Throwback Thursday - A Teddy Bear for a Friend

One of my husband's long term friends enjoys the things I make with crochet. When I asked her what her favorite color was, she didn't seem surprised that I asked. What did surprise her was that I decided to crochet her a teddy bear in that color. It wasn't planned. I wasn't expecting anything in return, as I hardly do.

What it gave me is the happiness and joy at seeing someone else enjoy something I gave to them. It could be food. It could be a hobby project. It could be something I made. It doesn't matter what it is. What matters is that I took time, effort, and love creating something that someone else will love through time.

Although I have many instances of this in my arsenal, I chose this teddy bear because it is an adorable teddy and because it shows no planning. It was a spur of the moment decision. And like that, a Random Act of Kindness was born. Here's the finished product:

Isn't he a cutie? You can find the pattern at these links:
PDF - http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/ePDF/1004/amicomo3-34_Amigurumi_Bear.pdf
Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amigurumi-bear-2
Gosyo - http://gosyo.co.jp/english/pattern/eHTML/toy_ornament.html

Please note that this pattern does seem like it is just a diagram, but there is numbers in a table that provide the stitch count. This is not a beginner pattern unless you want to jump feet first into learning things like this. It is relatively easy to understand if you know about stitches, increases, and decreases.

What is one of your RAK?

Sarah

New Changes

I started this year with the intention of having every week filled with posts, and two months in that can't happen. It was a great set of intentions, but we all know that life gets in the way of that sometimes. If you do not know it, I graduated college a few months ago with the intention of focusing on my writing career. I have always written something, but it wasn't until December of 2014 that I became published. It is a huge source of pride for me. One that makes me so happy. And something that I want to cultivate.

As any crafter will know, sometimes we have to put our hobbies aside to proceed with life as we want. And that is what I am doing. That does not mean I won't be posting. In fact, in the coming months I will be posting unreleased patterns, updating the free pattern section, and more. What I can tell you is....every one of my patterns on Ravelry are now free!

It would have been nice to continue on trying to get them to sell, but I am not the type of person to chase people around begging for them to buy. So, instead I am going to go with my own personality and provide them for free. I want everyone to enjoy my patterns. I want them to be used and loved by many people instead of bought and coveted by the few.

Here's the link to my Ravelry shop! If you have viewed the pattern, here's your chance since they are FREE!!

What this means is that all my future patterns will also be free. There will be a post on the website, Ravelry upload, and a page dedicated to the pattern on this blog.

Another change is that I will no longer have Craftsy or Facebook. The only place you will be able to find my patterns is this blog and Ravelry. It is just two of many difficult decisions I had to make, but in the long run will be a positive for me as a crafter, as a writer, and for my fans.

Please don't think I will stop posting. I will continue to craft and essentially update my blog to showcase what I make. It just won't be scheduled and 4 days of the week! Even a super woman needs a crafting break!

Until next time,

Sarah

Another Scrappy Saturday - V-day Cards for Kids

Happy Valentine's Day! What a great day for Scrappy Saturday to fall on! I am sure that you are more than ready for the holiday to be over. Don't worry...by the time today is done Easter will have already made its way onto the store shelves. It is getting a bit crazy. And that is coming from a woman who loves holidays. On to today's project...

Okay. I will admit readily that not everything used in these cards are scraps, but some of it is. So it qualifies by a hair. Right?

My inspiration? Well...love and hearts. (gasp) Of course...to match the holiday.

What is the one thing that you might forget to purchase for your children on V-day? Well, that would be small cards to give away for their class. I remember a time when we actually made the cards to give to each other. Only the richer students purchased cards, but I was super happy to get the homemade ones. So when I was thinking of a quick and easy Scrappy Saturday project, this was it! Who wouldn't enjoy making these?


Materials:
Paper cutter
Scissors
Roller tape
Scrap sheets of plain colored card stock (I used red, dark red, pink, and blue)
Scrap sheets of designer paper (I used hearts)
An I love you stamp or similar Valentine's stamp
A (To and From) stamp
Things to embellish if you wish


Dimensions

Plain Colored Card stock - 4 x 2 1/2
Designer Paper - 3 3/4 x 2 1/4

1. Cut all paper first. I made 8 pretty quickly. These are so small that you can make a bunch up with ease.

2. Turn the plain colored card stock over and stamp with the To and From stamps. At this time, also stamp the designer paper with your V-day stamp of choice. Mine is an I (heart) you stamp.

3.  With roller tape, adhere the designer paper to the backing.

4. Congrats, you can embellish now if you wish.

I did choose to embellish with some heart puffy stickers, ribbon, glitter tape, and rhinestones.

Here they are finished. The center one is partly ripped because I pulled too hard on the ribbon. I do not have children, so these are heading to my little nieces and nephews for a surprise piece of mail from Aunt Sarah. But you do not have to use ribbon to embellish. The point is to create quick and easy V-day cards for your child's class. You can go a step further and stamp the outside with an open stamp that they can color! Let your children help!

Happy Valentine's Day

Sarah

Throwback Thursday - I love my Kindle

When I first thought about Valentine's Day, the first thing I really think is pretty horrible. The sentiment behind the holiday is perfect - sharing, caring, love. What bothers me the most is the commercialization surrounding it and the thought that you should only show you love someone near this time of year. Not that this means anything to Throwback Thursday, but I thought I would share.

This Kindle cover is one that I created around 2012 or so with the theme of love. I called it The First Blooms of Love or something like that. It has a little heart that hangs down. Each of the petals on the flower are hearts. It just seemed fitting.

Perhaps it was the love I feel when I look at my Kindle and how much it has changed my life. Maybe not. But, I thought it represents an aspect of my life that I love and appreciate all year long.

That's something I can support and hope that you do as well. If you love someone, let them know all year. Don't wait. It isn't worth the cost of waiting!

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day,

Sarah

Make it Monday - V-day Cards

Yep! You read that right. Cards! I recently purchased two paper packs. One is 6 x 6 paper and one is 4 x 7 paper. They have no particular theme which makes them perfect for everyday card making. I was inspired when I found three pieces of "heart" papers inside. There was one more that was blue and green, but it remained unused. It would work perfectly for a more "manly" love card. I may make one since I have two men in my life that I love and who I appreciate.

These cards are pretty fast. Once you get the hang of making cards, they come together very quickly. Cut all the mats at once. And have everything at hand. You do NOT need a lot of things to accomplish professional looking cards. I do not have much in the way of stamping materials, but I do purchase some every once in a while. Think outside the box!

Let's get to the project.

Materials
Paper cutter
Scissors
Roller tape
Pop dots
Ribbon
Glitter tape
White card stock for card bases
Red and Pink card stock for Layer 1
Pattern paper for layer 2
Small amount of white card stock for stamps
Love themed stamps
Small amount of red and pink card stock for stamp mat
Rhinestones

Here's the dimensions

Card - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 when folded. Meaning 8 1/2 x 11 card stock cut in half.
Layer 1 - 4 x 5 1/4
Layer 2 - 3 3/4 x 5

I used 1 red Layer 1 and 2 pink layer 1. I also used three different Layer 2 pattern papers. All of them have a love/heart theme. I used 1 red stitch ribbon measured to around 12 inches. I used 2 pieces of glitter tape measured at 4 and 5 inches. The stamping I measured as I did it. This will vary for you based on the stamp you used.

Here's the first mat completed. This is the red version with red heart pattern paper and stitched red ribbon. 

This shows the pop dots I used to put the stamp on the mat.

Here's the finished product.

Because the layers and bases of this card are the same, I am not going to show the other three cards being made. I am going to show you the finished versions. So here's the other two cards.

(Prima Stamp)

(Sentiment Stamp)

These cards were fun to make and suit my "love" of pink. What are you crafting for V-day?

Sarah

Revealing the Theme - Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has become a highly stressful, commercialized holiday where love is treated like an one-day event. Even though I celebrate love throughout the year, I do enjoy having some delicious chocolates. I do not ever expect a gift from my husband or my loved ones. I prefer to just spend time with them. When I do crochet or craft for them, it is usually something that they enjoy.

If you haven't guessed already, this week's theme is Valentine's Day. I have two awesome projects to accomplish and share with you this week. The first project has a material list below.


Materials
Paper cutter
Scissors
Roller tape
Pop dots
Ribbon
Glitter tape
White card stock for card bases
Red and Pink card stock for Layer 1
Pattern paper for layer 2
Small amount of white card stock for stamps
Love themed stamps
Small amount of red and pink card stock for stamp mat
Rhinestones

Another Scrappy Saturday - A Chocolate Colored Card - Photo Heavy

Let's face it. The last two months of 2014 had us faced with the temptation of calorie laden foods. Then January hit and we were (hopefully) able to get back into the swing of proper eating. And then bam! February hits and every store is laden with more tempting chocolates and candies for a holiday about Love. So when the first week of February ended up being themed chocolate, I had no clue I would be caving and doing a special Food edition of Make it Monday to break the cycle of normal calorie intake! So in an attempt to reign that crazy haired, crazy eyed, Chocolate maniac in, I am going to make a card for Scrappy Saturday.

A chocolate colored card. One without calories. In fact, it burns calories!

The inspiration is the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The sentiment and stamp was chosen to match a Dove chocolate piece that has an inspirational saying inside. (I so love Dove milk chocolate. Yum!)



Materials:
A paper cutter
Scissors
Roller Tape
Scott's Magic Tape (transparent or similar brand)
Acrylic block
Stamp set
Staz-on Brown Ink
Tim Holtz Distress ink in Walnut
A sponge (I use a makeup sponge - super cheap.)
Silver or gold thread
1 card base (white)- 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
Layer 1 (tan) - 5 1/4 x 4
Layer 2 (designer paper) - 5 x 3 3/4
Scrap piece of white paper
Scrap piece of tan paper for stamp mats


Remember: The stamps I use or the paper is relatively easy to change for what you have on hand. Use this as a guide.

Before starting - I cut all my papers and base to have them ready.

1. I started by stamping my sentiment and stamp on white card stock. I always stamp on a larger sheet and cut them out by hand.

2. Using Tim Holtz, Walnut Distress ink, I sponge around the outside edge of both stamped images to create a contrast on the tan background.

3. Adhere (roller tape) the stamped images to the tan background, and hand cut them out.

4. Here they are cut out.

5. Using a piece of Scott's tape, adhere the gold (or silver) thread onto the back of the designer paper.

6. Wrap it around how many ever times you wish. I chose five. Once you like the look, cut the thread and attach with another piece of tape on the back.

7. Using roller tape, attach Layer 2 to Layer 1. Then attach with roller tape to the card base.

8. Using pop dots or foam tape adhere your stamps to the front. I positioned my flower near the center of the card with the sentiment at the bottom. You could easily adhere the flower in the center and use the sentiment inside.

And that is my chocolate inspired card. Who couldn't use a push to enjoy life's moments? We all get lost in life sometimes. Having a push in the right direction is great!

Happy Saturday!

Sarah