After School Snacks

We sometimes forget just how long a full day of school is.  Most kids are hungry when they get home from school and moms don't always have the time to put together anything special.  I have put together a few recipes that are quick and easy to whip up and are perfect for your kids to munch on.  I promise that they will be a hit with your kids.  I actually make a few of these to snack on whenever I am hard at work sewing or typing up my blog.  This first one is my favorite.  I actually double the recipe and store it in my handy dandy tupperware and hide it away in the cupboard.....so my husband won't eat it all.      

Motor Mouth Munchies Recipe

Yield: 4-1/2 quarts.

Ingredients

-1 pkg (18 oz) granola without raisins

-1 can (17 oz) mixed nuts

-1 pkg (15 oz) raisins

-1 pkg (14 oz) milk chocolate M&M's

-1 pkg (14 oz) peanut M&M's

-1 pkg (12-1/4 oz) Honey-Nut Cheerios

-1 pkg (8.9 oz) Cheerios

Directions

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Store in a covered container or large re-sealable plastic bags. 

Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup equals 517 calories, 23 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 4 mg cholesterol, 334 mg sodium, 74 g carbohydrate, 9 g fiber, 13 g protein. 

This next recipe won't keep quite as long as the munchie snack mix.  But it's perfect if you like peanut butter and bananas.  It's a tasty treat that will provide your kids with a lot of energy.  

Nana Sticks Recipe

Yield: 6 servings.

Ingredients

-1/4 cup peanut butter

-2 Tbsp plus 1-1/2 tsp honey

-4-1/2 tsp brown sugar

-2 tsp milk

-3 medium firm bananas

-6 Popsicle sticks

-2 crunchy oat and honey granola bars, crushed

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the peanut butter, honey, brown sugar and milk; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Peel bananas and cut in half; insert a Popsicle stick into one end of each banana half. Spoon peanut butter mixture over bananas to coat completely. Sprinkle with granola.

Serve immediately or place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet and freeze. 

Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (1 each) equals 353 calories, 13 g fat (2 g saturated fat), trace cholesterol, 183 mg sodium, 56 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 7 g protein.

 

Here's another recipe that is great to store up on.  I like to double this recipe as well and store it in my pantry.  All you have to do is grab a bowl and fill it up and you're ready for study time!  

Popcorn Snack Mix Recipe

Yield: about 2-1/2 quarts

Ingredients

-8 cups popped popcorn

-2 Tbsp cinnamon-sugar

-1 Tbsp baking cocoa

-1 cup honey bear-shaped crackers

-1 cup broken thin pretzel sticks

-1/2 cup milk chocolate M&M's

Directions

Place popcorn in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, combine cinnamon-sugar and cocoa.

Sprinkle cinnamon mix over popcorn and toss to coat. Stir in graham snacks, pretzels and M&M's.

Store in an airtight container. 

What's to come.....

So now you're set!  You have three new recipes to add to your collection.  They are easy to prep and they are delicious and healthy treats for your little ones to snack on.  Thursday I will have a few more recipes for you.  And tomorrow, I will be showing you how to make Reusable Snack Bags.  So you can cut down on the plastic baggies.  And Thursday, we'll be making Lunch Bags.  So get ready.

Enjoy!

Book Bag Tutorial

Book Bag Tutorial

So this is one of the first things I ever learned how to make back when I was a kid. These little book bags are incredibly simple to make and they are super cute! They are reversible, so you have two bags in one! How great is that? You can adjust the sixe to fit your needs. But for the time being, today we are going to make a cute little book bag for your kids to take to the library or on a field trip. You can come up with so many uses for these bags. You’re going to love this one, I promise!

Materials Needed:

-1/2 yard Printed Fabric for exterior & straps

-3/4 yard Coordinated Print Fabric for trim & lining

We’ll begin by cutting all of the pieces needed for this project.

From the ½ yard of fabric, cut:

2 – 12” x 12” squares

2 – 2 ½” x 20” strips

From the ¾ yard of fabric, cut:

2 – 5” x 12” rectangles

2 – 12” x 16” rectangles

Now we’re ready to begin! We’ll start with your two 12” squares and two 5” x 12” rectangles. Place one square right side up on your workspace. Match one rectangular piece with top edge of your square, right sides together. Match up your raw edges and then pin them in place. Repeat these steps with your other two pieces.

Machine stitch your pieces together using a 1/2 “ seam allowance.

Press your seams open on both exterior panels.

Now place your exterior panels right sides together. Make sure you match up your raw edges. Pin them in place.

Machine stitch around the two sides and the bottom of your exterior panels. Leave your top edge open.

Clip the bottom corners at an angle. Then turn the piece right side out. And set it aside.

For the lining, place your two 12” x 16” pieces right sides together. Pin them in place.

Machine stitch around the two sides and the bottom of your lining panels. Leave your top edge open. Clip the bottom corners at an angle. And set it aside.

Now we’re going to assemble the straps for your book bag. Fold your straps in half lengthwise with right sides together. Press them with an iron.

Next fold the raw edges of your straps inward a ¼” and press with your iron.

Machine stitch around all four sides of your straps.

They should look like this when you have finished:

Now we’re going to attach your straps to the exterior of the bag. Mark 2” in from the side seams of the bag on both sides. At these 2” marks, pin your straps to the exterior of the bag. Match up the raw edges. Make sure that your straps aren’t twisted before you pin them in place.

With right sides together, slip your exterior piece inside of your lining piece. Match up your side seams and straps. Then pin them in places.

Beginning on the inside of one set of straps, machine stitch around the top edge of your bag. Backstitch at each side seam, strap, and at both ends. Leave an opening 3” wide so you can turn your bag right side out.

Almost finished! Turn your bag right side out through the opening.

Next, push the lining inside the exterior of the bag. Then press the top edge flat.

Machine stitch around the top edge of your bag. This will seal your opening and finish your bag.

Guess what, we’re finished! Now you have a fantastic little book bag to take to the library.

Enjoy!

Pencil Case Tutorial

Pencil Case Tutorial

It’s time to go Back-to-School! So I am here to help you prepare. Today I have prepared a quick and easy tutorial for you. We are going to make pencil cases. They are a cute way for your kids to express themselves. The cool thing is, you don’t have to use them as just pencil cases. They are great pouches for storage. So let’s get started!

Materials Needed:

-1/4 yard Printed fabric for Exterior

-1/4 yard Coordinated print fabric for Lining

-9” Zipper

-Pencil Case Pattern

Pencil Case Pattern

We’ll begin by cutting our fabric pieces. Download the pencil case pattern located above. Print out the pdf pattern and cut out the stencil. Cut two pieces from both your exterior and lining fabrics.

Place one piece of your lining right side up, with your shortest edge at the top. Place your zipper right side up, along the top edge of your lining. Make sure that your top edges are aligned. It should look like this:

Next, place one piece of your exterior fabric on top of the zipper. Match the raw edges up with your piece of lining. Then pin your fabric and zipper in place.

Using your zipper foot, sew along the top edge of your fabric to secure the zipper in place. Backstitch at both ends.

Pull your lining and exterior pieces back away from the zipper. Lay the remaining piece of lining right side up, with your shortest edge at the top. Place your zipper right side up, along the top edge of your lining. Make sure that your top edges are aligned. It should look like this:

Next, place one piece of your exterior fabric on top of the zipper. Match the raw edges up with your piece of lining. Then pin your fabric and zipper in place.

Using your zipper foot, sew along the top edge of your fabric to secure the zipper in place. Backstitch at both ends.

It should look like this so far:

Lining:

Exterior:

Pull your lining and exterior pieces back away from the zipper.

Unzip your zipper halfway. Make sure that you do this, so you will be able to turn your case right side out later.

Bring your case’s exterior pieces right sides together matching up raw edges. Pin them together. Repeat these steps with your lining pieces. Make sure that your zipper is folded evenly at both ends.

Next, machine stitch around the edges of your entire case. Begin at the center of your lining pieces and leave a 3” opening so you can turn it right side out. Sew slowly when you reach the zipper and backstitch to reinforce.

Trim off excess pieces of your zipper at each end. With wrong sides out, press the four corners of both your lining and exterior pieces.

Measure 1” in from the tip of each corner. Sew across the tip of each case at the 1” mark. Backstitch at each end.

Trim the corners about ½” from the seam allowance. Almost finished! Turn your case right side out through the hole you left in the lining. Sew the gap shut using a top stitch.

Pull the outer case through the opening in the zipper. Then push the lining into the case’s exterior. Tada! You have just completed your pencil case. Pretty simple, right?

Enjoy!

Back to School Week Begins!

The Backpack Fairy

So, I am going to take a page out of my brother and sister’s book on parenting today. Last week my nieces and nephews started school, a few of them for the first time. And we all know that it can be a little scary for them, it being the first day of school and all. So my family started a little tradition called “The Backpack Fairy.” It’s something so simple and fun for your kids. And it’s a way for you to do something special for your little ones.

So it goes a little something like this….

We all know that we spend tons of time preparing for the first day of school each year. Usually it’s all the same old boring paper, pencils, calculators, etc. So here’s how you spice things up and get your kids excited for the school year. Tell them about the Backpack Fairy. The night before school is supposed to begin, the Backpack Fairy comes to visit all the little boys and girls to bring them something special for their first day of school.

This is where you can get creative! Pick out small things that will light up your child’s day! Something practical and something fun for them to play with and use at school. It’s not too late.

So start your own Backpack Fairy tradition. I can tell you that your children are really going to enjoy it. When my nieces and nephews came to see me when they finished their first day of school, it was all they could talk about. They couldn’t resist telling me about what the Backpack Fairy had brought them. The smiles on their face were priceless.

Enjoy!

Next Week

Back-to-School Week

Guess what time it is….that’s right! It’s time to go Back-to-School!!! Summer is over and it’s time to buckle down and start getting serious again. I know you all had a great summer vacation filled with vacations, long naps, and fun in the sun. I know I did. But summer is drawing to a close and it’s time that we start preparing. Now I know that you are all in a hurry trying to gather up all your school supplies for the first day of school. I have seen the lists, and they seem endless.

Next week , I plan on helping you with your mission. I am in the process of putting together some fun tutorials and recipes that will help you get your little ones prepared for the new school year. You might be wondering what I have in store for you all. So here is a little sneak peek at what is to come….

I have five sewing tutorials prepared so far: Fabric Headband, Pencil Case, Reusable Snack Bags, Lunch Sack and a Lunch Bag. I also have some fun little recipes for after school snacks for your kids to munch on while they do their homework. And that’s not all….I have compiled some great recipes that are quick and easy for you to prepare for your family at dinnertime. I am really excited! Next week should be fun. Because everyone knows that with back-to-school comes the season change. So it won’t be long before we’re celebrating Halloween! My favorite holiday. So get ready, the fun is just beginning!

Enjoy!

Easy Peasy Bias Tape Tutorial

Easy Peasy Bias Tape Tutorial

Here is a quick and easy way to make your own bias tape. I always love to make my own binding, because I think that it adds a little flare. It’s an extra step in the process, but it’s a great way to coordinate your projects.

A Tip: When determining the width of your strips of fabric, first decide how wide you would like your bias tape to be and then multiply that by four. For example, if you would like your bias tape to be 1” wide, then you should cut a 4” wide strip.

Begin by measuring and marking the strips of fabric for your bias tape.

Note: If your project doesn’t require you to bind around corners, then you do not have to cut your binding along the bias. Now cut your strips of fabric.

Place fabric strips right sides together at each end and pin them in place.

Machine stitch your strips together using a ¼” seam.

With a warm iron, press your seams open.

Next, fold your strip in half with the wrong sides together. Press your strip with the iron.

Now open up your strip with the wrong side up. Fold the edges inward toward the crease you just made. Press the sides down with your iron.

Fold your strip in half once again and press with your iron.

Your bias tape should look like this when you have finished. You have just made your own bias tape.

Enjoy!