Back to the CCC

Now that life is getting somewhat back to normal, I decided to join the Card Chain Challenge for August.  If you haven't ever participated, I highly recommend joining for September.  All you have to do is make a card using one of the challenge guidelines and you get a handmade card in the mail at the end of the month! Below is the card that I made and mailed to Mariette from the Netherlands.  I used a Lawn Fawn stamp from the 'Admit One' set.  

Now I'm off to create for the September CCC! 

It Has Been Awhile!

As I typed in the address of my own blog, I wasn't sure when the last post would be dated!  It has been a long 9 months or so...starting with the unexpected death of my dad in November and ending with my husband resigning from his job and all the fun that comes with moving.  During those months of grieving and then packing, I didn't have any time to do what I love the most...craft!  

Now that we are becoming settled in our new house, I have all of my supplies at my fingertips again!  Below are some of the most recent projects I've been working on at our new zip code. 

A card for a friend, using Stamp n Up and Lawn Fawn stamps.

Our new address cards for friends and family. 

I crocheted 150 of the hearts seen on bookmarks my sister gave as wedding favors.  The stamp says, "Made for each other."

The beginning of an owl purse for my niece.  Can't wait to finish it with a lining and cute strap made just for a special two year old!

I made 10 of these mini journals for my Aunt to give to her friends.  They include different names of God from the Bible.  

And last, just this morning, I made a new name plaque for my sister.  She had one in her classroom last year with her maiden name on it and needed it revised for the new school year!

Hopefully now that we are moved in and settled, I'll have the time to do even more projects and feature them here!

Booties!

My husband and I have been in the process of trying to adopt for over two years now.  You can read about our journey on our adoption blog.  We've recently decided that we need to do some more fundraising.  As my contribution, I am continuing to make and sell knit, crochet, and scrapbooked items.  All of the proceeds of any sales will go towards the "Future Ford Fund" in helping us finance this adoption. 

These crocheted boots were made using a pattern by The Lovely Crow for my niece and future nephew.  These boots come in sizes newborn, 0-3 months, 3-6 months, or 6-12 months.  Just let me know the size you need and colors you desire! Each pair of boots is $20 and all of the money will go towards the "Future Ford Fund," in helping finance our adoption. 

Star of the Show

I began crocheting about a year ago.  It's something that I really enjoy, especially as I watch TV with my husband.  I must admit, I'm not very good with just sitting and watching TV...I have to be doing something, so crocheting and knitting have become my answer.  I think I like crocheting so much because I feel that if I make a mistake, it's easy to tear and try again without worrying about picking up stitches (like in knitting).  

My goal in my last several projects has been to use some of the yarn that's been accumulating, without buying more. I chose to try Chromium Star Blanket pattern to try and use some of my cotton skeins.  About six months ago, I tried to use this pattern and failed, so this time I was determined to figure it out! With a little help from the author's blog, I was able to figure out how to do some of the trickier, new stitches.

Used Lily Sugar n Cream Tangerine with In Motion variegated cotton.

After finishing the crocheting, I went on the hunt to find some flannel to back the blanket with.  I was in luck when I ran into this cute polka dotted fabric at Hancock Fabrics.  I was even happier to learn that my fairly new sewing machine is capable of sewing through the fabric and the crocheted blanket. 

Flannel fabric from Hancock Fabrics

 

I am so pleased with the final product and even have someone is mind to give it to!  Thank you to Laura Lynn Hanks for the beautiful pattern...I plan to make many more in lots of different color combinations!

October Card Chain Challenge

Once again, I'm joining the ladies at Lily Pad Cards for the October Card Chain Challenge.  This month, I've decided to use the theme 'balloons' for my card.  I'm waiting on an order of hot air balloon stamps that I wanted to use for the challenge, but they didn't arrive in time, so I made my own! Both balloons are made with scrap paper and oval punches.  Then some string was added to attach the baskets.  My Lawn Fawn stamp set with 'enjoy the ride' seemed like the perfect sentiment for this fun loving card!

If you'd like to join up with the Card Chain Challenge, simply go over to Lily Pad Cards and sign up...so fun to receive a beautiful handmade card in the mail every month!

Guess Whooo?

For Cricut Cardz Challenge #92, we were to make a Halloween card using an owl from any cartridge.  Obviously I would take on this challenge...you know my love of owls!  While Halloween is not one of my favorite holidays to craft, I do like a lot of the color combinations that work well for this time of year.  For this card, I used bright orange, green and purple!  The owl is cut from the cartridge Hoot 'n' Holler, and the paper is from my stash.  I used the sentiment, "guess whooo?" from a Hampton Arts set (Autumn is in the Air).

Generations of Crafters

First baby sweater made for a family friend.

Second sweater...love the green!  Pattern by

nadia crétin-léchenne.  

I just finished putting together my second knitted baby sweater! It was a lot of fun to make and turned out really cute.  As I was taking photos of my sweater, I began to think of the legacy of crafters that make up my family.  One of my grandmothers is a knitter and the other is a crocheter.  Both of them will actually be visiting me next weekend, and I can't wait to show them my latest project! Thankfully they have passed their "craft" down to the next two generations, as my mom and one of my sisters also knit.  

In the mail yesterday, I received a quilted bag from my husband's aunt.  Along with the bag is a framed piece of a quilt from Derrick's family.  It is my pleasure to be able to hang that piece of quilt in my house, as a legacy of Derrick's family and their craft...quilting.  My quilted bag will be used with pride as Shelley continues to create for the Ford family. 

 Here are some photos of the products of my family's creativity!

A washcloth crocheted by Derrick's mom.

Blanket crocheted by Derrick's Aunt Marilyn.

Framed quilt square made by Derrick's grandmother and great grandmother.

The green blanket knit by my sister, Nancy. The yellow blanket crocheted by my Nana.

Hat, sweater and blanket knit by my grandma.

Bag quilted by Derrick's Aunt Shelley.

Little girl bear knit by my mom, little boy bear knit by me.

The next generation, my niece playing with a monkey I crocheted for her last Christmas.

So happy crafting...enjoy the crafts of previous generations and make sure to pass them along to the next!