DIY Team Color Headband Earmuffs

Tailgating Extravaganza!!!!

Oh, do I have something special for you today!!! This is the first of many special group projects (about once a month). Today 9 different bloggers have posts dedicated to tailgating!! We have recipes, DIY and techie stuff. Each and every blogger involved has something special to share with you. SO many bloggers, SO MUCH talent!!!

Are you ready to party?????

My special tailgating offer is a tutorial for headband earmuffs in YOUR team's colors! So warm and cozy! So fast and easy!!! AND they go perfectly with the Fan Tote and DIY Lap Rug (Cailey is wearing the lap rug around here shoulders in the picture).

I was a little nervous at first. I knew in my head how I wanted them to look but I wasn't sure if I would be able to pull it off. Well, I don't know about you but I LOVE IT!!!!!

They are nearly one size fits all, Cailey, Deanna and I can wear them. 


WHAT I USED -

2 pieces of team colored chevron fleece - 24" long by 4" wide

1 piece of black minky dot - 6" long by 3" wide

1 piece of 1/2" elastic - 4" long

1 small piece cut from team print cotton

1 small black bow

Fabric glue


Step 1-

First I cut my pieces to 24" long by 4" wide.



Step 2 -

Next, I cut out the team logo and trimmed it up a bit (maybe a little too much).


Step 3 -

Pin the logo onto the right side of one of the fleece strips.

Sew along the edges. You can use a zigzag. I used a straight stitch (I don't mind if the edges fray a tad after washing).


Step 4 -

Take both fleece strips and pin them with right sides together.

Sew along both long sides but not the short ends. 


Step 5 - 

Take your 6" long by 3" wide piece and fold it in half with right sides touching.

Pin and sew a seam down the long side.

Turn right side out.


Step 6 -

Take a large safety pin and pin both ends of the elastic.

Push through the tube.

Pull the safety pins out the ends and sew the elastic in place. 



Step 7 -

Fold in the ends of the fleece. 

Slide the elastic casing into the end and pin.

Sew in place.

Now, do the same for the other side.


Step 8 -

Take fabric glue and glue on a bow.

Wait for the glue to dry and you are all done!!! :D

ENJOY!!!

Don't forget to check out all of the special posts!! You don't want to miss any of them!!! 




Karen at Baking in a Tornado is our ring leader or should I say coach?? Party planner?? She's the queen, that should cover it. 
She has a SCRUMPTIOUS recipe for Glazed Kielbasa Sandwiches. YUMMMMMY!!!!!





Diane of Canning and Cooking at Home brings you a recipe for a delicious Spicy Mustard Relish (perfect for those Glazed Kielbasa Sandwiches).






Need something to read while you're waiting for your tailgating friends to show up? Check out what Robin at Someone Else's Genius has to say in her review of The System: The Glory and Scandal of Big-Time Football.





Shellybean at Follow Me Home will show you how to make Reversible Busy Bags to keep the kiddos busy while you're trying to watch the game!!






Eileen at Eileen's Perpetually Busy will show you how to keep your tushy comfy with her tutorial for a Tailgating Seat Cushion!




Lydia at Cluttered Genius will show you how to make an Upcycled Garland out of things you already have!! Perfect for decorating that tailgate!! 




Melissa at Home on Deranged shows you how to get tech savvy with your tailgating!!! (I need this!! I am so tech challenged!!!)




Shawn from Literary Litter will show you how to crochet a Snapcap!! (I really want to learn to crochet properly!!)




There you go! The party is in full swing!! Don't miss a second of it!



                    HAVE FUN TAILGATING!!!!

Stay Snug with a DIY Lap Rug

Be sure to stay until the end of this post! There's a big surprise!!!!

So you're going to the big game. You know it might get pretty cold later on but you don't want to lug around a big blanket. Here's the perfect solution! A lap rug! All the warmth of a big blanket with none of the bulkiness! 

What I Used :

Steelers cotton print 50" x 20"

Black minky dot 50" x 20"

This is soooo easy. Seriously, it takes about 15 minutes!!!!

Step 1 -

With right sides together, pin your 2 pieces. Sew all the way around leaving a small opening. 

Step 2 -

Remove the cat from your work area!!!

Step 3 -

Turn right side out. 

Tuck the pieces of the opening in and pin. 

Top stitch in place. 

  ALL DONE!!!! See how easy??? I'm almost ashamed of doing a tutorial for it. ;)

Now, for the surprise!!!                                                                                                 

This is another tag team tailgating post!! WOO HOO!!

While I showed you how to stay warm from the outside, Karen at Baking in a Tornado will show you how to warm up the inside.

Check out Baking in a Tornado for some tailgating cocktails that are sure to get you ready for the big game!


HAVE FUN TAILGATING!!!!!

Fan Tote Tute with a Special Surprise

Today starts a series of special posts. My friend Karen from Baking in a Tornado and I are teaming up  to bring you some tailgating specials! 

Check out Karen's Raspberry Steak with Lemon Yogurt Sauce!


On to the tutorial!

My contribution to the tailgating theme! A team tote to carry all your fan gear/tailgating supplies!! 

What I Used -

The equivalent of 4 fat quarters 
  2 for the body of the bag
  1 for the straps and pocket
  1 for the contrast at the top of the bag

Step 1

First I cut one fat quarter in half.
One half will be the handles and the other will be the pocket.
The half for the handles should be cut in half again.
Fold with right sides together and press. 
Sew up the long side of each.



Step 2 -

Turn the handles right side out and press.
Top stitch along the edges.
Remove the cat from your work space.
Press again. 


Step 3 -

I did NOT use fat quarters. I used a long strip of contrasting fabric. I folded it in half and pressed. Folded in half again and pressed.
If you use fat quarters -
Cut it in half. Sew the ends together to make a longer piece.
Fold in half and press. Do that again.


Step 4 -

If you are using fat quarters, this is where you will sew up one side ONLY. Pin the 2 fat quarters with right sides together and sew up one side seam.



Step 5 -

Now, with right sides together, pin the contrast strip at the top of your fabric.
If you are using fat quarters, line up the side seams.
Once you have sewn the contrast strip to the top, press the seam UP.
Now, top stitch or stitch in the ditch. 
*Stitch in the Ditch means to run a line of straight stitches on top of the fabric in the seam line. I did NOT stitch in the ditch. I top stitched instead. 


Step 6 -

Now we are going to attach the handles.
On the right side, pin the bottoms of the handles to the contrast strip. Your handles should be hanging upside down with the wrong side showing.
Line up the handles on the other side and pin in place.
Now, attach the handles.
Once you've attached all 4 ends, you are going to fold the handles up and pin them in place,
Now, sew a box with an X in the middle. That makes sure the handles stay on even if you are carrying a heavy load. 


Step 7 -

Take your remaining fat quarter half and fold it up into a pocket.
Turn the sides in and press.
Pin it to the front of your bag and stitch in place. 

Step 8 -

Pin and sew up the remaining side and bottom.
Clip your corners.
Turn the bag right side out and press.

YOU ARE DONE!!!!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!!!

Don't forget to check out Karen's DELICIOUS tailgating recipe!!! OMG, that looks sooooo good! I'm drooling on my keyboard. 

Secret Subject Swap June Take 1

Welcome to Take One of June’s Secret Subject Swaps. This week, 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.



Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado

The Momisodes

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Just A Little Nutty

Follow me home . . .

Moore Organized Mayhem

The Insomniac’s Dream

The Sadder But Wiser Girl

Stacy Sews and Schools - ME!!! 

Menopausal Mother

Not Everyone Can Be A Mermaid



What is your oldest piece of clothing, does it still fit, and why do you still have it?

It was submitted by: The Most Awesome, the Queen of Secret Subjects and Flies.....  Karen from Baking in a Tornado. 


At first I was stumped. I have been pregnant 5 TIMES!! My weight has been up and down and up and down. I change sizes more than the kids change channels... Then I thought, well, I have some shoes I've had for a while. But even those I give away after a few years.... Hmmm... Then it hit me. There's one item of clothing that I have had for 20 YEARS!! Yes! 20 YEARS!!!!



My WVU Mountaineers Football jersey!!!! It still fits (just not as loosely as it once did) and I wear it a ton during football season. ;)

This jersey has seen some up and downs... Some wins and some loses..... Some players and coaches come and go.... It has seen A LOT!!!

Hmmm... maybe IT should do the Fly on the Wall. LOL

Speaking of gaining and losing weight (I think this fits with the topic). I have been back on the Atkins Diet for 2 wks now and I am down 9 lbs!!! YIPPPPEEE!!!!!!!

I am done with the meds that make me gain weight. I am done with the birth control methods that make me gain weight. I am done with eating my feelings!!!!  I am taking control of my body again!!! I managed to have 3 kids without adding more than 10 lbs. After I had Deanna I was on the Depo Provera shots for a year. I gained more in that year than I ever did while pregnant with the kids. I went off it after that. It had completely messed up my system and doctors thought that I would never be able to get pregnant again. HA! Thankfully they were wrong! 7 years later I had Cailey. After I had her I went on Atkins and lost 45 lbs in 3 months. I managed to keep it all off until I got pregnant with Colin. Now, I had my tubes tied AFTER having Cailey. No, I didn't have it reversed.... So, after I had Colin, it would have been a more intense surgery for them to try to tie them again. Instead of going through all of that I used the Mirena..... BIG MISTAKE!!!! It happens that anything that disrupts my monthly... ummm... visitor, also makes me gain weight. Fun. Add on top of that the fibromyalgia, depression, and medications and you have a major weight gain.  More fun... I'm not nearly brave enough to say just how much weight I gained... Maybe one day once I can put all of  this behind me... I am still entirely too vain to put it out there. LOL But I'm trying very hard and it's a lot of work. Don't ever let anyone tell you that it isn't. It's an uphill battle all the way.  I don't know if this will ultimately have anything to do with the fibro but it sure couldn't hurt.

Wish me luck!! Send prayers!!!

Shew! It feels good to get some of that off my chest. ;)

Now for some smiles to lighten the mood!