Nap Time Crafters

Just a Peek: Kicking Back

2012-03-03T22:32:00.003-07:00

how on earth she sleeps like this I really don't know...

It's our nightly entertainment to check on her and see how she fell asleep:)

And yes I re-position that cute little body so she's a bit more comfortable and actually under the blankets.

off to check on her right now...

Beaducation Giveaway

2012-03-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

this week's giveaway is from one of my new awesome sponsors

Beaducation!

1 lucky reader is going to Win a Stamping on Metal Starter Kit!

Valued at $69 this kit includes everything you need to get started with metal stamping!

Make sure you don't miss out on the:

Ideas Section

Free Stamping on Metal Class

Free Stamped Jewelry Design Ideas

Make sure you check out Beaducation and start stamping!

Ready to win? Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Last week's winner:results powered by Random.org

Entry #41Katie D.

Friday Favs Party: #52

2012-03-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Party Time!

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the party!

the most viewed link last week was...
Foam Soap for $4/Year by Adventures of a DIY Mom

What a great money saving tip!

And my other favs this week...

Crap Closet to Craft Closet by Toys in the Dryer
Hop on over for some great organizing tips!

Every Changing Picture Frame by The Brown Abode
At least I know I'm not the only one who has to change pictures out ALL the time- LOVE this

Onesies to Tops by EmmylouBeeDoo
Pure genius! Pretty sure little miss has only grown up and not out for the last year- this a great way to extend the life of your kid's wardrobes

Dresser into Changing Table by Renewed Upon a Dream
Gorgeous! And I'm drooling over all that storage space

No-Sew Ruffle Tote by Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
Darling and so perfect for spring!

Were you featured? Go ahead, grab a button:)

Are you Ready to Party?!
Just grab a button & display it anywhere on your blog, link up, & enjoy the party by checking out some amazing ideas!

And of course I love new friends, so go ahead and follow along too:)

Let's see those ideas! You could be next week's Friday Fav:)

Spring Patterns & The Dress Event

2012-03-01T22:02:00.001-07:00

Spring is right around the corner and I've been in a sewing frenzy!

Making their Debut this Spring...

and in case you need an excuse to dive into your spring sewing...

All Dresses are 20% off!

Sale runs now through March 4th

use the code "dress" at checkout

Lots more patterns are in the works for summer- I seriously can't wait to show them to you:)

Make sure you don't miss a pattern release, sale, or chance to test patterns:

Like Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop on Facebook

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Tot Travel Guide: California

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

We just got back from an amazing trip to San Diego and L.A. and since we loved it so much I thought I'd share a few tips!

Toddlers and Disneyland

and I should add- 8 month pregnant mommy:)

Money Saving Tips:

Kids 2 and under are free! Little miss just turned 2 and loved most everything- the perfect age is probably 2.5-3 for a 1st visit. Old enough to love it and young enough to save you $75:)
Stay in a hotel across the street: there a lot of hotels within a short walk of the main gate- this is way cheaper than staying in the park but you can still walk home for a nap (we did) and you save $15 on parking. You can also find deals for these hotels on travel sites
Pack Snacks: I don't think you can bring a full lunch but I brought a full bag of snacks and water bottles and they were fine with that. Definitely bring water if you're pregnant- you're going to need it
Get the Disney VISA card: we signed up with a promotional offer that gave us a $200 gift card (awesome!). Even if you can't score that deal you still earn points everytime you use the card and you can redeem them for a Disney gift card before your trip to use on tickets, food, souvenirs, etc.
Bring your own stroller: you will definitely need it even if your kid doesn't normally ride in one and the rentals aren't cheap. If you do have to rent a few places right outside the park do stroller rentals
Get a FREE button- if you're visiting for the 1st time, celebrating a birthday, just got married, etc. stop by City Hall on Main Street and they'll give you a souvenir button
Buy Souvenirs outside the park: you can find almost everything Disney at lots of little shops outside the park for about 1/2 the price. Or...you can have your kids pick things out and buy them on the internet when you get home

those cute little mouse ears- $8 outside the park, $15 in the park

The Rides:

Head to Fantasy Land 1st- it gets super crowded later in the day and this is where you'll find the bulk of the little kids rides
Our favorites: Dumbo (the best!), Small World, Peter Pan (don't do this if your kid is afraid of the dark), the carousel (always has short lines), Winnie the Pooh, Jungle Cruise and the train. It was pretty crowded so we didn't get to do everything but there were a lot of other rides that little kids are allowed on
Skip: Tarzan's tree house (way too many stairs to do while holding a little kid), Pirates (oops- little bit too scary)
If you're pregnant you aren't allowed on: Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Indiana Jones, and Autopia (I think that covers it, but don't worry there will be signs)
If lines are long have 1 parent wait in line while you do a nearby ride with a short ride and then you can hand-off your tot (I rode the carousel while my husband waited for Dumbo and then I waited for Peter Pan while they did the mini train ride- worked out perfectly)

Other Entertainment:

Parade: Must see! This was one of our favorite things and was fun for everyone. Stake out a seat about 20-30 minutes beforehand
Meeting the Characters: check your schedule- some characters will be in designated areas at certain times of day

Toddlers and Sea World

Sea World was an awesome place to bring a toddler! She couldn't go on the big rides but we really didn't have time for them anyway. And again 2 and under are free

Pack:

Hats and sunscreen: most of the shows you will be sitting in full sun
Snacks and water: there's also a picnic area outside if you want to brown bag it for lunch
Change of clothes: chances are your kids will want to sit in the "splash zone" or go on the raft ride or get soaked in the reef pool or the water fountains at Sesame Street Bay. There are a lot of places to get wet
Changing Pad: only 1 of the bathrooms in the park had a changing table so chances are you'll need to make do with what you have in your bag

Entertainment:

Sesame Street Bay of Play: a must see for little kids. Several fun toddler rides (we loved Elmo's flying fish), a huge playground, and a big water play area. And the highlight- you get to meet Elmo (check the schedule to see what times he's available

Shows: we saw all of them and loved them all! Make sure you check your schedule and decide what order to go to them in. Plan on sending at least 1 person a bit early to save seats. Watch out for the "splash zone"- you get really really wet. The last few rows of the "splash zone" are pretty safe but the people up front get soaked
Rides: aside from Sesame Street Bay little kids can also ride the Skytower and Skyride
Aquariums: there a several aquariums that are fun to visit between shows- we especially liked the Artic area with the belugas and penguins
Elmo 4-D movie: not going to lie- it was a bit lame, but little miss absolutely adored it. And if it's hot out it's nice to get out of the sun for a bit

Other things to See & Do

Mormon Batallion Historic Site in Old Town San Diego

Fun tour and it's free. At the end your kids can pan for gold

and you get a copy of this awesome photo for free:)

The Beach

Love love love! There a lot of choices and I don't think you can really go wrong. The smaller beaches will be less crowded and you have a much better chance of finding free parking. Fun at anytime of year

We loved it so much we went twice:)

Hollywood

NOT a hit with our family. Hard to park and not much to see, but if you're a big fan maybe it's worth it

Hope that helps!

Happy Travels Everyone!

And I'm sure we would all love it if you leave comments with your own tips for hitting Southern California with the little ones

30 Minute Rag Quilt

2012-02-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Remember the Easy Peasy Burp Cloths from Monday???

I had enough fabric leftover to make a little rag quilt

Did I need another baby blanket??? Maybe not, but it seems you can never have enough these lightweight cozy blankies- perfect for stuffing in your diaper bag and using as a playmat, shading from the sun, an extra layer when it gets cold, etc.

Here's what you'll need:

9 Squares/Rectangles
1 Large piece for the back

1. With wrong sides together sew 3 pieces together into a row leaving a 1/2" seam allowance. Repeat with the next 2 rows

2. Sew the 3 rows together to form your blanket top

3. Add 1 large piece to the back with wrong sides together and sew all the way around 1/2" from the edge.

Go to town snipping away at that seam allowance- make sure you cut close to the seam but don't cut the seam line. And then throw it in the dryer- the more it's washed, the more "raggy" it will get:)

perfect way to use up a bit of your flannel scraps!

Final Day of Auditions!

2012-02-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the final day to audition for American Crafter!

Remember close to $1000 in amazing prizes are up for grabs:)

So head on over by the end of the day today and link up your audition project

Good Luck!

Meet the Judges: Me Sew Crazy

2012-02-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today we get to meet our 3rd and final judge for American Crafter Season 4!

And just a reminder- auditions are due by the end of the day tomorrow

Yup...that's right, so hurry on over and

Audition

Remember the judges will be picking our 15 contestants, so you'll definitely want to get to know them a bit:)

In case you missed the other 2 you can catch up here:

Marni from Sassy Sites

Kaysi from Keeping it Simple

Alright enough business- let me introduce you to one of my very favorite bloggers!

Jessica is one of my blogging BFFs and I can never get enough of her amazing creations and beautiful photography!

Adorable right???

And with our own little man on the way I'm pretty excited about her boy projects!

Make sure you don't miss out on the amazing goodies over in her pattern shop

Seriously the cutest little coat every right?!

I could go on all day, but I suppose I should let Jessica introduce herself:)

Hi everyone! I am Jessica from Me Sew Crazy. Wife to an incredible husband, and Momma to 3 young active and crazy kids, I consider myself to be an artist of many mediums. I love to paint, draw, or sketch when I have lots of quiet time (which is never lately - lol), I love to sing music that lifts my Spirit, and I am trying to learn photography...but mostly, I love to sew. Sewing is something I do on an almost daily basis that brings joy to my soul. Being a stay at home Mom is a blessing, and I relish spending so much quality time with my children every day. They are my biggest inspirations in the littlest packages.

Easy Peasy Burp Cloths

2012-02-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

With #2's arrival growing closer I'm starting a few baby crafts! One thing you can never ever have enough of is burp cloths so when flannel was on sale at JoAnns I just couldn't resist

I think the hormones might be getting to me because something about a freshly folded pile of burp clothes makes me really happy. And since we don't have a washing machine I know I'll get a lot of use out of these!

And they have a nice extra panel down the middle to soak up the big messes. Maybe if I make a few more to add to my current stash I can spare little man from being carried around with pink and purple burp cloths (ah...the joys of having an older sister)

I used 1/3 yard flannel in 4 different prints. And if you get a bit extra while you're at it you'll have enough leftover to make a cute and simple rag quilt- tutorial coming Wednesday:)

A standard burp cloth is 12x18" so I cut 2 rectangles for each burp cloth and then a 5x12" (I used leftovers from my stash) panel for the middle.

1. Iron the edges of the panel in towards the wrong side

2. Topstitch to 1 side of the burp cloth along each long edge

3. With right sides together sew 2 burp cloth pieces together going around all the edges. Leave a 3" gap on one side.

4. Turn right side out, tuck in the raw edges and topstitch around all edges

So quick and if you catch a sale you can make these for a lot less than the store-bought ones. I spent about $2 on all 4 of these

And you can choose your own fabric, which is always extra satisfying:)

Just a Peek: We're Back!

2012-02-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic week in California! It's nice to be home and I'm glad we survived the 10 hour drive without too many complaints {um yeah... pretty sure pregnant mommy complained more than little miss}

I'll be posting some toddler travel tips in a few days just in case you're headed to California sometime soon with the little ones

Beck-a-Boo Baby Boots Giveaway

2012-02-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Every pair of baby feet deserves to be kept warm and cozy and there's no reason you can't do it in style!

I'm pretty much in love with every single pair of these adorable little boots!

LOVE these! They look like stylin' little baby rain boots

This week 1 Lucky Reader is going to win a pair of Classic Suede fur Boots!

Your choice of 4 sizes!

And since winter is not quite as close to being over as we'd all like (at least I know in UT we have a lot of cold days ahead of us- ugh..) I have a great deal to share with all of you:)

Get 20% off with the code "naptimecrafters20"
Shop Now

Ready to win?

a Rafflecopter giveaway I'm still on vacation so check out last week's giveaway page to see who won- I'll be in touch soon:)

Friday Favs Party: #51

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Party Time!

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the party!
We're enjoying a week in sunny California right now:) We may never come home...

While you're here be sure to audition for American Crafter- close to $1000 in prizes this season!

ok... back to the party

the most viewed link last week was...
t-shirt baby hats by The Winthrop Chronicles

Can't beat this no-sew project!

And my other favs this week...

Shaggy Quilt by Nat Sprat
Love the shabby edges!

Ruffled Beanie by Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
Ah....ruffly cuteness:)

Favorite Fabric Shop list by Kadydid Designs
If you've never bought online here's some great shops to start with!

sorry it's a short list this week- I'm busy enjoying our vacation

Were you featured? Go ahead, grab a button:)

Let's see those ideas! You could be next week's Friday Fav:)

Meet the Judges: Sassy Sites

2012-02-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

How are those audition projects coming along??? Remember it's up to our judges who makes the cut, so I hope you're excited to meet all of them:)

Drumroll please for our second judge....
Marni from Sassy Sites!

Maybe you remember her from Season 2???
I'm still drooling over some of her amazing projects!

This door photo collage is definitely my fav!

Marni is always hosting fantastic parties and featuring amazing blogs and tutorials! Definitely add Sassy Sites to your daily reads:)

enough jabber from me- I'll let Marni introduce herself:

Hey Nap time readers! I am so happy to be a judge this season on American Crafters! This is so exciting! It seems like it was years ago that I was one of the contestants here at American Crafters... and made it to the last round... and then was beat out by my good friends from Lolly Jane... who remind me every time I see them that they beat me... UGH! Soooo close! ;) A BIG THANKS to Amy for having me! I'm Marni from Sassy Sites! Here's a little something about "The Girl Behind the Blog"

-I am the youngest of 6 children. I grew up the most spoiled, and I still am.

-If I would have been a boy, my mom would have had the "Brady Bunch" family.

-My mom and sisters are some of my most VERY favorite people in the world!

-My husband and I have been married for 11 years, he's my very best friend!

-My husband is a U.P.S. driver. (everyone LOVES the UPS man!)

-My 10 year old is quite the "lady's man"

-His dream is to be a professional dirt bike racer

or an NFL player when he grows up!

-I am the mom to a sweet little girl, who passed away at birth.

-She reminds me everyday to try harder and be better!

-My 6 year old is my "baby" and is enjoying his first year in kindergarten. -His dream is to be just like his big brother!

(our Christmas card 2010)

-I wish I still played volleyball as good as I did in high school.

-I am deathly afraid of cockroaches!

-I hate seeing old people lonely.

-I am scared of hurting other people's feelings.

-I am addicted to blogging.

-I am a germ-a-phob!

-I LOVE to clean and organize

-I LOVE to talk ...alot!

-But not so much on the phone

-I hate cooking ...alot!

-People say I'm HAPPY too much... :)

-People say I'm "too nice" -The last two, make me VERY happy!!!

______________

So, about Sassy Sites! I run a blog called "Sassy Sites" because...

I was blog hopping one day and LOVED lots of ideas that everyone had on their blogs. That gave me an idea...to feature YOUR Sassy Sites! I am a little obsessed with organization... and I thought what better than to organize the blog world! So, that's exactly what I did. I choose a topic for the day and find the cutest stuff out there to show off. Some days it's cupcakes, somedays it's curtains. Here's a run down of how it goes over at Sassy Sites!
Monday- Made by ME!

Tuesday- Trash to Treasure link up

Wednesday- your sassy sites
Thursday- your sassy sites
Friday- Featuring YOU link up

Saturday- Shout Outs!
Sunday- Sassy Spotlight!

My favorite thing about crafts is featuring other people! I love to see the projects come together and get to know the person behind the craft at the same time! It's been a fun experience! I look forward to many more crafts, hot glue guns burns, and making lots of new friends!

Contact me at

sassy.sites {@} hotmail {dot} com

Boxer Pillowcase

2012-02-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

While I was working away on the Boxer Quilt my mom made a pillowcase for my little brother to take with him to Brazil on his mission. He thought it was hilarious and loves it!

I guess it's so hot in Brazil that you mostly sleep in a hammock but maybe he can use it as a laundry bag:)

The waistband trim is one of my favorite parts

And the back is lots of fun too

Ready to make your own?

This makes a great stashbuster project too so don't feel limited to using just boxers:)

Let's get started!

1. You need eighteen 8x9" rectangles and a two 22x12" pieces for the trim

Sew your rectangles together and then sew the front and back piece together along the bottom edge and the sides. The 9" edges for the long side of the pillowcase and the 8" edges form the edge where the pillowcase opens. Use 1/2" seam allowances

2. If you want to add a waistband trim just topstitch it the trim piece about 3" up

3. Sew the 2 trim pieces together along the short edges with right sides together

4. Slide the trim onto the pillowcase with right sides together and sew the 2 together along the pillowcase opening.

5. Fold the trim piece in half so wrong sides are together and it's now 6ish" tall instead of 12". Tuck the raw edges in on the inside of the pillowcase and then topstitch everything inplace along the bottom edge of the trim

It will look like this on the right side

And like this on the inside

Have fun whipping up one of these little beauties!

Meet the Judges: Keeping It Simple

2012-02-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Every season of American Crafter we have amazing judges and Season 4 is no exception!

Today we get to meet Kaysi from Keeping it Simple

I've been blog stalking Kaysi for ages and even got to meet her at a blogger party last fall- she's just as sweet in person as she is online!

Kaysi is all about quick and simple projects which I absolutely LOVE

Here's a few of my favs...

And now I'll let Kaysi introduce herself:)

I'm Kaysi,

and I'm a stay at home Mom to four wonderful kids.

I have three fun and active boys, ages 6, 5 and 2 and one beautiful baby girl who just turned 1. They keep me busy and on my toes. There is never a dull moment with my 4 kids!

I have been married to one amazing and patient man for 8 years. He puts up with me and my crazy ideas and he just smiles when I start a sentence, "so I had this idea...."

I am just your average SAHM who loves to craft and do anything crafty. I'm from a very crafty and creative family, so it's in my blood! :) I am the youngest of 9 kids (still not sure how my parents raised 9 kids, I'm struggling with 4). Because I was the youngest of so many kids, I have a huge desire to be unique. I want to be different and stand out!

Sometimes as a SAHM the days become kinda blah and the crafts keep my mind active and get me excited about doing things. Doing something crafty is just so much better to do than cleaning and changing diapers :)

Here a just a few facts about me:

~I love green, all shades of it

~I'm addicted to chocolate

~I'm not very girlie at all, I rarely do myself up

~I love running (when I get the time), I've done some half marathons and hope to do a full someday soon

~I'm not good at baking. I once broke my mom's food processor trying to make cookies from scratch and haven't made cookies from scratch since then (that was over 10 years ago).

~I still get imitated by some sewing projects, I'm still a beginner.

~I'm a very social person. I would hangout with friends and family every day of the week if I could.

I love simple and easy crafts. I especially love doing a craft that I know anyone can make. I love to teach others how to make them, so you will find lots of tutorials, even if it's a super easy thing to make. I love to hear that I have inspired someone to get out of their comfort zone and make something, it totally brightens my day.

My 1st Quilt! With Tutorial:)

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

With #2 on the way I decided it was time to tackle my fear of quilts and I couldn't be happier with the results!

The back is flannel to make it extra snuggly. I used a thrift store bed sheet so it was cheap too:)

I love all of the triangles- boyish, fun, and not too hard to pull together. Now I just need a little baby to wrap up in it (7 months down, 2 to go!)

on another note...no, we didn't suddenly move to a lovely home with a balcony over looking a lake. I made this at my parent's house in Seattle. We're still in Provo:)

Oh... and why is it called the boxer quilt???

well....here's my fabric pile for this project

My little brother was getting ready to leave on a 2 year mission to Brazil (read about that here) and was cleaning out his things. My mom and I decided that this huge stack was filled with some pretty cute fabrics. So into the wash they went (maybe twice, with really hot water) and we were all set!

Stay tuned for another boxer project on Wednesday:)

Ready to make your very own boxer quilt?

Ok... you could use real fabric too if you want:)

1. Slice up those boxers along all of the seamlines and cut off the waistbands. Iron them so they're nice and flat.

My finished quilt was 3x4 feet and that seemed about the right size for a crib...

To make one in the same size you need to cut 42 7.75x7.75" squares from your boxers and then cut each square in half diagonally so you have 48 triangles. Then you need to cut 48 triangles from your contrast fabric (I used a thrifted white sheet).

2. With right sides together sew 1 patterned triangle to 1 plain triangle along the diagonal using a 1/2" seam allowance. Iron them all nice and flat so you have 48 squares. Arrange into quilt with 6 squares across and 8 down.

3. Sew 6 of your squares together to form your 1st row

4. Next sew all of your rows together to complete your quilt top

5. Lay out the backside of your quilt (right side down) and put the batting on top of it. Then add your quilt top as the last layer. Baste everything together using safety pins, basting spray, a long running stitch etc. I learned the hard way that it's important to do a good job during this step

Make sure you leave a good 3-4" of quilt back on all sides of your quilt top because things will shift around a bit

6. Quilt away! I am not a patient person so I ran the whole thing through my machine along each diaganol, horizontal and vertical row

I did the quilting through the white triangles so my thread would always match. After you're done quilting you can trim the batting to match the quilt top and the quilt back so it's 2" bigger than the top all the way around

On the back you get a nice, fun pattern:

7. I have no idea how to bind a quilt so I just went for it using the back as the binding and it worked just fine.

Fold your 1st edge over until it meets the quilt top and then fold it over once more

Fold it in at an angle towards the 2nd edge

Fold the 2nd edge up once so it meets the edge of the quilt top

And then fold it up again and you have a lovely little corner. Is it the right way to do it? No clue, but I have a feeling little man won't mind

Once you have everything folded up and pinned in place you just topstitch along the 1st foldline all the way around. Easy peasy!

If you've never made a quilt before go ahead and try it! If you use thrift store sheets and a pile of boxers you don't have to feel bad if it doesn't turn out:)

Oh and this whole quilt was done in 1 weekend- it's a quick project

Just a Peek: Cali here we come!

2012-02-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

The hubs has the week off school (love that!) so we're off to California! By now we're hopefully in San Diego:)

Posts will still be going up as usual, but I may be a bit slow responding to emails

Little miss is beyond excited:)

And so am I!

Fashionable Fabrics Giveaway

2012-02-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

You're in for a treat this week- a fabric giveaway!!

Designer Fabric at Fashionable Prices!

Prices are low and the selection is fantastic! I love how easy it is to find exactly what you're looking for. Using the "Fabric by Print" section I found these adorable vintage fabrics

And they're are some amazing finds in the Sale & Remnant sections!

And they just started carrying Flannel, Voile, Organics, and Home Decor!

This week 1 Lucky Reader is going to win a $50 gift card!!

Just enter below:)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm out of town so head on over to the Cinnamon Ink Giveaway page to see who won- Rafflecopter should've announced it by now and I'll contact the winner as soon as I can

Friday Favs Party: #50

2012-02-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's Party Time!

Happy Friday everyone and welcome to the party!

the most viewed link last week was...
No-Sew Fabric Flowers by Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Can't beat this no-sew project!

And my other favs this week...
Rustic Wood Wreath by DIY Kinda Girl
My parents definitely need this for their cabin! Great anytime of year wreath

Ruffled Diaper Cover w/ pattern by Sew Much Ado
Nothing beats a little ruffled baby bum:)

Cheerios Play Placemat by Repeat Crafter Me
So much fun and it looks super easy to make too!

Room Organization by Joyful Homemaking
Ready to start spring cleaning???

Recyling Week at A Couple of Craft Addicts
what a cute upcycle!

Ultimate Brownies by Stella B's Kitchen
I'm always up for a brownie- these look delicious!

DIY Photo Canvas by Ginger Snap Crafts
Looks great! I just may need to make a bunch of these now:)

Were you featured? Go ahead, grab a button:)

Let's see those ideas! You could be next week's Friday Fav:)

American Crafter Auditions

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

American Crafter Season 4 is Here!!

Auditions run through February 29th so it's time to get your craft on!

Let's take a peek at our sponsors- I'm not sharing the details on prize packs just yet but I can tell you almost $1000 in prizes is up for grabs this season!

Now that I have you drooling over the prizes here's the rundown on the rules...

Link up ONE Project. The project must be your own idea- you can use other ideas for inspiration of course, but don't use someone else's tutorial to make your submission. The project must be something you made in the last 3 months
Add an American Crafter button to your sidebar and post you're entering
Follow/Subscribe to Nap Time Crafters (it's the easiest way to keep tabs on all the excitement)
Past contestants are welcome to participate again, but if you placed in the top 3 you'll have to just watch from the sidelines:)
Yes this is "American" Crafter, but you don't actually have to be American to compete. It's just based off of American Idol:) Most of our sponsors ship to US and Canada so if you live somewhere else you may need to pay the extra shipping cost to claim any prizes you win

Can't wait to see what you all come up with!

It's Up to Our Amazing Judges to pick the 15 contestants
We'll get to meet all of them throughout the auditions, but in the meantime stop on by and say hello:)

I will be passing on data on link views to the judges so send all of your friends over to check out the amazing projects:)

Auditions are open through February 29th
15 Contestants will be announced on March 3rd
American Crafter is 4 weeks and wraps up March 31st

DIY Camera Case

2012-02-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I lost my camera case right before Christmas break so I whipped this up to keep my precious point and shoot protected while we travel. And since it's bright red I might not lose it this time:)

Yup my little camera is quite cozy in there and protected from everything else I throw in my diaper bag.

Want to make your own?

Let's get started!

Materials:

Scrap of vinyl, canvas, etc. (something sturdy)
Scrap of flannel for the lining
1 Hammer-On Snap

1. Cut 2 long rectangles with rounded ends- 1 from your outer fabric and 1 from the liner. You need enough fabric for it to wrap around your camera and then have some leftover for the flap closure. Make sure you leave enough on the sides to wrap around the camera as well- just like wrapping a present:) Dont' forget to leave extra space for your seam allowances

2. With right sides together fold the bottom straight edge up and sew up the 2 side seams. Your flap will be poking up the top and your camera should comfortable fit inside the case at this point.

3. With right sides together sew the case to the liner along the flap edge

4. Flip the liner inside the case and tuck in your raw edges along the rest of the opening. Topstitch shut. With heavy vinyl this was a bit trick but it's possible

5. Add a hammer-on snap and you're good to go!

Hopefully I'll have a tutorial on making a case for a real camera someday:)

But in the meantime I like to keep my point and shoot nice and safe.

V-Day Feel the Love Event!

2012-02-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day in the Feel the Love FREE Pattern Event!

With any purchase $10 and up you get the darling Sweet Pea Bootie pattern for free!

Just add them to your shopping cart along with $10 in goodies and enter the code "LOVE" at checkout

Need a few ideas on what to buy???

2012 has brought lots of exciting, fun patterns to the shop!

Happy Sewing and Happy Valentine's Day!

Cute Cookie Wrapping

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Valentine's Day is tomorrow! Are you ready? Maybe you need a last minute easy peasy gift???

How about some of your favorite cookies all wrapped up for the one you love?

Seriously so easy and I love how cute they turned out! And I bet you have everything you need in your craft stash already:)

Let's get started!

1. Cut out a 5x5" square (or bigger/smaller) from scrapbook paper

2. Fold in the 4 corners

3. Plop in a yummy little cookie- I wrapped mine in a baggie first

4. Wrap a 1" strip of paper around it to secure your packaging and tape in place

5. And then add a simple stamped message to the top, or a sticker, die cut, etc...

And then make a few more...

And in case you're still in search of the perfect sugar cookie recipe- here's the one I use for perfectly soft and yummy cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup margarine

1 egg

1 cup powdered sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream the butter and margarine together and then add the egg. Beat in the powdered sugar followed by the rest of the ingredients. Roll out to 1/4-1/2" thick and cut into shapes. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 for 7 minutes. Makes 3 dozen

***The original recipe is from Essential Mormon Celebrations and then I tweaked it just a bit to get it perfect:)

Just a Peek: Cute...

2012-02-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

and she knows it!

The other day little miss went and grabbed her chair and dragged it over to the front door and requested a photo shoot. She insisted on being by the front door- I guess she knows I like a clutter free background:)

And boy does she have the system figured it out- as soon she thought we'd done a good job she requested one of her favorite things- singing "wheels on the bus"

I'm always amazed at how much goes on in that little 2 year old mind

Cinnamon Ink Art Giveaway

2012-02-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Looking for adorable and affordable art? Then this week's giveaway is definitely for you!

And yup you read that right- everything is 15% off this month!

Need one more V-Day decoration? I love these so month I'd keep them up all the time!

And the nursery prints are so cute!

Plenty of options for little gals and little guys

Or maybe you'd like something for your home

Ready to Win? Just enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Last Week's Winner is...

Entry #114Melinda F.