Stamped Keychain at Kojo Designs!

I hope you are all having a fabulous Tuesday! Today I'm over at Kojo Designs joining their Gifts For Guys Series. If you're looking for handmade gifts to give the males in your life head on over, there are so many amazing tutorials already posted!

I'm sharing this stamped keychain tutorial, I hope you'll go on over and check it out. :)

On another note, I have some dolly related things still to share, last week wasn't long enough! I also have some great gift ideas (at least in my opinion) to share with you for Christmas gifts. But, that being said, I may be scarce this week.
I posted a couple (few) weeks ago that I wasn't feeling well and had pneumonia. Well, I thought I was getting better but had a rather rough weekend. Then yesterday was feeling worse than I had yet. Back to the Dr and it turns out I still have pneumonia and it has gotten worse, not better. A few prescriptions later and hopefully I will be on the mend now, but I need some rest! Coughing wheezing steady for 3 weeks takes a bit of a toll and I think trying to maintain my daily life isn't working so well to get myself better.
I'm going to shut the door to my sewing room and spend what free time I have cuddled on the couch with the wee ones inhaler in hand! :)

Jenny and Teddy Creation Giveaway Winner!

Time to announce the winner of the Jenny And Teddy Creation Giveaway!

Someone is going to win Emma, this adorable crocheted bear!

Chandler said... 21

I know exactly who I would give that to!!

If you haven't had a chance to check out Jenny and Teddy Creation, go and have a look! Jane's patterns are very inexpensive and would be perfect Christmas gifts for the kids in your life this year! :)

Congratulations to our winner!

I still have some other dolly things to post, so I'll be back later! :)

Reversible Dolly Quilt

The last thing we need for our dolly bed is the quilt. I made mine reversible, and to be honest, the design of my quilt was dictated by my fabric scraps. There were certain fabrics I wanted to use and I only had little pieces. I also didn't want to make an elaborate quilt for a dolly. I'm not a quilter and I like quick projects. This took maybe 30 mins.

If you'd like to make a quilt like mine, read on! :)

I wanted my quilt to be about the size of a fat quarter. That is the perfect size to fit the dolly bed I made.
The finished dimensions of this quilt will be 18 inches X 21 inches.

Your Pieces:
4 pieces Fabric A 3.5 inches X 21.5 inches
2 pieces Fabric B 2.5 inches X 21.5 inches
1 piece Fabric C 2.5 inches X 21.5 inches
Use 1/4 inch seam allowance

You also need to cut a piece of fabric 18.5 inches X 21.5 inches fort he back of your quilt, and a piece of fleece to be used for the batting of your quilt (also 18.5 X 21.5).
You could use real quilt batting but I find this too thick for a dolly blanket. Fleece, or even microfleece works great!

 Start by sewing your strips together in the order you choose. Do this by sewing them right sides together, one after the other. Press.

Spray one side of your fleece with fabric adhesive, or use a bit of glue stick (it really works and washes right out), and stick your fleece to the back side of your front quilt piece.

Now, the reason we are doing this, is because we are not going to bind this quilt like a traditional quilt. This is a dolly quilt and I wanted to make it fast and easy!

Flip your front quilt piece over (your fleece is on the back) and lay your back quilt piece on top right sides together. I have the back piece flipped back so you can see that the quilt is under.

Sew all the way around your quilt leaving a couple inch opening at the bottom for turning. Clip your corners.

Turn and press. Your fleece should remain in the middle.

 We are going to quilt our quilt, just by topstitching each strip in your quilt. Also hand or machine sew your opening shut.

Now this is what your quilt will look like from the back side.

There you have it, a comfy bed for your favorite little person's dolly!

Click on the links to learn how to make the pillows and sheet.

Dolly Bed Fitted Sheet

Happy belated Thanksgiving to all of my US friends! How many of you braved your malls for Black Friday deals today? It sounds exciting, I wish I could have joined you!

Today I'm going to show you how I made the fitted sheet for the dolly bed I made. You can also find out how to make the pillows and pillowcases HERE.
I have more dolly related things to show you so I will be posting all weekend. :)

Be prepared for some really horrible, done at midnight photos, coming your way.

What you will need:
-approx 1/2 yrd fabric (you'll possibly need an inch or two longer, you might only need a fat quarter)
-1/4 inch elastic.
Use 1/4 inch seam allowance

First, we'll cut our pieces.

Now, my mattress measures about 13.5 inches by 18.5 inches. It is also 2 inches deep.

For this size mattress I cut a piece of fabric 20 inches by 25 inches.

If you want to customize for the shape of your mattress, here is what you do.
Measure the length, width and height of your mattress.

The width of your fabric will be:
The width of your mattress + 2(height of your mattress + 1.25 inches)

The length of your fabric will be:
The length of your mattress + 2(height of your mattress + 1.25 inches)

Now, see how there are notches cut out on my corners? If you are making the same size sheet as I am, cut square notches out of each corner that measure 3.25 inches.

If you are using your custom measurements, make your notches (height of your mattress + 1.25 inches)

For elastic, cut two pieces 12 inches long.
If using custom measurements just cut your elastic slightly smaller than the width of your mattress.

Start by pressing each end in 1/4 inch and then in another 1/2 inch. Do this on all 4 sides.

Unfold your pressing (we are just pressing first to make things easier later). Pinch each notch side right sides together and sew. If you don't understand what I'm talking about see next photo. :)

Each corner will look like this once you have each notch sewn together.
Now, approx 3-4 inches away from each corner (on the long edges) make a mark.

Refold your pressed edges, and starting at one of your marks hem all around your sheet. At each mark leave an opening of approx 1/2 inch. What you are doing is creating a casing for your elastic.

Now, attach the end of your elastic to a safety pin and insert in one of the openings, and go around the short end and come out at the other opening. At each end machine stitch to secure elastic as shown.

You will do this at both short ends. The elastic will go around the short ends, no need to have it go down the long edges!

This is what you'll have! A cute tiny little fitted sheet for your dolly bed!

Now your little one can be just like mom and change her dolly's sheets. :)

Today is also the last day to enter the Jenny and Teddy Creations Giveaway, so if you haven't entered, go do it! :)

See you tomorrow!

Dolly Pillows and Pillowcases

Today I'll show you how I made the little pillows and pillowcases for the dolly bed I posted yesterday. Basic sewing and easy beginner project. For those that have a little more sewing experience, here is where I can help. I have tried to make these as best to scale as possible. In both the relation to the bed (if you choose to make this same bed), but also as pillows. I hope you'll find these are pretty much the same dimensions as adult pillows, but teenier.

 Why make pillows and removable pillow cases? Because it's fun. Most toy doll beds and bedding come with just a pillow and blanket. Boring. If you're going to make it, make it so they can change the sheets just like mom!

Here we go.
What you will need:
-Fabric Scraps
-Polyester or cotton batting, or something else to stuff your pillows
Use 1/4 inch seam allowance

Ok, here is where you pretend you can actually see this photo. Why I thought taking a photo of white fabric on a white background was a good idea I don't know. Hopefully the wrinkles in my fabric show up enough for you to see what you need for pieces.

Cut four pieces 7 inches X 5.5 inches
This will make you two pillows.

Take two pieces and sew them right sides together leaving a couple inch opening at the bottom to stuff. Clip your corners.
Do this with your other two pieces. Flip right sides out.

Stuff with batting to your hearts content and sew the opening closed. You can hand sew this to make the opening invisible, but I'm lazy and machine stitched them closed. These are only doll pillows after all. :)

Now, for the pillowcases! The fun part.

I'm not sure why I don't have a photo of my pieces, so pretend you see one.
Cut This:
Main fabric- 2 pieces 12 inches X 6.75 inches
Coordinating Fabric- 2 pieces 12 inches X 3.5 inches

Start by pressing your coordinating fabric wrong sides together in half lengthwise. Do this with both pieces of coordinating trim.

Match the raw edge of your trim to one long edge of your main fabric and sew together. Zig zag your seam.
Do this with your other pillowcase too.

Flip over your trim piece, press, and topstitch about 1/8 inch away from the seam.
Do your other pillowcase too.

Fold in half lengthwise and sew down one long edge and the short edge that is your main fabric. Leave your trim side open. Zig zag your seam and turn right side out.
And do the 2nd pillowcase too.

Fast and easy and perfect for using up little scraps of fabric that you love but don't know what to do with. Now that you're done making two, make a stack of little pillowcases, your little one will love em!

I'll be back tomorrow to show you how I made the fitted sheet, or maybe the quilt, or maybe something else entirely. :)

You'll find this quick find link under the "Tutorials" tab at the top of the page.

Doll Bed, Cute and on the CHEAP!

How many of you follow Ana-White.com (formerly called Knock Off Wood)? if you've never checked out this site, you have to click over. Ana posts complete building plans for furniture, many of them easy enough for beginners. Several months ago I built little dude's toddler bed using her plans. It was the first thing I had ever built and it was empowering! :)

Well, last week I mentioned to my husband that he should build our 5yr old a dolly bed for Christmas (a Maplea doll will be waiting for her under the tree this Christmas). I had searched out beds that fit Maplea and American Girl Dolls and they are expensive! $50-$60 plus! In my opinion too much to spend when we already spent quite a bit on the doll. By some strange coincidence, the very next day, Ana had the plans on her site for this dolly bed!

I was so excited, because this meant I could make it, and I did. It is imperfectly perfect, but I'll tell you this, this bed is sturdy! I can see my daughter playing with this and possibly her daughter. It was also really easy to make.
You'll never believe how much the wood for this bed cost me...

Can you see that? $5.94!! And, that is in Canadian even. I did make a small change. Ana's plans call for 2, 1X3's. You can't buy 1X3's here so I bought a 1X4 and cut it down. I also only needed one as it was 10 feet in length, not two.
I also smiled sweetly at the nice man that was helping me pick out my boards and asked if they might have a scrap of plywood lying around for the bottom of the bed. Maybe he had a daughter and thought it was sweet, but he found me a scrap for FREE.
$60 or $6? Not a hard choice! I bet this bed stands up to my children better than the $60!
 

One of the best things about making it yourself, besides saving a ton of money, is being able to make all of the little things to use on the bed.
I tried to make everything to scale. Little pillows, with pillowcases that can come off just like real ones. A real fitted sheet that also can be taken off and put back on (I made a couple so she can change them just like we do).
For the mattress I used a piece of 2 inch foam I found in the craft section of Walmart. Ana used a cut down kitchen chair cushion. This was the only other money I spent on this bed. I used fabric I already had, and leftover paint from something else.

The quilt is reversible so she has two blankets in one. This project is excellent for using up fat quarters or other small cuts of fabric you have laying around.

In photos this bed looks so small and cute, but is actually quite large. We don't yet have an 18 inch doll in our house, but here is Miss Corelle standing next to the bed. She is 16 inches tall and for reference is wearing a nightgown made with a pattern for American Girl Dolls.

This bed is probably large enough to fit two Americal Girl Dolls side by side.

Ladies, you really don't need to ask the men in your life to make this, you can totally do it!

This week I am going to post tutorials for the pillows, pillowcases, reversible quilt and fitted sheet. I might even add some decorative pillows to the bed as I still have some small scraps.

I can't wait for my daughter to open this Christmas morning! I'm thinking about making a second one with more of a boyish look for Little Dude. He has a tiger stuffie that I think could use a bed.

Jenny And Teddy Creations Giveaway!

Our giveaway today is absolutely perfect to kick off Dolly Week! Today I want to introduce you to a sweet little Etsy shop called Jenny And Teddy Creation. Jenny And Teddy Creation is a shop that all of you that like to crochet are going to love!

Jane, of Jenny And Teddy Creation,  specializes in adorable amigurumi crochet patterns. Like really really adorable (you don't have to know how to crochet to enjoy this giveaway though- keep reading)!
For those that aren't sure what amigurumi means, it is a Japanese term to describe knitting or crocheting stuffed animals.

I for one think the art of knitting and crocheting is really coming back in style, and is not just a hobby of older folks any longer. What do you think? I think young and old are both starting to fall in love with needle crafts.

Check out some of the adorable patterns you can find in Jane's shop.

How cute is this little bunny? She is my favorite so I had to show you her first! :)

I know my 5yr old would love this. Did you know you could make such cute crocheted dollies?

And one more...

It was really hard for me to choose which pictures I would use for this post, I love all of Jane's dolls!

Head on over to Jenny And Teddy Creations and come back and tell me the name of the pattern you love most. That is all you have to do to be entered to win this....

One lucky winner is going to win this super cute little crocheted bear named Emma!
Isn't she adorable?
You will win the finished product, not the pattern.
For those of you that can't resist this pattern, Jane will be releasing this one in her shop soon.

Giveaway closes Friday November 26th 7PM PST
One entry per person please
Please leave a way for me to contact you if your email address isn't in your blogger profile!

These would make perfect Christmas gifts for those little people in your life. If you have never crocheted, now is the time to learn! :) Jane's patterns are also really inexpensive and she doesn't mind if you want to sell your finished products.

I remember being a little girl and sitting at my great grandmother's feet winding her tangled yarn into balls for her as she would sit in her rocker and crocheted. I used to wonder why she liked crocheting blanket after blanket after blanket.
Well, one Christmas, I received a beautiful crocheted doll from her. I wish I still had it. It opened my eyes and after that I would sit with hook in hand and try to crochet along with her (I just made a mess out of her yarn). It wasn't until recently that I really sat down and took the time to learn, and I hope one day to try out one of these beautiful patterns and give the same joy to my children.

I don't really remember many gifts I received as a child, or many treats I may have gotten at the store. I remember vividly winding yarn with my great grandmother and other such things like that. I bet these are the things you remember too. I try to remember this when I feel caught up in the "I have to buy this for my kid for them to be happy". So easy to get caught up in those types of thoughts but if you think back to your best memories they don't often involve expensive material possessions, do they? Now that Christmas is coming up I'm finding I need to remind myself of this daily.

Sorry for the story, but what would a post from me be without a little ramble? :)