Bobble Hat

What!??!  My last crochet project was in March 11, 2010?!?!?  It's almost three years!  I can't believe it's been that long.  It was too long ago that I had to review my past posts to figure it out.  

The more pathetic part of this ordeal is that I've been buying crochet magazines despite the fact.  And please don't make me count the magazines (and books) I've bought from March 11, 2010 to this day.  

One of my favorite crochet magazines is Vogue Knitting Crochet.  And in their 2012 Special Collector's Issue, I found a pattern of this really cool hat:

 

I have never crocheted a hat before and I figured this is a good time to make one.  So I started crocheting a couple of weeks ago, and just this weekend, I was able to finish it.  I used thicker yarn so I can wear this hat this winter season.  DH said I finally have a hat that fits my big head... hee hee!

There are lots of projects in Vogue Knitting Crochet 2012 Special Collector's Issue that I really want to make.  The question is if I have the time.  I guess, all I have to do is start, just like what I did with this hat.

If you're bored, you can check out the rest of my past crochet projects by clicking here.

'Til next blog!

Dude, You're Welcome!

My latest Stampin' Up purchase included this "Dude, You're Welcome!" Card Kit.  Masculine-themed stamps are not always available, thus the reason why I bought this kit.

The kit comes with 4 stamps, one ink pad (Basic Grey), 12 card fronts and 12 envelopes.  There's also a sheet with instructions for the supposed uncrafty "man".

So last weekend, I played with this kit and made 4 cards.  During the process, I was trying to put myself in DH's shoes, like he was the one making the cards.  I tried my best, really.  I chose black as my card base, and inked the edges of 4 card fronts before stamping the image.

 

 

While inking the edges of the three card fronts above, this white card front below is underneath, achieving this look.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Recollections, Stampin' Up

image/sentiment:  Stampin' Up

ink:  Stampin' Up

tools:  EK Success edge punches, Ranger distressing tool

adhesive:  Scotch

The big question is... will I let DH use this stamp set?  Hahahaha!  That's the answer.

'Til next blog!

Asian Twin Card

I can't even remember the last time I blogged about this book that I bought from Disney World a couple of years ago:

But I do remember that my first attempt to color one of the pages is not very successful.  I tried coloring with Copic markers, but the results were not so good (click here to see).

So for the past couple of weeks, I took my time and started coloring another page.  It has the Sakura theme, Japanese term for Cherry Blossoms.  This time, I used Prismacolor water color pencils and Gamsol.

I wanted to use this page on a card.  But the size is too big for one.  So I decided to make 2 cards, splitting this image in two.  Each card fits in a standard A10 envelope.

This is how they look together:

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Recollections, The Paper Company, washi paper

coloring:  Prismacolor

tools:  punch (Marvy Uchida, Stamin' Up)

embellishments:  twist tie, pearls

adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, Xyron, mounting tape

I love how the washi paper shows through the image.

And the flower embellishment is achieved by layering punched Sakura shapes, topped with pearls.  The red strip you see is actually a twist tie bought in Japan.

I had a great time making these two cards.  See, I wasn't slacking...  hee hee!

'Til next blog!

With Sympathy

Hello crafty friends!  It's going to be a very quick post.  This morning, I made a CAS card for a neighbor whose Mom just recently passed.

The Birch Tree Background by Our Daily Bread Designs is heat embossed on grey cardstock.  And to achieve the second layer, I cut the center with Stampin' Up Labels Collections Framelits die.  After that, I embossed it with one of the folders from the Cuttlebug Winter Frolic Set.

And the image that was cut for the front, I used it to put the sentiment for the inside.  Both sentiments in the front and on the inside are from Our Daily Bread Designs as well.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  Recollections, leftovers

image/sentiment:  Our Daily Bread Designs

ink:  Kodomo

tools:  Stampin' Up, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders

embellishments:  pearls, rhinestones

adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

Have a great weekend... 'tl next blog!

Techni-Colored

Earlier this week, I was challenged by my co-workers to make something colorful to wear.  Tomorrow is color week, and each grade level is to wear a certain color.  The staff members got to choose from what's left - purple and black.  I was fine with either one, but more people weren't enthusiastic about the color choices.  So it was decided that we wear something multi-colored.  

The original plan was to use ribbon.  But this challenge made me think of the Hana-Ami Flower Loom by Clover.  I picked 5 colors of yarn, then started playing.  After the flower is done, which was so easy and quick to make by the way, I adhered a large rhinestone in the middle.  This is what I came up with:

 

And because this is a quick project, I just used whatever was available.  Safety pins worked just fine.

 

Now these brooches can be used as an embellishment on a sweater, shawl, hat, purse and more.  The best part, it can go with any color.

I'm glad my co-workers volun-told me to do this.  I sure had fun and it was a nice way to end an awesome Valentines Day. 

Have a great weekend, dear reader... 'til next blog!

Valentine Treat

Hello crafty friends!  It has been a tradition of mine to give Valentine treats to co-workers.  Last year, I made treat pouches with chocolate inside.  This year, I decided to make something from a big tub of Twizzlers.

Because of time constraints, I had to make something quick and easy.  for this project, I just basically secured 2 or 3 sticks of Twizzlers together with a Valentine-themed ribbon.  For the toppers, I stamped a sentiment on white cardstock.  After that, I embossed with heart design embossing plate, then punched around the sentiment to achieve the shape that you see here below.  For a final touch, I adhered a glitter heart sticker on each one.

Then I adhered the topper with double sided foam tape.

Now my Valentine treats are all done and ready for distribution.

Towards the end, it turned out I was one topper short.  And since I got lazy, I substituted with a die cut heart instead.  Doesn't it look nice on the pic?

 

Materials used:
cardstock/dp:  Georgia Pacific

image/sentiment:  Stampin' Up

ink:  Ranger

tools:  Fiskars embossing plate, EK Success large punch

embellishments:  stickers, ribbon

adhesive:  Scotch, foam tape

There were some leftover Twizzlers that came bent during the packaging process.  I didn't want to eat all of them, and I didn't want to waste them either.  So I just adhered random Valentine embellishments on one end, and put them in a metal pail.  Maybe I'll give them to some students who'll make me smile.

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day, and get to spend it with that special someone.

'Til next blog!

Make A Bow

One of the things I've been leery about as far as paper crafting is concerned is making bows.  I always have a hard time making a good bow.  Thanks to Becca Feeken's Becca Bows Video Tutorials, I learned how to make decent ones.

However, there is still this need to find a tool to make bows.  I tried the Mini Bowdabra, but it didn't quite work for me.  

When Becca Feeken came out with her Peg Bow Maker, I got interested.  But I had to see how it works first.  I saw it in action while working for Our Daily Bread Designs in a scrapbook and stamping show late last year.  I got more interested.  However, I thought this particular tool was too big and will take up space on my craft desk.  With the configuration of this tool, it seems easy to make if you are handy.  But I'm not handy in that sense, and my DH isn't either.  So I made a search on the internet - it turned out that there is already a bunch of versions of the peg bow maker.  Different sizes and designs, but basically involves the same procedure in making the bows.  Who came up with the idea first, I really don't know.  But it sure was brilliant, so thank you for that!  I knew I wanted to start with something smaller.  So I ended up getting the Unity Bow Maker:

I just searched video tutorials on YouTube.  And I'm not surprised - there are tons out there.

Needless to say that finally, I have found the perfect bow making tool that works for me.  And I'm really happy.

Here are three sample bows that I made with 1.5 inch ribbon using my peg bow maker:

Single Bow

Double Bow

Triple Bow

 'Til next blog!