Try it Thursday with Violet's Buds

I am so happy to have a guest this week teaching us how to make our very own hoop art!! I had the privilege of her teaching me in person!! It was so enjoyable to be able to keep a outfit of my sons in such a wonderful way! Welcome Melanie!

Thank you Kelly. It is hard to believe that next month my little baby will be four years old! I'm sure I'm not alone with wanting to keep baby clothes, especially the ones with sentimental value. Rather than leaving everything packed in a box, I wanted to do something special with some of her clothes and turn it into wall art for her room. The process is fairly easy, but the hardest part for me was actually cutting up the clothes!

"The Accident" design from Threadless

I selected one of my favorite onesies to turn into hoop art. I bought this design while I was pregnant so she could match her daddy. Here they are when she was around 1 years old in their coordinating shirts.
 

Try It Thursday: Mini Journal

Hello everyone!! Today, I would like to share with you how to make your very own mini paper journal. I am in a Crafty Valentine's Day swap and decided to make something special and new for her. So, after some thinking, I designed this idea of a small crafty journal that could fit in her handbag for her to write down ideas when they happen during her day. ☺

Supplies Needed:

1 sheet of 12 x 12 Card-stock - any color (I chose Brown)
6 sheets of 12 x 12 coordinating Scrapbook paper (you could mix it up and not coordinate - free creativity)
scissors
ruler
paper cutter (if you have one or prefer to use one)
hot glue gun
decorative tape, ribbons, or other fun flare

First, you measure your card-stock and cut a rectangle 5in high by 7in long. Then you are going to cut out two strips 4 3/4 in high by 6 3/4 in long from each scrap book piece of paper. You should have 12 total to make you inside journal papers.

Now comes the folding of your pages. You are going to fold 6 papers with print outside and 6 with the print inside. Then you put the print inside into the print outside make individual books. If you have a bone folder you can crisp up your fold edges with it. You should end up with 6 individual 'books'.

Then you stack them up, even them up and head to your sewing machine. I was able to sew my 'books' together with my sewing machine. I hand turned my wheel and did one stitch at a time and used a brand new sharp machine sewing needle. It took a touch of time and patience. So go slow if you use your machine. You can also hand sew the books together with a book binding needle and embroidery thread.

Now you need to warm up your hot glue gun. And put a bead of hot glue along the inner edges of the 'book' pages and place the card-stock around the inner pages. Making your book.

Add your final touches to the front. I added a saying and a few layers of different scrapbook paper scraps. Then topped it off with a ribbon bow and animal sticker tape. I am pretty happy with how it came together! And am very excited to send off to my Valentine's Day Swap!! I know she will be able to put it to good use!!

I do hope you give this tutorial a try!! I'd love to hear how it went, just comment below!

♥Kelly

Try it Thursday: Infinity Scarf/Cowl Tutorial by Meli's Yarnworks

It has been a bit since I had a 'Try it Thursday' but I saw this wonderful tutorial by my friend Melli, of Melli's YarnWorks. I asked her if she would like to be a guest on my blog to share her tutorial with all of you. And she was happy to. I am so honored to share my blog with a talented friend! Melli's blogs all yours!

Thank you so much Kelly! Okay, everyone for this tutorial you will need:

• 
Largest round loom in the set (mine is a 41 peg round loom)
• 
Loom Knitting Hook
Crochet Hook (I used a size J)

• Yarn (you can double or single strand, any size yarn will work)

To do this tutorial you will need to know how to make the following stitches: E-wrap method, knit stitch, purl stitch, and how to bind off/single crochet off (all of these stitches have been linked to YouTube tutorial videos for your convenience).

To begin, cast on and e-wrap your first row. E-wrap your second row and start your project just like you would a hat.

Continue e-wrapping and creating rows until your project reaches between 14 and 18 inches in length. The length is up to you, the cowl will just be shorter the less rows you make.

To finish your piece, simply take your crochet hook, and crochet off your project. Because it is a cowl, you do not want to completely shut off the other end. Be sure to make your stitches as loose as possible! This end will be a bit tighter than your beginning opening, but the looser your stitches, the more it will remedy this problem.

Make sure to tie off both ends. The two ends will have a rolled brim to them. If you do not want this to happen, you can do four rows of knit 2 pegs purl 2 pegs at the beginning of the piece and at the end. This will reduce that curling/rolled brim effect. I have done it both ways, and honestly prefer to the rolled brims on both sides!

And there you have it, and easy cowl/infinity scarf made on your round looms! If you want to make a children’s size you can always go down round loom sizes.
If you have any questions feel free to ask! You can find me FACEBOOK | SHOP |  BLOG

Wow! This looks amazingly fun to make!! I think I will give it a Try today!! thank you again Melli!! Happy Thursday!!

♥Kelly

Try it Thursday: Violet's Buds style

Hi! I am so excited to share with you an EPIC tutorial!! My friend Melanie, from Violet's Buds, makes the prettiest fabric flowers. Her shop, Violet's Buds, carries amazing hair accessories that are all one of a kind and handmade. I am so STOKED she agreed to share her tutorial with us. So now I hand my blog over to her. Welcome Melanie of Violet's Buds.

September is National Sewing month, and in honor of it I have put together an easy tutorial on how to handsew a posey flower. These flowers can be used as hair accessories, lapel pins, to adorn bags, or make a bunch for a never-wilting flower arrangement!

Start out with enough fabric to cut out 6 circles of equal size. I used 3" circles, but any size would work.

Start by folding your first circle in half, as shown below.

"Daddy", one of my favorite words

Father’s Day is a holiday once a year where we focus our praise and thanks upon the “main man” in our lives, Dad. We should praise and honor him year round but once a year is good to make sure he knows how important he really is. Fathers are important to every family unit. God made man first then made women from man’s rib. Dads provide for the family by working super hard, protect the family, and teach the family. It is not always a DNA connection but one of choice and love.  

one of my favorite pictures of me and my Daddy

 My Dad, trust me, I share his DNA! I look like him, act like him, and totally take after some of his goofy character traits. Daddy is always the one this “Daddy’s girl” runs too when the world seems off balance or scary. I appreciate his opinions, insight, and biblical directions.  He works really hard, plays hard when he gets the chance, and knows when to sit back and enjoy the moments of this great life. While life tosses storms at him, he stand firm and wades through holding onto the fact the God has him in His mighty hands. Daddy is human and does make mistakes but I choose to forgive him and move forward, after all, if God can forgive him, so can I. Daddy has many talents: drawing, business intellect, clowning, computer-know-how, advertising, money management, and rides a unicycle. The best thing about Dad, is he takes time to listen. Truly listen. He looks directly at you, opens his ears, and hears your words, then thinks before responding. In today’s world, that is a rare trait. We are all in such a hurry we fail to really listen. I love you Daddy! Thank you for being the support I always needed growing up. 

Rabbit, Little Miss, and Little Mister

 

My husband, Rabbit, is now a Dad. Not to me but to our two children. I am so thankful that he is stepping into the “Daddy-shoes” our children need. It hasn’t been easy for him, I know. He struggled with the awesome responsibility with Little Miss but when Little Mister came, Rabbit was more confident that he could do this “Daddy” thing. As a wife, I see the struggle, as a Mother, I so thankful to come through the struggle and be the Daddy our children need. Little Miss is most certainly a “Daddy’s girl” and Little Mister is all about “Da-da-da-da”. You can see the love our children have for their Father and to me that is a wonderful blessing. Rabbit, I love you, and you are a wonderful Daddy! Keep up the good work!!

So every “DAD” deserves a card at least on Father’s Day if not a gift or two. So I’d like to share a card tutorial. And a list of great shop that have amazing gifts for Dad!!

Here are some of my favorite gift items for Dads from some of my favorite shops!

- Mystic Eye Creations, Inc. has many amazing handmade items with a man in mind. Their Razors are one of my favorites!!
- The Gnarly Whale has homemade body sprays and shampoos. They have an amazing Manly Body spray which every Dad could use.
- Krmbal Clothing has organic t-shirts that are comfortable and designed to be fun. Any Dad would LOVE to relax in one of these great tees.
- Christian Made Crafts has a wonderful selection of handmade items with Dad's in mind. My favorite is this cute "Daddy" key chain.
- MommaRae's Custom Designs makes hand stamped items. This fisherman key chain is one of my favorites for the "best fisherman", Dad! 
It is not a huge list but it is a few little things I think Dad would love as a Father's Day gift! 

Here is the card I made, I do apologize for the poor quality. I took it in a spare moment with my cell phone.

front of card

 

This card is inspired by this tutorial found at All things Paper: here
It was really easy to make and the tutorial is really easy to follow!


 Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there!!!


 

inside the card