Chevron Crochet Blanket

I am in love with chevron crocheted items right now!  I love these ones on Pinterest:

Scarf - http://babytoboomer.com/2013/12/29/chevron-infinity-scarf-crochet-pattern/

Baby Blanket - http://annemarieshaakblog.blogspot.com.au/2014/06/new-baby-blanket.html

Love this ripple blanket and colors! - https://crochetcricket.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/modern-granny-stripe-baby-blanket/

and then this is the pattern I followed to make mine:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granny-ripple-afghan

And using only leftover yarn from other projects, I created one of my favorite afghans!  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  I am enjoying catching up on some projects of my own pleasure while I have a break from the Etsy shop.  :) 

Crochet Boot Cuffs

Carly wanted new boots for Christmas and I knew right away I wanted to make her some pretty boot cuffs to go along with her boots.  I already had the leftover yarn that I wanted to use from another project last winter, so I found some patterns on Etsy (here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/170653451/crochet-pattern-boot-cuff-simple-style?ref=shop_home_active_2), and made her a pair.  These were one of the only gifts I had time to make to gift to someone else this year after completing Etsy orders.  Luckily, they worked up quickly and I had them done in an hour.  Pretty cute, huh?!  The pattern was easy-to-follow, and the sellers were quick to respond to any questions I had. 

AFTER....the Girls' Room

Since the new year rolled over, and we were painting the upstairs hall and stairwell on New Year's Eve to freshen up the place, we had to go to the paint store a few times. While there, I had hinted to the girls I might be doing their room soon, so I had them each pick a color they liked. Carly picked this soft lime green, and Jayna picked the hot pink. Brent and I decided to combine the colors and give them each their "own" walls and sides of the room.

So that's exactly what we did...we got a gallon of each color, and started painting last Monday. Well, I "cut in" around the trim earlier this week to prepare for Brent's Friday off from work -- when he would go over the whole walls with a roller. After I cut in the girls' room, I decided to look for comforters and such. At the time I went to Target, they only had one hot pink comforter with ruffles...which I decided looked "tween" enough for Carly, yet still frilly for a little girl. They only had one, though. But being crafty and not a brand-new seamstress, I decided I would make Jayna a matching one in the lime green color. So it went...and I also re-covered the little stool that goes with Carly's vanity in matching colors.

A lot of the little things we now have on the walls (the green tree; the pincushion wall hanging; the "C" and "J" letters on the shelves, and so forth) I bought at Hobby Lobby all 50% off on sale. The quote "Happy Girls are the Prettiest" is one I found on Pinterest...quoted from Audrey Hepburn. The doily banners at the end of their beds I made...also an idea from Pinterest. Some of the other things we already had and I recycled...the small white chest of drawers I altered with some adhesive fabric I found in the scrapbook paper section at JoAnn's. The purple curtains over the closet and the hot pink ones over the window were formerly in their room already and so I just put those back up.

I love the contrast between the colors and each girl has her own "print" on the walls. Carly loved it! Jayna, too! They both kept hugging us and telling us "thank you." We told Carly that is part of her birthday gift...the other part being that we'll host a small party for her on her birthday in February. But the room makeover and all the new things are her birthday presents from us. So, what do you think?!?! :) Thanks for looking! PS - Last thing up...crocheting a pretty rug to place between their beds on the floor from left over scrap fabric from Jayna's comforter, among other remnants I have laying around in the same colors......

Snowflake Garland

No lie...there's not too much Santa decor at our house for Christmas. I love snowmen, snowballs, snowflakes, and the like instead. 1. Because I just really love snow, cold weather, the memories associated with snowmen, and so on...and 2. Because I don't feel the need to immediately put everything away after Christmas or New Year's Day. I can leave it out a little while longer for the wintry months to enjoy. Which is a huge advantage to me as busy as we get with traveling and such through the holidays. And I have fallen in love with a crochet pattern...like, true love. haha! Well, not really, but I really have enjoyed the variety of usage for this pattern here: http://www.aestheticnest.com/2011/11/crochet-shimmer-snowflake-gift-topper.html. And just like Anneliese, I have made gift toppers, shirt appliques, and a garland for my fireplace with it. I am so glad she was willing to share! I also used the same yarns she suggested for a variety of looks -- the shimmer yarn; regular white; and the hardware store cotton cord. I plan to do more with this pattern in the future...but this is all I had time with for this holiday. Thanks for looking!

School Valentine's Day Gifts

Find what Adam (who is in a private Christian pre-school) did for his class here: http://downloads.sugardoodle.net/ValentineBookmarks[1].pdf and what Carly did for her class (public school) here: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts/rock-candy-675037/. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Carly's Valentine's Box

This year the teacher issued an assignment for the children to make their own Valentine's box at home. Since I have a ton of paper, glue, ribbon and such, Carly was in craft heaven! hehe This is what she came up with for her 2010 box (which is a recycled shoebox). She used some paper from the My Mind's Eye that I also used on my Valentine's wreath. The birds and nest were on some patterned paper that she decided to cut out and use as decor on the top of her box, and we used pop dots to give it extra dimension. We bought some pink, red, and purple gem stickers and also crystal heart stickers for the bling at Hobby Lobby. And then she decided she wanted the hole on top to be in the shape of a heart instead of a plain old slot. Good idea, Carly! It turned out super cute. We cut her name with the Storybook font with my Cricut. She did everything except for the heart hole on top. I handled the glue gun for her as well. Thanks for looking! And stay tuned for her cute Valentine gifts we are making for her classmates!

Keeping Baby Girl Warm!

I finished Jayna's helmet and mitts today. Just in time, too, cause it is really starting to get cold, snowy, and windy outside around here! I couldn't find anything I liked in her size at Target, or anywhere else for that matter, so I decided to find out how to make her a toboggan and gloves. I came close enough and I think this set turned out pretty cute! She liked clapping her hands with the mitts on. It was funny. Look for some sets of these in my Etsy shop soon.

What a cheeseball?!?!?!

Matching Gift Set (Christmas is coming!)

I just finished some things up for Jayna tonight...a crocheted scarf with ribbon fringe and a knitted hat with matching bow! I don't know if you can see the ribbon well, but it's sheer and matched perfectly, and (I think) adds a dressy little touch to the items. The yarn is sooooooo SOFT! I know Jayna won't really know what time and love by mommy was put into her little winter set but I am excited for it nonetheless. She will be so pretty in it. She needed a new one as she is outgrowing an old toboggan that my niece made for her last year. Thanks for looking!