Ok, so I have GOT to finish my Halloween Afghan ASAP!!!
The second I"m done with that afghan, I have to learn how to make Granny Squares. I have to, have to, have to!!!!
Why? you ask..... THIS is why
http://www.craftycrafty.tv/2008/02/geek_craft_giant_tetris_afghan.html
So, my birthday is a week from today and there is something just lovely about opening my inbox and seeing all my free birthday stuff from ColdStone, Buca De Beppo, Red Robin, and every other birthday club I've signed up for. Also, Miss Goody Goody Gumdrops gave me an idea the other day. I want to start my OWN birthday club!!!! Here's how it works! E-mail me with the subject line: BIRTHDAY CLUB SIGN UP and in it, include your name and birthdate- plus if you want to add your kids or hubby or whatever, their name and birthday- and age so that I make it appropriate. Plus, include your home mailing address (PO boxes are fine by me!) And I will send something for your birthday!! :D I can't promise anything big, but still, you'll ge a little piece of handmade goodness as a birthday gift. I firmly believe that birthdays should be celebrated to the MAX!!!
Maybe. It's supposed to be a craft blog, but I've sucked pretty bad at actually putting crafty stuff on here. I know! Maybe I'll feature some things from my Flickr Group that I love and that have inspired me. Yes, be prepared for Halloween Goodness!!!
Now- before you see it, I want you to know that I did NOT just stalk the same people's stuff. I went through my flickr group and grabbed things that popped out to me. Half of them just *happen* to be the same person. I promise!
1. Orange Pumpkin Feltie, 2. Halloween Surprise Slide Box - Inside, 3. Skeleton Gent, 4. fright night, 5. Halloween plaque 3 - bat, 6. Cabinet door - Halloween, 7. elephant night light, 8. Handpainted Softballs - set2, side4, 9. Horror Manor left Side, 10. Group of Trick-or-Treaters, 11. Halloween Crochet Scrubbers, 12. Halloween Gift Tags, 13. Set 3 - Double Sided Halloween & Christmas Necklaces, 14. Pumpkin treat bag of candy, 15. Emma and Maud with jack-o-lantern fabrics, 16. Spooky!, 17. halloween banner - craft 365 - day 304, 18. Halloween Sign handpainted, 19. Smiley Pumpkin Door - Wall Decor, 20. halloween clothespins
Alright, now I picked these for lots of reasons, let's explore them one by one.
1. How adorable is he?! He scares me a little bit though, because I've never actually SEWN anything felted before.
2. I don't know where I'd put something like that, but I LOVE the idea of scenes in the matchbox.
3. He's just too cute. Plus she's got a tut on her blog!
4. Fantastic piece of embroidery- cross-stitch, I believe. I'm working on an embroidery piece right now. Just have to figure out how to put it on something to make it into a pillow or mini quilt or something.
5. I swoon for this! I think it is so adorable! I actually asked my freecycle group if anybody had any cabinet doors just so I can paint Halloween stuff on them. Nowhere near this talent, mind you, but definitely inspired by it.
6. Same as #5
7. Ok, so I know this picture isn't Halloweeny, but think of how cool it would be to have Halloween lamp shades! I saw some on Martha or somewhere last year. You just cut out stuff from black paper and secure it to your existing lampshade and voila! shadows!
8. These are painted baseballs, which I probably won't use because i don't have any baseballs, but i'm thinking..... I may have more pumpkins from my garden that I know what to do with! We can carve a couple and paint the rest!
9. I think this is supposed to be a TP roll. I'm thinking of having it be a little playhouse w/ little goasties and bats and other Halloween personalities inside. Like finger puppets or something! Hmm... mixed media? Felt + Crochet?
10. I have nothing else to say about these. They're cute!
11. Scrubbies! I did make myself ONE Halloween dishcloth last year, but this year, I want more MORE MORE!!!
12. Bookmarks- I did these last year (not THOSE ones, but bookmarks) and put them on cards. It was so fun to send them out!
13. These are necklaces, but I love the idea of holiday jewelry. I am thinking more along the lines of using scrapbook paper to do some scrabble tile pendants....
14. All I can say about this lady is that there should be a limit on the amount of crochet talent a person can have. She has INCREDIBLE patterns and I want them all! I have two of them and I'm afriad to try them. I want my stuff to look as great as hers!
15. Again, adorable, but they scare me to pieces since they require sewing....
16. Banners- so cute, huh? I made one already, but I love these!
17. Another banner- I'm thinking of doing a mini one (or mini ones) for a few of the doorways in our house.
18. Remember what I said about craftyanna having all the crochet talent in the world? Yeah, I feel the same way about painting talent with Goody Goody Gumdrops- INCREDIBLE!!! This made me think of tile. I may do some vinyl....
19. I'm not sure how she made this, but I think it's adorable!
20. Everyday items- Halloweenized. Love it, love it, love it!!!!
Now that all of this is done, I went to Goody Goody Gumdrops blog again and she added..... wait for it, wait for it.... HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE PAINTINGS!!!! So stinkin cute. That's something I"m tempted to purchase.... wonder if DH loves me that much ;)
Roger is watching Quantom of Solace. I don't do James Bond- esp after midnight, so I decided to do some blog hopping. I ran across Filth Wizardry and I must say.... I am SO impressed. I've never been patient. Ever. Now I have more reason to be, though. This blog is all about preschool activities. When my preschoolers are busy, they aren't naughty. Go figure.
Other stuff I've found that I want to make with my kids:
Card Table Playhouse by Sew Much Ado
HEY! You're saying right now, you're just taking stuff from One Pretty Thing and posting here. Correction, I'm making a list for myself of the ones that I PERSONALLY am planning or dreaming of doing.... which makes me realize that I really need to overcome my sewing fears. I think I"ll start with beanbags to build my confidence. Sarah's going to help me make one of THESE cute dresses from men's shirts. Still, I get a little antsy when I know a project needs sewing. Ooh, and I really need to make some headbands. This one at Pixeltrashmania is cute, but I'm worried it may be too complicated for me- because I'm a WUSS!!!! Colee says I could also pull off these Wrap Pants from Laupre, but it's something I'd need a buddy on.
Holy cow!! There is an ENTIRE huge list of kids websites here at Rocks In My Dryer.
Now, back to stuff for the kids:
How adorable are these teeny canvases from the New New?!
We should totally make Kites, like the ones on Frugal Family Fun Blog
Alrighty, I would totally love to update more, but I'm tired. If you have any SUPER easy sewing projects or kids crafts (that I can do WITH my kids) that I would be able to start building up my patience level bit by bit, please let me know!
Alright! Between here and my ravelry page, the winner is very clearly HALLOWEEN!!! I got 4 votes for Halloween, put those winners in a hat and the winner of the hand painted calendar is.....Kristin!! Congrats, and thanks to all of you who voted!
I'm excited to get started on my Halloween decorations. I'd like to make an afghan (perhaps a good chance to try my hand at Granny Squares), a pillow (or 2 or 3), Pot holders, coasters, a wreath, and as many other fun things as I can think of. Please share your favorite projects, links, and anything else you think would help me. And I would absolutely LOVE it if you joined me!!!
