Wednesday on Wednesday

Little Drummer Girl a video by Cara.Mia on Flickr.

Wednesday grabbed her drum and played it while we watched the sing along video to Little Drummer Boy Christmas movie.

She is so cute she gives me cramps..

Winner!! MyMemories Scrapbooking Software

We have a winner!! 10750 Coupons is our winner! You lucky duck!

How To: Patchwork Mug Rug

It's as if a place mat and a coaster had a baby!

A couple weeks ago I made a post about managing your fabric scraps, it pretty much just boiled down to having a plan or those scraps and then cutting them to the sizes and shapes you need them for for easier storage. I found a use for my bigger scraps. Mug rugs! Super cheerful little bits of patchwork. So easy that I made nine on my first try. :)

Seriously folks. They don't even have to be a certain size. I started out with a template but eventually just worked with what the fabric scraps were giving me.

Most of these are made with vintage sheets. Except for the black and white Ikea print you see in the first photo and a piece of fabric I used in the mug rug for the tutorial. Oh yeah, and a couple of these are backed with a cut up mans shirt sleeve. But mostly beautiful, cheerful vintage sheets! Would you like to make some for yourself? Awesome!

Gather ye materials
Fabric scraps of varying sizes
Some sort of batting material, I used the bottoms of a pair of fleece pants that were cut into shorts and then felt when I ran out of fleece.
Scissors, pins, thread
Sewing machine is ideal for this but not necessary

Note: Finished size of the mug rug pictured in the tutorial was roughly 8.5x8 inches.

Step 1. Gather your pieces and find an arrangement you like.

Step 2. With right sides together sew your pieces together. (Red line is for emphasis.) I like to use my zig zag foot as a guide which is roughly 1/4" I think.  Continue until all of your pieces are joined.

Step 3. Press your seams flat. (Does anyone else use a towel as an ironing board?)

Step 4. Cut your batting/fleece/felt to one inch (length and width) less than your patchwork. E.g.: I your patchwork is 9x9 you would cut your batting to 8x8.

Step 5. Turn over and pin.

Step 6. To quilt the batting to the patchwork, I top stitched some echo stitching along the seams.

Step 7. Turn your quilted piece over and square up your edges.

Step 8. With right sides together sew the backing to the quilting around three sides. Leave one size open or turning. Trim and clip corners.

Step 9. Turn. Use a chopstick or paint brush to get your corners out nicely. Fold the opening into itself so that it looks just like the photo. Press it closed.

Step 10. Top stitch around the perimeter. And ta-daa! You're done!

Groovy baby. Groovy.

Wouldn't these make great Christmas gifts? You could add in a handmade coffee sleeve and a gift card to the recipient's favourite coffee shop. Or with a nice mug and a bag of their favourite coffee or tea! The possibilities are endless!

I hope you enjoyed the first tutorial in my Scrap Management series. If you make one (nine) I would love to see them! Cheers and happy sewing!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway for MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking software!

Wednesday on Wednesday

Wednesday is somewhat of a little fashionista. Seriously she has this knack with clothes. I rarely ever exert my influence. I draw the line at weather inappropriate gear but other than that she has full reign. BUT! Every now and again she likes to mix things up a little. One day she wears black boots and tutus the next day......

I heard a rustling of a plastic bag and I'm all "What are you doing up there?" And this is what she came down the stairs wearing.

"Take a picture of my bum Mommy."

Never a dull moment.

GIVEAWAY!! My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software

Have you heard the latest word in digital scrapbooking software? MyMemories. Well technically that is two words, but it is still the latest and greatest. especially this week because they released a new version just yesterday! And you lucky folks are getting a chance to win a copy today! (Winner to be announced one week from today!)

First, what is My memories software? Well, it is a ridiculously inexpensive way to digitally scrapbook your past, present and future photographs without spending a grand. It has gotten great reviews all over the web including scrapbook.com which was my go to web site when I was strictly a paper scrapbooker. I use Photoshop (A super old release that makes me want to cry when I use it.) for everything from photo editing to blog headers and lately even free printables for the blog. But when I was approached to test out MyMemories and give away a copy I was totally jazzed.

Although I was gifted the software I  have purchased a couple digital kits. This Thanksgiving one in particular ad another gorgeous Christmas one I can't wait to use to make our Christmas cards.

I spent two weeks playing around with the software and I managed to create the Thanksgiving cupcake toppers I posted last week and the Thanksgiving finger puppets I posted this morning. I know, where is the scrapbooking? Well, how about these quick pages I downloaded (For free!)and popped a picture in. Took ten minutes including the downloading time.

That is another thing, My Memories has lots of digital freebies, like five (web)pages worth. There are always sales on the kits that are or purchase AND you can download the files in Mymemories format and PNG format or use in other software applications.

But wait! There's more! I you would like to find out more about My Memories software you can always check out their Facebook page where there are always contests and giveaways going on. In fact right now, there is an Ipad waiting to be given away when they reach 10K likes.

Do you think you could get down with a copy of the software? Awesome! Now, all you have to do is hop on over to MyMemories and browse their gorgeous digital scrapbooking kits and come back and tell me which ones are your favourite.

There are so many additional ways you can enter or this giveaway!
You get one entry for:
Being an Until Wednesday Calls follower (Comment telling me you are a follower.)
Creating a blog post spreading the word.(Comment with a link to your post.)
Tweeting this blog post (Comment with the link.)
Following me on Twitter (Comment with your username.)
Following the MyMemories blog (Comment to let us know.)
Like the Mymemories page on facebook (Comment to let us know.)

**PLEASE LEAVE EACH ENTRY AS A SEPARATE COMMENT**

Bonne chance mes amis!

Free Printable : Thanksgiving Finger Puppets

Hey folks! I am working on the giveaway post as I type this so this is going to be another quickie freebie! Like I said last week when I posted the Thanksgiving cupcake toppers I have been creating things in MyMemories software. This week I tried my hand at finger puppets and I think they turned out fabulous!

I thought I would squeeze in more goodie before Americans celebrate their Thanksgiving. They print out with holes that can be cut smaller for little fingers or bigger for bigger kids. I was able to get most of my fingers in the holes. I might recommend covering the holes in clear tape before cutting though.

Click here for the Google.Doc download.
Please do not share the file but PLEASE DO share the link to here for others to enjoy.

Comeback this afternoon for a chance to win a copy of the MyMemories software I used to create these fun little guys!

***Pilgrim bears are from Cindi Gilmour's  Pilgrim Bears DigiDoodles clip art kit.
***Turkeys are from MyMemories Let's Talk Turkey Digital Scrapbooking kit designed by Just So Scrappy.

Free Printable : Thanksgiving Cupcake Toppers/Food Picks

Hey there folks! I have a quick little goodie for you today! I have a great giveaway coming this weekend (Starting Sunday night!) and this printable ties in with it. For now my American readers can bask in the cuteness that these topper will bring to their food next week.

I made these little numbers with my new copy of MyMemories digital scrapbooking software. Aren't they adorable? I wish I had time to whip up a batch of muffins to pop these in but I am rearranging my house. (Serious undertaking!) So you will just have to use your imagination (and printer).

Click here for the Google.doc download.

Printable sheet made using graphics from MyMemories suite 2 and Let's Talk Turkey digital design pack.
Come back on Sunday to enter the giveaway for your very own copy of MyMemories scrapbooking software! I am so excited about this you don't even know!

Wednesday on Wednesday

So, sometimes I am not the most patient mom. I know! I seem like such a calm and peaceful person right? Heh. Well, yesterday morning, Wednesday made me insert both feet into my mouth. I was upstairs folding laundry while she was downstairs in the living room when she yells up "Mom! I'm just using the computer!" To which I nearly panic and yell back. "Do NOT touch the computer!"And when I look down over the banister this is what I see:

Wednesday working on her 'laptop'. Cute as a freakin' button right? 

P.S. She wore that bathing suit all day waiting to go to the pool last night.

Jimmy Fallon's Reading Rainbow

It is very rare that I will post a video of Wednesday, even more so a video of someone or something else. But this video of Jimmy Fallon singing The Reading Rainbow theme song as Jim Morrison had me in tears it was so amazing. I LOVED Reading Rainbow with Levar Burton, so this entire bit had me grinning from the first couple words. Also, I am so proud I recognized all the children's book quotes at the end. Please give it a listen, I promise you will NOT be dissappointed!

How To: Turn a Bread Box into a Charging Station

This pretty little unnassuming number is one of my most recent accomplishments. It has been in the works since July or August. Yup. I think I received the breadbox from a friend in July, and it was sanded and painted in August. But I was two(ish) months finding just the right knobs, a grounded extension cord and then waiting for a drill to come back home. (Captain awesome has about seven hundred but you think I could have just one?!) Anyways, it was all worth it because looky what it does!

That's right! It is a handy dandy (and might I say beautiful) gadget charging station! On that shel is a Nintendo DS, my Blackberry and the battery charger for my brand new Olympus Pen camera. There is also room for Captain Awesome's Blackberry. We are not against Ipods, we are just not cool enough for them (But we are accepting donations and sponsorships.).

Look at that neat and tidy awesomeness. Seriously. See those cable ties? Reusable little numbers called Q-KNots from UT Wire. They are great! This really speaks to The Storage Geek in me you know?

Would you like to make your own? You would? Sweet. We can be Geeks together.

Gather ye materials:
Wooden bread box (Mine had one door in the front and a door on top for a shelf.)
Paint (I used Rustoleum Glass Black spray paint)
Knobs (if you are not using the ones it came with.)
Power bar and grounded extension cord if you, like me are not lucky enough to have an outlet right behind your planned charging station location.
Cable ties (again optional but really make take the project up a notch I think.)

Gather ye tools:
Palm sander (Or a sanding black)
Medium grit sandpaper
Drill
1/2" drill bit
1 1/2" hole cutting drill bit (I didn't have one but I wish I did)

Watch and learn:

Okay, this is not mine but it is as close as I could find to mine (I cannot for the life of me find the pictures i had of my bread box sanded before painting!). See the top knob? On mine it is fake. The top lid just lifts up, but I added a third knob to deter people from using the lid as a flat surface. I kept the fake knob because there was already a hole, and the sweet knobs I found came in a pack of three. But I digress!

Step 1: Remove knobs and sand breadbox, inside and out.
Step 2: Paint. I spray painted mine with two light to medium coats of Rustoleum's Glass Black. The second picture caught a lot of sun light but looks just as black as the outside.

 Step 3: Put your gadgets on the top shelf so you can get an idea of where you want your holes drilled.
**TIP** Attach your charging cords so you can see how far they stick out to the side. If I had done that, my first hole would have been as far to the left as possible.

Step 3: Drill holes.

Step 4: At the back of the bread box, make a hole large enough for your power chord plug to fit. This is where a 1 1/2" hole cutting bit comes in handy. I did not have one so I just used my 1/2" drill bit until I had a hole big (and ugly) enough. But nobody sees this hole, so don't worry your pretty little heads about it.

Step 5: Replace your knobs. Check out these GORGEOUS curio knobs from Tim Holtz's Idea-olgy line. I had literally been looking for two months for knobs JUST like these in thrift stores and Re-Stores. Even in new stores. Nada. Then I am walking through Michaels, minding my own business and in the clear acrylic stamp aisle they jump out at me. I nearly screamed at mom "I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THESE FOR MONTHS!" I think she thought I was nuts. But yeah, knobs in the scrapbooking aisles? Go figure. I hope I am not committing blasphemy by using the curio knobs as actually cupboard knobs. ;)

Step 6: Add power bar and plug in your adapters.
Step 7: Cable tie your chords to keep them neat.

Step 8: Feed chords through holes you drilled and plug in your (probably way cooler than my) gadgets.

Step 9: Add more storage to it by gluing and/or screwing a pocket system to the upper door for more gadget holding space. Do the same to the front door for holding more wires or extra USB cables etc. Plug another power bar into your power bar for more outlets. BUT! If you do this, make sure your extension cord can handle the load. I used a heavy duty one meant for air conditioners that Captain Awesome found for me in Mart-Wal.

Step 10: Bask in the awesomeness that is you and your creation! Seriously, I already love this thing more than my dog. (Just kidding, Sweetie is irreplaceable...by inanimate objects.)

Hope you both enjoyed this how to and are maybe a little bit inspired to create your own? I would love to see your creations if you do!
Happy creating!



P.S. Seven More days to vote Until Wednesday calls into the Top 25 Canadian Mom blogs at Circle of Moms.

Wednesday on Wednesday

Wednesday rockin' her new winter gear from The Children's Place.  She is a little bit gorgeous right?! Seriously though, it was a bit o a relief to take care of all of her winter needs in one shot. Now I have a 'good suit' and a 'play suit'.  last year she had three and half snow suits and we used all three all winter. 

Are you ready for winter? Have any cool mittens and toque tutorials or links? 

PS There are five more days of voting left and you can vote every day! I need about a hundred votes to just crack the Top 25. Help a momma out? <3