putzing on the ‘puter

I have been spending far more time clicking away on the computer than crafting. I’m feeling a total crafting jones, but the closest I’ve come is admiring other people’s work. Here are some I’ve been drooling over lately

Polka Dot Pineapple is fun and refreshing. And also gives me ideas for my latest Yo Yo addiction. That’s the only crafty thing I’ve been doing — making Yo Yos. I have a ziploc bag of Yo Yos and nothing to do with them…..yet.

Grace Violet has a pink desk. I want it. And I want her craftability, too!

Plenty of ideas for scraps here, along with free patterns. Free is my favorite kind of pattern.

I want the Nester to come decorate my house.

Sparkle Power has tons of sewing ideas. She never titles her posts…..very mysterious!

And then June has been making me snort out loud. Funny, funny, funny stuff.

So as you can see, I’ve been busy. Very busy sitting in this comfy chair with my laptop…..

more pink pajamas

Apparently I like pink. Here are the pink pajamas for our little friend Annie. If you look sideways, you’ll see Annie’s signature and drawing of a cat in light blue. That’s what I used as a “pattern”.

Here’s a close up of the completed cat and signature.

And here are the completed pajamas. The cat face fabric and the pajama bottoms are the same fabric.

I really like the process. When the kid outgrows the pajamas, the shirt can be made in to a pillow!

bloggity blog blaaah

I have taken pictures of my newest crafty creations. And by “newest”, I mean “in the last two months”. I officially have too many projects, too many ideas, swarming in my head. I wish I had a big, fancy craft room because I’m kind of tired of the house looking like a pit. On any given day, I have the sewing machine, fabric yo-yo stuff (I’m becoming addicted to Yo Yos! addictive!) sewing supplies, jewelry making stuff, and scrapbooking stuff all in the family room at the same time. And our family room is NOT that big.

The scrapbooking stuff is spread out because we need to finish a big scrapbook project for our adoption (!) process. I was all over writing it. But now that it is time to put it on actual PAGES and make it look INTERESTING and not all SAPPY, I am frozen. I like to scrap, but I’ve only scrapped for myself. Now we are writing like the most important scrap book/letter EVER to….someone we don’t know. Intimidating. But it has to be finished by June 9th. So there.

I’ve also been making pajamas for kids, and I must say they are ADORABLE! The most recent pajamas I made were for my daughter’s friend’s birthday. Her friend drew a cat, and I embroidered her picture on to a shirt. Trust me on the cuteness until I get the pictures loaded. (And then, please act like it is cute even if you don’t think so because I am sensitive like that….).

bags bag

I’m attempting to make this. I bought the gigantumongo crochet hook yesterday, all excited to start on this great recycling project. Free materials! I have plenty-o-bags to cut up! Yea! But then I started.                   Hmph. Somehow it is not this great, relaxing, “oh look at me making a bag from bags” fun time. It is…..hard. Like who knew that plastic was not as bendy and giving as yarn?

My wise husband walked through the room, saw me struggling with my cut up bags, trying to turn them in to a ….bag….and the irony was not lost on him. “So, you are trying to make a bag …. from bags?”  Yes.

pink pajamas! exclamation point!

Pajamas! That are totally wearable! I’m so excited! Can you tell by the exclamation points?!

My daughter drew a picture of a flower. I cut it out and used it as a pattern.

I attempted some fancy embroidery stitches, but as you can see I stuck with the basic satin stitch.

What else can I make? I’m itching for a project!

for my ears

Making jewelry can be so relaxing. I love picking out color combinations, playing with the order, rolling the beads between my fingers….all of it! (Except for the wire bending. Making little loops actually makes me want to scream. But other than that….). I especially love organizing beads in those plastic embroidery floss containers. I love categorizing the beads by their color, shape, size and texture. I get giddy when I open a new bag of mixed beads that are just screaming to be organized! Does that say too much about my naturally OCD personality!?

Check out the earrings I made last night!

I don’t know if/when I’ll wear these (probably with a white tee shirt), but I like them!

This is earth. You know that, right?

You’ve got to try this. I suck at geography, and this fun site confirms that statement.

yawn

The envelope calendar is a great success. Such a great success, that my 4 year old has lately been getting up at 4 a.m. — FOUR o’clock IN THE MORNING — to open the envelope of the day.

envelope-o-rama!

Here is the How Many Days Until Christmas calendar in all its glory. It has been a HUGE hit! Every morning, my daughter can’t wait to open the envelope for the day.

Along with the list below, I also added Pick a Christmas surprise and Paint a Christmas craft. I think 4 of the envelopes have “Pick a Christmas surprise” in them. I wrapped stocking stuffer type toys I bought last year at 75%-90% off at Target for these “surprises”.

I’m already thinking about next year’s calendar!

HOW many days?!

I’ve been working on a “How Many Days ‘Till Christmas” calendar. Well, not really working per se, but thinking about it.  Oh, and I have the little envelopes, so that counts. But they aren’t decorated, and I have no idea how I’m going to display them.

If you, too, are planning on making an Advent type calendar, then you you will LOVE the collection of ideas at Crafty Daisies!

I don’t want to have candy or treats in the envelopes, so I’m trying to come up with ideas for activities. Kiddley has a great list.  The problem is I am a bit lazy, and some of them I read and think “sounds great!” but then in reality, I wouldn’t want to complete the activity. Scrooge much?!  Or just realistic? You decide!

Here’s a list of activities gleaned from the internet and my own head:

• Watch a Christmas movie before bed.
• Take picture with Santa
• Have an indoor picnic
  
•  Make s’mores around the fire pit outside
  
• Make decorations for the tree
  
• take a drive and look at lights
• make snowflakes and hang them up
  
• Watch “Charlie Brown Christmas”
  
• paint toenails
• make a peanut butter pinecone bird feeder
  
• make a Christmas craft
  
• Purchase a present to give to charity
• go bowling
  
• make handmade cards for relatives
• decorate cookies or cupcakes
• Go feed birds at the lake
• Have a camp out around the Christmas tree
• Read Polar Express by the Christmas tree

and some specific days:

• December 9 -go to friend’s Christmas party
• December 16 -tour old mansion all decked out for the season
• December 18 - make giftwrap and wrap gifts for teachers
• December 21 - go to lunch with Daddy
•  Dec. 19 -  make a gingerbread house at library

I would LOVE to hear more ideas!