Patching-Up Clothing

So I have this sweatshirt. I love it a lot. It's comfy, and has a nice combination of grey and turquoise.

However, due to a certain event that involved my stupidity... that I shall not give detail of, the back of this sweatshirt got 3 burn marks along with holes.

So now I am going to show you how to make patches, whether you want to cover up some ugly mark, or just want to add some cute elbow patches to your sweater.
First draw a design on you clothing piece. As you can see, in the picture above I had drawn the outline of hearts.
Then choose the fabric you desire and cut it in blocks that are big enough to cover the whole design.

Turn the the sweatshirt inside-out, and pin the blocks face-down. Make sure that you pin it so that the block is still over the design that you had put on the other side of the clothing article.

Turning the clothing over again, proceed to sew over the design you had drawn.

Afterwards, making sure you do not cut the fabric you had just sewn on, snip off the fabric that is covering your patch.

Proceed to do this as many times as you wish.

So there you go! How to make easy patches!

Last-Minute Cards

You're running late to your best friend's birthday party. This is her special day, you have on nice clothing, and a nicely-wrapped gift tucked under your arm. You are about to rush out the door when Ohmygoodness! You just realized that you have no card for her. And it being your best friends special day, and you being her best friend, well, she needs a special card from you.

But you're already late! Nothing fancy can be made, but you don't want to give your BFFTIB (Best Friend Forever Through Infinity and Beyond) a tacky, worthless card.

Solution? A hole-puncher. They cut out almost-flawless circles, or whatever else kind of shape.

So here are some ideas for a last-minute diy card.

(Etsy.com)

A very simple, yet elegant sort of card, and would be even better if some fancy handwriting were added in the corner. 

(runningblonde.com)

Colorful and happy colors, sure to brighten someones day!

(Etsy.com)

Easy and cute, especially if you have a heart-shaped hole-puncher. But it would still be simple even without one.

(Etsy.com)

This should be no problem, adding punched-out holes in place of buttons.... as long as you can figure out the tune to the well-known Happy Birthday melody...

(bazzillbasics.com)

This one is very pretty, and could fool anyone into thinking it was store-bought.

(Buzzfeed.com)

A simple-yet-cute Christmas card for a friend.



(blush-dolly.blogspot.com)

As long as you enjoy cutting circles from different-colored pieces of paper... this should be a piece of cake.

(mypapersecret.blogspot.com)

As is the same with this card.

(randomcreative.hubpages.com)

And this one.

(splitcoaststampers.com)

A more simple card, yet clean.

(savvysugar.com)

Now there's an idea! Just take some free samples from Home Depot or Lowes and cut out of them... it makes the card look very creative and beautiful!

(Etsy.com)

And finally.... a punny card. Isn't it adorable?

So now, I hope this has taken away some of the stress you might feel when an occasion arises that requires you to give a card (and you have no idea what kind to give!)

Or, you could just go and buy one from the store. That's a thought. 

Books for Dudes

I was originally not going to do this post, since I am not a guy, so I cannot relate with them so much as to create a reading list for their preferences. But then someone suggested I do it, and besides, I do have two brothers, and a lot of the books they read, I read also.

Some of the books were listed in my last post, Books for Girls, such as The False Prince, Sherlock Holmes, H.I.V.E., and The Maze Runner. 

Well, here are a few more.

For the Adventurous Tween...
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
An excellent parallel to the Bible! C.S. Lewis a very descriptive writer, and comes up with interesting ideas to symbolize different meanings.

The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins at your service! Quite a small man... literally... who is perfectly content to lead a happy life in his hobbit hole. And then dwarves and a wizard show up, and before he knows it, Bilbo is on an adventure that will change his life forever.

Huckleberry Finn/Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
These mischevious scamps go on adventures that include tricking other boys into doing your own job, finding hidden treasure, jailing several thieves, becoming extremely rich, sailing down the Mississippi, getting mixed up in rivaling families, and more!

Redwall by Brian Jacques
Okay, I loved these books. And sometimes I still enjoy reading them! This is a place where animals rule... the only difference between them and humans is their tails. And the fact that they have the kind of adventures you only dream about.
For the Mystery-loving Tween...
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol
He's one of those super smart, extremely observational people, who has decided to use his skills to help the kids (and sometimes the adults) around his town, solving puzzles and mysteries.

The Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon
What can I say? Everyone loves these guys!

More Great Books for Tweens...
Frindle by Andrew Clements
One boy starts a whole uproar over a word he has invented, and he's on his way to become famous. Only thing stopping him? His teacher.

Fudge by Judy Blume
A book you can truly relate with (especially if you have a younger sibling) about a boy, with a younger brother, who does just about anything that would embarrass anyone.

Warriors by Erin Hunter
About cats. But just not any type of cat, and certainly not "kitty pets" as they call them. These cats rule a forest, and they are split up into clans, all rivals.
For the Adventurous Teen...

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Make sure to read this after The Hobbit. This is about a different hobbit however, who is on a just-about-hopeless-and-impossible mission to destroy the evil that is corrupting his world.

Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith 
I can't say I've read this one.... but I do know my brother has read it a couple hundred times.

This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti
A very awesome book, that describes spiritual warfare like never before.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
It's not Alice in Wonderland... it's Alyss. And this is true story of what had occurred before some guy named Lewis Carroll just messed it all up. *sigh*

The Circle Series by Ted Dekker
I haven't read these either... but apparently it's about a guy who switches between two worlds a lot, and after a while he begins to wonder which one is reality and which one isn't.

For the Historical Fiction Reader...
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
My history class read this last year, and there was quite a few who liked this book and quite a few who hated it. I liked it, because it is based on a German soldier during World War 1, and the author adds in real-life experiences so that we understand the horrors of war, and to make it more realistic.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Based on a boy during the American Revolution period.

Louis L'amour Series
All his books are westerns, and just about all of them are awesome, usually tales of some heroic cowboy, tall and handsome, who has a natural skill at shooting and attracting trouble.

So yeah, if any of you guys have any suggestions, please comment below! I'd love to know what you think about my lists of books to read. :)

Books for Girls

When I hit an age at about 10 or so, I began to deal with a problem that most girls don't really... think about. The problem grew worse and still grows worse to this day:

How to find a good book.

Nowandays, it's hard to find a book for teens and tweens that does not involve werewolves, vampires, and just things like that that... I do not really have a taste for.

I go to the library a lot, and I have taken to reading the inside cover and the back cover of books before checking them out.

Most days I just leave the library empty-handed.

However, there were a few books, that I actually enjoyed, and to all the girls out there here is a list of some of them. Check it out!

For the Romantic Tween...
~ Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery
Yes, by the same author as Anne of Green Gables Series. However, this is a series meant for younger audiences, about a group of cousins on Prince Edward Island who get into mischief, fun, trouble, and life-changing lessons.

~A Path Toward Home by Heather Lorenz
Actually written by one of my sweet friends! It is the beginning book of The Annals of Avonea, about a girl who is literally flung into another world, where adventure and romance happens.

~Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
I still enjoy reading this one... a twist on the Cinderella story about a girl who is blessed with a curse.

For the Adventurous Tween...
~The Tombs of Anak by Frank Peretti
Any book by his actually is really good for the adventure lover. This one is especially a favorite.

~A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
A popular boy, an awkward nerdy girl, and the girl's bullied younger brother experience a trip through galaxies in search of a long-lost father.

~H.I.V.E by Mark Walden
An gifted orphan named Otto is kidnapped to live on an island and attend a school, the Higher Institute for Villainous Education.

For the Mystery Reader...
~The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Filled with adventure and lots of mind-twisting puzzles, 4 kids gifted in their own ways try to uncover mysteries without being caught in their masquerade of false-hood.

~The Mandie Series by Lois Gladys Leppard
About a girl who goes on adventures, trying to solve mysteries in every one.

For the Romantic Teen...
~Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 
A thrilling romance (as long as you like fancy language) centered around a girl named Ms. Elizabeth Bennet. Set in the Regency Era, marrying rich is one of the main points of a girl's life. However, Elizabeth wants to marry for love, but sometimes love comes in very strange ways...

~The Princess Bride by William Goldman
"Westley... Oh how I love you...."

For the Adventurous Teen...
~The False Prince by Jennifer A. Neilson
A pick-pocketer named Sage is grabbed off the streets to compete with several other boys for the role of treachery against the whole kingdom.

~Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
Another spin off of the Cinderella tale, except from the view of another princess, as she watches the "Cinderella" deceit the prince with magic and with the help of a woman bent on revenge.

~Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Girl, I got just about ALL of the stories, no kidding!

~The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Yes, this is a more... recent book that is very popular right now. And yes, I actually do like it! It is about a boy who is placed in the center of a maze with many other boys. They have all been brainwashed, and their main objective is to clear the maze, which happens to shift around in the night, therefore always throwing them off.

 

I will not promise that you all will like these books... hey, we all have different preferences! But at least here is a good start. :)

Sewing Box

She felt like a beginning. A clean canvas, ready to be painted. A gorgeous new idea.

--Ruthie Knox

 

 

Some homemade gifts are the best. Tiana had been dreaming of a sewing kit for a looong time and finally for Christmas, she was about to get one.

But a sewing kit needs a box, right? So I bought this one from Hobby Lobby for less than $5.

A bit bland, don't you think?

 

Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.

--Maurice Setter

 

 

 

So I added a bit of flavor. Above are the outlines I drew, with her first name on the front, middle name on the back and vines with flowers in between.

 

Elegance is the only beauty that never fades.

--Audrey Hepburn

 

 

And the final product! Now time to fill it with sewing supplies! ^.^

 

 

Last Year's ABC's

Happy New Years to everyone! I hope it has been a joyous time for all.

And as usual, last year was pretty fun, exciting and adventurous... how could I sum it up?

I was challenged by my best friend Joslyn (her blog is Dreaming in Color..... check it out!) to do the 'ABC's' of last year (some of them I have changed though). I encourage anyone to do this!

 

 

A: Age...... 16

 

B: Birthday....... November 6th!

 

C: Crush...... Like I'm going to announce who my last crush was on a public blog???

 

D: Drink you last had..... Water

 

E: Easiest person to talk to.... Some of my very awesome friends are very awesome listeners!

 

F: Favorite Song.... It always changes! At the moment it is "Send Me the Night" by Sam Tsui.

 

G: Grossest Memory..... when someone splashed muddy water all over me.

 

H: Hate.... when people yawn loudly

 

I: In love with......Jesus

 

J: Jealous of...... anyone who can plug a USB in on their first try.

 

K: Knowledgeable about...... piano

 

L: Longest Friendship.... my family

 

M: Middle Name.....Rose

 

N: Naughty or nice?...... Nice, but with a sassy side.

 

O: One wish...... to have get a lot more wishes

 

P: Person who called you last........ Nathan, my brother.

 

Q: Question you're always asked..... "You're like, 12, right?"

 

R: Reason to smile..... every little thing has a bit of beauty that should be enough to make anyone smile!

 

S: Song stuck in your head..... You'll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins

 

T: Truth or dare..... truth

 

U: Unicorns or Mermaids?..... Unicorns!

 

V: Verse........ Proverbs 31:30

 

W: Words of Inspiration....... "Be your own kind of beautiful" -- anonymous

 

X: x-ray you last had...... on my hand and wrist, my Freshman year of highschool

 

Y: Your last text..... "Oh! Thanks! I miss you too... Happy New Year!:) "

 

Z: zodiac sign..... Scorpio