Keeping busy in Florida

 This winter, while enjoying the warmth of Florida,  I picked up some yarn and made baby blankets for 2 little girls expected in April.   One arrived last week and the second has yet to make her entrance into the Brile family.

Of course, I made cards to go along with the blankets.

The fact that the colors of the cards sort of match those in the blankets was a totally unintentional, but nice coincidence.

Christmas babies

Our extended family is expecting 3 new babies early in January.

I've been busy working on a little crocheted blanket for the only boy in the bunch.  I finally finished it last evening and made the card today.  Good thing, because the baby shower is only days away.

The quilted horse is a digi image from Beccy's Place.  It was pre-colored, so all I had to do was fussy cut it. 

Challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - "B" is for .... blue, baby, buttons, blanket

Crafty Hazelnut's December Patterned Paper Challenge - AG

A Perfect Time to Craft December Challenge #12 - AG

Through the Craft Room Door Dec. 4th Challenge - AG

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #559 - AG 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #218 - AG

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #432 - Ribbon (in tag) and Bows (in button)

One of the little girls, expected January 3rd, will be my second great-granddaughter.  

I'll share a photo when she arrives.

Anniversary Wishes

My calendar says there are three anniversaries this month for which I need cards.  Two of the couples will be receiving this card for their special day....

 The sentiment is a Verve stamp.  The butterfly is fussy cut from a Power Poppies digi image, colored with watercolor pencils, then blended with clear Wink of Stella. The stitched circle is a die cut by LaLaLand.  It is popped on a SU doily, which is glued over a fancy frame die cut by Spellbinders.  

Challenges:

Star Stampz Challenge - 2 or more die cuts 

Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes + a sentiment

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge Week of 9-5 - Anything Goes

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - die cuts and/or embossing

Scrapy Land Challenge #73 - Anything Goes with die cuts

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge #171 - Anything Goes with Ribbon

 

Getting these 2 baby blankets, 

2 outfits, and a stuffed bear to fit

 in a medium size postal box was harder than actually making the blankets.

They are now on their way to my BFF's daughter in AZ.

Hopefully the package will arrive before the wee babe. 

Christmas Gifts

Cookies cooling, more dough chilling, wash drying, 

Debi resting, 

at least resting long enough to drink the cup of tea (that I've already heated in the microwave 4 times) and post some little Christmas gifts I made.

For my gal pals at card class I crocheted these little dresses with a sachet packet inside.

 And my mother has been looking for a hat box for her Red Hats.

I picked up this box at AC Moore and then fancied it up the lid with some washi tape, 3 rows of lace, ribbon, pearls and bows.

 Dryer buzzing, no more loafing!

It's a Girl & CTMH Card Class 9/20/2016

Here's a very simple baby/baby shower card.  No stamps.  Just some clouds and a sentiment, cuts from the CTMH cricut cartridge, and a few punched hearts.

Challenges:

CCEE Stampers Challenge CCEE1637 - Die Cuts 

Scrap from your Heart Challenge #1 - Use Hearts

Get Creative Challenge #48 - Include Embossing

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #285 - Embossing 

Through the Craft Room Door Challenge - Anything Goes

Since I'm posting a baby card, I thought I'd show you the baby blanket I just finished crocheting.  It's my new favorite pattern.

And finally, here are the cards we made at Joyce's CTMH card class this afternoon.

I know Joyce gets a lot of her ideas on Pinterest.  If any of these cards look like one you posted on your blog, please accept our compliments on a card worth CASing.

Joyful Stars April Blog Hop

As I made this card for the April Joyful Stars Blog Hop, we were having one nasty April shower.  

Our family has a different type of shower in the forecast ... a baby shower.  My niece, Ronin, is doing some hopping of her own because she is so excited to be getting a girl cousin.

The most recent issue of Quick Cards featured an Easel Swing Card.  Since I had never tried my hand at this type of card, I thought I'd give it a go and make a baby card for the shower.  It looked simple enough.  All I had to do was convert it from a square card to an A2 card.  Well, two and a half hours later,  I pronounced it finished...

card front, not folded entirely flat so you can see the center swing piece

inside of card which also is the base for the easel with framed sentiment popped

top half of inside of card

card in easel position

 I used 2 CTMH stamp sets, C1631 Birthday Princess and C1547 from the For Always Cardmaking Workshop.  Papers are from the Kaleidoscope pack and also a sheet of Pink Fundamental paper.  This little princess was colored with markers and pencils, and she has a touch of Prisma glitter on her skirt.  The sentiment frame is from the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  Bows are made with CTMH extra thick twine.  CTMH pink enamel gems embellish the base of the card.  

The crocheted pink blanket will accompany the card to the baby shower.  I love making baby blankets!

Now it's time to hop on over to see what Nancy Brown has made for this month's Blog Hop.  The hop is a circle, so it doesn't matter where you start, just continue from blog to blog until you're back where you started to make sure you see all the fabulous projects. 

If you get lost, you can visit Joyce's blog for a complete list. 

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:

Fresh Brewed Designs Challenge - Ribbon or Twine
Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge - baby card 
Fantasy Stampers Challenge #60 - new baby
Crafting with Friends Challenge #18 - Anything Goes
Brown Sugar Challenge #193 - Anything Goes
Sparkle n Sprinkle April Challenge - Anything Goes with glitter, flock or embossing powder

Baby Shower Gift & Mojo Monday

Yesterday I went to a baby shower.  There hasn't been a baby shower in the family for some time.  It's always fun to see the adorable little outfits that they didn't even have for kids under 2 back when mine were born.   Remember the baby swings that weren't battery operated and you had to wind them up?  My daughter would be peacefully asleep, the swing would stop, she'd start to fuss, I'd rewind the swing, which made an absolutely awful noise, her eyes would pop open, her arms would go straight out in the air, startled nearly to death, and then she'd peacefully go back to sleep (most times). There were no wind up swings at yesterday's shower, but at least 1 of every other conceivable baby item on the market.  And Mom-to-be will never have to buy another baby gift bag for the rest of her life!

Here's what I made for the little one, a girl, expected in early December.

I made 2 hats, one newborn size, and one a bit bigger and a very soft baby blanket to match.  (Well, actually, I made a blanket and 2 hats to match because I had extra yarn.)

Now, let's move on to this week's card for the
 Mojo Monday Sketch Contest # 418.

 
 I used a CTMH stamp on the card and cut the 3 snowflakes using the new CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge.

Additional challenges I am entering include: 

Fashionable Stamping Challenge #103 - Words as the focal point

Glitter n Sparkle Challenge #157 - Anything Goes

Pile It On Challenge #89 - Recipe 1,2,3 (1 sentiment, 2 bows, 3 snowflakes) 

Crafting Musketeers Challenge #30 - Christmas with a Ribbon

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra  for October - Anything Christmas Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for October - Anything Goes with patterned paper

Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #219 - Monochromatic 

Aud Sentiments Challenge #141 - Christmas + a sentiment 

 

Something different

A friend of mine found some cute little lip balm holders on Pinterest, sent me a link and asked if I could make them for her roomie gifts at the CTMH Convention.  I love a good challenge and have plenty of yarn in my stash.

Not bad, with just a picture to go by, huh?  I even let this little guy pose for a photo on my new white sofa.  I haven't even removed the tags yet. 

I am entering this in the

Double Click Challenge which has a Disney/Mouse Theme.

************

And this little 2 Cute Ink Monster digi has been colored, fussy cut and floating around on the craft/dining room table for a while.  It was time he found a home.  With the look on his face, he made a perfect card in which to send out a couple of yummy summer recipes.  

Challenges:

Di's Digi Designs Challenge - Hand colored image

Brown Sugar Challenge #156 - Anything Goes

Kitty Bee Designs Challenge #52 - Summer Fun

Hope everyone enjoys a wonderful week-end!

 

Snowflakes for the gals

For Christmas this year

 I made crocheted snowflakes for my crafty friends.  

Since these are supposed to be dishcloths, I added a bottle of Lemon Grass hand lotion 

and tied it up in a neat little bundle with a red bow.

I actually finished my last snowflake just last evening.  I made 10 snowflakes out of 1 big ball of crochet cotton.  But I needed 12.  Luckily, I had a partial skein of white with silver thread through it in my stash to finish up this year's gift project.

I am sharing this at these challenge blogs:
Allsorts Challenge 290/291 - Last Minute Gifts
Crafting for all Seasons Challenge #92 - Anything Christmas but a card
Miriam's Crafting Blog 19th Monthly Challenge - Handmade Gifts
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Make Your Own
Not Just Cards Challenge #9 - Anything Goes

It would be wonderful if you could stop by the Pumpkin Spice blog and vote for the card I entered in their Blue & White challenge.  Thank you!!

Happy Minion Birthday, Matthew!

The girls at card class this afternoon wanted to see the minion projects I was rushing to finish on Sunday.  I got them completed just 2 hours before the party for my grandson.  Today is Matt's actual birthday.  And he loves the minions from the movie Despicable Me.  And he loved these minions too!

His card:

(Sentiment is a CTMH stamp.)

 A Hat:

I found the pattern here: http://chucksforchancho.com/2013/08/03/tutorial-crochet-minion-hat/

And a pillow:

Didn't have a pattern for this, just eye-balled it from a photo I saw on pinterest.)

I have a few challenges for these projects:
I've entered the card in these challenges:
Creative Card Crew Challenge - Birthday with Sentiment
Through the Craft Room Door Dec 9-15 - Anything Goes
Through the Purple Haze Challenge #71 - Sentiment
Sieze the Birthday Challenge - Anything Goes Birthday


I've entered the pillow in these challenges:
All Crafts Challenge Dec/Jan - Anything Goes
A Little Bit Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes Christmas
Miriam's Crafting Blog Challenge #19 - Handmade Gifts

Simple Christmas

This is a very simple Christmas card thanks to a great piece of DP and this month's From the Heart Angel Joy digi stamp set.  I loved the colors of this paper, purple into aqua blue.  The bottom sentiment is a CTMH stamp in daisy white ink. 

I am entering this in:

From the Heart November Challenge

Beccy's Place Month of Holiday Cards Challenge Day 17 - Simple Christmas

Bearly Mine November Challenge - Christmas Cards

Emerald Faeries Challenge #61 - Non traditional Christmas Colors

The Stamping Boutique Challenge - Christmas Cards with Non traditional colors

Check out the cute hood/scarf combination I just finished for my granddaughter.  She picked out the yarn.  It's so soft and warm! 

Now she wants me to make one for little Laila who immediately pulls her hats right off!

I am entering this in Try it on Tuesdays Handmade/Homemade Challenge and All Crafts Oct/Nov Anything Goes but Cards Challenge.

Gift Bag using Atlantic Hearts Sketch # 77

This week I thought I'd use the Atlantic Hearts Sketch and adapt it for use on a Birthday Gift Bag.

The papers are CTMH Huntington, a great fall paper pack with nice warm colors, and the stamps are also CTMH.   The tag was cricut cut using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge. 

My mother made this beautiful crocheted necklace for inside. (That was before she broke her thumb! Long story!)

I am entering the gift bag in the following challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #77  (I've rotated the sketch 90 degrees.) *I've also missed the challenge deadline.  Oops!

 

Party Time Tuesday Challenge #185 - Anything Goes 

Through the Craft Room's Door Challenge Oct 14-20 - Anything Goes 

All Crafts Challenge Oct/Nov - Anything But a Card 

My Craft Creations Oct 13-25 - Anything Goes 

Not Just Cards Challenge #4 - Anything Goes

Moooojoooo Monnnndaaaay

No my keys are not sticking.  

Today's Mojo Monday Sketch is for a Tall and Skinny Card. 

I flipped the sketch on its side and made the card I am entering longgggg and skinny. 

Using a CTMH Trifold Die Cut Card base 3.5" x 8", CTMH stamps and ribbon.

Papers are by Raspberry Roads Designs.  (Freebie from Quick Cards Magazine)

Inside of card

And here is the Mojo Monday Challenge 334 Sketch:

I am also entering this card in these challenges:
Allsorts Challenge Week #247 - Ladies Day
Through the Craft Room Door Feb 18th - 24th - Anything Goes
Feeling Crafty Challenge #25  - Dies and/or Punches(I punched the 3 circles)

Creative Fingers Challenge #24  - Anything Goes 

I finished another blanket and hat for my new great-granddaughter.  She wasn't due until March 3rd.  I thought I'd have it finished before she was born.  First babies aren't usually early.  Our little Laila was. 
I was just doing the ruffled edge when she arrived last week.  It's really soft yarn, purple, blue and just a bit of bright pink.   

Now I've bought some white, blue, and brown variegated yarn.  The next baby due in our family is going to be a little boy. 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge

The theme of this week's 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge # 183

 is

 Meljen's Designs Winged Fairy Tales. 

 

And from the moment I first saw this winged pig, I knew I would use it for my Design Team card. 

Actually, the way this winter has been, I considered a snowy card with the sentiment, It will stop snowing ... when pigs fly.  Yes, we are supposed to get some more of that white stuff today.  Boo. Hiss.  But it's bad enough having a couple foot of snow outside.  So I went in another direction.

I printed the If Pigs Could Fly image from Meljen's Designs on white CS and then used a scalloped oval die cut on both the image and the DP, creating a bit of a frame in the card base color.  (The Designer Paper came from my friend Sybilla's stash.  I was so happy when I got her email which simply said, 'Eureka, I found it'. Thanks Sybilla!)  I distressed the edges of the smaller oval with twilight ink, and made matching pig tails around it on the pink card base.  The sentiment was cut from the opposite side of the DP and also edged in the twilight ink.  Then I adhered some homespun ric-rac to the base and mounted the sentiment on top.  A simple knot of homespun ribbon finished it off. 

I hope you'll have time to check out the other wonderful creations made by the other gals on Tuesday Throwdown Design Team B and also to play in this week's challenge.  Also, try to take a moment to browse through the terrific digital images available from Meljen's Designs Digital Stamps. 

*****************************

I promised yesterday to post a couple pictures of some of the crocheted baby items I've been making in anticipation of my great grandddaughter's entrance into our world, snowy though it may be.

First, a cocoon in which to bring her home:

(this is so soft)

a baby blanket and teeny, tiny matching hat

My granddaughter wanted purples for the baby.  It's not easy finding purple baby yarns.

I'm working on the edging of another blanket, so I'll show you that one later.  

Maybe, by then, they'll be a tiny little one wrapped up in it.

Red Hat Snowman Easel Card

It certainly was fun crocheting the tiny red hat for this Close to My Heart Snowman.  

I'm entering this card in the following:

Clear It Out Challenge - The Snow is Falling (My stash item is the crochet thread which was left over from a doily I made last year.)

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Warm Christmas

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Make an Easel Card

Through the Purple Haze Challenge - Use pink, purple or red

The Glory of Christmas Challenge - Special card form

The Squirrel and the Fox Challenge #57 - Use Violet

Freshly Brewed Designs November Challenge - Let it Snow/Christmas

Creative Corner Challenges - Let It Snow

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for November - Anything Goes Christmas

This Got Some Attention!!

I have a friend who just went into an assisted living apartment.  She has recently begun using a walker and I thought she might be able to use something for fetchin' and totin'.  This is what I came up with.
 

Please don't ask me for a pattern because I didn't use one.  I just crocheted until it looked about the right size; then measured it against a woman's walker in the waiting room at the eye doctor's office (My mother had an appointment that lasted 1 hr and 40 min.  I got a lot done in that time!);  I picked up some pretty material to line it; cut to size + some extra rectangles to add inside pockets; sewed it together; stitched the lining into the crocheted bag; added the buttons and when Grace took it to dinner it was a real hit!!!