Spring Break Project

Today, Audrey and I embarked on a little project.  We headed to Hobby Lobby armed with a 40% off coupon.  We bought 1 foam ring, 1 roll of light green faux fur yarn, 1 pink ribbon (50% off), and some flower embellishments.  We walked out of the store with less than $10 invested and created this for the front door.  It was fairly easy (until the yarn knotted up).  I did find that there is a balance to wrapping the yarn...if you wrap it too tight, the fur won't poof out enough, but if you wrap too loose then you get lots of gaps where the foam shows through.  Play with it a few minutes to get the right tension.  Finally, we added the flowers with straight pins.  I want to add a "Think Spring" sign, but need to the get the Cricut out for that.  Until them, it hangs on the door welcoming all the visitors.

(I did see this originally on Pinterest...Lord knows I can't come up with these creative ideas on my own :-)

Pinterest Inspired...YouTube Taught

So, as I mention in my previous post, I have found Pinterest very inspiring. One hobby that I decided to teach myself was knitting. After Christmas, I forced my family into a Hobby Lobby shopping spree where I bought my first set of knitting needles and several balls of yarn. I had no clue what I was doing or how to do it, but I was ready to learn.

That night went to youtube and learned how to cast on and do a knit and purl stitch. I stitched and stitched and stitched that night. Not long after, I began my first scarf. It was a good learning experience, but it is NOTHING that I would like to show here, but I did learn a lot about knitting.

For my second effort, I was inspired by this scarf: http://www.purlbee.com/easy-hand-knit-scarf/

I used 2 balls of Vanna's Choice yarn by Lion in Linen and 11 sized needles following this pattern:
Cast on 39 stitches.
K2, p2, repeat to last 3 stitches, k2, p1.
Repeat this row.

It turned out pretty good, for a second scarf. The first 20 rows are a little wonky as I was getting my gauge right and then a few rows after that I I had a major screw up (still not sure what) and it is visible. Overall though, I think it turned out great.

Audrey has been really excited about my knitting. She understands the difference between a knit and a purl and likes to sit and help me knit. When we were at Wal-mart, she found an eyelash yarn called Boa by Bernat and she wanted a scarf made from it. So, I made her one. I casted on 23 stitches and did a straight knit stitch all the way around.

I used just one ball of yarn (keep it mind it was for a child, an adult one would have needed 1 1/5-2). Overall, it hides a lot of flaws and is fairly easy to work with once you get the hang of it. It is so soft and I like it so much, I will be starting mine in a next few minutes.

Overall, this knitting thing is kind of fun and I am getting better each day. Can't wait to keep trying new and challenging patterns, stitches, and techniques. And to think...it all started with pinterest and a few youtube videos..oh and the desire for a challenge!

Pinterest Inspired....

So, the newest wave to sweep the nation (well, at least my little corner of the state) seems to be Pinterest, a virtual pinboard for all of your cool web-finds.  I joined after Christmas and got inspired by all the cool stuff and ideas.  So far, thanks to Pinterest, I have taught myself to knit and today I completed my first project. If you know me very well, you know I am not a crafty girl.  Crafts are always a challenge for me, especially coming up with ideas.  That is why Pinterest  is so useful for me.   My first project is a DIY project:  Make your Own Coasters.


What you need:
-ceramic tiles like you would find at Lowes/Home Depot (about .20 a tile)
-modge podge
-scrapbook paper
-water based polyurethane


Next, choose your  favorite scrapbook paper and cut squares to fit on your tile.  You may want to leave enough room for an 1/8" border.  This will help with sizing. Use a scrapbooking paper cutter for easiest and most consistent cutting.  Obviously, you should cut all your squares ahead of time because there will be no time once you start gluing.


Then, wipe all of your tiles down.  If there is gunk on them, wipe with alcohol.  With a cheap chip brush or foam brush, brush modge podge on the tile completely covering the whole tile.  Be sure not to have any glops.  Place the tile on the tile, smoothing it down on all edges and in the middle.  Be careful to work quickly because modge podge dries quickly.  Afterwards, put 2-3 coats on the top of the tiles.  Make sure brush strokes are in the same direction each coat and be sure to use even coats.

After the modge podge has thoroughly dried.  Coat with water based polyurethane.  After an appropriate drying time, you can add bases so they don't scratch up tables.  You can either cut felt or buy those stick on felt feet or rubber bumpers.   Then you're done.  They make great gifts and I plan to make a little store to give away throughout the year and at the holidays!!  

 Before top coat of modge podge:

 Completion!!