Tshirt Tote

http://www.mommypotamus.com/no-sew-t-shirt-tote-bag-tutorial/

The one thing to be careful about is to not make the arm holes too big. Mine stretched considerably after I started using it and now it's hard to keep stuff inside of it.

Tshirt throw pillows

After making the tshirt quilt I realized I never wanted to do something like that again. I had originally planned on making quilts for college and high school, but decided to look for other options. Here are one of the projects I came across that was pretty easy and fun.

http://3peppers-recipes.com/old-t-shirt-throw-pillows-no-sew/

I wanted to make them double sided to use more shirts at one time. The hardest part  is making sure your t-shirt patterns are a similar size. 

Tshirt Quilt

This took me 7 years but I finally finished it. The best thing to use was interfacing so the tshirts don't stretch while you're trying to sew them together. I highly recommend same size blocks, otherwise it's really difficult to sew together. But I did it, after many hours of laying out, and random sewing pieces together. These are a bunch of shirts, ties, and pockets from my mission.

 The finished product

Hanging Kids Artwork

I got really sick of putting holes in the wall all the time from push pins. My kids always want to hang up their pictures and I like to oblige when I can. So I made this to display their art work. I did one for each kid in their room and then one in the hall.  All it took was some nylon rope from the dollar store, clothes pins, and a few nails to hang it up.

Family Home Evening

I made this FHE chart for our family. I used poster board, velcro and pictures. I wrapped the pictures with clear wrapping tape, glued velcro to the backs, and the other side of the velcro on the poster. It was super easy.

Photo Family Tree

For both sets of parents I decided to make a family tree that they could update with new pictures every year. It turned out awesome! I can't wait until I'm done having kids so I can make one for myself.

Here's the basic steps of how it's done.

1. Choose picture size and cut out plastic tablecloth pieces 1/3 in. bigger on all sides (I recommend using a rotary cutter for this, to make the pieces straight).

2. Layout pictures on fabric for tree and freehand draw tree shape around the pics. That way you know they will all fit in the pattern you desire. (The picture pattern I used was grandparents as roots, then parents and original family pic on trunk, then the kids in the tree. That way as spouses and grand kids come along you can put family pics of them in their kid slot). Freehand draw a trunk and roots that fit the tree. 

4. Choose a back panel that is thick or double sided. You need something that can hold the weight of the pics and plastic slots.  I used about 2 yards for the back panel. Just depends on the family size.

5. Use heat and bond to put the tree and trunk on back panel. Then zigzag stitch around the edges to make sure it's permanent. (I was lazy and you can see all the stitching on the back of the panel. If you want you can sew on the tree and plastic slots, then sew the double sided panel together. But you have to make sure you tack it in a couple places, or heat and bond, so the panel stays connected to the back or it will become saggy).

6. Sew on the plastic slots using a denim needle. Make sure after sewing there is still enough room to slide pictures in and out easily. (If you have to rip out the seam it usually ruins the plastic slot and you'll have to cut out a new one).

6. Sew a flap along the top to put a dowel through

7. Add vinyl lettering to spell out the family name

8. Add pics and a dowel and your done!

This was a pretty intense project, but well worth the time and effort. The best part about this family tree is you can update it every year!

Another idea I toyed with was on the trunk to put the wedding picture of the parents, and a slot for a recent picture. Then you could see where they started out, and what they look like now, but decided it was too much work for me.

(closer view of the plastic slots and how their sewed on. Also the dowel and lettering.)

Magnet Boxes

I made these magnet boxes for my boys for Christmas. They are super easy and fun.

Supplies: 

-Metal box (I use the gift card boxes that go on sale after christmas)

-Stickers

-Permanent Marker

-Magnet page (Dollar store often has magnet to do list pages that work great for this, or buy a magnet strip in the craft aisle at walmart)

Color inside of the box with permanent marker (scenery or patterns) or keep it plain. Stick stickers to magnet and cut out. Place sticker magnets inside and your done!