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!!!

I have decided!

I have been thinking about this for a long time, a couple years now but haven't been able to really wrap my head around it or make it work for our family.

Yesterday I was cleaning up my craft room and I came to the realization that recently I have purchased many crafty things, yarns, papers, material, embellishments, etc.

So I have decided......

Next month will be a "NO SPEND" month for crafty supplies or items.  That means that I won't be purchasing anything new for my stash or for any new projects.  I will have NO discretionary money for crafty stuff.

I have three more days before my NO SPEND ban begins.

So.... what do I NEED before the month begins??????

Ha ha ha.....

What inspires you?

What inspires you? What is your go to place to find inspiration for your projects? How do you go about starting?

And the best question: how many projects do you have started right now?









The last question is easy for me.  Right now I have three projects started.

1.  I have a scarf with a pattern that when I saw it I grabbed a ball of yarn and my knitting needles and had to try it out. The yarn isn't quite right for this project.  It is a scarf and the yarn is 100% wool and a bit itchy.  I am not sure I will want it next to my neck for very long.  I will most likely pull it out and start over with a softer yarn.

2. I have a quilt that I am hand quilting.  It is on hold right now because it is a donation quilt and I haven't heard back from the people I am donating it to.  Once I hear back from them I will get on this project again.

3.  I have another scarf. It is an infinity scarf that I am crocheting.  I love love LOVE this pattern and I have several in different colors.  This one is in a bright pink/coral color.  It is fun and easy to crochet. I have two rows done and have 8-13 more before I will call it done.

I find that I draw inspiration from my yarns.  They talk to me.  Sometimes they scream what they want  to become.  Other times I have to live with it a while before it speaks to me about what it wants to become.

I also find inspiration from other blogs, patterns and websites with crafty ideas.  Pinterest is a great source for inspiration but sometimes there is just too much on there.  There are two sites that I love.

www.allfreeknitting.com

www.allfreecrochet.com

These two sites are awesome for inspiration.  The patterns are completely free and you can sign up for their daily emails.  These emails give me lists of similar patterns.  For example one day I find 10 free scarf patterns.  Or 10 free hat patterns.  I find myself clicking all the links and seeing what the patterns are.  I often find myself grabbing a ball of yarn and my needles to try out a pattern.  They often link to some great blogs and websites that I never knew existed. Other times the patterns are directly on their own site.

So what gives you inspiration?

Cute Crochet Roses - Free Pattern

It has been sleeting, freezing rain and last night we had some snow.  It is chilly outside.  So to warm things up a bit I searched the internet for some fun flowers to crochet.

I came across this pattern but as I worked it up I realized it was wrong. Here is my corrected pattern.

Crochet Rose

Need:
worsted weight yarn
hook that corresponds with the weight of the yarn
yarn needle

Pattern:

Leaving a 6 inch tail, make a slip knot and chain 52.

In second chain from hook make a single crochet.  Chain 2, skip next chain, SC in next chain. *chain 2, skip next chain, SC in next chain. (basically you are single crocheting in every other chain with a chain 2 in between.) Continue SC, chain 2, skip next chain, SC in next to the end. Chain one and turn.

Row 2: SC in first two chain space.  Then 3 HDC in same space, ch 1 and slip stitch in same chain 2 space. Slip stitch in next chain 2 space, ch 1, 3 HDC, ch 1, slip stitch in same chain 2 space. Slip stitch in next chain 2 space, ch 1, 3 HDC, ch 1, and slip stitch in same chain 2 space. Slip stitch in next chain, ch 1, 4 HDC, ch 1, and slip stitch in same chain 2 space. Slip stitch in next chain 2 space, ch1, 5 HDC, ch 1, and slip stitch in same chain 2 space. Slip stitch in next chain 2 space,  From here to end alternate between 4 HDC and 5 HDC in each chain 2 space.  (in each you will slip stitch to next chain 2 space, ch 1, do 4 or 5 HDCs, ch 1 and slip stitch in same space. then move to the next space with a slip stitch)

When you finish Row 2, bind off with a 10 inch tail.  When you finish Row 2, your flower will look like this, a spiral.

Now, starting with the 3HDC side begin twisting the spiral around so the 3 HDCs are the center of your flower.  Twist the rest around to make the flower. 

Thread your needle with the 10 inch tail and begin sewing the flower together.  You will see the edges on the back and just whip stitch them together making sure you have all the layers attached. Then using the 6 inch tail from the beginning, tie the two ends together.  You may now cut these tails off or use them to attach the rose to another project.

This is what mine looks like from the back side complete.

Aren't they cute???

These are so easy to make and super quick.  You can use them for headbands, hat embellishments, or put them on a wreath.  You can add them to all sorts of things.

Let me know how your's turns out.

Cute Crochet Coasters

These are so cute and fun to make.  They whip up in no time flat.  I can make one in about 35-45 minutes time and I am a slow crocheter.

I got the pattern off someone else's blog.  I can't seem to find it again unfortunately.

I am an intuitive crocheter when it comes to making things I look at a bunch of patterns and then put a couple together to make what I am looking to create.

My pattern may not be exact nor might it be exactly what you are looking for.  I will try to explain it as best I can though.

Coaster Pattern:

1 skein of 100% cotton base color (you will be able to make several coasters with just one skein)

1 skein of edging color (100% cotton)

Chain 14.

Single crochet in 2nd loop and each loop after.  (13 SC) ch 2 and turn.

Next row: SC in first SC. *Skip next sc, dc and sc in next sc* to end.  Ch 2 and turn.

Next row: sc in first sc. skip dc, dc and sc in next sc. Ch 2 and turn. You will be doing a dc and sc in every sc in previous row. 

Continue until it looks like a square, about 10 or 11 rows. 

Change colors and sc all the way around the square, with three sc's in each corner. Then slip stitch around the entire thing again to finish it off.

And there you have it.

Pens, Pens, Glorious Pens!

I love to do pen work on my pages and cards.  I love how it gives a little bit extra to whatever project I am working on.

My go to pens are usually Sakura Souffle or Glaze pens.  I also love my Micron pens.  The points are awesome and gives such detail to things. Use the .05 and the really fine tips, .01.  LOVE them!!

When I am journalling I love my Creative Memories colored pens.  The CM pens are about a .05 tip. The thin tips are awesome for journalling. 

I have several cups of pens on my desk.  I love that they are right at my fingertips. I also have some markers, from Creative Memories in thick  point that I use sometimes.  Watercolor pencils are also on my desk. I do love shading with those when using stamps. 

Teachers need cards too!

I was a classroom teacher for 19 years.  Now we homeschool our kids so I am not in the classroom anymore.  When I was teaching in school I always needed note cards.  I would use them to write a quick thank you to a child for doing something awesome, a thank you for a parent who contributed to the class in some way, a thank you to another teacher, principal or guest speaker.  I used the cards to write a quick note home to a parent about their child (usually a good note) or requesting something from a parent.  Anyway, I loved it when I would receive gifts of a note card set from others.

Here is a set that would be fun to receive if I were teaching again.

I used the DCWV Grade School (with glitter) stack.  I love the foil and glitter on the papers.  I had the 4.5" by 6.5" paper stack that I had gotten on sale a couple years ago.  These are so much fun.  I used pen on the edges to draw the dots and lines.  The pens were Sakura Glaze and Souffle.  I love these pens!!!