Autumn Wreath

Cool mornings, leaves falling, beautiful reds and yellows... It's official Fall is here!

I decided to give making a wreath a try for this season! I remember seeing a pin somewhere for a wreath with burlap or fabric stuck into a foam circle. So I decided to try one like that and after a trip to the craft store I had all the materials ready. However the project took a turn from what I had thought up but turned out even better then I had imagined.

I already had plenty of burlap left over from the wedding and the hot glue guns. When I went to get the burlap I saw some pretty fall looking fabric I got from a sale awhile back and thought why not! So here is what you need:

floral wreath foam circle

Fall flowers (optional)

hot glue & gun

fabric or burlap, Id say I used about 1/2 a yard

ribbon (optional)

First step is to cut the burlap and fabric into squares about 2 inch by 2 inch. Depending on how tight you want the "ruffle" side to look depends on how many squares you need. You can either make the entire wreath ruffled or you can do half like I did. It will make the ruffled half heavier then the rest so it tips a little once you hang it.

Use the tips of the scissors to put holes in the foam circle then put a drop of hot glue into the hole. Wrap the fabric around the tip of the scissors and push fabric or burlap into hole. Continue this until you have the desired look. I mixed in some fabric squares with the burlap ones.

If you choose to only do partial you can then wrap the rest in fabric or burlap like below.

After adding the leaves and pumpkin (which took a lot of hot glue) it turned out pretty darn good!!

Minion Coffe Cup Sleeve Crochet Pattern

I am totally in love with the minions from Despicable Me. So I decided to make my very own cup sleeve for the paper cups you get your takeout coffee in.  It only took me maybe a total of two hours and thats with a few stops to tend to the little eggplant! I hope you all think he is as cute as I do!

You could also do the hair differently and even make two eyes instead of one. The great thing is how many ways you can change it up once you have the basic sleeve.

Need:
blue yarn (like a jean color)
yellow yarn
black yarn
white yarn
gray yarn
G needle

CH - Chain
SL ST - Slip Stitch
HDC - Half double crochet
FO - Finish Off
HDC Increase - HDC twice in same stitch
SC - single crochet
MR - Magic Ring

Sleeve
CH 30 in blue yarn
SL ST ch together to form circle, ch1
HDC around (30) HDC, SL ST to first stitch
change to yellow yarn, HDC increase, HDC around SL ST to first stitch,  31 HDC
HDC around x3, SL ST to first stitch at end of each round
change to black, HDC around, SL ST to first HDC
change back to yellow, HDC around x3, SL ST to first stitch at end of each round
FO

Eye (s)
MR, SC 5 in black
change to white, HDC Increase in each SC around, 10
Change to grey SC, SC increase in next around, FO 15
sew onto sleeve

Sew the mouth however you want your minion to look. Keep him bald or add a little bit of hair but make him your own! Enjoy on a cup full of hot yummy coffee (or pumpkin spice latte which is what I am getting ASAP). =]

Baby Finger Food Error & Solution: Banana & Wheat Germ

Hey guys! So my little eggplant is now 9 months old! As he grows he is becoming more independent. So we are now introducing some finger foods to his diet, today was banana's. Well i learned very quickly that all they did was slid around on his high chair tray, which he enjoyed immensely but was still fussing for food.

So as I was going to grab some pureed food and do it the old fashioned way when I saw the box of wheat germ I just bought and figured why not? I chopped the banana slices into 3rd's tossed them in a small amount of the wheat germ, just enough to cover, and gave to to the little one. I used untoasted, all natural wheat germ that I got at Weis for $1.99 a box!

He loved it! Still made a mess but he ate them like crazy and was super happy. A easy fix, too! Hope your little ones enjoy!