A Bear-y Cute Lunch

Sorry... couldn't resist the title :) I decided to surprise the girls with a little fun on their lunch plates yesterday...

How cute is that?!? I saw the idea on Pinterest (from Mini-eco, originally from KidsSoup). The original uses banana slices for the ears and muzzle, but my oldest has a sensitivity to bananas – something she inherited from my husband – so I used crackers covered with strawberry jelly instead. The original idea also uses cinnamon and sugar on toast, but I used peanut butter on bread. And I added some mini chocolate chips for the mouth.

The girls went crazy when I set these on the table. They wouldn't eat them until they were sure that I had taken pictures of each bear. Want to put a smile on your kids' faces this weekend? This one is a winner :)

Point of View and Pinterest Link Party!

Welcome to this month's Point of View reveal! The theme for March is "Pinterest". This month's theme gave everyone a chance to make that project that they pinned months ago or create something inspired by one of their pins. Take a look at the awesome projects the members of Point of View have come up with this month...

Jonie from Just Between Friends

Ashlee from I'm Topsy Turvy

Amy from Ameroonie Designs

Gwen from Gwenny Penny (Click HERE to read more about my Little People Applique Tote Bag)

Lorene from I am Just Lu (Our guest this month... Thanks for joining us, Lorene!)

Leanne from Organize and Decorate Everything

As always, you can check out each of the projects by visiting each of the blogs listed above.

My project is a Little People Applique Tote Bag...

I mentioned last week that my Point of View project for this month is one of my top five favorite things I've ever made. This bag turned out better than I ever could have imagined. I adore it, my oldest daughter loves it, and my youngest was so jealous of her sister's bag that I had to make another one (and I changed up the hair on the second applique. I'll share the second bag next week). The applique was inspired by two Pinterest pins... a painting of a Fisher-Price Little People girl and this cute applique how-to. The tote bag itself is just a larger version of my Reusable Snack Bag with French Seams tutorial. Click HERE to read more about my tote bag.

Today we would also like to announce Point of View theme's for April and May. April's theme will be "teacher appreciation/end of school year". May's theme will be "summer/vacation". Get your thinking caps on... we want to see what great ideas you come up with!

Now it's your turn. Do you have a Pinterest project that you would like to share? We would like to invite you to join the Point of View Pinterest Link Party! It doesn't have to be a new project... If you have a Pinterest project in your archives, link it up! We want to see what you've created. Something new this month... you can link up to the Point of View link party on any member's blog and your link will show up in the party on all of our blogs! Add the Point of View button to your post so that others can join the party. And remember, by linking up you have the chance to be featured by one of the members of Point of View next week!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.gwennypenny.com" title="Gwenny Penny - Point of View"><img src="http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/ae14/gwennypennyblog/SummerPoVButtonB-1.jpg" alt="Gwenny Penny - Point of View" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Little People Applique Tote Bag

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know I have a thing for Fisher-Price Little People (they've shown up here and here). I've been planning some sort of Little People project for a while. I wasn't sure what medium it was going to be, and I've had several ideas floating around in my head, so there may be more projects to come :) My oldest just started taking an intro to ballet and jazz class through our town rec program, and she needed a little bag to carry her ballet slippers to and from class. Add to that the fact that I've been dying to try Maureen's applique tutorial. And on top of that, this month's Point of View theme is "Pinterest". All of these things started coming together, and the Little People Applique Tote Bag was born...

This project was inspired by two Pinterest pins. The applique image itself was inspired by this painting from Escape Adulthood...

Source: kimandjason.com via Gwen on Pinterest

The applique how-to came from Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade...

Source: maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com via Gwen on Pinterest

I love this bag. It is seriously in the top five favorite things I have ever made. I had no idea that the image of the finished project in my head was actually going to work on fabric. And, of course, my youngest really wanted a bag after she saw her sister's, so I'll be sharing another one of these next week (with a different hairstyle :)

For the tote bag itself, I used home dec weight fabric and followed my Reusable Snack Bag with French Seams tutorial (minus the hook and loop tape, plus two straps, and enlarging the bag itself). The finished bag is about 9" wide and 10" tall (not including the straps).

The applique pieces are cotton with two layers of interfacing on each piece. I used fabric paint to create the eyes, nose, and mouth. I also added a 2" x 3" rectangle to the back of the bag with my daughter's name embroidered on it.

I absolutely love this project, and I plan on doing more applique in the future. It's so much fun. It's like putting a puzzle together. And the outlining with the black thread just makes everything pop. I love that you can use the stitching to add details like the bangs. This adds a whole new element to my sewing projects, one that I'm going to be using a lot!

Now it's your turn... Check out this month's Point of View collage and link up your past or present Pinterest projects at the Point of View Pinterest Link Party! We want to see what you've been up to!




I'm linking up...

Pin It: Try Something New

Just like last Friday, I'm posting some inspiration in preparation for this month's Point of View reveal and link party on Friday, March 23rd. This month's theme is "Pinterest", so start working on that project you pinned months ago and get it ready to link up next Friday!

This week's Pin It inspiration is "try something new"... a new technique, a new method, a new craft. See if any of these pique your interest...

Ever carve your own stamp? I love this little cloud. Find this stamp carving tutorial on teal + tea.

Source: tealandtea.blogspot.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Ever think about doing your own screen printing? This is a simple way to get started. Check out this DIY screen printing tutorial using an embroidery hoop, screen printing ink, mod podge, and sheer material (like old nylons) on Strings to Things.

Source: stringstothings.blogspot.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Afraid of buttonholes? Give it a try (I know I need to :) This video from Prudent Baby walks you through sewing a one-step buttonhole with your sewing machine.

Source: prudentbaby.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Who here wants to learn to crochet? (I do, I do!) Check out Crochet School over at Craftyminx. There are twenty three lessons that walk you through from the basics to different stitches to reading patterns. This is a great resource.

Source: craftyminx.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Have you heard the term "quilt as you go"? With this method you can easily make a queen or king size quilt top and quilt it as you go. No need to send it out to the long arm quilter. Sewtakeahike has a four part sew along that walks you through the process.

Source: sewtakeahike.typepad.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Did any of these pins tickle your fancy? Itching to start a new project and try a new craft? Next week's Point of View link party is a great excuse to get started... just saying :)



* Please, please, please... if you are interested in pinning one of these projects, either click on the picture and repin from my board or go to the original source and pin from there. Please don't pin from here. These are not my projects. Proper pinning etiquette is so important to make sure that people get credit for their work. Thank you!

Pin It: A Rainbow of Crafty Goodness

When was the last time I did a Pin It Wednesday post? November 23rd! It has been a looong time. And it's not even Wednesday. Well, I've decided that my "Pin It Wednesday" posts are going to become more of a "Pin It Whenever I Feel Like It" kind of thing :) But for the next two Fridays I'm going to be posting some inspiration in preparation for this month's Point of View reveal and link party on Friday, March 23rd. In case you missed the big announcement last week, this month's theme is "Pinterest", so this is a great excuse to start that project you pinned months ago and get it ready to link up at the end of the month.

Before I get to this week's inspiration, do you know how Point of View came to be? Amy told the story on her blog last week, and I think it's important to share. This is what Amy wrote, "When Jonie and I first discussed the concept over lunch one day last year, we had both recently participated in craft competitions. What we loved about the competition was the challenge - the opportunity to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and try new things, or perhaps finally find the motivation to make something that had been on our list to make forever, but we just never had the need. What I didn't like about the competition was the judging. I didn't like having my project, that I loved and worked hard on, compared to the others in the contest. I didn't like losing. ;) So, we came up with Point of View - a chance to push ourselves, to try new projects and to create projects regularly. (Let's face it, sometimes we need a little external motivation ;) But I also wanted it to be more than just our group's projects - I really want to create a platform for everyone to participate, so we can all benefit from the motivation, the excitement and the opportunity to let our own "Point of View" be seen and heard." I love this story, and it's exactly why I jumped at the chance to join Point of View when Amy asked me last year. No competition... just motivating and challenging yourself to get creative and try new things.

This week's Pin It inspiration is a rainbow of crafty goodness. There's a little something for everyone... woodworking, sewing, paper crafts, crafts for kids, and a recipe. Check out all of this color...

I am in love with this colorful wooden doormat from Lowe's Creative Ideas. Find the DIY instructions here.

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Gwen on Pinterest

This mini swoon zipper pouch from Laura at Needles, Pins and Baking Tins is absolutely gorgeous. I have a major thing for the swoon pattern, and I think I could actually handle it in miniature.

Source: flickr.com via Gwen on Pinterest

If you've been around here long enough, you know I'm a sucker for ROY G BIV, and this pencil roll from Kirsty at You had me at bonjour is no exception.

Source: youhadmeatbonjourblog.blogspot.com via Gwen on Pinterest

These sweet little bunting gift tags are from the Rainy Day Colors Etsy shop. They are so flipping adorable!

Source: etsy.com via Gwen on Pinterest

I have never made homemade play dough, but it is on my "one day" list, and this stack of every color makes me want to get started on it right now. Check out the recipe from Susannah at an art nest.

Source: Susannah at anartnest.squarespace.com via Gwen on Pinterest

These colorful spiral cookies look absolutely delicious. I love the sprinkles. Get the recipe from Heather Baird on SprinkleBakes.

Source: sprinklebakes.com via Gwen on Pinterest

Hope these pins inspire you to get working on one of those Pinterest projects you've been thinking about. Or maybe you just started thinking about one of these inspiration pins :) Whatever the project, this month's Point of View link party is a great excuse to get motivated and get started!




* Please, please, please... if you are interested in pinning one of these projects, either click on the picture and repin from my board or go to the original source and pin from there. Please don't pin from here. These are not my projects. Proper pinning etiquette is so important to make sure that people get credit for their work. Thank you!

Pin It Wednesday: Words to Live By

This week I am sharing one pin... a Thanksgiving-themed "Words to Live By"...

Source: gray square designs via Chris on Pinterest

Pin It Wednesday will be on hiatus until after Haul Out the Holly. Wishing all of my American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you get to enjoy some time (and turkey :) with the people you love.



Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Magnets

Thanks to the 16 people who voted in my poll last week :) Fifteen out of sixteen people voted in favor of Pin It Wednesday, so I guess it stays. I don't think I ever explained my main reason for starting Pin It Wednesday. I don't always have time to sew or craft something new to share - life gets in the way a lot - so, I thought this was a good way to ensure that I have something to post about while sharing the neat things I find in blogland. And although it looks like life has been getting in the way for almost two weeks now, I am sewing! I have three tutorials for you guys over the next two weeks, so I've been busy behind the scenes. Be on the lookout for the first tutorial on the 17th.

On to this week's theme: "magnets". Handmade magnets are a simple and useful gift idea, especially if you put a little thought into who you are making them for. Does the recipient like fishing? Make some fish magnets. Does the recipient like baking? Make some baking-themed magnets. You get the idea. Here are some great ideas to get you started...

1. Vintage Puzzle Piece Magnets by Rachel of StellaBella

I may have to make some of these for myself. I love the idea of making a set of these map magnets for the traveler in your life. And these can be made with any puzzle pieces, so the possibilities are endless. I love these vintage car puzzle piece magnets.
I also love the idea of using a favorite childhood puzzle to make magnets for an adult.
If you have trouble hunting down old puzzles, you can find them on Etsy and eBay.

2. Refrigerator Tin Storage Magnets by Cheryl of a pretty cool life (inspired by Martha Stewart)

I have a few old tins that I've picked up over the years, but I was never sure what to do with them. This fits the bill perfectly. Use them to keep pens and other necessities within reach.

3. Vintage Bottle Cap Magnets from Better Homes and Gardens

These are super easy to make and look really cool. Have a beer or soda lover in your life?
Find some old bottle caps to match their beverage of choice.
These would make great handmade guy gifts, which are hard to come by.

Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Little Houses

I don't really have a story behind this week's "little houses" theme. I was going through my pin boards trying to come up with a theme, and I noticed that I had several little house projects pinned on a few different pin boards. They were all super-cute projects, so I went with it :) Here are this week's pins...

1. Fabric House Ornaments by Kim of Retro Mama

I just might end up making one of these for everyone on my gift list this year. They are so adorable. Wouldn't it be cute to customize them to match the recipient's house colors and number? Love these? Check out the tutorial.

2. Little Houses Cushion by Nova of A Cuppa and a Catch Up

This pillow is so sweet. I'd love to make a version that includes houses that look like those of all of my family members. My girls would love to point out which house belongs to which grandparents, aunt and uncle, etc.

3. Little House Bag by Carabistouilles

This little bag would make a wonderful gift for a little girl or boy. The door is actually a pocket for holding pencils or crayons. How cute! I love the scalloped roof line.

4. Wool Felt Dollhouse Pillow by Maureen of Maureen Cracknell Handmade

This pillow is such a neat idea. The square portion holds a standard pillow form. I love the applique and ric rac details. If you haven't discovered the talented Maureen Cracknell,

you really should check her out.

OK.... so after doing this for several months now, I'm curious whether or not my readers enjoy these Pin It Wednesday posts. If you have a second, would you mind taking the poll over in my sidebar and letting me know? Thanks!




Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Halloween

Halloween is almost here. I took the easy way out this year and stayed away from handmade costumes. Last year's Pillsbury Doughboy did me in... maybe next year :) I thought I'd throw together a few of my favorite Halloween pins to share with you. Here are this week's pins...

1. Paper Lantern Pumpkin How-To from Martha Stewart

Take ordinary paper lanterns and turn them into these beautiful pumpkins using paper, floral tape, and pipe cleaners. I love the way it looks with several displayed together.

2. Batty Felt Pillow Tutorial from Amy at Ameroonie Designs

I have been a big fan of this pillow ever since Amy posted it last year. I love the black on black. It's simple, but it makes a statement. I will get one of these made someday. It would complement the bats in my dining room nicely :)

3. Trick or Treat Bag + Mini Tutorial from Chris at Pickup Some Creativity

These little trick or treat bags are adorable. I love the fabrics that Chris used. I'm not a fan of the spooky side of Halloween, so this little kitty is perfect. Chris shares the cat applique design and a candy corn design, too.

4. Felt Halloween Decorations from Paper and String

These super-cute plush decorations are irresistible. You can't help but smile when you look at them. Best part? There is a free pattern and instructions available for download!

To see all of my Halloween pins, click HERE. Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Little People Love

Recognize these...

image source

They're vintage Fisher-Price Little People, of course. There's something about these iconic little figures that puts a smile on my face every time I see them. Fisher-Price manufactured Little People in this form from the 1960s through the 1980s. My girls love playing with the new Little People, but they just aren't the same. They set up all of their Little People one day last week, so you can thank them for this week's theme :) Here are this week's pins...

1. Little People Love Fabric by Duchess via Spoonflower

This fabric is awesome! I love that you can just look at these simple shapes and know

exactly what they represent.

2. Little People Cookies by Sugar Rush Treats

I don't think I could ever bite into one of these. They are absolutely perfect. Make sure you check out the link to see close-ups of each hand-cut cookie.

3. Little People Artwork by Jason at Escape Adulthood

I am absolutely in love with these. It doesn't get much cuter than this.

I have lots of fond memories of setting up an entire town of Little People houses and buildings. The set-up was my favorite part. By the time my brother and sister and I got everything set up, we didn't feel like actually playing with the village anymore :) Were you a Little People fan? Do your children/grandchildren play with Little People?




Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Road Trips with Kids

We were in Vermont over the weekend, and the four hour ride home was one of "those" rides. The minute one of the girls would stop talking, the other would say "Mom" and want something. As soon as she was set, the other would say "Mom" and need something else. It just didn't stop. For four hours. We usually just keep a big bag of toys and books in between their car seats, but they have trouble reaching things in it while they're all strapped in tight, and once they are done with a book or toy, they can't reach the bag, so they throw it on the floor. When you go to get them out of the car, there is an avalanche of stuff that falls out. After this most recent trip, I've decided that I need to come up with some ways for the girls to help themselves on car trips. Here are this week's pins...

1. Kid's Travel Desk made by Holly at Chez Beeper Bebe using tutorial by Merrilee from Mer Mag
This travel lap desk has storage on both sides, which would definitely keep things within my girls' reach. This would solve a lot of my problems. This desk has pockets and zippered pouches, a carrying handle, and it's washable. I think I'm in love :)

2. Altoids Tin Turned Mini Coloring Kit by Kimbo at A Girl and a Glue Gun
I love this idea! I keep our travel crayons in a zipper pouch, but the bag ends up getting stepped on or sat on. In other words, lots of broken crayons. This tin would solve that problem. Kimbo added a little pocket to the lid to hold some paper, too. It would fit perfectly in one of the pockets of the travel desk.

3. Backseat Trash/Toy Bin by Tara at Tinkerfrog
These would put some toys within arms reach. I like the idea of them having their own garbage bins, too, but I think I'd wait until they were a little older for that. I still need some control over what they do and don't consider to be trash :)

How do you keep your kids occupied on long car trips? Any tips on ways to make them more self-sufficient in the car?



Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE. No clue what Pinterest is? Click HERE.

Pin It Wednesday: Teaching Kids to Sew

This week's theme is "teaching kids to sew". When I was little, I had one of these...

image source

This little beauty would sew designs onto pieces of foam using yarn. It punched little holes in the foam and drove the yarn into each hole. I remember having a lot of fun with it, and I'm toying with the idea of trying to find one that's in working condition for my four year old to use. She is already asking when she can get a little sewing machine. We're a few years away from that, but the ideas I'm sharing might just tide her over until then. Here are this week's pins...

1. Beginner's Sewing Kit from The Land of Nod

This kit comes with supplies to make felt animals and notebook covers. It's loaded with lots of little goodies... scissors, thimble, measuring tape, buttons, ric rac. And it comes in a cute little case, too! Great gift idea for an older child. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

2. Printable Sewing Cards from Mini-eco

This adorable free printable comes in three shapes: flower, sun, and lion. This is a great activity for younger children. Give them a blunt needle and some yarn and let them go to town. You could also use a shoelace... the plastic on the very end takes the place of the needle.

3. Toddler Friendly Sewing Basket from Childhood 101

This is such an awesome idea, and I plan on putting this together for my girls. The "sewing" in this basket is an embroidery hoop with a non-slip drawer liner stretched in it... brilliant! The printable Mini-eco sewing cards would make a great addition to this kit.

I think there might be a little sewing basket showing up under our Christmas tree this year. I have no doubt that it will provide hours of entertainment. Have you taught your daughter, son, or grandchildren to sew? Any tips?




Interested in seeing all of my Pinterest boards? Click HERE. No clue what Pinterest is? Click HERE.