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'Ello Love


To start out, this project was soooo easy! (After 3 hours of trying to figure it out on my own before I finally asked Andrea and she sent me the Silhouette file. Haha!) 
I wanted to follow her direct tutorial but when she mentioned that she cut it out by hand, I decided to "take the easy way out" and use a cutting machine. That being said, the machine was not mine and I have NEVER used one. K. Here goes. 
Andrea @ Pics-O-Andrea has a fantastic tutorial that works wonders! The freezer paper method works well! Here are a few tips if you're going to use a machine to cut it. 
1. Make sure you have the actual file for the cutting machine that you are using. 
2. Make sure you cut with the "shiny side" up on the cutting mat. 
3. Use the light blue blade if using a Silhouette and set it to the vinyl setting. 
4. Make sure you "mirror" the word in the Silhouette software. This matters because you iron the freezer paper onto the shirt "shiny side" down. So unless you want it to say "olle' evol" make sure you mirror it. 


 Iron it onto the shirt "shiny side" down. 
(If you're making it for an adult, be sure to not put it too close to the neckline of a crew neck shirt. You want it to start about 4" down from the neckline. Use a similar ratio when making for a toddler.) DON'T forget to keep and iron on the center of the 'L', 'e' and 'o'. 



With a piece of cardboard between the shirt layers, use a sponge paintbrush to stipple the FABRIC PAINT onto the shirt inside the stencil. It will take a few coats, so be patient. Let it dry a bit, but not completely. Then, simply peel the freezer paper from the shirt. Leave the piece of cardboard between the layers until it is completely dry. (I think the paint bottle says about 4 hours minimum.) Then, it's yours to enjoy! 






My Mother's Technique

I have an age old trick for packing that seems so simple, you would think everyone would do it for EVERY trip they ever took. My mother taught me this years ago by packing our clothes like this when I was young. It keeps things organized and hassle free. This weekend, my boys and I are traveling to a land far far away to spend time together and be one with nature. (In this family that translates to, "I have an elk tag a couple hrs away and will be gone until said tag is filled or I run out of vacation days." That's how we get our free range, hormone and chemicle free, organic meat.) Anyway... Little #3 will be spending the weekend at Grandma's. To help keep things streamlined and easy peasy for Grandma, I used my mother's technique.
 

A ziploc bag per day, jams, a caboodle and her (current) favorite toy. 


Each bag has the same items. A shirt, pants, shoes and a bow. 


Then each bag is marked with the day. Sunday has a bag marked "Sunday Church" and one marked "Sunday Play". This is so fantastic because Grandma literally just has to reach in and grab the bag of the day. No stressing about whether or not it matches or if it is what Mom would have chosen. At the end of the day, just return the dirty clothes to the bag! The best thing about it is that it ensures that you have packed enough clothes and have everything you might need while away from home. I hope this helps someone's life get a little easier the next time they travel. It's been a life saver for me! Thanks mom!