Laura Kelly's Tip for A Great Doll Printable From HousewifeHellraiser.com

My Friend Laura Kelly over at Doll Diaries shared this on our Facebook Page to the Housewife Hellraiser's Free Printable Doll Craft click here for  website  and I think it is fantastic! Click here to see how you can print your dolls their own Mine Craft Tablet of their own!
Thank you both Laura Kelly and Laura of housewifehellraiser.com for sharing this with us today!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

How To Repair Your Elf On The Shelf....A Cautionary Craft Tale.

If you follow my instagram as Karen Mom of Three you will see all my tea and Elf photos from this December. I really enjoy photographing  these little elves and today I share my cautionary tale.
The wonderful people at expressionery.com sent over the most adorable Holiday Peeps note paper and labels created by the talented Laura Kelly! I wanted to thank them with one of my holiday tea photos and in doing so inadvertently created a craft post to share with you.

Just after I took the photo my Girl Elf Caught Fire! Disaster Strikes!
I was in a bit of a panic. I did not realize how flammable Elf On The Shelf Dolls are! I am so lucky I saw it happen and was able to quickly put the fire out. But then I was left with a double amputee Elf.
I quickly phone my sisters to commiserate and then got out the sewing machine and my stash of red Kunin Felt.

I folded my Red felt to match the thickness of the rest of the Elf's leg quickly stitched new legs out of the felt and then sewed them in to place at the knee.

Once sewn into place I decided to cover my stitches with more felt and created a "knee length boot" look! I think I even improved her look a bit!  Over all I am thrilled with the results and I am so glad I was able to save my little elf!
A huge thank you to Laura Kelly and The wonderful people at Expressionery for sending me the most lovely Holiday Note Pads and Holiday Labels.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Bitty Twin Fun With Buttons Galore And More Laura Kelly Buttons!

My Niece Thea is over today and she wanted to make some thing with buttons and bows for her self and for our bitty twin Cheryl. 

So I got out our ribbon and button stash. We love Buttons Galore & More Laura Kelly buttons for crafting! 

 

We first chose a ribbon that Thea liked and created our bows we tied three matching bows. Next we selected two of the dolly hair bands we got from our dollar store and  Thea wanted hers on a bobby pin so we selected the one she liked best from my stash, it's a sparkle one.

We used our Aleene's Tacky Glue from I love to Create and selected light blue and red buttons from our multi pack we glued them together and thought they needed some sparkle so we added some small gem stones. We let them dry and then glued the ribbon to our dolly hair bands and slid the bobby pin arm through the button back and added more tacky glue. After they dried Thea let me put them in Cheryl's Hair and her bobby pin into her pony tail!

This was a fun and easy craft to do with my niece Thea who turns 4 next week!

You can find Laura Kelly Buttons Galore & More buttons by clicking here.

Off to lunch now and Tea with Thea!

As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

How To Make A Beautiful Doll More Beautiful...Sew A Cloche Hat or two...Pattern Reveiw

 

So today is a rainy rainy day and I set out this morning with my tea and planners to sew today. 

 

Little did I know at 6:30 am that the Cloche Pattern Hat from Eden Ava would be so very easy and profoundly change my thoughts on sewing hats for 18 inch dolls.

As many of you know I work with a bunch of wonderful ladies who belong to Dolls for A Cause , our February cause is Leukemia support and research. Our color scheme is going to be purple so I set out to make my hat to donate to the Auction. I am so very thrilled with how it turned out.  

I want to thank Eden Ava Couture for donating the pattern to be used to make this hat for the auction.

 

I would also like to thank Coats & Clark for donating the awesome thread I used

I would also like to thank Buttons Galore & More and Laura Kelly Designs for the buttons I used to embellish the hats

 

The Cloche Hat Pattern from Eden Ava Couture earns the Karen Mom of Three Stamp of Approval. I was able to complete 2 hats in under 1 hour from start to finish and I am thrilled with how easily they came together. If you are looking for a fun hat pattern start with this one.

Click here for Eden Ava Couture's Etsy shop.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
Today I used my American Girl Doll Chrissa and My Dolls House Doll from the UK named Ruby.

It's Christmas Eve! My Third Blog Aniversary!

How the time does fly! It is Christmas Eve. How does this happen? Every year it seems we plan and anticipate, scheme and prepare and yet it sneaks up on us year after year. This is such a special time for me, for my family and my blog and I thank each and everyone of you who has followed along this season, read my blog, stumbled on to us on Facebook, Pinterest or Blogger.

Not only is it Christmas Eve but it is also my blog's Third Anniversary. I began this blog Three years ago on a whim. I started this blog at the suggestion of strangers, who would later become treasured friends, that I had met through FB about sharing my doll sewing and craft adventures. I honestly never thought anyone would read it outside my own family. I could never have imagined the way this blog would change my life.

Three years ago a life I could not have imagined for myself began to unfold and each and everyone of you is a part of that journey. I want to thank you for stopping by, for what ever lead you here. Your words, comments and emails have been so encouraging, thoughtful and kind.  It is for each one of you who took the time to let me know you were out there reading and enjoying my work that I continue to write, create and share.

A Special Thank you to Brandy, Madelon, Jessica T for the ideas, crafts and fun finds you have shared with me so that I can share with our readers.  Thank you to Deena of Deena and Beena You tube and Lauren M for your wonderful Dolly Friendship.  Thank you also to Kathryn at Daydream Doll Boutique for giving me another place to share my doll play ideas and crafts.

A Very Special thank you  to Char at Doll Diaries, Anna at Doll it Up and Laura Kelly of Laura Kelly Designs who have included me on the most fantastic and creative teams I could have every dreamed of belonging too.

Thank you to all the wonderful Etsy Shops who have let us have a behind the scenes look at their passion and their work, the pattern designers who give me sneak peeks so that I may share my true opinions of their work with all of you. Thank you to Springfield Collection and Fiber Craft for creating a line of amazing dolls and products that truly helps put doll play in the hands of those who could not previously attain  quality doll play items. Thank you to Canada's Maplelea for including us this year their in their 10 year anniversary and sending me their Set To Celebrate Party Set! 

I would also like to thank the companies of Sculpey Clay, Buttons Galore & More, Rit Dye and Rit Studio,  Coats & Clark, Red Heart Yarns, Plaid and Folk Art and Laura Kelly Designs for allowing me to share their amazing products with you and helping me to create wonderful doll play items for you, my nieces, my doll swap partners and my family. 

Today I am so very thankful for all of you and hope you will join us for more doll play in the coming days and new year.
If Christmas is a holiday you and your family celebrate then I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and look forward to sharing more with you soon!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Check Out Rit Dye Studio!

I recently have joined the Rit Studio Team and I am having such a blast! Currently 5 of my Rit Dye Crafts from around the dolly world are published and on the site joining some wonderful dye projects from Anna of Doll It Up. Com, Char from Doll Diaries and Laura Kelly from Laura Kelly Designs.com
Click on the Rit Dye Studio Page under Arts & Crafts to see all our Doll Crafts posted together!

We have all been putting together some of our favorite doll craft holiday ideas and using Rit Dye to enhance our crafting experiences!

 I never knew how easy it is to use Rit Dye in my crafts and I wished I had started working with dye so much earlier! I love how easy it is and how much I can do with it!

There are currently a dozen doll crafts on the Rit Studio Doll Craft page with more being added weekly, I hope you will stop by and see what we are up too!

Rit Dye is for more then just fabric! Paper Crafts and Wood love Rit Dye too!
I hope you will Click here to be taken to our Rit Studio Doll Craft Page!  I will be adding another special craft tomorrow to the site! I hope you will check back often!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Tandem Dye A Diaper Shirt For Your Bitty Baby A Rit Dye Tutorial By Karen Mom of Three

 

Forgive the shiny light reflection in the photos from today's post. As I was photographing this last night I ran out of light but could not wait to share with you my tutorial for a tandem dye diaper shirt. 

To dye and create a holiday diaper shirt your own Bitty Baby Diaper shirt you will need:

-A 5lb Baby Diaper Shirt I got mine at Sears

-Your Favorite liquid Rit Dye Colors I used Cherry Red and Kelly Green

-Two Jars

-4 to 6 Cups of Hot Water

-1/2 cup of salt

-A squeeze of liquid dish soap for each jar

-A Plastic Craft Spoon

-Gloves

-Sink to rinse your diaper shirt

-A timer

-A dryer

-Phoomph for Fabric

-A Fabric Remnant Shape (I used a Cupcake)

-Buttons ( I used Laura Kelly Buttons)

-Needle and Thread

I called this Tandem Dyeing as I am an impatient crafter and I wanted to have this done before dinner. I started by adding 4 cups of hot water to my large jar and 2 cups to my smaller jar, I added salt, and liquid dye to each jar, I also added a quick squirt of liquid dish soap and stirred the jars separately. I wet the diaper shirt under the tap and then placed the top of the shirt in one jar and the bottom half in the other. I used the spoon to make sure that the shirt was submerged. I left the middle to be plain.

I set my timer for 1 hour and went to work on the embellishment. I used Phoomph for fabric from Coats and Clark, I love this product. It helps give a 3D look to my crafts. I cut out a rough shape of my cupcake from my remnant fabric and then a similar shape from the sheet of Phoomph. I peeled back the backing on one side and lay my fabric on the Phoomph. I then cut out the cupcake shape and the bonus cookie and heart shape too!

I then  found some of my favorite little Laura Kelly buttons and layered them on the Phoomph. Once I had an idea of where I wanted the heart and the cookie shape to go on my cupcake, I thread the needle and sewed the buttons to the heart and then the hear to the cupcake wrapper. I added the star cookie as well.

When the timer went I rinsed the diaper shirt and set it in the dryer. Once dry I attached Cupcake to the diaper shirt. I peeled the back from the other side of the cupcake Phoomph and pressed it into place. I then used my needle and thread and sewed the cupcake into place.

Now our Bitty Baby has a new Holiday Diaper Shirt for when my niece Thea comes to tea on Thursday! I love working with Rit Dye!
I hope you enjoyed today's Tutorial and I look forward to sharing more doll crafts, ideas and fun finds with you soon!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Create a Holiday Vest For Your Doll With Buttons Galore & More! A Karen Mom of Three Tutorial!

I recently received the most wonderful buttons from Buttons Galore &More and Laura Kelley Designs.

 

The Holiday Fun! Collection buttons remind me of the holiday pins I used to wear as child and they are the perfect size to decorate doll clothing! I knew I wanted to make something to share with you that you could easily make for your dolls. 

So I thought I would make vest pattern that requires very little sewing and is the perfect beginning hand sewn holiday project. 

To create your own Holiday Vest you will need:

-Buttons from Buttons Galore & More

-Print a Vest Pattern

-Tape

-Scissors for paper and felt

-Felt in pattern or solid color

-A needle and thread

Step 1- Print your pattern and cut it out. Tape it together at the X's which form the vest shape. Place on your felt as shown.

Step 2- You can pin your pattern or hold it like I did and use your felt scissors to cut out your pattern shape.

Step 3- Once your felt is cut fold your felt over so that the "right sides" or the pattern side faces inwards.

Step 4- Sew the side seams on each side closed with what ever stitch you are comfortable with. 

Step 5- Turn your vest right side out and choose a button or buttons to keep your vest closed with. 

Step 6- Sew your button on to your vest.

Step 7- To create a button hole, place the side of the felt that doesn't have a button on it, over your button. Use your fingers to pinch the felt back and make a very small snip in the felt with your scissors.

Step 8- Use the button to gently press through the hole, making the perfect button hole as shown in the photo above.

Step 9- Choose a Holiday Fun Button to embellish your vest, I sewed mine onto the vests over the dolls heart but you can also used them to close your vest, decorate your dolls t-shirts, coats and pants! I love crafting with buttons and I know you will love the buttons that you can get from Buttons Galore & More and Laura Kelly!

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial.

Click here to visit Buttons Galore & More

Click here to visit Laura Kelly Designs

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Sculpey Clay Tiny Ornament Blog Hop- Christmas Cupcakes That Double As Doll Treats!

Today I wanted to share a tutorial with you using Sculpey Clay that you can use as Doll Treats or as an ornament!
To create your own Sculpey Clay Cupcakes, Ornament and Ornament Hanger you will need:
-Sculpey Clay in Brown, White and Red
-Wax Paper
-Tooth Picks
-18 gauge wire or a paper clip
-Needle nose pliers
-A baking pan
-An oven
-A craft or butter knife

 

Step 1- Cover your work space with a sheet of wax paper. Use your craft knife to divide your brown Sculpey Clay into 8 pieces. Roll into balls.

Step 2- Take the rolled balls and shape them between your fingers into a "cupcake bottom" shape, similar to the "candy rolo", as shown in the photos above.

Step 3- Use a tooth pick to make the indentations for the cupcake wrapper. Gently press the tooth pick into your Sculpey clay, all the way around the cupcake bottom.

 

Step 4-  Tear off a fresh sheet of wax paper from the roll and cover the surface you will be working on. This way the color from the cupcake bottom will not transfer to your white Sculpy clay.

Step 5- Break up your white Sculpy and roll it into a long thin snake shape.

Step 6- Roll up your snake shape so it looks like a "soft serve ice cream or piped icing"

Step 7- Press the "icing onto the cupcake bottom" and repeat on your remaining "cupcake bottoms".

 

Step 8- To make your cupcakes an ornament to hang on your tree you will need to use your pliers to cut away a 1 1/2 inch piece of 18 gauge wire (or you can use a paper clip, unfold it and twist it like the photos shown above).

Step 9- Twist the wire with your fingers or the pliers to create a loop, insert the twisted wire end into the top of your cupcake. Leave the loop exposed. Press the Sculpey clay around the wire slightly.

Step 10- Roll a small amount of red clay between your fingers to create a cherry. Press the "cherry" between the wire loop as shown in the photos above.

Step 11- Roll a very thin snake shape of red Sculpey clay to create sprinkles. Use your craft knife or your finger nails to create " sprinkles" from the red clay snake. Gently press into your cupcake's icing.

Step 12- Rrepeat on your remaining cupcakes.

Step 1- To create an eye catching "peppermint candy" ornament hanger for your cupcake you will need to cut away 6 inches of wire from your spool.

Step 2- Make a snake from both red and white Sculpey clay. Then roll them together as shown in the photos above.

Step 3- Cut away small pieces and roll into "peppermint candy beads".

Step 4- Feed "three beads" onto the middle of your wire, use your pliers to round the edges as shown in the photos above. Create as many of these wire peppermint candy holders as you would like!

 

Now it is time to bake your Sculpey Ornaments, Doll Treats and Peppermint Candy Ornament hangers.

Line your baking sheet with wax paper and preheat oven to the recommended setting on the side of your Sculpey clay package. Bake your Ornaments, Doll Treats and Peppermint Candy Ornament hangers according to the thickness you have created them at and the directions on the Sculpey clay package.

Remove from the oven when baked and share with the ones you love!

Today I used clay from Sculpey I purchased at Michael's the craft store. I was surprised at how much softer and easier it is to work with then the store brand I usually buy. Today I photographed my Sisterhood In Town 18 inch doll Daniela on my American Doll Room. Christmas Tree from Walmart. The table used is one I created for my Tutorial on Doll Diaries click here to view how.

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

a Rafflecopter giveaway