The Improv Spinners and Hourglass Quilt - Easy Beginner Quilt

A handmade baby quilt is the perfect way to welcome a new baby into the family. My youngest sister just had her third baby and I was excited to have another opportunity to make a baby quilt to give as a gift to the new little one. 

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I got started making this quilt before she had the baby but the only thing we didn't know was the baby's gender so I had to make it gender neutral. 

Of course before I settled on the quilt block pattern I wanted to use I scoured my favorite place for inspiration - Pinterest! Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest to see all of my other inspiring pins!  

Here are the quilts I found on Pinterest I was considering making for this baby quilt I wanted to share with you. I really wanted to make a gender neutral quilt that had little bits or blocks of color, which all of these quilts have. 

Baby Quilt Inspiration From Pinterest

Stacked Coins Pattern (via: sew-handmade.blogspot.com)

Modern Patchwork Baby Quilt (via: Etsy (DonnaWesterkamp)

Charm Pack Quilt (via: Sew Me) 

Spinners & Hourglasses (via: Stash Bee)

I love the pops of color each quilt offers and the texture the quilting brings out too. It was a tough decision but in the end I went with the Improv Spinners and Hourglass! 

Easy DIY Improv Spinners & Hourglass Baby Quilt

As someone who loves sewing and quilting I have an overflowing and growing fabric scrap bin and I knew this quilt would help me use up some of these scraps of fabric that I already have on hand. 

What I discovered while using the fabric from my scrap bin was the small bits of leftover fabric I used for this baby quilt were from the fabric I had used when making two baby quilts for my sister's first two kids. I love how each child's quilt has some of the same fabric bits in them. It kind of ties them all together - like a little sibling quilt family!

I followed the instructions for the improv spinners and hourglass block pattern from the Stash Bee  and I found her tutorial to be super easy and fun and I totally recommend it if you want to give this quilt block a try! 

The biggest tip, which the tutorial mentions is to make sure you sew your spinner fabric (the colorful long piece) to the same side of your base fabric on each square of the base fabric. This ensures that each spinner comes together and you don't have a random spinner blade facing the wrong way! 

I found that the most handy sewing tools, besides a sewing machine, to have on hand when making this quilt is a rotary cutter, self healing cutting mat and a straight edge like a quilting ruler (I couldn't find mine!!) or a wood ruler. There will be a ton of trimming for each block and it went really fast using a rotary cutter! I also used my iron and ironing board a lot to iron down the spinners and hourglasses as I made the blocks. 

For my base squares I used three different neutral color fabrics - white, oatmeal and light gray cut into 5" squares. The tutorial from Stash bee recommends using four but I didn't have an extra neutral color on hand. I also made extra white squares so that each quilt block of four squares had two whites that I sewed diagonal to each other.

 

While making each square I did not make each spinner blade or hourglass triangle the same size. I kind of eye-balled it depending on the print fabric I was using. I wanted that "wonky" look for each of the spinners and hourglasses. 

After I was done sewing the long spinner side an the small hourglass sides onto the base squares, I sewed four completed squares together into one full quilt block making sure the spinners and hourglasses all had mismatched fabric touching each other. Then I laid out all the completed blocks on my floor and placed them into the pattern I wanted for the final quilt. 

I had to do a lot of rearranging to get it just right but once I was satisfied with the placement of the blocks I began sewing the blocks together. I ended up with 5 full blocks across by 5 blocks down. 

After the blocks were done and all sewn together, I decided last minute to add some white sashing all around the border of the quilt sides. I wanted to make sure my binding stood out from the quilt blocks and the only way I could do this was to use plain white sashing.  

The back of my quilt is a print I found in a gender neutral mustard yellow color with white geometric lines that form mini crosses all over. I love the subtle cross theme because this is a child I will be praying for regularly and I like knowing that he or she will be covered in little crosses when they are sleeping. Sweet dreams baby!

Because there are lots of colorful spinners and hourglasses all over the quilt I wanted to make sure the quilting didn't distract from the design so I decided to quilt just a few diagonal lines through the squares and then I also quilted in the ditch around the perimeter of the quilt sashing. 

For the border I really wanted to give the quilt a pop of pattern so I used a black and white gingham print fabric. I cut the fabric into 2 1/2" long strips and made my own binding. I followed the tutorial from Simple Simon and Company  for making your own quilt binding. Their tutorial is easy to follow and has a ton of pictures! 

Here is my finished quilt!!

The finished quilt measured 50" x 50". I am super happy how it turned out! It was such a fun project that whipped together in no time at all. This certainly has become one of my favorite baby quilts and I'm sure I will be using it again in the future when I need to make another baby quilt. 

More Great Beginner Quilt Projects

New hobbies are fun but sometimes they can feel a little overwhelming. If you are new to sewing and quilting but not sure what you need to really get started I put together a super helpful post with the 10 Must Have Sewing Supplies For The Beginner you should check out. 

Are you looking for a simple beginner sewing or quilting project? I have the best beginner projects just for you! 

This rag strip baby quilt is fun to make and very forgiving especially if you are new to sewing and quilting (check out the full tutorial by clicking on the link below the picture) 

How to Make a Rag Strip Quilt

Here is another great beginner quilting project that is super forgiving too! The end result is beautiful and makes for a great gift. I keep a bunch of ready made blank quilted patchwork notecards on hand for those times when I need a simple little gift for a friend or I need to write a short thank you note. 

Patchwork Quilted Note Card Tutorial

I love this little Christmas tree quilt block. I used mine to make little Christmas ornaments to give to my sisters as gifts but they could also be used to make a full quilt. Just increase the block size and then sew them together for a full quilt top. This would look nice on a guest bed during the winter!

Patchwork Christmas Tree Quilt Block

Happy sewing & quilting my friends. I look forward to your amazing creations. Please share your favorite quilt block ideas with me in the comments. Also, if you have any questions about my Improve Spinners and Hourglass quilt please leave a comment and I will get back to you right away. 

via: Fat Quarter Shop

4 Super Cool STEM Project Kits For Middle Schoolers

Hands on learning can be one of the best ways to inspire, teach and reinforce concepts your child is learning at school. Simple projects that are fun to do make learning seem like...FUN! 

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) may sound a bit boring to your middle schooler but it doesn't have to be especially when they can make something cool all on their own! 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Don't worry Momma, pulling together some easy STEM learning activities for your middle schooler doesn't require you to be an expert. Even if you don't consider yourself "math-y" or a science gu-ru you can enjoy these cool activities right along with your kid - you might even learn something too! 

Here is a little secret I discovered that helps me introduce STEM projects to my curious middle schooler - monthly subscription boxes! If you have never used a monthly subscription box before let me tell you our experience and encourage you to try one for your child too.

My oldest son gets a monthly STEM kit with a new project every month. The box is full of all the supplies needed to complete the project (except for things like water, if needed). In addition to the supplies there is an easy to follow instruction booklet that walks him step by step through the entire project or experiment. 

He is in 6th grade and is able to build or assemble most monthly projects on his own. The kit usually has a magazine specifically discussing how the STEM project he learned about is useful in everyday life. For example if he builds something with a circuit board then the magazine will highlight how circuit boards are used by engineers or scientists in the "real world". 

The kit always comes with video links for him to watch too so he can observe the project being assembled as well as other video clips to teach more about the specific topic he is learning about that month. 

The monthly kit has become a springboard for my son's curiosity and many times the kit also has some "on your own" experiments he can do in addition to the project he already built with the kit. This is the only time I might have to add a few items to my weekly shopping list so that he can work on the additional projects. 

By now you are probably asking yourself what is the best monthly subscription box to get my middle schooler? The good news is that there are so many options and most subscription box companies offer a one time purchase option so you don’t have to commit to a longer period of time in case the kit isn’t the right “fit” for your child.

I recommend giving a few different companies a try that way your child and you can get a good feel for how projects are presented and what works best for your child. 

I want to share with you my top 3 recommendations for monthly subscription box STEM kits we use for our homeschool and for fun. 

Hopefully this will inspire you to introduce STEM concepts to your children and encourage them to learn something new and exciting!

4 Super Cool STEM Subscription Box Projects For Middle Schoolers

1.    CREATION CRATE (ages 12+)

Build your own Tech! Each project teaches new lessons in electronics and C++ programming. Projects get more challenging as you learn new commands and components.

What You Get: 

All of the electronic kits are going to be different depending on the project, but the 3 main things you will receive are:

• An UNO R3 microcontroller, which is like a pocket-sized computer (and is also Arduino compatible)

• Various electronic components

• Access to online courses

Each kit encourages hands on learning experience with UNO R3 (arduino compatible) Microcontrollers, Breadboards, Piezo Buzzers, Light Emitting Diodes (LED), Ultrasonic Sensors, Accelerometers, 7-Segment Displays, LCD screens, Microphone Modules, Temperature Humidity Sensors, LED Matrix’s, Photoresistors, Buttons, and Jumper Wires.

Whew! Doesn't that sound like an amazing STEM kit? Great for a beginner and just as fun for anyone with some experience too. You won't go wrong with this subscription box.

2. TINKER CRATE (ages 9-16)

These STEM kits help develop learning and inspire the next generation of innovators - your child! All types of learners will benefit and have FUN from the concepts presented in each crate through enriching projects and activities. 

My kids love that each awesome project has a detailed step-by-step blueprint instructions they find easy to follow. The online tutorials contain many tips & tricks to help them along the way too! 

After the main project is completed the Tinker Zine (magazine) has additional science experiments and activities for your child to do. 

3. EUREKA CRATE (ages 14+)

 

Science + Engineering = Amazing Projects and that is exactly what your child will get each month with the Eureka crate by KiwiCo. This kit will encourage your tween/teen to think about the design and the engineering behind everyday objects and allow them to explore the science principles behind real-world problems. Enspire your young innovator to get busy building their next chapter with creative confidence!

4. Dexter Industries Robot Kit

Awesome robot kits for everyone!! This is the perfect robot kit for your middle schooler or high schooler who wants to experiment with robotics. Building and learning with this kit will inspire and encourage your child to go further with robotics.

Three different robots with three different levels of difficulty provide plenty of challenge for your child as they work their way through the curriculum.

STEM Kits - What Is Your Favorite?

I hope you now have some great STEM kit ideas for your middle schooler (or high schooler). These kits make great gift ideas for Christmas or birthdays too! I'd love to hear which kit your middle schooler loves - leave a comment and join the conversation.

How to Make Round Fabric Coasters - Quick & Easy Sewing Tutorial

Looking for a quick and easy sewing project that is actually useful? Then you should make some fabric coasters a.k.a mug rugs! They are not only cute and cozy but super practical too! 

The best part is they whip up really fast and are easy to make. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. 

Since these coasters are fabric they won't scratch your table and because they are three layers thick, you won't have to worry about those awful rings left behind on your wood table from a sweaty glass. 

The coasters I made are reversible too so you can mix up the fabrics you like to match your room decor. 

This project is perfect for an experienced sewer or a beginner so let's get sewing shall we?

Quick & Easy Fabric Coaster Sewing Tutorial

Supplies Needed:

• 1 piece (piece A) of cotton (home decor*) fabric 5" x 5" 
• 1 piece (piece B) of cotton (home decor) fabric 5" x 5" 
• 1 piece cotton flannel fabric 5" x 5"
• sewing thread
• sewing machine
• scissors
• iron & ironing board
• piece of paper, tape, pencil & 5" piece of yarn/string

* home decor or upholstery fabric is a sturdy fabric that is used to cover furniture or to make throw pillows with. Make sure it is cotton so that you can iron it.

Step 1 - We need to create a perfect circle in order to make our circle coasters so the first step is to create a circle template using the paper, pencil and string or yarn. I like the size of my coasters to be about 4" in diameter so that most cups or mugs I use will fit nicely on the coaster. 

We need to make our own homemade compass tool (remember those things from middle & high school!!). To make a perfect circle template tape one end of the yarn to the pencil close to the sharp lead tip end. Then put a mark on the yarn at about 2 1/4" to 2 1/2" from the pencil. Put the marked spot of the yarn in the middle of the paper and hold it down with your finger. Take the pencil, pulling the yarn somewhat taught and trace in a circular motion with the pencil on the paper. Do this all the way round until you have a complete circle pattern. 

Cut out the circle and use this as your template for the fabric.

Step 2 - On the wrong side of fabric piece A of the home decor fabric trace the circle pattern and then cut it out. (The template already has a 1/4" seam allowance built into it). Next make a fabric sandwich (see above picture for example) with the remaining pieces as follows:

 

bottom layer - piece B home decor fabric right side facing UP

middle layer - piece A home decor fabric (cut into a circle) right side facing DOWN

top layer - cotton flannel fabric

Step 3 - On the wrong side of fabric piece A make two marks that are 1" apart along the outside edge of the circle. This will be the spot you do not sew so that you can turn your coaster inside out! 

Bring your fabric sandwich over to your machine, place the needle at the first mark you made and sew all the way around the circle using a 1/4" seam allowance. Stop sewing when you get to the second mark. You should have a 1" spot that is not sewn. 

Trim the excess fabric all around the sewn circle making sure not to cut through the stitches. Then turn your sewn circle inside out by gently pushing the fabric through the opening.

Step 4 - Gently iron the coaster, tucking the un-sewn opening back towards the inside of the coaster shaping it as you go.

Step 5 - Sew a top stitch all the way around the perimeter of the coaster making sure to sew the 1" opening closed. 

Step 6 - *optional - I like to quilt (sew stitching) all around the entire area of the coaster to give it lots of stability. This is completely optional. From the picture you can see I used a continuous spiral pattern on mine. To do this I just started sewing about 1/4" from the topstitching, turning the coaster as I sewed continuing to sew 1/4" from all stitches the entire way through the coaster until I got to the center. 

If you don't want a swirl pattern you could just sew across the coaster in several different spots too. Let the fabric print inspire you!

Ta-da! You are all done! Wasn't that so quick and easy. Now you can go make a few more. 

Fabric coasters make a great house warming gift, birthday present or Christmas present for that hard to shop for friend or relative. Plus who doesn't love getting a handmade gift?

If you aren't able to make your own fabric coasters you can find some that I made in my Etsy shop Sapucha! I love custom orders too  - so if you don't see a pattern or fabric that you like shoot me a message and we can chat about finding just the right pattern for your needs. 

More Fun & Easy Sewing Tutorials and Projects

Have you caught the sewing bug yet? If you did here are some more easy sewing tutorials I'm sure you will like too:

• Rag Strip Quilting Tutorial For Beginners

• How To Make Quilted Patchwork Notecards

• How to Make A Protective Fabric Face Mask

 

Remember to PIN This Project For Later - and FOLLOW me on Pinterest for more great tutorials, crafts and DIY's

25 Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Boys

Are you stuck trying to come up with awesome stocking stuffer gifts for the little - or big boy in your life? No worries, I've put together a helpful list of 20 super cool toddler to teen BOY stocking stuffer gift ideas they will love. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Stocking stuffers are those smaller-sized gifts that can be just as exciting as the gifts placed under the Christmas tree. 

From toddler to teen all boys enjoy stocking stuffer gifts! In fact, my two boys' favorite Christmas tradition is opening their stockings first thing Christmas morning - even before we eat breakfast!

When my boys go to bed on Christmas Eve they always notice their empty stocking hanging limply from the garland-covered stairway railing knowing the next morning that the small ribbon it hangs from will be taught and straining from the overflowing gifts packed inside. 

I love hearing their squeals of excitement as they take down their stocking and wait for the rest of the family to get up and join them in the living room. 

If you are in need of some stocking stuffer suggestions my list of 20 Awesome Stocking Stuffers for Boys --toddler to teen will give you plenty of good ideas your boy(s) will love.

25 Awesome Stocking Stuffer Ideas For Boys

Stocking Stuffers for Infant Boys:

Your little bundle of joy is sure to enjoy these ideas that encourage your baby to explore this new world around him.

1 - Soft Cloth Activity Books - washable, safe and colorful cloth activity book encourages your little guy to explore his new world. Read the stories to him and then let baby look, chew and explore the pages. 

2 - Non-Skid Anti Slip Crew Socks - stockings aren't complete without a new pair of socks! These little socks are anti-slip, perfect for early walkers or little ones who are pulling up to a standing position. Keep their tootsies warm this winter with these cute crew socks. 

3 - Silicone Cookie Teether Toy - BPA free silicone teething toy perfect for your little guy to gnaw on! Relieve the pain of teething and provide a little entertainment for baby boy. 

4 - Solly Baby Knotted Hat - keep that little head warm with this cute little knotted hat. Super soft and cozy this hat will fit size newborn to 6 months. 

5 - Baby Bandana Drool Bib Set of 3 - 100% cotton super absorbent and made with fun prints this bib is perfect for a drooling baby. Comes with an attached teething toy to bring comfort and entertainment to your little guy. 

Stocking Stuffer for Toddler Boy

Active and on the go probably describes your growing toddler. Keeping that in mind, these stocking stuffer ideas are highly durable and encourage fine motor skills.

6 -  Bath Tub Crayons - perfect for the little boy who is always active even during bath time. Keep him occupied while mom tries to wash him up! Let your boy draw his masterpiece on the bath tub walls while he soaks in soapy warm water. 

7 - Play Doh - a classic toy that helps build those fine motor skills while he mashes, molds and sculpts. Perfect stocking stuffer idea for your little guy!

8 - Kinetic Sand - feels like summer all year long when your little boy plays with this kinetic sand. Let him build castles and other fun creations with this sand. Store it in a sealable container for more fun play all year long. 

9 - Little People Animal Friends - stuff his stocking with his favorite farm animals with these Little Peoples animal friends. Great toy to promote play and learning at the same time. 

10 - Wood Lacing Toy - a solid lasting toy perfect to help your little guy improve his fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. Let him lace up and untie this fun toy. Classic and fun this toy is sure to be a hit with your boy!

Stocking Stuffers for Elementary Boys

Learning about the world through creating, building and active play your young elementary age boy is growing quickly. 

11 - Crayola Twistables Crayons Coloring Set - 50 bright and inspiring colors your young guy will love! Let their imagination go wild coloring or drawing with this fun set of crayons. 

12 - Creativity For Kids Paper Airplane Squadron Kit - let your curious boy build his own set of 20 paper airplanes using easy to follow instructions with cool airplane pattern paper and then launch them all over the place!

13 - Super Silly Jokes For Kids - your fella will be laughing his head off - and so will you, from these funny and clean jokes! Over 200 jokes for kids this book will keep him entertained for hours. 

14 - UNO Minecraft Card Game - what can be better than UNO Minecraft cards? I'm sure your son is going to love this game and the cool pictures on each card. 

 

15 - Flashing LED Light Up Gloves - these gloves are just too fun! LED light up gloves have five colors and six light effects. He is going to have a blast wearing these cool gloves this winter!

Stocking Stuffers for Tween Boys

16 - Kanoodle Puzzle Game - 2-D & 3-D brain teasing puzzle with 200 puzzle challenges. Comes in a small carrying case to hold all 12 game pieces. 

17 - Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty - colorful, squishy and always fun, this putty will be a favorite stocking stuffer this year! Grab a 3 pack bundle of Super Sky Mini Tins including the Nightfall (hypercolor), Aurora Sky (glow) and Super Star (illusion) to put in his stocking. Fun for the whole family.

18 - Secret Spy Invisible Ink Pen Set - craft a secret message and share with a friend or sibling. Messages can only be decoded with the pen's UV light. Colorful, fun and easy to use! 

19 -  Special Message Socks - is your tween boy a gamer? Let him prop up his feet to show off this funny video gaming message! He is sure to get a kick out of these socks this year.

Stocking Stuffers for Teen Boys

He is almost all grown up but he still loves to play games, listen to music, hang with friends and enjoy other hobbies in his free time. These great stocking stuffer ideas will blow him away this year!

20 - R.Y.Toys Rubix Cube Rotate & Slide Puzzle - a logic toy and puzzle all in one! 

21 - Roller Ball Drawing Pen Set - Does your teen boy love to doodle or draw? These needle point, easy gliding pens are exactly what he needs to make his masterpiece with. Arteza brand fine tip, roller ball and even flowing ink all make these pens the best quality you can find. 

22 - Leather Bifold Wallet  - your young man will need a grown-up style wallet now that he is a teen! RFDI blocking bifold wallet keeps his money and electronic debit or credit cards safe and secure.

 

 

 

23 - New Driver Metal Keychain - an encouraging message for the special boy in your life stamped onto this metal key chain makes for a great stocking stuffer idea! 

 

24 - Apple Airpods Pro - small in size but powerful in sound these airpods are exactly what your teen wants this year! He will never believe that this amazing gift is a stocking stuffer. 

25 - Fitbit Versa Smart Watch - whether your teen boy is an athlete or not this Fitbit watch will help him track his activity each day as well as many other useful features. Slip this into his stocking this year and watch his face light up!

 

It is a lot of fun shopping for boys! Hopefully, these great stocking stuffer ideas will help you save time when you are shopping. 

Happy Shopping - and Merry Christmas!