12 Weeks Christmas - Week 2 Reveal

The Week 2 ornament is one of my patterns that includes a cute, easy to make, quick mitten pattern. What I love about small patterns like the stocking and the mitten is that I can fit them into a busy schedule with no problem. Within 5-10 minutes I have a completed ornament that I can give as a gift or add to my overflowing Christmas tree. As the weeks progress, the patterns will get slightly more time needy.

I have used tons of colors of yarn on this ornament and it still looks adorable.

Like last week, I used "Christmas-y" colors to crochet the mitten. Here's the pictures:

Hanging up.

From last year.

In the above pictures you can see two different ways to accomplish the handles. I did one as I was crocheting (the first picture). The second picture was an addition of the handle by adding yarn to one side and attaching it to the other after about 15-20 chains.

What is your favorite type of ornament?

Sarah

12 Weeks Christmas - Week 2

Week 2

Crochet Mitten

(http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick-mitten-ornament)

This little pattern is my own pattern that I offer free on my Ravelry page. Despite not being updated yet to the new format of my patterns, it has all the important information like materials and abbreviations. If you have any questions about how this pattern is written or if any instructions are unclear for you, please contact me at dandecreation@gmail.com. I will contact you as soon as I am able to help you!

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

Hook Size: H or I hook (I used H.)

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Paddy Green, Cherry Red, Medium Thyme and Burgundy. 

Uses for finished product

• gift
• ornament for tree
• hiding small candies
• hiding a ring

Like the stocking ornament in Week 1, this ornament has an open top that allows you to hide small objects on the tree for a "Hide and Seek" game. Not only does this add a little more fun to your holiday, but after the game is finished, you have a beautiful ornament on your tree.

There are many ways to embellish this pattern. You could sew on sequins or other beads. You could use extra yarn and sew a pattern into the main colored portion.

Look for the reveal on October 13, 2014.

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 1 Reveal

If you are like me, the weeks leading up to the holidays equals tons of stress and busyness. So, my plan has been to create one thing for each week leading up to Christmas in hopes to have something done. I do have a large family who loves receiving homemade ornaments, so my focus is usually geared toward that. In Week 1, I provided the pattern for a cute little Christmas stocking from Daisy & Her Things as a way to kick off the 12 Week Countdown. It is an easy pattern that eases everyone into Christmas making mode. Boy did it deliver.

Great factors

• Easy pattern to follow
• Quick project
• Scrap buster with no purchases required (only due to having yarn already)
• Serves multiple purposes (gift, hiding small gifts, and ornament)
• In U.S. Terminology

Bad factors

• The pattern does not give many instructions for beginner crocheters. Some may not know how to read a pattern.

Are you ready to see the finished product?

Here you go!

Not hanging up

Hanging up, but not on the tree.

Obviously, it is much too early to put them on the tree for photos in October. As it gets closer to Christmas, I will take some photos of them on the tree and update photos.

How did you enjoy this Week's ornament?

Sarah

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 1

Week 1

Stocking Ornament

(http://daisyandherthings.wordpress.com/2011/10/05/free-pattern-little-christmas-stockings/)

As I attempted to create a balanced list of ornaments that represented the holidays for me, I came across this 2011 pattern by Daisy & Her Things - a cute little Christmas stocking! How could you not fall in love with this little guy or girl if you like? I am sure I made it previously, so I can be sure that this pattern is easy for all levels of skill.

Project Type: Scrap buster

Skill level: Easy/Beginners

Hook Size: G or H hook (I used H.)

Type of Yarn: Worsted Weight - I used Red Heart in Paddy Green, Cherry Red, Medium Thyme and Burgundy. 

Uses for finished product

• a small gift holder
• an ornament
• for small candies
• hiding candies on the tree
• a gift for someone special

This is a quick pattern that can be used to hide candies or other small trinkets on the Christmas tree. My mother in law use to do this with her sons when they were young. I have no experience with it as a child, but my husband has told me stories of finding tiny kisses and other things hidden on the tree almost like an Advent calendar activity.

Please check back on Monday to see the finished product. If you want to participate in this activity and submit a picture, please email them to dandecreation@gmail.com with a name and a photo. I will add them to the blog to share.

Sarah

12 Week Countdown to Christmas

Hello blog readers! If you are reading this, you may be searching for the perfect holiday craft to create for someone you love or for yourself. I know that as the days tick by and creep closer to Christmas that I begin loosing days I can craft toward my goal - a true homemade Christmas. Perhaps I inherited the gene, but sometimes I end up too stressed or busy to accomplish the goals I set each year regarding gifts and purchase some in the weeks leading up to the holidays. This year, I am preparing!

Beginning October 2nd, I will be posting a new ornament to crochet that should be usable by any skill level. The patterns I choose may be free and some may not be; however, the respective owners need to receive all credits. Please respect everyone and keep the patterns free by not copying and giving credit to the people who deserve it.

Throughout the weeks, this blog post will be updated to include every week of the countdown for an easy way to view the entire list. I will also label every post with Christmas Countdown. This new event will replace both the Make it Monday posts and the Throwback Thursdays posts.

I am so excited to be able to bring this countdown to you.

Here's how it works

• On Thursday, I will be providing a post that includes a link to the pattern and my goals for the end result. This will include a list of all materials necessary to complete the product.
• On Monday, I will post a picture of the finished product and my thoughts on the pattern or any changes or embellishments I did.

If you happen to want to participate by sending in photos, please do so by sending them to dandecreation@gmail.com. Remember to post a good photo and the name you want to be known by. I will post the pictures on my blog to show!

It is that simple! I post the pattern. I make the product. And I am one step closer (and you) to giving them as gifts around Christmas.

Planning on participating?

Sarah

Make it Monday - Sled Ornament

I announced this pattern on Saturday as part of my "Share it Saturday" routine! But first things first, here is the material list again:

• glue gun
• glue sticks
• popsicle sticks (9 - 8 for sled and 1 just in case)
• sturdy scissors
• paint color of choice
• scrap paper or newspaper
• paint brush
• yarn/twine/ribbon

 While this is a REALLY early Christmas ornament, I am preparing my booth with products for Autumn shows. The goal I have is to have many choices to purchase and have fun while I make them. I saw pictures of a similar sled on Pinterest and developed my own.

*Note: While this is a somewhat kid friendly project, I would remind everyone to use safety goggles and allow an adult to deal with the hot glue.

*Note: Although this project is pretty quick, you must leave time to dry.

1. Plug in glue gun to heat up. Be sure to place it on a piece of scrap paper to catch any dripping glue.

2. Cut one stick into two equal parts with a small overage. Two of these parts will fit across the bulk of the sled.

3. Place 5 popsicle sticks next to each other with the middle stick the highest, the next layer down just slightly, and the last two down further.

4. Using hot glue, place a small line of glue near the upper part of the sled and place 1 of the support beams from step 2 on top. I squished mine down to create a better hold. Repeat further down the sled.

5. Place a small bead of glue on each support beams at the very end and place the runner, holding in place until the glue hardens. Repeat for opposite side.

6. Allow time to dry.

7. Using paint brush, paint the sled on one side. Let dry. Repeat on opposite side. Let dry.

8. After cutting the ribbon/twine/yarn to the desired length for the hanger, place a small bead of hot glue next to the top support brace on the underside of the sled. Quickly place one end of your hanger into the glue. Repeat on opposite side.

You can obviously embellish this sled how you want. I have ideas to put names and the year on the sled so that whoever receives the ornament will have a date for memories in the future. I would love to see any projects you do with this tutorial. You can send the photos to smchatton.writer@gmail.com or visit my Facebook page, Dande Creations, to share.

I found packages of popsicle sticks at my local Dollar General on sale 25% off. I bought 5 packs for $3.75. I did pick up a new pack of glue sticks a few weeks ago, but you hardly use half a stick for just one sled. I also had crochet thread to create the hanger; however, the price is very low with the amount you use. Paint was also relatively cheap. For me, it was free. I had purchased paint samples at Lowes when we painted our kitchen and it was the perfect time to use them. The beautiful, deep blue was a perfect winter-y/Christmas-y color.

Costs

8 Popsicle sticks - $0.08 on sale
Hot glue stick - $0.16
Thread - Free
Paint - $0.10
-------------

$0.34 per sled
Round up to $0.40 for thread (generous)

So for 40 cents, you have a sled.

My packs of sticks had 80 sticks so I can get 10 sleds from one pack! What a great, frugal way to make gifts for the holidays, crafts for the kids, or products to add to your holiday craft booth!

Happy Crafting,

Sarah

Share it Saturday - Upcoming project

This week I thought I would give a preview of what I will be doing for my next Make it Monday project. I saw this idea on Pinterest recently and wanted to give it a try. For a few years, I have been a big supporter of giving ornaments for Christmas. Last year I gave mittens and my Medallion ornament to most of my family members as a handmade sentiment for the season. This year, I do have similar plans to provide handmade ornaments; however, I have not decided quite what I want to do.

As I prepare for Fall, I know that I need and want to add Christmas ornaments to the roster. (The list gets longer each day.) When I saw this pin, I thought...well that is a relatively easy project that looks adorable in the tree. So, I tried it. The pin did not include a tutorial as the blog just contained multiple pictures. So going with a rough idea, I created a cute version.

Here's the preview!

Can you guess what it is?

Now, I wanted to provide a material list.

• glue gun
• glue sticks
• popsicle sticks - at least 9 (8 for sled and 1 just in case)
• scissors
• paint of choice - I am going to use some brown I have sitting aside
• paint brush
• scrap paper or newspaper
• twine/yarn/ribbon

I have not decided what I am going to use for hanging, but I will decide before Monday. One thing I have seen is that this project is easily transformed so children can join in. Instead of hot glue, you could use Elmer's or similar glue. The drying time would just be greater.

The goal for me was a quick, simple project that make a good end product and obviously, a great ornament. I hope you visit on Monday to see how to put this together!

What are your crafting plans this weekend?

Sarah

The Essence of What I do

There was something weighing on my mind last night and the last few months. Something large that seems to be pushing at my soul. It's about my life, my passions, and about my business. I have struggled like many other small business owners in this economy. I have struggled with other crocheters undercutting my prices or offering the same items. For months, the struggles I faced trying to build up a reputation as a good designer and as a good seller seemed to bring me down further instead of uplift me. The fear of not succeeding weighed me perhaps the most.

What if I spent all this money and no one buys?

What if I upgrade this and redo that with no interest?

What if my customers have no interest in my patterns or items?

As months went by, those stones in my basket became heavier and heavier to bare. I continued to doubt myself. I changed this thing and that thing to increase business. I offered deal after deal with not one bite.

Through all that, I continued to see a quote about how long it really took to build a business and a brand. How many hours, heartaches, struggles, changes, and frustrations it took to build a worth while business....

Last night, it dawned on me.

I do not crochet, craft, or write because of other people. I do not sell items. I do not sell my time, my materials, or even a bunch of yarn knots made with a metal hook. I make and sell memories. I make and sell a connection between two people that will last a lifetime. I make and sell heirloom ornaments and dolls...that will withstand more than a few weeks of play at Christmas time. I make and sell that smile exchanged between two people....and the hug...and the heartfelt gratitude.

Most handmade sellers do the same. When you factor in the fees, the listing amounts, the time, energy, material costs...even the gas to get the materials, some of us barely break even trying to keep up with trends and the "best" price.

Well, no more! I want to maintain the very essence of why I do what I do - the memories, the hugs, the laughter, the smiles, the connection, and the heirloom that touches more than one generation.

So thank you, for sharing that with me. It means more than you know!

With lots of love,

Sarah