Quick Holiday Tutorials

Just popping in this afternoon to share a quick tutorial you may want to use this holiday season. I was hoping to have the hand-towel apron tutorial up today, in case anybody is needy a last minute gift idea, but it is not quite finished. Maybe I'll have time to finish it up by tonight...

In the meantime, here is another "apron" idea for all of the holiday baking (and eating) you will be doing with your little ones! The girls are too big to fit into traditional bibs, but still need to wear something at the table to protect those cute smocked dresses when we are celebrating with family and friends. Somebody shared a similar idea at one of my sewing workshops (but I can't remember who now) of turning a cloth diaper into a bib/apron for toddlers to wear.

So easy and practical!! Most cloth diapers have that extra absorbant band down the middle, which is perfect for all the drips and spills that usually end up front and center down my girls dresses when they eat by themselves.

You'll need a cloth diaper, 3 1/2 yards of ribbon, and a sewing machine to make one for yourself. You can easily pick up a pack of Gerber diapers and a roll of ribbon on your next Wal-mart run.

Step 1: Cut your ribbon into 4 equal pieces. Use a lighter to singe the edges of the ribbon so they don't fray.

Step 2: Pin the ribbon to the top and sides of the apron and sew into place.

You're finished!

They really are perfect for holiday baking and eating those Christmas dinners because they cover their entire front and down into their laps.

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Another super simple holiday tip:

Use scrapbooking paper to make gift bags!

I bought one of those big packs of Christmas scrapbooking paper about 4 years ago from Michaels on clearance after the holidays. It is perfect for making tags and little gift bags. Just cut 2 pieces of paper to the size you want the bag to be and use a zig-zag stitch to sew up 3 of the sides. Yes! You can use your sewing machine for more than fabric.

Cute, easy, and very frugal!

:)