Week 16: Craft Buster

I am happy to report my stash of left over crafts and yarn has dwindled.  I have even had to restock a few things!  This was my goal.  So, with that being said, this might be my last craft buster post.  I'm working on a couple other ideas of things to keep me motivated but I just don't know yet.  I'm happy to report I have some orders to fill still for crocheting.  Hopefully the boys will take naps today so I can get my hook going this afternoon.

I did really want to try this project I found on pinterest though.  That dang pinterest.  Too many ideas, not enough time!  This would be a great craft for kids (if yours like to color, mine really don't yet).  This could turn into simple easy Christmas presents or at least something to keep the kids occupied during holiday break.  Enough about the kids though, I thought this was really fun!

Sandpaper Iron ons!


Yes, find some fine grit sandpaper and some of the good quality crayons and get to coloring on the sandpaper.  Remember, your image will be reversed when you do the transfer.  Here are the instructions from Alpha Mom.

I used an old tea towel just to test it out on.  Some of my tea towels never make it to the embroidery phase.  The results are pretty fun!  I think my kids will like this once they get the hang of coloring more.

update:  I washed my towel in warm water and the colors faded a little.  I would suggest washing on cold.  I will not be drying my towel because I'm worried the colors will fade even more.  I had another suggestion!  After ironing the sandpaper transfer on take the piece of parchment paper and do a quick iron, on the actual design with the parchment paper to protect the iron.  This might set the color better.  Good luck!

I'm linkin' up with Sarahndipities this week!

Week 15: Craft Buster

I love Sarahndipities patterns!  These work up so quick and actually don't take much yarn!

I still need to finish the buttons on the back, but they are almost ready for the Women's Expo tomorrow!

I'm glad I have extra yarn in this color.  I'm almost hoping I don't sell this one.  Or if I do, I will have to make another one for myself.

I used Homespun yarn instead of a WW yarn.  My gauge is different than Sarah's and using the heavier yarn actually worked out well for me.  I love the feel of homespun and think it will be nice on a cold winter day!

Week 15: October 28th-4th.  

Week 14: Craft Buster

A friend brought me these cute hats someone had knitted for her!  Her sweet little boy wore them the winter he was born.  She's due with a little girl in a few weeks and wanted me to change the hats up and make them more "girly".  Here they are.  

Pattern found here or on ravelry here!

Oh this little bow!  The pattern can be found here or here on ravelry.  It was so simple.  

This is a nice small flower.  I think it's great for a garland or a newborn hat.
You can find this pattern on ravelry here!

Week 14: Oct 22nd- 28th

Week 13: Craft Buster

I love this flower pattern!  It is the same one I used to make a flower for my new diaper bag.  My friend's bag had some embroidery on it that just wasn't the right color and we needed to fix that.  I stash busted some yarn and made this flower to cover the embroidery.  It will work just perfect.  I put felt on the back and then two pins to make sure the flower stayed put and the embroidery didn't show.  I can't wait to see her bag.

Week 13: Oct 15th-21st

Week 12: Craft Buster

Here are some left overs I found way in the back of my craft closet!  Gem magnets!  I tried using my cricut to help me make the magnets.  A 1 inch circle worked perfect for the smaller gems.  I needed to pull out the larger gems and cut a bigger circle though.  Some of those have a lot of glass still showing on the edges.  Live and learn....

I realize I didn't ever post about making these!  These gem magnets were one of the favorite MOPS crafts I ever did followed closely by the note pads below.  To make the gem magnets, use very clear gems, scrapbook paper or magazine pages, and round magnets.  Mod podge both the flat side of the glass gem and the side of the paper you want showing.  Stick those together and then mod podge the back of the magnet and make sure the edges of the paper are attached well.  After they dry add the round magnet and you are done!

I also managed to pull out a few of the notepads that were left over from my MOPS practice attempts last year.  I will donate a few of these to the church bazaar and save some for Martin's preschool teachers to use as gifts!  I personally love the ones with "list" on the top.  I truly enjoyed using my cricut.  I'm all out of notepads and gems.  Good thing a craft store run is in my new future!

Week 12: October 8th- 14th

Week 12: Craft Buster

Here are some left overs I found way in the back of my craft closet!  Gem magnets!  I tried using my cricut to help me make the magnets.  A 1 inch circle worked perfect for the smaller gems.  I needed to pull out the larger gems and cut a bigger circle though.  Some of those have a lot of glass still showing on the edges.  Live and learn....

I realize I didn't ever post about making these!  These gem magnets were one of the favorite MOPS crafts I ever did followed closely by the note pads below.  To make the gem magnets, use very clear gems, scrapbook paper or magazine pages, and round magnets.  Mod podge both the flat side of the glass gem and the side of the paper you want showing.  Stick those together and then mod podge the back of the magnet and make sure the edges of the paper are attached well.  After they dry add the round magnet and you are done!

I also managed to pull out a few of the notepads that were left over from my MOPS practice attempts last year.  I will donate a few of these to the church bazaar and save some for Martin's preschool teachers to use as gifts!  I personally love the ones with "list" on the top.  I truly enjoyed using my cricut.  I'm all out of notepads and gems.  Good thing a craft store run is in my new future!

Week 12: October 8th- 14th

Week 11: Craft Buster

Hats, hats, hats.  It's that time in Minnesota!  Fall has come and I'm loving it.  I have added hats for my boys to my list!  We'll see what I can come up with.  This hat is for a little guy I like to call Huddy or Triple J!  It matches our school colors and I consider it a stash busting success!  I completely ran out of blue yarn, but we love the crazy look of the stripes so all is well.  This is just a simple half double crochet hat!

Also a stash buster!  The tiny ball of blue is gone and there is not much ivory left.  I hope Makenzie loves this hat.  She better wear it for some pictures.  She also got a small pair of booties.  The hat pattern is a half double crochet and the flower is from Attic 24!  Next time I will use a bigger hook for the flower.  It was a bit small, but that's fine, Makenzie is a tiny baby.

Week 11: Oct 1st- 7th

Week 10: Craft Buster

Oh this is just my beautiful purple shamrock!  The 3 roots traveled all the way from Montana to our home and then stayed in the fridge for a few days.  It's my second attempt at keeping one of these alive.  It reminds me of my dear friend Kendra!

I promised something different this time!  I loved this yarn buster!  I actually finished up two balls of yarn.  It was so close I had to leave out a couple "chain 1" in the pattern to have enough ivory.  I can't wait to try another.  It would be great with a bunch of bright colors.

It's from Sarah London's blog and it's called the Arctic Scarf!  I love her stuff and this pattern was super simple.  I'm a granny "square" lover and this made me happy!

Week 10: Sept 24th-30th

Week 10: Craft Buster

Oh this is just my beautiful purple shamrock!  The 3 roots traveled all the way from Montana to our home and then stayed in the fridge for a few days.  It's my second attempt at keeping one of these alive.  It reminds me of my dear friend Kendra!

I promised something different this time!  I loved this yarn buster!  I actually finished up two balls of yarn.  It was so close I had to leave out a couple "chain 1" in the pattern to have enough ivory.  I can't wait to try another.  It would be great with a bunch of bright colors.

It's from Sarah London's blog and it's called the Arctic Scarf!  I love her stuff and this pattern was super simple.  I'm a granny "square" lover and this made me happy!

Week 10: Sept 24th-30th

Week 9: Craft Buster

We've seen this pattern before....
It's from Hook Candy.  She has some great patterns.
One pair is a gift and the other is for the women's expo.
Yes, I'm still working on things for the women's expo.  It's been fun, just a little more anxiety than I thought!  Hopefully next week I will have something brand new to show you for a craft buster!



Week 9: September 17th- 23rd

Week 9: Craft Buster

We've seen this pattern before....
It's from Hook Candy.  She has some great patterns.
One pair is a gift and the other is for the women's expo.
Yes, I'm still working on things for the women's expo.  It's been fun, just a little more anxiety than I thought!  Hopefully next week I will have something brand new to show you for a craft buster!



Week 9: September 17th- 23rd

Week 8: Craft Buster

I've done a similar wash cloth to this pattern.  I wanted to stash bust but come up with something cute for our friends in Montana.  They let us stay with them on our way home after vacation.  It was wonderful to see them and relax at home with them!

This is a double sided trivet or pot holder made with two circle motifs joined together!  I did stash bust.  The white and yellow and from my stash.  The back of the holder is all white and yellow.

I ended up buying some yarn on the way home from vacation!  I just needed some new inspiration!

This cutie worked up in less than two hours I think!  I didn't finish up any yarn though.  I will keep working through my bright cotton colors!

The flower pot holder is found here on ravelry!

Week 8: September 10th- 16th

Week 7: Craft Buster

These are some left over vacation crocheting I did.  I finally tied the ends and completed a few things!  Yeah for stash bustin'!


I still have some of this red left. I really do love this scarf pattern. It's free and found on ravelry! I think I finished this guy in less than the 4 hours it took us on our last day to get home!  The Caron Simply Soft Yarn is also growing on me.  I am still loyal to lion brand though!

This is a great Sarandipities pattern found on ravelry also!!  I've done one before and have a couple left over flowers from this one!  I'm hoping to complete a couple more before the bazaar and women's expo.  I used up a couple small balls of yarn making this.  Adios pink and green!

Week 7- Craft Buster September 3rd-9th

Week 6: Craft Buster

I had an order for a hat and booties that required buying yarn.  Yipeee!  The best part is, now that yarn can be used as a stash buster!  My first set of booties turned out very small.  I need to make notes on my pattern and just didn't do a good job with gauge and the booties were super tiny.  So I made a hat to go with the tiny booties and will sell it at the expo or donate it for our church bazaar.  I did finish the correct size of booties and hat!  I love the brown and red.  The hat is my own creation just a simple half double crochet and the booties come from Hook Candy!  I love her patterns.  

Another pair of Hook Candy booties!  I got this yarn from a friend who got it from an Aunt.  It's for sure a stash buster and is on the list to sell at the expo!


Week 6- Craft Buster August 27th-Sept. 2nd

Week 5: Craft Buster

This blue yarn was possibly the largest stash in my stuff.  I didn't have a plan when I bought it and couldn't figure one out!  Here are a few things I made with it.

Granny Stripe Boutique Bag

It's perfect for a little girl and the pattern is easy enough to make the bag larger.  I probably used 1/2 skein of yarn or less on it.  

The cute little flower comes from here!
Super simple.  We're on vacation (I'm working ahead) and this flower will make some cute garland!
Be on the look out!

This was from the greatest crochet book I ever bought!  It's actually a magazine and boy have I used it.  It had a tutorial on hats and lots of scarves and tunsian crochet for beginners.  It was a great purchase!
You can buy the pattern here! I found it in this issue of Interweave Crochet magazine.

That's my craft bustin' vacation style!

Week 5- Craft Buster August 20th-26th


oops I hit publish too fast!  This is a little early.  Happy Vacation to me!

Week 4: Craft Buster

My first try at pattern testing for the talented and lovely Sarah from Sarahndipities.

I was so excited to be a pattern tester, I quick raised my hand not knowing what I was getting myself into.  I didn't really have anybody in mind to wear my finished product.  With my short hair, I doubted it would look good on me.  I had just the right amount of yarn and I'm glad I gave it a try!

I love the hat.  I considered giving it to my sister, but I will be keeping one!  It took me less than 2 hours to finish this baby!  I used 100% cotton and I thought maybe it was a little "tough".  I think an acrylic or baby yarn might be nice to give it some bounce.  Mine is pretty stiff.  I will be trying another.  And since I write the rules of this craft buster, it might still count for my weekly project!

Thanks Sarah for letting me try the pattern.  You can purchase this little cutie over here!  It's worth and anybody who can crochet in a round can make this!

Week 4- Craft Buster August 13th-19th

Week 3: Craft Buster

I have a tiny bit of this green left over and I'm pretty proud of how I rewrote the pattern to work for me.
I used this pattern from Lion Brand.  (Found on ravelry here)
I did the scarf vertically (the long way) instead of horizontally.  I would have done an edge of single crochet around the outside, but I ran out of yarn!  I did do a row of single crochets on the bottom of each end.

It's still looking for a home, but I like enough to either keep it or make another for me (with a different color of course.  I'm into getting rid of yarn right now)!

Week 3- Craft Buster August 6th-12th

Week 2: Craft Buster

This week I just needed to finish up a project I started painting a few weeks ago!

He's pretty good with the mod podge! 

The finished project is a little mail center next to the microwave and back door.  Yes, I realize I will need to stay on top of it so I don't lose anything!  The magazine holder in the back is just a piece of paper mod podged over a plain white magazine holder we have.  I will need to keep this pretty clean!

I mod podged the piece of paper to the bottom of the tray and then used wood glue for the letters.  So far, it's working well!

Week 2: Craft Buster July 30th- Aug 5th

Week 1: Craft Buster

This is a great free ravelry pattern.  I used the red and white for my Husker Potholders and had some left over.  I'm thinking I have just enough red to do a little Husker hat for someone. Any takers?  I have a few skeins of white and red left but I can return those!  One ball of yarn GONE!

Week 1- Craft Buster July 22nd-July 29th  

Next...

FINALLY!  I finished the last of the Husker potholders for my cousin.  It didn't take long once I had all of the squares made.  (I make a red square for the back so it's extra thick).  I don't know why I kept putting it off!  I hope she enjoys giving them as gifts.  I've made her a total of 8 and finally wrote out the "N" so I don't forget if she asks me again.

And the NEXT...one thing spirals into another!  I finally hung up my hubby's father's day gift.  I had one of his photos made into a canvas.  He just got home from a mission trip and he hasn't noticed it yet!  Then it spiraled out of control.  I need to clean up the book case because I had to move a lot of stuff over there to clean out the piano and clean off the next thing I worked on...

I took down a couple cute shelves and put back up a painting our friend did for our wedding.  I love my candle bowl from Pier 1.  It was one of my favorite purchases when I worked there.  I happened to have a candle and those flowers.  It looks a little fallish, but those are the colors I love.  I cleaned out the cupboard and moved some blankets and piano stuff to a new home.  I now have a little crafty area for my current projects.  

I've got  a new goal for my craft stuff!  We're calling it Craft Busters.  I want to finish some kind of stash project each week.  I am working on a blanket and a prayer shawl, but I know I can do this.  I can spend one or two evenings a week and make a dent in the yarn and craft projects I have purchased but not started/finished.  After researching "stash busters" for yarn I realized my stash is not that big.  The only problem is we run short on storage with boys and toys and train magazines etc.  My stash is also full of loose ends.  Things I've done and now have 1/2 skein of yarn left.  This has been tricky to find projects but I'm sure I can do it.  One of the craft busters on my list is also tea towels.  I've got a long list and want to donate some to the bazaar at church and make some for my table at the women's expo in the fall.  I also love having them on hand for gifts.  They are great to add into a wedding gift or thank you for someone.  I just need to make it more of a routine to do them.  I've been told I'm a high/overachiever and I'm not going to let this project make me crazy.  As long as I work on something I will be happy.  I would love to finish it during the week, but if not that's fine.  Last night I worked and worked on an idea and it just didn't come through.  At least I tried and know to move on now!  

 

This week/weekend while my hubby was gone I was busy!  Our schedules did not line up very well!  I ended up with 4 baby sitters in 4 days.  I was very excited to do the Relay for Life with my MOPS team.  We walked and sold cookies.  I also donated a set of towels to the silent auction. I got to light the luminaries for our team and that was pretty moving.  I knew some of the people on the bags and watched families stand around luminaries of people they loved.  One of the boys' friends from MOPS was diagnosed with leukemia this last fall.  She was the star of the relay.  She will celebrate more birthdays and that makes all of us smile.  We did lose two moms this year that had been in MOPS to cancer.  They leave behind 2 little people who will celebrate many birthdays without their moms.  I thought a lot about my grandparents.  We all miss them!