How about cheering someone up with a "hug in the mail"?
Here is how we did it...
Materials needed:
*camera
*printer
*colored paper
*staples
Step 1: Take a picture of your child posing like they are giving a hug.
Step 2: Print out picture. I printed out an 8 x 10.
Step 3: Create the "arms" but cutting out rectangles. I used border punch strips from my scrapbooking supplies. They measure at 2 X 12. I didn't need to cut them out. These will be the "arms" Then we traced Princess's hands on an old file folder and cut them out and stapled them to the "arms". Staple the "arms" to the shoulders of the child on the picture.
Write a note to include with your "hug" and place in an appropriate envelope and mail off!
I told her I could make her one and so here we are. This bow tie is for dress-up so it isn't super fancy and pretty easy to make.
Materials needed:
*red fabric ( Used a scrap piece of jersey knit, you could even use an old t-shirt)
* thread
*sewing machine
*ribbon
*pattern, optional
First I cut out a "pattern" from an old file folder measuring 3.5 x 9 inches. Placed the pattern over my material and cut out my fabric.
Folded in half and sewed the sides at 5/8 inches.
Then cut the excess off.
Turned inside out. Turned the ends inward and sewed them close the edge.
Used a scrap piece of fabric for the center. Turned in the edges and sewed together.
Sewed a piece of ribbon to one side of the bow tie, double-checked length on Princess and the sewed the other side.
Voila!
Working on making her a "bow tie" headband....
Was asked to make a fez...completed the "fez challenge" with amazing directions by Tally's Treasury!
I used what I had on hand, jersey knit material and old file folders and some yarn. For Princess, these materials worked just fine. If I was making it again, I would use the felt like she suggests.
Glue hands with the thumbs overlapping. Punch out nine "flames" with the hole punch. Depending on the size of the hand prints, you may want to cut out the "flames" in a different way or even draw them on.
Made these snowmen magnets by recycling old calendar magnets and Christmas sheet music.
Materials needed:
*magnets
*sheet music (I got mine here : Vintage Feedsacks )
*glue/mod podge
*foam brush
*buttons
*scrap of fabric
First I printed off the sheet music. Then I "aged" my music but placing it in a baking dish and brushing cooled used coffee grounds all over it. Then I let it dry.
I then used my "snowman shape" I had cut out of an old folder to trace on to the magnet and on the sheet music.
Cut them out and used mod podge to adhere the sheet music to the magnet. Make sure to use a thin coat on top to "seal" the paper.
Once dry I used acrylic paint, buttons and scrap fabric to create the details on the snowmen.
Today's post is something I had been wanting to learn to do for awhile. I would browse the craft store aisles and see this different kind of yarn on display. The one that looks like a ribbon, but when you opened it up looked like netting. I am still not a pro at crocheting and this new kind of yarn looked intimidating. I was pleasantly surprised that crocheting a "frilly scarf" out of the looped yarn is very simple.
I have found the best way for me to learn how to do something is if someone shows me. If someone demonstrates the steps, I am able to catch on pretty quickly. That is what happened here. I checked out youtube and looked at few videos before I settled on one I liked.
I highly recommend this video by Maggie Weldon:
She is clear and easy to follow. Depending on your level of expertise and how you learn, you may prefer another video. To make the scarf pictured above, I used the Premier Starbella yarn Spring Bouquet and in the demonstration pictures I used Premier Starbella yarn Canyon Sunrise. I used my "N" hook for this pattern.
If for some reason the video is not working here is my attempt to show you how to make this scarf.
You will first spread the yarn apart. With ribbed side down and netting on top, you will count out 8 loops on the very top.
Fold in half the 8 loops in half over itself.
Put your hook through the first double loop, then the second and so on for the remaining double loops.
This is the start of the scarf. Now you must decide if you are going to do 8 or 10 loops (or if you are experimenting maybe more? Let me know if you do and how it turned out). You will skip the first loop and go into the second. That is one. Skip the next loop and going into the fourth. Repeat this until you get 10 loops. You should have 11 loops (counting the doubles as one).
Pull the last loop all the way through.
Skip the first loop and go into the second. Skip the third and go into the fourth and so on until 10. Pull the 10th loop through. Repeat this pattern until you get to the end.
Once you have reached the desired length of the scarf, you will wrap the ribbon around the needle.
Pull through the loop. It should be tight enough to stay. If you are making a shorter scarf you will need to cut the yarn giving yourself about an inch or so of slack to wrap and pull through the loop.
Maggie said that if you want the scarf to be more fuller to go for 10 loops, which is what I did. It was a little tricky to get the hang of it at first because this type of yarn curls up on you and you must keep it separated as you crochet. She did say it could be made in about 30 minutes. She is a pro, so yes if you are as well, that time would be about right. I would say for me it was closer to 45 minutes.
Here is the finished scarf!
Another scarf I made.
This one took me about 30 minutes. Happy crafting!!
Back before the full swing of school began I had signed up to help with a Christmas luncheon at Princess's school. We were asked to bring 2 dozen cookies to share. I cringed. Normally I make my famous "spritz" cookies, but because I have been dealing with unpredictable migraines, I wasn't sure I would be able to make those. I needed something fairly easy.
Ingredients:
*1 tube of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
* 1 bag of M&M minis ( I actually took the time to separate the colors into prep bowls)
First preheat the oven according to the directions on the package. Cut the dough into 1/4-inch circles.
The colder the dough, the easier it is to slice.
Arrange the slices on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Then using the M&M's make your "tree" design. I made the tree, while Princess topped it with the "star" and added the "trunk".
Bake according to the package instructions and cool on a wire rack. I have found allowing the cookies to sit on the cookie sheet for a minutes before transferring to the wire rack helps the cookie keep it's shape better.
After making 12 "trees", we decided to make "snowmen" for the other dozen cookies.
Then I got really creative with my Whovian-self and decided to attempt a "TARDIS" and the Doctor's "bow tie". Let me point out the Doctor Who Christmas Special is called "The Snowmen." I didn't realize I had made the perfect treat for the upcoming episode until after I snapped this picture.
Before we baked them.
Very easy and quick to make, especially if you are strapped for time. Merry Christmas!
