Tutorial Tuesday Guest Post from The Best of Momma Chef

First off I would like to

remind you to join in

the giveaway going on here.

It ends this Sunday 2-6-11 at midnight.

Now, I would like
to introduce to you our

guest of honor

 for

Tutorial Tuesday:

Sheena Jensen

From

The Best of Momma Chef.

She has some fabulous recipes over on her blog.

This is her first sewing tutorial EVER!!! 

I am so excited;

we are the first people that she

has shared this with!!

We are so special aren't we?

{*wink wink*}

Thank you once again Sheena for sharing this!

************** 

 January... time to start working on taxes.  Every year at this time, I think to myself.... "WHY DID I NOT KEEP BETTER TRACK OF THINGS!!!???"  This year I just added another New Year's Resolution!  I am going to do better at keeping receipts and track of my mileage for business & charity things.


Did you know: 



-Tithing you pay at church is tax deducible?

-Your mileage to and from paying tithing and to charity events such as church planning meetings, visiting teaching,  goodwill donations, etc or tax deducible?

-hobbies are tax deducible? As well as mileage to and from getting craft supplies!!!!!???


Now, I am not a tax professional, but I heard these things from my tax professional.  

To keep better track of my HOBBY EXPENSES, CHARITY DONATIONS, and BUSINESS EXPENSES.... I created a receipt clutch and it fits a mini journal for me to write down mileage!!!

Receipt and Record Clutch

This is my first "non baking" tutorial, so don't judge!

I am not a professional seamstress.  I got this cute fabric from Dana at Saturday Mornings.  Thanks Dana, and as I promised... here is what I made:

1/2 yard of 2 different fabrics

small chunk of interfacing or thick fabric

thread

sewing machine

hot glue glue

needle and thread

pins

fabric scissors or rotatory cutter & mat

Choose what fabric you want for the outside of the clutch and for the pocket dividers. Cut an 8 by 12 1/2 and an 8 by 16.

Cut a piece for the inside of the clutch that is 8 by 12 1/2.  If you are using interfacing cut a piece 8x12 1/2 and iron on to backing of the inside fabric, or cut a piece of thick fabric to use instead (8 by 12 1/2), like me, if you are giggity ghetto you have no interfacing.


PS. We are talking inches here.

See all my 8 by 12 1/2 inch pieces?

Ruffle: Then cut a strip that is 3 1/2 inches by 19 inches.  Use what ever fabric you want your ruffle to be.






Sew the right sides together hotdog style to create a tube. 




Attach a clothes pin to help turn the tube inside out.




Shovel the pin thru as so. And ta da, a tube.  Now iron it.  I like to iron the tube with the seam in the middle.  Then sew the tube onto the front of the clutch fabric however you like.  I made a ruffly thing that went 3/4 across.  See here for a ruffle tutorial.



Lay the material that will be the inside of the clutch on top of the outer piece with ruffle.  Right sides together. Pin together and sew around the edges with a 1/4 inch seam.  Leave about a 4 inch opening on one of the long sides to be able to flip the clutch inside out.  See the opening I left? 




Also snip the corners to make for nicer corners when you flip it inside out. See?



Flip inside out and press!!!  I trick I use... I get a pen or pencil and poke it into the opening and into the corners to get them to turn all the way out.



Next, remember the 8 by 16 inch piece you cut?  Fold it hamburger style with right sides together and sew to create a giant tube. See?




Next, press the tube flat, then fold in half again and press so you get what I have below.  This will be your pocket dividers.




Lay your divider on the clutch and cut off any extra on the sides, be careful not to cut your clutch!!!!









Place divider on the clutch where ever you want it to be.  I placed it so that the bottom of the clutch will fold up and the top with fold down but that the top piece will be a tiny bit shorter.  You want the bottom to fold up and be even with the dividers. See below:




Pin the bottom flip in place and stitch from one bottom corner, all the way around to the other bottom corner, with a 1/4 inch stitch.
I made a little rosette and hand stitched it onto the front.  GO HERE to see where I learned to make the rosette.

Now, go organizer your receipts in your new clutch!!!

SO how'd I do on my first sewing tutorial???

Tutorial Tuesday- Carrie from Dittle Dattle

Hello!

I know that it is late in the evening,

 and I said that I would post the guest posting sometime this afternoon;

but I didn't tell you what time zone I would post this...hahahha just kidding. 

I am still stress free and not worrying about it-really I am not. 

I am glad that I got it posted though.

So here I am so happy to be able to share this wonderful tutorial.

Today we have

Carrie

from

Dittle Dattle

guest posting for us.

She has a fabulous tutorial for a cute and adorable Valentine's Day Subway Art Pillow!

I hope you really enjoy!!

**♥♥**

Hello Happy Home Maker and Momma readers!

My name is Carrie and I coming here today from Dittle Dattle! 

I started blogging about 10 months ago as a means to encourage myself to finish the many unfinished projects and never ending to-do list that I have.  My blog, Dittle Dattle, is my journal to all my completed projects!  I love to create knock-off projects!  You know…. taking something that is way out of my budget and then figuring out a way to make it for way way less!   

There are so many wonderful Valentine’s Day subway art floating around the internet.  I just happened to stumble on this great subway art from Krista at While He Was Napping.  With her permission, I used her subway art to create a pillow!

With the help of my Cricut machine and freezer paper, I first made a stencil. 

I have done this technique before  HERE and HERE, so , I’ll run through the steps rather quickly. 

Iron on the freezer paper stencil to a white fabric square.  My fabric measured 13x13. {allowing for half inch seam allowance, my finished pillow measures 12x12} 

Then paint, using 50/50 paint and textile medium mixture.

Remove the freezer paper carefully and once the paint is dry heat set with a hot dry iron.

Sew the two 13x13 squares together and pressed with an iron.  The fabric I was using was pretty thin.   I was worried that the the poly-fiber filling would show through the thin material and look lump.  Before I stuffed it, I cut a flat piece of quilt batting and placed it inside the pillow casing.   Then I stuffed in between the layers of batting.

Of course it need something…. RED! 

I didn’t have any red satin material but I did find a wide ribbon {at my mom’s house…. the best place to go shopping!}   and embroidered the word LOVE. Then I sewed the to ends of the ribbon together to create a band and slipped it over the pillow. 

For my non-sewing friends, I think you could make this using a ready made pillow.   If I was attempting it on a 3 dimensional object, I would cut the stencil down in to more manageable sizes.  Or an even easier idea is to use transfer paper!!! Just remember to reverse the wording {or mirror image} before printing off on transfer paper.  If you make one, I would love to see and hear about it.

Thank you Kelly-Jo inviting me to be your guest blogger today.

Have the best day ever,

Carrie

Tutorial Tuesday-Guest Post-Subway Art

The guest poster for our Tutorial Tuesday is Bonnie from Somewhere in Craftland.  She has such a nice idea to share!  I think that you will really enjoy it!

******♥♥♥******

Hello to everyone from Happy Homemaker and Momma.  My name is Bonnie and I author the super fun craft blog called Somewhere in Craftland.  This blog was originally set up as a place for me to keep track of and share fun crafts I find from all over the internet, but, I started having too much fun making things and sharing them myself.  So, at my blog, you will find a little bit of both.

Kelly-Jo asked me to come and share a printable with you that happens to be my very first attempt at subway art.  I have seen so many different forms of subway art floating around the internet and I wanted to try my hand at it.




Since I wanted one to hang on my wall and be inspiring to anyone who saw it, I thought using the theme from one of my favorite songs would work really well.  A few years ago when life was super tough for our family, I felt like the weight of the whole world was on my shoulders.  I am sure there are plenty of you out there that can relate to this feeling.  It was during this time, that this song was especially meaningful to me.  One particular night, I was laying in bed wondering how I could go on, how I could possibly make it through one more day.  I knew I needed to say my prayers, but I didn't want to.  I was tired of pleading with the Lord for the things He already knew I needed.  After much more agonizing, I decided to pray, but I wasn't going to ask Him for anything.  Instead, I was just going to thank Him for what I did have.  I started my prayer thanking Him for the usual things I always thanked Him for; my Savior, family, friends, home, etc.  After awhile, I started to run out of obvious things to be thankful for, and so I started thanking Him for things like my broom to sweep my floor and the curling iron I had to curl my hair.  It was at this point that I realized I was giggling inside!  There was a literal lifting of that heavy weight I had been feeling for so long and suddenly, I was reminded that He is in charge, that His ways are not my ways and all would be well.  My problems didn't go away immediately or even soon thereafter, but I could truly feel that He was aware of me and these things I was experiencing were shaping me into a virtuous woman.

I know that whenever I am feeling sorry for myself, I just have to hear or sing this song to be reminded not only of the many blessings I have, but also of the promises that come with remembering them.  If you are unfamiliar with this song, you can check out the words and music here.

I created many variations of this picture because I couldn't decide which one I liked best.  I will post 3 here so feel free to take them for yourself.  No requirements needed, but if you wanted to follow my blog and/or my fanbook page, you would make me all sorts of grateful!  Just click on the picture once to bring up the image and then a second time to enlarge it.  These will make an 8x10.  I have mine in a frame, but they would look fabulous mod podged onto wood also.  Please use only for personal use.

 

Okay, so there is 4.  Here is black and white for anyone who isn't crazy about the other colors.

Thanks so much Kelly-Jo for having me over.  :D

Tutorial Tuesday-How about a Yummy Recipe?

This Tuesday I want to change things up a little......

So I thought maybe you all would enjoy

a yummy recipe

So I asked Ceecee from Within the Kitchen

to share her yummy

Triple Chocolate Overload 

Cookie Recipe 

Because let's face it we can't survive without Chocolate!

So I hope you enjoy this one!!

**********************************

Hello I am Ceecee from over at Within the Kitchen and I would like to share a wonderful recipe with you.  But first a little back story.  It's a Wednesday night and I suddenly have a craving for chocolate chip cookies. Just thinking about the aroma of fresh baked cookies sends a shiver down my spine and puts a smile on my face. But I've had dinner, am comfortably sitting on the couch and waiting for something to come on the TV. And besides, how do I justify to myself eating cookies on a Wednesday night? Perhaps a bowl of strawberries will suffice??? Who am I kidding, it won't. In my head, I go over the ingredient list of one my fave recipes...I think I have everything so I thought; let's do it!

Well.....apparently I used all of the regular flour when I made chocolate turnovers. And I used all of the white sugar when I made a cake for a friend, and I didn't have any room temperature butter. Was my craving to go unfullfilled? No way,  I decided to improvise. I used cake flour, cocoa (cause by now my chocolate craving was out of control) and melted butter. And by adding 2 more types of chips, my craving monster was finally satified! These cookies are cakier than my other chocoalte chip cookie recipes, soft and dense...and the aroma....oh man, I'm craving them again!!!

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup melted butter

2 2/3 cups cake flour (not self rising)

2 cups brown sugar

1 teaspoon instant espresso or coffee (optional)

2 tbsp hot water

2 eggs

1/3 cup cocoa, sifted

1 cup milk chocolate chips

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

What to do:

1. Heat oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Dissolve coffee into hot water.

3. In large bowl, beat melted butter, brown sugar, eggs and hot coffee water until smooth.

4. In medium bowl, mix together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

5. Stir into butter mixture until blended.

6. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 8 minutes.

8. Let cool 1 minute.

9. Remove to wire rack.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Tutorial Tuesday-Neat Pillow Pin Cushions with Guest Post

It is that time again...

TUTORIAL TUESDAY

{bumbadada(my trumpets)}

I have asked Joy from Mommas Kinda Crafty to join us today-on this wonderful Tuesday.  She made some really cute Pillow Pin Cushions-when I saw them I just had to share.  They are really easy to make.  Hope you enjoy!

**********************************

Hello!  I am Joy from Mommas kinda Crafty!

I love to sew and craft.  I especially love those projects that are quick and easy and use supplies or scraps I already have on hand.  This is one of those kind of projects.

My little purple pincushion.  Isn't is cute! 

Wanna make one?  It's SUPER easy and takes less than 15 minutes! 

You will need.....

2 pieces fabric 4"x 4" square

Polyfil stuffing

about 20" of 1/8" ribbon

Needle with large eye for ribbon

Button

Cut your fabric.  I chose to use denim for the bottom of each one.  Did one that was all denim too, but I am sure any cotton scraps will work.  Start by sewing your 2 pieces of fabric, right sides together and leaving an opening on one side for stuffing.  I used a very small seam so I didn't have to trim them down.    Clip your corners and turn right side out.   Stuff it full with polyfil and sew the gap closed.

You should have a little square pillow.

Now take your ribbon and thread it through the needle.  Push the needle down through the center of the pincushion, leaving about 5" of ribbon on top.

Bring the ribbon around one side of the pincushion and back down thru the center.  Do this for each side so it looks wrapped like a gift box.  Secure the ends with a few stitches.

Sew on a button on the top side in the center.

Thanks to Kelly-Jo for inviting me over today!  I would love to have you all stop by for a visit and say 'hello!'  I also host a Crafty Linky Party every Friday.  So come on over and share your projects.  I'd love to see them!

**********************

Do you have a tutorial you would like to share?

I would be happy to host one for you. 

Just leave me a comment or email me

and I will get back with you

Tutorial Tuesday-Cute Aprons with Guest Post

How about another Guest Post?

Today is Tutorial Tuesday!!

I have a wonderful treat for you

Sarah from 

Simply Step Back

Has agreed to share her tutorial on how to make two placemats into an apron!

Here is a little info on her:

I'm a grad student, studying library and information science. I love reading, easy sewing projects, cooking and baking, and figuring out what's going to happen next. 

*********

Hope you  ENJOY

♥*♥*♥*♥

Hi everyone. I'm Sarah from SimplyStepBack, and I'm so excited to be posting here on Happy Homemaker and Momma. I love doing easy upcycling projects, thrift store finds, and trying new recipes. I hope you enjoy this apron tutorial as much as I do!




 As soon as I saw these two placemats, I thought they'd look better as an apron. And when I say this is an easy upcycle, I really mean easy. All the edges are finished; you've just got to sew the pieces together. The pockets are optional, but you'll probably have enough fabric, and I think they really add to the overall cuteness of the apron. This project is pretty simple and leaves a lot of room for any embellishments you'd like. I whipped up the apron and the tutorial both in no time at all, and  I think you'll be impressed with how fast you can do the same!

How to Make the Apron Body

1. First, decide how long you want the apron to be, and arrange the pieces to fit that length.  I let them overlap quite a bit, a good four inches or more. That overlap is what you'll use to make the pockets. Of course, the pocket can be made out of any other fabric, so don't worry if you don't have a lot of extra here.



2. Pin in place, and sew across the middle to join the pieces. I wanted that white edge to show the middle, so I just stitched over the existing seam. If your placemats don't have a finished edge that you want to be visible, flip it over and stitch with right sides together so that when you unfold it, you just won't see that seam at all.


 

3.  Cut two lengths of ribbon for the waist ties and snip the ends triangularly. I used a 1 inch wide white ribbon. You could use lengths of fabric if you like, or whatever matches your placements; it's up to you.


 


4. Pin the unsnipped ends of the ribbon to the wrong side of the apron at the place where the placemats are joined together, lining up where you'll stitch them with an existing seam. Stitch across. Do the same for both sides.


                                                    

5.  Cut another length of ribbon for the neck part, a bit longer than you think you'll need. I used a 1/4" white ribbon for this part, but again, use whatever you like or have on hand.

6. Put the apron on, and hold up the top. Pin the ends of the neck ribbon in place so it holds up the top how you want it to sit.

7. Stitch the ribbon ends on over the existing seam. If you don't want to make pockets, you're finished! It still looks great without them. If you do want to add the pockets, keep scrolling down.

 

How to Make the Apron Pockets
1.  Lay the apron flat, and fold the top over, exposing the overlap between the placemats.

 
2. Cut straight across. 



3. If you want, you can make a long shallow pocket, and leave this piece as is. I wanted two little ones, so I cut it in half. If you want one deep pocket, still go ahead and cut it in half.


 
4. If you want one deep pocket, sew these two pieces wrong sides together on the long edge. If you want two small ones, fold over the long side and pin. Then stitch straight across, finishing this edge.



5. Pin your pocket where you want it to sit on the apron. The side you just finished should be the top of the pocket. You still have one unfinished side, so remember to fold it under when you pin.


 

Here's what mine looked like with the pockets all pinned on.

                                                          

6. Stitch around the pocket- carefully, because you'll be able to see these seams! And that's it!  My placemats had a pretty busy pattern, so I stopped here, but you might want to add some cute ruffles or fabric flowers. I think I'll still use my other apron for baking- it's got more surface area to wipe floury hands, but this one will be lots of fun for cooking.

Be sure to jump in the Giveaway found {HERE}