Crocheting and other Projects!

I haven't written for a while. Mostly because I got caught up in life. Our family has gone through a lot of changes within the last year. We lost a great man, but we will also be welcoming a new addition sometime between now and the end of July.

In other words, I have been forced back into creative mode. Because I'm going to be having another baby, I have been trying to make things that will be cute for our newest member.

So far, I have made a baby hat, with cute little bear ears. I always thought those hats were adorable, so I tried my hand at making one. I also made a small blanket that I plan on using as a carseat blanket. I still want to finish the baby booties I started.

The best part is that I already had all the materials for everything on hand. I used some baby blue yarn for the baby hat. The baby booties, I used some light green and blue fleece. I will also be using some yarn I already have to finish it. For the blanket, I found a large amount of royal blue yarn, so I decided that would make up the most of the blanket. Then I used two accent colors of yarn, one yellow, and one multi-color.

The blanket is pretty easy and quick to make. I just made a long chain of about 55 chains. I then went along that first row with half double crochets. Once at the end of that row, I chained three and then all along the next row (and every row after) I did the half double crochet in the back loop. By doing this you get an attractive texture to the whole blanket. It makes it look like the blanket is striped.

I made five rows of blue, then one row of yellow, then 5 more rows of blue, then one row of multi-color, and then I start back up with the pattern until I get to the desired size (something that'll fit on a car seat, after about three yellows, and ending with the five rows of blue).

I haven't finished it yet, but I think I'll probably go around the whole blanket with single crochets in the three colors used. When I'm done I'll post a picture.

Developing Some Wall Art

So, I have been making some printable, frame-able art. This one to the left is one of the first ones done. It is already up in my etsy store.

www.steenta.etsy.com

This one is obviously a Beatles quote. This quote is also probably my favorite quote, possibly of all time.

I got this idea because I make these little reminders for myself. I literally have a wall that I write on with positive thoughts. I thought I would share some of my favorites in a cute a fun way.

It is standard printer paper size, you can easily find a cheap frame at Wal-Mart or other big box store. Just look for a document frame or even just an 8 x 10 will work.

The files are sent as PDF's. Hope you enjoy.

Newspaper Purse

I made this newspaper purse a little while back, and I thought I would share it with the world. It is pretty simple to make.

Step one: Find a newspaper you can cut up. Either cut it into strips like the one shown or just use the whole page. I like the comics section but sometimes the other sections have cool pictures and just the words make a nice pattern, too.

Step two: Decide on your pattern, and what your going to use for the handle. This purse's handle is made from recycled shopping bags that were made into yarn then crocheted. Also decide if it's going to have a closure, or flap.

Step three: Weave strips if using this method.

Step four: Cover the inside both sides of the paper with clear packing tape.

Step five: Tape bag together. For the sides you can use two strips of leftover newspaper that you cover with tape and then tape it to the sides (inside and out) and tape it to the bottom of the bag. This will create a curved inside of the bag.

Step six: Add your flap or strap, sew your button, and add your handles.

Have fun, and I hope you enjoy your new purse!

New Blog All About Dolls With Attitude

Just today, I created a new blog. It is all about my experience with bjd's. Ball-jointed dolls, that is. I found these cute dolls and ordered one. Rather than put it all on this blog I decided to make one completely devoted to these kawaii dolls.

I ordered a Hujoo doll. Very cute. To find out more about my new hobby, check out the blog.

www.iheartdollz.blogspot.com

I will also be posting tutorials about customizing bjds and the results of my own attempts on the blog. I plan on posting links, and patterns for clothing, as well as crochet instructions for miniature dolls like this bjd or other popular dolls like Blythe.

Since craftysteenta.blogspot.com is a blog dedicated to all my craftiness, I will most likely be posting a few things here and there relating to bjds or other dolls that I create. To get the real, knitty gritty on it, check out iheartdollz.

To get your own bjd, go to mimiwoo.com, junkyspot.com, DenverDolls, or eBay.

The doll you see here is a Hujoo girl with open eyes. It's made of plastic and is reasonably priced, about $40 for the body. To get a fully done Hujoo, including eyes, wig, makeup, clothes, and shoes, you can easily pay $150. The raw version is great for someone who is a beginner to customizing dolls, like me. If you just want one to open and have immediately ready, $150 is not so bad a price. Especially seeing as some of these dolls can go into the thousands.

There are also a few other lower priced dolls for people who aren't sure if they want to spend the high prices yet. One other doll in this low price range is Obitsu dolls. With Obitsu you have the option of just painting the entire face, or getting open eyes and buying eyes to put in. You can also get different sizes, and even some heads that come with hair already attatched. I love that everything is customizable in this hobby. Check out the new blog!

When it's to expensive to craft

I have been wanting to make a few different things for a couple of months, but we haven't had the money to buy all of the materials at one time. Now don't get me wrong, the materials themselves are pretty cheap, but we haven't had it to spend. So what is a crafter to do?

That's been my dilemma. My solution... file these ideas away as projects-to-complete-later, sadly. I don't like the idea of half finished crafts, because they tend to get forgotten. Believe me, I know this happens at one point or another with all crafters, but it's especially likely when money gets tight like it has at our house.

I do get to create though. Whenever the need arises I get to. I tend to fix things that have been broken so we can reuse them rather than buy new to replace it. Crocheting, sewing, drawing are all cheap hobbies to have and can be done with little to nothing.

Right about now is when I usually start getting started on seasonal crafts. These times always spark my creativity, but what to do when you are strapped for cash?

I check what supplies I already have. And since I've been drawing a lot lately, I think the best way to keep that from getting stale, is to switch it up. Luckily for me, a while back my father got me some flesh tone polymer clay. I actually have quite a bit of it. So I think this is my cheap creative outlet for the season other that going out to buy new fabric, or canvas, or whatever you can dream up (limitless possibilities here).

Sometimes being forced to use what you got helps your own creativity. Think of it as a challenge. We don't craft for the object, not really, because it might be easier to go to the dollar store and get a mass produced item for a buck. We craft because we enjoy it, we make something personalized, and we make something one of a kind.

I love to be able to say I made something. Not everything has to have a purpose. Sometimes the purpose is to be pretty sometimes it's to help you learn a skill, and sometimes it's just to make you happy, busy your hands, and quiet your thoughts. Have fun being cheap peeps. Lol. I know I will.

Ohh! It made me laugh!

This is just so clever, and completely hilarious. Check out the link! Singing sock puppet. Apparently, someone repurposed a singing card to be used as the mouth of the sock puppet. I have made something similar in the past and posted it. I did not use a singing card but I think I'm gonna have to now. This is just too cute! My guess, not a toy for young children though. They would most likely rip it apart, and the singing sock would cease to be.

Check out the link that tells you how they did it. Here!!!

Lately

I've been busy lately. Between my daughter's birthday, her party, a family vacation, and trying to fix up a never finished house, things have been hectic to say the least. I have been trying to do more though, despite the chaos. I have been writing stories, which my children have been enjoying. I have also been planning the illustrations for one that I am hopefully going to publish once done. Lots of exciting things.
In fact, the entire month of July, my goal was to draw everyday. Did I accomplish this goal? Mostly. I kept my weekends free for my family, I thought that was only fair. I did draw at least one drawing a day for a few weeks. I have about thirty drawings to prove it. All pastel. I kind of got sucked in. The color! I got used to charcoal, and pastel was a whole other thing. SO bright, SO pretty!

I think I am going to take a small break from pastel though. I don't want to get bored with it or forget about my other artistic loves. Time for a well needed break! Got to spend some time with my family, and preserve my peace of mind. I love it. My family is the cure to my art, and my art is the cure to my family! LOL!