DIY baby toy velcro attachments

Recently my husband and I have been acquiring a few more baby items ;)

On our student budget we have been needing to lean towards used toys and clothes.  Craigslist is our friend.  Usually baby accessories don't get beat up much by one baby's use anyway, so this hasn't been a big deal.  But every once in a while I like to spiff up what we've bought so our kid will have something with a little more 'mother-love'.

Our latest purchase was a bassinet we found online for $5.  My husband picked it up and brought it home and I was ecstatic that it is so small and portable and will fit great in our little apartment.  I cleaned it up as best I could, including making a new quilted mat for the bottom, but I felt quite limited as to how clean I could get the velcro toy attachments.  You know the type with squeakers and rattles inside?  Although the base of the bassinet was quite clean, there was cat hair on the attachments.  

Ew.

Now I'm not really sure how you clean these types of things.  Hand-washing I suppose.  I didn't want to ruin the squeaking mechanism or the rattle though, so I decided to rip out the heart of the toys and make my own.  

And here is how its done:

(I never liked the bright colors of these store-bought ones anyway)

Cut open and rip out the heart of the toy.  

And don't feel bad, you're giving it a new life.  

Just be careful not to cut the squeaker.

Betcha always wondered what these looked like.

Cut out the shapes for the new toys.  I won't go into too much explanation for this.  You are basically making little pillows.  So two pieces for each side of the pillow, and make sure to sew them right sides together before turning them inside out to stuff.

Now here is where I left out a step, and you can see my mistake below.  Make sure you sew in a small tab of velcro to the top of the toy.  Insert it between the two right sides of the pillow as you are sewing it together, so that it sticks out of the top when you turn it right side out.  

If you forget this step (like me), you'll have to unpick the top and sew it in by hand.

Or I suppose you could just leave it off and have a new rattle that doesn't attach...  

Stuff the toy slightly, and insert the rattle or squeaker.  Then finish stuffing it so it is nice and soft.

Sew the bottom up using a ladder stitch.

For the little ribbon guy I just laid out a row of ribbons between the two pieces of the pillow as I was sewing it up.  It might help to use a small piece of tape to hold them in place while sewing.  Make sure not to use too much tape because you don't want it to get in the way as you are sewing and gum up your needle.

And yay!  You're done.  Three new velcro toy attachments that are clean, sweet, and simple.

Link it up!

Happy 4th of July Greeting Card

I made a card for Grandma

It folds up like this:

And pops open like this:

I'm going to miss the big family reunion this weekend and I was kind of sad about it.

I wanna make sure that Grandma knows I'll miss her!

I'd like to share the PDF but I am just not technology savvy enough to figure out a download button.

If you'd like a copy of the PDF, email me.

(madebybedtimetales@gmail.com)

baby dachshunds

These puppies are what I've been working on lately.

I've never created a pattern before that I've been happy with.  That was the goal with these little fellas.  I studied a lot of patterns I've seen for animals, and tried my hand out at making my own from scratch.  

I was especially pleased with how they turned out because I couldn't even get a decent looking dachshund when I doodled little pictures of them.  

I'll admit it.  I don't know how to draw dogs.

Sad, I know, for someone who studied illustration in school.

Anyway, I think it's funny how you can sketch out a pattern that looks like a mottled cloud; cut it out, stitch it up, and it turns out looking like a dog!

The diversity is what makes me happiest.  It's best to use thicker fabrics for these guys because you want to stuff them as much as possible to keep their shapes.  So repurposed jeans and corduroy are in the spotlight.

They sew up in about an hour.

For me, this is fast.

Anyway, I wanted your input.  I've toyed with the idea of spiffing the pattern up and making it presentable, then putting them (the pattern) in the shop.  What do you think?  To be honest this idea sort of terrifies me.  Like a little leap into the unknown.  I'd have a lot of learning to do.  But they are so easy to sew up, I think others would have fun making them too.

I'd also be happy to take a few custom orders for the stuffed animal if anyone is interested.  Just shoot me an email.  You can find our email address under contact info.

I think that's about it. 

You guys are awesome :)

-Becky

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Link-up party!!!

-CK

Uganda Vegetables

I spent one semester of college living and working in Kampala, Uganda.  LOVED it.  Though it is really hot, Kampala is a beautiful place to take a stroll (green trees, red dirt roads, bright yellow sun).  And while we waere there I tried to take full advantage of the fresh fruits and veggies sold right on the street.  This meal was one of my favorite.  My friend who was with me lovingly called it, Vegetable Slam.

We had it every night we could.  A lady down the road cooked it in a big pot over a small, outdoor gas stove.

My family had it for dinner tonight and I remembered how good it was.  Here is the recipe.  If you are ever wondering if there is a delicious way to prepare eggplant, this is it.

Ingredients:

-olive oil

-onion

-garlic (2 cloves)

-carrots

-bell pepper (any color)

-eggplant

-3-4 tomatoes

-salt

-spaghetti (optional)

-peanuts (optional)

Heat the oil over medium heat on your stove top.  You can add oil as you cook to keep veggies from sticking.

Dice up all the vegetables.

I use my mini food processor for everything.  So... start with the onion and garlic and throw them into the pot!

Next, in go the carrots and bell pepper

Add the whole eggplant and wait till all the veggies are soft.  

Last vegetable; throw the tomatoes in.

 

DON'T FORGET THE SALT!

Side note:  When our young African friend, Allen, fixed this meal on the side of the road in Uganda, she threw in a whole handful of salt!  I don't recommend that much but salt sure does make it tasty.

Let it all simmer about 20 min on LOW.

Don't they look so red and yummy?

Serve over spaghetti if you like.

Sprinkle with peanuts!

In Uganda, peanuts, or g-nuts as they call them, are very popular.  I used to buy little bags of peanuts everyday as I walked home from work.  I think that they really help make the meal unique to sprinkle them on top.  Plus, they make the meal a complete balance with protein and whole wheat pasta.

Don't be afraid to make an all veggie dish some times!!!

Love it!

This post is linked to 

http://www.breastfeedingmomsunite.com/

This is serious folks.

My daughter is becoming quite serious with her artwork.

If she finds a loose pen around the house, she will locate some type of papery material and plant herself on her tummy.  She can focus on one drawing for several days straight, coming back to it every so often to add a few more details.

Her scribbles are precious.

Firecracker Wreath - tutorial

Hey there!

In celebration of the coming month, I thought I'd make a firecracker wreath for my door.  I snapped a few photos along the way so I could make an easy tutorial for you.  I love how this wreath turned out, and I am excited about the technique because really you could use any fabrics, colors, or themes you wanted for different holidays.

I used the same grapevine wreath I purchased and used for my Curtsy to Spring wreath.  These can be found at most craft stores, and are super cheap.

First, cut out a bunch of little scraps.  I cut out a ton, above is just a sampling of the fabrics I chose.

To make the raggy part of the wreath, string all of the little scraps onto a long strong piece of thread.  Make sure to fold up the pieces like little fans so it creates the above scrunched effect.

Cute out some stars.  Two pieces of fabric for each star.

Sew along the edge.  I wanted a shaggy look, so I just sewed along the outside.  Then stuff them slightly before you sew them shut. 

Take a minute to arrange the string of scraps and the stars around the wreath.  Play with it for a bit until it looks how you want.  

Hot glue the pieces on.

And that's it!  Such an easy afternoon activity.  

I really am a poor holiday decorator.   Most of the time I just don't think about decorating for a coming holiday until it is past.  I am trying to start small, maybe one new piece to add to my collection each year.  

How do you guys keep up on it all?

Button, button, who's got the button?

Best chocolate cake ever.

Hey ya'll.

As requested, I am posting a link to what I consider the very best chocolate cake ever.

Sure, I'll use a box for some things.  Like cupcakes for a preschool party maybe, but if I ever want to really make a (chocolate) cake, this is the only one I will consider.

I think my favorite part is that you can taste the cocoa.  It has it's own flavor.  mmmmmm

It is called the Collector's Cocoa Cake, and can be found here, on Hershey's website.  It takes me forever to find every time I lose the recipe and have to google it again, so it will be nice to have a link to it on the blog.

I think the only part where I sway from the recipe is when I use cream cheese frosting instead of the recommended buttercream or peanut butter frostings (although the latter sounds mighty tasty).

Try it!  Even if you have absolutely no other excuse than that you are trying out a new recipe.

I made it recently for my husband's birthday.  I accidentally measured out the sugar with a '1/3' measuring cup instead of a '1/4' measuring cup, and only noticed when I had already added a few more ingredients.  Fortunately my husband is a math wiz and he was able to sit down and calculate the changes for the rest of the ingredient's measurements for his own cake.  We ended up with a lot more cake than we could handle, but still so good.

Now before you get the wrong idea and wonder why I could be so uncreative, basically copying the photo from the Hershey website (and poorly done at that.  I just can't figure out how you get the messy cake look...), I'd like to make a correction here.

I asked my husband what he wanted.  A dinosaur perhaps?  You know maybe a green or a blue one with big bright spots?  One with big feet?  A long neck?  

What's that?  Oh, you want one just like the one you had last year.

Oh.

Ok.

We really should have had some friends over, overindulging is just too easy when there is a whole cake (plus some) needing to be eaten.  Just sitting there.  On the counter.  With a fork resting on the plate.

Really, I think I've eaten three pieces today, and little else.

First Bedtime Tales' Tale

I'd like to introduce Bedtime Tales' first tale!

Little Pink Whale
Written and illustrated by CK.

You can find it under the Tales tab to the left of our blog here.

Her digital patchwork is so unique and fun, go check it out and read it with your little ones!

quick recent project update

This is just a followup on a project I undertook a while back.  I've made three new sets of the 'I love to see the Temple' series, complete with pocket in the back.  Each has it's own color theme.  They are a little different from the first, a little simpler, but I like them a little more I think.  

I feel like each little couple has their own personality.  Makes me wonder which most represents me and my husband :)

happy happy

Alicia at Beautiful Mess is collecting smiles and sharing them on the blog.

I love this idea and I would just like to review what makes me happy; 

what incites a smile...

Yes, nutella and a spoon.  Just a spoon.  And the nutella of course.

Eyelet lace.  Ever since I was little this has been one of my happinesses.  My baby blanket from my grandmother was surrounded in it.

Fresh peaches awaiting their jam-hood.

Grapefruit spoons.  Need I say more?

Dried pineapple and bananas.  Or basically anything my husband and I can get our hands on that can survive a dehydrator.

Radish sandwiches.  And avocado sandwiches.  With cheese.

Mmmmm!  Just the thought of it makes me smile!

Finding hair clips for my daughter like the ones I had when I was a kid.

I especially love the coral one.

Homemade bread.  In this case Amish friendship bread.  Ooooooooh am I glad I tried it.  Too bad it's so darn unhealthy.  And it sort of takes a lot of work to keep it going.

Melted swiss cheese and salt.  Umm, like with a fork.  This is one of those weird things you just have to try.  My mom got me hooked.  I actually really dislike swiss cheese, but this is just something you will have to test out for yourself.

Which makes me curious, my personal belief is that everyone has some type of quirky cravings that no one else would understand.  Do share!

And then I thought I'd share a few things that make me frown.

Like purchasing salt and vinegar chips, having never tasted them before, and learning that it isn't such a good combination...

Or finding that your beautiful mango smells like tuna fish when you peel into it...

ew.

and discovering a batch of newly hatched baby beetles underneath a leaf of your beloved pepper plant :(

Ok this one is kind of cool, seeing as I felt compelled to take a picture of the little tykes.  Just don't let them start crawling anywhere near my skin!

Good thing I have other things to focus on.  The above little girl for example.

What makes you happy?  What makes you smile?

By the way,  you guys are so nice.  All of your comments make me smile.  Just the fact that you like to share your thoughts and ideas with us makes me feel like this isn't such a one-sided conversation.

This post has been linked up!

Check out Chocolate on my Cranium ;)