Yoda Onesie & Rattle

I know my last post was about Star Wars, I just can't resist. Actually it took my best friend to have a little boy to get me to do more shirts. And what did I make him?

A Yoda Onesie & Matching Rattle

I found the idea {HERE}. She makes incredible Star Wars shirts; Leia, Chewy, Boba, etc. and they're super cute. The problem for me was the price, when I knew I could make it too. So I bought felt, wonder under, and created my own pattern.

After I made the front, I added something to make it different. The other famous quote from the green jedi master.
Courtesy of a little bit of Freezer-Paper magic.

I'd share it, but I don't want to seem like I'm taking away business. Instead, I'll give some tips.

• Use things around your house to match the shapes for yoda. I used a bowl, bobbins, spools.
• Make a pattern out of paper FIRST before you trace or cut your felt.
• Remember to do the face details BEFORE fusing it to the shirt (or sewing the rattle).
  
• Wonderunder is your friend. My iron plays nice with WU when I set in on the cotton blends setting. First step (fusing WU to the piece) says 3-5 seconds--- count on 5. Wait until it cools down to pull it off. If when you start to pull, set it back under the iron. With the second step (WU to fabric) have the damp cloth (I use old kitchen towels) and I iron it in 10 second intervals; I check every 10 seconds to see if it's fused. Iron until completely fused.
• Work from the bottom up. Here's the order: dark brown middle piece, ears, robe (sand-colored) pieces, head, cane, hands.
• You can sew in on with a machine, but I don't recommend it. I like the detailed look of the blanket stitch.
  

One more Star Wars themed post, something for the budding space pilot.

Linking {HERE}

I'm also attempting to enter this:




maybe it'll give me more 'posting' motivation...

Motivational Yoda Plaque

The Hubs and I are rather big Star Wars fans (my inner-nerd loves to come out occasionally).

So big, in fact, we dressed up as the whole Skywalker clan for Halloween last year. Hubs was Anakin (pre-Darth Vader), I was Amidala (Clone Wars pre-carefully placed rips), and the kids were Luke and Leia.
Yes, we're training our kids to enjoy the certain galaxy far far away. They may or may not be able to hum the theme. They can.

A couple days before Father's Day (I know, a little late on the posting about it, Amber!), I had a BRILLIANT (easy and inexpensive) idea for a gift.


This has got to be one of Yoda's most famous lines. We quote it all the time to each other when we say 'I'll try.'

Gather It:

• 6x12 wooden plaque (I got mine at Michaels)
• Grey Acrylic paint
• Key Lime & Black Vinyl (or similar colors in paint--- got my vinyl at Expressions Vinyl)
• Silhouette, Cricut or Exacto Knife
• Small L brackets
• Glue or 3M stickers

Create It:

1. Paint the plaque. I did a couple coats and I left a little wood showing because I wanted it to look a little rundown, like Yoda.
2. Cut the vinyl. I used my Silhouette and the font SF Distant Galaxy. For the Yoda image, I found a pumpkin stencil, imported it into my software and traced it to get our favorite green Jedi Master. I'll email you the doc, if you have a Silhouette and want to make your own.
3. If you don't have a Silhouette, I email you the stencil to cut out with your exacto knife... win win. Print the stencil and then trace it onto your vinyl and carefully cut the pieces out.
4. Take all of the negative vinyl out and use some transfer paper (glorified masking tape--- you didn't hear that from me) to 'transfer' the vinyl to the board. I applied Yoda first and then the words on top of him.
5. In order to get it to stand, secure the L-Brackets on the back bottom corners with 3M tape or glue.

Voila! Your local Star Wars fan will now of daily force inspiration. Hubs took his to work and it's displayed where everyone can see it when they walk in. (Personal victory because He LIKED it!)

Linking up {HERE}

Take the Money & Run

A new reality game show premieres tonight on ABC at 9/8c. The premise is pretty cool. The contestants have an hour to hide $100,000. After the hour is up, they get arrested and it's up to another team, made up of law enforcements officers, to find it in the following 48 hours. If the law finds it, they keep it; if not, the hiders get the cash.

Working with the law team are two professional interrogators, the only series regulars, and one of them is my Father-in-law. Here's a clip of him at work:



It's really surreal for us, especially my husband. Imagine seeing your step-dad (or Dad or Grandpa) on a reality show and then you might understand how he feels. We've never had a chance to see him in Detective mode. The kids even get excited when they see Grandpa on a commercial. It'll be fun too see him in action.

So, if you need a show on tonight while you work on your latest craft, watch Take the Money and Run.

And ask yourself the question, where would you hide the cash?