Supplies:
-washcloths or hand towels
-2-3" of ribbon
-detail fabrics for fins (I used satin for the green fin on the alligator, hot pink spandex for the fish)
-fabric marker or buttons for eyes
-scissors
-thread/ sewing machine/ pins
      
**To make these even easier, you could use fleece, felt, or knit for the fins/ arms.  The body and mouth of puppet should be washcloths or towels, but you aren't cleaning with the details so you can use fabrics that won't fray and dry quickly

The tutorial shows step by step for the alligator puppet. But the patterns for the fish and shark are here too. The steps are the same, just switching arms for fins.

1. Cut out pieces


2. Eyes
There are lots of options with the eyes and gills (shark and fish). 
The fish was a little fancier and I sewed button eyes and zig-zagged with a short stitch length to make the pink gills.

The alligator and shark I kept it simple by just drawing on the eyes and shark gills with a fabric marker. 







3. Make Head Fin
*Fish is more of a curve
Snip the top of the points off, but don't snip down to the thread






Snip the valleys of the dips straight down, but don't snip the thread





Turn the fin right side out and press with an iron. It's done!

*For the fish I used a wave stitch in lime green on the edges to add some detail



4. Make Arm Fins or Legs
Put the legs right sides together. Sew along the marker, leaving the bottom unsewn.







Trim the edges as shown in the left foot.

Using tweezers (I use surgical hemostats) reach in and pinch the end of the foot, and pull it out, turning the feet right-side-out. 

You can use the tweezers or a pen with lid on it to push the little toes out


SHARK and FISH FINS
Sew with 1/4" to 1/8" seam allowance.
Trim the tip of the point like the alligator head fin
Turn right side out.

5. Pin and Sew Arms to Body
On the right side of the body, pin on the legs, or arm fins according to the pattern.

Sew on the legs/ fins. 
I zig-zagged with a shorter length stitch (1) and narrow stitch width (2 to 2.5) back and forth to secure the legs and arm fins to the body





6. Sew the Head Seam and Fin
Pin the head fin to one side of the body







Fold the other straight edge and pin it to the other side.
So you have a sandwich of washcloth, fin, washcloth.  The washcloth body is right sides together with the feet folded inside.


Snip the corner of the mouth, but don't snip thread.

This was my first wood-working project that I completed all on my own!

I have these little jars that sit on my counter, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.  I've always wanted a little storage box to take up less space and make them look more organized.

I'm working on a larger project, and had scraps of this 1/4" thick MDF.  MDF is a pressed wood that is great for crafts because it's super smooth and easy to cut.  There's no wood grain, so you have to paint it, but it makes things a lot easier, since real wood has knots, warps, and isn't as consistent.

Because it was only 1/4" thick, I didn't nail it at all.  Just wood glue and clamps.  My mom has a band saw that I used for the cuts.  First time operating a saw and it was pretty fun and easy.

I obviously still need to paint it, but I'm still deciding on the colors of the kitchen when we move.  I'm thinking to have a few red accessories. 

What do you think of this little box in red?  I'm thinking a darker barn red rather than bright cherry red.

I bought the jars for $3.00 and just measured them to plan the dimensions for the storage box.  I didn't make the box quite as deep as the jars, because I wanted the lids to poke out from the ledge a little bit.  I will eventually have labels on the jars rather than just my writing with a thin Sharpie.

This olive green/ brown/ blue color scheme came from first grabbing the upholstery weight suede.  Then we (my mom and I) found the the chocolate floral print that coordinated.  I liked the blue in the floral print and already had the blue broadcloth in my cart I'd grabbed of the 70% off table.  Finally I thought the stripe would add a different pattern and texture to the mix, further combining the blue and olive green. 

It was quite exciting putting it all together from all the different discount bins and different areas.  The brown floral print is actually outdoor fabric, so durable, and soil & stain resistant.  Great for kids!

All this fabric is also a kick off in my next adventure.... learning to upholster!

I'll document the process as it unfolds.  I'm not very good, or have zero experience in decorating a home.  I guess the sewing comfort zone is what made me begin the whole plan with the fabric and we'll work on paint colors and the rest from there.  Fabric was my base.  I like the colors scheme a lot.  My mom doesn't like the blue, but I love it.  Maybe in 10 years I'll wonder what I was thinking, but for now I am excited.

I'm glad I was able to find the scheme of fabric I like while the sales were going on, but I really need to pack and not begin making accessory pillows, so this fabric will most likely be put aside until it can be a higher priority.

-wire clippers

-keychain ring

-hot glue gun
-finish supplies: scrapbook paper, cardboard, ribbon etc.

***Grapevine:

But if you don't have grape plants near you, I found a few retail sources to get some.

Here's a website  that offers a variety of thicknesses in straight sticks or wreaths: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/grapevines.html

****You will be shaping the grapevine, so if it is older and dry, you could soak it in water for 24 hours or so to help it soften up so you can bend it without breaking.  If you are using a wreath that is already round, you may not have to really shape your vines.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL TUTORIAL

I made this little Newsie suit for my son.  These are his 2 year old photos.

Pants:

I used a pair of his more stylish jeans (more straight/ skinny leg) as the pattern.  They are slip on pants with elastic in the back to hold them on.  I sewed a faux zipper fly and tab front to make them look more like trousers, even though they are pretty much just pajama pants with pockets.
Pretty much the same technique as this tutorial, but added the pockets.

My dad saw the painted filing cabinet and said:
"Wow.  That looks a lot better.  You can't even tell it's junk now."

So thank you for that.

photo of my little sister, Lynette and my Dad.  He's pretty great...and yes those are his regular prescription glasses.  He says they're just like Clark Kent's.

1. REMOVE HARDWARE

2. WASH with soap & water (I also power washed it to begin with)

3. SAND THE EXTERIOR: I just had a little handheld sander.  I read it's important to sand the metal to rough up the surface for the paint to stick

4. PAINT WITH PRIMER You can read on the back to make sure your primer works for metal surfaces.  I used paint and applied with rollers.  I just wasn't in the mood to spray paint all that area