Dog Tag

I've been busy finishing up some last minute gifts for my kids and thought I'd share this one.  My oldest used to have a little zipper pull for her coat but over the years it had gotten damaged and was unable to stay clamped onto the zipper tab.  I thought about trying to find a new one for her stocking this year and then thought, I have all of this felt, why not just make one?  And so I did.  And here it is...

 and the back...



Santa is done, I think

For the first time in years I have finished my Christmas shopping way ahead of schedule.  I'm a bit of a last minute person and I almost kind of like fighting through the traffic and crowds to get the last few items that I need   my kids want.  The house is decorated, the tree is going up today, and I still have Halloween treat bags and a preschool made turkey lurking around somewhere.  I should get it together.  It all seems to be happening so fast!  I can't believe that Christmas is only a few weeks away.

My husband is out at this very moment trying to get some kind of special outside lights to put up around the walkway.  We were out with him a bit this morning running around looking for them.  With 3 kids tagging along it took over an hour just to hit two stores.  Needless to say we were dropped off at home for lunch and he went at it alone.  I'm sure he's grumbling along, bah-humbugging everyone who crosses his path.  But  I know that it's all in the name of love for 3 little kids who will look at him as though he's a  hero!

Leapster Bag

I promised my 6 year old a bag to store her Leapster 2.  The only problem was I wasn't quite sure how I was going to go about making one.  Thank goodness I came across a blog called Make It And Love It.  Ever hear of it??  Of course you have (I hope)!  If not you must stop reading this and check it out right now.  Ashley has all kinds of sewing ideas and she truly amazes me with her creativity. 

A while back she posted a tutorial for making a travel bag for a portable dvd player which got me thinking.  I altered her version a bit to suit my own needs, but I give her full credit for helping me to create this :

I was even able to make the pocket inside to keep the leapster separate from the games.  The only thing I wish I would have done differently is to sew the velcro closures on before putting the bag together.  This small thing would have made my life a lot easier.

And I'm happy to report that the Leapster is still contained inside the bag... for now...