Day 19: The Super Unnecessary Scarf

Yesterday, Sissy (seen here) and I flew down to Flo-Rida* to see our parents. I cast on when we got on the plane and bound off when we hit the tarmac in Tampa. This is a seriously quick scarf.  It's the Eleventh Hour Scarf from Purl bee. Knit on size US35 with chunky yarn doubled, you could warm up an entire village of homeless people in a matter of days. I used the Blue Sky alpaca in Jasmine. (So you could warm the homeless but it would be an expensive proposition.) I think Sissy is angling for one in a brighter color. (Though soft, the alpaca sheds like a mother.) Knitting with the giant needles put a little strain on my hands, so remind me I won't be able to make twenty of these in November.

I am also thisclose to a finish on Sisters and Best Friends Button Border Pumpkins. I ran out of cornhusk four stitches shy of completing the border. I guess it will have to wait until we get back to Pennsylvania.



*Ever since the dude and I first heard Flo Rida, we can't pronounce Florida the normal way.

Day 18: Not All Winners

Yesterday was a whirlwind of activity. I finished pruning the roses, brought out my summer clothes, decided what I'd bring to Florida, but that's as far as I'd gotten when it was time to leave for New Jersey to have family dinner.

Before we left Sissy's house, we had to wait for her to finish packing. (She slept over last night since I live closer to the airport, and we can share the cab.) Then we'd gotten about fifteen minutes down the road when Jersey called in a panic because she had his iphone. We turned around and delivered it back to him. Anyhoodle, I got home at 9:40 and still had packing to do. And crafting.

The dude thought I should show you the rose bushes for yesterday's craft, but that seemed wrong to me.

I tried stamping on a candle. I experimented with Stayz On ink and some used candles before moving on to the orange candles. The projects like this that I have seen before usually use pillar candles and a narrower stamp; this makes it a bit easier to work with the curve in the candle. I had been considering this craft when the idea of leopard print candles popped into my head. It meant, though, that I was going to have to use an undersized stamp. I had to roll the candles over the stamp four times. I think I did a good job avoiding overstamping, and you can't really see a seam. The execution isn't bad, the effect is just a little underwhelming.

Day 17: Following Someone Else's Lead

My Stampin' Up! Rep had a stamping class today. She designed a portfolio of items. (You may remember the one I made for the Pollyanna last year.) It was a relief just to have to put things together and not worry about supplies, and designs, and cleaning up afterward. (Yes, I'm still tired!)

It's fabulous; she always does such a great job! The portfolio is just a plastic sleeve (for a three ring binder) with the tabs cut off. You have to be careful with it because it wasn't really meant to hold so much stuff.

We made two notebook covers, four birthday cards, and four gift tags. I love the white-on-white tag. The background is dry embossed and there's a white die cut flower (lower left corner in the bottom photo). The only pop of color comes from a small button. Love that. So simple and such an impact.

I like the color combination on the small notebook--orange, green, "Concord grape." There was some kind of inspirational quote on it, but Sissy and I went for "If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything." The larger blue notebook (upper left) had a religious saying on it, but that seemed weird paired with the quote on the small notebook. She had brought non-religious sayings for Sissy and me, thus the well-behaved women quote.

The big blue flower card gets most of its pop from dry embossing. I think I may have to get that flower die. I love the coneflower card. We've used this set before when we embossed the images in white on a navy card. I love it in magenta, though. I'm trying to decide which of the upcoming birthday girls deserves this!

I came home and needed to transplant the day lilies and prune the roses. Sissy and I are going to Florida to visit our parents on Monday, and next weekend will be too late because of this crazy warm late winter we are having. I checked the side garden (a shade garden) and fortunately the hostas haven't started coming up. Good news because even spending the afternoon in the garden, I couldn't finish. Today I'll prune the second rose and clean up the mess I've made. And pack. And pack up Stella. And make sure I bring enough stuff to do five crafts while I am away. And do the myriad things any person has to do before they go away for a week. Phew...I am not going to feel any more rested tomorrow, am I?

Day 16: Bead Store Inspiration

When I was at the bead store, I saw some Raku beads and was reminded of some pieces I had picked up at a Gaea trunk show a while back. I wanted a black silk ribbon for these (for now*). This one didn't use too many of my jewelry making skills, but I like it. Now I just need somewhere to wear it.

I did try to take a photo of myself wearing it, but trust me this one is way better and much less embarrassing!

*I'm starting to wonder what these might look like with black chain.

Day 15: More Glue

I'm halfway through National Craft Month. I have plenty of projects and supplies, but I have to tell you that my enthusiasm for blogging the projects is waning.

It's not you; it's me. I mean you're visiting and reading and commenting which I appreciate immensely. (And wow! You really visited when Craft Gossip told you about the Irish Potatoes!) I'm just tired. Getting up early three days in a row this week just kicked my ass. And I won't even get a lie-in tomorrow. {Boofrickin'-hoo, right? Most Americans are sleep deprived.} I'm still excited about the crafting, which is good news since I have 15 more projects to go! 

Last night, I decoupaged a frame. I found inspiration here but let's face it; it's just more gluing. I chose four coordinating scrapbooking papers and found some ribbon and glitz for added dimension. I used one of those flat wooden frames from the box craft stores. I think it matches the room of someone who has a birthday coming up. 

Today, I stopped into my local bead shop, The Bead Garden. I haven't been in in an age. I got a few bits and bobs for some upcoming projects. I need to go to that store more often. Remind me.

Day 14: Slowing Down, But Not Down for the Count

I was exhausted yesterday. (Not much better today...) Just before bed, I made this card. It will be perfect for at least one of the upcoming birthdays. The groovy background paper is a little closer in color to the olives on the ribbon--and how great is that ribbon? I love it, and I foresee many more martini cards in my future.

I've been hearing that people have been inspired by this little experiment of mine. But my friend DD* sent me photographic evidence. She decided to make the matchbook needle books for her stitching group. She used double sided paper, and added bling because that is how she rolls. (It's true; she once told me that you couldn't have too much glitz at Christmas.) Aren't they gorgeous? 

*not my "dear daughter" but a person with those initials

Day 13: Fun and Games and Cross-Stitch

Cake decorated by my cousin.

And we're back! My cousin and I drove up to see Maggie for her birthday. We brought the party to her because she had just been discharged from the hospital. She had a stomach bug, didn't eat, and found herself passed out on the floor. Her frackin' Life Alert didn't work because her phone had recently been converted to Comcast. So a big F.U. to both those companies for almost killing my grandmother. She got herself to a phone and my aunt brought her to the hospital where they kept her over the weekend for observation. When they brought my grandmother food, she wasn't eating. So my aunt had a word.

Aunt: You know what happens when you don't eat?
Maggie: I'll die?
Aunt: Worse than death...
Maggie: What's worse than death?
Aunt: They put you in the nursing home.
Happily, Maggie ate everything they put in front of her.

She seemed fine when we saw her, and her spirits were good. She was shocked to see the Pennsylvania contingent. And, I like to think, happy.

The mayor of Nashua had a card hand-delivered to my grandmother on Tuesday, and she couldn't stop talking about it. She was overwhelmed by her 106 cards! Thanks so much to those of you who sent one. I pulled a couple for her to see. She read the card from the White House, which opened, "Dear Friend." She looked at the signature, "Michelle Obama," she said. "My dear friend, Michelle Obama."
"And the President," I pointed out.
"That's the President's signature?" she asked. "You couldn't tell by me."
After she read the note congratulating her on her accomplishments and contributions, she said, "Do they know I was just a bartender?"

On the drive, I stitched this. And I'm sure at least some of you are happy that I returned to my roots during this crazy month of crafting!

Poor Robin
Shepherd's Bush kit
Without the words, because I was totally lukewarm on the saying, and you know I hate back-stitched letters.

I am thrilled to welcome my new followers, and quite pleased that some of you have found yourselves here through the link at Craft Gossip.  I hope you find something you like!

Day 12: Waxy Decoupage

Yesterday, I played with fire. Oh, okay it was just a heat gun; you know how dangerous it is for me to work with sharp objects and flames. I saw these candles via One Pretty Thing. Hey, I have paper napkins and a candle! But I did want to see if I could do this thing without an open flame. I found these tips and went to work. I just used napkins that I had (and most of my napkins are the kind that have little sayings on them, Like "Don't confuse my tolerance with hospitality" and "She was one plum pudding away from a Yuletide meltdown."). I bet these could be beautiful with floral napkins or ones with more intricate designs. And you need at least three for a little tablescape. Preferably of varying heights. But you could make a whole set in just over an hour, less time once you got the hang of it. And figured out how to separate the napkins...

Maggie Tuesday! Maggie-isms

Happy birthday, Maggie! It's my grandmother's birthday, and I will be delivering your cards later today. Thank you again for sending them. My grandmother has a lot of little sayings and phrases that she uses. In honor of her birthday, my sister and my cousin helped me compile a dictionary of her argot.

"God bless your pointed little head"--I have no idea what that thing you just said means, so I will pretend that you are stupid.

"May I say this to you about that?"--I'm about to say something to you that is mean and perhaps hurtful, but there's nothing you can do about that now.

"I must be a bad person."--What she says in response when you make fun of her or respond in kind to the above statement. Also, "I must be a terrible person."


"That's not for me." -- Slightly more polite than I don't like it.

"Let's take our time and enjoy this meal."--I'm having two martinis before we start dinner.

"You could use a little color."--Put on some make-up. Also, "You could use a little color in your face."

"I don't eat like you people."--You eat too much; order something I like so I can pick off your plate.

"Where's all your beautiful jewelry."--You are underaccessorized; put on some jewelry. Also, "Where's all that beautiful jewelry your father gave you?"

"Is that the style?" Usually asked when she disapproves of something a young person is wearing.

"I, myself, do not drink."--Is this a dry house? Where's my drink? Also, when directed at my cousin, join me in a drink.

Make today a Maggie Tuesday! Go have a martini in a glass that matches your outfit. Cheers!

Irish Potatoes

Last night as Sunday dinner was winding down, I told everyone they had to get out of my house because I needed to make a craft. Someone pointed to the Irish potatoes, and asked, "Why don't you just take a picture of these?" And then there was brief discussion of food craft. I figured since it's a category on Craft Gossip, and the potatoes need to be manipulated to look like potatoes (clay!), I was done. Plus which I doubled the recipe*, but forgot to double the butter, then I needed to work a stick of butter into an incredibly stiff dough. It wasn't just crafting; it felt like a workout! 


Oh, and dinner was awesome. This easy brisket. Everyone wanted the recipe. (I wish I had had the online version. In the paper, it said a 4lb brisket fed 4-6 people. Online a 4lb brisket serves 8-10. We have eight, and Jersey eats for three. I bought a brisket that weighed more than I did when I was newborn. Leftovers!)

---

Irish Potatoes are a particularly Philadelphia treat which are not at all Irish, and are not made from potatoes. It's candy. When I first moved here, I thought they were the weirdest thing. And not terribly tasty. Then Cathy, a Philadelphia native, gave me her grandmother's recipe (and permission to share it). This year, Sissy asked me to make them. So these have gone from "weird" to "family favorite" in three years! 

I did not photograph potatoes.

Cathy's Grandmother's Irish Potatoes
2 lb confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar, icing sugar, 10x sugar)
4 oz. butter softened
4 oz. cream cheese softened
1/2 cup coconut (optional)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon

Keep a little bit of confectioner's sugar aside. Mix everything else in a bowl with hands (Do it; I almost broke my KitchenAid mixer with this recipe.) Roll into bite-size balls. (Or not so much balls as potatoes. You know what potatoes look like.) Mix the confectioner's you held back with cinnamon until it resembles the color of potatoes. Roll balls in cinnamon mixture. (Don't worry if the color seems off. While they chill, the powdered sugar will disappear, leaving the candies looking just like potatoes!) Chill the candies, but let them soften a little before you eat them

---

So I sat on my bum and stitched while watching an old Midsomer Murders. I may have a finish of this sort to show you soon, which is good because I don't want to alienate my stitching friends with this turn toward general crafts.

My cousin and I are taking a last minute trip to New Hampshire for my grandmother's birthday tomorrow. I will be on the road for much of Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm trying to figure out a portable craft from my list but I'm not sure I have two. Sissy and I will travel to Florida to visit our parents this month, and when I made my schedule I built in crafts that were easy to travel with. Of course, cross-stitch travels, it just takes so damn long. In fact, someone asked if I would be embroidering this month but I didn't think I could  stitch and finish-finish a piece of embroidery in one day. So there's a question for you: if I start a stitching project for a craft, do I have to finish-finish it the same day to count as a "craft-a-day?" Poll in sidebar.

* Don't double. Make two batches.

Day 10: Bookmarks

Day ten...I dicked around for a while, a treat for having cleaned a couple of rooms in preparation for company. After dinner, dishes. Then I turned to crafting. In the middle of making this project, I shouted down to the dude to find out the time (Note to self: need clock for craft room). It was 8:40 pm. Where had my day gone? So, I cut out two of these, but only made the one.

The button is a nice touch because it prevents the bookmark from slipping out of the book.

My inspiration began here but I went to Sew Mama where there were four more examples and five different tutorials. In the end, I just sort of winged it. I've cut another one out, and I will sew it soon. If not today then Monday. I do have people coming for dinner after all. And my sister has requested Irish potatoes.

Matchbook 21

Wait! Didn't I make these yesterday?

Yup, it's another matchbook. But the instructions are slightly different. And clever stitchers might notice that "28" on this set.

Because inside:

Needles! These would be a great quick and easy craft to make for your stitching group. Or a quilter. It's also a good way to make sure you are never caught out of the house with a project but no needle. Like that's ever happened.

Matchbook 20

People, it is worse than I feared. The print edition of the newspaper with the library stitching article has a photo of my fat face on the front page. I'm wearing my cheaters in addition to my cozy sweater. Ack! So much for going incognito. And try explaining to the ladies who aren't 90 that they're my surrogate grandmothers. Yeah, I was popular today.

The dude took a day off yesterday so we took the dog on a long walk at Valley Forge where Stella saw horses for the first time. She was utterly transfixed. I'm pretty sure she wants to be one now that she has discovered the beasts. Last night, we went to the movies, so I had to squeeze in a quicky-craft (not like any of these are particularly complicated...)

I made these little (2"x2") notebooks. (Printed the instructions a mere five years ago!) If I did these again, I would make them the size of Post-It notes. Unless you had an industrial strength stapler, you couldn't use a whole pad, but you could certainly put 10-12 sheets in one. (I'd staple them so that the sticky end is not stapled, to preserve the stick.)

Today's craft is similar in construction, but I'm still going to make you wait to see it.

Day Seven: Bats in my Belfry

A couple of years ago, I saw this really neat specimen box on tatertots and jello {via One Pretty Thing}. It was a shadowbox with bats punched from Halloween scrapbooking paper.

(Maybe all those people who think I have so much patience because I cross-stitch are right. Here I am waiting two years for me to get myself together to make these cute projects. No instant gratification here!) 


First I punched and laid out my bats. I don't have a lot of Halloween paper, so I stuck with an orange, purple, and green color palette--the new official color palette of Halloween. (Orange and black is so 1972.) (I made some visual puns, like the tiger bat in the lower left and the tropical fruit bat in the upper left. Okay just two, what more do you need from me?)

The elusive tiger bat.

Then I pinned my specimens to the board. Then I went and checked the tutorial that Jen had put together. It turns out I was doing it all wrong. So I just kept doing what I was doing. Because I liked the idea of really being able to see the pins. And I hated the idea of using a grid to lay them out. I figure if they look pretty much gridded to me, they're going to look pretty much gridded to you too without all that geometry. (Also, she bought a regular frame and made it into a specimen box. I spent $10 on a shadowbox with a padded fabric background. She saved $6 but I saved my sanity.)

Don't mind the one that turned upside down.

Then I closed the frame and by some miracle of vacuum-age, a lot of the bats fell right to the bottom of the frame. So I revisited Jen's tutorial and saw that she used dimensional adhesive. So I got out some pop dots and stuck the bats to the pins.

I can't wait for Halloween! 

**But wait, there's more!** Our "Flat Granny" is ready to move on. If you're interested in a visit, check out Jo's blog.

***Also*** the article about library stitching has appeared! Clickez. I'd like to point out there are things I would never say. "She's xx years young." My grandmother is 90 years old. My niece is twelve years old. I am 45 years old. What I said was, "Here, I'm the young one. I'm 45 but you don't have to print that." I also did not say "substitute grandmoms." I don't have a grandmom. I have grandmothers who are called Mimi and Ma. I said "surrogate grandmothers." The rest is fine. But seriously someone tells you you don't have to print their age so that's what you open with? Gah.

Day 6: How Tack-y!

One of my in-progress projects for the new craft room is an inspiration board. I've used one of the complementary fabrics (to the one used in the blinds) to cover some foam core that I've popped into a frame*. But I haven't put it to good use because I didn't put any ribbon/elastic on it to facilitate tucking in ephemera**, nor did I have any tacks. So I've been tucking random things under the frame, which limits the amount of stuff on the inspiration board. {This doesn't mean I'm uninspired; there's still pinterest!}

Yesterday, I beautified some tacks following these directions.

Now I'll be able to tack up many more pieces of paper. The earth thanks me, I'm sure.

The other day someone told me I should be teaching craft classes because I make such beautiful things. But really, who needs a class in gluing?

*Don't worry, all will be revealed in a video tour scheduled for an April release. 
** Soon to be remedied.

Day Five: Newlywed Ornaments

Sure you could make ornaments out of newlyweds, but the law so frowns on that. Instead, I made ornaments for the newlyweds! I did try to get to these by Christmas, but I couldn't find the damn invitation (just the one to the reception in Maine). I broke down and asked my sister for another last week in preparation for my month o' craftin'. She didn't even ask why. She only used about a third of the number she was forced to buy, so she probably figures I could make confetti out of it and she'd still be ahead. So I did...make confetti out of it.

I first saw these ornaments on Sweet Pea Stitches just before Christmas, December 12th in fact, so I am not going to beat myself up (any more) for not getting these done by December 25th!

I didn't follow directions or anything. I mean, you cut up paper and you put into a fillable ornament. It's not rocket surgery or brain science! I did have to figure out how to work with the formal invitation. It was two types of cardstock glued together, I started wrapping it around a pencil and the blue card would buckle away from the cream card. I would separate the two at the buckle and reglue at the end, snipping away the excess blue.

The gold ribbon was on the original card, thus the unworkable length. I added the red ribbon to the stateside reception ornament because it needed something. Et voila! the first anniversary present complete (two months early!).

Day Four: Altered Notebook

I'm keeping up with my daily craft challenge, but falling behind in the reportage. Yesterday we put curtains up in the craft room, so my project was still drying as the sun set. There's no sense in reporting without a photo.

On Splitcoast Stampers, they refer to these as "altered notebooks." I think that's a highfalutin' name for gluing paper and stamping on one of those ubiquitous composition books.

I also finished Day Five but it seems like it needs its own post. I think I'm going to let that go until tomorrow.

I know, you want to see the curtains. Right?

They are f'Roman* blinds. I had the fabric and directions to make them myself, but in the immortal words of Dirty Harry, "a man's got to know his limitations." I called in an expert.

I'm trying to decide on that picture I have hanging between the windows. Is it too "on point"? Does it not match in color or style? Or is it kinda samey? I don't know how I feel.

---

I've had many comments regarding the card from the White House. This is something anyone can do! If your recipient is over 80 or a veteran over 70, the White House will send a card. Here's the information. I sent my request in October. They only send cards to citizens, but they'll send cards for weddings, births or adoptions, anniversaries (50+ years), and a few other milestones.

The Queen will send greetings to subjects, but you have to be older. Canadians can get all sorts of people to send greetings, but they have the additional hoop of providing birth or marriage certificates. If you're in another country, I just googled "How to get {important person in your country} to send birthday greetings." Follow the directions to the letter.



*faux Roman

Day 3: Rag Wreath

About six years ago I made a cute Christmas wreath out of the recycling bin. I wrapped several small boxes in wrapping paper and glued them to a wreath form. It was cute, but the western sun has done a number on it; it's faded badly. It needs to be replaced. I took this opportunity to make a new one. I had a wire frame and plenty of fabrics so I decided to make this wreath again.

The results:

The secret to making these wreaths look good is using more fabric than you think you can jam on there. Also, there are a lot of tutorials out there for a wreath made with a wire hanger. Those are never going to be full enough. 

I think if I did this again, I might put the white on the inside. Okay, gotta make something for today!

Day Two: Trifold Cards

A million years ago, or maybe just four, I printed out the directions at Splitcoaststampers for a triangle trifold card. I made six today, but I'm going to be making more. They are delightfully easy but look complicated. I made three of each. On the top you can see the card closed and tied, and the bottom shows what it looks like opened. The drawback will probably be that it will be difficult to display.

I have a lot of masculine birthdays coming up, thus the owls. Why are men so difficult to craft for?

There are several kids birthdays too...I'm thinking I'll have to get out the pirate stamps. Or the dog set. Kids love dogs and pirates, right?

Month O' Craft: Day One

I thought I'd ease myself into this undertaking  with a quick gluing project. I saw these cute button magnets on Bursts of Creativity, possibly via One Pretty Thing. I also got to play with buttons. I emptied out my jars. (And since I am still in an organizing mood, I took all the safety pins that had ended up in this jar and put them in their proper place.)

Then I started gluing. I did a red, white, and blue set. The magnets I bought were one inch in diameter, which I hadn't thought much about until I tried to put the blue star button as the bottom button (the one in the lower left). I could have painted the magnet, but that seems like it would have really complicated this project! So I ended up with blue-on-blue, but I think it works. (Wish I had had a giant white button.)

These are my tropical version. My choices are limited, since most of my buttons are from my mother's clothes. (When they moved, she gave me all those stray buttons that accompany your clothes--the ones that come in little plastic bags in case you lose one.) They're drying in these photos or I'd show you how well they look on my fridge. Day one complete!