Navigation Menu

sewing furniture DIY decor num nums mi vida loca

Monday, December 10, 2012

And da WINNER is. . .

- - - Chelle! - - -

You won the JINGLE BUGS pillow!!

We did our drawing "old skoo" style and literally gave y'all a number, wrote them down on paper, folded them up and drew them from a hat...well...a plastic bowl actually.  I want to thank you all for your kinds words and support by becoming a follower. Now that I am moved into our new home (mostly) I hope to get more fun things posted.

NOTE: If the pillow isn't claimed by Thursday after Christmas I will re-draw.

Christine: Be sure to email me (zantaylordesigns@hotmail.com) with your mailing address so I can get yer dawling pillow sent out ASAP. 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Thank YOU!!


































First off, I hope you enjoyed the "Jingle Hop". I sure did! And I have to tell you I have been walking around my house with an extra skip in my step the past few days. Why you ask? Well.....because of YOU!!! Seriously! Go read all the seriously SWEET comments y'all left me!! I wish I could bake 36 dozen cookies and deliver them personally.  Really meant a lot to me. 
Macho Grassy Ass!!!

p.s. WINNER for my piller will be announced tomorrow after I go to church!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

FREEBIES!!!!


FREEBIES! WIN A ZING CUTTER!!!
Lettering Delights "JINGLE HOP"  is happening. . .NOW!!!  
NEW to my blog? Follow me and share my love for quilting, crafting, refurbishing, eating naughty stuff, and crazy tales from the Taylor Family!


-FREEBIES at every BLOG! 
-Enter codes from each blog to win a ZING CUTTER!!!! 
-My CODE: sY6g2 (write this down)
2.http://athriftymom.com/jingle-hop-christmas-idea-swap-plus-enter-to-win-a-zing-cutting-machine-3-days-only/
3. http://underacherrytree.blogspot.com/
4. http://joyslife.com/
5. http://zantaylordesigns.blogspot.com/
6. http://www.happycardfactory.com/
7. http://ilove2cutpaper.blogspot.com/
8. http://sherimcculley.blogspot.com/
9. http://snfontaholic.blogspot.com/
-Details at LD.com here: (jingle hop ad)
______________________________________________________ 

Get my FREEBIE (click below):
 
- Go get it and together we can make my pillow!!!!!
-Or use it for paper crafting too!!!!!


FOLLOW me then COMMENT for a chance to WIN this pillow!!!!!


 
Jingle Bugs Pillow Tutorial!!

-I made this pillow with the "Bah Humbug" graphics from Lettering Delights.com website. This set is FREE on my blog December 5-7 in loo of the Blog Hop that is happening. I used my sweeeet ZING Cutter Machine for the first time when making this and it was so so fun! I am in the process of moving....bluh.... and so my goal is to get the 'essentials' all unpacked and then my reward is that I get to play with my fancy-shmancy cutter!!

    SUPPLY LIST:
  1. Steam-A-Seam Adhesive Paper (light-bond)
  2. Fabric scraps of chosen colors.
  3. Large piece of White fabric for pillow (mine measured 13.5x9.5)
  4. Cotton to stuff it with.
  5. Thread to match corrdinating fabrics.
  6. Needle and Thread.
  7. Bag of Peanut Butter M&M's      
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. If you are going to make multiply pillows, like for Christmas gifts, then you will want to cut your chosen fabrics into 12.5x12.5 squares and your Steam-A-Seam Adhesive Paper into 12x12 squares. IF you are only making one then you will just need scraps large enough for each piece. Your fabric needs to be slightly larger than your adhesive paper. (image below) In my directions I am only making one.
SIDE NOTE: I apologize that my brain was not working correctly when I made this. I was in the process of boxing up my house for the big move. I placed/taped some of my pieces to the cutting mat with the fabric side on top and then some pieces with the paper side on top. Please note that if you have the paper on top (as shown in most of my pictures) you will get a mirror image of the graphic or letter. Just keep that in mind. Sometimes that little trick comes in handy though.....moving on.

2. Based on the placement in your ZING computer program, place your pieces accordingly. NOTE: I found it hard to keep track of the "top" of my cutting mat so I used a permanent marker and mimicked the triangle on the program by drawing it directly on my mat. This was a HUGE help! I also found that if I sprayed my mat with a little adhesive spray that really helped my pieces stay in place. Before you move on to taping them down check, check, and then check again that you have them placed correctly with what is seen on your screen.
 3. TAPE THEM DOWN!! I can speak from experience that if you do not it will make a mess. I liked the blue painters tape because it came off easily and I could reuse the strips.
 4. After all pieces were taped down I held my mat up to the window to find the bottom right hand corner square where my red laser needs to be once I am ready to cut. I marked it with a red dot so I could find it.
 5. See how handy that little tip was? I think the 6'th handful of M&M's helped me figure that one out.
 6. I read the Zing Manual and tried cutting a little on the settings it suggested and it did work, but I found that for me these setting worked out a lot better. You may want to play around with some scraps first to tweek yours as well.
 7. LOOK who made an oops! It happens...plan it...but no worries!
 8. A small pair of sharp tip scissors will come in handy to clip the few threads that hang on.
 9. I was pretty skeptical that it would be able to cut out those tiny little legs and eye holes without making a mess or not cutting through all the way....I stand corrected.
 10. Here is a picture of the CORRECT way to place your fabric...FABRIC side UP!
 11. Just an example of what I meant when I said that placing the Fabric side up or the Paper side up will cause a mirror-image result.
 12. Peel off your Steam-A-Seam paper and place your pieces where you will want them. DO NOT IRON YET!
 13. Now that you have placed all your pieces right where you want them you are ready to iron them down.
14. I used a blanket stitch to sew down all the edges of the pieces. I also chose to use matching thread for each color.
15. When it came to the bug's legs I found that starting at that bottom helped the little legs not lift and get mangled up. I tried a zig-zag stitch over the whole leg and then a straight stitch along the edges. Both worked about the same. 
 16. Once you are done then you are ready to sew your front to your back and leave about a 4 inch hold on side (I did mine on the bottom) so that I could turn it inside out. Stuff your stuffing in this hole and then whip-stitch that opening shut.

Viola!!


Saturday, December 1, 2012

HUGE GIVE AWAY UPDATE!!

Jingle Hop

"Jingle Hop" around the clock on December 5-7 from blog to blog as we explore great Christmas projects and ideas. There will be lots of freebies and giveaways and a chance to win a new KNK Zing Cutting Machine. I LURVE this machine! I have been using it for quilting as well as paper crafting.

How does it work? Go to LETTERINGDELIGHTS.COM on December 5 (10 am MST) and they  will give you the web addressses for each blog on the hop. Each stop will have a great freebie for you and give you a code. Write down the codes and then go back to LETTERINGDELIGHTS.COM to enter them in the field provided. Each code acts as a separate entry to win.

Mark your calendars! You won't want to miss out on the freebies, fun, great ideas, and a chance to win a Zing. See you December 5-7th!

Here is the link to the page from their site with details and where to enter your codes:
http://www.letteringdelights.com/jingle_hop.php

IMPORTANT:
Remember, you have to have an account with LetteringDelights.com. It's free and EASY!! So go do it now so you will be all ready to go on December 5'th! Here is a link to register:
https://secure.letteringdelights.com/checkout_signinfm.php
You really don't want to miss this opportunity. There will be freebies at EVERY BLOG! And their stuff is DANG CUTE! Remember you can use their graphics for quilting as well! I will show you how!!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Don't Wanna Miss This!!!

(click on pic for a CLUE)

Quality Chat.

Here is an interesting conversation my Buggy had with her sitter while sitting on the couch watching a movie as she (the sitter) sipped on her soda.

BUG: "Ooo...can I have some pop?"
SITTER: "I don't know Kaylee. I'm kinda sick." (cold)
BUG: "I AM TOO!! I went diarrhea this morning!"



nice.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Glenda The Good Witch.

First off . . . HAPPY HALLOWEENY from the Taylor Bunch!!!
(yes, my hubby is crazy and my baby refused to wear her costume.)
 Ya'll sick of fighting about candy with your kids after Halloween?
Introducing my solution:
"GLENDA THE GOOD WITCH"
Who is "Glenda The Good Witch"? (other than the perdy lady on Wizard of OZ)  Well at our house she is a nice Halloween Witch that saves my backside a few pounds each year!  She collects candy in exchange for a little gift.
-books
-crayons
-necklace
-stickers
-small toy
-ect...
Here is how WE do it, but feel free to alter yours to fit yo famila. Once we get home from Trick-or-Treating the kiddos dump out all their boodle into a pile.  They giggle with delight, chomp on a few pieces, trade and beg, and then they are given a sandwich size Ziploc bag that they can fill with their favorites.  But they can only keep what will fit in that bag and so they fill that sucker up to the tip top! But it has to be able to zip shut.  The rest of the candy is placed on the doorstep before bedtime. Then the childrens all go to sleep and dream about what little surprise "Glenda" will bring.


HINT: I copied a script font from my computer to disguise my handwriting.
BONUS: You could save "Glenda's Candy" for stocking stuffers.

Here is what "Glenda" left them this year. $2.00 soft dog figurine at Target.
"THANK YOU GLENDA!!"

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Halloweeny Wreathe.

All of the items I used were found at Michaels Craft Store and 50% off! Wrapped my straw wreathe, which beware makes a mess!  I sat on my kitchen rug so that I could just take it out and shake it. The Skeletens came in a string so I just cut one off and used the rest to hang on my "mantle".  The spiders came in a pack as well and so I have taped the rest on varies frames and such for a spooky suprize. One spider is hanging with some clear thread from my kitchen chandlier...still get's ME! I HATE SPIDERS! The D.O.A. tag came in a pack and suppose to be used to tie to your drinks at a party.  I am going to use the rest to tie to a few gifts I have made as a gift tag.  Eyeballs came in a pack (i bought 2) and just glued then on with a glue gun along with the spider. Tied my darling sweet crow down by wrapping some extra yarn around his feet.


My "mantle"... tehe.


Monday, October 15, 2012

Holiday Pillowcases!

I am currently taking a FABULOUS parenting class and in one of the sessions we talked about the importance of traditions in our homes. It truly touched me. Seriously could talk for hours on the awesomeness of it all.  It really helps our children feel loved and apart of the family.  It gives them treasured memories as well.  And it's just plain ole' fun!  I am trying to start a few new ones and one is a Halloween Pillowcase.  We put them on October 1st for my kiddo's to sleep on, which they think is pretty stinkin' cool, and then on Halloween night they can pull them off and use them as their 'Trick or Treat' bags! You could make some for any other Holiday as well...hmmm...maybe a Valentines piller with a pocket for little love notes would be cute.

p.s. this is not my pillow.
 As for the pattern I used...well...I just made it up as I went along. I did, however, find a link on Pinterest (of course) that has a really easy way to make them if you so desire. There is a link below for the PDF instructions and another link for a step by step video! But please ask any questions if needs be.  I am always happy to help ya!

I challenge you to start a new tradition too!

VIDEO:
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/video/roll-it-up-video.html

PDF: (click on the "Roll It Up" pattern)
 http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/freepatterns/index.html

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Smell My Feet!

I am fortunate enough to be friends with two AMAZING illustrators; Jillustration and Rani from letteringdelights.com. I think that their website is a MUST not only for scrapbookers, card-makers, but for QUILTERS and hand embroidery! I plan on using more and more of their designs in my future endevors. You MUST check them out! Example of how I used some of their stuff below:


I LOVED Jill's "Smell My Feet" collection and wanted to make a Halloween wall hanging with it. And the colors are perfect. So simple! If you have made any of my patterns then you know how to trace and adhere for applique. That's all I did here. After I purchased this collection, which is only $4.00 for the whole bundle - SMELL MY FEET -
I simply printed them out and then blew them up to the size I desired. If you look closely you can see my 4 white squares in the quilt. Those squares FINISH at: 8.5 x 11.  The checkered fabric I folded in half and ironed down then sewed it so it would make more of a flap for fun. This is our family's FAVORITE Halloween decoration by far! 

Enjoy! 
 Please let me know if you have any questions!




 TAH-DER!!


Friday, October 5, 2012

A-Freakingmazing Artichoke Dip!

I found this recipe from Pinterest and when I made it last year for Thanksgiving and it was a HIT!
Y'all should make this so that your taste-buds can take a trip to PARADISE!

I have made a recipe book for my family filled with all of our FAVS. If the recipe isn't FAB then it doesn't make the book.  So they are most definitely 'tried and true'. I type them up with this same format so they look PERDY in my book. And as a full sheet of paper it's easy to read.  They are put in page protectors so you can wipe them clean easily after you have just slopped them with sauce dancing to Lady GaGa. I am not sure how to share a PDF file so that you can print it out, but I did share it as a photo. IF you really want the PDF file comment or email me and I will email it to you. 

ENJOY this blessed dip!!!



Thursday, September 27, 2012

I DID IT!

So with the support of my cute hubby...who was really excited for me to try some "fun, funky, flirty" hair, I did my best to cut/color it like the inspiration pic I posted earlier.

Here ya go!


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

CUTE HAIRS!!!

 So I really like having short hair. It's fun to play with and in just a few months you can sport a totally new style. I LOVE the following hair pics. The longer style has FABULOUS color and the shorter dooo is what I chose to do....yikes!!!! I am sitting here now with my Jim-Jammers on so no pic yet on my end result. NO WAY! I hope I can rock it as sweet yet edgy as the little model did. ZOIKS! 

IF I can't...I'll just lock myself in my sewing room and get back to work!!!! Seriously though...it's time for a NEW pattern!


Monday, August 13, 2012

Video Tutorial-Painting Stripes


My seriously low budget film on how to paint stripes with NO jagged edges when you pull your tape off. Never you mind my chipped nail polish and Marlboro voice (getting over a cold). Please ask questions if needs be.

AFTER:
Soooo...I kinda forgot to do a video, as I said I would, showing the pretty lines when you pull the tape off... Oops... But here are some pics that I hope will suffice. 

See! No jagged peaks! Just straight, smooth, flawless lines.

Bug's Masterpiece

Not only does this give Picasso a run for his money, but it's pretty darn accurate....Not only do cows eat hay but amazingly they can go numero uno and dos simultaneously.

Parenting Discovery!!

So before I BLOW you away with my new 'Awesome Parenting Discovery' a trick that will solve all your problems with noisy children, I wanted to show you how stinkin' cute my little Roo is.

 Here she is happy happy happy to be wearing one of Mama's "prettys". (necklace)

WARNING!
The Discovery below is pretty awesome...so buckle up!

Do your children or cute little niece and nephews giggle and play loudly...VERY loudly? Do they continue to play at the maximum volume even after you have asked nicely 20 times to turn it down a bit? And do they actually break the sound barrior while your baby is trying to take a nap? WELL....I have a solution.

Tell them you have the COOLEST movie on Earth for them to watch.  Tell them that you can only watch it if they have their brave panties on.  Ask multiple times if they are SURE they can handle the mind blowing events that are about to happen...do all of this in whisper by the way. Once they take the 'bait' turn on JUMANJI.  Then grab your camera, a cold drink of your preference, kick off your flippity-flops and enjoy 'the show'.



Practically silent for almost 2 hours. Only the sound of a few gasps and flies buzzing in and out of their dropped jaws. 

I'm nearly a genius.