Christmas Stockings

I've been wanting to get custom Christmas stockings, but I just didn't want to spend the money.  Last year I attempted to make stockings and it was an epic fail.  This year, I was determined to try again, and if I failed again I was going to resort to ordering ridiculously overpriced "custom" stockings that wouldn't have been nearly as cute or blended as well with my hodge-podge decorating style.

I went on a Google hunt to find a tutorial that I didn't think I would totally botch.  I came across several, and I finally settled on this stocking tutorial.

It was very easy to follow, and she even has another tutorial on how to do the appliques! Before I began, I wasn't sure how to go about making the names; I didn't feel like cross-stitching them and I don't have a machine that does embroidery.  I was excited to learn this new technique, and I'm excited to use it on other projects too.

New Fitted Diaper

I've had a free pattern printed out for a Little Comet Tails Tighty Whitey Hipster for at least a year now.  I never got to try one for Moose since she potty trained at 21 months.  Today, I finally whipped up a Medium (Monkey is 6 months and ~16 lbs)  and I love it!! (It took some time trying to figure out how to resize the pattern, but I was able to use my copier to do it.)  Monkey is a tummy sleeper, so I thought thought that a side snapping diaper might be beneficial since its less bulky in front. I used an old t-shirt that a co-worker gave me and moved the forklift emblem to the hip.  The best part of this project is that aside from the thread, snaps, and elastic, it was totally upcycled and free! I'm going to start making more asap!!