The Twelfth Tutorial of Christmas And a Giveaway!!!

Confession #1:
I forgot to post a tutorial yesterday because it was my daughter's birthday. I guess I got a little caught up in the celebration of it, and the fun it was to watch her with her presents! So here is the tutorial that I was going to post yesterday.

Make Ahead Butterhorns

(A necessity for any holiday dinner!!!)

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast

1/3 cup warm water (110 - 115 degrees)

2 cups warm milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup sugar

6 eggs

2 teaspoons salt

9 cups flour

9 tablespoons butter, softened

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, eggs, oil, sugar, salt, and 3 cups of flour. Mix with a mixer for 3-5 minutes or until smooth. Add remaining flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing with mixer, or heavy spoon until dough forms a ball. Knead dough with hands adding 1/3 cup flour at a time until dough is soft (and not too sticky). Place in bowl and cover with towel. Allow to rise in a warm place for 1 - 2 hours or until doubled in size.

Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Roll each part into a 16 inch circle (1/2 inch thick). Spread 3 tablespoons softened butter onto circle, and cut into 12 equal pieces.

Roll each wedge into a crescent, by starting at the wide end, and rolling it to the narrow tip. Place on a greased baking sheet with the tip tucked underneath.
Allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Bake @ 350 Degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
Makes 36 rolls.

(I occasionally make them a little bigger, and make chicken salad sandwiches, or turkey sandwiches with them. They are HEAVENLY no matter how you eat them!)
I doubt you will be able to resist eating one hot out of the oven! I know I can't!!!


Confession #2:
My husband thought it was silly to post a recipe on here when it really is more of a sewing/craft blog. My reasoning... I hope someone in the family sees how easy it is to make these rolls so they will make them for the next family dinner that I get invited to! (I can't think of a single dinner that we've been invited to that I haven't been asked to bring these to.)
So, since this is a sewing/craft blog... here's a second tutorial to make up for the cooking nonsense. ;)



Aspiring Artist's Clutch

How cute is this???
So easy to make! I had it totally finished in less than an hour - and that was with drawing up a pattern too!

Materials needed:
1/2 yard cotton fabric
10" x 8" coordinating cotton print
1" x 3" Velcro
coordinating thread
sewing machine


Cut out the following from the cotton print:
10" x 8" (cut 1)
Crayon pocket: 8" x 6" (cut 1)
Notebook pocket: 8" x 5" (cut 1)


Place the cotton print, and the coordinating cotton print together, and cut one 8" end so that it is curved slightly as shown below.

Fold and iron the 6" x8" crayon pocket in half so it measures 3" x 8" Lay this so raw edges are even with the bottom edge of the main clutch, and sandwiched between the two main clutch pieces. (In the picture below, I have the top layer folded back so you can see the pocket....not trying to confuse you.)

Placing right sides together, sew these two pieces together (8"x 14") sew a 1/2" seam around the outside edge, leaving a 4" opening at the bottom (straight 8" end) to turn right side out.
Clip corners, and around the curve every 1/4" and turn right side out,

poking the corners out so they are square.
(here is what the inside should look like now)

Sew a 3" strip of 1" wide Velcro 3" up from the bottom edge on the outside of the clutch.

Press the pocket flat and make a mark every 1 inch to create the crayon pockets. Sew from the bottom of the pocket to the top, backstitch at each end,
creating 7 pockets that hold 2 crayons each.

Sew the other side of the 3" Velcro to the top inside of the clutch 1/2 inch down from the curve.

Press the notebook pocket in half (right sides together) so it measures 4" x 5" and sew a 1/2" seam around the outside edge, leaving a 3" opening to turn it right side out. Clip corners and turn right side out, poking out the corners to make them square. It should now measure 3" x 4".

Pin the pocket to the clutch making sure the 4" side is even with the edge of the clutch, and the 3" side is 4" from the bottom edge. as shown below.

Sew the pocket in place, sewing around 3 sides (closing the opening that you left open to turn it right side out) and leaving the top open to slide the notebook in.

Here's how it should look now.

Now, the only thing left to do is add a 4" x 6" notebook and 14 crayons or small markers.

And be prepared for some amazing art work where ever you are.
This would be a great gift for any child! Especially because it can go ANYWHERE, and the crayons won't fall out. Church... car.... Dr's office... yep.... pretty much anywhere! This would go great with the Travel Pillow, or the Sunbeam Tote! Or maybe combine the three to create an awesome gift for a little kid who is preparing for a car trip that will last more than 30 minutes.

Confession 3#:
I love giveaways! And it's been a really long time since I hosted one! So, how about a giveaway!!! :)

This is for an Extra Large diaper clutch! Keep it for yourself or give it away as a gift, either way, these are AWESOME!!! Ask anyone who has ever bought one (or borrowed one) from me!

The diaper clutch holds 4-5 diapers and a reusable travel size wipes container. Made out of quality cotton fabric and vinyl. More info here!

How to enter:

1 entry for being a follower
1 entry for posting about http://www.mudpuddlesanddaisies.blogspot.com/ on facebook or your own blog (include a link of my blog) - 2 entries if you do both of these!
1 entry for telling me your favorite Christmas tradition

Please leave a seperate comment for each. (Winner will be chosen December 20th)

Good luck!!!

And Thank you to all my followers - and everyone else who has visited my blog - for giving me someone to share my projects with through these last couple of weeks.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Sunbeam Tote

The Eleventh Tutorial of Christmas

The perfect size to hold books and small toys!

Finished size: 8 inches wide x 10 inches tall

Materials Needed:

1/2 Yard fabric for outer, and 1/2 yard fabric for inside lining

Iron-on interfacing

1 inch Velcro

Ribbon or Ric-Rac trim

Sewing Machine

Pins

Scissors

Matching thread

Step 1: Cut out the pieces.

From outer fabric cut the following:

Outside of Tote: 21" x 9" (cut 1)

Handles: 14" x 2 1/2" (cut 2)

Closure: 3" x 7" (cut 1)

Pocket: 8" x 9" (cut 1)

From lining fabric cut the following:

Tote Lining: 21" x 9" (cut 1)
Handles: 14" x 2 1/2" (cut 2)
Closure: 3" x 7" (cut 1)

From iron-on interfacing cut the following:

Tote Lining: 21" x 9" (cut 1)

Handles: 14" x 2 1/2" (cut 2)

Closure: 3" x 7" (cut 1)

Step 2: Iron the interfacing to each lining piece.

Step 3: create the pocket.

Fold the top edge of the 9" side of the pocket down 1/2", and then again 1/2" and sew across.

Cut a 9 1/2 inch piece of ribbon or trim and sew it 1/4" down from the top of the pocket, hiding the seam you just made.

Zig-zag or serge across the bottom of the pocket.

Press the bottom of the pocket under 1/2" and pin it to the outside of the tote so that the top of the pocket is positioned 3 inches down from the top of the tote. Sew a seam across the bottom of the pocket.

Step 4: Create the handles and velcro closure.

Place right sides of closure together (1 lining and one outer fabric) and sew a 1/2" seam around the outside edge, leaving one end open, and curving the other as shown below.
Cut the excess off the curve, and clip the fabric every 1/4 inch along the curve.

Turn the closure right side out and sew a 2 inch piece of velcro on the lining side of the closure.

Sew a top-stitch around the closure flap.

Place right sides of handles together (1 lining, 1 outer fabric) and sew a 1/2" seam down each long side.

Turn right side out, iron flat, and sew a top stitch along each long side.

Step 5: sew the lining.

Fold lining in half, and sew a 1/2" seam down each side.

Step 6: Sew the outside of the tote.

Iron a 2" x 3" piece of interfacing centered on the reverse side of the front (pocket side) of the tote, and 1 inch down from the top.

Sew the reverse side velcro centered on the front of the tote, and 1 1/2" down from the top.

Pin and sew the handles and velcro closure to the tote with a 1/4" seam. The handles should be set 1 inch away from each edge, and the velcro closure should be centered on the back. (make sure they will be facing the right way once they are sewn on) See picture below.

Fold the tote in half and sew down each side in the same way that you sewed the lining. (keep the handles and closure flap tucked inside, but be careful not to sew over them.)

Step 7: Sewing in the lining, and finishing the tote.

Turn the lining right side out (so the interfacing is on the inside) and insert it into the outside of the tote. (the right sides should be facing each other)

Lining up the side seams, and making sure the handles are straight, pin around the top.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam around the top that you just pinned, leaving a 3 inch opening to turn it right side out.

Through the opening, carefully turn the tote right side out.

Push the lining inside the tote, and sew a top stitch around the top, closing the 3 inch opening.

Finished!

Perfect for my little Sunbeam!

He's so excited to take it to church with his new scriptures!

This would go great with the travel pillow idea. Fill this with some fun car activities, snacks and toys, and you will make ANY little one's day!

Travel Pillow

The Tenth Tutorial of Christmas

This is the easiest tutorial yet, so if you have been scared to try some of the past ones, this one is for you. And you Amy! :)

Materials needed:

1/2 Yard fabric

(I used flannel, other fun options: minky, fleece, or fun cotton print)

Matching thread

Pattern

Pollyester fiberfill

Scissors

Sewing machine

( This pattern should fill a full 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper when printed)

Step 1: Pin pattern on the fold of fabric and cut 2.
Step 2: Sew a 1/2 inch seam around the outside of the pillow, leaving a 4 inch opening at the top. Clip around the edge of your pillow every 1/2 inch close to the seam without cutting it.

Step 3: Turn the pillow right side out and stuff it with fiberfill (stuff it until it is firm, but still holds it's shape).

If you have a little helper, be prepared to work extra fast through this step.Faster!
Seriously Mom! Keep up! :)

Step 4: Fold in the edges of the opening 1/2 inch and sew it shut.

Giving it as a gift? You could make a cute travel bag for a little kid, including some books, coloring book and colored pencils, snacks, I spy game, etch-a-sketch, a toy car or truck or doll for a girl, anything that entertains.... the possibilities are endless.

I have to share these funny photos of my boy! I tried to take pictures of him wearing his pillow around his neck, but couldn't catch him sleeping when I had my camera with me, so he being the great kid he is, told me that he would just pretend to sleep.

This is how he slept before he had his pillow!

This is after!

(His smile kind of gives it away that he isn't really sleeping.)

BAHAHA! He's such a funny kid! But it really does hold his head up in a MUCH better position!

NOTE: this is a children's size pillow. To make it to fit an adult, make the pattern 1 inch bigger on each side, keeping the neck opening the same.