Being Crafty and peeks into my new space

I am finally using my craft room for it's main purpose, to be crafty!

While I am redoing my area, I am trying very hard not to spend that much money to revamp it.

Years ago, I bought 2 cork boards and 2 chalkboards from Target (only 1 of each pictured).

In my yellow room, I used black and white accents.  But I figured in my white room, I wanted a pop of color.  I have seen lots of turquoise rooms and that color just went well with the white walls and the already black items I had, so I decided to use some of the acrylic paints I had on hand (maybe someday I will share that collection of paints!).

First, I took off the hooks on the back and unhinged the cork & chalkboards from the frame.

I painted the cork board turquoise (just the normal "flat" acrylic).  I use foam brushes (cheap and reusable, but disposable).  Depending on the color you want to obtain, you will need to let the first coat dry before applying the next coat.  I used 4 coats to get the color I wanted.

The frame around the cork board was going to stay black, but I added 1 coat of black gloss since it was kind of dulling.  (good thing acrylic paints are water soluble and that will wipe right up from my desk.)

The chalkboard itself is going to stay black, but the frame was painted turquoise.  This frame takes a few coats.  First with 2 or 3 coats of the normal "flat" turquoise, then 1 final coat of a gloss turquoise. (I swear this paint isn't as blue as it is coming out in the pictures!)

The final result

(blah!  The color cast in this room still sucks.  I could have taken out my SLR, but I just took this quicky photo and did a little editing--close enough)

I also took this shoe box out of the recycle bin last week before it was pick up day...

I painted the box black and the lid turquoise.  Each took a few coats of flat acrylic then 2 coats of the gloss.

It now holds all my "Works in Progress"--see I know items will come in handy one day!  My problem is one day never comes ha ha ha.  

I thought I would take a break from showing the stuff I got rid of and do a sneak peek of my new room!

On this episode of Hoarders... (Part 1)

Hello, my name is Linda and I am a Hoarder.  No seriously, I think I am on the verge of being one of those people that keeps everything.  Ok, maybe I won't ever appear on an episode of Hoarders, but I do every so often have to edit myself and unhoard things.

4 years ago, I got my own craft room/office.  The original plan was that it would mostly be a craft room, but there would be a home office desk for my husband--well he didn't use the desk and I pretty much took over.  

Here are the before pictures

Notice the wall shelves and stuff everywhere.  This also is the catch all room.

My Michaels cubes (this door leads to the Garage and a glimpse of my tiny window.

Here is the desk area that is supposed to be for my husband.  In the left hand top corner you can see the ancient fax machine.  The copy paper boxes do not have paper inside.  I take the boxes from work and store things inside...because I have too much stuff!

The garage door again and the corner that has a bunch of boxes--in case I ever have to ship anything...I like to keep boxes from orders I have received.

I hated coming into the room and working in here.  I thought it was the yellow walls (which my husband told me 4 years ago not to paint), so the plan was to remove everything so I could paint it white.  I know so boring, but I have one 35 wide by 58 tall window in this room and I love light!  Even with the 4 can lights and fan light--I hated the color cast.

As I was taking everything out of my room and removing the items from the walls, I realize that it wasn't really the yellow that made the room so dark it was all the clutter!  Well I had to cover up all the holes with putty, so I had to paint the room regardless.  I just went with boring white called Paparazzi--I loved the name!

Well like the title of the post, I am going to show you a bit of my hoarding...I have plenty to share, but I will break it up.

These are 8 4-packs of Starbucks Frappuccino bottles (that is 32 bottles)

I had seen the cutest altered bottles on 2peas and planned to do the same.  A couple of examples can be found here and here.  Well I never altered them and now that I think about it, why would anyone want to eat candy from recycled bottles?  I know I washed them through the dishwasher, but still.

They went into the recycle bin...I suppose if I ever want to do this, I could just go get another 4 pack--my arm doesn't have to be twisted that hard :)

These aren't that bad...only 6 folders, but my kids are now 16 & 15...they have not liked or wanted to use these folders for over 5 years.  Why did I keep them?  A few look new, so I am donating them to Goodwill and tossing only a couple.

Now these...again, I seen the cutest projects on 2peas.

What are they?  Years and years ago, AOL was sending the boxes with trial CDs inside.  Well the talented ladies at 2peas came up with this and this (among others).  I mean look at the inside of these puppies.

I will never alter these and I know that I will never see them in the mail again, but they went into the recycle bin where they should have gone years ago.

Last picture for today.

These are nice sturdy boxes!!!  But for what?  What am I going to do with them?  Toss them into the recycle bin.  I have to.  They are just taking up space.

I don't know if I could ever have anyone help me do this like they do on TV, but I am letting go of a lot of items.  I am taking the "if you haven't used it in 3 years, you don't need it" approach.

I can't wait to share some of my other collections of items :)

Renegade Fair with my SBBF (ScrapBook Best Friend)

Last summer, my SBBF and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair for the first time in San Francisco.  We had a blast.  Unfortunately, we haven't seen each other since!  But today we went to the Holiday version of the Renegade Craft Fair--still in San Francisco, but at a different venue.

They had the most awesome booths, but these two vendors were mobile!

I didn't catch the name of this bicycle vendor, but this crocheter is dorklandia (love the name!).

As much as I wanted to buy something from everyone at the fair, I could not.  Only these items came home with me.

1. Death Birthday Card by genuine haha  My 16 year-old daughter said she would cry if she got a card like that :/

2. Cutest Robot cards by Satsuma Press  The designers son made this design.  He is 6 years old and has a neuromuscular disorder :(

3. & 4. 'to-do" list and tape measure washi tape by Oh, Hello Friend

5. Giraffe button by Steppie this was for my daughter who loves Giraffes because of Brandon Belt

6. Toffee...mmmmm... by P.O.P. Candy  mmmmmm...

Even though I didn't purchase much at the fair, I brought home a bunch of business cards so I can purchase from them in the future.

(you can see the picture of me and Liz in the Magnolia Photo Booth--we couldn't figure out when the picture was being taken...I look like a dork!)

Here are a few of my favorites...

Le Petit Elefant~Cutest drawings ever!!  I am hanging her business card in my craft room (rawr!)

Neiko Ng~Cutest drawings ever!! (yes, I know)  I missed out the first round and wasn't able to catch Snow White and Ariel the second go round...must order from her :)

Unicorn crafts~cute earrings

Oxleberry~Cutest monsters and sad snowman (I should have gotten the snowman!)

Skeletal Dropkick~I'd love to grow a plant in them!

Sincere Sheep~pretty yarns

Collage Lab~I'd love to Scrapbook with those papers!

Wool Buddy~Adorable Stuffed Animals

Leafcutter Designs~Again, I should have left with the Notepaper Embroidery kit--too cute!

Victory Garden Yarn~I wanna be her! :)

There were a ton more vendors...I could be here forever linking all the vendors, but that would be silly since they are listed online.

One thing that the majority of the vendors had were the most awesome tool ever!  It was called Square and they could swipe credit cards from their iPhones!!! (we seen one vendor with an iPad 2 and another with an Android phone.)  I want one of those!

And since my bestie and I haven't seen each other in forever, we exchanged gifts (birthday/Christmas/everyday findings for each other).  Here is what I received

Liz made me the cutest book ever!  I can't wait to use it and show it in more detail :)

Gift making

I wish I was more organized and would think of gifts in plenty of time to make all my Christmas gifts, but I am not.

This past week, I came across the cutest slouchy pattern via Ravelry.  It was by Julie King at Gleeful Things.  She was generous enough to share her Waffle Cone Slouchy Hat Pattern for FREE!!

I have searched for the perfect slouchy beret type pattern forever and even came up with a pattern last year, but this one is much better.  The only person I knew that might enjoy it was my niece.  I went to Joann's with my 50% coupon and came home with the same yarn the awesome pattern maker used.  This was the first time I used Lion Brand Yarn's Hometown USA...and I love it!!!!!

Here is the hat that only took less than 2 hours to make while waiting for my son at the dentist! :D

One Christmas present down...too many to go.

I am thinking about offering to make anyone a hat for free on my Facebook page.

I am a disaster in the kitchen

There are a lot of blogs out there that have posts about cooking--some are sprinkled within general blogs showing off their holiday cookies, while others are strictly to post recipes--great yummy recipes.

For me, there is a reason I don't talk about my cooking--I am a disaster in the kitchen. Don't get me wrong I enjoy baking but sometimes it just isn't in the cards for me and I especially am not a fan of day-to-day cooking.

A few years ago, we remodeled our kitchen--actually we moved the kitchen to a bigger area--and I enjoyed designing the layout, picking out the cabinets, getting the granite, buying new appliances but that doesn't really matter when you are cursed :/

The oven we chose had a convection oven--I am not too sure what that does but it means you have the option to cook some things faster.

This year, my only job for Thanksgiving dinner was to make the pie. Actually, my job was just to bake the frozen pie. But--of course there is a but--the instructions confused me.

See the bolded words that say "conventional", well I read it as "convection". It was after work and I was tired. Luckily, I checked on the pie 60 minutes in and here were the results.

I so hate that oven! Hahaha.  I might be able to just scrape off the top portion that is burnt--so it might be edible :)

Craft Faire goodie

In September, I ordered a crochet hook holder from a seller on Etsy.

(picture from seller's etsy)

I waited about 2 weeks and I hadn't received my item.  So I sent a message through Etsy to the seller.  An automated response came back that the seller was severely ill and if I wanted to wait for my item or request a refund.  I replied that I would wait.  I waited about a month and still nothing.  I went to send another message and the Etsy seller no longer had a shop.  Luckily I "only" spent $12.50 on the item.  I really hope the seller didn't die!  But I did let both Etsy and PayPal know of the non-receipt of the item, just in case the seller just "skipped town" with other people's money!  I let the $12.50 go and didn't go any further with PayPal.  I mean if the seller was severely sick and is in the hospital or going through treatments, I totally wish her the best of luck, but if it was just a scam, then that sucks :(

Anywho...I received an email that there was going to be a Craft Faire in San Jose called Jingle Fest 2011.  I love Craft Faires.  Since it was on Sunday aka husband's football day, I decided to check it out.  It was kinda small, but it was cool to look at all the stuff people make.  There was a bunch of jewelry, that I don't wear, but there were a few booths that sold handmade cards and crochet items.  One booth had the cutest little girl one-of-a-kind dresses.  The one dress I absolutely adored was too small for my youngest niece.

I was about to leave (only stayed about 25 minutes--that is how small it was), when I seen a booth, Firebabe Boutique, that had some crochet hook holders!  Well you can use the case to hold hooks or make-up brushes.  And she even had crayon holders.  Anyway, I picked this one up

I am so excited to finally be able to keep my hooks in order by size!

I left thinking about maybe seeing about selling there next year...if I have a big enough inventory :)

Baby First Yarn

For some reason, I love Lion Brand yarn.  I know there are plenty of people who do not like "cheaper" yarn that can be bought in the big box stores, but I fall in love with a lot of their yarn.

Earlier this year, I bought some Lion Brand Baby's First yarn in beanstalk (horrible picture, but it is a light green color), because I really wanted to make a baby granny square blanket.  Back in March, this was my first try at a baby blanket.

According to this picture, it wasn't too bad of a first try, but it really was not very square.  

I crochet too tight--always have and I don't think I will be able to learn to stop.  So the answer to that problem is to just use a bigger hook.  This pattern called to use a size K hook which is 6.5mm.  The next "normal" size up in the U.S. is an L with is 8.0mm...what happened to 7mm or 7.5mm???  I did a search and 7mm is "normal" in other parts of the world.  Curious, I went to the forums at Ravelry because those ladies have all the answers.  Prior to asking on the forum, I did an online search to see what came up, but everything was pretty pricey and most came from overseas, so delivery was high as well.  I am used to paying under $3 for a hook.  Luckily, I was given better tips on how to search online and I found a place that was in the U.S.  For under $5, I am now the owner of a 7mm hook.  I took apart the first blanket and crocheted it again.

It is a little off still, but I think I need to now learn how to block my items...that should be fun!

 Last Friday, I was complaining that I was unable to find 5 skeins of the same lot in the Baby's First yarn.  Well later that day, I talked my husband into stopping at another Michaels which happened to be 20 miles away (but we were in that neighborhood anyway doing some other shopping) and I lucked out and found 5 skeins of the same lot color!  I can't wait to start a new baby blanket. 

*regarding picture...one, I love using this bag from Kara's Cupcakes to store my yarn and two, for some reason this picture make it look like the skein are not the same shade even though they are supposed to be the same lot...I just think it is the crappy lighting in my craft room.

Minnie Mouse hats

Back at the beginning of May, my SIL called me to describe to me a hat she had seen on a baby.  From her description, I made my 3 nieces this hat.  (My SIL is my biggest client.)

(toddler size)

 

(child's size)

(teen size)

The hat is a basic dc (double crochet) hat with flaps & braids.  I added pompoms to the top for the ears and to the bottom of the braids.  I am sure I am attaching the pompoms to the bottom incorrectly, but I cannot find any help on YouTube or anything on the internet that makes any sense to me--most patterns just say "attach the pompoms"--yes, but how???

It did take me a while to find the red w/white polka dot ribbon.  I had made my toddler and 8 year-old nieces their hats, then my teenage niece asked for one sans the ribbon.

Mini Album ~Birthday~

About a month ago, my friend ask me if I could take pictures at her daughter's 10th birthday party.  She wanted me to take pictures of the birthday girl with each guest so she could give them a copy of the picture in a frame as part of their favor. 

I set up using my D50 because it is way easier to use than my D300.  Then I printed the pictures out using my PoGo that I haven't used in forever.

That made me think about doing a mini album for her since I already had the pictures.  The theme of the party was "Circus", so I searched my mini album books and found a cute cupcake mini album (it kinda went together).  I wasn't sure how I was going to attack that one, so I googled to see if I could find some albums.  Well I found lots of cupcake mini albums made from a $1 mini album found at Michaels, problem was that they were made over a year ago and Michaels no longer carried the mini album (I checked a couple of Michaels just in case).  

So the wheels in my head spun around.  Finally, I found a sample of cupcakes clipart online and enlarged the picture on my screen.  I took plain printer paper and traced the cupcake on it--using my monitor as a light box.  Then I transferred my tracing to some chipboard to use as my template which was then used to cut the cupcake in different colors.  There may have been an easier and better way, but I was on limited time.

The completed project:

Supplies used:  Basic Grey Blush Be Mine and Basic Grey Lollipop Shoppe Fruit Punch, Primary Colors cardstock by Recollections (Michaels), assorted ribbon, binder ring, EK Success-Binding edge punch and some colored reinforcement circles.  All older supplies from my overstocked stash.

I found the reinforcement circles at Staples quite a few years ago on clearance for 50 cents.  The clearance sticker says 2008 and this is the first time I have used them.  I use them to reinforce (duh) the holes punched for the binder ring.

As you can see there are normal circle ones and cute flowers ones.  In the flower pack, there are also some red heart ones--someday I may use those as well :)

9/11

From our June 2008 trip to New York...words cannot express all the feelings that go alone with these pictures...

Tiles For America .