I have been working on a sweater for my niece Kara. I started it approximately 10 days before Christmas. I had picked up a pattern to make a sweater for Lucy and I wanted to see how hard it was and decided to make one for Kara too.

I had some yarn left from the blanket I made Lucy. My mom brought me some yarn from Chile when she returned from one of her trips and the skein was huge! This whole sweater was knit with 1 skein. It was a thin yarn tho, like for socks and I don’t enjoy knitting on tiny needles. So I put 3 strands together (using 3 skeins) to make it closer to worsted weight. I used the pattern for a 6 mos old.

This sweater is knit from the top down. Starting with the neck line I just continued increasing for the raglan sleeves, then divided the stitches for the sleeves and put them on a stitch holder. Continuing with the body switching to smaller needles when you do the edge. Instructions called for 1×1 rib but I prefer the seed stitch. It just gives it a polished look.

To complete the sleeves I picked up the stitches in the arm hole and the rest of the live stitches, doing a ssk decrease to form the sleeves finishing with seed stitch. The neck was also done in seed stitch after I picked up the stitches. The bands in the front were difficult cause I had chosen seed and the instructions were for rib. I had a hard time knowing how many stitches to pick up. The first time I didn’t pick up enough and the bands were gathered in the front. The second time I picked up too many.. I left it alone. It was Christmas Eve and she’ll never know. Hopefully it will shrink a little in the wash so it will be fine.

I added a fun little fromjoy tag I stenciled on some fabric tape. My sister-in-law loved it and it fit her so well!! yay!

This idea is genius. And that’s why I heart Martha Stewart. With January inspiring ways to make your life more organized, here is a way to keep your busy self going in the right direction, on the right day, at the right time. The instructions are simple (just using variant shades of white and black chalkboard paint) and she even gives a pattern so you’re not left wondering which square to paint what. Click here to paint your own chalkboard calender.

It’s good for the soul, right? So here I am confessing something in regards to my crafting (and only crafting - for other confessions you must visit my other site).

A lot of people I know enjoy scrapbooking. I love taking pictures, and I loved my design layout class in college, but something about scrapping didn’t appeal to me. Maybe it was because I had so many pictures, I already felt overwhelmed before I even began. People would talk about it, share layouts and what-not and while I thought they all looked fabulous, I still had no desire to do it. Until I was at Michael’s one afternoon and found a scrapbook I fell in love with.

So I bought it. And $50 in other supplies (which doesn’t buy much, but enough to get started with). And what have I done with it? Nada. That was four months ago and I still haven’t even thought about starting a page. I would think of layouts in my head, and then get overwhelmed. I know this stems from my perfectionist personality, of I have to do it 100% right the first time, perfect, or I won’t do it at all. I know I need to get over it, but then I see what other friends have done and think, “I could never show my work to anyone if it’s not right.”

So here I have a beautiful (and very empty) scrapbook, along with lots and lots of paper, and I don’t even know how to begin. I know I should stick with other crafts that I love (embroidery, painting, photography), but I keep thinking I should atleast give it a try, right? And if I don’t, anyone want some scrapping supplies?

Adding a 3D element to your homemade cards is a great way to make them look unique and stretches your creativity.

Try adding a fake flower, using a brad as the center of the flower.

Another idea is using paper folding techniques to add dimension. The cupcake paper is simply folded in a fan shape and glued on. It adds a different look to the card than you would expect.

Other 3D elements you can add include ribbons, yarn, twine, foam cutouts - the possibilities are endless! Try to go outside your regular train of thought and I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results, and your recipients will be as well!

I have this bare spot above our patio door that I couldn’t decide what I wanted there. When I was cleaning out a spare closet, I found a new canvas I had never used and thought I would paint it and place it there.

So I gathered my paints, painted the base layer on the canvas, and then applied the other colors I wanted, using my fingers to swirl and paint and make my designs.

From start to finish it only took 30 minutes, and the total cost was about $7. And it doesn’t take a super-artsy person to pull this off, just someone who doesn’t mind getting a little paint on their hands.

Winters get really cold here, so I made up a quick pattern for a baby scarf that would be functional and cute. It is super easy and can be made in an evening.

I used Bernat Softee Baby (sport weight) and a G hook. I didn’t do a gauge because I don’t think that’s important with scarves

Chain 15.

Row 1: Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook, sc in each chain to end, turn.

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in 2nd sc from hook, *skip 1 sc, sc in next sc*, repeat from * to * until end of row. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in 2nd sc from hook and each sc to end of row. Turn.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until scarf is the length you want, I made Elizabeth’s 24″ long.

Finish with a row of reverse sc around the edge of the scarf.

Have fun making one tonight!!