Advent Calendar

Well I did it.... I actually SEWED something! Crazy right? I made an advent calendar for our family this year. I'm really excited about it. Its pretty big and we can use a marker or fill it with stuff. I'm almost done. I just have a few more buttons to sew on. Here are some pics....

Button marker. 

The calendar. A few of the buttons are on. 

I also made a tree skirt (unfinished) out of the leftover red felt. I'm pretty excited to see that done too.

Magnets

I had some extra stickers laying around from last years calendar so I decided to make some "back to school" magnets with them. I'm really excited to use them next year when Amir starts school! I'm also making some halloween/fall themed for my brother in England. They turned out so well that I think I'll keep making them for every holiday. I love them!

Materials used: Mod Podge, Clear accent gems, Construction paper, Stickers, Magnetic strip

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I've been thinking about making home made laundry detergent for a while now. I've just been too lazy or unmotivated to do it. Finally when Katherine (sister in law) did it I figured its now or never. While I'm at it, I'll make home made fabric softener as well. I went and got all of the stuff yesterday.. Walmart is great for Borax, buckets & baking powder. While smiths is good for the rest of it. Walmart does not carry fels naptha or washing soda. Lame-o's. 


I mixed both the detergent and the fabric softeners in 5 gallon buckets. I doubled the fabric softener recipe. I did one recipe, and then repeated it because the chemical reaction of vinegar and baking soda almost overflows in the bucket. I recommend NOT doubling it at the same time. ha!


Anyway, here is the recipe's I used:


Laundry Detergent:

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.

Fabric Softener:

Baking soda

Distilled White Vinegar

Water

Essential Oil (optional)

• Start by adding 1 cup of baking soda to your large bucket or container. Then add 1 cup of water to the baking soda. You do not have to stir to dissolve the baking soda, as the next step will do that for you.
• Now, slowly pour in 6 cups of distilled white vinegar. This will cause a chemical reaction with the baking soda, and the mixture will start to fizz. (This is why you need to mix it in a large container.) Let the mixture fizz for a few minutes to help dissolve the baking soda.
• Now add 6 more cups of water to the mixture. This will stop the fizzing process. Stir to properly mix all ingredients together.
• If you want to add essential oil, you will now add your choice of oil. 10-15 drops of pure essential oil is generally sufficient enough to give the fabric softener a pleasant scent.
• Pour your fabric softener into your choice of container. If you have left over fabric softener or laundry soap bottles, those will work excellent for storage of your new fabric softener. Just make sure they are properly cleansed before you add your new mix.

Home Made!

I'm not the type of person to sew well, anything. But this year I decided to try and make Amir a few things for Christmas.... First I made a hooded towel.

[hood]

The blue & green one is for Amir

and the brown & green is for another child who cannot be named because I know his mom reads my blog occasionally ;)

Next I made him a zippered bag. Its for his train set that he got for his birthday. Notice the trains on it? The other side that you cant see has Thomas on it. He loves Thomas.

I also want to make him one more Activity bag & a crayon holder to go in the bag. I have to use the sewing machine at my mom's house & I don't get there often nor do I have a lot of time to cut the fabric. Its easy to sit here and blog because Amir doesn't bother me but the second the scissors come out... Its all over. *sigh*