My Next Fundraiser

I'm thinking a year down the road, but since no one really checks on this blog, I thought I'd write this almost as a reminder.

Last weekend, my daughter, her dog, and I ran the Gingerbread 5K Run for Give Kids the World.  I managed to collect $80.00 from friends, but I added another $40 to make it a $120.00 total.  Not too exciting when my daughter was able to collect $500.00.  Next year I want to offer embroidered items to anyone who donates $25.00 for my run.  I designed a countdown calendar that could be used for a variety of events, but my calendar is for our next Disney cruise.

The numerals are embroidered on grosgrain ribbon and threaded through the windows.  I stitched each ribbon together so that each ribbon is a loop.  (No pull-through accidents or lost ribbon.)  The top has "Till Our Next Cruise" at the top and the banner is hung from dowel rods.  My adult daughter finds it humorous to change a numeral or two whenever she visits.

I've also digitized a calendar with a small castle where the ship is placed and put, "Till our Next Trip".  I'm hoping I can hit up a few of my Disney friends to break past my $120.00 donation.

Will Cell Phones Ever Stop Changing Size?

I'm thrilled with my new Samsung S6, but it's at least an inch longer and 1/2 inch wider than my old phone.  It won't fit into the pockets of my shorts, so I have to resort to wearing a "pocket" on my belt.  I am extremely short waist-ed, so it must sit at my waist.  I had an old in-the-hoop purse that I purchased from Embroidery Library years ago.  It too, was too short to be of help, but with some software assistance, I was able to lengthen the flap.  I originally added buttonholes on the back so that I could slip my belt through the buttonholes, but the buttonholes were too low on the back of the holder.  The phone went just above my waist and I kept getting poked in the side.  I took apart the side seams enough to add a piece of grosgrain ribbon on the back.  Whalaa!  I'm back in business.

Velcro keeps the phone save when the flap is down.

Another new iPad holder

iPad Holder

The elastic in my previous holder was getting weak, so I pulled out two new sheets of cardboard and make myself a new holder.  The design is from Sick Designs, and embroidery website, but you don't need an embroidery machine to make a holder.  The main supplies are cardboard, 12 inches of 5/8 inch elastic, a sturdy fabric - home decorating fabric or cordoroy, Elmers Glue, hot glue sticks and a hot glue gun and a scissors.

This holder was easier than the first one I made because I'd already worked out the kinks.  Basically, cut two pieces of heavy cardboard the same size as your iPad.  Cut two pieces of your fabric two inches longer and wider than the cardboard.  

If you plan to decorate the backside of the holder, do it now.

The back side:
Lay the backside fabric, right side down, and place one piece of cardboard in the center.  Use Elmer's Glue to secure the cardboard to the center of the fabric.  Glueing cardboard in place will keep the fabric from sliding a bit when you hold the iPad. 

Use the hot glue to wrap the fabric around the cardboard.  Start at the coners, and fold and glue each corner toward the center of the cardboard.  Once the coners are secured, fold the ends over and hot glue in place.

The front:
Hot glue the second fabric piece to the other piece of cardboard just as you did the back side.


Adding the elastic:
Cut the elastic into 4 equal pieces.  Wrap each corner of the front with 1 piece of the elastic going from the wrong side, across the corner, and back to the wrong side on the oposite edge.

Last step:
Once the elastic is glued in place, run a narrow strip of hot glue, on the wrong side, along the edge.  Gently place the front on top of the back, wrong sides together.

Update:  For some reason, my photos have disappeared and I don't seem to find where I put them on my computer.  Sorry.