Tootsie Bear Boutique

Tutorial: Simple DIY Christmas Stocking

2011-12-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make stockings for my kids last year and didn't get around to it...so this year it finally got done! They are so easy and cheaper that way too. I couldn't believe the prices on some I saw in the stores as compared to the cost of making your own, and you can personalize it however you want. So here is my take on a simple DIY stocking. I realize that some people would not need a tutorial for this but it always helps me to have a visual with lots of detail, even for something fairly simple to make.
You will need...
Fleece (1/2 yard is plenty for one stocking, you may have enough for two actually)
Coordinating cotton or fleece in a different color 1/4 yd.
Heat n Bond if you choose to applique, any other embellishments of your choice
Ribbon

I chose fleece for my stocking because it is thick enough that you don't need any kind of lining inside, which meant less work for me! I am not generally a fan of patterns especially when I can just trace around something I already have. I wanted this stocking to be a little smaller so I traced right around the edge with a pen. Even if you don't have a stocking you can just freehand it. Cut through both layers of fleece so you have two matching pieces.

Next you will need to cut two pieces of whatever you want the top of your stocking to be. To do this, I folded my fabric in half lengthwise and cut out the pieces the same width as the stocking. Then I cut the bottom edge so they measured 4.5 inches tall FOLDED in half. Once again, just easier to do it this way.

So you should have 4 pieces cut that look like this:

Next fuse and cut out whatever you are going to put on the stocking - I did a little tree for this one. You may want to lay your top piece on the stocking to see how far down it will come when attached. Iron on to your stocking piece and stitch around the border. Note - it is a lot easier to do this step before you have the stocking all sewn together. Just sayin'. ;)

Pin your stocking and top pieces along the sides, with right sides together, and stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance.

You may want to notch your stocking at the curves just so it will lay nicely when turned right side out. Press the seams of your top piece and fold it right side out. An optional step would be to run a loose basting stitch along the rough edge just to hold it together when pinning. Put the top piece inside the stocking and pin around the edge. Cut about an 8 inch strip of ribbon and fold it in half without twisting. Pin between the stocking and top with the ends sticking out a little bit.

Sew along the edge with a 1/4" seam allowance, turn top out and you are done! Admire your work and go make a few more :)

Hope I didn't leave anything out. This was a fun little project that you can fancy up to your choosing. You could add names, letters, ric rac, pompoms, glitter, rhinestones, whatever your little heart desires. Just have fun!

Tutorial: Easy No-Sew Applique Tote

2011-11-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun and super easy project you can use for all kinds of different occasions, and the best part is, it's cheap and requires NO sewing! I've given these cute little tote bags in place of a gift bag that will get thrown away, and filled them up with goodies - the possibilities are endless and it adds a nice personal touch to your gift.

Here is what you will need:
Canvas tote - can be purchased at Hobby Lobby or other craft stores (the one I used was about $2.99)
Heat n' Bond Ultra
Fabric for lettering
Scissors
Iron
Coordinating ribbon/trim if you want to embellish
Fabric Glue or Hot Glue Gun

First, you will need to decide what you want to put on the bag. A name, initial or shape are some suggestions. You can find coloring pages for just about anything on Google, it's a beautiful thing! Print out whatever you are using, making sure it is the right size to fit on the bag. I use my word processing program and a cute font most of the time. In this case I traced the letters onto the paper with a marker directly from my computer screen.

Next, you will need to trace your letters/shape onto your sheet of Heat n' Bond. You can do this one of two ways: right side on the shiny surface or reversed on the back. Since my fabric is dark I flipped the sheet over and re-traced it on the opposite side, just so I would be able to see it to cut it out.

Place the Heat n' Bond on the wrong side of your fabric and iron on medium heat. It doesn't take a lot to bond it to the fabric so you only need to hold the iron on it for a few seconds.

Cut out your letters/shapes and peel the paper backing off, then align them on the bag where you want to fuse them. Hold the iron down for 8-10 seconds, picking up and moving (not sliding) to fuse the edges of the design to the bag.

That's pretty much it! You can use fabric or hot glue to add ribbons, bows, sequins, or whatever other embellishment you choose. The Ultra Heat n' Bond does not need to be sewn and claims to be washable so you can use this method to personalize shirts or really anything...even if you are not a person who can sew!

As an extra note, if you do sew, just use the Lite Heat n' Bond and straight or zigzag stitch around the edges of the applique to hold it in place. Here is my finished product of what I put inside the bag, I think it turned out really cute and my niece loved it!

Hope you enjoyed my tutorial, I plan to bring you more so please make any requests you may have. I don't mind sharing my secrets!

I'm still here!

2011-06-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a while since my last post. Sorry about that! To be honest, it's been a lot easier to stay updated through facebook, which is quickly becoming my primary point of business. I've debated on whether to keep this blog up and running, but since it's on my business cards I guess it'll stay for now. Maybe someday I will become much more web savvy and actually use this blog!

With that said, I do have something exciting to share, in case you missed it on FB - myself and tons of other crafters have pooled our resources to raise money for the Joplin tornado relief through the Handmade for Hope benefit. You can check it out at my friend Brit's blog: Handmade for Hope.
There are some amazing items available and it only costs $1 per entry! Please take a moment to pass it on to anyone you think might be interested. Thanks!

New Blankets + Christmas + Ordering Info.

2010-11-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody!
It's been busy this past month as I did my first real show at the beginning of November. I was able to get a ton of new items made and wanted to share a few of them with you. First off, blankets. I have two new types of blankets available...

Double-sided minky blankets make a wonderful gift for a new baby. They are amazingly soft and just the right size for snuggling. You can choose from baby pink, hot pink, bubblegum, baby blue, light blue, navy, brown, mint green, kelly green, and ivory. These are available for $18.

I have also started making big flannel blankets. These are great for babies through toddlers as they are made from a full yard of fabric, super soft, yet lightweight and easy to fold up and stick in the diaper bag or stroller. And at $12, you can't beat the price! You can view other examples of both blanket styles as well as new cotton/minky blankets in my baby gifts photo gallery HERE.

A fun part of doing the show was coming up with some Christmas items. I have a whole gallery with all the photos but here are a few of my favorites:

Please browse through my Christmas Collection gallery by clicking HERE. I will be taking orders until December 5th to allow plenty of time for completion and delivery. I will basically be 8 months pregnant at that point and while I have been right on time with my other children, you just never know.

Here's the important part - after December 5th, if you are needing to order anything feel free to contact me. If it is something I already have made up at home or have the supplies I need, I may be able to fulfill your request. I just can't promise anything and do not want anyone to be disappointed if I have to turn them down. I do have some inventory left from the show as well, especially blankets, Christmas items and onesies. I appreciate all of my customers and will do what I can to accommodate any orders or requests I receive. And of course, I'll keep you posted on any baby news!

Need a Costume?

2010-10-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

I have a few tutus available that would make great Halloween costumes (and continue to be played in long after!)

Little miss ladybug - all you need are some black tights, a pair of wings, and of course a matching bow...

Imagine how cute your girl would "bee" in this:

And lastly, if your daughter has future plans to be a pop princess...

As always there are lots of options with these...we could come up with a matching shirt, add bows or ribbons to any of the tutus, and custom size it to fit! Contact me asap if you would like to order anything for Halloween so I will have plenty of time to get it ready.

Updates.

2010-09-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since my last post but I will try to keep this one short and sweet. I have been able to do some great custom orders lately and I appreciate all of you keeping me on my toes and challenging me creatively. That's what I love about what I do! I thought I would share a few of my recent favorites...

These were a lot of fun. A fellow mommy (who I later found out was an old friend from elementary school - small world!) ordered these for her two boys to wear when they met their new baby sister in the hospital. I love the combination of different fabrics and colors and the uniqueness of the finished product. Of course, lil sis needed one too...

These can be customized with whatever colors you like; I can use only one or two fabrics for the letters or make every one different. Onesies and boys T-shirts (short sleeve) are $10; girls T's are $12.

This is the cupcake applique shirt that my little cupcake wore for her first birthday, along with this:

I call it my confetti tutu - it's definitely my personal favorite of the tutu's I have made so far. It's kind of random and crazy with lots of color and little ribbons tied on all over. But that's what I love about it! In my opinion, you have to see it on to get the full effect, it's even cuter in person.

So much for this being a short post! One more and then I'll stop, I promise. One of my loyal customers is taking a Disney trip soon and wanted a special outfit for her daughter to wear. She came to me and I came up with this sassy little ensemble:

My favorite part has to be the little touch of zebra. The ruffle bloomers are available in sizes 0-24 months for $16, in any color combination you request. (I can also make plain diaper covers without the ruffles).

One last note - I am planning on participating in a holiday boutique in early November so I will be making up some items in advance to have available for sale. I'll post the details in the near future, but I would also be happy to set up shop in my living room at any time if you are a person that has a hard time visualizing things and prefers to have your choices right there in front of you. I've thought about doing home parties where I bring my goodies to you...that is on my list of "someday, when I have the time" plans for the moment!

Fall is almost here...

2010-08-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

I am starting to get requests for long sleeve shirts and onesies so I thought it would be a good time to post a quick note about them. Long sleeve onesies are available in the same sizes as short sleeve for $1 more than the price of whatever you are ordering in short sleeve. Make sense? Good. I have not seen the long sleeve t's arrive at Target yet so if you are placing an order with a long sleeve shirt, I will have to wait until they are in stock to get a price set (I don't know if they charge more for the long sleeves or not). I've noticed a shortage of short sleeve girls t's as well, so if you have or plan to order one, I will do my best to find it but it may end up being another brand if Target's are just plain sold out.

Next order of business...did I mention I'm pregnant? Yes, it's true. I am due January 10 with baby #3. I will definitely be taking a maternity leave after Christmas and when I start up again it will be very slowly - I'm still not sure how much I will be able to accomplish with 3 kids underfoot (none of which are in school). It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas gifts you may want to order - the more advance notice I have, the better! I may get to a point before Christmas where I have to stop taking orders so keep that in mind. Not trying to pressure you, just letting you know!

Personal Project

2010-07-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

I am two days away from my beach vacation and so very excited! I wanted to make my baby a cute little outfit to wear and I must say, I am very pleased with the results. Believe it or not, I haven't made a ton of clothes and stuff for my own girls since I started the business because I haven't really had time. I am by no means a master seamstress but I found a tutorial online and whipped out this little number in only a few hours. I hope to make one for my older daughter as well, maybe for back to school in a cute fall pattern. Here is the finished product...

Are you in love yet? I know I am! Now for the close-ups...

I am offering the lovebird applique at the same price points as my other applique onesies and tees. I do have one more t-shirt (size 9 mo.) like the one I used in these photos available for purchase. If you are interested in ordering a skirt, the prices will vary by size so contact me for specifics.

I will be out of town from 7/16-25 and will resume business as usual when I return. I'm looking forward to my week of rest and am hoping to come home with lots of new ideas for fall!

Quick Update

2010-06-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let y'all know I have started exclusively using Carters/Just One Year onesies (no more Gerber). After working with both I feel the Carters are better quality and more true to size.

Also I have been thinking about adding some new applique designs, specifically for boys, to my collection. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please send them my way!

Lastly I wanted to remind you that I offer a one time, 10% referral discount if you tell a friend about me and they mention your name when ordering. So spread the word and save a little $$ on your next order!

Gotta go, be on the lookout for another giveaway soon, I plan on doing at least one a month so there will be plenty of chances to win.

Contest #1!

2010-06-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July will be here before we know it, and I thought it would be a good occasion to do my first giveaway! You can win one of these star applique onesies (or a t-shirt) in the size of your choosing, and all you have to do is leave a comment below this post or on my Facebook page. You can enter until 5pm tomorrow (6/9) and the winner will be drawn at random shortly after.

If you are not the lucky winner, but you would like to order one of these cuties, they are $10. I can also do a boys patriotic tie onesie, red white & blue tutu, and of course matching hairbows in any size. Good luck!

Bibs&Burps

2010-06-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

Whew! I've been busy! (Not complaining of course.) I'm using a momentary lull in orders to unveil a few new items that I am very excited to share with you: chenille-backed bibs and burp cloths. The bibs have a pearlized snap (unless you prefer velcro) and measure approximately 8.5"x 12.5", large enough to accommodate infants through toddlers. The burp cloths measure approximately 8"x17" - the perfect size to throw over your shoulder. Both are topstitched for extra durability. I will add photos as I make more samples but if you have a particular color or pattern in mind I would be happy to try and find it for you. As for pricing - bibs are $6, burp cloths are $5.

These are also great as part of a coordinating gift set - most fabrics can be used for a letter or shape appliqued onto a onesie, or a larger blanket.

More detailed photos can be seen in my photo galleries. Check back often for new designs!

New Stuff

2010-05-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to everyone who has been keeping me busy with orders in the last few weeks. The Cardinals onesies are really gaining popularity and I would love to start a photo gallery of all your cute babies showing off their ruffles!

Speaking of ruffles, did you know that in addition to tulle ruffles, I can also add fabric ruffles to any onesie? A few I've made so far have been pre-printed on the front and I simply added coordinating fabric to the backside, like this:

So cute, right? Even cuter with a matching bib and burp cloth!

The edges on these samples have been purposely left unfinished for a little intentional fraying to occur. Moving on...
There is now an option for a "fairy-style" tutu with the ends cut to a point...

...some new bow photos up...

...and a fun & festive first birthday onesie.

So there you have it. If you haven't checked my Photo Galleries in a while, take a look - these plus other new items have been added and you just might get inspired!

I make boy stuff too...

2010-05-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

...like this little number:

which is available for $6. Complete the set with a matching burp cloth ($5) and minky baby blanket ($15) and you will have the cutest little man in town.

Minnie

2010-05-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

I made a Minnie Mouse applique shirt for my daughter and liked it so much, I decided to add it to my growing list of items for sale. The photo shows the minnie shape in black & white polka dot with a red bow and matching red zigzag stitch around the edge. You can choose any color you like for the bow and thread. Another option is a black felt minnie with a solid or patterned bow (red & white polka dot, zebra, etc.) Of course, I can also make matching hairbows and tutus to complete the set, or a Minnie onesie with matching tulle ruffles on the butt. Hopefully I will have a sample photo soon, it's on my to-do list for my baby girl. Minnie shirts and onesies are $10.

My favorite little model showing off hers! (Note - the rhinestones came with this particular shirt but I can add them if you like the look.)

Customs

2010-04-25T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was able to help out a friend recently with some custom bows to match a baby shower gift, and I was really happy with the results. Custom orders are a lot of fun for me and make the perfect finishing touch to complete the outfit. I do not charge extra for custom orders. All you have to do is email me a photo and I will take care of the rest!

Hey, Sports Fans!

2010-04-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Baseball season is here, and even the tiniest sports fans can root, root, root for the home team! I am proud to offer Cardinals logo applique onesies and shirts for sale. They feature a red felt logo with white stitching around the edges, plus a little extra surprise on the backside - wait for it - tulle ruffles! (Of course, these can be made without the ruffles for boys, too). I can also do the logo in pink to make it even more girly. I seriously can't get over how stinkin' cute they are.

Onesies are available in sizes newborn-24 months and are $8 ($6 without ruffle). I use Carters and Gerber onesies and always prewash (or should I say pre-shrink) them. T-shirts size 0-12 months are available for $6, 18 months on up are $8. These would be so cute with the child's name monogrammed on the back! I do not do this in my home but can get it done for you at an extra cost or direct you to a few different places I have used if you are interested. I can add a number on the back for $2 extra. Click HERE to view sample photos.

Don't forget to accessorize! Complete the outfit with a red and white tutu or matching bow; I have created a special edition Cardinals bow that is available for $5, tutus start at $8. I am also open to other sports team logos & color combinations, so if you have an idea just ask!

Coming Soon...

2010-04-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am so excited. I've been working on a few new ideas to expand the variety of products I offer and my "practice" pieces have been turning out really cute! I don't want to give away all my surprises just yet but I will tell you to check back soon for blankets, bibs, burp cloths and lots of ruffly butts! Here's a little sneak peek:

Headbands

2010-04-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering, YES! I offer crochet headbands to accompany my hairbows & flowers. They are available in just about every color and two different sizes. 1.5" headbands are $1 and 2.75" headbands are $1.25. I keep a limited amount in stock but if you order something I don't have on hand, it may add 2-3 days to the normal processing time.

Fabulous Flowers

2010-03-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

I have lovely flower clips (Gerbera Daisies) available for $3 each. Choose from Light/Dark Pink, Bright Blue, Light/Dark Purple, Red, Yellow, Green, Black. Flowers are sewn together so they don't fall apart and you can choose a jewel or regular flower center.

View Photos at my Flower Gallery

Clippies

2010-03-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have lots & lots of super cute clippies and more on the way! Clippies can be purchased individually or as matching sets. (I like to have sets of 2 so I can use them with pigtails). Here's the lowdown:

Ribbon Lined Clippies
$0.75 each for up to six clippies.
$0.50 each for orders of more than six clippies.

Tuxedo Bow Clippies
$1 each; $0.50 for every 4th clippie ordered
(That's 4 for $3.50, 8 for $7, etc.)

Also available in solid colors by request (even if not pictured). Check back often for seasonal styles!

View Photos at my Clippie Gallery

Tutus

2010-03-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

My tutus are made with at least 4 yards of tulle and have an elastic waistband. They can be made to fit any age/size child. The average length is about 8 inches but it can be adjusted to fit your preferences. When ordering, please provide either a waist measurement or the age of the child to ensure a proper fit.
Here is a price list:

Basic Tutu - up to 3 colors: $8 matte tulle/$10 sparkle tulle

Add-on's:
Large satin bow $2
Small ribbon strips $2
Small rhinestones (glued on) $2
Extra colors of tulle $1 each

*As a special offer, when you order a tutu I will take $1 off a coordinating Large Bow or Flower Clip of your choice!

If you select a multi-color tutu, you can choose to alternate each color or have larger groupings for a striped effect. Just let me know which you prefer.

View Photos at my Tutu Gallery