Red White (sort of) and Blue Push-up Popsicles

The kids and I have been trying to keep busy this summer which has left little to no time for crafting by me but we are going to try and make something in the kitchen each week this summer and the first thing we made were these red, white (more of a yellow but who cares) and blue push-up Popsicles. We used these pretty cool push-up molds that have been popular for making push-cakes but we use them for Popsicles more than push-cakes. If you are interested, you can buy some molds from me by checking out my ETSY shop.

Here is what you need to make these Red, White and Blue Push-up Popsicles.

Red Layer:
1 1/2 cups of cut up strawberries
1/3 cup water
3 tbsp. sugar

White Layer:
1 package of vanilla pudding mix
2 cups of milk

Blue Layer:
3/4 cups of blueberries
1/3 cup water
3 tbsp. sugar

To make the red layer, wash and cut up your strawberries. Combine strawberries, water and sugar in a sauce pan and cook until strawberries release their juices and become mushy and break up easily. Let cool slightly and pour this mixture into your Popsicle molds about 1/3 of the way up. Freeze

Once the red layer is frozen, make the white layer by mixing the pudding mix and milk and pour into you Popsicle molds that have the frozen strawberry layer. Put back into the freezer and freeze until white layer is frozen.

While the white layer is freezing, make the blue layer by combining blueberries, water and sugar in a saucepan. Heat until the berries soften and become mushy. Using the back of a fork or a blender if you prefer a smoother texture, smash the berries until they form a sort of puree. Let the blue layer cool while the white layer freezes and then pour the blue layer on top of the white and red layer. Put the molds back into the freezer until the blue layer freezes and then they are ready to serve.

These little babies would be very fun and festive to serve for the upcoming holiday.

Sailor Skirt for Me

Does anyone else have a fear of sewing clothing for themselves? I sure do! I'm not sure why, I guess it is just because I am afraid it won't turn out and I will have wasted time and fabric with nothing to show for it. Well today I decided to give it a try using some of the left over sheet I used to make these sailor pants for my daughter. I again turned to this tutorial from Me Sew Crazy for inspiration. I followed her tutorial for the sailor pants but instead made a sailor skirt.

To make the skirt, I simply used a skirt I love as a pattern and cut around it leaving extra for the seam allowance.  I then cut these pieces up the middle so that I had 4, 2 front and 2 back pieces just like in the tutorial. From here I followed the tutorial just as it is written to create the flaps for the sailor front.

For the back, I wanted a slit (I'm sure it has a technical name, I just don't know what it is) so I sewed the 2 back piece together stopping about 7 inches from the bottom. I then ironed the raw edges of the slit back 1/4 of an inch and sewed up one side of the slit and back down the other.

I then sewed all the pieces together and created the waist just like in the tutorial. The skirt turned out cute however my fear came true, I put the effort into making something for myself and it didn't fit. BOO! Which is why you are not seeing the skirt on me. I however know where I messed up and will give it another try, I just may have enough left for a take 2. Would you like to know where I messed up? Well, when I traced my skirt as a pattern, I added extra for the seam allowance for the side seam, I however didn't take into account the need to add in seam allowances for the seams that run up the middle of the front and back of the skirt.

I admit, not everything I make works or fits as the case may be. I however learned from this little mistake and will try again, this skirt is so cute, not to. What I need is a mannequin that is made to fit my body, I have seen tutorials on how to make them, I may just have to do that. I am determined to figure out how to sew clothes for myself. Have you had any failures when trying to sew something for yourself? Do you have any tips for me when trying to sew for yourself?  I'd love to hear about them.