Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Everything you can do with an old pair of jeans!

And who doesn't have a bunch of old jeans lying around that have holes in the butt or don't fit anymore??  Well, I've decided to come up with a short series of posts on all the things you can make out of an old pair of jeans.

Sounds like fun!  Lets do it!  You may have already seen my first project from a pair of Micahel's old jeans.  Pretty cute and fun to make...see the tutorial for the loopy ball here and the tutorial for the blankie here.

Anyways, here is my second project..."Baby" the Denim Monster (that's what Jack named him).



Pretty cute, huh? So here is what you do:

Take an old pair of jeans and cut out two rectangles (or any shape really) from the pant leg.
 Cut out some shapes for eyes, mouth, etc from felt or another fabric
Design the face of your monster (I used purple felt and red buttons for the eyes and brown and gray felt for the mouth and teeth)
Stitch down the face of your monster
Cut out shapes for the arms and legs of your monster and stitch with right sides together
Then turn them inside out
Pin the body together with the wrong sides out
Add some ribbon for hair pinning the loop sides in
Finish pinning the body all the way around
Stuff the arms of your monster and pin them wrong sides facing in
Begin stitching the body (be sure to leave a hole to turn right side out and stuff)
Sew reinforcements on the arms (for protection against 3 year olds ;-)
Then, turn your monster right side out...now he is starting to take shape!
Stuff the body and pin the legs in place
Stitch the hole closed with the legs in place
All done!  Now he's ready for cuddle time!

Keep coming back for more old jean projects and crafts!  Feel free to snag a button and link to us!






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Happy Crafting!
Ginger
SSB

I'm linking:


Life in the Pitts
giveaways
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Rubber Chicken Challenge

So...my husband and I have been trying to come up with ways to save $$$ around the house. Like drying clothing on the line outside instead of in the dryer...keeping the AC programmed at a specific temp...keeping the lights off and opened the windows...etc. I could go on and on.

But Michael discovered something while web surfing and we decided to give it a try. I, of course, HAD to blog about it.  So I give you...the Rubber Chicken Challenge!

What it is: a challenge to make as many dinners as possible out of one, count em, ONE 6 lb roasted chicken! Apparently it is possible...Michael read about someone getting a total of 17 meals out of one of these chickies!  Hey...if they can do it, so can I!  So, I invite you to ride along in my cooking adventure for the Rubber Chicken Challenge!

Meal #1 (obviously...) Roasted Chicken!  



one 6 to 8 pound chicken
1/4 cup vegi oil
salt/pepper
dried thyme and parsley (I used a dried Italian seasoning mix)
garlic salt
(I just eyeballed the seasonings in my hand... use as little or as much as you want)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place chickie in roasting pan, loosen the skin over the breast and rub in seasoning mixture under and over the skin and around the legs.  I cut up a few potatoes and threw those in as well.  Then roast covered for about 1 1/2 hours.  Then remove cover and roast another 15-30 minutes.

So...I've, uhh, never carved a chicken before...and neither has Michael.  Hmm.  What to do...?
So, naturally, we googled it and got directions from this site.

Here is hubby carving like a champ!

So we enjoyed a lovely Roast Chicken dinner!
After chickie was cooled off, we loaded up ALL the bits and pieces, juices and everything into ziploc bags and stoage containers for future use.
Check back for details on making homemade stock!




Happy Cooking and thanks for joining in on the Rubber Chicken Challenge! Feel free to snag a button!






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Ginger
SSB

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tasty Little Birds Nests from Pocket Full of Posies

I just love these ladies!  Check out the fun feature they have today!  Cute little Easter Birds Nests!  I'm gonna have to try this one out...


They always have fun and innovative ideas for crafts, cooking and more!  Be sure to visit each day of the week for something new!

Happy Cooking!
Ginger
SSB

Be a doll and snag this button!

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Loopy Blankie Tutorial

So Jack lost his little security blankie...affectionately known as "Raggy". He has kinda taken it a little hard, so I decided to make him a new one by re-purposing some old receiving blankets from when he was an infant!

I have 2 old blankets in coordinating colors, so this is what I came up with!  See a similar blankie made from an old pair of my husbands jeans here!

What you need:
A few old blankies (or any coordinating fabric you wanna use), scissors, needle and thread, and some ribbon

First, you cut out square pieces of the fabric
Then start pinning with the wrong sides together.  Add the ribbon in between the fabric with the "loop" on the inside.
Continue to pin all the way around.
Then, begin stitching all the way around leaving a hole to turn the blankie right side out.
Turn right side out and stitch up the remaining hole.  All done and ready for snuggle time!
Here is Jack showing it off!

And here he is being shy...LOL!

Don't forget to link up your stuff and share this week for Mad Skills Monday!!




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Happy Crafting!
Ginger
SSB

I'm linking:

Mad Skills Monday





Show and Tell Green



Wanna share a cool tutorial or blog swap? Contact me today!

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Monday, March 29, 2010

Mad Skills Monday Link Party...my first ever!

Alright...here we go!  SSB's first link party!  I love crafting and my husband has a little joke he shares whenever I show him a new "something" I've been working on...he says I have Mad Skills!  So link up and share your stuff for Mad Skills Monday!

Here is what I have to share...

I made some cute little baby toys!  And Sam is lov'n them!! Check out my tut on how to make a loopy ball!

Check out all the things you an do with an old pair of jeans!

Now its your turn!  Here's what you do:

1. Link up something crafty, creative, or fun that you wanna share!  It can be anything you want!

2. Please link to the blog post and not your main page.

3. And it MUST be a tutorial please.  An offer to buy your item at the end of your tut is welcomed!

4. Snag the Mad Skills button and include it on your tut post so others can see where you've linked!(PS- this button was designed from my sons art work....if you are interested in a custom button, please contact me!)

5. Visit other links and enjoy their blogs!



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Sunday, March 28, 2010

Feel'n generous...

Hi all,

I'm feel'n generous and totally excited!  Blog hopping around has led me to so many fabulous blogs and opened some "crafty" doors for me...

So without further ado...may I present these awesome blogs
The Craftiest Crafter Award!
1.  Jess from A Winding Road for her Critter Cushions!  See my post about them here!

2.  Brandy from Home Sweet Home for her cute purses!

3.  Emily at Pocket Full of Posies for inspiring me with this crafty post!

Alright...now pass it on to at least 3 other crafty blogs that you love and follow!  Contact them and let them know that they've received an award for their talents!  And lastly...display your award proudly!

Congrats ladies!  You deserve it!  Happy blogging!

Ginger
SSB

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Link parties...why not?

I've decided to get in on this whole MckLinky business...yup!  That means my readers...you awesome folks, you...will have a chance to link up and share your stuff!

So check back here EVERY Monday for Mad Skills Monday...where you can link up all your favs.  See you then!  Happy Blogging!!!

Ginger
SSB

Easter is Coming Up!!!

Easter is coming and I've got some great and easy kid crafts lined up...click here for a few printable Easter coloring pages!

I've seen these cute jelly bean carrots at the store and thought...I could make those!!!  Click here for a great tut I found!


Make some super cute Easter Chicks with the kiddo's!  Check it out here!
Happy Crafting and have a Blessed Easter!!!
Ginger
SSB

Wanna share a cool craft? Contact me today!

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