Archive | Holidays

Green Table Runner

By Holly on 02/27/2016 in Holidays, Holly, Sewing, St. Patricks Day

It’s time to pull out all your green scraps and put them to good use! The other day I whipped up this green table runner that will be perfect for St. Patrick’s Day. Finished size is 21.5 X 21.5 inches. Each clover block measures 9 inches unfinished.

It’s a simple little 4 patch quilt block pattern. I used my scraps, so I didn’t do anything fancy, just cut the squares and sew them together.

Supplies needed:

green scraps of fabric
1/3 yard white fabric
2/3 yard backing fabric (or scraps)
1/4 yard binding fabric
batting

Cutting:

36 – 2.5 X 2.5 inch green squares
12 – 2.5 X 2.5 inch white squares
2 – 1 inch strips WOF of white for clover block sashing
2 – 2 inch strips WOF of white for sashing in between the blocks

There are 2 ways to make the little diagonal clover stem. It is probably easiest to cut squares:

8 – 4 1/8 inch squares of white
4 – 4 5/8 inch squares of green

4 – 4.5 inch squares of white, then cut in half on the diagonal
4 – 6 3/4 inch X 1 1/4 inch strip of green

If you want to stick with squares, mark your diagonal lines on all your white squares. Line up the white square in the corner of the green square and sew down your pencil line. Trim and press seam. Repeat on opposite corner. Then, square up your block to measure 4.5 inches square.

If you choose to just cut strips of green (this way will have less fabric waste), you just need to line up your diagonal seams, which can be tricky. I had to unpick a time or two to get them to line up right. After it’s sewn together, be sure to square up your block to measure 4.5 inches square.

Add your 1 inch sashing in between your clover pieces. Now it’s the fun part. Deciding how to put your blocks together. Here are a few ideas I was playing with.

This time I decided to make a square table topper. Add your 2 inch sashing in between the blocks and you are ready to quilt, bind, wash, and love! I used some green and white scraps to create my backing. I choose to do straight line quilting about 3/4 of an inch apart. I just love how it turned out! Enjoy!

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3 ways to make your Memorial Day more Memorable

By Ashlee on 05/05/2015 in Ashlee, Holidays

What does your family like to do for Memorial Day? Today, I’d like to share with you 3 ways to make your Memorial Day more Memorable.

Memorial Day is usually the last Monday in the month of May each year, and the purpose of the holiday is to remember those who have died for our country. (For more information on Memorial Day, see www.usmemorialday.org)

I have found that Memorial Day is much more meaningful if I know the stories of those in my own family who have passed away.

Talk to your parents or grandparents and ask them questions about their relatives. Learn the stories so you can tell them to your children. President Thomas S Monson once said, “We discover something about ourselves when we learn about our ancestors.” I have found that to be true!

Take the opportunity to visit a cemetery. Explain to your children why there are so many flags and flowers. Find out where your relatives are buried and visit their graves, if possible. Last year I brought my iPad and showed the kids a picture of the person for each grave we visited. I was able to tell stories about each one, and it was really neat.

Whatever you choose to do for your Memorial Day, make sure you do it consistently, each year.

My family has visited cemeteries on Memorial Day weekend for years and years. In fact, I recently found this photo of my Dad’s family doing the same thing. (He’s the little blonde boy!)

And I am trying to continue this tradition with my own family.

Every Memorial Day we have a pancake breakfast after we visit the Cemetery. If you’re looking for a fun breakfast tradition, you could make these Patriotic Pancakes every year!

Whatever your family decides to do, make sure you do it together every year. And don’t forget to take pictures!

I hope your Memorial Day turns out more memorable this year, and every year after!

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Halloween Games for Kids

By Holly on 09/09/2014 in Feebies, Halloween, Holidays, Holly, Kids, Printables

Today I’m so excited to be a part of Cupcake Diaries 30 Days of Halloween! She has all sorts of fun ideas being posted. Be sure to check them all out!

It’s getting to be that time of year again… time to start thinking about the Holidays coming up. Halloween is right around the corner! Do you need some simple Halloween games for kids? I know I will be helping in my son’s Halloween party at school and I love simple games to play with them. This Halloween memory game is easy…. Print, Cut, Play. Let’s do it!

I’ve made two different files for you to choose from. Plain black and white pumpkins are perfect for printing on orange card stock. The cute colored pumpkins would be perfect for printing on white card stock.

Pumpkin Memory Game (to Print on Orange Card Stock)

Pumpkin Memory Game (to Print on White Card Stock)

Be sure to print the file two times so that you have two of every pumpkin, creating 12 matches. Trim off your margins first, then cut the pumpkins apart. If you print on thin paper, you might need to attach the pumpkins to a thicker paper so that you can’t see the pumpkins through the paper.

To play – Mix all your cards up. Place all your cards face down. Take turns trying to find a match.