Tackling the To-do List

This week I have been crossing off items on my to-do list! You probably don't care about things like: catch up on laundry, dust, clean the ceiling fans, etc. but here are a few crafty things I have done.

Finally, finished the Road to Spring quilt. It's been done except for binding for 2 weeks. Last week the binding was half way on. Now, it is done! I haven't decided what to do with it yet. I'll probably just donate it somewhere since the colors don't match anything in my house and I don't want to look at my first attempts at free motion quilting.

Remember when I gave away one of these reusable snack bags a month or so ago? Well, I never finished the ones for my own boys! All I needed to do was sew the outside and inside together. 15 minutes and they were done and the boys love snacking out of them!
I dug the Quilts for Kids kit out of the closet yesterday and have the top made and the layers sandwiched. These go together so quickly! I love these super girly Michael Miller fabrics that were in the kit too.
Mike and I are going on a mini road trip tonight so, I've been trying to get lots done this week!

Letter Pp Giveaway Winner

Ppppppppppppp.....

(That was a letter Pp drum roll.)

And the winner is Carrie!

Carrie and I actually went to high school together. She graduated the year before me and we were on the yearbook staff together. She was the editor her senior year and then I was the next year. I think our English teacher, "Lew", would be proud of our use of alliteration. Neither of us live in our home town but we only live 20 minutes or so from each other and have failed to get together! We need to do that soon. Perhaps a zoo trip to see the penguins!

I think Carrie will get a lot of use out of a reusable bag since she has 1 year old twins!
Here is what you've won Carrie: A reusable bug bag, Pez (including the new chocolate ones), pencil, letter "P" (made by Sam), puppy stickers, post it notes and a penny for luck! I'll drop it in the mail this week (I already have your address).
If you would like to make your own reusable bags you can find the tutorial here. They go together quickly and are much cuter than ziplock bags!

(Recycled) Tin Can Lanterns

Making minestrone soup calls for quite a few can goods so, I took advantage and made these lanterns for trick or treating.

Here's how:

1.  Remove label from can.
2.  Rinse can out.
3.  Fill can with water and put in freezer.  (Leave an inch or so at the top  - water expands as it freezes.)
4.  Once the water is frozen, use a nail and hammer to poke holes in the can.  I found that placing the can on a pot holder helped to keep it from rolling.  (Beware some ice will likely fly out of the can which amuses any three year old that may be "helping" with their plastic hammer!)

5.  Put cans in the sink and let ice melt.

6.  Place a candle and light the way for little trick or treaters (or test it out in your kitchen).  I might end up painting these like little jack o' lanterns too.

Cloth Napkins and October Sun

Yesterday, in an effort to reduce our dependency on paper products (this is like the battle to reduce the USA's dependency on foreign oil - we're addicted!), I made a dozen pretty little cloth napkins.  This cost $4 and less than 2 hours of my time.  They were very simple and Sam was proud to help out (he loves to step on "the gas" of the sewing machine).  They are 11in square and double sided.  I hate trying to iron a 1/4 seam and am no good at it so I went with double sided instead!

While I made dinner, the boys soaked up some October sun and the smell of taco meat cooking.  Sam came running in the house saying, "Oh, Mommy, it smells 'licous!"  We have been eating taco salad almost every week and never seem to get sick of it!