Say hello to "Buster"

That's what I've named the bear I just finished knitting for The Mother Bear Project.
Not perfect by any means but I'm excited to make more and improve my work! The embroidery was definitely harder than I expected it to be but I will be using more YouTube videos for help next time!
Without any more suspense, here's Buster!

The Mother Bear Project

I've been knitting for close to 20 years (yes i'm only 28 but I learned quick thanks to my amazing Grandma) and before recently all I ever managed to turn out were scarves and small blankets.

I've been trying to expand my knitting horizons and while doing some surfing on Facebook I came across the Mother Bear Project. MBP is a non profit organization that sends hand knitted and crocheted bears to children in Africa that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
So I decided to do my part to help and I ordered my kit, which came very quickly I might add!
In the envelope there was a set of knitting needles, yarn, and a pattern, which even for a scardey cat-I'm-only-sticking-to-scarves knitter like me I found the pattern easy to follow.
After another night or two (after I figure out how to sew everything up!) I should be finished and I'll post the finished product here. I can't wait to finish it and start making more bears!
As a bonus I'm impressed with myself that I'm making something more involved and it's given me confidence to try new things!
So if any knitters out there are looking for a project that goes relatively quickly and is also for a great cause, give the Mother Bear Project a try!

Easter!

I hope everyone who celebrates had a great Easter!

We had a great day with our family and I just love having holidays at our new home. I love having everyone together. I didn't take too many pictures but I did get one of the centeripece I did for our table.

I used peonies, hydrangeas and some stick thinkies from JoAnn's and for the vase I just used an existing vase and put scrap book paper along the inside.

And this is the Bunny Bait. Another recipie inspired by pinterest.

I used:

Plain Popcorn

Pretzel Sticks

Pretzel M&M's

White chocolate (melted and poured on)

Sprinkles (or where I'm from, Jimmies)

After it set up I broke it up and put it into bags for the kids.

I also made but didn't take pictures of:

Funfetti cake batter dip

Lasagne (YUM)

I have a couple of projects I'm currently working on. One is collecting knit/chrochet hats for my local hospital's maternity unit. If you would like to help please contact me -------> over there.

New season, New wreath!

I went ahead and made a yarn wrapped wreath. and while i'm super happy with the final product, there are always a few things i would change for next time.

I have some progress pictures for this post! Yay!
First, the materials"

• Foam wreath ring
• Yarn
• Flowers with clips
• Peacock feathers
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun

*Patience*

The Wreath took almost 2 hours to wrap, but it came out nice!

And the finished product!

And here it is on the door!

Happy Spring!

S'mores Cupcakes

ok i'm really late on posting this, as i made these for the superbowl. but after i collected myself after my team's loss i forgot that i had taken pictures of the finished product. and what do you know, a whole month went by (and then some!)
So here are the cupcakes, chocolate cake batter, a fluff buttercream icing, topped with crushed grahm crackers and a nibblet of chocolate.

I think they came out pretty darn good, considering i made them from scratch! (my first batter) i did get the recipe from Pinterest Here.

Here they are:

The pictures from pinterest look much better but they tasted good!
I also made for the big game:
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Honey Teryaki Chicken Wings
Crescent Rolls pizzas
Everything was super yummy, i just wish the game had had a different ending, oh well. Better luck next year!

Cupcake Hat

I've seen many techiques for making a cupcake hat, but by far the easiest (and quickest) i've found is the loom knit pattern at This Mama Knits. Instead of using Caron Simply Soft, I have been using the Michael's store brand yarn Loops & Threads Impeccable, in Espresso and Light Pink. For the cherry i just used some scrap bulky yarn I had laying around.

In order to do them on the round looms properly you need to have one that has an even number of pegs (because of the ribbing). The only looms I've seen with this is the Round Loom Set by Boye < that link takes you to a store where the set is $21.95, but I got mine at Walmart for $13!
This hat also sizes pretty small, the smallest loom is best for preemies, with the next size for infants, toddlers, and older kids/small headed adults. the biggest loom should fit an average size adult head.
Here is a picture of a completed hat:

Pictures!

i finally got around to changing the hideous window treatments that the previous owners had in our 4th bedroom (aka my office/craft room) they were just wooden valances with wallpaper border on them.
and tonight i finally recovered them with my black and white damask fabric i've had for years and didn't know what to do with. i took before and after pics so you don't have to just take my word for it, lol. i'm not sure if i'm going to add anything to them, but for now, i'm happy!
i also made a matching memo board out of the fabric, some sparkle ribbon and some rhinestone buttons.
crafting makes my heart happy! i also have a better pic of the gorgeous chair i got on clearance, and some pics of some lighting options i'm hoping to have in here soon. although our new house is big and there's plenty of space to sprawl out, being able to have this room as all mine means a lot, i can come up here to think, blog, and create and it feels awesome! i didn't realize how much i needed this room until i have it. so now that i'm getting all emotional about my space i'll share the pics now!

Windows Before:

And After:

A shot of both windows:

(notice the lamp? and early x-mas gift from the hubs!)

My gorgeous chair!

The matching memo board:

A light i love:

More Crafts!

if i keep doing things i see on pinterest i may make a separate page for them but for now they're going to be all labled under Pinterest over there ------>
I've seen a few versions of the "52 things i love about you" project going around and i decided to make it for the husband for one of his X-Mas gifts. He loves superman so it was only fitting that i used superman playing cards, for the front i used a comic book font, and should've continuted that througout the book but i had already started glueing the paper to the cards and didn't want to start over. meh. hindsight is 20/20. i still love how it came out and i can't wait to give it to him!

The Front cover!

And the inside!

the wreath!

not being a pro (yet) with the hot glue gun i'd say it came out pretty good! i'm probably going to do a different one for next year but not bad for my first go at it! once again, thank you Pinterest for the inspiration!

Materials used: Paper Mache "D" from Jo-Ann fabrics around $3.00, boxes of mini ornaments on sale $2.99 per box (i bought 6 boxes and any leftover ornaments will go on our tree), string of silver beads, $7.99. Spool of black ribbon $2.99, and my lovely hot glue gun.

Originally posted on 12/5/11

Holidays!

It's the holiday season, yay! between september and the end of the year is my favorite time, after Jan 1st i'd like to hibernate until the spring but for now i'm going to enjoy the crisp fall air and my most very favorite thing, the smell of firewood burning. since we got married we usually do all of the holidays, which i'm not going to lie, is stressful but i love having everyone under our roof and feeding everyone. the old italian lady deep inside me comes out during this time of year and i love to make sure eveyone is warm, fed and taken care of. the other thing i love to do is knit and do other craft projects. i'm currently putting the finishing touches on my DIY wreath inspired by, of course, pinterest.
i also have a couple of pictures to share with you of Turkey Day, as in, the turkey itself and the yummy Pumpkin Toffee Trifle i made for dessert, recipe courtesey of E-Mealz.

Ye Olde Bacon Wrapped Turkey:

And

The E-Mealz Pumpkin Toffee Trifle:

As soon as the wreath is finished i'll post a pic!

Originally posted on 12/3/11