Lego Tee Tutorial

Earlier this year Mark's parents took us on an epic week-long adventure to California.  We hit Disney land for a few days as well as Lego Land.  Growing up with my big family and especially 4 rowdy, little boys on the end, my mom always dressed the boys in matching shirts when we went on trips.  We traveled a lot; being a big family didn't keep us from getting out and going places.  I will admit that hitting such people-populated places with four young children of my own made me a bit jittery.  I shared my mom's solution of matching tees with Mark and added my own version of it.  I planned to purchase matching obnoxious brightly-colored tees for the kids so they were easier to keep track of.  "Why not make the adults easier to keep track of too," Mark asked.  PERFECT!  So, I rolled out these fun tees!  It wasn't as fun towards the end because I made 6 days worth for 8 people! :p  It was well worth the time and effort in the end.

I wasn't finding what I wanted for the Lego Land tees, so I came up with my own by splicing a few things together. I am not super crafty...if I can make these, I promise anybody else can too!  You don't have to be headed to Lego Land to surprise your little boy (or your really big boy AKA Lego-loving hubby) :) with this fun tee...

Let me explain how I made these and then check out the very bottom of this post for some face options to mix and match.

1. Gather the following supplies:
~Blank yellow tee(s).  I purchased mine online HERE for both kids and adults.  The smallest size for kids is 4/5T though (FYI, hence the lighter shade of yellow in the picture just above these words).

~Freezer paper:  You can find this in the same aisle where you purchase aluminum foil or plastic wrap. (I paid about $6 for a giant roll at Walmart.  I have made over 60 tees and still have some on the roll).

~Fabric paint and brush: Black is essiential! Red for girl lips and white if you want white dots for the eyes.
~Iron
~X-acto knife
~Scraps of cardboard

2.  Figure out your design (see the bottom of this post for what we came up with).  I printed them on on regular paper in black and white with my home computer. You can mix and match eyes with lips...the options are endless.  Mark and his parents all wear glasses, so their Lego tees needed glasses too.  Mark had a beard, so his tee does too, etc.  Have fun!

This picture is of me tracing some of our Disney Land tees...just use your imagination. :)

3.  Trace your design.  You will notice that there are two textures to the freezer paper.  One size is plastic-y.  This is the side you want closest to your fabric because it will melt while you iron and hold firm to the tee to create a stencil.  The other side is just like butcher paper.  The paper side is where you will draw your tracing.

Instead of Mickey ears you will have Lego faces.  If you are doing more than one at once, be sure to leave space between the design.  You want to cover a good area around your design to prevent dripping fabric paint on undesired places on the tee!

4.  Cut out your design.  I used my X-acto knife to start a hole around the outline of the Lego head and then my scissors to cut the rest, so it was faster.  The key to remember while cutting is anything on the tee that is covered in freezer paper will remain yellow.

Note that I taped the little rectangle on the side (see it on the right upper corner of the biggest piece?). You will need to save this or else you won't have a proper Lego shape.  It gives it the little bump at the top of the head.

So after I cut with the scissors, I was left with 3 pieces to keep at this point: the outline piece, the tiny rectangle, (see the previous picture for both), and the face.  I want the face to stay yellow, so I need to use my knife to cut out the details of the eyes and mouth.

If you are doing girl lips, this is as far as you want to cut at this point.

Then go back, but notice how I'm not starting right at the corner to finish these.  Do that x 4 corners.  I am going to paint the black first and I want a nice clean edge for the black smile line.  If I loosen up the part that I will paint red then I can just cut/tear the rest of the freezer paper off once the black is dry to have the proper shape for the red.

Again, end just before the corner.  (Don't go all the way to the edge of the traced line).

If you are adding either glasses or sun glasses, you will have extra pieces.  See how it splits the face piece in half?  If you have glasses, you will also need to save the outlines inside to make eyes (again, remember anything covered in freezer paper will stay yellow, so if you want to have eyes inside of the glasses, you will need to trace and save those pieces).

5.  Tuck a flat piece of cardboard into your tee. This is important because it will prevent paint from seeping through the back side of your tee.

Position the outline on your tee at the desired place.  I found it easiest to start with the outline of the head.

6.  Start ironing!  Turn it on a high-heat setting and press down hard.  You want to iron like it's nobody's business, paying particular attention to any edges or unusual shapes.  Any freezer paper that is not fully ironed down will allow paint to seep through.  The trick to sharp edges is ironing carefully and entirely.

Second, I ironed on the little rectangle.  This way I can line it up where it needs to go before I add in the face.

I found it best to line up the two face pieces for tees with glasses first, but to only iron on one at a time.

For tees without glasses then go ahead and iron on the face piece.

This tee is all ironed.

7.  Start painting.  All black tees are a piece of cake.  I found sponging it on looked better because the fabric saturated easier.

This is how the tees with girl lips looks after the black paint.

Once the black paint is all dried, I used my X-acto knife to peel off the freezer paper for the red lips part.

Use the tip of the fabric paint bottle to paint the red.

All painted!

8.  Once the paint is all dried, then go ahead and peel off the freezer paper.

Wait at least 24 hours before wearing the tees to allow them enough time to fully dry.

With a houseful of Lego lovers, these tees have been some of our favorites.  Gavin wore it for days in a row after we got home from our trip, but as soon as it was out of the dryer, it was back on him. :)

Happy tee-ing!  See below for prints outs of Lego face options.  I printed each one out on a full sheet of paper. I used the same size of faces for the kids (my youngest was almost 3).  I did print a smaller resized version for the toddler tee I made for another family though.  Have fun!  I would love to hear how yours turn out!

Grandpa O's Famous Turkey and Dumplings

My Grandpa used to make these for me when I was a little kid.  I grew up next door to my mom's parents and so we spent not only time there on holidays, but on normal mundane days too. It's one of our family's favorite ways to used up left over Thanksgiving turkey.  The secret to why his are so much better than other recipes is that you used a cream puff or eclair recipe for the dumplings (that makes these dumplings less tough than traditional dumplings):)

Turkey and Dumplings

8 Cups chicken broth
1 stalk celery (optional, thinly sliced)
2 large carrots (optional, peeled and thinly sliced)
I also add about half of an onion finely grated

Left over turkey (shredded or chunks)

Start the broth boiling and add in the veggies.  In the meantime make the dumplings.

Danish Dumplings

1 cube butter
1 C. boiling water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. flour
4 eggs

Melt butter in boiling water.  Add salt and flour, stirring over heat until ball follows the spoon around the pan (not long).  Remove from heat and beat in eggs---one at a time.  Take dumpling mixture and drop into hot chicken broth, a heaping tablespoon at a time.  Simmer 20 minutes---DO NOT BOIL.  Ad turkey to the brother or serve on the side, as desired.

Thanksgiving 2017

Le licking his lips over his pumping pie.

I LOVE making Thanksgiving dinner!  I love spending time in the kitchen.  I love that my family and our guests get cozy and keep my company while I cook.  And I love, love, love all the leftovers.  Leland said, "I like Thanksgiving because the pies, and the sweet potatoes, and 'blah, blah, blah.'"  Hahah....me too, Buddy!

Mark caught me mid-one-of-my-epic-laughs. :D

Le getting the first slice of pie.

Gavin with his.

Senn with hers.

Ship with his pie (and Mom too).  I love this stage where he winks every time he smiles for a picture. <3

Aftermath couple selfie.

The boys performed for the play Wed and Fri night.  I am also tied to home right now for an anytime commitment.  We stayed home this year and had a lovely holiday.  We invited a houseful of guests.  Some told us no up front.  Others changed plans last minute.  Grandma and Grandpa Ricks did join us though.  It's the quietest Thanksgiving we have had a in long time, but we had a wonderful time visiting with Grandma and Grandpa.  They were good sports for the "Loco Cafe" (the kids started a "restaurant" in the play room and the menu and entire experience truly was loco!).  I am grateful for the heartfelt and connecting conversations in the kitchen.  We don't get to spend a lot of time with them, so it was special to have this memorable time together!

Ship (3-yr-old) took over the selfie stick.

This is how we spent Black Friday morning...getting in a much needed date "night" for the week!

The lights are on for Temple Square now!

Dad, Ship, and Grandpa.

Grandma teaching Senn to make books.

Somehow Grandpa caught a nap...I have no idea how!  With a houseful of boys this place is always hopping...and LOUD!

Dad carving the turkey!

Grandma and Grandpa!

The Day after Thanksgiving= Christmas decorations!  The kids put the tree up almost entirely themselves.  I was impressed with their persistence, determination, and teamwork.

It always is so magical when the lights go on!  Minus lights on the house, Christmas is up!  (I have no idea when we will get to hanging them with the play!) :p

Pie Day 2017

Shipton's French Silk Pie (chocolate---Better Homes & Gardens)

1 prepared pastry shell
1 C whipping cream
1 C semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 C butter
1/3 C sugar
2 beaten egg yolks
3 TBS creme de cacao or whipping cream
1 C whipped cream

1.  Bake shell according to directions.  Set aside.  Meanwhile, in a medium heavy saucepan combine the 1 C. whipping cream, the chocolate chips, butter, and sugar.  Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted (about 10 min).  Remove from heat.  Gradually stir half of the chocolate mixture into beaten egg yolks.  Return egg mixture to chocolate mixture in saucepan.  Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened and begins to bubble (about 5 mins).  Remove from heat.  (Mixture may appear to separate.)  Stir in the creme de cacao or whipping cream.  Place the saucepan in a bowl of ice water (I fill my sink with ice water).  Stir occasionally, until the mixture stiffen and becomes hard to stir (about 20 min).  Transfer chocolate mixture to a medium mixing bowl.

2.  Beat cooled chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 2 to 3 min or until light and fluffy.  Spread filling in the baked pastry shell.  Cover and refrigerate pie for 5-24 hours (It's even better after it's chilled).  To serve, top with whipped cream.

Leland's Pumpkin Pie (Libby's recipe)

prepared pie shell

3/4 C granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

2 large eggs

1 15-oz can pumpkin 

1 12-oz-can evaporated milk

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in small bowl.  Beat eggs in large bowl.  Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture.  Gradually stir in evaporated milk.

Pour into pie shell

Bake in preheated 425 over for 15 min.  Reduce temperature to 350.  Cover the crust with foil.  Bake for an additional 40-50 mins or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.  Col on wire rack for 2 hours.  Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Gavin's French Cherry Pie (Jackie Call's recipe)

1/2 small pkg (3 oz) cream cheese

1/2 C powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 C. cool whip

1 can prepared cherry pie filling

Soften cream cheese and add sugar and vanilla together.  Whip cream and fold into cream cheese mixture.  Pour into graham cracker crust of cooled baked crust and spread evenly. Pour cherry filling over the top.  Chill 4-5 hours. 

Sennika's Blueberry Pie (Better Homes and Gardens)

2 prepared shells

5 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (allow frozen berries to thaw at room temperature for 45 minutes)

3/4 C sugar

3 TBS flour

1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel or a splash of lemon juice

In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour, lemon, and berries.  Gently toss berries until coated.  Transfer berry mixture to the pastry-lined pie plate.  Trim bottom pastry to edge of pie plate (and cut slits in the top) or add a lattice top.   

Cover crust with foil.  Bake at 375 oven for 25 min.  Remove foil.  Bake pie for 25-30 additional minutes or until filling is bubbly and pastry is golden.  Cool on wire rack.

My Savior of the World Boys

Mark and Gavin have spent the past few months rehearsing for this beautiful musical production depicting the events surrounding Christ's birth and death.  They just started performances and the production will go until the end of the year.  These boys are in the Wednesday night, Friday night, and Saturday matinee performances.  It's been a huge time commitment and late nights, but we have been delighted to support them in this.  Mark and Gavin both have had spiritual moments in preparing for the performances.  Mark is a temple priest.  Gavin is a temple boy and John the baptist. They are both angels for most of the other scenes throughout the rest of the performance.  I am proud of them both!