Sumo's Sweet Stuff: February 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

.:Popcorn Party Inspiration:.

Since I didn't get my tutorial project done today, I figured instead I'd share with you some things I'm thinking of doing for my daughter's upcoming birthday party. Then you can all chime in with suggestions or applause. Or both.

Thank goodness for Pinterest is all I have to say! It is a plethora of ideas, and I'm getting really excited for this party. (How is the Remster almost two? That was one fast year!)

** If you are going to pin any of these ideas, please click to the original source before you pin! **

The colors I'm using for her party are hot pink, lime green, and turquoise. Mostly I decided on this combo when I found some dollar wrapping paper at Target. Don't you match your wrapping paper to your party decor?

For decor, I've been buying up ribbon to make a lovely banner behind the popcorn bar like this one. Hers is actually fabric, but I think the ribbon will work just as well.

(Source)

I also want to do a balloon wall like this to take pictures in front of.

(Source)

I'll probably, maybe, make some other sort of banner with Remi's name on it. Maybe.

For favors, I got these little takeout boxes from Oriental Trading in the three party colors. They are much tinier than I was expecting, but that just means people will be getting a little Mother Goose popcorn ball instead of a bigger one. And frankly, people might be popcorned out anyway and thank me for that. I may make some sort of vinyl decal to stick on each of them. Lucy wants in on the party prep.

And then, of course, there is the popcorn.

I stashed a bag of Valentine's M&M's to make this popcorn - the pink will be perfect!

(Source - it's me!)

This cinnamon bear popcorn definitely needs to be involved.

(Source)

Snickers popcorn? How can that be bad?

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This candied popcorn would probably be a hit with all the kids. Plus, it adds some color!

(Source)

I've been wanting to make this S'mores popcorn for awhile. Now I have an excuse.

(Source)

Chocolate and peanut butter popcorn? Okay, I will eat you. Did I say eat? I meant devour.

(Source)

Some of our more health conscious friends (or maybe those who have overdosed on sugary popcorn) might like this trail mix popcorn.

(Source)

And we may want to include something savory, like this herbed garlic parmesan popcorn.

(Source)

And of course, there must be cupcakes. Popcorn cupcakes. I think the kids will love these!

(Source)

We'll also be serving the mini cans of pop out of buckets of ice.

Okay, what am I missing? Any suggestions? Recipes? Tips? Praise?

Well, I guess you can save the praise for after the party is over and it's a huge success. I can wait.

.:Giveaway Winner - Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop:.

Want to know who won the giveaway to Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop?

Go back to the original giveaway post here and see if your name was announced on the Rafflecopter widget.

(It's you if your name is jeanine t.)

Email me at sumossweetstuff@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Congrats!

.:Giveaway - All Those Patterns:.

Today's giveaway is all about patterns!

One of my favorite things!

Maybe you haven't heard about All Those Patterns yet, but you are going to be glad you did.

Here's a little bit more about All Those Patterns:

"All Those Patterns is a website with several PDF Pattern designers and more adding their designs every week! Think of it as a PDF Pattern mall... all of the top PDF Pattern Designers in one location! Whether you are a sewing enthusiast or a brand new crafter you can browse through patterns for quilting, decor, clothing, crochet, knitting, and sewing to find something that will make your heart flutter!"

Isn't it a fabulous concept?

Here is a little sampling of what you can find at All Those Patterns.

Doesn't it make you want to get sewing???

Go ahead and use the Rafflecopter down below to enter the giveaway from All Those Patterns for a $20 gift card!

Keep On Reading »

Sunday, February 26, 2012

.:Market Yourself Monday:.

Happy Monday!

I’m a little late getting this up and going. Which is pretty much an indicator of how this past week went for me. I’m sure you noticed I didn’t quite get Showcase Saturday squeaked out, did I?

You win some, you lose some.

My kids are on round two of a horrible cold, and the amount of snot at this house is nearing inappropriate levels. To top that off, I’ve been dealing with some killer chronic headaches. They started when I was pregnant with Harper, and it almost seems like they are worse now that I’m not pregnant. The usual meds don’t help, but I’ve gotten some recommendations to try essential oils, so I think I’ll give those a try. Relief, please!

So not only are my kids sick, but they have a mommy who is struggling to keep it together and be patient. Not fair, right? Hopefully this week is better.

I do have a project I’m working on, but haven’t finished yet because I didn’t end up having what I thought I had. It fit in perfectly with my week. So, maybe I’ll be sharing it this week, but maybe not until next week. We’ll see what happens.

But just because I haven’t been doing much, doesn’t mean the rest of you are in the same boat! So let’s see what you’ve been working on!

The link with the most views from the first linky list was

Fit Into Your Skinny Jeans Today

(Hello, I totally need this right now! Oh, and maybe to stop pigging out on Easter candy.)

And the link with the most views from the second linky list was

$400 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

(This has been all over Pinterest, it must be good!)

Sorry, only one linky list this week. It's late, I have a headache, I'm tired, and my baby will be up in an hour to eat.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

.:Giveaway Winner - Rachael's Soaps:.

Okay, I'm only a day late announcing the winner of the giveaway from Rachael's Soaps.

You can't win 'em all, right?

If you are

Carleen

then congrats!

Please email me at sumossweetstuff.gmail.com to claim your prize!

Be sure to enter the giveaway for a FIVE pack of patterns from Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

.:Tutorial Tuesday - Bustle Skirt, 1st Edition:.

This skirt makes me happy. Like reeeaaalllly happy. I love the full, fluffy, ruffley look of it. And the best part: it's super easy to make since you use ruffle fabric. As I said yesterday, it’s the same as this bustle skirt, just using ruffle fabric instead of manually making ruffles.

I got to have a sewing nite with some of my friends awhile back, and my dear friend Sarah (whom I refer to often!) made this darling skirt for her little two year old. I about died over the cuteness, and just knew I had to make some for my girls.

Before you go buy your supplies, you need to figure out your skirt. I used this pattern from Whimsy Couture; it's my go-to skirt pattern. So you can use a pattern, or just figure out your own measurements, but either way, you need to know how much fabric to get for the skirt you are making.

Here's what you need:

- fabric

- coordinating fabric for your border (I needed about 1/4 yard for each of my girls)

- ruffle fabric (same length and wide as your back skirt panel)

- elastic for waist band

- sewing machine/accessories

My skirt pattern calls for two main panels, and two waist band panels (both shown folded over, my girls are not that tiny!), so I'll be making my skirt that way in this tutorial. Your skirt pattern may be slightly different, so you can adjust accordingly if you need to!

Cut your coordinating fabric the same width as your panels, and twice the length you want it to be. For any borders, I like to iron it in half so that I don't have to hem it up. Lazy? Maybe a little bit. Plus I like that it weights it down a little bit. So for instance, if your skirt panel is 30" wide and you want a two inch length on your border, then you would cut a strip that is 30" wide and 4" long. Does that make sense? You'll also want to take any length off of your main skirt panels to account for the border.

So here is my front main skirt panel and border.

Take your back main skirt panel and find the middle of it. This will be easy if you've cut on the fold! With it laying width wise, make a small mark about two inches down from the top of the panel.

Fold your panel in half, and use your rotary cutter or scissors to cut a diagonal line from your middle cut, angling down to the bottom corner of your panel. With the panel folded in half, it will be an exact cut on each side.

Here's your back panel now.

Take a strip of border, iron it in half, and pin the raw edges to the raw bottom diagonal edge of one side of your skirt. You could do this in one continuous piece, but I found it easier to do each side separately.

Sew it on.

Repeat this on the other side, and when you get to the middle point, you can continue the stitch to connect the two border pieces.

Where the two borders meet, sew together the raw edges, right sides together. Zig zag the raw edge.

Don't forget to zig zag the raw edge of the entire width of the border as well.

Flip the border down and top stitch the entire width of the border as well.

Cut your piece of ruffle fabric to the same length and width as one of your main skirt panels. Lay it out flat, right side facing up. Lay your cut back panel on top of the ruffle fabric, wrong side facing down and pin together.

Do a gathering stitch along the top of your two pieces of fabric.

Take your front piece, attach your border in the same manner as you did for the back piece, and do a gathering stitch along the top of this panel as well.

Take one of your main panels, and one of your waist panels, and line up the edges, right sides together. If you've cut on the fold, line up your folds and pin.

Evenly gather your main panels on each side of the pin, and pin in place.

Here's what the back panel looks like all gathered and pinned.

Using a regular stitch, sew to the left of your gathering stitch (so that it doesn't show through when you flip the skirt right sides out) to attach the main panel and the waist panel.

Zig zag or serge your raw edges.

Flip the panels right sides out and top stitch.

Here are the front and back panels before they get attached together.

Match up the sides of each panel, pin, and sew together.

Zig zag or serge the raw edge.

Repeat on the other side.

Zig zag or serge all along the top part of your waist panels.

Iron the waist panel down 1" (or whatever measurement you need to for the size of elastic you are using; mine was 3/4").

Sew along the edge, leaving a two to three inch opening to insert your elastic. I also like to do a stitch all along the top of the band as well; I feel like it holds the elastic in place better and prevents it from twisting. Definitely not necessary, though, if you don't want to!