Using up Scraps!

 I had this paper pack that I had partially used but it was sitting around and I figured I should just use it up.  So these two videos show how I used up some of the papers.  I still have a few pages left but I felt very successful making 13 cards, 2 bookmarks, and a scrapbook layout.  

This video is in two parts.  

Part 1: 

And Part 2:

Thanks for watching!!

Will you be my Valentine??? Antother great card idea!

 Here is another great card idea!  Again, super easy and you don't need a whole lot of supplies.  

Thanks for watching.  I would love it if you would hit the like button on Youtube and subscribe to my channel.  

Happy Valentine's Day!!! 

Super Easy Valentine's Day Card

 This card was super easy to make, yet looks and feels like a million bucks!

With the added layers the card feels thick and substantial.  I love adding a few layers inside the card too matching the thickness with the outside of the card.  Even if you use thinner paper the extra layers help with the quality of the card.  

Enjoy!!

Time for Easy Valentine's Day Cards!

       

 It is that time again.  I was just looking back at an older post on this blog where I made a few Valentine's Day cards.  I remember making them years ago and I was so proud of my creativity.  However, I have come a long way!!!  I am even more proud of these!  I love the clean lines, the matting to give the card more thickness and stability! 

All of these little cards were made with the 6x6 inch paper pad and a pack of stickers that I purchased from Michaels Craft Store.  The paper pad is called "Sweetheart Day" and the stickers were a coordinating pack.  Both are made from Recollections.  

For these little cards I used 2 1/2" by 3 1/2" inch folded cards as the base.  I got a pack of these from Joann Fabrics.  The brand is Park Ave. and they come folded with matching envelopes.  

The Happy Valentines Day card (top left of photo) I cut a black base 2 1/4" by 3 1/4" and centered it on the front with 1/8" white border all around.  Then I used pop dots to adhere the sentiment sticker on top.  

The Be Kind card was made with a dark pink cardstock that I had in my stash and cut it at 2 1/4" by 3 1/4".  Then the heart candy patterned paper from the Sweetheart Day paper pad was cut at 2" by 3" and centered on top of the dark pink.  This gave me a double 1/8" border all around.  Then I used pop dots to give a raised look to the sentiment sticker from the sticker pack.

The XOXO card used a matching coordinating pink piece of cardstock cut at 2 1/4" by 3 1/4".  Then I put a 1 1/4" by 3 1/4" strip of white cardstock along the middle to hold the XOXO sticker.  I was in a pop dot mood so I popped this sticker up as well.  You can see the shadow from popping this sticker up.  I love the dimension it gives. 

The Flower bunch card (right of the XOXO card) uses a piece of glittery paper from the paper pad as well as a piece of acetate also from the same paper pad.  The glittery paper was cut at 2 1/4" by 3 1/4" and the acetate was cut with the same measure.  I used Art Glitter glue (dries clear) to adhere these two pieces together.  Be careful because the acetate and glitter paper are slippery together.  I let it dry before adhering it to the card base.  Then I used, yes,  you guessed it, POP DOTS to attach the sticker on top. 

The Single flower card (below the XOXO card) used a 2 1/4" by 3 1/4" piece of dark pink glitter paper as the base color. Of course, I pop dotted the pretty flower on top.  Super simple.  

Check out my videos here!

Find us on Facebook here!

Instagram is @whitneyshandwork

Like and subscribe!!!  

My CTMH Haul. Box Opening

 I love a good sale!  Close To My Heart had their year end sale and I was able to score a few things.  Here is a video showing you all I got.  

I can't wait to start playing with these yummy things!!

Check out my other videos here!

Infinity Scarf Pattern

This infinity scarf pattern is awesome.  I love the stitch and found it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kviC5g1AHgs&t=309s

I start with 260 chains, then do the same stitch as she shows.  I also do about 15 rows.  It makes a nice fluffy scarf that is a bit longer when you double it up.  This way it isn't right around your neck tight.

On a Break....And Moving

Last May I visited my mother for a few days and while I was in her town we went shopping at Michaels.  I wanted something to do with my hands while I was with her but it was too warm to want to play with yarn so I picked up a small counted cross stitch kit.  I hadn't cross stitched in YEARS!  Like 16 years!  I stopped cross stitching because at that time I had little babies and didn't want them to accidentally grab my work and get stuck with a needle.  So I put my cross stitch away for other things (like parenting and chasing after toddlers for several years).  When the kids were a bit older I had picked up knitting and crochet again and stuck with that until last May when I bought this cross stitch kit.

After about two minutes of cross stitching again I was HOOKED!  I think it was different and new again.  I also loved the kit I was working on.  The Dimensions Gold Collection kits are awesome because they show lots of shading which gives the picture depth and movement.  When I finished that little project I bought a larger kit (still Dimensions Gold Collection) and started working on that in June.  These take some time and with life making me very busy I finally finished that larger kit in January. Now I am working on another kit.  This one is the Hot Air Balloons.  So much fun. It is coming along well and I love the shading and the depth it gives.

Anyway, I have been on a break from yarn work for the past 7 months.  I will return to it.  I know I will, so bear with me.

On another note, we are moving.......again.  Packing up my craft supplies makes me touch things I haven't touched in a while and makes me want to start new projects.

Yesterday, I boxed up all my yummy yarns. It makes me want to knit socks.  I have lots of sock yarns. I want to knit socks.

Today, I boxed up all my yummy fabrics that I use in quilting.  I want to quilt now.  I saw at least two quilts I would love to make right now.  But I know if I pull out my sewing machine and start a new project in the middle of moving, my husband will go through the roof!  Ha ha ha.

Next on the list to pack is all my scrapbook stuff.  We know what will happen then, right???? Yeah.  I will be setting up my scrap table quickly once we move. Hee hee hee.

This house will not have a separate place for my craft stuff.  It will have to find a home in my closet and in my room for a little while, but I know I will find space to start crafting once we get settled.

That is where I have been and what is going on.  I hope you will still hang out with me and wait for me to return.

What are you working on this week?

What have you been working on this week?  I have a zillion things going on and to make it all just a bit more chaotic, I threw in a visit to a regional craft show on Friday!  Ack! So many great ideas!  They are all rolling around in my head now.

I was at church this morning (as we do most Sundays) and I was talking with our priest.  I told her (yes, she is a girl, we are Episcopal) that I had a prayer shawl for her.  She was so excited.  I can't wait to take it up to her on Tuesday to show her.  This is my Jacob's Ladder Prayer Shawl.  I will donate it to the church and when she is doing her "sick rounds" in the hospital or in our parishioners' homes or at the nursing home and she sees someone who needs one, she can give it to them.

I began working on a few coasters that I will put in my etsy store. Yes, I am resurrecting my etsy store.  We will see how it goes.  A friend of mine also asked if I were interested in setting up at a craft show too this spring/summer.  So they will go towards that if they don't sell in the etsy store. I got the coaster pattern here if you want to try your hand at them.  They are super easy and quick to make.

I also have been sorting some other projects and getting a list of things I need to either complete the project or begin the project.  I spent $40 at JoAnn Fabrics today on fabric remnants for some walker bags that I need to make as well.  I have an order for 8 bags and just haven't gotten around to it.

To top all that off I have begun working on a prayer lap blanket.  It is working up quickly but I think it will take me longer than I have patience for.  This pattern will be posted at a future date.  I am really enjoying creating new patterns.  It has been fun.

So what is on my list for the week?
1. a video on the Half Double Crochet (a favorite of mine).
2. a video on the foundationless stitches. (This will be such a great resource).
3. finish the prayer lap blanket (can I get it done before Tuesday so I can take it to church with my prayer shawl????)
4. get my etsy store back on line and a couple items in it.

So what are you working on this week?

Cute Granny Round Dish Cloth - Free Pattern

I found this cute little dish cloth and I had some cotton that I just got from Michaels on sale for a dollar a skein.  When I saw this pattern I had to make me one. I love this blog for so many reasons but I find that often the patterns are not quite correct.

I have corrected her pattern and am posting it for you.

Granny Round Dish Cloth

Size: 8 ½ inch diameter

Materials: Worsted weight cotton yarn, Size G crochet hook

Row 1: Ch 4. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch 2 (counts as first sc). Make 13 sc in ring. Join with sl st to top of chain 2. (14 sc) 

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as first dc + ch 1). Dc in next sc. Ch 1. (Dc, ch 1) in each sc stitch around. Join with sl st in third chain of beginning stitch.  Turn work.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in space below. Ch 1. (2 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in the ch 1 space. Turn work.

Row 4:  Ch 3. 2 dc in space below chain. Ch 1. (3 dc, ch 1) in each ch 1 space around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Turn work.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in next 2 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space. *Dc in next 3 dc. Ch 1. Dc in ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st to top of beginning ch 3. Turn work.

Row 6: Ch 3. Dc in same stitch as joining. Ch 1. Make 2 dc in next ch 1 space. Ch 1. *skip next 2 stitches. 2 dc in next stitch. Ch 1. 2 dc in next space. Ch 1.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3. Sl st in next stitch and in space.  Turn work.

Row 7: Ch 3. 2 dc in space below. Ch 1. *(3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 space.* Repeat between ** around. Join with sl st in top of beginning ch 3.  Turn work.

Row 8: Sl st in next stitch. *5 dc in ch 1 space. Skip next dc. Sl stitch in next dc.* Repeat between ** around. Join with a sl st in beginning sl st. Fasten off. Weave in ends.

I have to say that when I am starting a new row and are making a chain to become my first DC I never need 3 chains.  2 chains work better for me.  So in the beginning of row 2 I only chain 3.  At the beginning of rows 3, 4, 5,6, and 7, I only chain 2.

Also, the lady's pattern (Miss Abigail's mom) works well for her and makes a flat dishcloth as you can see in her photo.  Mine was flat until I added the last row (row 8).  This shell pattern edging made mine wrinkly or wavy.  I am going to redo the edging on the next dishcloth I make to see if it will lay flat.  I am also going to wash this one and see what happens too.

Jacob's Ladder Prayer Shawl - Free Pattern

Prayer shawls are an awesome gift for someone who has recently been ill, lost a love one, or is struggling with something.  It is like a big hug.  Made a bit larger than a normal shawl, it is half blanket, half shawl.  The idea of a prayer shawl is that the person who made it prayed as they were making it.  They prayed over it, or with each stitch or row.  They thought of the recipient, prayed for them and those prayers and thoughts transcend into the shawl.

I named this shawl "Jacob's Ladder" because I love the story in the Bible.  The story, in short, is about Jacob who is traveling. He dreams one night that he saw a ladder or "stairs" coming down from Heaven.  On these stairs the angels were going up and down. God was at the top of the ladder. The Bible tells us that this dream was a sign of God's promise to us. His promise is to be with us and keep us where ever we should go and bring us back to Him.  I named it "Jacob's Ladder" because I think that this shawl is a symbol of God's promise to us.  The person who receives this shawl will be wrapped in God's promise to be with us and keep us, no matter what-- a perfect meaning for this shawl.

I crocheted this pattern using two similar hues of dark red. The ladders go width-wise.  This is an easy pattern and works up quickly.

The Pattern:

Jacob’s Ladder Prayer Shawl

worsted weight yarn 3 skeins

Size I hook

Start with 275 Foundationless Half Double Crochets.

Row 2: Chain 3, DC in third HDC from bottom row. *Ch 1, Skip one HDC and DC in next*, repeat from * to * to end of row. Ch 2 and turn.

Row 3: HCD in each DC and chain space.  In last chain space make 2 HDC. Chain 3 and turn. (275 HDCs)

Row 4: DC in third HDC from the row below.  *Ch 1, skip one HDC and DC in the next hdc*. repeat from * to * to end of row. Chain 2 and turn.

Row 5: HDC in each DC and chain space.  In last chain space make 2 HDC. Chain 3 and turn.

Change colors.

Row 6: HCD in each HDC. (275 HDCs). Chain 3 and turn.

Repeat rows 2-5 with this color.

Repeat color change 5 more times. Bind off.

Add fringe if you like.

This is my own pattern that I made up in my own head. Please see my note on the side bar about patterns and my intellectual material, rights, and permissions.

Left Handed Crochet - Double Crochet Video

Here is my video tutorial on the double crochet stitch.  I am left handed so it is for left handed people.

Enjoy!

Left Handed Crochet - Single Crochet Video

This video tutorial shows how to do a single crochet stitch.  Being left handed I crochet left handed.   Enjoy!

Wait! Am I imagining things?????

Wasn't your blog title something else the other day?  Wasn't it "Idle Hands"?

Why yes, yes it was.  I changed it.  I still believe in "Idle Hands", but it was time for a change.  When I started this blog years ago I couldn't get the URL to be "Idle Hands" so I used "whitneyshandwork" instead and just named my blog Idle Hands.

My grandmother never had Idle Hands.  I never do either. I am always working on some project or another when watching tv or just sitting by the fire.  I feel productive while relaxing.  I find working with my hands IS relaxing.

Time for a change.....

With the beginning of my Facebook page highlighting the classes I teach as well as posting about the posts I make here, it was getting confusing with all the different names.  My Facebook page is called "Whitney's Crafting Classes". I just began making videos and posting them on You Tube.  The channel there links back to here but the channel is my name, so it just makes sense to use my name as the title of the blog too.  At least there is some consistency, right?  Makes sense to me.

So the new title of the blog is "Whitney's Handwork".

A Few Valentine's Day Cards

I sat down this afternoon and created a few quick and easy cards with my papers and stamps.

This first card was super simple, using the DCWV Love and Wedding Scrapbook kit in a Stack.  I used some Recollections Glitter tape.  This tape is NOT sticky at all.  It doesn't stick or stay where you put it.  I had to put some Tombow on the back of it to make it stick to the paper.  That was a bit disappointing. The LOVE stickers on the front was from the same Scrapbook Kit in a Stack.  It comes with letters, some stickers (which in my opinion are cheesy) and some vellum sayings.  I wanted to use the vellum sayings but when I used my Tombow on the back of it you could see it.  I need to get some adhesive that won't show through vellum.

The second card was also from the DCWV Love and Wedding kit.  I used a "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp that I found in the $1 section at Michaels a few years back.  It fit perfect in the little space on the bottom left. I inked the edges with Cat's Eye Chalk.

The third card was a K and Company paper.  Both papers were from K and Company.  I picked these up at Tuesday Morning last year just after Valentine's Day.  The Glitter tape again is Recollections brand and again not sticky. I put some Stickles on the back paper to make it a bit glittery. I pop dotted the square in the bottom right corner.  Inside I used a stamp that says "Love you". 

Chain Stitch - Video

This is a video tutorial on how to do the chain stitch or the foundation stitch. Yes, this is me in this video, and yes it is for left handers.  I am left handed.

Enjoy!

Reading a Yarn Label - Video

Reading a Yarn Label.  

Lots of great stuff on a label.  I show you in this video some great things you will find.

http://youtu.be/NHXp0vsHJ-w

Enjoy!

"No Spend" month - almost halfway through......

I can't tell you how many times I think to myself, "oh, I need to get some __________". Then I remember, "oh yeah, I can't this month.  How many more days of this???" Ha!

The month started off rough.  The first couple days were hard.  I wanted to start new projects but didn't have what I needed.  So I had to remind myself that it would have to wait. Now thinking back on it, I can't remember what it was I wanted, which goes to show me that I probably didn't need it anyway.

I worked on my walker bags that I sell at a local pharmacy.  I used what I had to finish up 10 bags.  I took them up last Thursday and sold them.  They handed me $125 in cash.  Now the rules were that I couldn't spend any money in our household budget for any crafty stuff.  BUT if I sold crafty stuff then I could use that money to buy more.

Immediately I knew I had a workshop coming up which would take at least $30 out of my paycheck.  That left me with $95.  I spent $20 on a new sturdy desk for my craft room. While this is technically not a crafty item, it was purchased for my craft room so I will count it. Now I am left with $75.  Then I spent an additional $21.75 on scrapbook paper. Now I am left with $53.25.  Then I went to a consignment sale and found a bold of awesome fabric to make walker bags with for $7.90.  I bought that. It was 5 yards of upholstery fabric.  I couldn't pass that up. Now I am left with $45.35.  I put that in my pocket for later.  I made a donation to the local library of $5 but I am not counting that. Included in the donation was a bag of books that I could choose from an array of books.  I chose some great novels for myself and my family but also included some crafty books and magazines that were there too.  I am not counting this because I didn't buy the books. It was a donation and the books were a "gift" because of the donation.

I still need some thread and some lining.  I will wait on that for a bit because I don't need it right now.

What I have learned.....

• I am an impulse shopper. (when I see a great sale or a great deal I buy it)
• I am an impulse creator.  I have a terrible habit of seeing a new project on line and want to try it out.  I start the project to see what the pattern looks like, feels like, etc. Then I put it down partly done and go on to the next one.
• I thrive on creativity and I really do need a budget.  I lucked out this month because I could sell some of my items to get a budget for the month. But the reality of it is that I don't sell my walker bags each month.  I sell them once every couple months.  So I can't rely on an $125 monthly budget.  I need to figure something else out. 

Plans for the rest of the month:

• I want to create some things for Easter.
• I want to finish up the knitted blanket that I started. 
• I want to reorganize my yarn stash.  Currently it is in piles and in plastic bins all over my room.

I will post again in a week or so and let you know how I continue to fair.

Box Stitch Blanket - Gambling With a Side of Fixes

I stumbled across this pattern the other day and wanted to give it a try.  This pattern has a picture with it and the blanket looked so cozy and cuddly.  I was a bit chilly that day and thought it would be nice to have a cozy, cuddly blanket to snuggle up with.  So I decided to give the pattern a try.

The pattern is written for a preemie baby blanket.  Well, I am not "preemie" sized so I needed to increase this blanket considerably.  I chose to strive for a lap blanket. Something about 45 inches by 60 inches would be good.

The pattern also calls for DK weight yarn doubled.  This means that you knit with two strands together. The yarn they actually used was a baby weight or sport weight.   I had some medium weight but not enough to double so I decided not to double it. I also chose a size smaller needle because I wasn't doubling.  The pattern calls for a size 10 knitting needle.  I went with a size 9.

Currently, I have not measured the blanket yet.  I have about 22 rows on it.  I really should have started on circular needles but I didn't have any the same size.  So I went with straight needles.  I casted on as many stitches as I could.  I have 160 stitches.

I also decided NOT to add the border on the blanket that they called for in this preemie blanket.  I decided I wanted to crochet a border around it later.

I had a bunch of Loops and Threads Impeccable yarn laying around in various colors so I chose to use that for my blanket.

That is it so far.  Once I get a bit further I will change colors and make stripes of color for the blanket.  My thought is that if it is not quite as wide as I would like it then I will add a thicker border on it to make it wider.

The moral of this story?  If you see a pattern that you like the looks of but it doesn't quite fit your needs, make it fit!  You can use the basic pattern or stitch and make it work for you.  Use the gauge and it will help you figure out how many extra stitches you need to make it the length or width you need.  Also use the pattern to help you.  In this case the pattern repeats every 4 stitches.  Knit 2, Purl 2, then you repeat.  So you need 4 stitches to complete the pattern.  Therefore, I multiplied by 4.

If you choose to add a border to it while you are knitting then add the border stitches to the total multiples of your pattern stitch.  For example if you want a border of 5 stitches on each side then add 5+5=10. So your total would be 10 + the number of multiples of 4 you want.  Easy???

So for my blanket with 160 stitches I expect the blanket to be a bit over 42 inches wide.  The gauge for this pattern is 15 stitches = 4 inches.  I divide my 160 by 15 then multiply by 4.  Now I know that my needles will make the gauge a bit smaller and if I were a precise knitter I would have knitted up a swatch to create my own gauge to figure out exactly how many stitches I would need for a 45 inch wide blanket.  But I am more of a gambling with a side of fixes kind of girl, so I gambled with the number of stitches and used their gauge and will opt for a crochet border to make it a bit wider when I am done.

Where Crocheting and Sewing Come Together!

I have been interested in crochet edgings for the past couple months.  I wanted also to start making seasonal kitchen towels.  I love the change of seasons and it makes me happy to have pretty things that change with the seasons too.

I made the edgings one day with some cotton thread I had on hand.  I made up the pattern as I went.  I chained a bunch of chains, then single crocheted in all of the chains.  Then I double crocheted 3 times in one SC then chained 1 (I think), skipped two SCs and did 3DCs in the next SC, chained 1 and skipped 2 SC and did 3DC in the next SC.  I did that all the way to the end.  Then I chained 2 and turned.  I did 3 DCs in each space on the row below,  chaining 1 before moving to the next hole. 

I made the towels myself with some homespun cotton fabric.  Then I sewed the edging on the bottom of the towel with a zig zag stitch.

They are so pretty.  I might not have the courage to use them.

Getting ready for Valentine's Day

We have never really decorated for Valentine's Day but yesterday I found this wreath and we knew we HAD to make it.  This occurred just after my "announcement" that February would be a NO SPEND month on crafty stuff.  It is still January, right???

So off to Michaels we went and we got all the supplies we needed.  My daughter dove right in and began working on the wreath as soon as we got home.  She isn't a rule follower, nor a reader in directions, but thankfully she does a good job making things she sees.

So far here is our wreath.  She is painting the letters as I type and as soon as they dry she will adhere them to our wreath.

Then I found a pattern for this crocheted hearts garland and HAD to make them too.  I crocheted 6 hearts and then attached them to a white chain.  It is super cute.

So I guess we are now decorating for Valentine's Day.  What do you do for Valentine's Day?  Do you decorate for the holiday? Celebrate loved ones? Ignore it all together?

**Three more days til my NO SPEND month begins.  I am getting nervous!!!