Flashback Friday: Making Your Elf Positionable

Hello There!

Today's Flashback Friday features a post that has gotten a ton of attention over the past couple of weeks. It was recently featured on two different websites, so I thought it was worth reposting! Our Elf has held up beautifully, and is working hard away this holiday season.

Making Your Elf On The Shelf Positionable

Hello!

Holidays came a bit early this year in our house due to some unusual circumstances with my husband being in vet school. We put the Christmas lights up outside last weekend when it was 50 degrees out (thankful we did it then, this weekend it's in the single digits!)

That means that when we pulled out the Christmas stuff, we also pulled out the Elf on the Shelf a bit early. Last year our daughter understood the "hide and seek" part but didn't really get the rest of the tradition. This year with a couple of days of reading the book, our daughter was pretty excited to see what her Elf would do.

I quickly found out, as many people have, that out of the box, your elf isn't going to be positionable. This is news to people new to the Elf that see all the crazy stuff that people have done with their elves.

You can make your elf positionable with just a dollar and a needle and thread. I also made some accessories with some material I had sitting around.

Materials:

Wire (I found mine in the arts and craft section of Wal-Mart...think the section with paint, styrofoam balls, project kits) $1.00

Scissors

Needles

Red Thread

Of course, a elf!

Directions:

1. Cut a small slit right at the wrists, top of the back of the thighs (I also put one in the main body, but I don't think you notice that). Make sure you put it on the back of the limbs so they aren't as noticeable.

2. Measure the wire to be a bit smaller than the section you're putting the wire in and cut (any set of sharp scissors will cut this type of wire)

3. Slip the wire in. Take care to go around the paper stuffing. You can do this by pushing it right up against the side of the fabric. Make sure you don't push the wire through the fabric.

4. Sew up the slit by hand with some red thread.

So far, I have made a skirt with some felt fabric and thread, ear muffs (some spare fur from a stocking, spare wire and hot glue) and hand warmer (also spare fur and hot glue).

Our elf has only been around for a couple of days, but so far has left a letter for our daughter, gotten dressed up with our daughter's hair things, sat in the fridge, listened to music with ear buds, told secrets with Goofy and had a camping trip with Barbie.

Sometimes you need a little help with super clear tape.

 

Flashback Friday: 22 Handmade Christmas Present Ideas

Hello!

Can you believe we're getting close to Christmas? I think I saw something online about it only being 60 days away. Crazy! Halloween might actually be a pretty nice day. When I was in 1st grade, we had a huge snow storm (I was living in North Dakota at the time). I remember that the snow was taller than me. My brother and I had to be lifted over my parent's heads to even make it to doors since the snow was above my parents' waists!

Every year I try to make something for my children for Christmas, and I try to start early. I like the idea of handmade gifts. To be honest, the handmade gifts I received over the years are the ones that are still sticking around and probably being used by my kids today. However, on Christmas morning it seems like the handmade gifts get thrown to the side for the cool, usually very loud, shiny new toys. A little something inside of me dies when I see that. (Probably some of my ego) But usually they come back to playing with the handmade gifts. Right now they are loving their felt food and kitchen, high chair and dress up closet.

I decided for this Flashback Friday I would share some of the past projects I've done. I can also give you an update on how things have held up. (Sharpie Mugs are still going strong!)

Color Block Wooden Spoons

Believe it or not, these spoons have found their way into the dishwasher and are still painted! I would add to my previous tutorial (which can be found here) that you will want to cover the spoon part when you spray or paint anything. You want to keep the surfaces that touch food food safe.

Sharpie Mugs

I asked my aunt today if her sharpie mugs were faded or colorless. I had assumed they were since so many people had issues with theirs out in the blogsphere. My aunt said hers still look brand new. She does handwash her mugs to keep them looking new. (Click here for the tutorial)

Indoor Snowballs

I made these as part of our Frozen party, but they would be a great gift to little kids (and they're super easy). You could make up a nice drawstring bag to match. Ours are still getting plenty of use 6 months later.  (Click here for the tutorial)

Custom Flour Sacks

I did this for myself as well as the grandmas in my life. One idea is to use handprints of each of the kids (or grandkids). I also like punny kitchen sayings. (Let's be honest. I like punny sayings in general. It's the mom gene.) (Click here & here  for the posts)

Kennel Cover

This gift is for the hunters and/or dog lovers in your life. It took me a while to get this done, but it's gotten plenty of use since I made it. Cash also loves not freezing his bum off when he's stuck in the back of a pick up truck. (Click here for the post) Dog beds are also super easy as well as braided fleece chew toys!

Arm Knitted Scarf

I just learned how to arm knit this past month. I made my daughter a cowl to go under her snowsuit and a matching one for her doll. It's only about $10.00 and an hour of work to get a really neat gift idea! (Click here for the post) You could also be really ambitious and make a throw blanket or rug.

Elsa (or Princess) Dress

I made this Elsa dress in one night. It's pretty easy to make a straight dress like this. I just wrapped the fabric around my daughter and sewed up the side. I added the cape and sleeves, and my daughter is ready to never "Let It Go"...hehe more puns. (Click here for post)

Headbands and Bows

You don't need to know how to sew for this project. You just need a hot glue gun and a little bit of fabric. Try matching it to the princess dress you just made. (Click here and here for the posts)

Reversible Casserole Cover

I made these for a couple of friends a few years ago. I regret not making one for myself. I love how the fabric reverses and the fact they're thermal. And cute. Don't forget cute! (Click here for the post)

Coffee Cozy

This is a super simple project. I love to make these and pair them with a Starbucks gift card. (Click here for the post)

Camera Strap Cover

This is a great idea for those photographers or someone you know is getting a new camera for the holiday. You can make this to slip on their strap so they have something bright on their camera. (Click here for the post)

Therapy Sacks

I have made these for some of my older relatives/friends who have the occasional ache and pains. I infuse them with just a hint of smell if I know that's something they will like. They make the house smell so good! (Click here for the post)

Fishing Set

This is a pretty easy project you can do even if you don't have a sewing machine. You could even use a hot glue gun if you didn't want to hand sew the fish yourself. Hint: You can always use a hot glue gun. (Click here for the post)

Felt Food

These toys have gotten a ton of play in our house. I'm actually making more for this Christmas. I have planned on a pizza and more sandwich type things. (Click here for the post)

Hooded Towels

This is one item that we use all the time. I want to make another set that is more playful like superhero capes. (Click here for the post)

Wooden Popsicle Set

This project was an idea from Ana White. I love love love the idea. I'm so happy my mother-in-law helped me with this one. It was a big hit and after two years, it's getting used pretty much twice a week. That has to be a toy record in this house! (Click here for the post)

Dinosaur Tail

This one for the boys (and girls!) Who doesn't want to be a dinosaur? "Rawr" was one of my kids first words. It's a pretty easy sewing project (yet again...you could use the hot glue gun too). I want to wear it myself. (Click here for the post)

DIY Wooden Puzzle

I like to think I came up with this idea on my own, but it was really my mother-in-law's idea. I did do the work myself and I'm pretty happy with the result. My daughter is much bigger now (and beyond this type of puzzle), but it's been good for learning how to spell her name. (Click here for the post)

High Chair and Wardrobe

I don't have links for these two awesome projects, because my super crafty brother made them! Craft runs in the family. He got the wardrobe plans from Ana White. He did have to modify it a bit from the plans because there were some issues with the length of the closet rod. (I believe he said it was too short in the plans). The highchair was hand painted by his now wife.

Coasters

This project is very nice. You can use scrapbook paper or photographs. You just need tiles and some Mod Podge! (Click here for the post.)

Hot Chocolate Spoons

I did these a couple of years ago. I wasn't overly impressed by the recipe, so I would suggest doing some searches on Pinterest. They do work pretty slick.

$2.00 Solar Light Mason Jars

I made these a couple of years ago. They faded after a couple of years. I decided I was going to try them again with outdoor fabric (or spray Scotchgard on the cotton fabric). Otherwise they worked good for years! (Click here for the post)

Do you have any handmade ideas? I'd love some more projects to put under the tree!

Flashback Friday: No Sew Roller Shade Curtains

Roller shades don't have to be boring or expensive. This Flashback Friday is an easy no sew roller shade option.

No Sew Roller Shade Curtains

Hi Everyone!

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have been talking about the dining room curtains for a while. Most of the time the post goes something like this, "Look at this cool project, please ignore the Hawaiian like fabric haphazardly hung on the windows."

I got the idea for my curtains from this tutorial by Cottage and Vine. I posted it as an idea thief a few months ago. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with the idea, but I was waiting for the right time to purchase the Amy Butler fabric I was in love with.

Cyber Monday was the perfect opportunity to buy this Wallflowers fabric from Hawthorn Threads. They were offering cheap shipping, and the price was a little less than normal.

So, I figured, I'll get some cheap roller shades from Lowes, have them cut to size, mount them and then put the fabric on. Easy project. Done in one Saturday.

Uh. No. Lets just say the score after this weekend was Blinds: 5 Me: 0.

I measured my windows several times. I went into the store. I explained my measurements, got the brackets to hold the blinds and went to hang them. Every single one was too big. (I had even had them cut on the small side for this reason!)

So, I got out my scissors and utility knife and cut them to the right size myself. Of course, this makes one side all hacked up and wonky. But I was covering it with fabric and didn't care. (although they all kinda hang crooked for this reason)

So, I try to put the brackets in. First, I use nails. However, the space is so small, I can't get a hammer into it. (and I was using a rather small hammer even)

I move on to screws. Of course, as is the case with the drill every single time I use it, I can't get enough pressure behind it, and I strip out the screws.

Enter husband. He just laughs at me and attempts to attach brackets. He starts cussing immediately because he also can not hang brackets. 

We get brackets hung, but the newly cut shades are too short for placement of these brackets. And they are the wrong kind of brackets to move. Go to store to buy new brackets.

I'm too lazy to venture into the snow to get the ladder, so of course, I'm balancing on a folding chair. And course I fall down with a screw driver in my hand almost poking an eye out.

At this point I finally get all of the main shades hung. I'm one shade short, so I decided to skip Lowes for this round and head to Wal-Mart.

This is important. GO TO WAL-MART FIRST! They have the wonderful adjustable shades that you can just tear to the right size. You know how much easier those shades were? And they were half the price of the Lowes ones!

So, I am pretty excited about my easy Wal-mart shade. I get the brackets hung pretty easily, and I put up the shade. I realize that I have put the brackets on backwards. They work the way they are, but the shade will now roll under the top rather than over the top like the other shades in the room. Is this a big deal? To a normal person: probably not. To me, I knew if I looked at that shade I would be irritated for all time.

I decide to remove the brackets and switch them around to fix this problem. Except after I have them moved and drilled in, I notice that the way the brackets are, they can't be hung this way. So I have to move them back to the way they were. But now the holes aren't working with the screws (the holes are too big) So, I have to move to a new location. Which means the shade I already tore to the right width is now too narrow. I have to leave part of the pole sticking out without any shade. Whatever. I go to drill the brackets in the new location. However, now the stupid things won't drill in, and I've stripped two sets of screws. Husband comes in trying to help but leaves cussing about stupid cheap shades. I decide to grab a hammer and just use nails. That finally works.

After many many hours of this project, I'm ready to be done. I just have to attach the fabric with hot glue (very easy especially if you use some clamps to keep the fabric from shifting). I get all done with the fabric, I go to hang the final shade and......

I attached the fabric to the wrong side.

I just start laughing hysterically. Are you kidding me? Husband comes in to ask what is the matter (I'm sure he's figured shades have given me a nervous breakdown). I show him how I attached to the wrong side. He tells me to just attach more fabric to the opposite side. Except I only have a 5 x 10 inch patch of fabric left. He decides we're going to make it work. He jimmy rigs it up and hot glues it in place. So, for now, it's staying. Just enter our home cautiously if you use the door with the shade hot glued on.

Here's the "before"

See the awesome Hawaiian fabric haphazardly hanging on the windows?

This is the "After"

I