Pattye Duffner's Blog

Kids Recycle Too…

   

Taking their used juice boxes and turning them into bags, pencil bags or change purses is a cleaver way to include your kids in your newest recycling craft project.  Cut them open and cleaning them out is your first step.  You are able to use the one juice box for two sides.  You will then sew together your own “fabric” out of this material.  Adding straps or zippers will finish up this unique bag.  This gets my mind spinning what else could we use as “fabric”… potato chip bags???  Water bottle labels???  This opens up some new possibility…

Accordion Photo Book

 

If you have never treated yourself to Paper Source you are missing out!  To me it is like a kid in a candy store.  I needed a birthday gift for a dear friend who would enjoy a hand made gift so off I went.  Making an accordion album for her was done in less then an hour.  Simple and fun…  They sell their kits on line or in the store with full instructions; I have bought a ton of them and have loved every one.  Gluing the paper larger then the board and wrapping it like a gift.  Using some ribbon I had to finish off the closure was just the finishing touch it needed. 

Epson Stylus Photo RX595

The Epson Stylus Photo RX595 rocks!!!  This printer is perfect for my everyday printing needs.  We had big plans in this house to go to the Veggie Tale concert yesterday and of course I thought to myself I had to make them all shirts to wear to the big show.  Together the kids and I printed, colored, scanned and finished these shirts with the Epson Stylus Photo RX595.  This is how we did it…

First we printed the coloring sheets off of the Veggie Tales website.  The kids colored the sheets as best as they could.  Having done this before I suggest they use markers (I even shared my markers with them, they thought it was a very big deal I was sharing my stuff with them) crayons don’t come out as vibrant.  After all the finishing touches were on their masterpieces I scanned them and printed out the image onto Iron On Transfers.   I also would recommend if doing “text” on your image you will need to reverse or flip your image in order for the next step to come out.  We then placed the image where we wanted them and simply ironed and peeled the backing off.  Ella really got into this part.  I have done this before for birthday parties and some of their favorite artwork they bring home from school… “Look Mom I am wearing my fish that I made at school on my shirt ”.   Having the Epson Stylus Photo RX595 made this project and my everyday printing just what I need!  You never know when you are going to need to whip out a photo project right?

Urgent Autism Speaks Action Alert: Contact Your Congressional Members and Urge Their Support for Autism Research Funding for FY 2009

Dear Autism Advocate,

Today is a critical time for you to take action on behalf of funding for autism research!  Right now, members of the House and Senate are debating the final version of the Fiscal 2009 Defense Appropriations bill.  We are seeking $15 million for the Department of Defense (DoD)-funded Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Program (ASDRP) in the Appropriations bill.  This critical program will further the field of autism research and help improve treatments and interventions for children with autism.

In the House, Congressman John Murtha and Congressman Bill Young, the Chairman and Ranking Member of of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, will be ultimately responsible for this important funding decision.  In the Senate, the decision will fall to Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Thad Cochran, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.  These are the key players that need to be contacted by your House Representative and Senators today.     

Please help us make sure that your House Representative and your Senators support this request for $15 million in funding for autism research in FY 2009 by taking action today!!

Here is How to Take Action:

1.  CALL your House Representative TODAY!  Ask him/her to please contact Congressmen John Murtha and Bill Young and will  to urge their support for $15 million in the final version of FY 2009 Defense Appropriations bill for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Program!  Find your House Representative's phone number!

2.  CALL your Senators TODAY! Ask them to please contact Senators Daniel Inouye and Thad Cochran to urge their support for $15 million in the final version of FY 2009 Defense Appropriations bill for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Program!  Find your Senators' phone numbers!

3.  CLICK TO SEND AN EMAIL to your House Representative and Senators today!

4. FORWARD this email to everyone you know and get them to call and senbd emails to their Members of Congress on this issue!

5.  SIGN UP FOR ADVOCACY ALERTS!! Want to stay informed on this and other autism legislation issues?  Sign up on AutismVotes.org to become an Autism Votes Advocate and take action on the issues that matter to you and your family!

For more information visit www.autismvotes.org/dod.

Thank you for your help,

Elizabeth Emken
Vice President, Government Relations
Autism Speaks

2 Months....

Baby Davis is 2 months old and full of life…  Let me tell you the more kids you have the easer it is!  Don’t get me wrong 4 kiddos is hard but even 1 kiddo is hard.  Our nest is full of noise, kisses, tears (mine sometimes), joy and most of all love.  Weighing in at 15 pounds and 26 inches long this bruiser fits right in and is just adorable!!!

Officially a soccer mom

We are full force into soccer here in the Duffner house for the first time.  They are so adorable and fun to watch.  Quinn’s games are exciting and Ella’s games are cute! They approach the game very differently.  Quinn attacks, gets aggressive and plays his little heart out.  Ella watches, dances a bit and can’t wait for the end cheer!

I have to confess I am the mom on the sidelines cheering on my kids.  Every Saturday is now consumed with cleats, shin guards and jerseys but truth is there is no place I would rather be the on the fields watching them. 

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Hand made with love

Appliqués are simple cut outs that are applied to a base fabric.

Fusible web (sold as Stitch Witchery, Heat N Bond and other trade names) melts to adhere the fabrics together. Fusible web is available in various weights. Although it may seem like a heavy bond, I still sew the edges. Heavy bond will be stiff after it is melted. Lightweight bond is preferable when doing appliqué.

To be sure that the fusible web will adhere to the fabrics, wash the fabric before starting the fusing process. Always read instructions that come with the fusible web.

Once the process to adhere the fabrics is achieved, the raw edges of the appliqué must be protected or enclosed if the item is going to be laundered. Machine or hand stitching are my preferred method to protect the edges of the appliqué.

Mixing different fabrics to achieve a fun animal complete with a button eye and the tail wrapping around the back, made up this shirt for Ella for her dinosaur fieldtrip.  I also made the kiddos some to wear on their birthday to school with their age on it!  Quinn loved the scull and cross bone fabric for his number 7.. “Very cool Mom”.  Oh I hope he thinks this for a long time.  I can wish right?

Big Day

  The first day of school was very exciting here in the Duffner house.  3 very brave students ready for a new chapter in their little lives.  I am not so ready to have them gone for so many hours in a day….  Quinn loves his teacher and his friends are in his class what more could a second grader want?  Ella came home the first day saying “ I just love kindergarten mom” and Braeden loves EVERYTHING about pre-school.  His teachers, new friends and singing!  We did it, this is the first year that no one (except for me) had tears on the first day of school. 

Back To School

 

The "back to school" teacher gift was a quick last min put together.  Our apple tree is over flowing with green apples again.  So I took the similar project from last year and made it a bit bigger with a full size Carmel dip and apples to fill a cellophane bag.  I attached a tag made out of chipboard and paper.  I had to use one of my favorite stamps to write on so that the teachers would know who it was from.  Quick and easy…