Locker Hooking!!

I discovered locker hooking a couple years ago. I thought it was so cool. I couldn't find anyone locally who even knew what I was talking about, but I found a locker hook online. I made a cuff bracelet and started a trivet, then got interested in another project and never picked it up again.

However, I just stumbled across this video and my interest has been restored. I located all of my supplies and "I'm getting ready to" start a trivet like the one in this video tutorial. I'll take a pix when I'm finished!

My First Collage!

Talk about some major procrastination!!  I have been preparing to make a collage for a couple months.  I have watched dozens of tutorials, bought tons of paint, stamps, inks, templates, gel medium, modeling paste, papers, brushes, brayers, stamp carving tools, rub-ons, pens, watercolor pencils, pastel crayons, etc, etc.  I have it all. 

I placed a little table and chair in my bedroom with all of my supplies in cute baskets and bins.  Let me tell you - I prepared for this.  About 2 weeks ago, I finally sat down, dipped my brush in some paint and put it on the canvas.  I added a couple different colors, brushed them around, then decided I better take a break and let it dry - oops, I had forgotten to get a heat tool - better go to Michaels.

After passing by my dry, painted canvas a million times, TODAY, I sat down again, ripped up paper, inked up stamps, scooped out some modelling paste, and this is what I made...

Now. the funny thing is that this picture is upside down.  For the life of me, I can't figure out how to flip it over.  It's saved in my computer right-side-up.  I've even tried saving it upside-down, then uploading it to the blog and it still comes out like this.  So just flip your laptop.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out for a first try.  I can't wait to start another one.  But, I'm a procrastinator, so it might be a few days.

Bye,
Cyndi

My first handmade card

Several months ago I decided that I was going to start making my own cards.  So, of course, I went to Michaels to buy lots of cute cardstock, stickers, punches, ribbon, washi tape, and tons more.

Then my sister's birthday came and went after I had purchased the cutest little "Sisters" ephemera.  Next, my father's Birthday came and went after I had purchased tiny little hammers and saws and "Father" ephemera.  I just couldn't let Mother's Day AND my mother's Birthday (her birthday's the 14th) slip by.  After purchasing some more flowers, stamps, inkpads and paper, I actually made a card.  I'm not kidding - I finished this card at 11:30 PM Saturday night.   We had to be at my parent's house by 10:30 Sunday morning so I was very pleased that I had gotten it finished so early!

Here's a link to a cute Father's Day card project!  I have about a month to start working on my father's card.     Go ahead - take a wild guess as to when I'll get started!

Bamboo Sunburst Mirror

I'm getting ready to make something that I hope will be really great.  I have seen so many beautiful, hand-crafted, sunburst mirrors on the web and in magazines.  HGTV has a cute one made from twigs (check it out).

I have tons of bamboo in my yard.  My husband and I are always trying to think of uses for it.  He's made flutes and uses it to tie up the tomatoes plants.

So today, my husband cut some stalks down for me.  Now I just need to go to Michaels  to find a round mirror, cut the bamboo into 15-18" pieces, then start gluing it to the mirror.  I'm putting some pictures here to prove that I really am starting the project.  We'll just have to see how long it takes for me to do it.

Consignment Store Shopping Day!

My good friend is in town and when she's here we always hit Goodwill, yard sales, consignment stores, etc.  We started out this morning at an estate sale.  After digging thru china cabinets, shelves, tables, and cabinets all filled with Hummel's, I did find some little crocheted doilies that I plan to dye and use to make some lovely cards.

Next stop - Goodwill.  I found a picture frame that I plan to paint and turn into a jewelry holder, and a mirror, that I also plan to paint, and use in my bathroom. 








Then to Sandy's Consignment Shop where I found 2 chairs that I plan to paint and reupholster.  I have been looking for some cute chairs that I could paint white and cover with the perfect blue and yellow fabric to put in my bedroom.  The photo only shows one chair, but there are two.



Now my friend lives in St. Thomas and travels all over the world, but she buys her clothes at Goodwill and yard sales.  She finds the cutest, designer, things.  Today she found lots of pretty tops and a pair of leather, thigh high, boots.  I never find clothes at Goodwill.  I really try but I never find anything.  She tells her tales of Ann Taylor pants and Bebe Tops with the tags still on and I swear, all I see are faded t-shirts.

But, it was a fun day and I have several projects that I plan to work on. 

A Great Blog

I just found Scraphacker.com.  I love this blog.  I've been on it for the past hour and a half and I still haven't made a dent in seeing everything.

There's so many great ideas and photos.  Basically, it has tons and tons of projects that "I plan to do".  "No really - I'm going to do some of these."

I'll let you know when I get started.  LOL

Felted Crochet Doily Potholder

Crocheting is my favorite thing to do.  This was so easy and it's so cute.  It is not my own pattern.  I got it from a magazine last month (I'll let you know which one, if you are interested).  But, basically it is just crocheted in the round for a while, then you start adding some shells.  You have to use wool (or some other natural fiber yarn - acrylic will not felt!)  When it's finished you place it inside a mesh bag and throw it in the washing machine with a pair of jeans (for agitation).  Set the washer on super hot, then rinse in cold.  Check it out and if it's not felted enough, run it through another cycle.  Also, add about a quarter cup of laundry detergent.  Some people like to use dishwashing liquid when they felt, but laundry detergent has always worked fine for me.

If you've never felted before, you really need to check it out.  In the potholder, you can still see the stiches because it was crocheted with shells and popcorns, but when you felt in single or double crochet, and run it through the washer 2 or 3 times, you can no longer see the stiches.  It's just nice and thick and wooly.  You can cut into the project and it will not unravel.  I love it.

You could make smaller ones for coasters and a larger ones for placements.  They are very cheery and have a great texture.  AND, this one only took about an hour to crochet!