Greetings...

I took a break from crocheting and had every intention to make Mother's Day cards, but instead, I made these:

This is a small 3 x 3 card (no envelop).  Nothing fancy at all, but still cute.  There is some ink on the raised dots, but it was a very light color that you can't even see it.

Supplies:  Paper~Kraft Cardstock (The Paper Company) and Brown (Bazzil Basics), Ribbon~Hemp Cording, Embossing~Swiss Dots used with Sizzix Big Kick Machine, Ink~Caramel Paper Stain (All My Memories-Ranger), Other (heart)~ George & Basic Shapes cartridge (Cricut)

I also made this 4.5 x 6.5 card for any occasion from some old Rusty Pickle paper that I have had for a while.

Supplies: Paper~ Pirate Princess Alvilda & Grace O'Malley (Rusty Pickle) and miscellaneous white cardstock, Embossing~Swiss Dots used with Sizzix Big Kick Machine, Ink~Baby Pink (Close to My Heart), Other~PreScored Card

This 6.5 x 4.5 Thank You card is my favorite of the bunch.  I am totally digging the Kraft Paper.

Paper~Kraft Cardstock (The Paper Company) and Miscellaneous Yellow/Orange Cardstock, Embossing~D'vine Swirl used with Sizzix Big Kick Machine, Stamp~(Thank you) Friendship Blessings (Close to My Heart), Ink~Caramel & Chocolate Paper Stain (All My Memories-Ranger), Other~ Rebecca Sowers tag

Ok, I have been trying really hard not to buy anything scrapbook/card making related including any new yummy papers.  So I got all this stuff from my stash and as I am trying to add all the links to the stuff, I realize most of the stuff I used is really really old.  Rusty Pickle is no longer in business :(  I don't think All My Memories makes ink anymore (unless I am not remember the correct ink off the top of my head :p) (ok, I doubled checked the ink was All My Memories through Ranger Industries--so I am thinking since they are putting out Tim Holtz Distressed Inks, they no longer sell "paper stain")...and this tag...

I have no idea how long I have had it, but I know it has been years and years and years...maybe since I first started in 2003!  I had to "borrow" this picture from someone on eBay selling this one (shhh!).  I was lucky to even find it since I forgot to take a picture before I altered the tag.  As you can tell, I took the flower off, then inked the tag to make it stand out a bit more and to be able to stand the tag vertical (see the lettering?  It made me want to use it horizontally instead).

Maybe there is some hope and I will someday use all my supplies--ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.  Ok, maybe not.

**how do Jennifer McGuire and all the "celebrities" get so great pictures of their cards!  I tried fixing my white balance (although I am using my P&S which still sucks!)...I wish they were truer colors.

In the Bag

I made my First bag--yay!!  I found this Produce Bag pattern at the Lion Brand Yarn website. 

I went with using Charcoal even though there was plenty of colors to choose from.  I didn't want anything too light since I hope it will get plenty of use and I didn't want anything too bright because I wanted it to match everything.  I really need to step out of the box when it comes to colors. 

I had decided (before making it) to give it to my godmother as a Mother's Day present.  I hope she likes it and uses it often.

*just a note to anyone wanting to make this bag using the pattern, the pattern called for 4 skeins, but I only used 3 on this project (but I do stitch pretty tight)

Finally a hat that...

doesn't suck--ha ha ha.  I have been trying to make a hat that actually fits.  I have had some troubles in the hat department, but I finally made one this weekend that the family all agreed was pretty cool--YAY!!

I found this pattern in the January/February issue of Crochet Today.  I wasn't too thrilled with the colors, so I changed them around.  I first made it with black & burgundy Red Heart Super Saver yarn.  Since I am still learning about yarn, I didn't realize that this stuff we a lot stiffer than what the patterned called for.  Ultimately, the hat was not only stiff, but it was also too tight on the kids heads--oops.  I really need to learn how to gauge the yarn--something that I have been avoiding to learn to do, but I guess that is why they have it in the patterns.

Here is the aftermath of me frogging that project:

(the yarn looks brown & pink, but it is burgundy & black--I hate the lighting!)

I went back to the store and bought some Red Heart Designer Sport in Cocoa & Ivory which is the type of yarn the pattern called for.  This yarn was much softer.  It did take me 2 tries on this hat, but it finally worked out and the kids thought it was cool and it fit them! 

I may not avoid hat making afterall.