mongorhea

Creating Murals for a Baby or Child's Room

mongorhea — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:53:31 GMT

Creating Murals for a Baby or Child's Room

Murals are a great way to add a color, customization and a theme to a baby or child's room.

Painting a mural for a baby’s or kid’s room

What are Murals?

Murals are large pictures painted onto a wall. They are a fun and exciting way to add a bold theme to a room or to customize the room.

It’s very important to have a picture in your mind of what you want to transfer to the wall. Murals can be as simple or as complex as you are comfortable with, ranging from one or two characters to an entire scene. The rest of the walls can then be painted one shade which complements your mural.

Things to consider before starting:
• Is the Design for a Boy or Girl?
• How much time do you have?
• How confident are you at drawing/painting?
• Where can you get some ideas from?
• Where can you get the pictures from?

Picking a theme or design:
The first thing to decide on is your design.

Is the Design for a Boy or Girl?
You may not know or want to know the sex of the child. If you do not know the sex, choose something that will appeal to any child.

How much time do you have?
Murals take up a lot of time, so if time is a factor keep that in mind when choosing your design.

A fairly intricate mural on 1 wall will take approx. 3 to 4 days working 8 hours a day.

If you don’t have a lot of time, look at a simple design that will take less time to achieve i.e. one large character on a plain background or more abstract art like rainbows and balloons.

How confident are you at drawing or painting?

This is always a major concern.

If you are unsure, it's always best to stick to a simple idea which involves little or no free hand drawing.

If you would love to paint a mural or design, but are just not confident, the option is always there to use an overhead projector and trace the image onto the wall. Stencils are always an excellent option also. Remember you can always paint over it if it goes wrong.

Where to get pictures from?

Books are always great for pictures and most have detailed drawings. Books are also good because you can mix and match pictures and characters giving you a wide range of options.

The Internet is also a great place, but it may take you a long time to find the right picture/s. Using the internet also means that any picture you copy needs to be the type that can be enlarged later, you will often find that after downloading a picture into your software, when you attempt to enlarge it, it will become distorted. There are plenty of sites which have clip art that is ideal for less detailed murals.

Magazines and comics are also a good place to look for design ideas.

Stencils also provide a good source of inspiration, but these can really only be used if your design is abstract. If you cannot find a stencil you like most good DIY shops stock the paper and tools needed to make your own stencil, this however can be tricky and takes a steady hand.

Design Techniques:
So how do you go about pulling your design together? Try and visualize what you want to achieve in a room. Then look at what design you are going to choose.

Take into consideration where the furniture is going to stand, after all there is no point painting a mural on a wall which is going to be half covered by furniture.

If you can find a picture that matches what you want, you then have a template to work from and you can use parts of the picture to carry on a theme. If you would like to use different characters in one background this is where it becomes a bit more tricky.

Gather all the images you like together. If you are good with computers, you can really use it to your benefit. You can use the computer to morph the images together- (see Using Computers) -, then print off the picture you've created.

Using computers:
For those of you who have a computer and scanner, it’s very easy to scan the images and open them in a picture viewer software.

You can take what you want out of one picture and combine it with another to create your mural design.

Once you have your mural image done, you need to change it to black and white. This makes it easier to transfer to the wall as the outlines are much sharper. Change the image and save the result. If necessary make the picture darker to enhance the lines. Or if you don’t know how to do this on your computer, you can get transfer paper and trace the image with a black marker.

Your images are now complete and are ready to be transferred to the wall.

If all else fails, have a friend who knows the computer help you or trace the image with Tracing Paper to use with an overhead projector.

Surface Preparation:

The most important thing before starting any work is to ensure that you have a good surface.

If you are starting from scratch you'll have a blank canvas to work with. If it’s like most people, the room is already decorated. This is where the hard work begins.

If the walls are just painted then fill any cracks or holes first, once this is done paint one coat of white paint over all the walls.
This will cover the walls sufficiently for you to start painting your design. Don't worry if some slight bits of the old color show through the white as your design will cover this completely. What you are looking to achieve is a canvas on which to start.

If you are just doing small characters or images, you can paint directly on the colored walls.

When all the paint is dry you can begin to transfer your design.

Transferring the Design:

Get some Acetates (also known as clear Transparency Films from any computer software retailer and are relatively inexpensive. (Before buying check your make of printer and ensure you buy the transparencies for you specific printer).

Print the images onto the acetate paper. Allow to dry.

Next thing you need is an Over Head Projector. If your lucky you may be able to borrow one from somewhere, work or school, but if not, you can rent them either by the day or longer.
Check your local Yellow pages under Audio and Visual, and you should be able to find an outlet. Some craft/hobby stores also carry small, inexpensive projectors you can buy for smaller murals.

Once you have you’re the projector, set it up in the room. Place your acetate on the glass and shine the image on the wall.

This will give you an exact picture of what the finished design will look like. Make any changes at this point if needed.

Once you have you full image, take a pencil or chalk and draw around the outline on the wall. This will give you a perfect outline drawing. Stand back once in while to check that you haven't missed bits.

All that's left to do now is fill the color in.

Paints and Brushes:

I have found that the easiest paint to use is acrylic paint. This comes in a wide variety of colors and can be bought in different sized containers depending on how much you need. Remember you do not need to buy every different shade of say blue, just buy two or three strong colors then to achieve different shades by adding in white or black acrylic paint to get the hue you want.

Acrylic paints are durable and water soluble. You can apply them using a brush, pad or roller. Acrylic paints are available at DIY stores or craft/hobby stores.

As your design progresses and you become more confident you can build up your colors to give an even more bold effect.
Paint on the first color then once this is dry you can paint in the shading and detail over the top.

Squeeze your chosen color onto your pallet. You can buy painting palettes at the DIY or art stores, or you can use paper plates to mix your colors. Acrylic paint takes very little time to dry in fact 10 minutes or so is enough, so when you're squeezing out your paint use little and often as it will dry quickly and you don't want to waste it.

Buy your brushes at the same time as your buying the paint.
You'll need about three to four brushes of differing sizes; you'll want a very small thin brush for painting in details, a slightly larger one for doing small areas and so on, so you should finish with a range of brushes which will cover every job.

Acrylic paints are easily washable from your brushes etc, just use water, and remember to put the brushes straight into a glass of water after you've finished using them, so that they remain soft and usable.

Don't leave any of your tools in water overnight, clean them thoroughly then reshape the bristles and leave the brushes upturned in your glass to dry.

Final touches:
Once you have your mural completed, I like to take a black permanent marker or paint pen and outline the finished mural or add even more details. This adds a nice final touch to the design.

Make sure to take photos of your finished work to show off your beautiful mural.

Sources- http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/paintingmurals.html

Tools:

Find some of the tools you may need to make the process easier.

	3M PTD2090-24SB Scotch-Blue Pre-taped Loaded Dispenser with 24-Inch Drop Cloth (Home Improvement) The 3M 24-inch-by-30-yard scotch pre-taped plastic drop cloth is a convenient, pre-taped plastic film that unfolds to cover and protect a variety of surfaces while painting. This ...more List Price: $12.48 Lowest New Price: $9.40 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM)
	Mural Building Video with Jan Dressler [VHS] (Video) List Price: $39.95 Lowest Used Price: $6.00 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM) Lowest New Price: $39.95 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM)
	Undersea Mural Project Video with Jan Dressler [VHS] (Video) List Price: $19.95 Lowest New Price: $19.95 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM)
	Mural Building with Jan Dressler (DVD) Our wonderful Mural Building DVD covers all you need to know for creating fabulous murals. Jan covers planning your mural; quick and easy backgrounds including French Wash, stucc...more List Price: N/A Lowest Used Price: $23.95 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM)
	Painting Murals (Book) This book is a comprehensive guide to painting murals both inside and outside the home, whether it be a child's room, entryway, kitchen, or garden. Patricia Seligman begins wi...more Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $22.99 Lowest Used Price: $4.95 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM) Lowest New Price: $2.12 (as of 7/3/2009@8:37 PM)
	3 Sabel Hair Paint Brushes (Health and Beauty) These 3 sable hair brushes have very fine pointed tips in the sizes of 1,3 and 5. Great for detailed work for any painting project. Great for face and body painting and van also b...more List Price: $4.99

Stores to shop:

	Crafters Choice Crafters Choice offers the best deals on books, magazines, hobbies, and tips for your favorite hobbies and crafts. They carry subjects such as decorative painting, food and lifestyle, gift ideas, home and garden, mind health body, paper crafts, quilting, sewing, and many more! Crafters Choice offers free project ideas that will keep you entertained for hours! Become a member now and get four books for $1 each and a free tote! As a member you will save up to 30% off the publishers’ edition pr...
	Hobby Builders Supply
	joann.com JoAnn.com is a leading national specialty retailer of crafting, decorating, and sewing products. JoAnn .com carries a large selection of fashion and decorator fabrics, yarns, patterns, crafts, frames, cake decorating, floral & seasonal products and more.Joann.com offers a wide variety of products, wonderful project ideas and the inspiration to fulfill your creative dreams. Visit JoAnn.com the “Create-It-Yourself” Superstore. To receive your automatic cash rebate from JoAnn.com, simply cl...
	MisterArt MisterArt.com: Huge selection of art supplies, art materials, arts and crafts supplies, drafting supplies, art stores, paint supplies and much more; all at the worlds largest online discount art supply store

Some other murals:

Some murals I have done:

Fast and Cheap Homemade Christmas Gifts

mongorhea — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:35:16 GMT

Fast and Cheap Homemade Christmas Gifts

With Christmas coming up just a few months away, now is the time to start thinking about gifts.

For those of you who have a lot of people on your list, not a lot of money to spend and aren’t sure what to get, a homemade gift is a great idea.

No only does this save on money, but you also have the “it came from the heart” appeal of a homemade gift.

Gifts in a Jar

One of the ideas I’ve done from year to year is make Gifts in a Jar.

It’s relatively inexpensive to do and who doesn’t love food? These are also great because you can do them as in a production line and get a bunch done all a one time.

Hint: Make a few extra to keep on hand for those unexpected guests that may show up.

All you need are a few ingredients, canning jars and some type of decorations. You can get pretty creative here if you want or just tie with a ribbon or raffia.

If you go online, you can find all sorts of gift in a jar recipes. From cookies to soup mixes and more!

Here are just a few to get you started.

FOR THE COOKIE LOVER:

Gingerbread Cookie Mix in a Jar:

8 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup baking powder
1 Tbs. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 Tbs. cinnamon
2 cups shortening

Sift dry ingredients and cut shortening into it with a pastry blender. Measure 3 cups into 4 jars.

Decorate jars with raffia or ribbon or however you think may be cute for Xmas.

One idea is to attach a gingerbread cutter and the following recipe:

Gingerbread Boys:
3 cups gingerbread mix
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup flour
1 slightly beaten egg

Combine gingerbread mix, molasses, egg and flour. Blend well. Roll to 1/4" thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut into gingerbread shapes. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. Cool. Can be decorated with cinnamon candies and icing. Recipe should be used within 3 months.

FOR THE CHOCOLATE LOVER:

Hot Chocolate Jar Mix Recipe

Ingredients:
11⁄2 cups skim milk powder
11⁄2 cups white sugar
3⁄4 cup unsweetened cocoa
3⁄4 cup non-dairy creamer

To Make this Jar Gift:
Place all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well. For a finer mix, combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix well.

Store in an air tight container mason/canning jar-quart size.

Add the following directions to a cute stick-on label or note card. Decorate with a ribbon, raffia and maybe a side bag of mini marshmallows.

Directions:
Place 2 or 3 tablespoons in a mug and add boiling water.

FOR THE BREAD LOVER:

Focaccia Mix in a Jar

1 package yeast
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine and store in an air tight container mason/canning jar-quart size.

Add the following directions to a cute stick-on label or note card. Decorate with a ribbon, raffia or fabric.

Focaccia Directions:

Contents of jar
1/2 cup warm water
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Salt
Pesto

Blend contents of jar, warm water and 2 tablespoons olive oil with a dough hook or wooden spoon until smooth. If it is dry, add water by the tablespoon. If it sticks, add a bit of flour. Knead until smooth. Transfer to an oiled bowl, turn to oil all over, cover and let rise until doubled.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Punch dough down and roll into a 13 x 9-inch rectangle. Brush with remaining oil. Sprinkle with salt; bake 5 minutes. Pop air bubbles with a fork and continue baking until golden, about 8 minutes more. Remove from pan and cut into 3-inch squares.

Serve warm with pesto.

FOR THE COFFEE LOVER:

Toffee Coffee Mix in a Jar

2/3 cup instant coffee
1 cup nondairy creamer
1 cup brown sugar

Combine all ingredients well in a bowl. Place in airtight jars.

Add the following directions to a cute stick-on label or note card. Decorate with a ribbon, raffia and maybe a a chocolate covered spoon.

Toffee Coffee Directions:

To serve, place 2 to 3 teaspoons of mix in a mug and add boiling water.

FOR THE BATH LOVER:

Bath Salts in a Jar:

1 cup of Epsom or sea salt
2-3 Tbsp. Baking soda
2-3 drops of essential oils (depending on personal preference)
2-3 drops Food coloring

Mandarin Orange Bath Salts:
Mix the above Epsom salts, baking soda and Mandarin Orange essential oil with a few drops of red and yellow food coloring.

Combine and store in an air tight container mason/canning jar.

Make a cute stick-on label with the name of the bath salts. Decorate with a ribbon, raffia or fabric. You can also tie on a piece of dried orange to show what scent the salts are.

THERE ARE EVEN SOME FOR PETS!!!!

FOR THE DOG LOVER:

Layered Dog Cookie Jar Mix

Ingredients:

1 cup unbleached or whole wheat flour
1 cup of oatmeal, blended into flour
1⁄2 cup cornmeal
2 tsps beef or chicken boullion granules
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup skim milk powder
1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese (I used the grated parmesan that is commercially made to sprinkle on pasta)
1⁄4 cup (approximately) of flour, or enough to fill a one quart jar

Add the following directions to a cute stick-on label or note card. Decorate with a ribbon, raffia and maybe a a cute dog bone cookie cutter.

Dog Biscuits directions:

Preheat oven to 250° farenheit.

Empty jar mix into a bowl. Stir together two eggs and 1 cup of hot water and add to mix. Combine with a fork until a stiff dough forms. Add a little flour or water if dough is too sticky or too dry to work.

Roll out dough on floured board to 1⁄2 inch thickness. Dip cookie cutters in flour before cutting out each cookie. A bone shaped cutter is preferred, but any shape will do. Re-roll the leftovers and cut as many cookies as possible.

You can place cookies close together on a baking sheet as they will not spread while baking. Bake for about 90 minutes, or until cookies are dry and hard, turning pan around at half time to ensure even cooking. You can turn off the heat, but leave the cookies in the oven to dry out without further cooking if necessary. Dog cookies are usually baked until they are hard and crunchy. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight jar.

No matter who the gift is for, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list!

Sources: http://www.recipestogo.com
http://www.allfreecrafts.com

Some products you will need:

	Jarden 67000 Ball 12 pack Wide Mouth 1 Quart Mason Jar (Kitchen) Ball 12 Pack,One-quart,wide mouth mason jars with two-piece closures. Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $12.99 Lowest New Price: $9.25 (as of 7/3/2009@7:36 PM)
	Oval Jelly Jar Labels, Pack of 54 (Kitchen) Add your final, personal touch to those homemade food gifts. Colorful fruit design. 2-1/4'' oval shaped labels fit all Ball quilted jelly jars or any smooth canning jar surface. P...more Average Customer Rating: 3.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: N/A Lowest New Price: $3.50 (as of 7/3/2009@7:36 PM)
	Norpro 4-Piece Silicone Mini Flexible Pinch Bowl Set, Multicolored (Kitchen) Norpro 4pc silicone mini flexible pinch bowl set. Ideal for staging ingredients or serving condiments. Pinch to funnel ingredients. Does not retain odor or taste. Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $8.00 Lowest New Price: $3.99 (as of 7/3/2009@7:36 PM)
	Pyrex Prepware 3-Piece Mixing Bowl Set, Clear (Kitchen) What's a kitchen without bowls? Designed for function and style these handy bowls are most economical by the set. Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $24.95 Lowest New Price: $14.99 (as of 7/3/2009@7:36 PM)
	Pyrex Prepware 2-Cup Measuring Cup, Clear with Blue Measurements (Kitchen) Pyrex Prepware 2-cup measuring cup includes 1-each 2-cup measuring cup with dark blue graphics. Whether you are preparing a multi-course meal or simply a snack for one, Pyrex offe...more Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $4.99
	KitchenAid 5-Piece Measuring Spoon Set, Red (Kitchen) Measures: 1/4, 1/2, and 1 teaspoon and 1/2, 1 tablespoon / Easy to read markings / Easy to hang or store / Plastic / Dishwasher Safe Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (See the reviews) List Price: $7.99

Places to buy cooking and decorating supplies:

You can find all sorts of ribbons, fabric and raffia to decorate your jars at fabric/craft stores.

Cooking stores are also a great place for cookie cutters, cute labels and recipe cards.

	Fabric.com Fabric.com: More than 500,000 yards of fabric offered at 40% or more below retail price! Products include: cotton, rayon, denim, linen, lycra, polyester, upholstery, and knits.
	HancockFabrics.com
	joann.com JoAnn.com is a leading national specialty retailer of crafting, decorating, and sewing products. JoAnn .com carries a large selection of fashion and decorator fabrics, yarns, patterns, crafts, frames, cake decorating, floral & seasonal products and more.Joann.com offers a wide variety of products, wonderful project ideas and the inspiration to fulfill your creative dreams. Visit JoAnn.com the “Create-It-Yourself” Superstore. To receive your automatic cash rebate from JoAnn.com, simply cl...
	MisterArt MisterArt.com: Huge selection of art supplies, art materials, arts and crafts supplies, drafting supplies, art stores, paint supplies and much more; all at the worlds largest online discount art supply store
	Cooking.com Cooking.com is a leading online retailer of kitchenware and houseware items. Cooking.com also offers recipes and feature articles from trusted and reputable sources including Cook’s Catalogue; the definitive guide to cooking equipment; and top magazines including Cooking Light, Food and Wine, Fine Cooking, and Taste of Home; and trusted brands such as Nestlé, Betty Crocker, and Crisco. Use the Cooking.com buyers guide and get expert culinary advice and knowledge of what to consider when shopping...

Easy Baby Quilt Project

mongorhea — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:52:45 GMT

Easy Baby Quilt Project

Learn to make a simple, block style baby quilt.

It's a project that is relatively easy and fast to do.

Making the quilt:

If you know how to sew and are looking for an easy baby quilt to make for a gift for someone else or for your own child, there is a very simple quilt that you can make-a Block style. While it is simple in concept, it will steal the show at the baby shower and will be enjoyed by all who see it or use it.

The first thing I like to do is to sketch out the block pattern for the quilt and then color the squares to see how the quilt will look in it’s finished form. This is also a good way to keep track of which color block goes where in your quilt. As you get more experienced, you can also use the blocks in different ways to really change up the design. If you need inspiration, there are numerous books and websites dedicated to quilt patterns.

Baby Quilt size:
Most baby’s quilts are about 45”x60” finished.
When sketching the design, you can decide whether you want bigger squares or smaller squares. I did my quilt with 6” squares. It’s really up to you to decide how you want your finished quilt to look. *Keep in mind that the larger you make the squares, the less time it will take to complete!

For this Quilt -Actual Dimensions:
For this quilt, I used 6” squares with a 1/4” seam allowance of all sides. This brought the squares to 6.5” all around. (see diagram).
I figured it would take 4 squares across and 6 down to complete the block pattern of the quilt.
Adding the sashing (border) is 8” across with the 1/4” seam allowance will make the sashing 8.5” wide.
My quilt had a finished size of 43” across and 56” down with these measurements. (see diagram).

Picking the Fabric:
Now you need to decide about the fabric and colors to be used in the quilt.

Most quilts are made from 100% cotton or cotton mixes. Cotton is a very versatile, strong and natural material to work with. It is generally allergy free and is not flammable. So if you are making the quilt for a child's bed then this could be a great choice. Make sure you wash and dry the fabric first before cutting the fabric as it can strink in the wash!

Choosing a color for your quilt:
If you are making a quilt for a friend, loved one or someone special, try to find out if they are using a particular color scheme. This is a good place to start. For my first baby quilt, I knew my friend was doing her baby’s room in purple.
So that’s where I started. I went to the fabric store and found a few different fabrics that would work with that color. I tried to stick with only 4 different fabrics to not get too complicated.

Cutting your Squares:
You can successfully cut out accurate squares and patches using a rotary cutter and rotary board. Simply find your size square and cut using these lines and you will have perfect squares. The fabric stores have all different types of templates and cutting tools to make your life easier! Make sure you leave a 1/4” seam allowance on all sides of the squares. This is for when you sew the pieces together.

Once you have all your squares cut, you can begin pinning them together in place. I pin and sew one row at a time until you have the front quilt squares all sewn together.

Quilt block assembly tips:
When sewing the individual pieces of your quilt block together here are a few tips to help you along the way:

    • Always make sure the right sides of the material are facing each other - it is very simple to sew one the right way and one the wrong way!
    • Keep your pins fairly close together to prevent the material from slackening and creating bubbles or uneven squares.

Adding Sashing:
Once you have all the center block pieces of your quilt sewn together, it’s time to think the sashing. Sashing is basically a boarder around the blocks. It’s a good way to finish off the design of the quilt.

After you have cut each piece of sashing, simply attach it to the blocks in a similar manner to the way the squares were assembled. It is often easier to create long strips and then sew the strips together. For the baby quilt, I used 8” sashing strips with 1/4” seam allowance all around. (see diagram).

Be very careful when pinning the long strips together as by this stage there are literally hundreds of seams and all it takes is for a couple of them to be 1 mm off and you are out by a 1/4 inch!

When pinning try to use the right angles of the fabric to line up the seam, that way the quilt will be in perfect geometric order.

Once you have completed your quilt top, removed the pins and ironed back all the seams, it is time to choose the batting.

Adding Batting:
Batting, padding or wadding is the "bulk" of the quilt, and is the middle component of the quilt sandwich. It comes in different thicknesses, composition and texture. There is a variety of batting available, ranging from natural fibres like cotton and wool, to synthetics and man-made fabric.

    • Cotton - Cotton batting is idea for beginners and small projects. Cotton is natural and easy to work with, and you are often more able to achieve a more even look using it.
You can find batting already made to fit crib size. Depending on your finished size, you may have to trim off a little excess. The quilt batting should be bigger than the quilt top and smaller than the backing. Leaving a small amount of overlap allows for any pull or if you find that once the quilt has been sewn the edge has moved in a couple of centimetres. When quilting it is always better to be safe rather than sorry!

Consider the thickness of the batting:
A thin light weight batting is ideal for a quilt as it is easier to sew compared to thick heavy batting. As it is very important to produce small, even stitches over the whole quilt, it is much easier if the needle and thread only have to go through a thin piece of batting.

If you are making the quilt for a bed and would like to use it for warmth then you can use a thicker batting, however it would probably be a lot easier if it was tied rather than quilted. (see "Tie-Off" at the end).

Choosing Quilt Backing and Binding:
The next step to finishing the quilt is to decide on the backing of the quilt. You can use many different materials for this. Traditional white fabric is the most popular type of backing. A plain cotton or cotton mix will suit almost all quilts.

However, if you are after something a little different you could choose the most popular color in your quilt and use a fabric in that color. For my baby quilt, I choose to use flannel fabric for the backing. I thought this was a good option for the softness and warmth of the fabric.

It is always a good idea to keep the backing to a simple print if not a plain color.

Binding the Quilt:
The binding is the last step when quilting. It is generally around 1/2 inch thick and is the same as one of the dominant fabrics in the quilt or it can also be bought at most fabric/hobby stores. Make sure the binding compliments the other colors being used. I find the easiest way is to purchase the binding already made.

There are different ways to bind the edge of your quilt. I will only give instructions for using the bought binding material.

The bought binding generally comes folded. Fold one half on the front of the quilt and one half on the back. Then sew the edges to the raw quilt edge about 1/4 inch away from the edge. Making sure to cover all the raw edges.

Corners can either be mitred, where you can cut the binding at a 45 degree angle and then sew together, or you can gather the excess fabric and sew around the corner giving a smooth curve rather than a pointed edge.

Tie Off the Quilt:
For this baby quilt, I usually take embroidery thread at the end to tie-off the corners of each block square. This helps to keep the batting in place. To do this, simply take the embroidery thread and a big needle and sew it threw each corner of the block square. Then just knot it. You can leave a little thread hanging for a more country feel or snip it close to the fabric for a more subtle look.

Congratulations! Your quilt is now finished and ready to enjoy!

Time to Celebrate!

Favorite stores:

	Fabric.com Fabric.com: More than 500,000 yards of fabric offered at 40% or more below retail price! Products include: cotton, rayon, denim, linen, lycra, polyester, upholstery, and knits.
	HancockFabrics.com
	joann.com JoAnn.com is a leading national specialty retailer of crafting, decorating, and sewing products. JoAnn .com carries a large selection of fashion and decorator fabrics, yarns, patterns, crafts, frames, cake decorating, floral & seasonal products and more.Joann.com offers a wide variety of products, wonderful project ideas and the inspiration to fulfill your creative dreams. Visit JoAnn.com the “Create-It-Yourself” Superstore. To receive your automatic cash rebate from JoAnn.com, simply cl...

Diagrams

Quilt Layout dimensions

Sashing diagram

How to Make a Delicious Cosmopolitan

mongorhea — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:00:32 GMT

How to Make a Delicious Cosmopolitan

Ever wanted to learn to make those sophisticated drinks called Cosmopolitans? Here's your chance!

How to make a Cosmopolitan

There are many recipes for a Cosmopolitan. Here's my favorite!

Ingredients for a Cosmopolitan #1

Vodka
Triple Sec
Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice
Cranberry Juice
Lime

Quantities for one drink:

1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Rose's Sweetened Lime Juice
1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
Lime Wedge

Blending Instructions:

Shake liquid ingredients like hell in a shaker with ice
Place lime wedge on the rim of a Martini glass
Pour mix into the glass
Enjoy

Serving Glass

Cocktail Glass

Also known as a martini glass. The shape of the glass helps keep ingredients from separating, and the stem allows the drink to stay cool while holding.
Size: 4 to 6 ounces

It's that easy!

Now enjoy!

Stores to buy your cool glassware and shakers!

	Brylane Kitchen Brylane Home Kitchen. Your complete source for super- efficient gadgets & utenciles, state-of-the art cookware, cleaners & organizers, decorating accessories & much, much more! Product categories include Cooking & Baking, Tabletop & Entertaining, Appliances, Hard-to-Find Essentials, Storage & Organizing, Home Improvement, and Outdoors. Earn cash back rebates from ShopAtHome.com on all purchases from Brylanekitchen.com.
	Charles Keath Charles Keath is your resource for beautifully detailed furniture, bedding, unique accents for your home and garden, and comfortable apparel. At Charles Keath we like to think we've chosen everything exactly as you would, adding all the special little touches to make yourself and your guests feel right at home. Sink into a deeply tufted club chair and rest your feet on its companion ottoman. Treat yourself and your guests to intricate embroidery, quilting, and lace, just a few of the refinements...
	Dishes, Decor and More Dishes, Decor and More: The best selection of today’s finest dinnerware, collectibles and home décor items at the lowest prices available. Products include: dinnerware, collectibles, portmeirion, lenox, wedgwood, johnson brothers, franciscan, waterford, marquis, denby steiff, boehm, mi, hummel, steinbach, gorham, kirk stieff, dansk, goebel, nutcracker, pottery, stoneware, china, crystal, porcelain, silver sterling and stuffed animals.
	HomeGoods At HomeGoods you'll discover an ever-changing collection of quality brand names and designer home decor, for every room in your home, all at affordable prices. Choose from a wide variety of merchandise from furniture, bedding, bath accessories, and pictures to lighting, frames, dinnerware, rugs and more. HomeGoods has everything you need, to add that special touch to your home. To receive your automatic cash rebate from HomeGoods, simply click on our SHOP NOW button shown above. HomeGoo...
	Macy's Home In Macy’s Home department you will find items for bed, bath, dining, entertaining & kitchen. For the Kitchen, Macy has cookware, electrics, cutlery, casual dining, bakeware & cooks’ tools from brands like All-clad, Anolon, Calphalon, Circulon & Cusinart. For Bed & Bath Macy’s has bedding collections, sheets, pillows, & comforters from brands like Calvin Klein, Charter Club, DKNY, & Hotel Collection. Macy’s also has fine & casual china, stemware, serveware & barware for dining & entertaining.
	Mikasa Mikasa: Always entertaining! Your source for dinnerware, stemware, flatware, crystal, and giftware. Products include: silverware, flatware, dinnerware, stemware, barware, serveware, home décor, gift certificates, wedding gifts, service plates, clocks, candle holders, picture frames, and crystal serveware,
	Pfaltzgraff Pfaltzgraff: America's leading manufacturer and marketer of casual dinnerware and accessories for the home. Products include: home décor products, furnishings, tableware, pottery, glasses, plates, gifts, bowls, ceramics and kitchen products.
	Sur La Table Sur La Table is a privately held American retail company based in Seattle, Washington, that sells gourmet cooking utensils and related merchandise.With thousands of products from vendors worldwide, Sur La Table competes on a global level, attracting new devotees with its dedication to culinary diversity, innovation and authenticity. At Sur La Table you’ll find everything you need from appliances, bakeware, cookbooks, and housewares, to specialty foods and other goodies for the professional and h...