Tuesday, April 5, 2011
More Teacher Gifts
Still along the lines of altered candy gifts, I had some extra mints after the Christmas season craft shows; and my sister gave me a box of baby food jars. This is what I came up with:
Monday, April 4, 2011
Teacher Thank You Gifts
In addition to my crocheted flower addiction, I also have a candy addiction. Not so much eating it (although that's fun, too); but when I see candy, I find myself thinking of how I can alter it. This obsession extends to other foods, too, like popcorn...
So when I found a good deal on some mini bags of popcorn the other day, of course I had to buy them!
They're the perfect size for a small thank you gift, and using different patterned papers can completely change the look. My first go-round is for teachers.
I started with a 5x10 inch scrap I had, but the paper didn't cover the blue wrapper so I added a 6x10 inch base. I only had 3 scraps of patterned paper so when I had to use a new piece, I cut them 4x10 so I could get 3 strips out of each paper.
Once that was done, I wanted some sort of a card on the top; but I also wanted it to be big enough to hold a gift card.
The ribbon is secured in the back, but it's loose in the front so it can be moved down a little bit to open the flap.
So when I found a good deal on some mini bags of popcorn the other day, of course I had to buy them!
They're the perfect size for a small thank you gift, and using different patterned papers can completely change the look. My first go-round is for teachers.
I started with a 5x10 inch scrap I had, but the paper didn't cover the blue wrapper so I added a 6x10 inch base. I only had 3 scraps of patterned paper so when I had to use a new piece, I cut them 4x10 so I could get 3 strips out of each paper.
Once that was done, I wanted some sort of a card on the top; but I also wanted it to be big enough to hold a gift card.
The ribbon is secured in the back, but it's loose in the front so it can be moved down a little bit to open the flap.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Flowers Galore
Several months ago, I asked my mom (who has been crocheting for as long as I can remember) to make me some flowers. I thought for sure she would love to make some lovely flowers for her favorite eldest daughter. As I eagerly anticipated receiving this wonderful gift, I checked my email. Instead I found 3 emails with links to patterns and even a YouTube video.
Since I realized I was going to have to make them myself if I wanted some flowers, I grudgingly purchased some yarn and a crochet hook. Aside from knowing how to make a chain and simple single crochets, I don't know how to crochet - so my first few flowers were more like lopsided, wavy circles. But after watching the video above about 15 times and pausing every few seconds, I eventually got the hang of it!
The problem is that now I find I'm addicted to making flowers. I'm supposed to be doing other things (like laundry, dishes...), but all I want to do is crochet flowers! I'm quickly amassing a collection of different yarns and crochet hooks and dreaming of everything I can embellish with a cute little crocheted flower...
These are larger flowers (just made with thicker yarn). I actually forgot that Mandy had sewn a button in the center of her flowers when I sewed these on, but I originally envisioned a brad in the center.
At some point, I will probably attach some of these to cards or some other paper craft with a brad - or with a button like these.
For now, though, I will just have fun making hundreds of little flowers in different colors!
(My flowers look a little different than the ones in the video because I (not being a crocheter) did not know the difference between a double crochet and a triple crochet. So anywhere that calls for a dc is actually a tc in these pictures. The good news is that now the flowers won't take as long to make, and I'll use less yarn which means...more flowers!!)
Since I realized I was going to have to make them myself if I wanted some flowers, I grudgingly purchased some yarn and a crochet hook. Aside from knowing how to make a chain and simple single crochets, I don't know how to crochet - so my first few flowers were more like lopsided, wavy circles. But after watching the video above about 15 times and pausing every few seconds, I eventually got the hang of it!
The problem is that now I find I'm addicted to making flowers. I'm supposed to be doing other things (like laundry, dishes...), but all I want to do is crochet flowers! I'm quickly amassing a collection of different yarns and crochet hooks and dreaming of everything I can embellish with a cute little crocheted flower...
These are larger flowers (just made with thicker yarn). I actually forgot that Mandy had sewn a button in the center of her flowers when I sewed these on, but I originally envisioned a brad in the center.
At some point, I will probably attach some of these to cards or some other paper craft with a brad - or with a button like these.
For now, though, I will just have fun making hundreds of little flowers in different colors!
(My flowers look a little different than the ones in the video because I (not being a crocheter) did not know the difference between a double crochet and a triple crochet. So anywhere that calls for a dc is actually a tc in these pictures. The good news is that now the flowers won't take as long to make, and I'll use less yarn which means...more flowers!!)
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