Bagel French Toast

On Christmas, we got a dozen bagels for breakfast. Since then we have been eating them. Yesterday I had one toasted, it wasn't great... So this morning, we still had three left, and I knew there had to be something to do with them. Lightbulb: make French toast! Usually we use stale bread, so why not stale bagels?!

What you'll need:
- Stale bagels
- Eggs (I used three eggs for two large bagels)
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Butter to cooking spray

I don't measure the milk or vanilla, I just eyeball it.

Crack the eggs in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the milk and vanilla, the mixture should have a brown tinge to it. Cut the bagels into quarters. Turn on your pan, skillet, or griddle. I use a square flat non-stick skillet, but electric or cast iron griddles work great too.

Dip the bagels in the egg mixture. Let them soak a little longer than you would do with bread. The egg doesn't really permeate the outside of the bagel so make sure you let the inside suck up plenty.

Put a pat of butter, or spray the pan with cooking spray. Then place your soaked bagel pieces on it. I use butter because I think it gives a better crisp to the eggs. Cook until the pieces are golden brown, then flip, and cook the other side until it is also golden brown. I also stand the bagels up on the flat sides where they were cut to cook that surface as well.

Once all your pieces have soaked and cooked, serve with butter and syrup. So yummy!

MIA...

I have been MIA for a while now, sorry about that. I switched jobs, so I've had much less time for sewing and crafting. I used to work overnights, which left lots of time, but now that I work the 9-6 grind, there is not much.

I had made a few things, here are the highlights.

I made this monogram towel for a friend's wedding gift. I gifted them three microfiber towels that I bought at bed, bath, and beyond and personalized with appliquéd Ps. Each out of a different fabric, one fall themed (they married in October), one Christmas themed, and one snow themed (high hopes on here on the eastern shore of md!). Along with the towels, I cut up their wedding invitation, into strips, curled the strips, and put them into a clear Christmas ornament.

I also made a tutu for my niece for her halloween costume. Her dad is a huge Superman fan, so we made her supergirl for halloween. I made the tutu using a a headband and tulle on spools. The t-shirt was bought at Gap and we added glitter glue to spruce it up.

Another halloween craft I did was a tutu, for my pup. She was the cowardly lion to my (hipster) Dorothy. The thing I did differently was I tied the tulle to both the top and bottom of the headband, instead of just one side.

Hopefully I can start keeping better track of what I am up to. Definitely look for more photography based posts. My amazing fiancé bought me a totally awesome Sony NEX-f3 for Christmas, and I am psyched to put it to work!



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Santa to Leprechaun

Okay I am sure you all are thinking, that's weird that looks like a Christmas onesie, but its March... Well you would be right! However bear with me, I promise by the end this will be a St. Patrick's Day post!

I made this cute onesie and tutu set for my favorite little girl to wear in some fun photos for her first Christmas. I made it knowing that six month olds don't really wear tutus for extended periods of time. It was just a fun prop for her. 

So anyway I didn't blog about it then but I came across the picture in my phone and something clicked, that same onesie but paired with a green tutu she would look like a leprechaun! So I called her Momma and asked if the onesie would still fit, she confirmed, so off to Hobby Lobby I went! (Please use your talented imaginations for the picture at the right, I wasn't able to get a picture of her in it)

I picked up a white headband for .79 cents and a roll of tulle using my 40% off coupon it probably came to $3.00. I know that the rolls of tulle aren't as economical, but they make the tutu making process so much easier. Hobby Lobby didn't have a kelly green in either the bolt or rolls so I went with an apple/lime green. I wish it was kelly but I think it will work for her first St. Patrick's day celebration just fine. The color would actually be perfect for a Tinker Bell costume, so I will probably add more tulle to it so that it can do double duty later in life.

The onesie is just fleece and felt that I cut to look like a belt (Santa's belt in December, and conveniently a Leprechaun belt in March). I ironed it on using wonder under, and then sewed over it to make sure it wasn't going anywhere. 

The tutu doesn't have to go with the belted onesie, it can easily go with any other St. Patrick's onesie that she has. Including the Shamrock one I made her.

So an appliqued belted onesie, a green tutu, some adorable shamrock tights/leggings and she is going to make just about the cutest little leprechaun that ever was!

Golf Course Cupcake Cake

This is not a pinterest fail to me just a pinterest different.

I made is cake for my then boyfriend (now fiancé) for his birthday last February. He loves to golf so when I saw this cupcake cake on Pinterest, I wanted to make it, but knew it would come out like hers. I don't have e tools and I know that, so I made it my way, and I think it turned out great!

http://pattycakesbakery.blogspot.com/2011/05/whats-new-cupcake.html?m=1

I just made a boxed mix for the cupcakes, and used Pillsbury vanilla frosting. My guy doesn't really like sweets, so I knew if I made from scratch it would have been a lot of work for little reward.

I separated the frosting into containers and mixed them with food coloring. I added brow. Sugar to the yellow ones to simulate sand. I added blue sugar to the blue cupcakes to simulate water. The green, I gave some texture to look like grass. The hole is an upside down chocolate chip.

I made a flag out of paper and a straw, and used mini marshmallows as golf balls.

Simple easy, and much less time consuming than from scratch, but still a fun "wow" factor from the unsuspecting recipient.

I love the way it turned out, and Joey was very surprised!

St. Patrick's Day Onesie

Another holiday, another holiday project! So...

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

This is the last onesie that was shipped up to New York for my BFFs daughter a few weeks ago. You can check out the other ones here and here.

I just did a simple, standard, applique process. I use fusible interfacing on all my appliques. In the past I did not use it, then I did a project with letters, that tend to be more noticeable if they are crooked, so I tried it. Ever since I used it that once, I was hooked! It is not that expensive (especially on sale!) and it really gives a nicer finished product.

I googled clover/shamrock to find a shape that I liked. I cut out a square of fabric big enough, and ironed on fusible interfacing on the wrong side. Then I traced it onto the paper side of my fabric using my laptop screen as a light-box.

I cut out my shape. Ironed it on to the cotton onesie. Then I carefully sewed around my shape using a zigzag stitch.

I thought I was finished but I thought it didn't look girly enough for that cute girlie so I made a little bow out of a green polka dot fabric and hand sewed it onto the stem of the shamrock. Perfect!



Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I saw this yummy looking recipe on Skip to my Lou. It sounded easy enough and I happened to have two over ripe bananas just looking for a job. She made hers in some adorable polka dot baking cups but I made mine in a regular old greased muffin tin and they came out great.

They were very yummy! The chocolate is the perfect consistency and the muffins are dense but not dry or hard. Totally perfect, so much so that I have already made them twice! :)

A Shamrockin' Collar

Valentine's day is officially over! At my house we don't just change our decor we change the dogs collars. You can see my other collar creations here and here. Since the next holiday is upon us, so it is time to switch our my pups collars! Goodbye conversation hearts, hello shamrocks!

I made these just like the Valentine's Day collars with the nylon webbing fused in-between the fabric "bias tape."

Layla's webbing is pink.                             Dylan's  is green.

Don't they look adorable?!

(PS - This blog newbie is LUCY! Her mom LOVES St. Patrick's Day so I knew Lucy

had to have a Shamrockin' collar to help her celebrate too!)

Layla's thoughts on pictures...

Valentine's Day Photo Shoot

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

I know I had a few before Valentine's Day projects posted but I wanted to do an after post too.

I did a little Valentine's day photo shoot of my dogs using my iPhone. I even snuck into a few shots. The dog already had their pink collars on. I grabbed a red tie from my repurposing pile to put on Dylan. Layla got a big bow tied from a v-day bandana. The backdrop is simply a quilt tucked into my closed dresser drawers.

The pictures were originally to send toy my boyfriend who, unlike me, works normal hours. Just to send some Valentines day love from home while he's at work.  I was having so much fun with it, I kept going! Sometimes when you're home alone you have to make your own free fun! So have some fun with it! Bring in whatever props you have, or think would look cute. This can be done for any holiday. Green sheet backdrop for St. Patrick's day or Easter. Red for Christmas, the possibilities are endless!

I hope you all had an excellent Valentine's Day with whoever or whatever you love! My adorable boyfriend got me these beautiful roses, some Lindt truffles, and a wonderful dinner out. We had a great time and it was nice to get dressed up and go out on a weeknight, it made the week feel shorter.

The two top pictures were edited using instagram and frametastic (both free from itunes)

Faux Chenille Blanket

It is finally, FINALLY, done!!!


I started this blanket so. so. so. long ago. Whenever I would get frustrated by it whether it be because a pin pricking me one too many times or just being beyond bored, I would just put it off to the side for another day, another week, another month, another season. But the other day I bunkered down and finished it and I am so. so. so. glad that I did! I am madly in love with it!

This is not a tutorial as I used Aesthetic Nest's and MADE's tutorials for making this beautiful blanket. These are just how I did it, and my thoughts about it.

I used a heavyweight cotton from Hancock Fabrics for my top fabric, and four layers of flannel for my bottom layers. The two layers closest to my top actually have really ugly patterns on them but you can't really tell since they are covered and cut. That was one way that I cut the costs.

I did not use glue, or saftey pins (just straight pins). I used a chalk line (out of the boyfriend's tool box) to make my first line. My fabric didn't shift too much but I do wish I had used saftey pins because with so much fabric flapping around its hard to see where they are and not get pricked. I wish I had used the chalk line a few more times to straighten out every so often, since when one line gets out of whack it can lead to all of them being that way. Luckily you can't even really tell now that it is washed, but just a thought.

When I was sewing I was initally not taking my needle out just leaving it down and turning my blanket, but once I started doing it the proper way, I liked how taking the needle out and clipping off the extra thread broke up all that sewing.

I cut using my erganomic spring assisted scissors and I think that they made it easier not to cut through the top fabric than regular scissors. I do wish I put one more layer in and left it uncut, I missed my lowest layer in some sections and I like the look a little better.

The biggest problem I had with it was how to "square it up" (mostly because I was making a rectangle, not a square) once I finished all the sewing. I trimmed the clearly wonky ends with scissors then tried to clean it up with the rotary cutter. I could still tell that it wasn't totally perfect, then I got over it! It was as straight as I was ever going to get it, and who was really ever going to notice? I also rounded the edges because it looked so cute on both of the tutorial blankets, I used a plate as well.

I am not a very patient sewer, but once I looked at Dana's bias tape tutorial over at MADE I knew that I needed to take my time and do it the right, or proper, way as Dana calls it. Which meant going around not once, but twice. But it was totally worth it! I knew I would have messed up if I had done it the sandwhich way. The right way, gave me a little more control over sewing it in a straight line. It came out just as beautiful as I had hoped! 

I am so happy with this blanket. It took me forever and drove me nuts. It is almost maddening to make, but once it comes out of the dryer, you don't remember any of it. It makes it all seem totally worth it. It is so plush, heavy, beautiful, and perfect. I wish I had the patience to make a bigger one that me and my love could snuggle under together, but it will probably never happen. So this one will have to do.

Everyone loves to snuggle this blanket, no matter how many legs you have...

two...

or four ...

I'm not sure if I will ever make another one of these blankets, because it is so time consuming, but if I found the right sale on flannel, I just might be tempted...

Vintage Valentine Iphone Cover

Just another paper insert. This time its an adorable vintage valentine. Just size, print, cut, and stick in the case. Happy Valentines Day!

Valentine's day cake

A simple heart shaped cake. A quick and easy last minute Valentine's Day treat.






One boxed cake mix.

One round cake cut in half.

One square cake.

Assemble.

And frost.

Done simple and adorable.

Look what just arrived...

My very first Pick Your Plum order has arrived! A bunch of adorable resin flowers. Not sure what they'll become yet, but I am glad they're here! Oh the possibilities!

Dogs Need Love on V-Day too!

Well I was busy at the ironing board again. I was busy folding and ironing fabric for some cute Valentine's Day collars for my two dogs.

Valentine's day is extra special for us and our one dog, Layla, because six years ago Valentine's day weekend we brought her into our family :) She is a golden retriever mix for a local rescue group and we love her to pieces! So some new swag was defiantly in order.

I did make these a little differently than last time. This time I fused nylon between my double fold bias tape. This gives it more bulk and strength and it wont slip as easily.

I an really happy with how they turned out and are defiantly holding up better than the Christmas collars I made. And they look adorable on my babies! We all know that real men aren't afraid to wear pink!

I promise that Layla is wearing one too, however the thick fur coat that she wears everyday makes it tough to get a good shot of it so her BFF, Dylan, is better for photographing the collar in use.

So show your doggies some love this Valentine's Day on make them some adorable homemade v-day collars!

PS - Bribery can lead to not so great blog photos :)

 

Valentine's Day Onesie

Valentine's day is one of my favorite holidays (halloween is the other) so I like to spread my spirit far and wide.

While shopping for the blank onesie for my Super Bowl Onesie, I saw this adorable white with pink, red, and purple hearts bodysuit. I just knew I had to buy and and make it into a V-Day onesie for my BFF's beautiful little girl.

I already had some valentines day fabric for new dog collars (more on that later) so I knew just what to do. I ironed some fusible interfacing onto the back of my cute conversation heart V-Day cotton. Once that cooled down I cut out the individual hearts. I grabbed some lilac ric-rac from my stash and draped it onto the onesie to get it to the right length. Once I had that measurment, I figured out how I wanted the hearts laid out, peeled off the paper and placed them back on top of the ric-rac. Then I ironed them on really well making sure that they stuck to both the onesie an the ric-rac. Next I threaded my sewing machine with invisible thread and a white bobbin. Then I topstitched over just the hearts. Once I finished all the hearts I tacked down the end of the ric-rac under the shoulder flaps so that they were hidden.

Once I had my design in my head the project moved pretty quickly and I am so happy with how it turned out. If I had been using a larger bodysuit or t-shirt I could have easily done two strands which would have looked so cute too!

via instagram: follow me @ iheartpaulfrank1

Appliquéd Half Apron

Even before I started sewing for fun, I saved jeans. I'm not sure why but I still have a bunch laying around. So I put one of those pairs to work... Well that's not totally true, it was a skirt, but still denim and still re-purposed.


So anyway, I cut the skirt in half keeping 2 pockets and ditching the waistband and belt loops.


Then I appliquéd some double layer stars out of cotton and fleece. After that I put a back on it by putting right aides together and sewing all the way around (leaving a hole for turning) then top-stitched the hole closed and the rest of the way around. After that I made a long skinny "tube", turned it right side out, and sewed it to the top as the apron ties. They are long enough to be wrapped around to the front to be tied. I used the same pink plaid cotton as the appliqué for the back and ties.


I love the way it came out! But not enough to keep it from my friend who I made it for. So this was gifted to her along with a set of six measurement magnets. Similar to the ones I have pinned here.

 

Source: threeyearsofdeath.blogspot.com via Leanne on Pinterest



So here is the apron tied in the front. I forgot to take a picture of the back but it is just that  same fabric.

And here it is untied. You can see here how long I actually made the ties. I wanted them long enough to make a big bow when tied in the front or the back.

Superbowl Onesie

I am a day late because I totally forgot to blog about this, but I made an adorable New York Giants onesie at the request of my best friend. I already had the fabric so I knew I could throw something cute together quick and mail it the three hundred miles north before the big game. So my first stop was to Walmart to get a plain white bodysuit. I also picked up a few extras but those will be in another post.


After Walmart I had to do some brainstorming to figure out what I wanted to do. I poked around the Internet a little an mixed together a bunch of ideas. Luckily I didn't love any of the ones I found, so no copying!


I cut out the helmet an Giants out of my pre-interfaced fabric. Then I thought it all looked a little boyish so i cut out a red polka dot heart with my pinking sheers giving it a textured edge. After playing around a little with my shapes I decided to start by putting some tulle ruffles on the booty. Then i sewed the word Giants above the ruffles. Loving it so far!


After that I finally made my mind up about the placement of the helmet and heart. So I ironed them on and then straight top stitched over each. I started with the heart so that when i over lapped the helmet the top stitching would be underneath. I did a little bit bigger of a seam allowance on the heart because I thought it looked cuter.


It was that simple! I am so happy with how it came out! And in the end it brought the Giants some good lick since we won! Yeay!!