Foster Kitten Friday - The Ayes Have It!

Does everyone love snuggling with their stuffed animal mama?

Aye!

 What's that smell? Did someone poo and get it everywhere and on everyone else?

Aye!

Is your food yummy, Huey?

Aye!

Is your food yummy, Dewey?

Aye!

Is your food yummy, Louie?

Aye!

Is someone attempting a jailbreak?

Aye!

Anyone ready to wake up and see what this big wide world has to offer?

Huey

Dewey

Louie

Look like the Ayes  Eyes have it! Guess we really will "see" you next week!

Make Your Own Slim Vaccine Card Sleeve - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we'll learn how to make our own slim homemade vaccination record card protector. This decorative and stylish see-through protective fabric cover is made with laminated fabric (I show you how to laminate any fabric you'd like!) and a piece of clear see-through vinyl. 

For this project you will need:

• cotton fabric
•  HeatnBond iron-on glossy vinyl
• clear vinyl, 12+ gauge
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread 
• Teflon sewing machine foot or painter’s tape 
• Always helpful for sewing: Scissors, Fabric clips, Rotary cutter, Cutting ruler, Cutting mat

The dimensions of the finished holder are 3 ¾” x 4 ½” to fit the 3" tall x 4" wide immunization cards issued by the CDC. 

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available as a free PDF digital download HERE

Looking for other passport and vaccine covers? Check out our other projects?

Otherwise, you can find the step by step how to video for the vaccine card sleeve right here:

Foster Kitten Friday - A Week of L.A.M.B.S.

Happy Foster Kitten Friday! It sure has been a lamb kind of week and not just because these three little ones look like baby lambs, either. So what exactly is a lamb week? Read on to find out...

L=Laundry 

Oh my, the laundry. While these babies aren't nearly as messy as they will be when they get a bit older and start on gruel they are still plenty messy. Their faces, bottoms, and should I mention the pee? On my clothes, on their bedding and blankets (thankfully I made a bunch of blankets when I did the no-sew pet blanket tutorial), the warming disk covers (another thankful moment since I made a bunch of those when I did that sewing tutorial). So much laundry. So many blankets. 

A=Alarms

As the babies need to eat every two hours both day and night there is only one way to make sure it happens. 

Alarms.

Instead of setting an entire 24 hours' worth of alarms I finally realized it made much more sense to use the timer. Hmm...am I waiting for bread to rise or am I raising kittens?! With me shutting it off when it’s time to feed and starting it again when they’ve finished I've touched my phone more in the last week than I have in the entire last year.

M=Mothering

Newborn orphaned kitties should be with their kitty cat mama for a reason. Mama feeds them, cleans them, licks them so they go potty (and then eats it), and keeps them in line. With no mama around, it's the foster parent's job to make it happen (minus the licking/eating part). I have them corralled in a plastic bin right in the bedroom. It's quiet there during the day and gives me easy access at night for feedings. 

Did you know bottle babies aren't fed on their backs like human babies? On the tummy it is. I have a couple who like to be helpers...

and one who goes all spread eagle on me.

Then there is bathroom time. Baby kitties can't go on their own so they have to be stimulated by the foster parent every single time they are fed. No matter how hard you try - whether you use a tissue or wipe or soft cloth - you will inevitably wind up with a handful of pee. And many times you'll wind up with some poo somewhere. Which leads me to the next letter...

B=Butts

These poor little guys have had a bottom problem this week. As in something that should be coming out from there isn't. We've tried several things, including some warm water butt baths, but they needed to have even more of an intervention yesterday at Simply Cats. (Remember, Simply Cats is a no-kill feline shelter here in Boise and the only shelter I work with.) Did you know there was such a thing as a kitty enema? Well, my three little fellas could tell you all about it. And I could tell you how it's done because I came home with the equipment to give additional ones to them, if needed. Let's hope their systems take care of themselves and plumber Deb doesn't have to be called.

S=Strikingly Similar

Do you remember the song from Sesame Street, One of These Things?

One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn't belong,

Can you tell which thing is not like the others

By the time I finish my song?

Well, the song definitely does not apply to these babes. They ALL look like the others and with their umbilical cords now gone they have become impossible to identify. Seriously, these are three separate pictures of three different kittens. Yowza.

So what can we expect next week? Look at this little one's eyes. 

I think we might just "see" something new!

Make Your Own Gardening Apron - Quick and Easy Tutorial Tuesday Sewing Project

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making this quick and easy gardening apron. Not a gardener? Turn it into a sewing apron, teacher apron, or a gift for someone else. It's a simple project great for anytime of year!

Makes an apron measuring approx. 11” x 21”

For this project you will need:

• 2 pieces of contrasting fabric. Directional fabric not recommended. 
• Midweight iron-on interfacing
• fabric for the waistband
• Fabric clips or pins
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Marking pencil or painter's tape
• Always helpful for sewing: rotary cutter, cutting ruler, cutting mat, scissors

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, and link to the tutorial video. 

Looking for more storage ideas? Check out these other projects!

Otherwise, you can just view the gardening apron tutorial right here:

Foster Kitten Friday - A New Edition

Yep, the day is officially here. It's a new edition of Foster Kitten Friday! 

Three little sweet orphaned kitties arrived this week. Three little kitties who were just born on Tuesday. And boy, are they little. 

And cute. 

And they look just alike. 

Right now the only way I can tell them apart is by the length and shape of their still-attached umbilical cords. Don't worry, umbilical cords are normal for kitties this age. They've dried up and will fall off soon.

Official names will come later, but because I can't tell one from the other right now we're going with:

*Stubby. Short and stubby cord.

*Curly. Curly cord.

*Longboard. A cord reaching past his(?) legs. 

See the top little kitty in the picture? That's Longboard.

Names, even temporary ones, are important at this age because I need to take daily weights to make sure they are gaining and not losing. 

Yeah, little one, I don't like to see my weight either.

They spend a lot of time sleeping at this age. Their preference is to be curled up together, and when one wanders away from the group I'll know about it because I'll hear it about it. They have all found their voice.

While two may be asleep, number three is looking to be reunited.

Eating is another pleasure for them. They need to be bottle fed every two hours - around the clock - so my phone alarm is set all night long to make sure they don't miss a meal. Somehow they think one hour forty five minutes is a better nighttime feeding schedule. Again, they let me know they are ready for an early buffet. Yep, nights are long around here. 

When was the last time you had a milk mustache both day and night?

The tiny bottle is bigger than these little foster babies.

Welcome to our home, little lambs!

Make a Homemade Fabric Case for Your Glasses - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday we are learning how to make a quick and easy homemade decorative case for our glasses. 

 

For this project you will need:

• main fabric
• lining fabric
• fusible fleece 
• Template downloaded from here
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Always helpful for sewing: rotary cutter, cutting ruler, cutting mat, scissors

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you sewing and crafting content.

Now available in my Etsy shop as a digital download with the written directions, step-by-step photos, printable template, and link to the tutorial video. Get it here!

Looking for more quick and easy ideas? Check out these projects!

Or just watch the tutorial video to learn how to make your own easy homemade fabric eyeglasses case:

How to Make a Decorative Vaccine Card Holder for a Couple - Tutorial Tuesday

A couple weeks back we made a vaccination record card holder for just one card, but for today's Tutorial Tuesday we are making one that holds two cards. It's an even easier sewing project than the one-card holder! Whether you are needing to show proof of vaccination for travel, work, or school or want to store your vaccine record cards in your safe, this handmade vaccine two-record cover is a decorative and stylish way to keep them protected.

For this project you will need:

• fabric
• clear vinyl, 12+ gauge
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Matching thread
• Teflon sewing machine foot or painter’s tape Tip: If you don’t have a Teflon sewing machine foot, place painter’s tape on bottom of the foot so the vinyl feeds through easier.
• Always helpful for sewing: scissors, rotary cutter, cutting ruler, cutting mat

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

Now available as a free PDF digital download HERE. 

Looking for other passport and vaccine covers? Check out our other projects!

Otherwise, you can find the step by step how to video for the 2 person vaccination card holder right here:

Foster Kitten Friday - Follow the Leader

While I await new foster kittens I'm prepping some photos and videos for Simply Cats and Idaho Gives. Sorting through all my digital files of the kitties I've had over the years I'm reminded of one of the cutest kitten videos I ever made. The Yellowstone Crew - Beth, Dutton, Rip, Kaycee, and Monica - made their way from their popup pen to the couch. By way of a blanket-covered barstool bridge. 

Purchase your own kitty cat foster parent t-shirt right here.
Purchase your own kitty cat foster parent coffee mug right here. 

Sunflower Potholder Sewing Project - Tutorial Tuesday

For today's Tutorial Tuesday sewing and crafting project we are going to be brightening up our kitchen's decor with this cute sunflower potholder. It's a great project for spring or summer or really anytime of year!

For this project you will need:

• cotton fabric for front
• cotton backing fabric
• cotton fabric for flower
• cotton fabric for flower center
• cotton batting, OR Insul-Bright
• Sewable HeatnBond Lite
• Iron 
• Scissors
• Sewing machine and matching thread
• template from here
• Always helpful for sewing: rotary cutter, cutting ruler, cutting mat

Disclosure: Deb's Days is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to affiliated sites. This means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you new sewing and crafting content.

If you'd prefer a written version of this project with step-by-step written instructions, photos, template, and link to the video, I have it available as a free PDF digital download. Click here to get yours!

Looking for something else? Check out some of my other kitchen sewing and crafting projects!

Otherwise, watch the how-to video to make your very own sunflower potholder:

This is one of the projects my pattern testers worked on. Just take a look at some of their work!