Crafty Elements

I recently went on vacation to Hawaii and then family in the states. I crafted some while I was on vacation, but they were more involved projects and are not done yet. But, I do have some that are done that I made when we came back :) One of the ladies that I know just had a baby girl so I made her some booties. This pattern is the "Fake Mary Jane" pattern. I fought with xmas light for about a 1/2 hour and then decided that they were going in the trash, but then I was like I can make something out of them other than just throwing them away. This I made before I left. Super easy to make. I made this on vacation. I made these in a variety of colors(beads) for people at work. Happy Holidays!

So this is going to be a quick blog....but I just had to share it. So I made this pendant from glass I found on the beach. I'm hoping to find another one of a similar size to make a pair of earrings, but for now....just a pendant. Okay, so this is what I was really excited about. I was about to start on dishes, and I saw my expired sponge. When I say "expired" I mean that it was way past the throw-out date. It wasn't just a little gross....I'm pretty sure it was about to sprout legs and walk. So I needed an emergency scrubby! So I whipped this little scrubby up with plarn that I made. Making the plarn and the scrubby took probably about 10-15 minutes. And it worked great! I actually like it better than my regular scrubby because it is more pliable. You don't have to "break it in" like regular scrubbies. Plarn Scrubbie Pattern & Materials: 2 Plastic grocery bags scissors Size J hook How to make plarn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTm2...

I have been slacking on my Halloween decorating, so I went through and put them up yesterday, and realized that I needed more decorations...especially for my favorite holiday! So I had previously made a spider web before and had yarn I picked up from the thrift store for .50! Score! This a beginner pattern and very easy. This pattern is for personal use only, please do not sell the pattern or the product. I did work hard on measuring the lengths and adjusting so please respect that. That being said here is the pattern: Chained Spider Web Chain 4 or 5 lengths of 7 feet. They do not have to be perfectly equal because in nature, neither are spider webs. You need to also make a chain length of about 45 feet. Lay out your 4 or 5 lengths of 7 feet on the floor so they are in a star pattern and meet in the middle. For example, make an "X" with the first two strands and add additional strands so they are evenly spaced. Take your 45 foot length of chain and place underneath ...

So I haven't posted in a while, but I have been busy. I can't seem to stay on one project. I start one, and then I have an idea for another....that will "only take 5 minutes" and well, never exactly takes 5 minutes. Any ways, I crafted some earrings from pieces of a printer that I took apart, and I love them b/c I fidget. So since they are squish-able they are definitely fun to play with :) I had also picked up a shirt from the thrift store a while back. It was plus size, and I loved the color, but not sure what to do with it. So I tried sewing it with a tank top into a dress with no luck, and it sat in my sewing room for a while. Then I picked it up again and decided to make it into a skirt. So I made it so it was bustled(I think that's the right terminology) in the back. But then I realized that it was the same material that the infinity dresses are made out of......so I decided to try it on different ways: ...and decided I loved it!!!! Yey for versat...

So I picked this shirt up at a thrift store on base...btw, the thrift stores here suck....so anyways, I picked a plain blue shirt at a thrift store. I cut the neck, and am debating on cutting it out more. And I painted this design on with fabric paint using a paintbrush and a sponge brush (I think that's what they are called). (Oh my god, what a dirty mirror!) I saw this hat and it looked so comfortable I had to make it. It was quick, easy, and also a good stash buster. Very warm too...I just got out of the shower and it's keeping my head warm :) Here's the link for the pattern: http://www.caron.com/vickiehowell/patterns/urban_jungle/urban_jungle.html I also had finished the sweater I mentioned, but took it out because it fit poorly. I think I will modify the half double crochet portion and I am going to make it smaller to fit better. However, it will probably be a while until I try the pattern again.

A couple weeks ago the thrift store had a special on women's tops.....each was $1. So I stumbled onto a couple sweaters...that would make excellent yarn. So here is what I got out of them. There is still a little piece of a sweater left because it had a zipper on the front so it made it a lot more difficult to get the yarn. Although the teal was practice since I son't like the silver sparkle. I could always take out the sparkle thread when I make whatever I make. I also am in the process of making another sweater with yarn my mom sent me :) It is taking longer than expected, and I am COMPLETELY sick of half double crochets!!!

This sweater should look familiar to those who follow my blog. I previously attempted this: http://craftyelements.blogspot.com/2009/10/christmas-and-halloween-crafting.html But I wasn't please with the outcome. I ended up giving it to a friend. So I tried it again because I really like the pattern. So I tweaked the pattern a little by making the sleeves way smaller and I made the size smaller as well. I like this one waaayyyyy better b/c of both the color and fit. It says it's an easy pattern, but I think I disagree because I was having difficulty the second time around. Not because the general concept was hard to grasp, but because some things just don't match up. Anyways, here is a link to the pattern again: http://www.coatsandclark.com/crafts/crochet/projects/apparel/lw1526+weekend+crochet+top.htm

Earrings that I made....btw Mom, thank you so much for the jump rings!!! These are made from buttons. I really like them b/c they are big but really light b/c they are buttons!! Buttons and a left over spring from a printer. These are the little plastic covers they put on screws from a bookcase...painted of course. More things I scored from a printer.

So I recently made a shrug. It came out really well, and it was nice, but I really wanted something else. Something more me. So I whipped up my own, creating my own pattern. I'm really proud of this one....lemme know what you think. So I recently made a shrug. It came out really well, and it was nice, but I really wanted something else. Something more me. So I whipped up my own, creating my own pattern. I'm really proud of this one....lemme know what you think.

So I believe that I mentioned before that I have been trying to use up my random skein here and there of yarn. Here are two more projects that I made: This is the "Easy Shell Shrug" free pattern can be found on Ravelry.com. It took me about a day and a half, and this is the 4th project this yarn has seen. It started as a bolero, turned into a purse and a snowflake, and will now stay as a shrug :) It was a little confusing in the beginning because the pattern instructions have some problems, and the author does not have the desire to fix them. So if you have any questions just ask! This I actually finished last week. I really like how different this is and that it can be worn as an accessory. This pattern was a little confusing too, but easy once you get used to it. It took me a couple hours to make only because I had never worked with Homespun, and let me tell you, bad idea to use it for the first time with this pattern. Although I do really like how soft it ...

I have been rather sick lately...the kind of sick where you don't even want to get out of bed. But being me, I really get bored easily so I have been crocheting a lot lately. I am also determined to use up some of my odd skeins. I previously made one of these shawls, but sent it to my sister(I kinda knew while I was making it, it would make its way to her). So I decided to make myself another one. A super simple headband: And playing around with eye makeup. I used blue on the lid, green in the crease, purple to line, and white to highlight brow bone and in inner corner.

So Typhoon Mufia has been hovering over us for the past couple days, which leaves a lot of crafting time for me! Black feather earrings...I like that they are not too extravagant. Made a coupon organizer b/c I was not able to find one since it is school time and supplies are limited. A skirt from a sheet. Hair sticks made out of chopsticks. The ones on the left remind me of an octopus so I highlighted them with red/purple. I am also working on a dress, which I am not completely happy with so I didn't want to post pictures until I tweek it a little.

This isn't too big of a recon....just cut the sleeves off Found these on the beach and made them into earrings :) These are remade earrings. I didn't make them correctly the first time so I had to re-do them, they will def last this time! I found this shell on the beach also and knew that it was meant to be jewelry. It reminds me of the necklace that Pocahontas wears :) I bought this shirt to purposely "decorate". I used black spray paint and a q-tip with bleach to make flowers. I <3 it!

My aim was to make a tshirt dress, but I have since found out that almost nothing turns out to what I imagine....probably because I hate planning. But I love the way the shirt turned out!! It was a large plain shirt....not anymore :) Here is a quick skirt from a shirt. Not as cute as the shirt, but very comfy and no sewing!