Jenny, Author at Everything's Famtastic

October 15, 2020May 22, 2024

Sewing Project: How to Sew Your Own Layered-Look Shirt

Otherwise known as:

SOS! Help! I don’t have enough fabric to finish my sewing project! What can I make with my leftover fabric?!?

Have you ever made plans to sit yourself down and finally take care of a sewing project you’ve been pushing back for a while?

You grab the fabric. Maybe you bought it a long time ago. Maybe you were given it from a friend. Perhaps it was some leftover pieces from another project or even another item of clothing you wished to upcycle.

*Gasp!* The fabric pieces are not large enough to complete the sewing project as you imagined it. Oh no! What to do?!?

This is EXACTLY what happened to me the other week! A lovely acquaintance of mine gifted me some pieces of fabric and immediately Miss 12 claimed 2 of them as her own, implying that I should conjure up a long-sleeve shirt for her. At the last minute though, we realised that the fabric she wanted me to use for the long sleeves wasn’t quite long enough!

Have no fear! Not all was lost. Us creative types often need to modify our project plans, right? My daughter did get her long sleeve shirt, but in a new and funky, layered-look.

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Are you intrigued how I did it? This post is going to walk you through the steps to turn a feared fabric shortage into a perfectly cool, one-of-a-kind shirt.

July 2, 2020November 3, 2021

The 3 Ps of Plane Travel with Children: Useful Tips for Flying with Kids

School summer holidays are starting. The kids are buzzed about summer break. The last months have been pretty intense. It’s time to get away and see something other than those same 4 walls. What are you going to do?

If you’re likely to be staying around home for the next few weeks (thank you, COVID-19), take a look at this seriously cool list of summer boredom busters, put together by real live, actual kids 😊.

Or perhaps you’re looking to cram the car full and hit the road on a road trip with the fam? Have a read of this road trip planner and make sure you’ve not forgotten a single thing to keep the kids happy and occupied in the back seats!

But what about if you’re thinking of even bigger plans for travelling with the kids this year?

I can help you out with planning for that too! And no, I am not talking about getting on a cruise ship…

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June 4, 2020June 26, 2021

The One Sewing Trick That Will Save You Time

Who loves a good time-saver?

**raises hand and yells “Me! Me! Me!**

Life is busy enough already, what with work and kids and managing the household and keeping everyone fed and healthy. And then on top of that you need to get in some time for yourself.

When sewing is your thing and you’ve finally been able to sit down with your machine you want, no NEED, to be able to use your time as effectively as possible. Who wants to waste time chopping and changing between 2 or more of the same projects?!?

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Do you know what I mean? When you have decided to sew multiples of the same thing, like those DIY Fabric Face Masks during Corona virus times. (I have now sewn close to 100 😳). Or fun easy-sew bean bags for the kids. Once you’ve gotten started on one, you may as well just plough through at least a few others at the same time.

I really wish I had known of this trick a while back as it not only saves you time, but also your thread! How cool is that?!?

Allow me to show you exactly how it works and you’ll be zooming through your next sewing projects in no time! Let’s go!

May 21, 2020May 17, 2024

How to Sew Easy-Breezy Bean Bags

If you thought last week’s headband sewing project was super simple, then have I got another treat for you today!

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Many children are unexpectedly at home lately. Parents and teachers alike are doing their best to ensure our kids are being entertained, educated and well-cared for.

What do your kids enjoy doing in their spare time lately? Mine? Reading, reading and more reading. I had published 2 posts a while back with book recommendations for girls (co-written by my daughters 😉) which you can check out here and here if you need some new children’s book recommendations.

My children don’t need any more book recommendations for now, say I. Some days my kids just need pretty strong encouragement to get outside and moving in the fresh air. Which is why I was so happy when the high school sports teacher started sharing basic sports activities online and delivered a pair of bean bags to my eldest daughter to get her equipped.

Looking at those bean bags, I thought to myself “I can make them too!”. Voila! New sewing project undertaken and several other children made happy.

And now I am sharing with you this easy sewing project. No, not easy. Easier than easy. Beginners can make these. Experienced sewers can make these. Kids can make these.

Ready to get your fun on? Let’s get sewing! And sporty 😉!

May 7, 2020June 26, 2021

Tutorial: How to Sew a Stunningly Simple Headband

Yay! It’s May! The sunshine is warming up. We are grateful for lots of clear blue sky. The flowers are blooming one after the other. Our fruit trees and bushes are showing signs of fruit yet to grow.

Do you want to know what else I love about May??? On the second Sunday in May, it’s Mother’s Day! My Hubby would try and convince me that “every day is Mother’s Day around here”. But we Mamas can see past such flippant comments. We love having a least one day where we are practically guaranteed to get a little spoiled 😉. For all that we do, we Mothers are amazing and deserve it.

Would you like to know the biggest reason why I love May? My younger daughter would try to convince you it’s because it’s her birthday. And while that is lovely, the reason is that in May it’s also MY birthday!!!

Chance of birthday celebrations with friends at the moment due to a certain virus? Zero. ☹

What I can do, however, is celebrate online with you! And because I know that it is not only me busting to get back to the hairdresser to have my roots coloured (I know, #firstworldproblems) in honour of my birthday I am giving YOU a present!

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I am going to show you how to create a super easy headband to cover up those greys for when you can’t get to the hairdresser. Or for when you just want to look cool and carefree anyway! 😉

AND this sewing project will only take you less than 20 minutes! Don’t believe me? See for yourself…

April 23, 2020June 26, 2021

Simple Sewing Tutorial: How to Make a Fabric Face Mask

***This post was updated on 10.06.2020***

There’s no avoiding it these days. Coronavirus.

It’s in the news. It’s all over social media. It’s all anybody seems to be talking about. Perhaps you have been home-schooling the kids and juggling to work from home yourself. And when you do go outside, there are a couple of things that grab your attention.

One: the social distancing thing. You notice that people are trying their best to give every other person around them extra space. That shopping queue looks so verrrry long, but actually it’s just the space between each human.

Two: the face covering thing. Here and there and in ever increasing numbers, you see people wearing face masks. Some wear a simple scarf or bandanna, wrapped around their face and nose. Some wear what looks like professional, fancy blue, medical one. While others cover their face with a mask that would almost make Darth Vader jealous.

Whatever it is that you have noticed around you and in the media, it’s new, it’s strange, and perhaps even a little disconcerting.

For the first few weeks of Coronavirus spreading here in Germany, I held off from sewing a face mask. Would I need it? Would I have to wear it? Would it even help?

But I noticed more and more popping up on people’s faces everywhere I went. And the World Health Organisation altered their original recommendations about wearing face masks. And then there was talk in the media of making face masks compulsory as people gradually return to “real life” after lockdown.

***Updated*** From 27th April, 2020 face masks DID become compulsory on public transport across Germany. As businesses have begun opening up again, in many states it is also compulsory in shops, restaurants, hairdressers, health providers, post offices etc.

Decision? Time to make myself and my family face masks!!!

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I have had SO many people ask me how I made them, I can’t NOT share this sewing project with you. I will walk you though step by step with plenty of easy-to-follow photos so you can sew a fantastic, fabric, face mask yourself.

You’ll also learn some simple tips and tricks to help get you through sewing a face mask (or 2… or 5… or 10…).

April 16, 2020June 26, 2021

5 Fabulously Fun Ways to Test Your General Knowledge

In this week’s post I am going for something completely different. Not sewing-related, although I am working on a post with simple instructions to sew your own mouth & nose mask. Not how best to learn a new hobby in 5 days (who needs that pressure ?!?). Not even keeping the kids entertained if they’re home from school. (If you want some suggestions for that, you’ll need to read here.)

This is just for you. This one is for the grown-ups. 😊

No, not because it is X-rated! It’s because it’s time for sharing some simple, guilty pleasures for parents who may be struggling with the chance to win a little “me time” lately. Let’s see a raise of hands: Who couldn’t use a little more time to laugh and chill out these days?

Given the circumstances worldwide at the moment, all things online are getting a real workout! I know that sometimes within my own house my laptop’s internet connection drops out and I need to wander around the house to see just how many other family members are sucking the connection dry 😉. For so many of us, it is our only connection to the wider world: to friends and family, to entertainment and learning options, to culture and sport and much more.

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So, in the name of “me time” and/or zoning-out-time-wasting I have searched the internet and found you a sample of some fun, free quizzes to give you a laugh. Some of these quizzes will even give those grey cells a workout in these unusual times.

Are you curious? Are you ready for a little fun? Count me in!

April 9, 2020June 26, 2021

Easter Crafts for Kids: Easy Salt Dough Decorations

Most kids are home this week for Easter holidays. The suspense is building. The Easter Bunny and his basket filled with chocolate goodies is just days away. Oh, my children’s (more so for my little guy) excitement is clear to see!

What better way to keep them entertained while waiting for their sugar shock on Sunday morning than with some Easter activities?

The other week I guest posted on Skelly Hodge Podge with some fabulous, felt, easy-sew Easter Bunnies, perfect for little hands to create 😉.

If you’re the sewing type yourself, you and your kids could also try sewing these cute Egg Baskets (my kids especially enjoyed helping with choosing the fabrics and trying out various ways of filling and decorating the baskets 😉).

Today’s family-friendly, easy-peasy craft that I would love to share with you, is how to make Easter ornaments out of dough. Yes, dough! Never though about baking playdough? Well, let me show you how!

April 2, 2020June 26, 2021

11 Simple Steps to Sewing Your Own Easter Egg Basket

With Easter just around the corner and a lot of people having some unexpected time on their hands at the moment, what better way to cheer up your mood and your living space than with a couple of super sewing projects?!?

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This week I was lucky enough to be invited to create an easy, (child-friendly) sewing project as a guest post on the Skelly Hodgepodge blog. You can check out my “Easiest Easter Bunny Sewing Project” HERE. I bet you and your kids will have as much fun sewing these as we did! You know what happens when you start off with just a pair of bunnies, don’t you? Pretty soon there are more popping up everywhere 😉. Kind of like the felt bunnies around our place!

Easter, DIY, Sewing, Sewing Project, Easter Sewing, Crafts, Crafts for Kids, Sewing for Kids

The project that I will be sharing with you in this post though, is something I promised a couple of weeks back: an Egg Basket with space for 5 eggs!

Did you see my tutorial How to Sew an Egg Warmer Basket already? That version had space for 4 boiled eggs to snuggle in all nicely together. This updated version has place for 5 eggs!! Which comes in handy for those of us with larger households. 😉

Don’t just think of this as an Egg Warmer. It’s also the perfect sewing project for Easter. You can hide some coloured eggs inside and use it as a simple table centrepiece. Or for the chocolate fans fill it with Easter Eggs and you’ve got yourself a sweet Easter gift! Mmm, chocolate…

All my detailed instructions and photos are ready to guide you through this easy sewing project. Read on to find out how!

March 19, 2020June 26, 2021

17 Sensational Ideas to Keep Kids Busy When School is Closed (and TV is Not One of Them!)

Wow, how quickly the world changes. One minute your kids are at school and you’re rocking your everyday life. The next- kablam!- you’ve got your kids at home with you all day because the schools and kindergartens and child care centres are closed.

Well, at least that’s how it is for me, here in Germany. How about where you’re living?

In our town it started last week already when the local high schools closed. Then it was ALL schools and kindergartens. And then it was all children’s extra-curricular activities, you know, like sport, music lessons, youth groups and so on. And then all forms of possible entertainment outside of the home, like public libraries, museums, cinemas, zoos and pools. Everyone is being reminded to stay at home as much as possible and not mingle with others. That now rules out organising playdates for the kiddos. The latest news today is that playgrounds are closed too.

Sure, the schools are doing their best to keep up with the changing times and send over some homework for the kids to work through. But it’s not the same (for them or for you) as being out of the house learning for hours and hours every day.

I know a lot of people have been falling back on TV and DVDs to entertain their children at this challenging time. It is certainly a simple and easy way to keep them occupied for a while. Unless they all argue about what to watch and whose turn it is to select the program … 😉

There will be no judgement or finger pointing here. To each his own, as they say. But our kids usually only watch TV on weekends and if we can avoid it, we’d love that they didn’t sit glued to the sofa for hours every day.

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So what’s a Mama with a houseful of kids to do?!? I’ve prepared a list for you of non-TV fun activities to keep your children entertained and happy while school (and pretty much everything else!) is closed for a few weeks. I’ve got your back! 👍