Doodles & Stitches: December 2014

Chenille Camera Strap Tutorial

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This tutorial will show you how to make 2 different straps.

One is fitted and flat, the other is scrunched up and fluffy.

Let's get started…

This is the simplest project yet.

You can complete it in 30 minutes, easily!

Just follow the steps in this tutorial...

First of all, measure the nylon thick portion of your camera strap (the area you want to cover)

Mine measured 19.5" x 1.75"

Please excuse the horrific paint splattered table (above)... it's my work table! What can I say!???!!!

For a fitted, flat fabric...
Cut two strips of coordinating fabric. My fabric strips measured 21.5" x 2.75". As a conversion, just add 2 inches to your original length measurement and 1 inch to your width measurement.
For a scrunched up, chenille fabric, add 5 inches to length 26.5" x 2.75".

Now turn under the ends of each strip and hem. Then, turn them under again and hem. I tried to keep my seam allowance very small on these hems.

With right sides of fabric FACING each other, sew the long sides of the fabric together (on both sides)

Next, cut the salvaged edge but don't cut too close to the seam.

Then turn the fabric right side out.

Slip your fabric over the old strap

Now sew a couple of "tack stitches" with your machine, right where the nylon meets the leather. This will hold the strap cover in place but will not make it permanent so you can easily clip the stitch later and change out your strap in the future.

This is what the tack stitch looks like (above).

Here's the finished product…

The chenille is very comfortable and soft!

Happy Camera Strap Sewing!

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Sweet Potato Souffle

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This recipe is a holiday favorite.

I have tweaked this recipe several times and have finally achieved perfection!

Sweet Potato Souffle

Base Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1/2 c. milk

1 1/2 c. sugar

2-15 oz. can mashed sweet potatoes

1-15 oz. sweet potatoes

1 tsp. salt

3 eggs

Topping Ingredients:

2/3 c. self-rising flour

1 stick butter

1 1/2 c. chopped pecans

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the above base ingredients and pour into a greased 9 x 13 glass pan.

In a separate mixing bowl, cut butter into flour and add pecans and sugar.

Sprinkle topping ingredients over souffle. Bake for 45 minutes or until topping is brown. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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Peanut Butter Bon Bons

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This is my very favorite Christmas candy recipe.

My sweet mom makes these every year.

Last year, she let me help.

I documented with photos and now I am sharing the recipe with you…

it's what i do :)

The recipe from Mary Starr's Cookbook (from about 1970)

Merry Christmas!

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Stockings on the Stairs

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I found these great sweater stockings at Hobby Lobby last week.

I added a wooden initial letter with a clothespin.

The letters are painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint "Florence" color.

These are the girl's real stockings hung on the mantle. I wrap 25 gifts and place them in each stocking. They get to open one gift each night for the entire month of December.

I spend about $1 on each of the stocking gifts.

I like to shop for them at Dollar Tree or the dollar section at Target.

Happy Stocking Stuffing!

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Monogram Gift Tags using Silhouette Cameo

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First of all, I got all my paper at Hobby Lobby.

This brown paper looks like tagboard but it's thinner and easier to cut.

I used the settings for a "thicker, heavier card stock"

And I changed my blade to "5"

I highly recommend doing a test cut to see if you need to adjust your blade.

The red and white striped is about 20 lb weight,

so I used a regular paper setting for those cuts.

I used a glue stick to attach the monogram "tagboard".

I punched a simple hole in the top and used red & white striped twine to attach to my gifts to the ribbon.

I bought this gold gift wrap paper and burlap at Hobby Lobby.

The burlap is not in the holiday section of the store, you'll find it in the floral department.

Affiliate. See Disclosure HERE.

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How To Hang Ribbon Garland On Tree

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I decided to write this post when a few people asked me "how I made the ribbon do that" after I posted my tree pic on Instagram last week.

So, here we go. The pictures below are from my living room tree. I used a "Peacock Ribbon" from Hobby Lobby. I love the tree but I warn you, not everyone in my home LOVES it like me. They think it's a little too blue but it's just ribbon, I can change it out next year. First of all, I used one roll of ribbon on the red plaid tree. It was ribbon I found in my attic from the dollar store a couple of years ago. Sorry, I don't have any more info on that ribbon but I do know that I only used one roll. That tree is significantly smaller than my Peacock Tree. The Peacock Tree required 5 rolls of ribbon! Seriously!

First cut the ribbon in strips about 30 inches long and fold it in half.