DIY Wednesday: Travel Changing Pad

Hello There,

Time for another baby related project. I'll try to find a fun project that isn't baby related for next week's DIY Wednesday!

I made a couple of travel changing pads to throw in a diaper bag or to keep downstairs away from the changing table. Click here for a printable PDF tutorial.



Supplies:

Fabric (Outside fabric should be a fun fabric; Inside fabric should be something soft and/or easily cleaned)

Ribbon (For tie)

Optional: Binding, Pretty Edging, Piping (If you want to jazz up the edges, be creative!)

Directions:

Step One: Cut Your Fabric

Cut your two pieces of fabric with these dimensions: 10.5 x 8.5 (My traveling pad is not cut to these dimensions for the simple fact I was using scrap fabric. These are the ‘proper’ dimensions allowing a ¼ inch seam allowance)

If you use a soft fabric like I did with my changing pad, keep in mind it’s slippery. You might want to pin the two layers together (right sides together) and then cut with your rotary cutter & cutting mat.

Step Two: Pin Those Suckers Together



If you haven’t already, pin the two fabrics together with right sides together.

You will also want to pin the ribbon in at this point. Take a piece of ribbon about 12 inches long, fold it in half and place it between the two layers. You’ll want to place it at about the middle. Leave an inch or so sticking out and pin it into place to keep it from slipping.



Step Three: Ladies, Start Your Sewing Machine

Start sewing around the fabric a ¼ of an inch from the edge. Leave a 2 inch opening on the opposite side of the edge that has the ribbon attached (this is where you’ll be pulling the fabric through). Back stitch over the ribbon a couple of times to make sure it’s nice and secure.

Step Four: Topsy-Turvy (Turn the Fabric Inside Out)

Now you need to pull the right sides through the opening you left. Use something to poke the edges to make sure they are pushed all the way out (I like to use a pencil personally). Iron the entire changing pad to make sure the edges are pushed all the way out. Also, make sure you have enough fabric folding in at your opening in order to close up the hole in the next step.

Step Five: Finish Those Edges

The final step is to sew a pretty stitch (meaning you can either use a straight stitch or maybe get creative and use something more decorative) at about ¼ of an inch from the edge. If you want a more “polished” look, you could also add binding to the outside edge of the changing pad.

And ta-da, a hip new changing pad!

Idea Thief: Fab Dining Room

Hello There,

I actually know where I'm going to live come August. I am pretty excited to actually have found a home to rent while my husband is working on his veterinary degree. The house is a older home that has been restored by the current owners (and looks fab!). They are very pet friendly, so we don't have to worry about the pups. (and finally, a fenced in backyard! I'm so excited to not have to sit there and watch the dogs when we let them out!)

Anyways, the new home is larger than our current home. (yippeeeee) Which means my focus has changed from "What can I do to improve this house" to "Is this going to fit into the decor of the new house?" I've already started plotting how to decorate the new home. The owners seemed okay with us repainting (we'll have to double check before we purchase paint) We currently have a gray living room and I'm IN love with the color. So I have to use it in the new house!

So, I'm thinking that our new dining room is going to have the gray treatment. I haven't had a dining room in our current home, so now I get to decorate a room with new table and chairs. I'm going to have to wait to find something when we move there (no point finding something now, storing it and moving it)...but I think I need to still figure out what I want. The room has white trim (which I love), but is currently quite red. I don't mind red but it's just not my style (however, the brown living room is quite my style and I love it! I won't be changing that and it's going to match my current chair and couch perfectly).

So, I was thinking something along these lines...a dark wood is a new thing for me. I'm usually either about painted white wood or light wood. So it would be a change to venture into the dark wood world. However, against light walls, it usually looks modern and mature. So, maybe it's about that time. I am having a kid so it's probably time to grow up.

I found this picture at Decorpad. I think it works...gray, white trim and modern. My favorite things!



Or something like this from House & Home.



So excited to get into the house and get some stuff done!

Idea Thief: Spring Garland

Hi There!

Here is another fun project I might try if I was going to throw a party. It's a fun spring garland that can be hung around the house.

Visit Feels Like Home for a tutorial!