Superhero Capes!

I have seen so many tutorials for superhero capes and knew I had to make some for my boys! I started to do my own tutorial when I came across one that was exactly what I wanted - I didn't change anything about this tutorial! I actually bought the PDF version of the tutorial on etsy (if anyone wants one I can sell the finished products but not pass along the pattern) and used their templates, however you could do this with your own template.

And pictures of my little superheros running with their capes down the hall!

Hooded Towel Tutorial

Hooded towels are a staple in any home with kids. But they can cost you up to $40 each! I've been lucky enough to find some basics for around $15 each on sale - but having to buy two each time for my twin boys was making me crazy! I knew I could make this much cheaper!

There are plenty of tutorials out there but most are over complicated, here is a tutorial for a basic $10 and under 30 minute hooded towel - start with 2 towels, do 2 cuts, sew 2 times and you are done!

What you'll need (Makes 2 hooded towels):
-2 bath towels.
-1 hand towel.
-Sewing machine, scissors and coordinating thread.
*Additional wash cloth size towels for applique/ears/tail embellishments - optional.

1. CUT:

(1) Fold hand towel in half (width wise) and cut in half - you want two pieces about 10" tall each - I had to cut about 7" out of the center to get two 10" pieces (ensure you cut excess out from the center raw edge, not finished edge). You don't want the hood too big!

(2) Fold one of the towel halves again in half width wise. Repeat for other halfh (Pict to the right shows the 'reconstructed' hand towel with one side cut).

(3) Cut the hood shape from the top by cutting a slight curve corner to corner. Template Here. When you open the towel again it will look like the top of a heart - you don't need to cut much, and may want to pin before you cut to ensure you cut evenly.

2. PIN & SEW:

Place the hood opened along the center of the towel (width wise), pin and sew - be sure to back stitch. I placed the hood decorative edge on the outside as I liked the way that looked best but you could pin it on the inside if you prefer.

Fold the towel and hood in half, right sides facing (inside out). Line up the hood pieces, pin and sew along the curve - be sure to back stitch - I sewed mine twice.

3. FINISHED! Turn right side out and VOILA! You have a beautiful hooded towel!

Leave me a message if you have any questions! Enjoy!

Simple T-Shirts: Freezer Paper & Appliques

It really is as simple as everyone is saying - freezer paper and appliques are the best way to get professional and fast results with everyday household items! The fun doesn't stop at t-shirts: try making household items like pillows, or other wearables like pants/shorts. For a fun twist, combine both methods below into one project. For example; on the mickey shirt below cut the number 2 out in fabric or felt and apply (I may go do that right now actually!) or to make Minnie attach ribbon as a bow to her ear! A painted bird with appliqued wing would be cute - maybe next project!

There are tons of tutorials out there; but here are some of my suggestions for these two methods that work well for me! When in doubt: YouTube knows all.

Want my templates for Mickey or PB&J? Email me: mommybrained@live.com

Freezer paper t-shirts:

My twin boys are turning 2 on Saturday, where does the time go? We aren't doing a big party but if we were it would be Mickey themed. I decided party or not they still needed a fun shirt to celebrate! I created this shirt with the Mickey Font cricut cartridge.

Materials needed:

• Freezer paper (not wax paper)
• Foam brush (small)
• Rotary cutter/exacto knife OR cutting machine (I used my cricut)
• Fabric paint (I used Tulip - get either Matte or Velveteen)
• A T-Shirt

Method used:

1. Prewash and dry t-shirt and gather supplies.

2. Cutting out the design: Print out a design of choice and trace w/ pencil onto dull side of transfer paper and cut with exacto knife (tape the transfer paper onto the paper with design) OR place the dull side of the freezer paper down onto your cricut cutting mat and cut. Ensure you leave plenty of edge room (I cut in the center using center point after manually setting the start point of the blade away from the edge). Also ensure that you FLIP any text or number images so that when you place it on the t-shirt you get the correct design.
3. Setting Design: On an ironing board, iron the shirt so it lays flat and place a piece of freezer paper inside shiny side up to avoid paint soaking through. Place the negative image (background) pieces of the transfer paper onto your shirt shiny side down and iron on - do not use steam, I set mine at '4' about halfway. Ensure that the edges are all stuck down continue ironing until you have a good edge so paint will not slip under - I did this for about 30 seconds per design.

4. Painting: Using the foam brush, dip in paint and blot onto t-shirt - being careful not to paint on the outside of the design. Apply 1-3 coats allowing the paint to dry slightly between coats (lighter colors will need more coats). If you would like your design to appear slightly raised or thicker, apply more coats of paint.

5. Drying: Allow to dry for several hours, I let it sit overnight. This is a very important step as if you peel the freezer paper off while wet the edging can bleed and your design may not be as sharp. My freezer paper was on so well that I had to pull the paper off at a 45 angle.
6. Set the paint: When using Matte paint - place a cloth over the finished design and iron without steam to set the paint. When using Velveteen paint - with image facing up set your iron to steam and hold 1/2" above the design - do not touch paint or iron. I made the mistake of ironing with a cloth and my paint bubbled a bit and discolored (to fix this I just applied a new coat of paint) - do not over iron.
7. Care: Wait at least 72 hours after drying time before washing. For best results, machine wash inside out with like colors.

Applique t-shirts:

Another great option for homemade t-shirts is to applique; or cut out a fabric design and glue/sew onto your shirt. I love the texture and easy layering of appliques. Don't you just want to eat that PB&J? This is an example of an all appliqued design with felt & felt glue, no sewing - a last minute project for this year's NICU reunion picnic at the hospital, the shirts were a major hit!

Materials:

• Felt and felt glue OR fabric and steam a seam (or like bonding material).
• Rotary cutter or exacto knife and cutting mat or scissors or cutting machine such as a cricut for fabric.
• T-Shirt.
• Sewing machine - optional for finishing.

Method used:

1. Cut design (felt): when using felt I like to print out my design and cut the paper, lay it on top of the felt and mark (I used a permanent marker and then cut on the inside of the pen marks.)
2. Cut design (fabric): when using fabric I like to use my cricut; bond the fabric (wrong side down) to the steam a seam with your iron, leave the paper backing onto opposite side of steam a seam so it will not bond with your ironing board! Place the now paper fabric onto the cricut cutting mat and cut your design (ensure proper tension and speed - medium is what I used, with a blade setting of 4/5 to ensure a good cut).
3. Apply the design (felt): using felt glue adhere the felt onto the t-shirt (be sure to put some cardbord or freezer paper in between the layers of the shirt so they do not stick together!)
4. Apply the design (fabric): remove the backing of the steam a seam; and iron onto t-shirt.
5. Finishing the look: sewing around the edges of your design adds a professional and finished look; however it is not necessary - the felt glue or steam a seam is qualified to do the job alone! Experiment with different stitches to get desired effect. When sewing felt it can get heavy especially with the dried felt glue - go slowly through all those layers. Ensure the steam a seam is completely cooled so your sewing needle does not get sticky. (If you have used cotton not felt you will want to sew around the edges as it tends to fray). Sewn applique example: Hot Wheels Car & Truck Tote-n-Play.

Let me know if you have any questions or want to show off your projects! As I create more shirts I'll update this post for additional ideas!

Hot Wheels Car & Truck Tote-n-Play!

This is a fun project to store little hot wheels & matchbox cars in! A great 'grab and go' toy for long waits, restaurants or car rides.

I made 4 of these using only 1 yard of bottom weight fabric (1/2 yard of 2 colors). Two are for my boys - Angie, guess who the other two are for? J&E's birthday - surprise! I hope you love them!

I rated this project intermediate since there are so many steps and this took several hours for me to put each together after the cutting and finishing. Pictures are below each step.

Materials:

• 17x10" bottom weight fabric color of choice (main/outside color).
• 17x6" bottom weight fabric (car pocket color - I used outside color again).
• 17x10" bottom weight fabric (inside color).
• Scrap fabric for applique car/truck.
• Steam a seam or other for applique.
• 17x3" black cotton or felt for road.
• 6 - 1x3/16" yellow felt for dashes.
• Ribbon or elastic for attachment loop (I used a hairband).
• 2 Buttons for car wheels/attachment.
• Handle material - ribbon 10".

Directions:

1. Cut all pieces to correct size. Fold bottom weight fabric in half length wise and iron. Attach wrong side of scrap fabric to steam a seam, draw a design of choice on paper and cut.

2. Pin and sew raw edges of folded 17x6 fabric to bottom raw edge of extended 17x10 fabric.

3. Next sew car pockets: mark lines of pockets before sewing. Starting at 1/4" from the outside and measure 2.75" for each pocket. There will be 6 ending with another 1/4" seam allowance. Sew vertical lines through all 3 layers (2 of pocket and 1 interior), back stitch or double sew each pocket.

4. For the road; pin and sew black 17x3 road piece centered on top of the inside fabric. Here is where the pre-fold comes in handy. Follow this step by pinning and sewing the dashes onto the road.

5. Sew in strap next along the left edge near the bottom of the black road fabric, fold the ribbon in half and pin, be sure to reinforce the stitches and place the handle facing inward for correct placement after turning, set the interior fabric aside after this and move on to the next.

6. With the exterior 17x10 bottom weight fabric, iron on the applique/steam a seam design. Place centered in the bottom half of this fabric approximately 1/2 inch from the fold you made in the fabric. Stitch around applique, if desired. Sew buttons onto car/truck. Template Here.


7. Sew in closing elastic of choice in line with the button on either the right or left side. If sewed on right side the closure will be on the left of the car/truck, and visa-versa. I sewed mine on the right side of the bottom fabric.

8. Place finished 17x10 pieces with right sides facing each other. Sew around to attach, leaving room to turn. TIP: do not leave corners as a turning point as this will be harder to finish later as the fabric is heavy. Also, ensure you stitch on the inside of existing stitches or they will show when turning.

9. Turn, and sew around 1/4" to finish and close opening shut (pin opening first). I also like to iron this before sewing to get a good crisp edge. Next, sew along the center folded crease, to help keep construction of the folded tote.

You are now finished, add cars and enjoy! Here are folding directions and a few more photos!

Variations for this project: use Velcro or ribbon tie as a different closure. Stencil onto pockets or exterior using freezer paper to number the pockets or write letters/name. Sew in road signs, stop light, stop sign using felt in coordinating colors. Using similar method make a roll for crayons, doll and clothes or other toys - adjust pocket size accordingly. If you need help with sizing I am happy to assist!

Leave me a message if you have any questions or other suggestions about this project!

Peppermint Bark Popcorn!

Happy Holidays! This past weekend I went to a holiday party and was in charge of bringing an "appetizer" - nothing I had made before sounded good and so, Peppermint Bark Popcorn was born. I guess you could call it something fun like Reindeer Munch - my kids could have eaten this entire bowl, instead the party guests did! It was a major hit - I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:
2 bags white chocolate chips
1 bag semi sweet chocolate chips
2 tsp peppermint extract
1 6oz box of Bob's Candy Canes, crushed
30 cups air popped popcorn
Salt, to taste

Directions:

1. Pop 30 cups of popcorn, set aside.
2. Melt white chocolate chips, on low in the microwave - stir every minute, until smooth.
3. Add 2 tsp peppermint extract and stir - it is normal for extract to make chocolate mixture a bit lumpy so work fast.
4. In HUGE bowl (I used a pot) put 2/3 of the popcorn, about 20 cups and mix in melted peppermint-white chocolate chips. Use your hands and really mix it up, you don't want large hunks of chocolate when it dries. Careful not to crush the popcorn.
5. Lay out wax paper, and spread covered popcorn.
6. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
7. Melt the semi sweet chocolate chips, using same method above. Using a fork, dip into the chocolate and drizzle on top of popcorn.
8. Add salt (to desired saltiness) to the remaining 10 cups of popcorn. Combine with chocolate covered popcorn for a salt & sweet combination. I also added a hint of salt directly on top of the chocolate popcorn for this effect.
9. Allow to dry for about 30 minutes, longer if you can - put in a bowl and enjoy, or a large Ziploc bag to save. This will store for about 4 days uneaten until the popcorn starts to get chewy.

Let me know if you have any questions! This recipe can be made to fit any portion - use the above as a guide and your instincts to know how to portion the ingredients.

Variations: add pretzels, chex mix or peanuts!

24 Activities of Christmas...

Each year around Christmas I try to think of ways to make our family feel in the holiday spirit, and I LOVE traditions. This year a friend and I made these magnets; the 24 activities of Christmas! It is a sort of advent calendar with holiday inspired activities, both big and small. I think the magnets look like cute little ornaments - Enjoy!

For a list of the activities we used, and a printable sheet please email MommyBrained@live.com - I am happy to share!

You will need:

• Paper, ribbon in choice of colors.
• Craft glue.
• Magnets - make sure yours will stick to a surface on both sides I found packs of 10 small round magnets at my local craft store.
• Large and small circle punches (example: 2" and 1") and number punches 0-9, or similar paper cutter like a Cricut (this can be done with scissors but will take longer and you will need to add a step below to print/draw for outline). We used a cricut for the numbers and large circles and small punch for the activities.
• Hole puncher, we used a special ribbon puncher with two lines like II to thread the ribbon but a standard punch would work.
• Printer.

What we did:

1. Cut/Punch out 48 circles, in the large size. I did 24 red and 24 green - and alternated colors. Example of front/back below.
2. Cut/Punch out numbers 1-24.
3. Cut ribbon to desired length - I did the exact width of each large circle, and trimmed after the glue dried.
4. Print out your list of activities, ensuring they will fit within your small circle punch - and cut/punch out.
5. Assemble front pieces: Glue a piece of ribbon and number along each large circle - let dry. I alternated top/bottom for the ribbon.
6. Assemble back pieces: Glue the activity (small punch) on another large circle - do not glue to the back side of your initial large circles. You will have two large circles for each day.
7. Glue together: place a magnet in between each pair of large circles and glue (make sure you have the activity you want for that day picked out). For mine I have green on front and red on back - or visa versa. Let dry.
8. Punch a slit out of the top of each circle - thread ribbon and tie.
9. Arrange on magnetic surface 24-1 & count down with a fun activity each day!

Variations: I have seen other cute magnet advent calendars, such as the 'mini muffin tin' advent calendar that you can put little goodies inside. Note: you will need magnet sheets for this project, not the small rounds we used.

Let me know if you have any questions about this project, or suggestions on variations for other crafters!

Happy Holidays!!!

In a Pinch - Knit Hat

This is a very easy hat for beginning knitters, as it does not require any decreasing - you knit a square hat, use three needle bind of technique and pinch the corners to make ears!

If you are new to knitting I recommend searching on YouTube to find great tutorials on knitting basics. I have not included any step by step photos, but let me know if you have questions on this project.

MATERIALS:

• Size 9 - 16 inch circular needles 
• Set of double pointed needles (DPN)
• 1 skein worsted weight navy blue yarn
• Light blue yarn for hat brim

SIZING: This pattern can be adapted for larger or smaller heads, cast on number of stitches and knit for desired size:

0-6 months: CO 48, 5"

6-12 months: CO 56, 5 1/2"

1-2 years: CO 64, 6"

2 years and up: CO 72, 6 1/2"

PATTERN:

1. With main color, loosely CO desired number of stitches per size, above. Cast on one extra to join. Slip one stitch from the right hand to the left hand needle, being careful not to twist. Knit the first two stitches together. Place a marker.
2. For brim: Knit 2, purl 2 to the end of the round. Repeat for 5 rounds (about 1 inch).
3. Switch to second color, knit in the round until hat measures correct length, per sizing above.
4. Turn hat inside out and bind off using the three needle bind off technique*, tie off and weave in ends.

*Tip: When doing three needle bind off on hats, I use the circular needle and one DPN. During my last round, I place a stitch marker at the half way point, this keeps me on track when knitting the sides together. Fold the circular needle in 'half' and insert the DPN into the first stitch on each needle (k2tog) repeat for second stitch - you will now have 2 stitches on the DPN. Lift the first stitch over the second and drop off using the typical bind off technique.

Variations - For 'girl ears' tie the yarn around the ears in a bow instead of a knot. Or, instead of pinching ears - add pompoms to the corners, creates a cute loose fitting hat. You may want to knit the hat a bit longer for this variation.