Catching Up, Part I – Christmas 2013 Goodness
My first attempt at “Things I Have Been Meaning To Post About, But Just Haven’t Seemed To Be Able To Get Around To”…
After the craziness of Christmas Craft Fairs wrapped up, I moved on to *finally* decorating the house… making and sending out our Christmas cards… and creating a few goodies for friends to give to others for Christmas.
This year, we decided to go for an Adventure Time themed Christmas card. Both boys absolutely LOVE the show, and it’s one that we all actually enjoy watching together as a family. We had fun putting our costumes together, practicing our poses, etc., but I had to add our dog Wednesday (“dressed” as BMO) *after* the fact (thank you, Photoshop) as she’s very old now and didn’t really want anything to do with it. I’m sure some people were all “Wait, what???” when they got the card in the mail, but, hey. It’s become a tradition, and that’s just how we roll.
As for goodies, my friend Tony asked me to construct a Yellow Submarine pinata for his son’s December birthday… and this is how it turned out. Cardboard center (I cut the submarine shape out twice, then separated these with paper towel tubing, put a strip of cardboard along the edges to hold the candy inside, and taped it all together, leaving a flap so the candy could be added), streamer and tissue paper coverings (I lined up several long pieces before cutting fringed strips and gluing them on in layers), bendy straw periscopes (I taped several together, cut them to length, and wrapped them in streamer paper), and printed decorations (which I nabbed from various artworks I found on Google). I took photos of the whole process, intending to write a “How To Make Your Own Pinata” post… but time being what it is… Yeah. That said, apparently his son was thrilled with the pinata! =)
Coincidentally, while I was doing that job for Tony, his wife asked me to secretly make some Snoopy-themed items to *give* to Tony for Christmas. I had found the fabric in my “retro” stash, and Amber and I brainstormed ideas for how best to use it. We came up with XL Oven Mitts (with removable covers, for his big, manly hands), coordinating Dish Towels, and a Long Hot Pack (segmented, filled with rice, microwavable) so he could soothe his aching shoulders or sore back at the end of a long day writing.
After that, I adjusted my “Fat Quarter Apron” pattern so it could fit my friend Kim’s 6YO son, and constructed a lined Superman-themed apron for him. It looks a little large on my 4YO (and a little small on my 10YO, not pictured), so I think it should have fit him perfectly! Again, I took a bunch of photos of the sizing/process, intending to get around to a DIY post on Youth Aprons… but we’ll see if I ever get around to that too. 😉 (In the background of this photo you’ll notice the basement Brickwares “studio” – filled with Lego and kid messes and fun!)
By then it was actually Christmas, and I had run out of time to make my friend Julide the Minky Onesie PJs that she wanted to give her kids for the holidays… But, this seems as good a place as any to post about that. =) Early on in 2014, thanks to a great sale at a local fabric store, I finally got around to making these fun and super-soft PJs. First, I made a set for Julide’s daughters (graciously modeled by my boys, even though the 4YO was much smaller). My boys decided they loved them so much, *they* wanted their own sets – although my youngest didn’t like the whole one-piece thing, so he got separates instead of a onesie. Apparently the girls’ brother loved them too, so I was commissioned to make another set for Julide’s son. And then a couple of months later, a more adult-sized one for Julide’s niece! Whew!!! And now that I’ve tried one on myself, I can see the appeal – they are SOOOO roomy and soft and comfortable! I only wish the fabric weren’t as expensive as it is (even on sale), or I might consider making these more regularly. =) If only they helped my refluxy boys sleep at night…
Well, I think that about covers it for now. Let’s see if I can get back on the blogging horse after all. Have a great weekend!
