Appliqued Onesies

Remember when your baby is just too tiny to put in real church clothes? I've seen these on a couple babies and think they are just darling! My little man is definitely going to be sporting this darling piece!

This is perhaps the easiest little project I have ever done. Seriously you could make a whole package of onesies in less than 10 minutes! And you can do this project even if you don't have a sewing machine... isn't that awesome? And the price to make these is under $2/shirt.

What you need:

1. Onesies
2. Fabric (use your scraps, you just need a little!)
3. Fabric Fusion Applique Paper (1 yard will go for ages...)
Note: There is non-sewable applique paper, and sewable... this depends on whether you want to sew a stitch around the edge of your design for a more finished look. The non-sew is a little more stiff and harder to sew through.
4. Scissors
5. Iron

Directions:

1. Follow the instructions on the Fabric Fusion Applique paper. Basically, you lay the applique paper over the back side of your fabric, with the paper side up. Iron it on low for 2 seconds until it sticks.
2. Cut out your design.
3. Peel the paper off the fabric and place the design on your onesie. Iron for 8-10 seconds until it sticks to the onesie. Done!

Here is the pattern I used to do the tie: (Just click to enlarge, and then print.)

Superhero Towels

Months ago I did a post about the reversible superhero capes. I think they are darling, and I think it is a great project and gift idea... but let's face it- by now we have all seen them and it isn't as creative of a gift anymore. I was browsing through Martha Stewart's crafts from last year and came across this great project. It isn't something I have seen before at boutiques or stores, and I think it would be a darling gift for any little boy in your life. I plan to improvise a little on this project by making it into a hooded towel. This is really easy to do, and you can CLICK HERE to see some easy instructions on how to make a hooded towel. (This website has some other ideas to dress up a hooded towel in case you have a little girl or don't care for superheros.) I have to admit, this is a cool find for me. Hopefully someone else can put this idea to use too.

Tools and Materials
Bath towel
Washcloth
Superhero Cape Template
Reflective fabric
Adhesive agent, such as Steam-a-Seam
Disappearing-ink marking pen
Straight pins
Applique scissors
Button-covering kit

Superhero Cape How-To
1. Download and print the templates, then choose one of the shield shapes and an additional shape, and enlarge the images 400 percent. Cut a piece of reflective fabric into a 12-by-12-inch square. Trace the shield template on the square, then flip the template over and trace again; the templates are in halves, so you'll wind up with a whole symbol. Lay a piece of adhesive agent on the reverse side of the reflective material, cut out the shield, and using a pressing cloth and iron, affix the shield to the towel.

2. Place the lightning bolt or other symbol over the washcloth, and trace the shape using the disappearing-ink pen. Place the washcloth over the shield, and pin in place with straight pins. Sew along the traced line using a straight stitch, and cut away the excess washcloth with applique scissors. Save the scraps to fashion a button. Finish with a zigzag stitch along the lightning bolt.

3. To make a button, cut a circle of fabric that's twice the diameter of the button. Follow the instructions provided with the button-covering kit. Sew the button onto the cape. Measure your child's neck, and sew a scrap of the reflective-fabric shield in the appropriate spot on the cape to form a button loop.

Easter Chick Cupcakes

Looking to make a cute Easter treat that the kids can help with? Try these cupcakes. Here is how:

Tools & Materials

20 Vanilla Cupcakes
Buttercream Frosting
4 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 piece (10 inches) black licorice lace, cut into 40 (1/3-inch) pieces
20 whole almonds
140 red candy-coated licorice pastels (about 1/3 cup), or pieces of snipped red licorice laces

Step 1

Bake cupcakes and cool completely. When turned upside-down, each cupcake becomes the body of a chick. Spread buttercream frosting on a cupcake to anchor it to the serving plate while you are working. Use a small offset spatula to coat the sides thickly with frosting, and then mound more on top to create a dome shape.

Step 2

Press toasted shredded coconut into the frosting -- it stands in for fuzzy feathers. Hold the plate at an angle while applying the coconut so the excess falls back into the bowl.

Step 3

Place eyes (made from snipped black licorice laces) on chicks using tweezers. Use a whole almond for the beak and red licorice for the feet and comb; both can be pushed into the frosting by hand.

Jelly Bean Carrot

I thought this was a perfect gift idea to give the kids in my church class, or if you have a big group of kids you need to hand out gifts to. Here is how you do it.

Tools and Materials

Plastic pastry bag
Orange jelly beans
Green rickrack or ribbon
Easter basket, optional

Jelly Bean Carrot How-To
1. Fill a plastic pastry bag 3/4 of the way with orange jelly beans.

2. Tie bag closed with a green rickrack or ribbon.

3. Include the carrots in an Easter basket or fill a basket with them and set them out as favors for a party.