Sara says: TUT-A-LOO!

As in a tutorial! As in I'm gonna learn ya how to make a cute (and CHEAP) Valentine's decoration! Hooray!

I mentioned, like a month ago gosh, that I am all into V-Day this year. I love the colors, hearts, and whimsy!

I also love paint chips. They're free. They're colorful. And there's something rather "devil-may-care" about swiping a stack of these. Hint: pick them out of the discard pile and you'll feel better about yourself. Unless the colors are ugly, then don't.

Anyways, I've shared some paint chip ideas before, but here's one in action! Here's how to make a lovely paper chain garland.

You'll need:

<3 paint chips (the long ones)

<3 hole punches in cutesy shapes

<3 thin ribbon and/or brads (fancy ones for scrapbooking) and/or a stapler 

(depending on how you want to join the links)

Here we go! Punch out holes in the middle if you like. Go crazy! Hint: save the punched out bits.

Option 1: tie the ends together with pretty ribbon!

Option 2: punch holes in both ends with a standard-sized hole punch.

Put both ends together with a brad.

Bonus idea: this also makes a swell BOOKMARK. Awww...

TA-DA! Link your chains together as you go and you'll have yourself a garland! I used shades of red and pink for Valentimes (<- that's intentional, teehee)!

I used fancy, sparkly brads to put mine together.

Bonus idea: SUPER SEXY CONFETTI from the hole punches! Brides, now you can be hyper anal and make table confetti in your EXACT wedding hues with paint chips! Huzzah!

This is a great craft for the wee ones or anyone as obsessed with color as I am. I hope you enjoy! Don't let cupid get ya down!

Sara says: HAPPY CROCHETEMBER

 

Source: sara-sayswhat.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

Hello fellow string-lovers! I told you I've been crocheting like fiery hell and I wasn't joking! Take a gander at my crazy-fun gifts I worked up for Christmas. (The pattern for Mr. Cardinal can be found here!)

Matt's step-mum, Laura, looking contemplative in a custom crochet necklace I made. The colors are crazy vibrant, acid green and jeweled turquoise. I also made the button earrings previously and really had no idea how well the necklace would match!

Bunny in a carrot that I made for Matt's grandmother, who kind of collects bunnies. He's huge, because I used a 6mm hook. The pattern can be found here, in the adorable book Amigurumi Toy Box. I did change the look of Mr. Bunny a bit, as well as the top of the carrot (custom leaves FTW!)

Now for Matt's siblings, I made berets and caps. The pattern is AMAZING and can be found here (for free!) This is Bianca, in a green/yellow/bluey number. She has a little amiguruimi corn (yes, like an ear of corn, like the vegetable) on the side - kind of an inside joke. The colors go well with her lovely hair!

The corn is custom, but you can find a 3-dimensional ami corn here.

This is Cameron, in a red/turquoise hat. This is the best picture I could get as he immediately retired to video game land after opening presents, LOL. He has a Mexican skull bead atop his hat.

This is Marie, in a turquoise/sky blue, gray beret. Sorry the pictures are fuzzy, they have a huge front window and the sun was bright! But I am in love with Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe yarn!

Stitching detail on Marie's hat. I happened to use the same colors a friend used to make a lovely skirt. Check out K's boardwalk skirt here! I may try to make one myself this spring! :D

Matt's brother Zeke in his skully cap. His has a color wheel theme with matching stone skulls on top.

Teehee!















 

This is the lovely India wearing the same beret pattern. Love it! And that's one of my favorite colors! She's totally rocking her beret in the coffee shop!

This is my friend Zach. This is my friend Zach's nut sack. No really. Don't be dirty! Or be dirty, I don't care. I borrowed the idea from Gleeful Things and worked the acorns up from Planet June. I made the sack myself. Teehee!

This is a hat pattern I really dig that I made for some friends! It takes one ball of super bulky yarn and is really comfy. Here's Matt modeling a bright kelly green version with a his cube cow!

Cube cow is completely custom (GO ME!) and I think she has the sweetest little face.

The hat pattern can be found here! Just 13 rounds! My hero!















 

Last, but not least is a Kindle-cozy for Mum. I <3 the button on the front so hard- it has a faint faux bois pattern! This is also a custom pattern. Now I have to make another one since Santa brought me a Kindle Fire!












Sorry that long blog post is long, but I am kinda proud of my significantly leveled up crochet skills. Looking at everything I made (in the course of about a month) makes me feel like I did something productive! Or close to it!

And now I'm gearing up to start on spring projects. Already got a Twinkie Chan cupcake scarf half-way done!

What's your 2012 crafty goals? Did you hand-make epic Christmas gifts? I wanna see!

Sara says: CHECK OUT THE MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED CRAFT MEDIUM EVER!

The toilet paper roll. Most of us just toss it in the garbage without a second glance, BUT WAIT JUST A DAMN MINUTE! Lookit all the things the little toilet paper roll that could can be!


You can make a ton of things using this basic shape. Just cut the roll into strips horizontally and squish.

Source: google.com via Sara on Pinterest

Check out this wreath, using that same shape.

Source: seeyoutheredesign.com via Sara on Pinterest

Adorable! Make little leaves with that same shape!

Source: moderndaymoms.com via Elaine on Pinterest

Poinsettias, OMG!

Source: thecraftycrow.net via Heather on Pinterest

What else can we make?!?!?!?!?

Owls!

Source: creativejewishmom.com via Katelyn on Pinterest

Ooooooo! It hardly even looks like a toilet paper tube anymore.

Source: artsandcraftss.com via Jodi on Pinterest

A little more advanced gluing perhaps, but what a cute gift holder thing!

Source: marthastewart.com via Sherry on Pinterest

Holiday candles!

Source: familyfun.go.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Oooooo! Would be great for a Kwanzaa kinara or a Hanukkah menorah! 

Source: activityvillage.co.uk via Carla on Pinterest

I think these lanterns are my favorite. You could seal the bottom and put an electric tealight in it!

Source: thecraftycrow.net via Melody on Pinterest

I'm so excited! I've already began hoarding toilet paper and paper towel rolls to upcycle into beautiful (and cheap as dirt) things!

What's your favorite thing to upcycle into crafts? Coffee cans? Glass jars? Tell me!

Sara sings: I'M ON THE EDGE WITH YOU

Hmmm, a lot of my blog entry titles are Gaga lyrics. It's like the early days of Grey's Anatomy, with the song titles, but it sucks less! (Actually, I miss the early days of Grey's, but oh well...) ANYWHO, I've been crocheting like mad still! Been completing a project every couple of days! I blame stress...

But, I finally worked up this precious unicorn, from Syppah's etsy. I'm proud of myself, because I've just recently mastered the art of little amis! Hopefully I'll be able to make up my own patterns someday!

Source: etsy.com via Sara on Pinterest

Her name is Mariner Edge of Glory.

main body color: Vanna's Choice Yarn in Beige
hoof/horn color: Vanna's Choice Yarn in Silver Blue
hair color: Vanna's Choice Yarn in Silver Blue and White, Vanna's Choice Baby Yarn in Mint, Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller in Mercury and Sea Glass, Berroco Plush Colors in Baby Mix


Her unfortunate sister, Juliet Bad Romance, can be viewed here.

Sara says: LET'S TALK TURKEY

OH. EM. GEE YOU GUYS! Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away. That's some real conversation for your ass! 2 weeks!

I've still been crocheting and playing with string like a mad woman. Maybe I'm stressed? Jacked up on the endless lattes I pour into my face? Who knows?! The point is, since this post, I've completed a pair of mittens (I made a pattern myself!), 2 hats, a leaf, a sugar skull, and now this dude - just in time for Thanksgivoweenmas! Hopefully I can keep up the momentum to make stuff for Christmas. AHHH!

TURKEY LURKEY!

Ignore the 800 dollar's worth of nursing school text books in the background.

Yes, I have a turkey hanging from my chandelier. Fun! You can nab the pattern over at Bitter Sweet. I didn't follow the pattern exactly, but I like how Turkey Lurkey ended up. This pattern could totally be an ami peacock too. Squee!

And check out the aforementioned crocheted leaves!

Source: craftstylish.com via Sara on Pinterest

Here's some more Fall-ish ideas that are next on the agenda.

A sweet little cardinal. I think I'm gonna make one for my Granny's Xmas gift.

Source: sheepdogsfleece.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

A grown-up size pumpkin beanie for me!

Source: osuraccoon.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

I'll try to take pictures of the rest of my hooking adventures this week. Is there any crafting you like to do in the Fall/Winter? Any recipes you're trying out for Turkey Day? I wanna know!

Sara says: CROCHETOBER

October should really be called Crochetober because I've been making stuff like a crazy person!

Getting cray-cray with the crochet!

Ok, I'll stop, but LOOKIT!!!



Cowl from The Crimson Owl - pattern here.

"Cowl" sounds so much fancier than "shood" (scarf/hood), don't you think? I used two balls of Big Baby (100% baby Alpaca yarn, OMG) in Hyacinth (2014). The trim is a bit of Berroco Plush Colors in Baby Mix (1952 - seems to be in limited production, bummer).



Floppy Hat and Skinny Scarf

Hat Pattern from "25 Quick and Thrifty Free Crochet Patterns" eBook.
Scarf Pattern is custom but based on this pattern from Debbie Stoller.

I've shown you the skinny scarf before, but I changed it a bit (removed the tabs that made it a neck wrap). I didn't even plan for the hat and scarf to  match, it just worked out that way! Oh, serendipity! The scarf is made out of Amazing (Aurora) by Lion Brand and Pom Pom (Confetti) by Loops and Threads. The hat is made out of Red Heart Soft Yarn in Berry. It's also the first hat I've ever made. Huzzah!



AND THERE'S MORE DOWN THE TUBE! I'm working on a hat for Matthew. This hat, to be precise, and writing a custom mitten pattern to match my cowl. AND THEN CHRISTMAS CRAFTING, OH GOD!



Do any of you fine folks like to play with string? Have you made anything excellent this Fall?

And remember, the only things we were born knowing how to do are shitting and crying. So head on over to Craftyminx and learn you how to crochet!