You Can Make This Giveaway!! (2 Winners)

I love being crafty and making things for the kids that they will hold on to for a lifetime (even if that means I have to take it away and vacuum seal it ... what you were thinking the same thing). I've seen You Can Make This on several blogs and I so wanted to try some things out. The only problem I haven't sewn since High School Home Ec (yes ... uh hum ... 15 years). But I just new this crafty inner person could sew, so when they said I could do a giveaway I was jumping for joy. Really I was so excited, I ran out and bought material and made a date with my friend who is a sewing machine herself. Yes I'm a big enough person to know I need help :).

After gathering up what I thought I would need I headed out to my friend Rachael's house (yes after another run to the fabric store to pick up more fabric wanted to be ready). Thankfully Rachael was smarter than me and actually read the directions, I know what a concept! Found out we needed more than the fabric and stuffing I brought with me. Who would have thunk you actually need thread, fusible webbing, stabilizer etc you know ALL the stuff that You Can Make This listed in the very nice PDF copy they send me for the Name Pillows. I never claimed to be an excellent sewer just one that has done it before. LOL ... that is what good friends are for.

After a trip to the fabric store to pick up those key elements and oh yeah seeing a man dressed as Batman you have to check out my post on Wednesday with all the crazy loops that is just my life that caused this project to go from easy to a fun experience. REALLY this can be a fun and easy project just don't have my luck :). Over all even with all the stops I had a lot of fun and got at least one Name Pillow done. My girlfriend on the other hand I believe is up to 4 Name Pillows being done, I told you she is a sewer and can rock out anything. By the time I left she had the makings of two completed to my one :).

Really for even the new to sewing once you get the hang of this it actually goes rather fast, again if you don't have my luck. Let me give you a little run down just to make you laugh, it's what I do :).

Things to do when completing this project. Do bring your list to the fabric store, yes I went two times by myself with out it and missed some things you really need. Yes I was like all I really need is fabric and stuffing ... LOL. Do not decided to take your sewing machine that was in the garage, mind you still in the box since you've never opened it in 10 YEARS and think it will work perfect for you. I suggest you have a working machine, it does make life easier! After you have all your fabric (and all that other stuff) do be careful when cutting with sharp tools. Another good reason to have a friend that is a sewer she has all the tools and she can politely over and over tell you to cut away from yourself and watch YOUR fingers! Do not again use a machine that will be a pain, as you an see from my pictures most of my day was spent holding the screws while Rachael took it apart trying to one figure out why my machine was only going backwards and oh yeah what is that ca chunk noise? If you're not a pro, buy a little extra fabric for those not cutting straight times, who knew my 5 year old could probably cut better than me? So after hours of trying to fix my machine I ended up giving up putting it in the box and using Rachael, again who would have thunk having a nice machine could really speed up the process. I'm happy to report when I go back over to Rachael house on Sunday to my 2nd Name Pillow from You Can Make This I will be using her machine and having no problems at all! Yup that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Really over all minus just my life this was a VERY fun project that wasn't too terribly hard even for this non sewer. I was very impressed with how my pillow turned out, Even the stitching around Cole's name didn't look that bad (might also be the variegated thread I used, yup another good tip). This is a FUN days craft project (again if you don't have my luck) that you could do even with your older kids. I plan on making at least 2 more (oh yeah plus Caden's) for the boys and one for my mom for her birthday. Really it was that fun and addicting once you see the end product (that and when I went to the fabric store I bought almost a yard of everything even though I was suppose to only have like a 1/2 yard for all ... yup a learning experience) :).

Here was the only two things my sewer friend had to say that might need a little tweaking:

• To be on the extra side - Buy a minimum of 1/2 yard for the background fabric.


• When using fusible webbing make sure to put it on the BACK SIDE of the fabric

For Beginner or first time users:

• Head over to someones house that has the tools
• Watch fingers that stuff is sharp!
• Just have fun

Trust me even if you don't win you're going to have to head over to You Can Make This and pick up this pattern. It comes in an easy to down load pdf form, you'll have so much fun believe me everyone will have Name Pillows for Christmas!

BUY IT: You can buy the pattern for the Name Pillows at You Can Make This for $6.95 I know how reasonable is that! Especially when you think all the gifts you can make. Me personally LOVE homemade thoughtful gifts. I'm one of those people that take months to think up the perfect gift for someone. The Name Pillows have made my life easier since I now know what gift several of my family members will be getting this year!

WIN IT: You Can Make This has very generously offered 2 of my readers the pattern for the Name Pillows! Yeah I love when we can have more then one winner!

Mandatory 1st Entry: Head over to You Can Make This and tell me another pattern they have that you would like to try. Yup that easy! (Make sure you have a public email on blogger, if not please leave me one in the comment so I can contact you if you win)

Extra Entries! (Do one or do them all, just make sure to leave comments for each one)

1. ONE (1) Extra Entry be a follower
2. TWO (2) Extra Entries have my button up (code on left side)
3. THREE (3) Extra Entries for subscribing by email (on left side, super easy you don't want to miss anything do you?)
4. THREE (3) Extra Entries head over to You Can Make This and sign up for their newsletter ~ Look you even something for free if you do.
5. TWO (2) Extra Entries head over to Rachael and leave a comment, Plus you can see the 4 Name Pillows she has done. Hers are a lot fancier then mine, I'm working my way up to it. She even did a flower on one!
6. TWO (2) Extra Entries for Blogging about this :) Leave me the link please to the post.
7. ONE (1) Extra Entry for telling me your funny sewing story or craft story, you know you have one.

Thank you again to You Can Make This this was a VERY fun review, I can't wait to do more projects. Thanks to you I now have a standing date on Sundays to do craft projects. Finally a day for mom! That itself is priceless!

Giveaway Ends 6/14/09 @ 11:59pm PST

Wednesday Weekened Wrap ... Slow Down and the Green Monster will get you ....

So this weekend I took every ones advice (yes all the shouting has finally sunk in). Friday was a laid back night, Rick was still out of town so it was just me and the boys. Well at first it was just Caden and Roy. My parents picked up Cole before lunch from school and took him all over! I love my parents and the things they do, but man can they take him during a day I have him not when I'm at work ... LOL. And yup as soon as I got home they dropped him off! Oh one day it will be just a me day! Well I guess I got some grocery shopping in with just two kids.

Saturday was a super nice day it started out of course at 5am with work, when I was talking my voice started to get froggy. As the morning progressed so did the froggy, well I guess by mid morning it may have been a bullfrog! It was a super nice day and the neighbor kids were out so the Cole and Roy went over there. That was the 1st time I have let Cole leave our yard to play, not that I don't trust the neighbor, well the previous ones that would be the case but FINALLY we got some nice ones with kids not too much older than Cole. Yeah so for 4 hours they played and I only had Caden with me. It was wonderful I checked emails and even did some needed catch up entering giveaways ... what I don't just have them I enter TONS of them!

By the end of the day I noticed my throat was hurting but since I didn't have to yell at any kids I didn't notice until Rick called to say he was going to be late ... yup who didn't call that one? Well at the moment I realized that I had no voice ... WTF, I take a easy day and everything goes to pot! So I had to call in or I should say IM that I wouldn't make my shift for the call center ... which killed me I hate not being the one you count on. I did go to bed and sleep a wonderful night, well that was until early Sunday AM when the boys decided mom needed to be up and of course dad didn't come home until 3am, so guess who gets to the duty. I did however curl up on the couch and relax, well between making breakfast for everyone. I got a late start but that was nice for once. Even though I ran to Wal-mart yesterday I forgot some fabric so I took Caden and off I went. I even went home and laid down again ... yup not feeling up to par. I finally got my butt in gear and headed to my friend Rachael who is an amazing knitter was so kind to help me out. I have a new review/giveaway to be up hopefully if I get my butt in gear up on Saturday. It was one of those easy you can make this name pillow which if you sew would be no problem at all. My vas knowledge from High School Home-ec did not come with a huge amount of detail! As I proved when I showed up missing one of the key items needed!

Yup that would be me, what you mean I don't need just fabric and batting? Oh yeah thread, webbing, stabilizer and all the other tools! Thank the lord Rachael had almost everything, but some of the webbing so a quick run to JoAnn's, we got some webbing and oh yeah look at that super cute monkey fabric I can use too (I know didn't I already pick up fabric?). So while at the cutting table I turn to see .... yup that would be Batman! A grown man and no he was not there for the store he was there to get some help. He was very nice to pose, I was being a sissy and tried to take his picture over my shoulder. Rachael just walked over and asked, image that? While we were out had to pick up some Popsicles for her son and oh yeah coffee!

Finally get back to the house, unpack my sewing machine. Oh yeah did I mention I had a sewing machine in my garage that I bought 10 years ago!!! And I didn't unpack it ever, really it has moved 4 times with me! LOL, so I actually got to sewing. Well after the tracing and cutting of the letters! Who would think my 5 year old could cut and trace better than me? I totally suck but after some close calls of cutting of my fingers with Rachael very sharp tools. Yes she had to remind me several times to cut away from myself. She was so sweet and guided me threw it all. I even was able to sew around the letters, I have learned that I'm super good (well pretty good) with sewing the straight letters, now the curved ones like the inside of the O wasn't so pretty! Finally around 7pm I had to get my butt in gear and go home! Yes I was gone almost 6 hours with only 1 KID!!! It was super nice, almost a Mini day off!

Monday is a holiday day off for almost everyone, me I usually am off from my regular job but work my 3rd job that day. Well with no voice (yes did I forget to mention I STILL had no voice) I couldn't do the calls I would normally do, and I was not feeling good to even get my butt in gear to do the data entry. It has finally happened I ran out of steam, the little green monster stole my mojo and ran away with it. Like I told my boss on Monday the truck that stole my voice came back that night and ran over me a few times to make sure the job was good and done! So well Rick took Cole & Roy along with his friends to my parents house to go swimming in the lake I stayed inside and loved it. No voice and just feeling like a bum I headed back to Rachael house to finish up my pillow. What I was determined to finish it! Oh yeah on the way there had to run to JoAnn's yet again, because I was so sure I needed more thread to finish the second pillow (who was I kidding?). Well Rachael at least got more material to make another pillow, yes she is that good she got one finished another one started while I was there and oh yeah 2 more started before Tuesday!!! Back to her house we go, where I started my project again. Then my machine decided to go in reverse only, my theory was to just turn my machine around and sew that way ... LOL. So Rachael being the amazing person she is took at her power tools and then took my machine apart. She found the problem did a mini solution for the machine so it would at least go forward. Then on to pillow making I go when all of a sudden my machine started to make a cachunk sound! REALLY does my life always have to go this way? Thanks to Rachael and her machine I ended up finishing Cole pillow, Caden's will have to wait until next Sunday! Yup you read that correct I know have a play date for mommy! Sundays will be craft day at Rachael house! I'm so excited one day with one kid, Rick will have to step up for one day. I know I ask so much!

On my way home mom called and invited me to dinner! It was great way to end my weekend a night I didn't have to cook for everyone! The boys even got to run around for a while. Ran home, with one stop at Target to pick up baby items for a guy at work. Totally spaced and had to buy the items for a shower on Tuesday. And oh yeah a diaper cake I had to make too! UGH, Rick even had to help me out, which made him so happy! I finished it all up and even got to bed for 7 hours of sleep!!! Yup another busy weekend just in another way! Plus I only had to work 6 days this week! Ok that's that Tuesday was a rough day, I think I'll save that for another day!