it’s that time again

with the 2010 college football season just 2 WEEKS AWAY i once again have orange and blue fever.  if you remember this post from last football season then you know i’m a huge auburn fan. 

here are some more images that i found for this year that will hopefully get you in the mood for some auburn football!

…or, if you aren’t an auburn football fan, then just sit back and enjoy the pretty orange and blue images.

{image – here}

{image – sarah richardson}

{image – here}

{image – southern living}

{image – southern living}

{image – tobi fairley}

{image – james michael howard}

WAR EAGLE!!!

LiveJournal Tags: auburn football,james michael howard,tobi failey,southern living,sarah richardson,college football

DIY Laminated Alphabet Flashcards

My 2.5 year old daughter, Savannah, is really into her alphabet lately.  She loves to sing the ABC song and can identify most of her letters (I'll take credit for the song, but I really think Sesame Street has helped her along her way with the letters).  I thought I would take advantage of this little ABC phase she is going through and make her some fun little flashcards.

Jill from Homemade by Jill posted these adorable Alphabet cards on her blog as a free printable.  When I saw this post pop up in my reader, I knew I must do something for Savannah with these cutie little cards. 

So I decided to print the alphabet cards, laminate them, cut them into flashcard size and put them all on a big binder ring.  Did you know that you can laminate things yourself at home?  Well, you can and it is SO easy and fun!!

This is the product I bought from my local Office Max store.  These are self-laminating sheets for laminating things at home.  You just peal off the back of the laminating sheet, then you place your sheet of paper or whatever you are trying to laminate on top.  Then peal off the back of another sheet and place it on the opposite side of whatever you are laminating.  It was ridiculously easy and a fraction of the cost of what it would have cost me to have these all laminated at Kinko's or some other store.  Plus I have a bunch leftover for other projects!

After I laminated each sheet of paper, I used my handy paper cuter to cut each card to size.  If you don't have a paper cutter, I would highly recommend you get one.  You can use it for so many different things, it also makes perfect cuts, and definitely makes your projects move much quicker than using traditional scissors.  Look for a 40% off coupon to Joann's or Michael's and they end up being very reasonably priced.

After I cut each card, I punched a hole in the left-hand corner and slid them all onto a binder ring.

Now we have a lovely set of alphabet flash cards ready to use!  I'm hoping the laminating will make them last longer.  Also, I think keeping them on a binder ring will save my sanity.  We have some other sets of flashcards and they end up all over the house which drives me crazy - hopefully this will keep them all together in one place!!

Thanks, Jill, for putting together this wonderful printable!

Cottage Mama's Note:  These would be great for an infant learning their first words too.  Then, when they get a little older, they can focus on learning their letters.  I think I will be making a set for numbers and a bunch of other learning topics.  So fun and easy!

The Cottage Mama's Favorites: Sewing Books

Sewing books and cook books - two of my most favorite things!  It might sound totally dorky, but give me a glass of red wine and a good sewing book to dive into and you've got my idea of a great evening!  I will never have too many nor ever get tired of looking at either of these genres of books.  They are so incredibly inspiring and constantly compel me to create.

Luckily for me, my local library does a great job of keeping up with the newest book releases in sewing and crafting.  Sometimes it might take me a few weeks to get my hands on a new release (or a few months if it's Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts), but usually the wait is not too long.  Though I am a huge fan of the library (you can find us there weekly), sometimes there are books that you just want to own.

I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you.  These are my go-to books, the ones that I refer to time and time again.

Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner.  I love this book for several reasons.  One, I think it has an amazing amount of basic information for the beginning sewer, but it also has new tips and tricks for even the advanced sewer.  I am constantly using this book as a reference (it's on my night-stand as we speak).  And two, the photography is gorgeous.  I love looking at all the fun projects (which include organization, home decor., clothing, fashion, baby items) made from gorgeous fabrics.  There are super-simple projects to advanced projects and some really great out-of-the-box ideas.

One Yard Wonders.  This book is FULL of projects (over 100) and they all take one-yard of fabric or less.  I don't think I have ever seen so many projects or ideas in one book.  The book includes pattern pieces for all the the projects (which like I said, is a lot!).  Such a fun book for someone who is looking to get into sewing.  Would be a really great gift for a teenager or young-adult as many of the projects are fun and hip.

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross.  This is a book that I love, but I do not own.  I am constantly checking this one out of my local library.  I love it (don't ask me why I haven't purchased it yet).  The projects are for beginning to intermediate sewers.  Most of the projects are small on the amount of time that they take to complete (hence the title of the book), so if you are what I like to call, a "finisher" (those that wish they enjoyed the process of sewing, but really just like to see the end result), you will love this book!  Heather uses some of the most gorgeous fabrics and the photos are serious eye-candy.

Next to Anna Maria Horner, this is my other go-to reference book.  Bend-the-Rules with Sewing by Amy Karol has a wealth of information for the beginning sewer.  Everything from understanding different types of fabric, to sewing needles, embroidery stitches, how to sew on different types of buttons, making your own bias tape, and the list goes on!  My only issue with this book is that is does not include pattern pieces.  In the back of the book there are pictures of pattern pieces, but she instructs you on how large to blow them up and you have to get them printed somewhere.........not my favorite.  But I still use this book a ton as a resource and for inspiration.

 
Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan.  I am in love with this book!  It has some of the most adorable little projects I have ever seen.  As most of you know, I love vintage inspired things, so this book has it all.  It's got tons of vintage inspired projects that incorporate modern fabrics and have exceptional attention to detail with little buttons and fun trims.  If you are a fan of rick-rack, bias tape, fabric yo-yo's and all things vintage, you must buy this book!

These are my two favorite serger books (The Complete Serger Handbook and Ready, Set, Serge).  I don't know about you, but the manual that came with my serger (Brother 1034D) really did not tell me much.  I taught myself how to sew and I taught myself how to serge. 

I really think these two books have been my saving grace in regards to learning all there is to know about how to serge and the capabilities of my machine.  I seriously starred at my serger for days before I actually touched it for fear I would mess something up.  These books got me through and they can help you too!


Cottage Mama's Note:  I have a couple other sewing books that should be arriving in the next week, so if I love them, I'll be sure to let you know!

I do have two Amy Butler books, In-Stitches and Little Stitches for Little Ones and these are two I would not recommend unless you are an advanced sewer.  I find some of the instructions to be confusing and the projects use a TON of supplies (i.e. different types of interfacing, lots of fabric, ect.).  The pictures are beautiful, but I haven't found the projects to be worth the time and effort.  In my opinion, I would check these out from the library first to see if they work for you and your sewing style.

What are some of your favorite sewing books?  What's on your wish list?