Rustic Baby Shower Gift Wrap

I created this gift wrapping for my niece's baby shower gift using rugged packing paper from a dollar store which I sewed together and decorated.

This paper is pliable and wrinkles up and can be sewn without tearing.  I made the lamb from a template I found online and printed out on card stock.  The body of the lamb is covered in a fuzzy felt.

The enclosure has raffia threaded through holes made with a paper punch and tied into a bow at the end.

Cost of project: zero dollars and zero cents because the materials are from my crafting stash.

Toddler Celtic Cabled Cardi.

I finished knitting this cardigan today and am very pleased with the results.  I can't stop knitting for children!  Tiny knits are the best thing ever.

Canadian, Eh? Maple Leaf Mittens

I knit these mittens after seeing them worn by the Canadian team at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Love them!

Baby Bunting Bag

Babies are making their way into my family soon, and my sister asked me to knit this adorable bunting bag for her future grandson.

I get to give a hand knitted gift, so this is a win for me!

This is a free pattern from DROPS, details about the project can be found on my Ravelry page.

Double Leaf Lace Toddler Cardi

I found this yarn at a thrift shop for $4.50 and for a 60% Alpaca blend yarn, that's like hitting the jackpot.

I used a free basic cardi pattern and knit a lace insertion at the center back.  It turned out exactly how I'd hoped it would.

I later found a vintage cotton sheet at another thrift store and paid a dollar for it.  When I got home I found that it was a perfect compliment to the cardi, so I made the little sleeveless dress.  My sister and I are now anxiously awaiting for someone to have a baby girl to put this outfit on!

Just look what you can get out of $5.50!  Thrift shops forever!

50s Style Baby Pullover

I knit this little pullover using a free pattern and gorgeous one dollar yarn that I found at a thrift shop.  It doesn't get better than that.

The buttons are unfinished wood and I found those at a dollar store.

Details of this project can be found on my Ravelry Page.

Tangerine Dream Baby Cardi

I knit this cardi which is going into my 'Maybe one day' stash, also known as 'Someone hurry up and have a girl!' gift stash.

Details are here at Ravelry

Baby Carriage Gift Wrap

This Baby Carriage gift wrapping was crafted with paper and stitched on a sewing machine.  This size carriage will accommodate a newborn baby sweater, booties, socks or a headband.

I simply found an image of this carriage and as you can see, you need to know how to draw two circles to make this.  I know what you're thinking - hard.  So make a template by drawing a circle that's 12 inches in diameter.   Draw two circles that are 6 inches in diameter and you got wheels.  Now cut your 12 inch circle into pacman.  Still hard?

Leaving pacman's mouth open, stitch around the carriage and stitch spokes on the wheels.  Stuff your baby gift in there and stitch the remaining edges.

Decorate however you like, and you've got game.  You just won at cutest baby wrapping ever and that mom is going to get gooshy when you give this to her.

Altered Thistle Notebook

I crafted this thistle notebook to carry in my handbag.  I got the pen from Pier 1, and it's the best $3.59 I ever spent in my life!

I created this using a Dollar Store notebook, computer printed image on fabric, Angelic font for the wording, ribbon and a purchased thistle mold.

Silk Flower Birthday Gift Wrapping

Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower Pillows

I am completely in love with the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler Building, too.  I have statues and wall art and wood boxes all over the house with these images on them and I decided to update my bedroom pillows and quelle surprise, I turned to my love of these structures again, some more.

I made them using my trusty Citra-Solv transfer technique and I'm running out of that stuff and need to hunt some more down.

I found images for the tower, the statue and the skyline of New York in a google image search and then downloaded a bunch of different fonts for the printed elements and arranged it all on my fabric and voilà, new pillows.

I did not use zippers to make these covers, bad move, I know.  I'm living on the edge and will eventually curse myself for not using zippers but it was another one of those gotta make it now things and I had no zippers on hand.  I can install them later when they need a wash.

Refinished Antique Chair

I bought four of these chairs at a shop that refinishes antiques. It was going out of business and I found them in the basement for seven dollars a piece.  

They had four coats of paint in questionable colours, and it was a bitch to strip them down to the wonderful wood they once were over a hundred years ago.  The original seat would have been cane, but forms were cut from wood which were also painted crazy colours.

Anyway, I didn't take before shots because I just decided I had to refinish them right now and that means get right to it, so no before photos.


I stripped going the toxic chemicals route and used paint stripper, then applied two coats of chestnut stain and then water based sealant. I found the paisley fabric a while ago and used it on an antique rocking chair and love it so much that I decided to cover the seat using it again.

Wedding Gift Wrap and Wedding Dress Card

Silk Flower Gift Wrapping

Altered Scrapbook Cover

I altered the cover of a scrapbook my friend sent me.  I had everything on hand to make this, so this was a zero dollar project for me.

Here's a little tutorial.

I started with a plain scrapbook my friend sent me.

I cut a piece of burlap and glued it down using Mod Podge.

I added some jute burlap and a ribbon to the left and glued down salt dough stars which I stamped.  I spelled out my son's name using foam lettering from the Dollar Store.  I braided jute twine and glued it down along the edges using Mod Podge.  I used clothes pegs to keep it in place until it dried.

I fashioned these curly things out of jute twine and glued them down, keeping them in place with tape until they dried.

I mounted a black and white photo using foam bits.  I might change this photo to a different one in sepia - the one I used was the only one I had that was suitable at the time.

I added a button using a glue gun and added ties using jute twine, also affixed with a glue gun. And there you have it.

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Dragonfly Tablet Sleeve

I made this tablet cover yesterday. The dragonfly is made from felt, the wings have an iridescent opaque overlay. Embroidery detail is stitched using one strand of embroidery cotton.

Toddler Arrowhead Lace Headband With Crocheted Flowers

I created this little headband today which will be for sale at my Etsy store.

Jack, Jackie, The Jackster, Jackinator, El Jackal, Ja-KAY

This is Jack, who we rescued from a local shelter. The other cats are still adjusting to this guy invading their space, but it's slowly getting better.

As you can see, he's adjusted swimmingly to having a roof over his head and three squares a day.

Moss Green Lacy Baby Cardi

I knit this little cardi this week which will be listed in my Etsy Shop.