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.

Newborn Hooded Cardigan

This sweater was meant to be given as a gift, but the newborn baby is a chunky monkey and will need a bigger size.

Boxed Bag and Needle Holder

I made this boxed bag and sewing needle holder for my knitting odds and ends.

I used a tutorial which I found online by doing a general search; there are several great ones to chose from.

Burlap Covered Box

                         I crafted this little box for storage today.

It's a simple little project, and here's a brief explanation of how it's done:

Choose your fabric and wrap your box as you would a present. I used a plain ole cardboard box, cutting off the top to create an open box. I used Mod Podge to glue the fabric in place.

I used pegs to keep the fabric in place while it dried, like so.

Embellish with...whatever. I used Mod Podge again to glue the elements in place.  The daisy was crocheted with butcher's  twine.  I found a tutorial with photos here which shows how to crochet daisies and I sort of got addicted to making them in different sizes. See how tiny?!

Look at the horrific mess I make no matter what I am crafting.  Who would think this kind of destruction can happen while making a simple little box?  Me, that's who. I'm impossible.

And there you have it.

Baby Giftwrapping

Here's another example of my rustic wrapping with a lamb cut out of card stock, and a bow made from ripped fabric strips.

Tulip Wreath

There is still snow on the ground, but I put together this wreath to encourage spring to come.