Archive | January, 2015

Crochet – Valentine’s Day Coffee Mug Cozy

Easy to Crochet Valentine’s Day Coffee Mug Cozy

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Do you want a chance to win this little coffee mug cozy? Simple become a member of this site and write a comment below. Winner for various items will be chosen twice a week.

Here is a fun and easy crochet project.   It would make a great teachers gift for Valentine’s Day.  It’s a coffee mug cozy embellished with a cute little heart.  I have seen these little coffee cozies for different holidays and since I Love hearts I couldn’t resist making for Valentine’s Day.   Here is the pattern:

Materials:

Small amount of red yarn  and white yarn  (Medium weight works best)    I used Lion Brand Yarn, Vanna’s Choice in Cranberry and White.

For the red part:  Hook:  I/9  5.5 mm

For the heart:    Hook  J/10 6.0mm

1 Button of your choice (make sure it fits between the 2 dc spaces)

Body of coffee mug cozy

To Begin:   With Main Color (red) chain 12,  dc into 4th chain from hook and in every chain to end.

Row 2-12:  chain 3, dc in each stitch across row.  (Last dc will be into 3rd chain of first row).

Row 13, sl stitch over 3 stitch,  chain 3, dc in next 2 stitch

Row 14: ch 3, dc in next 2 stitches and fasten off  and sew in tail.

Heart:    To begin:  Make a magic circle

rnd 1:  ch 2, 3trc, 3dc, ch 1, trc, ch 1, 3 trc, 3dc, ch 2, sl st into circle.  Pull circle shut.   Weave in tails

Sew your heart onto the main body of your coffee cozy.  You may use more than 1 hearts.  Make as many as you want to sew onto your cozy.

Wrap the cozy around your mug.  Now you can see where you need to sew on your button.  Sew on your button and you’re done.  It’s ready to be enjoyed.

You can buy coffee mugs at at many household stores like Wal-mart, Target  and even at the Dollar store.

Do you prefer to learn with a video?   Many people are visual learners.  If you are one of those here is the link  Click Here for Video.   Have you visited my facebook page?  Be sure to visit and become a fan.

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DIY – Clover Mini-Flower Loom

Easy DIY – Clover Mini-Flower Loom

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Clover Mini-Flower Loom Kit

One of the great things about attending the CHA Mega Show is being able to see products before they become available in stores.   As many of you know I love to make flowers.  I like using them as embellishments and to make other crafty things.  This year Clover has introduced Mini-Flower Looms.  These little looms are so cute and easy to use.  The package I got had the flower and the square loom.  The back of the looms are open so you can sew in the center to be able to ensure they won’t fall apart after removing them from the loom.   You can use yarn, metallic yarns and thin cords.  I also saw them using the thick metallic threads.  You are really only bound by your imagination.  I am using the new Bon Bon packages by Lion Brand Yarn.

It’s easy to do.  First choose a yarn, thick thread or cord of your choice.   There are 2 slits on the side of the loom.  These will help you secure your beginning and finishing rounds.    Then you will wind the yarn around the pegs.  You will be working directly across from each peg.  I work in a clockwise direction.   You can wind the yarn around the pegs 1, 2, of 3 times.  I did it 3 times.   Then when you have finished winding around all the pegs, you can put the tail  back into the remaining slit on the side of the loom.   Now, you will use your thread needle and thread with yarn of your choice.  I  used about a 20 inch strand.  Now, you will sew back and forth making sure to get all levels of the yarn.. now move onto the next set of pegs.  Repeat until you have worked all pegs.  Now weave in your tail and cut.   You are ready to slide the flower off the loom and cut the tails off the remaining two slits.

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It’s that easy.   Making flowers on your Clover Mini-Flower loom can become addicting.

Purchase your flower loom here (affiliate link)

Click here to purchase flower loom 

 

Here is then video link.    Video for Mini-Flower loom tutorial 

Please be sure to visit my Facebook page and become a fan.  Also, while you’re watching the video be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

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2015 CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Mega Show in Anaheim, California

Another Great Year at 2015 CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Mega Show in Anaheim.  Just loved it!

It’s that time of the year again when craft Industry professionals meet to introduce and showcase their products.  CHA is an industry even that is not open to the public.  Buyers, Exhibitors, and Designers come together to see what is new for the year and to learn trends.  There are also tons of workshops available.   It’s  a great opportunity to meet others who are as passionate about crafting as I am.  This is only my second year in attendance and  once again it was a great experience.  I got to meet so many gifted, talented and super nice people and reconnect with others I had met before.

I want to share some photos with you to enjoy.  Lion Brand had its annual Fashion show featuring their yarns.  Their theme this year was “You can do it!”  Many of these fashions are made by arranging simple squares and rectangles and require very little shaping.  That makes them ideal for beginners of intermediate crocheters and knitters.  Some others of course require more shaping.  The fashions were spectacular and I can’t wait to make them.  I wish I had more fingers and time to be able to make them all.

Spinrite had an impressive display with the theme “Yarnia” inspired by the movie Narnia.  They even had beavers and wolves created with their yarns.  I wanted to sneak the beavers home with me.

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Lucky me, I was able to meet  Drew of Crochet Dude, the fabulous Mark Montano, Designer Vicki Howell, Donna Drewberry the creator of the One Stroke painting technique, and of course Vanna White.  I got to take a photo in front of the poster of a page of my new book “Animal Lovie Blankets”  which is now available in stores at at Leisure Arts.    I hope you enjoy the photos.  I had a great time.

CHAPicMonkey Collage

 

Please be sure to visit my facebook page and become a fan.    Did you know that I have a YouTube channel where I have uploaded hundreds of free craft video tutorials?  Be sure to subscribe and “Let’s Get the Party Started”

 

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Fun, Easy and Pretty Votives/Candle holders (Home Decor)

Home Decor – Fun, Easy and Pretty Votice Candle holders are fun and easy to make.

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Candle Votice Holders

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Home Decor – Candle Holders

Do you want a chance to win these  votives? Simple become a member of this site and write a comment below. Winner for various items will be chosen twice a week.

I love candle holders.  I have to admit I just love the look of a soft flickering light.  If I can do anything to make that even nicer I want to do it.  I was inspired by some votive holders that I have seen both online and at Pier 1 Imports.  Remember when Pier 1 Imports was actually affordable, or is that me?   I like having pretty things around me so I decided to make my own.  It’s super fast and easy.  You will need  a glass (candle holder) be sure it is rated to use with candles.  Regular kitchen glasses may become too hot and break.   You will need some glass colored beads (I got the ones that are the flat one one side) in the color of your choice.  I purchased mine at Michael’s in the floral section of the store.  They have tons of colors available and they are also sold at Hobby Lobby.   I used E6000 glue.  Be careful this stuff has a very strong smell.  You will want to be sure to use it in a well ventilated area.    After washing and drying your glass you are ready to begin.  I just add a drop of glue under every bead.  I line up my rows of beads.  I let them dry overnight.  If you want to add all the beads at once you can use transparent tape (scotch tape) to tape down the glass beads in place while they dry.   Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so perhaps you could use red glass heads to use this little candle holder for your dinner table.  Romantic, isn’t it?  Oh, gosh I’m so mushy.   I hope you make a few of these.

That’s it, I told you it was Fun, Easy and Pretty.  You are ready to enjoy the soft light of a flickering candle.

 

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Here is the video link if you are more of a visual learner:   Video Tutorial 

Be sure to visit my Facebook page and become a fan.  You can post photos, request video tutorials and become part of a fun community.   If you go to watch my YouTube video be sure to subscribe.  I have 100’s of free video tutorials for all types of fun crafts.

 

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Welcome 2015! The year of the “Sheep”

Can you believe it, it’s 2015.  2015 is the year of the sheep.  Sheep = wool, which = more fun crochet and knitting projects.  I’m still wondering where 2014 went.  It seems that each year seems to go by faster than the one before.  2014 brought a lot of changes.  Last January was the first time I attended CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Mega Show in Anaheim, California.  There I met so many wonderful and creative people including Vanna White, Vickie Howell, Mary Kathryn Vaughn aka. Crochetchiq, Mikey of Crochet Crowd, Mark Montano, and many more.  Unfortunately, I missed meeting Kathy Cano-Murrillo aka Crafty Chica.  I was lucky to meet her here in San Diego while she was on her Michael’s stores tour.  Guess what?  She as as great in person as I always imagined her to be.

There were so many booths that I couldn’t visit all of them.  I got up close and personal with  the new yarns for Lion Brand, Red Heart, Caron, Bernat and several others.  Being able to be there and see, feel, smell and just absorb all those beautiful fibers was incredible.   I also met the folks over at Leisure Arts and from that meeting they have now published my first ever crochet book “Animal Lovie Blankets”.  It’s really a dream come true and it looks like I may be working on another book for them (keeping my fingers crossed).     This year I will also be attending.  I will be there from January 9 – 12, 2015.  I can hardly wait.   If you happen to be there please be sure to say “hello”.

I have many projects planned for this year and am looking for guest bloggers.  If you would like to write a blog for this site please let me know.  Email me at:  [email protected]   Be sure to put “guest blogger” in the subject line.  I want to wish you a “Happy and Prosperous 2015!”   I appreciate you so much.    If you are a member of this site I will be sending out the first 2 written patterns next week so be sure to sign up.  All you need to do is add your email.    Happy Crafting!

 

 

 

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