How To: Ribbon Blankies

This weekend I decided to try a new project, I have always wanted to try and make a blanket with silk ribbons attached in the past but have never taken the time to sit down and try and figure out how to make them. So finally I did and this is what I came up with! This is fast and easy. The materials you will need are:

Cotton Fabric

Variety of Ribbon

Scissors

Ruler

Fade out marker

Iron

and of course a sewing machine

Now fold your fabric inside out and mark out two pieces the same size with your fade out marker, depending on how big you want the blankie, the smallest I would go is 13"x13" you can do 16"x16" or 20"x20" if you would like larger.

Now take your ribbon and cut about 20 strips in a variety of lengths ranging from 4" to 7" long. I did five ribbons on each side.

Fold the ribbons to make a loop and pin them inside the two squares (right sides together) of fabric so the raw edges are aligned. (Loops are now inside the 2 squares)

Sew around the square to secure the ribbons in place remembering to leave a 3" opening to turn your project the right side out. Don't forget to back stitch at the beginning and end.

Turn your project so the right side are facing out and iron the square. Clip your corners to a 45 degree angle. I do not clip the seam allowance because I want to make sure I am re-securing the ribbons when I do the top stitch.

Now for the top stitch sew around the entire project 1/4". Back stitch at the start and finish. Iron flat one more time if needed and slip stitch the opening closed. Voila! You did it, now you have a quick and affordable toy that will provide hours of fun to a precious little one.

Mmm...Soap!

Above are some samples of the bars of soap I made a few days ago.

 I have always wanted to try my hand at making home made bars of natural soap and am glad I did.  The clear bars are made from Olive Oil and the creamy bars are made from Goats Milk.

 I decided to not add any dyes or additives like oatmeal and such for my first time just to be safe.  On my next try I think I will play with natural dyes like beet juice and curry to see what they turn out like.  I would also like to add some fun things like coffee grounds and oatmeal.

For the scents I stuck with pretty common mixtures, they turned out really well and smell delicious.  I may try to play around with some different varieties of scents as I get more comfortable with making soap and become more daring!

What are some of your favourite scents?  Any tips or tricks that you would like to share?  Please leave a comment below or link to you blog or website.  Happy Crafting!!!

Homemade Natural Deodorant Recipe

 As you already know I love making things!  In the next couple of days I am going to try my hand at making some homemade bars of soap...I am very excited about this as it is something that I have always wanted to do.  I placed an order for some molds and essential oils so am just waiting for them to arrive to get started, I can't wait!

In the meantime I have decided to try my hand at making a cream deodorant.  I had purchased a tub of Organic Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil that is all the rave right now.  I know for the most part it is meant for cooking and baking but it is also known to be used and beneficial in natural beauty products.

So here is what I have come up with, you can blend a variety of different essential oils to get the desired scent you are after.  I am limited with my oils right now so decided to go with Frankincense.  Frankincense is anti septic, disinfectant, astringent so why not use it as a deodorizer!

Your main ingredients that make up the cream are very simple and affordable.  I try and purchase as much as I can from Costco, there you can get size and quality and for a fantastic price.  I purchased all three of the main ingredients there.

Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Vitamin E Oil, that's pretty much all you need!  From there you can play with your scents.  Just be careful with some essential oils as they can irritant your skin, so please so use with precautions including this recipe.


 Homemade Natural Deodorant Recipe:

Take approximately one quarter cup of your coconut oil and place in a container.  From there you can add about two dollops of Vitamin E oil, this is great for your skin and makes it feel buttery soft.  Now to add the Tea Tree oil, I added about 8 drops.  Tea Tree oil can have a strong scent depending on your nose so use with your own discretion, it has many benefits (too many to list) one of them including being an anti-fungal. Then I added the Frankincense to my desired liking, about 8-10 drops. After you have made your cream place it in a little container and apply in small amounts to your under arms. Below are some other oils you may like to try!

 Patchouli – Sweet and musky, another favourite of mine.
Lavender – Soothing and gentle, one of my favourite scents.
Peppermint and Spearmint – Very fresh and clean smelling.
Eucalyptus – Very refreshing and uplifting.

 Have fun playing around with your scents and enjoy!  

*Please remember that this is something that works on MY skin, always remember to try a dab of the cream on your inner arm to see if you react and go from there.  Some people should not use essential oils so please consult a physician if you are unsure. Meant for adult use only and keep out of reach of children.