My Big Ole Stocking....A Tutorial

So, do you remember when you were little and you went to Wal-Mart with your mom and while walking down the Christmas aisle looking at all the decorations, etc., you stumble upon one of those big ole stockings about three feet tall and they have toys spilling out of the top of them?  Yeah, me too.   I always wanted one of those, so I thought I'd make myself a big ole stocking this year.  But, I'm not stuffing mine with cheap toys that will break in the first ten minutes you play with them.  Nope.  Instead, I'm stuffing mine with washcloths.  Is that weird?  Yeah, I know.  Wanna see?

So wanna know how to make your own? 

I knew I wanted mine to hang on the door, so I used a heavyweight duck cloth, which I got at Wal-Mart.  You can get it almost anywhere.  I was semi inspired by the ones from Ballard Designs. 

Aren't they cute?  BUT, I wasn't crazy about the shape.  They kind of look like when you have on sweaty crew socks or something after a workout and you pull them off by the toe and they get that weird pointy stretched out thing going on.  I wanted something a bit more whimsical.  Not even to mention that mine was not $25.00.  It was more like $8.00.  That's MUCH more to my liking. 

So, like I said, I chose white duck cloth.  I washed, dried and ironed it.  Then I got a large piece of craft paper and drew out my pattern and cut it out.  Then I doubled my fabric, laid my pattern on top

 and cut out two stocking pieces at once. 

I decided that I wanted a "crown" part for the top so again, I drew out a pattern, making sure the top of the stocking and the crown were the same size.  I had just a little bit of the green dot I wanted to use for the crown foldover,

so I opted to use some lightweight cotton for the back and inside of the "crown" part.  So,  I cut on green piece and three white pieces for my crown. 

Obviously, if you have plenty of fabric for the crown, you can cut four pieces of the same fabric.  Pin the right sides of your crown fabric together. 

Stitch, using 1/4" seam allowance down the sides and up and down the points.  See the silly pictures below where I drew in the black stitches.  Yes, I'm a dork.

Anyway, clip your seam allowances in the corners of your crown points, being careful not to actually clip the stitches.

Now flip your crown pieces inside out and iron flat.  You should have two crown pieces now.  Pin together, right sides together and stitch down the sides.

Can you see my stitches?  Stitch down the sides were it's pinned.  Put your crown aside and pin your stocking pieces together and stitch all around except for the top.  Clip carefully around the toe.  Turn inside out and iron.  So sorry I forgot to take pictures of this step.  ***This is the time to add a hanging loop if you want one.  I fogot to do this step.  DUH!  If you do this, take a piece of ribbon and double it.  Line up the edges with the top of your stocking, with the loop part down in the stocking and stitch in place so it will be in between the inside of the stocking and the crown piece you are about to sew. 

Now, get your crown piece, right side out, points down, and slip inside of your stocking, doing your best to line up the side seams of the crown with the side seams of the stocking.

Pin in place.

Stitch all the way around the opening using 1/4" seam allowance.

Now, flip your crown to the outside of your stocking and iron in place. 

So, of course I wanted polka dots.  I had planned on ding applique dots, but didn't have the fabric I wanted to do it.  Being the impatient person that I am, I decided to go ahead and just paint on my dots.  I just used acrylic craft paint.  After it was dry, I WAS going to stuff the toe with polyfil so it didn't flop around, but because my daughter used it all on her latest sock monkey project, I opted to use papertowels and washcloths.  Weird, right?  Like I said before, I am impatient and didn't have time to run to Wal-Mart. 

Wow.  My rug looks AWFUL.  Oh well.  I still love my stocking. 

I'm linking this project to the following blog parties:

Hookin' Up With House of Hepworths 
Strut You Stuff @ Somewhat Simple
Chic & Crafty Party @ The Frugal Girls
Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity Now for Amanda.
The Doors and Porches Party @ At The Picket Fence

Winner and I Won!!

WINNER!  WINNER!  WINNER!  Wanna see who won the Elf Feet Kitchen Towel? 

The winner is...........(that's my drumroll)..........my good friend, Staci from Lizard and Ladybug.  Speaking of Staci, she has a really cute Gloveables giveaway going on right now.  Stop by and enter.  Maybe she'll use her new towel at one of her awesome parties she is so famous for!!    YAY Staci!

WOO HOO!  Staci, I'll get that out to you ASAP! 

I also got the news yesterday, that I won a giveaway.  WOO HOO!  Wanna see what I won? 

Gorgeous, right?  I'm sooo excited!!  I won it from my friend Debbie @ Love the Decor.  I just love Debbie.  Y'all should check out her blog and her great Willow House deals.  She's a Willow House consultant as well as an awesome decorator and stager, and just a sweet, precious person on top of all the talent.  Thanks, Debbie!!!  XOXO!

Hope y'all have a great day!  Maybe I should strike while the iron is hot and go buy a lottery ticket.  HA! 

Christmas Towel Giveaway!

Well, it's almost 11:00 on Thanksgiving night and this is the first time in recent years that I'm not shopping or getting ready to go shopping.  I decided to skip all the Black Friday shopping hooplah this year.  Although, I might see if I can find a few good deals online.  But in honor of all the shopping, I decided I have just a little giveaway to get us all in the Christmas spirit.  Sounds okay to you? 

I just love this elf feet towel.  Y'all know I love me some polka dots so of course the elf socks and shoes HAD to have polka dots.  I love the way it turned out.  But instead of keeping it for myself, I decided I would share it with one of y'all. 

So, wanna know how to enter? 

1. Follow Froufroubritches on Google Friend Connect and leave me a comment saying you are a follower (required).

2.  Share about this giveaway on Facebook with a link back to my page and leave me a comment to tell me about it.

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment and a link to your blog entry.

Because of high shipping costs, this giveaway is only available to residents of the United States and Canada. This giveaway is open until 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time on Monday, November, 28th. The winner will be announced November 29th.  I know that doesn't leave much time to enter, but Christmas will be here before we know it and the sooner I get it to the winner, the more they will get to use it. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, it's Thanksgiving so I thought I'd share what I am most thankful for.  First, I'm thankful to God for everything because everything I have is because of him.

I am thankful for the best parents a girl could ask for. 

Mom and Dad

For my sweet, precious Hubby and that he wasn't hurt in the wreck he had a few weeks ago.

For ALL my kiddos,

but especially that L is talking more and now says "I love you" to me every night.

Sweet baby boy!

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving friends!

Ramblings of a Caffeine Addicted Insomniac

Well, it's almost 1:00 a.m. and I am awake.  Why?  I assume it is because I chose to drink Dr. Pepper this evening, which is something I haven't been doing the last few months.  As much as I am cursing caffeine right now, I will be singing its praises in about five and half hours when I roll my big behind out of bed.  ugh!  So, ya know what's bad about caffeine?  Not only does it keep me up, but it keeps me up because my brain won't shut up.  So, because I'm pretty sure I have Adult ADD, and can only stay on one topic for a very short period of time before my brain switches gears, this post may be very random.  Therefore, I apologize.

So, I was thinking about the kids' Christmas list.  There is soooo much I want to get them this year.  I think because they are getting so much bigger, they want more expensive stuff, ya know?  Too bad my cash flow hasn't increased along with the size of their list.  So, anyway, I was thinking about Black Friday.  You see, I go shopping on Black Friday almost every year.  I used to love it.  Now, not so much.  You see, as I get older, the less I want to fight the crowd just to save $6 on some random toy.

YIKES!

Most of the stuff my kids want, isn't even on sale.  Sure, there is a computer game on J's list that is on sale at Wal-Mart for $4 less than the regular price.  But let's be honest, is a $4 savings really worth all of that trouble?  In my younger days, I would have said yes.  Now, I'm not so sure.  Maybe I'll sleep instead or stay at home and shop online in my jammies.  Hmmmm!  I'm sure if I shop, I'll once again be singing the praises of caffeine.  HA! 

Speaking of jammies, I'm dying for these:

Aren't they cute???  I love my VS flannel pajamas!  You know what else I love?  I love it when I am on the VS website and my Hubby leans over my shoulder and says something like, "I like that.  That's a cute ________" pajamas, bra, outfit, whatever.  And I think, "Um, yes, it looks really good on that size 0, big boobed model, doesn't it?  I'm afraid it wouldn't look quite the same on my squatty 5'4" big ole pear shaped self."  I always have to tell him to pick something that would look good on someone built like ME!  Do y'all have that problem? 

Just thought I'd share a picture of my babies.  Aren't they sweet? 

We've already sold two of our puppies and they just turned three weeks old.  I mean, they won't go to their new homes for another three or four weeks, but they are sold.  They just started walking and are so cute on their wobbly little legs.  I'm trying so hard not to get attached.  I've named four of them.  Hubby told me not to name them, but I can't help it.  It's a good thing they poop a lot and woke me up whining this morning.  That helps remind me that I don't want them all to stay with me forever and ever.  Maybe just one of them.

Okay friends, I've got to go to bed.  Hopefull my Melatonin has kicked in and the rain will lull me to sleep.  I've got a room full of first graders to look forward to tomorrow. 

All Turkeyed Out!

It's been a busy week here in the Frou Frou Britches household.  I've been working a lot this week, both at home and at school.  Add in an ear infection for L which brought on a full blown autism fit at school, which resulted in suspension and that pretty much took up my time this week.  CRAZY!  So, what else have I been up to?  Turkeys.  It all started with this little turkey shirt:

Then, my turkey multiplied.

Then my turkey changed his colors.

I'm sooo over turkeys!  Bring on Rudolph!

and elf feet!

I'm ready for Christmas!

Quick Chicken Spaghetti

So, you know those days where everything goes wrong and you can't stand the thought of slaving over dinner?  I sure do!  This is one of those dishes that you can throw together really quickly on a busy night.  You ready for the recipe? 

Quick Chicken Spaghetti

3 cooked chicken breasts OR 2 cans cooked chicken
12 oz. spaghetti
1/4 of a large Velveeta
1 can of Rotel
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup
4 oz. can mushrooms
small jar of pimentos
1 cup shredded Cheddar

Boil water and cook spaghetti.  In a saucepan, put both cans of soup and can of Rotel.  Add Velveeta - okay I honeslty don't really measure, but about 1/4th of a large Velveeta.  Stir until Velveeta melts.  Add, pimentos and mushrooms. 

Drain spaghetti and add to soup mixture.  Add cooked chicken to mixture and stir well.  Dump the spaghetti mixture into a 9 x 13 greased pan.  Sprinkle with cheddar and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cheese melts. 

Soooo easy, right? 

As usual, the pictures could be better if only I had an awesome camera.  Maybe I'll get one by the time I have grandkids. 

Holiday House 2011

What a great weekend!  On Saturday, my mom, sister, my oldest, C, my niece, K, and I went to the big Christmas shopping extravaganza known as Holiday House.  It's a large craft show put on by the Junior League of Little Rock.  My mom, sister and I LOVE to go, but this is the first time our girls have gone with us...BIG MISTAKE!  UGH!  They are sooooo staying home next year.  Anyway, I just thought I would share a few pictures I took.  I know it is probably strictly forbidden frowned upon to take pictures of the booths and I probably should have asked instead of totally sneaking shots snapping photos, but I just couldn't help myself.  So sorry.  I promise to never to do it again (until next year).  Sometimes it's better to apologize afterwards than to ask permission, ya know?  Especially if you are pretty sure they're gonna say no.  Hee Hee!  So, because I was totally sneaking shots with my iphone, some of them are a tad bit out of focus.  Again, so sorry. 

This is what greeted us when we walked in the door.  Isn't it fabulous?  Love the flocking with the red and green.  So pretty!

Love this tree!  Some of my favorite colors - red, green and aqua.  LOVE!

Okay.  Weird shot because the little green tree is in front of the big tree I wanted to show you.  That's what happens when you're trying to be sneaky.  Aren't the colors fantastic?  Purple and magenta. 

But, it wasn't just Christmas decorations, there were also lots of gift items. 

This wine bag cracks me up!  After all, I do love my Jesus, but I also enjoy beer with my pizza.  Hilarious! 

Aren't these beaded serving pieces adorable? I love them!!!! I think my SIL knows how to make them. Gotta get with her on that. 

This is the sock monkey booth.  So many cute things and...

even a Thanksgiving sock monkey.  See his pilgrim hat on that one sock monkey?  And the lunchbox?  So cute!

There were also several booths with wonderful clothes and home decor.  I forgot to take pictures of all but one booth though.  Wanna see the one I managed to sneak?

I love that mirror in the back!  Hello gorgeous!  And those pillows!  Wanna closer look?

Cute, right? 

So, we concluded our shopping day by eating at On The Border.  I always vote for Mexican food when we go out.  YUM!  White cheese dip and tacos (again, with a beer - MMM!) - one of my very favorite meals!! 

Thanks mom and sis for an awesome day together!!! 

Fall Foliage and Roses

So, I've been an absentee blogger lately.  You see, I used to do the bulk of my blog writing and reading during the day, but I've been working during the day and my Hubby has totally been hijacking the computer every night.  UGH! 

So, today Hubby and I were off to go to J's field trip.  The field trip required a road trip, which gave me a chance to look at some pretty fall foliage. 

I love those pretty red maples.  This picture was taken at a local mall parking lot, as you can tell.  But the tree is pretty.  Meanwhile, in my grown up weed infested flower bed, this is what is growing...

Really?  Is that normal or do my roses just not know what season it is?  Hmmm.  Not sure.