I made some burp cloths with my Mother-in-Law this past week. This time I made a paper template and it was WAY easier than last time- I just used measurements and drew everything straight onto the fabric! DUH! She took three home for a baby shower and I kept three. It took me an hour to make 4 burp cloths.
The image will look backwards, but that's how you want it. Trust me.
Step 2: Cut out that image!
See? Now they look right. 
Step 3: Align the decorative paper on top of your wood/cardboard letter as best as you can; sometimes it isn't perfect on the edges, but you can cut the excess away with a craft knife later.
Step 4: Adhere the paper to the letter by wiping your adhesive to the back of the decorative paper and carefully placing it on your letter. I used Mod Podge from Hobby Lobby (well, I borrowed my sister's Mod Podge :) but I'm just cheap like that). Wait about 15 minutes for it to dry, making sure you smooth out any wrinkles in the paper. It is paper- it will probably want to wrinkle when it gets wet.
Step 5: Put a finish coat/sealer coat on your letter. Again, I just used Mod Podge. I higly recommend it. When you are putting this coat on, it will be slightly visible, so try and keep your brush strokes in the same direction. Let dry for another 15 minutes.
Step 6 (optional, but CUTE): Adhere MORE decorative paper by tracing the image, or part of the image, again on another coordinating paper. I like to rip part of the paper for a more decorative effect. Use the same adhering technique as with the first paper layer. Watch out for those bubbles! Let it dry for: guess how long? 15 minutes! When it is dry you can trim off any excess paper that hangs over the edge too much. Or, some people like to sand their edges with a fine grit sandpaper to give it that vintage-y look. I am not that type, so I'm leaving mine as is.
Step 7: Decorate. Embellish. If you are like me and don't scrapbook and only dream of tons of ribbon and buttons and cute things, bust out your sad collection and get creative. For others who truly live on the craft boat, I'm sure you know what to do. If you are a minimalist... leave it as is, it is still cute.
I inherited this ribbon from a friend in Utah. I needed it to make something for the girls at our church and she moved away before I could give it back. Well, it came in handy again today!
Step 8: Step back and admire your handiwork. 
I will get my husband to install these as soon as he is home for more than 20 minutes.
I might just make it for my hubby (in red). He will be momentarily disappointed that it isn't REAL, but it will probably make him happy in the end. And leftover peanut butter cups and candy hearts? Thanks for the valentine, myself. Mmmm I'm a good valentine.
I like matchy-matchy. I'll post pics along the way and when everything is all done. Wish me luck- it isn't every 2-year-old who appreciates a blanket for her birthday... but we'll see!
I also got to rummage through my mom's stash of leftover fabric (she has a drapery workroom- and she's good.)! I picked out this gem from the pile because our chairs had a... nice... damask on it- a cranberry tone-on-tone leafy damask. Not exactly my style, since I lean toward contemporary if given the chance. Considering I was recovering some Queen Anne chairs, I couldn't do ultra-modern (although I should have shown you this AWESOME orange print my mom had! WOWZAS!) because the two styles wouldn't marry well. My husband requested blue, but I wanted something with a good pattern. BEHOLD, a good mix. The blue-green background was perfect, and it had a light blue accent. And it wasn't too froo-froo.
I followed instructions on how to recover a chair from:
I also had some suede (once pillaged from my mom's stash as well) that matched the light tan color EXACTLY. Now, let me remind you that I like to lean toward contemporary, just a bit! I thought a runner with a suede border and back would just tie it all together perfectly.
I mean look how nice it is. I love it. I had one side go all skewompus on me, but hey, I never said I was awesome.
My mom showed me how to do these mitered edges. Sometime I'll do a tutorial, because I will probably need the refresher soon anyway. Pretty nice, eh? LOVE! Although, the next day after doing all this, my younger sister was over and asked me when I was going to recover my chairs. Oh well, maybe someday when our dining set actually has a dining room, I can make it look like it is supposed to. You know, with matching paint and all that jazz.
I love his sleepy little eye. I used the template from Martha Stewart's website on Decoupage ideas for the nursery... cheating, I know. But it was so cute. I just resized it to fit on a onesie. Voila!
MY FAVORITE of the little bunch was the chick. Really, really cute. I don't think I'll ever give it away. I tried to copy the birds on the header of Little Birdie Secrets, but alas, mine is taller and thinner. Not as many worms, I suppose. BUT it is still cute as ever.
And the rattle, my own idea but I'm sure someone has something else out there like it! I sewed the ribbon on good and tight, and a few times more after deciding it wasn't on good enough. That thing is chew-proof. And it shouldn't come untied.
and I also have a couple of burp cloths on the menu, as shown by Jill. I used her template, kind of, but I just used my ruler and brain to measure it out. I had some snuggli flannel lying around from making a boppy cover two years ago, so I just used that. I didn't have quilt batting to put in between the layers because well, I just dont' have it! I just put another layer of flannel in between. Just like those rag quilts and such. It will be plenty absorbant- although I have known babies to really, really let those burp cloths have it. Yeesh.
I will have to sew the burp cloths when my babe finally falls asleep- I forgot my thread in her bedroom- aka my craft cupboard. I guess the apartment will get cleaned after all... but I am off to a good start!
