Crafty Elements

As you might have guessed, I have been extremely busy making gifts. I will have to post them at a later date. However, I can leave you with a couple things that I have done previously. Last year I made a wreath out of crochet leaves. I got the pattern off of Lionbrand, but there are many different patterns for leaves that you can use that are free online. You can even use different leaf patterns or add crocheted pinecones (I posted a pattern for them in a previous post). At first I didn't know how to decorate it, but I took it into Michael's for some advice. I think it turned out really well. I didn't make the bow, but they are easy to make and instructions on how to are easy to find online. I also had left over leaves that I could use to make smaller wreaths to go around door handles (a project that I haven't gotten to yet). I loosely put it together and decorated it with groups of red buttons(for the berries) and it looked really cute. Another quick idea for ...

I finally got around to making curtains for my bedroom. When I first moved in, I broke the blinds, and have wanted to tactfully cover the window ever since, but only had a valence. That and taping the blinds together just wasn't cutting it. I made these out of a sheet that I also used to make my boyfriend's smurf hat. I think it was originally a sheet that he accidentally took when he left the navy. I hemmed all the edges and made a casing by folding over the top so the curtain rod could go through. They turned out shorter than I expected, but am still pleased with the results. I haven't decided whether or not I want to dye them, since the sun will bleach them. I finished my tshirt scarf. I originally intended for it to be crochet, since I prefer crochet to knitting. However, I could not find my Q Hook, which would have been big enough to crochet it (I was having difficult with crocheting with my N Hook. Instead I used my size 13 circular needles. It turned out hea...

This shirt was originally short sleeve, and the neckline was all the way up to the neck. I cut the sleeves and sewed the edges for a more finished look. I also cut the neckline....a little too big. So then I decided to crochet around the neckline. However, I'm still not happy with it. I was thinking about cutting out a diamond a little below the neckline and crocheting in the hole, but I'm not sure. I think the color bugs me (it's peach if you can't tell in the picture). I may just give it away, since I have been working on it for several months now. I had previously was working on a purple shrug, but I bought the yarn last year at Joann's and can no longer find it. So I finally gave up and took it apart :-/. It was sad, but I happy that it wasn't lying around anymore collecting dust. The red hat that I previously posted had the same fate. I had used the Pretty Puffs Slouchy Hat Pattern as a guide, and instead of using single crochet I used double croc...

Here is a picture of the blanket I made for my friends wedding, as promised :) After several days of boycotting the "skirt" I finally got back to it. When I left it, it was a piece of fabric, in the shape of a skirt, it was not sewn together in a complete circle. I found a hole close to where it was going to be sewn together, so it became asymmetrical. I installed a zipper (and I did a really good job for my second zipper ever), and added ribbon over the seams in addition to a bow. I cut an asymmetrical hem (longer in the back and on the right side) and used a zig-zag stitch to finish it off because there was no way I could have hemmed it. I have a picture of me modeling it because 1.) someone commented before on wanting to see it on someone, 2) it looks better on, and 3) I remembered :). Anyways, I am very pleased on how it came out hence the "I Win!" since this project turned into a real pain. Another project I did was make tshirt yarn. The purpose was to...

I started off with a pair of men's dress pants, but wasn't sure of what to do with them. I had seen before how people can make them into a dress, but didn't really want to go that route. So I decided that I would keep them as pants, but just make them straight leg and to fit me. I took off the zipper and cut off the waistband. Then I realized that I cut off too much of the waistband....plan B....make a skirt. So I figured make a skirt with a pleated type deal and to secure it on, use a ribbon to tie on the side. Well, I sewed it wrong, so after working 3 hours on it, I gave up for the night. Yey! I finished my costume. It's actually 3 pieces plus the wings, belt, and halo. I started out with a really long skirt and cut jagged pieces out of it and sewed it together. It didn't work out though....the skirt was made of really stretchy material, to the point where it was difficult to sew. The pieces I sewed together didn't lay the way that I expected them ...

I finished all the pinecones (YEY) for the family. Now to decorate them? I liked both of these the best because it only seemed fitting to decorate with both green and red :) This one is just a green bow with a button glued on it. The "snow" is not glitter, it's called "Diamond Dust" by Twinklets. I found out that it's actually ground up glass...but it's so fine, that it won't cut you, so no worries. Awesome way to recycle glass :) This pinecone is just 3" pieces of ribbon glued together with pony beads glued on top. To make, take your section of ribbon and place the ends on top of each other, right side of the ribbon facing up. The ribbon will make the loop itself. I glued the beads on there to make it look like holly and to cover up the ribbon where it was glued. Really easy. I also tied some fishing line onto it BEFORE I glued down the ribbon so that it could be hung (p.s. glue the "holly" on top of the knot on the string)....

I just finished this hat this morning. I got the pattern off of http://aprildraven.blogspot.com/. I recently fell in love with this blog....really easy patterns and very cute things. This is the convertible hat from this website (I love convertible clothing...so versatile!). I decided not to add beads, and it is only one color. It took a little more than half a skein of yarn to make. It's actually a really pretty sky blue, the picture doesn't do it justice. Here is a scarf/shawl that I finished earlier this week. I've never made anything like this before, because I always associated shawl with old lady. But April's scarf was so cute that I had to try it. I think it turned out really well, and it's warm. I'm not sure about the color, but I think it's growing on me. This is also versitile as a scarf, or as just a shawl. You could also wear it as sleeves by putting it over your shoulders and taking the ends and tie them behind your back, underneath ...

I previously posted how excited I was that I found more yarn by taking apart a previous project (a shrug). Sadly, I have run out :(....again. Here's how far I got. I am probably 3/4 of the way done if not more and I'm really excited about it since this will be my 3rd wearable project that I have been working on. I am hoping that they get the yarn in soon, and I'm crossing my fingers that they still make it and carry it. PS--not my foot, lol. I also made some soup, it was SOUPER easy (hahaha). You pretty much used whatever veggies you have around in your place, cut them up, throw them in a pot, boil 20-30 minutes and dinner is served! Here's my recipe: 6 boullion cubes (vegetable or beef) 7 c. water 1/4 c. shredded carrots 1 onion 2 cloves garlic 1 small can tomato sauce pinch fresh rosemary 3/4 c. pasta, uncooked 1 c. cut up spinach 3 potatoes cubes 4 T. dried parsley Like I said before, throw everything in the pot except the pasta, which you want to add about 1...

I finished my "secret" project over the weekend, and I was so excited! It was a blanket that I made as a wedding present. I forgot to take a picture, but it turned out really well. Here is the original pattern that I got off LionBrand.com http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/70408AD.html?noImages= The pattern itself is fairly easy, although it was smaller than I liked so I made two of them and put them together, and it turned out good. I used purple for the circles, then white, and then black for the main color. Hopefully I can get a picture of it at some point in time, when I get to it, lol. After I had decided on what the wedding present was going to be, I realized that I had nothing to wear! I had several formal dresses and some really casual dresses, but nothing in between. So...I decided to get creative on a pinky-lilac strapless that I had (Sorry no before pic). I had bought it originally on a whim at Goodwill. The original color was way too light for a fall weddi...

Sad news...I used up all the purple yarn on the shrug that I was working on, and neither Joann's and Michael's has more :( So that project has been permanently on hold. Good news, I found the lost hook that I was using to make the hairpin skirt (who would think that I would loose both hooks I had?)! I started a new pattern: http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Apparel/LW1526+Weekend+Crochet+Top.htm ny But I'm having trouble with it. I understand how the panel pattern fits into the pattern, but I am stuck on the 2nd row of the panel pattern. I have tried it several times with no avail, at least the way I'm reading the pattern. Any help would be appreciated :) On to the pictures! Well sort of. I made Vegetable Rice Salad for a Labor Day cook out. It was so easy and tasted really good. Vegetable Rice Salad 1 c. Mayonnaise 1 T. Vinegar 1 small clove garlic, minced 1 t. salt 1/4 t. pepper 2 c. cooked rice, cooled 10 oz. Frozen peas, thawed 1/2 c. shr...

I started taking pictures of the food that I make because I figured that I take pictures of everything else, so why not? I just made some friend rice that turned out really well for sl apping it together last minute. I even made my boyfriend stop eating so I could take a picture :) I based it off of this recipe that I found: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Fried-Rice Since I'm last minute, I didn't make the rice ahead of time. I also forgot that I didn't have eggs, so I was really disappointed when I looked at the recipe again after I started making it. Here's the recipe that I made: 3 T. oil 1 carrot 1/2 onion 1 1/2 celery stalks 1 vegetable bouillon cube dissolved in 1/4 c. water 2 t. garlic powder 1 1/2 t. ground ginger (this is an estimate) 2-3 T. Soy sauce 5 shakes of pepper 2-3 T. Parsley (this is used mostly just for looks rather than taste) 4 c. cooked rice Boil rice in water with 1 t. salt. Set aside. Saute onoin, carrot, and celery in oil. Add rice and rema...

I've been busy crafting to the point where I can't stop....not even to show you guys a quick blog about what I'm working on :-/ I have also made I have been working on a craft book with all the free patterns that I have found on the internet. I just took a binder and sectioned it with colored paper (or dividers if you prefer) into 4 categories: sewing, crochet, knitting, and crafts. Hole punch your printed patterns and stick 'em in there! I have a feeling I will be adding more sections to break down the categories further with all the patterns I have. I have been a baking a bit lately. I made a double layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (Hershey's has one of the best chocolate cake and frosting recipes ever). http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184&page=1&per=707&keyword=perfectly%20chocolate I also made 2 loaves of banana bread (the recipe is in a previous post) and have many more bananas to make....well I still haven...

Yesterday I posted a red hat that I decided was too small or "not slouchy enough". So...I pulled it apart, added more, and now it sits weird. But I will not give up! I will win! Here it is pulled apart. I cut the double crochets and tied them individually so it would not unravel. I then added 2 more rows of double crochet to the circular part (left pic). I tied it off and single crocheted the two pieces together. However, it is tighter where I single crocheted it, so it sits funny on my head. I think I may pull it apart again and just continue where I left off at the circle and use the other piece as something else...a headband maybe? *sigh* So it was a late dinner....didn't have much around the house because I didn't feel like grocery shopping today. I had a box of pasta and a bag of frozen broccoli....what do I do with that? After consulting both Betty Crocker and google, I found this recipe: http://www.ivu.org/recipes/pasta/spaghetti-and.html Since it sa...

I found my camera charger! What does this mean? A much happier Stephi and pictures for you :) Some of the crafts are much harder to describe without them. So...lets get down to business. First of all, I just randomly threw together Hershey's Hot Fudge Pudding Cake, and it smells so yummy, I can't wait! This is a very easy recipe but a little tricky, so I highly suggest that you give the directions a once-over before you make it. It really turns out pudding-like, and who could go wrong with chocolate anyways? http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hersheys--Hot-Fudge-Pudding-Cake/Detail.aspx Ps. It amazing with vanilla ice cream fresh out of the oven! I also made a hat today....seems weird in the middle of the summer, right? I would deem it one of those, throw-it-on-when-my-hair-looks-like-crap hats :) That and it's comfy too. I modified it a little since the main reason I don't like crocheting in the round is because when I single crochet, I always lose where I started e...