Sock Monkey Hat Love

One of the projects I made for Christmas this year was sock monkey hats for my kids. Will wanted a traditional colored monkey hat and Fancy Pants wanted ...well...something a little more Fancy! Both kids loved their hats! 

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leslierahye's Very Steampunk Valentine Blog Hop!

This article can be read HERE.

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Crafty Gig 01.13.12 | crochet 101

Welcome to my bi monthly follow-up post on my ustream live show leslierahye's crafty gig.This past Friday we explored the craft of crochet! I went over the very basics of crochet and some introductory stitches and then shared with you a simple 5-petal flower that can be used in so many crafty applications. The link to find the pattern is here. I hope you enjoy this playback!

[note: I had mentioned that I would take some photos of the samples I made in this video--my *helper* took off with the samples and have hidden them from me. I will be doing some tutorials every couple of weeks on making more shapes and stitches and with the first tutorial post I will add in the re-made samples! sorry for any inconvenience!]

Coming this Friday the 20th, is my new show for 2♥12...

This is a monthly show on the 3rd Friday of the month focusing solely on the art of scrapbooking. I've been scrapbooking in one fashion or another since I was 9 years old and my parents bought me my first large scrapbook to hold my treasure. I hope you join me to explore this great hobby that helps you share your story to generations to come.

I will also be announcing the beginning of a new challenge so you won't want to miss it! See you Friday!! 8 CST/9 EST! Thank you for stopping by!

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The House Rules with Amazing Mold Products

Happy New Year! Yes, the new year began over 2 weeks ago but this is my first post of 2012 and that sentiment is pertinent to today's post! I have been admiring co-crafters' work lately and have found that several have created these signs for decor in their homes...a words to live by kind of thing. I think they're terrific and I have been mulling over in my mind for a while how I planned to do this! When I saw Nikki's digi on the MelonHeadzIllustration Blog. I knew I wanted to incorporate that some way into my sign. It was not until I found this broken piece of pottery from my friends' house that the entire project developed in my mind...so, for the New Year, I bring you 

The House Rules--A Wall Hanging

This Wall Hanging was built on a 12"×12" black foam core base.

I began by making my mold of the decoration on the pottery shard

The mold came out a bit dirty so I molded a very thin piece to
throw away to pick up all the dirt from the casting.

I then added Alumilite Metallic Powder in Bronze
to the mold and poured Amazing Casting Resin --white--
into the mold. Rather than pour the mold quickly, I
took my time so that I could control the flow and not
over-flow the bounds of my mold too quickly.

This is a gratuitous photo of the resin quickening--it always
amazes me how cool it looks when it does this!

I left the resin in the mold until it easily pulled away from the
mold, about 30 minutes. I pulled it off to this dullish bronze cast.

I dry-brushed over the cured cast with more bronze powder
and then highlighted it with Terri Sproul's Mixers in Red Satin.
Those colors together match the painting I do in a later step.

I also molded for this project a piece of crochet that I had done,
and cast it with the  Creative Paperclay® product DelightTM  . The
Delight casting was then brushed with Sakura Hobby Crafts
3D Crystal Lacquer mixed with the Alumilite Bronze Powder.
The flower was then dusted with some Terri Sproul's Mixers in
Red Satin to match the project.

The MelonHeadzIllustration Digital Stamp was enlarged
to 8"×7½" and printed on a piece of Basic Grey Card Stock.
It was then edged with Black ink and painted in using
Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer, Bronze Powder from Alumilite 
and Terri Sproul's Mixers & Colored Crystal Lacquer. 

The edges of the black foam core were brushed with
Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer mixed with Alumilite Bronze
Metallic Powder. The premade brown butterfly received the
same treatment to help him match the elements in the
project. The large casting was adhered to the foam
board with E6000--as was the lace leaves, Delight flower
and Butterfly. 

Thank you for looking! I hope you enjoyed my project!

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Crocheted Hair Bow

Sam Modelling her Crocheted Hair Bow

My daughter Sam enjoys having her hair pulled back into a pony tail and a pretty bow or ribbon attached. While ribbons are always beautiful and fun, sometimes a nice change is welcome. I remember as a kid having this fun twisted crocheted hair bow in a variety of colors to match my every outfit. So last night I sat down and quickly crocheted a fast and easy hairbow. The only stitches used are the chain, single crochet, half-double and double crochet, and the slip stitch. What makes the fun little twists or coils is 3 double crochets in one chain spot. If you repeat that process for about 30 chain stitches, you get the lovely coil above. Let me know what you think! If you like the bow and would like to make some, comment below and I will write down the complete instructions and post them in my downloads.
The yarn used for this project was Peaches & Cream Cotton Yarn.
Thank you for looking! I hope you enjoyed!

Edited to add link to pattern: Pattern is available for free download at scribd.

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