MOVING!!!!

Hey everyone! I want to tell you all that I'm moving my blog to be a better fit than the 'octopusgardenart'. For the whole explanation visit and FOLLOW the new blog: http://HeySharkyDesigns.blogspot.com This blog will be moved over, all posts etc.... and this one will be deleted in a few months. Thank you so much for understanding and making the switch!

Church / Activity Bag

Buying bags and clothes and shoes and..and...and.. for kids gets pretty pricey so we try to either get things on sale, or make them! This church bags been in the works since we found out I was pregnant with our first.. and he's turning 3 at the end of this month.... so I think it wad about time that I made it. It took a few weeks of working on it a little each day and now? It's done! [OK mostly done.. I still want to add a few things to it, but it's ready to use, and Xander has been BEGGING me to let him use it since I finished sewing it a few weeks ago.

Sew.

Embellish.

look at it.

Embellish some more.

Paint.

Cut.

OK.. USE!!!

Take back..

Embellish some more.

Take pics..

Give back to the kid to use..[and add some more things later..]

The bag is a simple messenger-style bag, Made from old jeans -with felt as the stabilizer in the bottom of the bag. the 'back pocket' has the LDS San Diego Temple on it, and is actually a double pocket! [Sorry the pic of the book and tag in the pockets isn't very good to show it off]

I used my Silhouette Machine to die cut the words, Angel Moroni, and LDS San Diego Temple. Xander helped me paint his bag- and did a very good job too! I was impressed. He also was the one who picked out the graphics and ribbon colors. Here he is below modeling it for me. He kept posing and moving into different places to make sure I got the right picture.. Ah! that's MY BOY! I'm glad at the ripe old age of [almost] 3, he has it down! Everything I used, I had on hand. So it didn't cost me anything. [but in all fairness, some of the supplies DID cost me, but a while ago and I have no clue how much. The jeans were free.]

We loaded it with lots of goodies to keep him busy [and quiet].. oh! and learning.. during first hour of church.

*3 board books about Nephi, tithing, and Moroni

*Noah's Ark Magnetic animals

*Remember Jesus activity wheel

*Photo album

*Green folder- holds blank paper and church color/activity pages

*'B' mini page pad- blank paper for him to draw on

*Activity carrying case- [not pictured]- holds crayons, snacks, pens and misc items

Altered Photo Album

I've had this idea for a long time but haven't done anything with it. I finally made a small one for Xander's Church Bag- and I LOVE IT!!! I filled it with pictures of family, Jesus and other church pics. Soon I'll add little 4X6 cards of letters to him or little things about him. It's great way to keep him engaged in gospel-centered activities while in church [not to mention quiet during first hour!] He really LOVES looking through the pictures of our family and points out who is in the Gospel pics. Since I'm amking a few of these, I thought I'd get a head start on Sebastian's photobook for church, I know he'll be using it before we know it!

Next is to make a few for gifts and put them in my gift box so we can be prepared for birthdays, just because and Christmas! <----I'm getting a head start on Christmas this year! and yes, you may call me neurotic ad crazy.. but making/buying the presents throughout the year spreads out the money and lets us ENJOY the holidays!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I used my Sillohette to cut out the CTR and Mod Podged the paper and symbols to the front and back. Then I picked out a few pictures of our family, pass-along cards from church, and a few cards from a picture pack I purchased from Deseret Book.

Front:

Back:

A few pages from inside:

crafty, crafty.

So i've been crafting like a mad woman [still] - gearing up for... CHRISTMAS 2011!!! Hahaha i know you all think i'm either a bit nuts or extremely brilliant. i prefer the latter.... this is my thinking on it all.. we have almost 50 gifts to give and that doesn't include the secret gifts we doorbell ditch and some other little goodies we make for friends. if you ONLY spent $10.00 a piece on each gift that's OVER $500!!!!! I can't afford that all at once and things are always so tight after Christmas that it [almost] makes me regret some of my purchases. So this year, we will be better than last! We can spread out $500 throughout the year so.....My hubby has already purchased a few gifts for people and i've already made stuff. also with birthdays, special occasions, babies born etc throughout the year we thought it would be prudent to be prepared.

Since i've been making things this year i've really slacked off on taking pics.. sooooo i'll go ahead and take a mass amount of pics and post them very soon!

Things I'm working on:
baby quilt
crocheted handbags and accessories
church/activity bag for our sons
a few dresses for me
hats to match
a skirt for my BFF
oh, and some play food and fort for the boys

am i too busy? naw! i'm also planning 2 weddings, 2 parties and just got hired as a xc coach at my alma mater. awesome.

happy crafting!