Corner to corner crochet blanket

Well HELLO my old friends! Been way to long. Since the last post where I posted the corner to corner baby blanket a lot has happened. But I did want to make sure to pop back on and share the (Corner to Corner) crochet blanket links with anyone who might want it. This blanket pattern has been kind of a saving grace for me.

When I got back into crochet it was at a time when I was still recovering from a fractured wrist from my bike wreck. I still did not have 100% use of it and going through a tough time. I'm a active person not one to sit around. If I was not doing something around the house I would be bike riding or crafting, did something with my time. Anyway when we found out our friend was having a baby I did as I always had done, wanted to make something handmade. So did a simple crib sized blanket. By the end of getting it done I realized this was something I did not want to stop doing.

For years people said you should sell what you make and would say no one will buy them. So after I got done with that blanket for a little baby girl named Faith I thought well why not just try and see what happens. So posted a simple blanket for sell on local craft sell site and since then I have been so busy. Have lost count on how many of the corner to corner baby blankets I have made...lol Think I could do them in my sleep now. But also start making others items to as well, like booties, baby beanie's.

So anyway that is why there has been no posting. Just been busy with orders. Think things are finally settling down. Took this weekend off because I needed it so thought I'd pop in and share the blanket pattern while got the time, will have the link below with a video that I learned from and some tips I learned in working this pattern to make it look the best. And you will see pictures of the different blankets I have done.

This one looks really bright but it was not that bright in person.

So those These are a few orders I have done.
Here is the You Tube video I learned from.
And I promise by blanket two you wont ever need instructions or the video again. The video is very handy for the decrease portion. When you are first doing the decrease it might seem confusing but its really not. This pattern works up in blocks not by chaining like 100 or 120 for your base row. When you get to the size you want you decrease on both sides for square. If you want crib sized the only difference is you keep one side decreased and you keep one side increasing if that makes sense. Now here are a few tips

Tip #1 Sounds crazy but if you have some graph paper and plan on doing a few colors you can plan your blanket out. Because it works up in blocks they end up being like a textured checker board. So you can use graph paper to work your blocks to plan a design or your pattern and colors. One row will be kind of under the other. I personally like all my accent boarder to be on the same side so if you work with graph paper you can plan your color rows and where boarder accents will be. And I might make that a post one day on how to step by step if that be better to understand. Kinda hard to explain.

Tips #2 If you want the accent colors here is the best way to do it without planning. If you do say three rows of pink like the one photo above. Do a odd number for the second section, did 5 rows of hot rose pink. With the pale pink as my accent color break and working like that that will make that pale pink all end up on the same side of your blanket. Just gives I nicer cleaner look.

Tip#3 Once you are done add a edging or boarder to it. This blanket is pretty with out it as well but if you are giving or making one for a baby it adds extra form to it to have the boarder.

Tips#4 When you first get it done you are going to see it and say well this is all wonky...lol Trust me it happened to me, square blankets seem to do it the worst. And if you wash it that will help solve that problem. Make sure to read your yarn care label tag. As a rule of thumb I wash on gentle cycle using cold water. It really is not dirty you just need it wet to be able to lay it flat to block or shape. Blocking it will make your blanket amazing! You can look up crochet blocking on you tube. Will make a post on how I block, there are a few different ways. Just be careful if you do the steam blocking. If you don't have a way to do proper blocking then at lest washing it and laying flat and shaping it best you can on a dining table will help. I used to use plastic trash bags or you can also use a plastic table cloths to lay it on. That was before I got my blocking setup.

Tip#5 For your first one keep it simple I recommend you do a solid color for the first time to learn how the pattern works up. Then once you got it down you can take on multi color designs.

Well that was a long winded post sorry that is so long but wanted to make sure all the info was there. I Will post about blocking soon. And this time it wont be months later I will do it soon. Plan on getting back to blogging. I have not giving up my love of paper crafting and crafting just having to work in crochet as well. This past weekend was spent working on my craft room getting ready to get back to crafting soon. :)

WOW it's been a while...

Sorry I have not been able to blog any since last post it has been beyond crazy busy last month and and a half. Feb was full of stuff I had to do everyday, was helping family handle some stuff. And then last part of Feb I had health issues so had to take a rest. But I am back with kinda  crafty blog post. I used to crochet and loved it but kinda stopped because there really was no need for me to crochet anything. No one was having babies and to just got more into paper crafts, which I still love would never give that up. But this past month I made a baby blanket and realized how much I enjoyed it. So my blog might start to include some crocheted crafty things if you all don't mind....lol Here is my project I made and its super easy! Its crib sized baby afghan. Its called a corner to corner afghan. Be looking for a more in depth post here in next few days. I will have links and such to help you out. But here is a sneak peek at it. This pattern can be used to make any size you need from baby blanket size to a throw or for a bed.

 This was crib sized

 Square sized for cuddling

 I also made a newborn matching headband.

And if you want to gift these there are some really cute care tags you can add.

Check back I will have the afghan pattern links and also video links. Warning it prob will be a long post, just giving you a heads up. Might make the headband a different post. Take care :)

First post of the new year

Hello everyone! So how has 2015 been treating you so far? I hope everyone has been off to a good start of the new year. This first week of the new year was a busy one. DH was on vacation, of course all the workers from the company called all week. They dont know what to do without him...lol But it was nice he got some time off, got to take care of some things in the house that needed to get done. And got to enjoy going a few places, did a little after Christmas sales shopping. I stock up on items for the next Christmas while they are on sale. I am starting to rub off on DH, he now looks on apps for money saving discounts...lol Maybe this year I can do some sharing of how to save and what apps I use to save. With the new year here I do plan to get back into my blog.

Since 2013 my blogging went down after mid year. We had the death in the family and health set backs. With all that went on I did not have the heart to craft or blog. When we welcomed in 2014 I was ready for a new year, new start. Just did not know 2014 be a bumpy year as well. We had a some highs in 2014 but there were many many lows...lol I can tell you having a cycling wreck and breaking my wrist was on my goal of 2014..lol Was ready to say good bye to 2014.  Entered 2015 not sure of what it will hold, figure one of these years its got to get lest a little better....lol

As we welcomed in 2015 my mom was in the hospital, she is out now and much better. She is a trooper let me tell you. Sometime think I get my stubbornness from her. Some ppl keep saying I need to give up cycling but part of me is like, no! Yes I had a really bad cycling accident but it could have been much worse. Have not been on my bike since late AUG because of the broken wrist. Its taken me a very long time to get use back. And still not sure if I will be able to ride again, but hopeful in a few weeks I might. It will be scary, wont lie. I will never ride again without a helmet. My ears still ring from the concussion when I hit the rode. Have some new scars to add to the list, oh well shows I live life right. lol But one of my goals this year is to ride again and if I cant will find something else to love just as much.

Have had some haters in the past think just because I don't work outside the home I must sit on my butt all day watch tv and eat bonbons. And anyone who is around me enough and truly knows me knows better. I am very much a active person, and like to stay busy. We was watching Gravity a few nights ago and in one of the scenes its really quite in space and the person is just floating. He looked at me and joked lord you go stir crazy you there, and he is so right. LOL I am not one to just sit and look out a window watching the world go by. Always say there is something I can find to do and if not its time to be creative...lol Why I love to craft.

So anyway lets hope 2015 will bring us all good times, and not so many lows. Sure there will be some, its life. But lets shoot for very little...lol  I do wish you all a happy healthy new 2015. So hard getting used to writing 2015 :\ Take care will be back very soon.

Christmas card and peek at decorations

Well Christmas is officially over but happy late holidays. We had a good Christmas and hope yours was good as well. It has been crazy busy and been meaning to make this post of some of the house decor and did make one card I wanted to share. My wrist is still not 100% so I could not make a mass amount this year. But I made this one just for a friend. 

I used my new stamp set from My Pink Stamper it was just released in Nov I think. (A Punny-Licious Christmas) They are so cute had some really cute sayings. I used the cricut camping critters cart and cut the stick from the moose's hand and put in a candy cane instead. If you are just a tad bit creative you can use a lot of regular images for Holidays. Sorry I did not write sizes of cuts down I was in such a hurry.

So thought I share some of the house pics as well, did not go over board because ran out of time this year. Plus did not want to over do it with my wrist.

The tree was a little sad, they were picked over early this year.

This is what I did with our fireplace. And the wood sign has personal info on it so I have edited it. Its  not a blank piece of wood...lol

And a simple center piece on the coffee table. Have another post about this center piece I will make very soon. So I can share more info and ideas.

Well thanks for stopping by I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Thanksgiving and update on where I have been

First off like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, hope you all have a wonderful day with family and loved ones. Its been way to long since my last post. Last post we was about to have a garage sale. A lot has happened since. After the sale I keep selling some online through facebook. Never knew they had groups. Let me tell you best way to sell stuff you dont need. I sold my first Cricut on there, I hated to but I never used the baby cricut no more. Anyway then in August pretty much everything come to a stop. Thanks to this.

I was biking like normally do everyday, I love cycling. And wiped out when my tire went off a black top road near our home.I fell onto the road and ended up eating the road and breaking the fall with my left hand. Had a scratched up bruised face, swollen lip, skinned bruised knee, bruised ankle, concussion ( my ears still are ringing, all day every day) and my wrist was fractured. 

Thought I could shake it off and in no time I be healed up. But for a week I did nothing but veg on couch. And after that I still could not walk much or do to much because of my knee and dizziness & fatigued easy. And the very next day after I got hurt our home AC went out, in the middle of the hottest part of the year. Go figure. And since then the refrigerator tried to go out, we got it fixed. Now dryer is going out. So needless to say sure the last few months has been not good. But guess it could have been worse. Getting use of my hand and wrist back, been slow going. When I first started using it again I would drop stuff and very painful. Having to work to regain the muscle and the flexibility and coordination. And it still hurts when I over do it, sleep with a soft splint on. Its frustrating sometimes when I cant do certain things I want to. Made 3 cards the other day in a row and it was killing me after that. Had a hard time using a snap tool to set a snap. I had to end up just glue it on...lol It was the first time I really crafted since all this happened.

Crazy as it sounds I have missed biking so much, am active person not one to sit around and do nothing. Always joke when you see me in bed or laying around all day I am really really sick. Took about three weeks to get my energy back. After about a month I did start going for long walks, so have been taken up walking instead of biking....lol Hoping I get full use of my wrist back so I can maybe bike again. But as of right now I cant put pressure on that wrist.

Anyway so that is where I have been I did not forgot about my blog and will be posting some Christmas stuff soon. I wanted to share a quick easy card I did for Thanksgiving. And now that I can craft again, look forward to sharing some Christmas cards and ideas. But for now please have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping in my blog. 

 

Forgive the photo just got a DSLR and still learning to use it.

Mother's day cards

Hey Just wanted to pop in real quick and say Happy Mother's Day to you all. Hope you have a great day. Know I have not been on much, we have been getting ready for a yard sale for next weekend. Have not had one since 2000 want to say...lol So I am kinda rusty at this. I thought I was not going to have a lot and turns out we had way more than I ever thought. The cloths alone, wow! Between a garage and a shed its crazy how much we have...lol Once we have the sale what ever is left we have it set up to be picked up for a local charity. Going to be nice to have more room. Anyways that has been up to, I did take some time to make some Mother's day cards thought I share them with you. Got a new stamp set that was really cute for Mother's Day. Will try to maybe post during the week. Learned a few good garage sale tips and ideas I am sure be great to share with you all. They have helped me so much in getting ready for it. Well Hope you have a great Mother's Day weekend. Sorry to share the card ideas so late. As always thanks for stopping by.

 

Ps sorry dont have list of supplies used I made all so fast I did not take time to write it down.

Kiwi Lane Designs

Back again this time to share my thoughts on the Kiwi Lane Designs I got at the scrapbook show. I finally got a chance to use them, and I have to say really do like them. The scrapbook show was the first time I had ever seen these. And if it had not been for a friends friend I probably would not have noticed them. It come in conversation about what she had bought and she had said she bought a whole kit from Kiwi Lane Designs. And I wont say how much she spent but it was a lot! LOL I had never heard of them so she took me over to see the booth and I just loved the idea. Its templates you can use to layer and design then you trace and cut then put it back together. I just loved the idea being I am very much a visual person.
The price point is not bad, sets I got was 10.00 and 12.00 would I buy a whole kit which has everything they make? No. First don't have that kind of money and second some of the cuts are rather basic. For example a (basic picture size pack) yes can see through them and mark where you want to cut your photo down. Also use them to figure out how you want your LO. But just don't know if I would buy them, you could make them yourself. These that I got were for use in card making. These are the small sets the brackets set was a accessory set and the other set is a card boarder set. I kinda wish I had got the bigger mini boarders. Think they had 8 inch long boarders, but hey next time will know what to look for.

They come with a ring to keep them together which I love, for those of us who like to try to keep our stuff together..lol They are also labeled so you know what set it is and what size it is, love that. Now because these are trace and cut if you are not good with cutting stuff out this might not be for you. I will say I am not the best at cutting stuff out and I did not have any trouble. These templates are rather basic cuts. It wont compete with a die cutter for detailed cuts of course. Now I am sure your thinking well if you have a die cutter why would you need these. Well sometimes I am just plain lazy and I dont want to have to deal with getting the stuff together to cut or even get on my computer to make cuts. If its something detailed yes but for a basic cut I dont want to have go to that much trouble. And I love my cricut I really do, just sometimes not in the mood to deal with the hassle for a simple cut. Sure I am not the only one that feels this way...lol Anyways I wanted to make something with these sets I got. Seen such cute owl cards at the booth ( photos in last post) and loved the owl brown lunch bag. So what I did was kinda meld the two ideas together. So this card LO is not my idea. But just thought the projects they had was so cute.

For my owls eyes I cut two white die circles and then cut two more in a light brown tone and cut those to shape eyelids. And took black ink and inked where there would be lashes also used light glimmer mist to make the lids pop. Then cut small stripes of black and made lashes. I used buttons for the eyes its all I had on hand so they had to be pink...lol I pop doted the lids as well. The face was from the bracket set size 4T and the body (Feathers) was made with the Adorn set and used size 3B.

I have to say I did not use a single piece of new card stock or paper, used all scraps for this card. These are a awesome why to get rid of some of those scraps we hoard. Cause sometimes I cant use those for my cricut, with these I can use those hard to use pieces of papers. Cant wait to do more now and use up all these scraps...lol Well thanks for stopping by and hope you check their site out, really a neat idea. :)

By the way I am sorry about my blog background and header I am working on getting it back!