You ROCK #3

Can you believe it is still triple digit weather here?! There was some cool rain in the area this afternoon but it just tip-toed around us. Maybe if I do some cool wishful thinking...

Here are some fab sweaters that I found on Anthropologie.  The 3rd one seems like it could be knocked-off...hmmmm? Come on cold weather! Get with the program! I want to wear a sweater!

Hopefully I'll have cooler weather news next week...

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Ready to ROCK IT?!

Here are the very simple to follow rules:

1. Link up something that YOU made: sewing, craft, recipe, anything that you would like to share, etc…

2. Link up to the specific post; not your blog.

3. No linking giveaways or items for sale.

4. Visit and comment/encourage at least one fellow blogger friend.

5. Grab this button and post on your blog or post..just somewhere where others can come and link up as well. 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.rocaandcompany.blogspot.com" title="rocaandcompany"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/u3mky.jpg" alt="rocaandcompany" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And just a simple request, it's optional, only if you want, I'm not gonna make you, BUT it would be nice if you would follow RoCa and Company. 

So you ready to Party?! Let's ROCK this place!
Also, remember that the party will be open until Monday night. On Wednesday, I will feature the #1 link that ROCKS (the most viewed). I will also showcase my 3 favorites. And to entice you just a little more, the #1 link that ROCKS will also get to be a guest blogger at a future date (of course only if the winner wants too)...Sounds like fun, right?

Applique T-shirt Marathon...whew!

A couple of weeks ago, I was super busy making appliqued shirts.     I made all three shirts in less than two hours.  I made these using the same method as the Dragon Shirt I made for Joshua.  

If  you want to make your own, here is that tutorial.

My son's 6th birthday party had a Mario Super Brothers theme,

 so when I found this shirt at a thrift store, I had to get it.  

The size was too small for him, but the Mario design was perfect.  

Here is a close-up of the applique.

Next, I made this shirt for a friend's son who LOVES Superman...
So I made him this:

Here is a detailed look at the "S".  The shirt got many oooo's and ahhhhh's when the birthday boy opened it.  

By the way, this is the shirt that I made the wrapping paper gift bag for...that tutorial is here.

And last, I made this shirt for my son.  The teacher asked for students to wear something green for that week. Although Josh has a green shirt, this was just an excuse to make another for him...like I need an excuse. The day I found the Mario shirt at the thrift store, I also found this one.  My son is a motocross fanatic.  Again the shirt was too small for him, but I knew it would come in handy someday.  

I made a frog pattern using freezer paper and placed it over the design. 
I tried to get as much motocross design as possible.

Doesn't it look like a poisonous frog? Joshua loved it...
so did his teacher.

The t-shirt fabric with the motocross design was pretty thick so I didn't add a felt backing to this one.  
I just ironed it on and sewed it.  

Sam wanted one too...so, I just added a bow! Ha!!  
She wasn't amused.  "Mom, that's not funny." I thought it was.

You Rock #2 Features

Wow...talk about inspiration!  All your links last week were awesome...you definitely know how to Make and Create... 

Here is the most viewed link up that ROCKED IT....

This gorgeous DIY Pottery Barn Eagan Mirror Knock-off at Virginia Beach Housewife.  Check out the detailed tutorial.  I for one can't wait for my dear hubby to make one for our mantel...it's on his list.  

My favorite three projects were:
This inspirational pillow by A Fish Who Likes Flowers. 
It just speaks volumes...gonna make one as a reminder.

Next is this Time Out Chair from The Adventures of an Air Force Family.  Wish I had thought of something like this when my kids were smaller...they sat many minutes at the end of the stairs.

And last, Scrapping and Food and Kids...Oh My! shows you how to make these Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies. Um...yes please...these will definitely make an appearance at next weeks get together.  

So there you have it...4 inspirational  projects from 4 very different crafters.  

Thank you to all who linked up last week...make sure to come back this coming Friday so we can continue to Make and Create together. If your project was featured, make sure to grab your button.

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The Mommy Touch...

It is no big secret that I have an obsession when it comes to embellishing my kids shirts or mine for that matter. You know it's bad when my son complains about a plain shirt; "Mommmmmm, this shirt doesn't have ANYTHING on it!" So what I'm I to do? To appease my little fans, I change up their shirts, just a little. 

I give it the MOMMY TOUCH.

See the eyes...no eyes really...

now look how much better rocker panda looks...just by sewing on buttons

Brontosaurus' skeleton looks like it has something to say...

...he does!! I made a freezer paper stencil for this shirt.

Trex's eye seems off with his large head...

so I sewed on a large button...he's looking good now.

I really liked this shirt when I bought it...

but seriously DUDE...this is much better, just use fabric paint.

Another dino shirt...although the bottom blue head sure pops...

it looks better with orange fabric paint...I just filled in the lines and smooched a button in the eye socket  

True story: All I did to this shirt was iron on the strip of rhinestones to the front. Neighbor's kid was over and she said, "Oh I have that shirt too!" and when she took a second look she said, "Oh never mind, mine doesn't have diamonds."   It's easy to make your child's store bought clothes different from the rest.  

Another simple striped shirt...but add a store bought iron-on applique

...bet you no other kid has one like this.

I did sew it after I ironed it on...just to make sure it stays on.

I hope I've given you some simple ways to give your kid's clothes the MOMMY TOUCH.  

Pretty soon, no shirt will be left untouched...just like at my place.

Welcome FALL and You ROCK #2

Finally, FALL is here...well at least the calendar AND my front door say so. My front door went from a breezy summer vibe to a cool fallish vibe with a simple wreath switch-a-roo. Much better.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Ready to ROCK IT?!

Here are the very simple to follow rules:

1. Link up something that YOU made: sewing, craft, recipe, anything that you would like to share, etc…

2. Link up to the specific post; not your blog.

3. No linking giveaways or items for sale.

4. Visit and comment/encourage at least one fellow blogger friend.

5. Grab this button and post on your blog or post..just somewhere where others can come and link up as well. 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.rocaandcompany.blogspot.com" title="rocaandcompany"><img src="http://i52.tinypic.com/u3mky.jpg" alt="rocaandcompany" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

And just a simple request, it's optional, only if you want, I'm not gonna make you, 

BUT it would be nice if you would follow RoCa and Company. 

So you ready to Party?! Let's ROCK this place!
Also, remember that the party will be open until Monday night. On Wednesday, I will feature the #1 link that ROCKS (the most viewed). I will also showcase my 3 favorites. And to entice you just a little more, the #1 link that ROCKS will also get to be a guest blogger at a future date (of course only if the winner wants too)...Sounds like fun, right?

It's Official: Joshua is 6

Joshua is one lucky kid.  He gets to celebrate his birthday for an entire month.  Since Josh was born in the HOTTEST month of the year (at least in Texas), there is no way to have a birthday party without having someone pass-out because of the heat. So his birthday party is usually sometime mid- to late September ...still hot but not as hot. Here is the break down of this year's celebration:

First day of school and 6th birthday morning:

Balloons in Bed

Made especially for the birthday boy shirt plus a party at school...on the first day of school.

Dinner at a Chinese restaurant a la buffet style.  Our waitress was so nice that when she overheard us talking about Joshua's birthday, she came out with this. This all came from the buffet...minus the candle...isn't it cute! She made carrot rosettes and carved out the orange...

Fast forward --> 28 days: The REAL birthday...at least in Joshua's head.  

There is no turning another year older UNTIL the birthday party...

Mario Birthday Cake and Cupcakes

DIY party streamers

Made just for the birthday boy Mario appliqued shirt

Lots and lots and lots of these...big eyes, smiles and dimples.

 Oh yeah, he also got LOTS and LOTS of presents. 

There you have it...Joshua is officially, like for reals, 6 years old...28 days later.  

Happy Birthday, Joshua, my little baby boy. We love you lots!

You ROCK Features

Wow...20 entries...that's 20 more entries than I thought...so I'm very happy and humbled at how our first party turn out.  Thank you...really. Can't wait for Friday again...hope you'll come by and link up.

So here is your favorite link up that ROCKED IT....

These craft labels are made from twill tape...check out Irina at Sew and the City.  She is one crafty lady. Her creativity is all over the board...from yummy recipes to cute boredom buster ideas for her daughter.  Make sure to stop by Sew and the City and check out her blog.  You won't be disappointed.  

My favorite three projects are:

This adorable Superman Black Apple Doll from The Project Corner.  It is just really cute! Every boy should have one.

Next is a Clock Dome from All Things Homie.  

A timeless piece, wouldn't you agree?

And last, Lines Across My Face shows you how to make these No Sew Felt Flowers.  These are simple and could be put on virtually anything; a headband, a belt, a purse, a sweater...I need one in every color...

So there you have it...4 outstanding projects from 4 very different crafters.  

Thank you to all who linked up last week...make sure to come back this coming Friday so we can continue to Make and Create together.

 

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DIY Wrapping Paper Gift Bag

Because sometimes you just need a small gift bag...

I needed to wrap a t-shirt that I made as a gift.  So, I made a gift bag using wrapping paper, freezer paper, tape and ribbon.  It was easy to make and cute.  Here is what I did: I found a box about the size of bag that I needed.  For this bag, I used a brownie mix box. 

I measured (eye balled) approximately how much wrapping paper it would take to wrap the box and then I doubled it.  I folded the wrapping paper in half with right sides out.  Then I got some freezer paper and measured (eye-balled) out enough to cover the now folded wrapping paper.  Insert the freezer paper in between the folded wrapping paper right up to the folded crease. 

Now you are going to iron the wrapping paper and freezer paper together.  This will make your gift bag a little bit sturdier.  It doesn't matter what side you iron, but what does matter is that you do it QUICKLY.  Now you will have one side of the wrapping paper ironed onto the shiny side of the freezer paper. 

Fold a 1 1/2 inch flap at the crease...

remeasure your paper using the box...

and trim.  Save the trimmed part to make a gift tag...more on that at the end.

Fold the edge of paper to make a nice edge, 

wrap paper around the box snugly,

 and slightly score the corners of the box onto the paper like so.

Now tape the folded edge to the wrapping paper...DO NOT TAPE TO BOX.

Carefully push/move box down a little toward the bottom of the bag.  

Tape the bottom like you would a regular gift.  Again, DO NOT TAPE TO THE BOX. Pull box out...

and now you have this:

I used a hole puncher (1 inch in diameter) to make the holes for the sides.  I taped the upper part of the hole to make it sturdier...

and added a ribbon and a gift tag.  The gift tag was cut from the piece of trim I cut-off . If you are going to do this, just use the piece  of wrapping paper that has the freezer paper ironed on to it.  Now you can write on the back of the tag and tape it to the ribbon.

And that's it.  A simple, cute and very unique bag that is just right to hold the perfect gift.  In this case the t-shirt I  made for a friend's son.

You will never see another box the same way again...well, at least I don't.  In my head, all boxes are fair game to be used as templates for gift bags. :)

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