My Paper Clamp Angels

I couldn't wait to try these paper clamp angels. They turned out so cute and it is so super quick to do. I would totally recommend making these for Christmas gifts either for a tag decoration on a gift or make a few for your coworkers or neighbors.





Not only will they work as Christmas gifts but also for first communion, baptism, or for a newborn or shower gift for a baby. Of course it is not a toy but the mom could hang it over the baby's crib or in their room.

If you want some and are not ambitious enough to make them yourself, I would be happy to sell you some. I am thinking a $1 a piece. Leave me a comment with your contact info and I will get in touch with you.

Can we start talking about Christmas yet?

I know that the stores don't have the Christmas decorations up just yet but I think I need to begin thinking about Christmas presents and decorations and such. This year will be a lean year in our household. The economy has decreased our household income by almost 50%. So I have begun to think about who I will be buying for and who will appreciate handmade gifts. I have begun making my lists and checking it twice (laugh) and assigning projects and gifts.

I was blog hopping today and found this blog: http://craftsonawhim.com/. It is so cute and has a great many easy projects. One of the things I like about this site is that it has a difficulty factor with each project.

Here are a few I love!

Beaded Angel: Check this out. I will be making a ton of these (going out today to get the supplies for it and will be working on them tonight). How easy are they??? I am thinking that these will be nice gifts for my co-workers, as gift tag decorations, for kids to make for their teachers and perhaps to sell at the next craft show I am doing.

I found these through a link from AMR that Nicole posted and love these little clothespin magnets. I am thinking that these will also be fun to make and sell as well as for little gifts. I want to make my girls bulletin boards for their room and if I use some metal frames for them they can use these magnets too.

And what about this idea? I love the idea of putting scrapbook paper in a tube of a pen. You could do Christmas paper and give as a gift. You could do fun paper and they can be a great first day of school gift to the kid going off to middle or high school. OR for the teacher, just make it a RED pen (laugh). Oh, I think I need to make some of these too!!!

So, what are you making for Christmas gifts? Leave me a link to your blog with the ideas you have or leave your ideas in my comments, but I will tell you I can learn best from a picture!!!

You leave me a comment with some ideas or other sites that I can go to for more great homemade stuff no later than August 16th at 6pm eastern time, and I will put everyone's name in a hat and get one of my kids to pull it out and I will send you a goodie.

Tried and True Knit Washcloth Pattern

This is a tried and true knit washcloth pattern. It has been handed down through the ages and makes a great washcloth for the bath or kitchen.

Step 1:

Cast on 3 stitches. Rows 1-3: Knit 3.
Step 2:
Row 4: Knit 2, yarn-over(YO), K 1.Row 5: Knit 2, YO, Knit to end. Continue with Knit 2, YO, and Knit to end until you have 44 stitches on your needles.
Step 3:
Next row: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, YO, Knit 2 together, knit to end. Continue Knit 1, Knit 2 together, YO, Knit 2 together, and knit to end until you have 5 stitches on your needles.
Step 4:
Next row (with 5 stitches): Knit 1, knit 2 together, YO, Knit 2 together. Next row (with 4 stitches): Knit 1, Knit 2 together, knit 1. Next three rows: knit 3, Cast off and weave in yarn.

My Daily Online Routine

In my daily online routine I scan a few sites. The first on I go to every morning is Peachy Cheap. If you have never been then I suggest you go if you are a scrapbooker or a paper crafter. They have a daily deal and have great prices on the product (s) they feature daily. So I went to that site this morning and this is what I saw:

It is the Daily Grind kit from Fancy Pants. AND the bonus is that it is ONLY $5.99!!! So hurry over there and grab yourself one!!

The second place I go is the AMR message board! I check in with all my friends there and see what they are doing, what news they have, etc. I love this group of fun, caring, talented group. Check us out! All Moments Remembered.

I am so ready...

for summer. The kids get out of school for the year on Friday and I have so many projects I want to do. BUT I still have school until June 30th. I am not feeling good about being at work and the kids being out of school without me. Not that I think that they will be injured or anything. I am just plain jealous. Okay, there, I said it, I am jealous! I want to be home too and it isn't fair.

I know that the end of the month will come quickly and I will have my measly month off of work. But right now I am stewing in jealousy.

I haven't been very crafty recently. I have sewed on all my daughter's Brownie patches on her vest. I have made two and a half baby blankets in the granny square pattern. They are really cute and they are mindless. I have thought about cleaning off my scrap table, which desperitely needs to be done but not feeling the mojo there at all. I don't think that I have 'moved on' from scrapbooking but I think I just need a bit of a break. It has been almost three months though and I am getting a bit worried.

So help me out my oh, two readers here, how long have you gone without scrapping? Should I be worried?

Isn't this cute?

Two birthdays in 4 days!

Here are the birthday cakes that I made for the parties.

One was a Luau and the other was a jungle theme party and the cake is a monkey.