Sometimes your loved ones just have to come first

I had so many ideas of things to do and post for tonight, but then something happened that only happens once in a great while ...

Otis doesn't request attention that often, but when he does I eat it up!

First turtle post, probably not the last.... Turtle Lovey

Anyone who knows me knows I have a thing for turtles and moose, I was feeling a little turtle-y yesterday and decided to play around with patterns and ended up making this adorable turtle lovey. This lovey is currently for sale on my Etsy site, check it out!

Paint n' Pours

I think paint and pours are a great, whether you're pretty good or think you can't paint at all! I have seen people who can't even draw a stick figure paint the most beautiful pictures. They have really great tips on how to blend colors and shade, the first two are paintings that I did at a class and the third is one I did with tips I learned from the classes. 

Stretched canvases aren't just for paint!

I found this idea on Joyfully Jensen's Blog so I went out and bought a stencil that I thought I would like. I used a cutting mat and an x-acto knife and traced the stencil on the back of a 12x12 canvas, this was the result:

I'm so happy with how this came out! I started out shaky but by the end I was feeling like a semi-pro!

Little Amigurumi Cocoa/Coffee Cup Pattern (free)

For this little cup you will need:

Cotton yarn Sugar n' Cream (whatever color you want the cup to be) and brown/cream
F(4.0MM) hook is recommended (I tend to crochet tight so I use a G(4.25MM))
6 mm plastic eyes
Black embroidery floss or black fine 2 weighted yarn
Yarn Needle
Some polyfill stuffing

mc- magic circle
ch - chain
sc- single crochet
hdc- half double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
st- stitch
sts- stitches

Cup:
With main color ch 2 or mc
Round 1- Work 6 sc in 2nd chain from the hook or into your mc, sl st in first sc to join (6 sts)
Round 2- Ch 1, 2 sc in each around, sl st in first sc to join (12 sts)
Round 3- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next st; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (18 sts)
Round 4- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (24 sts)
Round 5- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 3 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (30 sts)
Round 6- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 4 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (36 sts)
Round 7- Ch 1, Working in back loops only sc in each st around, sl st in first sc to join (36 sts)
Rounds 8-20 Ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st in first sc to join
Fasten off and weave in ends

Handle:
With main color, ch 14 
Hdc in 3rd st from hook and each ch across
Fasten off (leaving enough of a tail to attach to cup)

Cocoa/Coffee Top:
With brown/cream color ch 2 or mc
Round 1- Work 6 sc in 2nd chain from the hook or into your mc, sl st in first sc to join (6 sts)
Round 2- Ch 1, 2 sc in each around, sl st in first sc to join (12 sts)
Round 3- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next st; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (18 sts)
Round 4- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (24 sts)
Round 5- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 3 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (30 sts)
Round 6- Ch 1, *2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 4 sts; repeat from*sl st in first sc to join (36 sts)
Fasten off and leave enough to attach to cup

For finishing:
Position and attach 6mm plastic eyes with safety backings on Cup.
Embroider mouth with straight stitches.
Sew handle to side of Cup.
Stuff Cup tightly with polyfill
Sew Cocoa/Coffee circle inside the top of cup

This cup can also be made with medium worsted weight yarn as well

Supply Links:
Plastic eyes:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/51809818/6-mm-black-animal-eyes-plastic-eyes?ref=shop_home_active_4&ga_search_query=6%2Bmm
Yarn/Crochet Hooks/Yarn Needle/Polyfill:
Michaels/Amazon/ JoAnn's or any other yarn distributer

Don't crochet? This item can be purchased at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/225678031/amigurumi-cocoacoffee-cup?ref=shop_home_active_1

The great thing about crafting is...

The great thing about crafting is that you can make a lot of your gifts, I had previously painted this with 3 of my friends for a friend that had moved to TN, my best friend in NYC loved it so much she asked if I could paint it for her! Let me tell you what the hardest part about this painting was letting it go! Since I'm not a professional artist this painting was a great teacher of shading and trial and error (thankfully not too much error). It was painted on 4-12x24 stretched canvases from Michaels (shop the sales!) and Americana Acrylic Paint. I painted the background of all four canvases (shading dark to light) then created the tree. The dots were placed randomly (don't try to over think them) each color blended with a little white to give it effect. This painting was found on Pinterest by a friend and sold on etsy (https://www.etsy.com/listing/77751424/original-large-abstract-painting) for $365.00, I bought all the supplies for under $50 and will have the paints for projects to come. 

Welcome to my crazy crafting life!

I have always loved crafting since I was little, all kinds of crafts, you could call me an impulse crafter. From painting, to jewelry, to yarn crafts, to wood working and maybe I'll even bake from time to time, I love it all. I have created this blog to show you things I've made, how to make them, dole out tips, maybe some pin fails, and lets face it everyone loves free patterns!