let the cabin fever win this year!  What are you doing to defeat it? 

Guest Post: First Lady of the House

I'm happy to be guest blogging over here at Sassy Babies Blog

I'm Camilla

 and I blog over at First Lady of the House 

 and I LOVE everything creative!

I
have 2 small girls (3 & 1) that are my pride and joy. My husband is
UBER busy and I am grateful for him! We love the suburb of Salt Lake
City that we live in. I enjoy reading, gardening, shopping, and crafting
(not in any
particular order).

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

I was trying to think up a cute handmade gift I could give my girls for Valentines Day and I thought of a Tic Tac Toe game made from felt. I knew it wouldn't be hard at all.

I bought some felt sheets at the local Hobby Lobby then I also went over to the fabric department and got a larger piece of felt for the board. I also bought a cute ribbon to use for the lines on the board.

I used my trusty AccuQuilt machine and the Heart die to cut out all my hearts so they would be perfect looking. Then I just printed out a GIANT "X" and used it as a template for my X's.

I cut my game board  15" by 15" so I was able to sew ribbon on every 5" for the game lines.

Rather than just one line down the middle I sewed down both sides so it would be flat'ish.

I wanted there to be a little bit of weight to the game pieces so I put some rice inside and sewed up the edges.

I love the Heart pieces, I hand stitched a white heart in the middle to give it some contrast.

My felt that I used for my game board was a bit wrinkly. 

I don't love that but not sure if you can iron felt??

I can't wait to give it to my girls and see if I can teach them the concept of Tic Tac Toe!

Thanks for having me over here at the Sassy Babies Blog

Pass the Days: Winter Activities

The holidays are over.  Come on. You know you want to. Breathe in a deep sigh of relief.

But, wait. . . Now what?  The new presents have worn off their new toy novelty. The kids are cooped up inside on the weekends, not quite brave enough to face the cold and going stir crazy.  (Although, if you live in Utah, it's not quite so bad as you would usually think.) So, what to do to pass the time?

If you are dying for some spring, get your kids to help you create some terrariums to put in a sunny window.  All you need are a few empty jars, dirt, rocks and either seeds or seedlings.  This is great if your kids want to prove to you that they are responsible: make them in charge of keeping those plants alive!  Get further details from Scissors and Steam.  

If you are ambitious and need to warm up the kitchen, you could try making some soft pretzels with the kids.  Your kids will be amazed when they come out of the oven and they have turned brown!  You can find more details at Flexible Dreams.  

And when the pretzels are done, pull out the best hot chocolate you and your children have ever had.  If you want your children to love you forever, make this crockpot hot chocolate for them.  This recipe comes from Mrs. Happy Homemaker, and my family praises the day that I discovered this recipe. It really is the best hot chocolate that you have tasted.  

And maybe with the promise of some hot chocolate, those kids who aren't so interested in playing in the cold, just might venture out now! 

What is your favorite way to keep your children entertained on the coldest of days? 

Merry Christmas

img source

To all of our lovely customers, followers, admirers: 

Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

I hope the next few weeks are full of family, food and everything wonderful!  

And if you are looking for any last minute gifts, be sure to stop by any of our stores: 

Bountiful

Gardner Village

South Towne Mall Kiosk

We'll see you next year!     

Last Minute Christmas Crafts

Has winter break hit yet?  If not, it will soon!  What are you going to do with your kids?  If you are looking for some fun, last minute Christmas crafts, you have come to the right place.

This adorable cereal candy cane comes from Creative Connections for kids.  All you need is some colorful cereal and pipe cleaners. Just shape a pipe cleaner like a candy cane, show the kids how to string the cereal on and let them go! This one should keep the kids happy for at least a half an hour!  

If you are looking for last minute gifts for Grandma and Grandpa, check out these cute star ornaments from Meg + Andy.  This a fun idea:  all you need are some cardboard stars (thank you cereal boxes), glitter or any other decorating material and pictures of your adorable children.  Let the kids have at the stars with glue, paint, glitter and then paste the pictures on.  Grandma and Grandpa will love them!

One more cute and easy idea: make some Popsicle stick stars! These are from La-La's Home Daycare.  There are a couple of ways you could make these.  One: you can get out the paints and let the kids have at it.  OR, you can find the colored popsicle sticks and then decorate from there.  And you don't have to use buttons.  You could use fuzzballs, glitter, beads, etc.  Use what you have and let the kids go crazy!

So, don't go crazy these next couple of weeks with no school, just get crafty!