Knitting a Banner of Love

Little by little, step by step, I am learning to knit. After discovering how to knit 2 together and decrease the size of my project...I made these triangles for a sweet little Valentine's banner. The project begins by casting on 20 stitches...knit every row...decrease every other row by knitting two stitches together on each end until only one stitch is left. I cut out felt hearts using pinking shears. Next I embroidered each heart with a simple running stitch and sewed them to the knit triangles. The banner cord is a knitted i-cord. I learned how to knit the triangles and i-cord with the help of a children's knitting book called Kid's Knit. You can find it here:

Christmas Packaging

If you are a crafter, one of the funnest things about Christmas is making cute tags and cards. This little tree is made out of book paper. Simply punch or cut out 5 tree shapes, ink the edges, and fold in half longways. Punch or cut one tree shape out of book paper to use as your base. Glue that to a tag. Carefully glue your folded trees to the base with a thin layer of glue on the folded tree edge. Place the first folded tree in the middle. Then add the other four trees (two folded trees on each side very closely to the middle of the base tree)the same way. This will create a little tree of "pages" that will add dimension to your tag. I used a quick drying craft glue like Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive. You need to make sure the "pages" of your tree do not stick together by carefully running your finger between each "page" as they dry.

Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Challenge

I have never participated in a Make It Monday Challenge by Papertrey Ink and Nicole Heady. This past challenge was making beautiful frosted images by stamping white ink over a darker ink, and then blending together. It gave the image a foggy, kind of etheral look. I used the technique to make the background for this card to welcome a new little one to the world. You can find the technique and challenge here:http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/

Reality

"It is easier for a father to have children, than for children to have a real father". ~Pope John XXIII
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

Martha Stewart Scores!

I love this product from Martha Stewart. It's called a Scoring Board.


This handy board comes with instructions and a bone folder to help you cut and fold cards, envelopes and boxes. Although this product has been out for a while, I have to admit, I can be a sceptic. But, after seeing this demonstrated, I decided to head to Michaels to buy one for myself.


Making my own envelopes have always been a problem...How much paper? How do you fold evenly? This product helps me answer these questions.


The instructions give you a nice selection of small and large sizes and then, using a little math and a calculator, you can makes those measurements larger or smaller.


You can use all kinds of paper as well. Book pages, old maps, even catalog pages. Some catalogs are just too pretty to throw away.


Now I can make a card AND an envelope to match.

I'm Back!

My daughter is married and my son is graduated. It's been a busy year. Now it's back to making things for other occasions beside a wedding. Although that was (most of the time) quite fun!
Recently, my daughter and son-in-law gave me this darling little stamp. I adore it.

I could not help but explore what I could add to the design to make it my own...

Wedding School

For wedding reception decor, a parent/teacher store can be your best friend.

Black foam board and bulletin board letters are used to make a photo booth sign.

Library cards are used to number tables on top of book and flower centerpieces.