Tuesdays Tut

Weekly Menu Board

So this is not my original idea but I can't for the life of me find the link or remember where I saw it.  I could have sworn I bookmarked it but it's not there.  If I do find it I will make sure to link up to it!

Anyway in browsing the internet one day looking for Christmas projects I saw one for a menu board.  This was a while ago now but I never got around to making one.  With my newfound determination to actually get consistent about meal planning I decided now was a perfect time for one!  I am hoping it will motivate me to keep up with the meal planning since this will be pretty pitiful with nothing on it.

It was very easy although a bit time consuming since I didn't think to do the letters in reverse.  Instead I glued on EACH LETTER SEPARATELY!!  Next time I know what to do.

All you need are:

a picture frame - I used a scrapbook page frame but you could make a smaller one and use an 8x10

scrapbook paper

either sticker letters or cutout letters (or a marker)

I finally cracked open my Cricut I got for Christmas 2 years ago.  I am embarrassed to say this is the first time I have actually used it!  I just never seem to have the time for scrapbooking but I do have another project in mind for this so hopefully it will be getting some use now.

I had the Cricut cut all the letters and then I just glued them onto a 12x12 piece of scrapbook paper.  You can use a pattern but just make sure it's either light colors or a suddle pattern or else it will be hard to see the words.

I have a little tip to get the words on there straight without penciling a line.  Sometimes my brain still has some juice left in her.  I took another piece of scrapbook paper the same width, lined up the edges and moved it to where I needed the words.  It made a line for me to follow without having a pencil line left over!  I must say it worked brilliantly and the words are straighter then I imagined they would turn out!!  Just move the paper your gluing onto as needed and the other piece can be kept taped down.  It will look like this:

That's it!  Finish the paper, stick in the frame and write on it with a dry erase marker.  So SIMPLE and CUTE!!  Also I probably don't need to tell you you could alter slightly and use the same concept for tons of things.  How about a planner, weekly calendar, shopping list, notes, contacts... really the list is endless.

Tuesdays Featured Tut

So I've had this bookmarked for at least a year now but have been a bit apprehensive to try it.  I have finally decided to take the plunge and make one!  Perhaps it's my new found sewing confidence I stumbled upon after the success of the party dress.  I saw some fabric on clearance with an extra 50% off (can't beat that) and bought more than enough.  Once I am reunited with my sewing machine this will be first in line.

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It's called the Eddie Cap and I stumbled upon this tutorial over at Mushroom Villagers.  Although fearful at first I am very excited to make this little cap for my boy.  If it turns out I think I'll make one for myself since my head is so small I can never find cute hats to wear anyway!  Who knows perhaps little Emma will even end up with one, that is once I train her to keep hats ON!!

Tuesdays Tut

So we will see how regular I stay with this but I have decided to make Tuesdays a day where I provide a tutorial on something I made or a tutorial I want to make.  This week I have an original design to share with you.  Also worth mentioning it's quite hard to get any easier than this project!  Even without a sewing machine you could manage since it's 2 lines about 6 inches long.

So without further adieu here is the

DIAPER CLUTCH:

Materials:

piece of leather or vinyl

velcro or buttons (for closure)

scissors

needle & thread/ sewing machine

Instructions:

Cut out a 10 inch x 14 inch rectangle from your vinyl or leather.

The 10 inch side is the width and is how wide your diaper clutch will be.  Mark down 2 3/4 inches from the top on each side.  You could also take chalk and draw a line across at 2 3/4 inches down from the top.  Sorry it's so hard to see the line but it's right past the sentence.

Now you will fold the material right sides together until the bottom lines up with the line you drew or marks you made.  It will be 2 3/4 inches down from the top.  Sew from the line down on both sides of your clutch.  Clip the bottom corners and turn right side out.

If you want to round the corners of your flap just use the edge of a cup or if you want a scalloped edge like mine I found a spice jar was the perfect size circle, just trace around and adjust until you like it.  Since it's vinyl or leather there is no need to finish or hem edges making it super simple and FAST!  

Your final step is to add a closure.  I added 2 pieces of velcro under the flap.  I chose to glue them because I didn't want to see the seams but you could easily sew them on (and even cover up the seams).  I also was thinking of doing buttons.  That would also be very easy, just sew buttons on where desired then mark on your flap where to make the opening.  Get out that exacto knife and cut a slip through the flap.  Voila!

**I have 3 diapers and a pack of wipes in there but there is plenty of room for more.  Also you could easily stuff some hand sanitizer down into it for a complete diaper changing on the go kit! **

Let your creative side go wild because there really are endless possibilities for this diaper clutch.  For instance you can embellish it with some yo-yo's or handmade flowers, add some beading, really the list is never ending.  You could also tweak the design a bit or the flap, you could make the flap any possible shape:  curve, triangle, scalloped, round, etc.

The best part is, you could easily make yourself, or someone else, one of these in under 20 mins!!