My {Life}, My {Blog}

December Layouts to Share

Sketches Creatively Yours took the month of December off.  I used that time to start the Sketch Support class with Allison Davis.  I really *heart* her approach to using sketches.  I always considered myself pretty sketch savvy, but I have learned a lot about how to really make them work for me.  I hightly recommend this class.  We are on week 4 of the class.  So far, I have layouts done for weeks 1 and 2.  I have a double page spread almost done for week 3 (okay don't faint.  I know I never do double page spreads, but I wanted to see how the sketch worked out on one).    I may try to embellish it tomorrow and share.

Here is week 1.  Not a particular favorite of mine.  I think I just don't like kraft as a base color.

And here is week 2.  I LOVE this layout.  The sketch was awesome, and the info from the course content was on the money for how I scrap.

And since I am sharing.  Here is my latest crochet project.  I needed some fingerless gloves for my super cold office, so I made these up out of scraps left over from a shawl I made.

Okay, that's it for me today.  I am starting a sampler afghan project today.  It is 16 different blocks, each featuring a different stitch.  I am excited to start it as I usually don't do larger projects.  Some how, I never seem to finish them.

 

My 8th Grade Graduate and his Finished Afghan and Pillow

 
 

I have no babies left in my house.  Last Thursday, the 8th graders were given diplomas at their honors program.  Tomorrow is the official last day of school and my little 8th grader will have officially graduated from middle school.  This is the photo I got of him after the program.  Can someone please explain to me why boys think not smiling is cool?  Anyway, we are so proud of him.

 

And this is his afghan and pillow that I finished up for him.  I started the afghan almost 5 years ago.  it was another that got packed in the first move that I recently discovered as I unpacked boxes.  the pillow is a more recent UFO, that just happened to match the afghan.  His room is done in shades of blue with black accents, so the whole thing matches well.

I need to edit a couple of mini albums that I completed and I will post those here also.  I finally found the pictures of them and got them downloaded.  Okay, I am off.  I need to get my fish going for dinner.  I love fried fish!

 

Copics Class Assignment #3

We finished up week three of the copics coloring class.  This week was all about light source.  It also gave us the opportunity to work with a flower digi stamp.  I have never done a flower before.  My flower coloring attempts sort of look like I have never done one before.

 

I actually did the assignment twice.  Once just using the light source the way I saw the light, and a second time using the light source and adding depth to each tip to add dimension.  I actually like the first color attempt better, but I am far from an expert.

 

One thing I did learn from this assignment, I much prefer people to flowers.  Think I am gonna go color a kid now.

 

Copic Coloring Class, Assignment #2

This is the second week of my copic coloring class at  Simply Scrapping Crafts .  Last night, I got on a roll and got my final girl colored, photographed the whole assignment, resized it and uploaded into the classroom.  It was a fun assignment and I learned a lot doing it.  Here are my coloring efforts.  Oddly, my final girl does not look as good to me as the practice one.  I think having DH talking to me while I was coloring had something to do with it.  Note to self, color in the studio next time.

 

 

 

I won't bore you with a close up of my practice girl or the color families that I used to color this.  Next week, we are coloring flowers which is awesome.  I have never colored a flower before.  I can't wait to learn more about them.  Maybe I can use some of the 15 new markers I got from Oozak today.  New toys!!!  Can't wait to play.

 

A New FO, a WIP, and a Little Cricut Love!

So, I am in a really inspired mood right about now.  Having a bunch of fun with scrappy projects, got a little mojo going on crochet projects (now that I decided to shelve that granny square purse thing that I started before I new about good yarn) and am LOVING my cricut.  Who could not be inspired with all this goodness going on.  So, I thought I would share a new finished object (or FO as they call it on Ravelry).  I recently bought this book by Debbie Stoller.

 

I adore this book.  So many great projects to crochet that look hip and trendy, not your grandma's crochet.  Here is a my version of the Boy Beanie from the book.  It is a skater boy style cap.  DS LOVES it.

     

ISO 1250, AV 3.5, TV 1/20, Manual Mode

Here is a photo from the book of my next project.  It is called the fat bottom bag by Julie Holets.  This is the cutest bag I have seen in a while.  So far, it is not bad to work up.  Just need to pick up some stitch markers tomorrow.

 

I am doing the green version in this yarn. It is sort of an olive green.

 

ISO 1250, AV 4.0, TV 1/20, manual mode

And lastly, here is a little Cricut Love.  I got a new cartridge last week and pulled it out to make a birthday postcard for a friend.  Took about 15 minutes.  I love this cricut. 

 

So, that's all I've got for today.  Have a great one.

Sharing a Bit of this and a Bit of that!

It's been a busy, creative week.  I love those kind.  I have been scrapping a bit, crocheting a lot and loving every minute of it.  Here are a couple of layouts and projects I scrapped.  I finally got around to making my journal for my Stories in Hand class.  Maybe now I can work on the prompts.  I did this for the Amaco art embossed stickers review.  The metal is colored with my Bic Mark It's.  Love those things. 

Here are a few using the Tinkering Ink Becoming Green Collection.  I love this collection.  Not as heavy weight as the other Tinkering Ink papers, but a good weight.  Great patterns.

And here is my progress on the two crochet projects I am working on.  My purse is about 45% complete.  I have 8 squares done ( it requires 16).  Once I do that, I will still have to piece it together and make the straps and attached.  Still debating about whether to line it.  I really don't know how to do that, but I think it would hold it's shape better if I did.

 

I started a scarf for my older brother.  He says it is snowing  in Ohio and he liked the one I knit for him, so I started a brown one for this winter.  It's a quicky pattern and I should be finished in about a week.

With all this other creativity going on, I forgot all about the sketch this week.  Sorry!  I will try to get one up this week sometime.  If not, I will have a card sketch up here and at Scrapfriends next Sunday.

Anyways, that's it for me this week.  Do something creative for yourself this week!

Sunday Sketch and Video Links

Hi all.  Sorry I am late with the sketches, but we were desperately trying to finish a book report, autobiography and a bunch of other stuff for school tomorrow.  Didn't quite make it, but DS swears that he has more time.  Keeping the fingers crossed.

Here is todays sketch.  It is designed to make use of our sewing machines with zig zag stitches in the middle.  You can use those or leave them out.

S0  many of you asked for the links to the videos that I have been using.  Here is a ling to the single crochet video that I used to start my needle case.  Single Crochet Video  The maker of this video has a number of other ones.  Some that cover more basic things like yarn and needle selection, chain stitches and such as well as others that cover way more advanced things. 

I am happy to report that my needle case is almost done.  I have the body done, but need to run in Hobby Lobby to pick up matching yarn for the crocheted flowers that will decorate it.  I am practicing the double and triple stitches with the flowers.  I will post pictures when I am done.

Here is an AOL copy of the you tube video on using Bic markers like Copics. After Hours stamper video  Again, this person has several other videos where she demonstrates her techniques, but this is the basic one.  I have not had an opportunity to play with this yet, you know all that Mommy homework.  Hopefully, soon though. 

Lastly, have you seen the AP scores.  After scorching in the stadium yesterday, watching the Tide roll over Arkansas State, I was soooo please to catch a glimpse of this on the AP polls.

It has been a long time coming.  So happy to see it now!!!  Roll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did anyone get to do Digital Scrapbooking Day? We were tailgating on Campus all weekend, so I missed everything.  The campus is wifi, but only students and staff have passwords.  Bummer!  I did manage to snag a few downloads today.  I have a couple of links saved.  Hopefully, I can get them downloaded before the links expire.  I found a cute, boyish mini kit freebie that I really need to download.  Most of my stuff is so girly.

I have a ton of other stuff to share with you, including new layouts, pictures from the game, a few blog awards, and a bunch of other things. So, I will be posting often this week to catch up.

Later! 

A Sure Fire Sign That It Is Getting Cold

There is a sure fire way to tell the weather is getting colder around here.  And it's not the temperature reading on my computer monitor, or the local weather station that is announcing a freeze warning here.  As soon as the weather gets a slight chill in it, the yarn comes out.  A couple of years ago, I was into loom knitting.  Then two years ago, I learned to knit (a little).  But I decided that knitting took way too long and never kept it up. 

Many years ago (when I was a little girl), I learned to crochet at the knee of my great grandmother, who had actually raised my mother.  We made tiny doilies with really thin string like thread.  She died when I was 12, and I have always wondered what happened to the hand made doilies she made.  For a long time, I had a decorated doll with a crocheted dress, that she made for me.  But after I left home, I am sure my Mom gave it away when she cleaned my room out. 

Years past before I picked up a needle again.  Then, in high school, I used to make all kinds of afghans.  At that time, I taught myself the very basic stitches of a granny square and went to town making HUGE afghans.  My mom still has one on her sofa that I did for her. Most were in the most beautiful 70's colors (think avocado green and dark gold).  Luckily, the one she chose to keep is a timeless burgandy, black and cream.

By the time I got out of college, crocheting had gotten old again and I put the needles away.  Then...when DD and I were learning to knit at our workshop two years ago, the instructor suggested that she also learn to crochet.  She gave DD a quick lesson, and I tried my best to remember what my grandmother taught me.  Needless to say, that was many, many years ago and I could not remember the correct stitches to teach her.   DD figured out single and double crocheting on her own and has gotten pretty good at making things sort of from her head.  Neither of us really used a pattern or anything and we only knew a few stitches.

   

Well, this year, as the temp is starting to drop and my urge to play with yarn grows, I decided to teach myself the correct way to crochet and read a pattern.  Luckily, we have You Tube and tons of free videos.  After a few days of video watching, along with studying tutorials and pattern sites, I ran in Hobby Lobby and picked up a set of cute new acrylic needles and a magazine for inspiration and have been sitting in front of the computer learning the proper way to do a single crochet.  And it looks REALLY good.  I plan to work at this stitch until I have a peice long enough to fold over into a needle case and then learn another.  I also want to learn to make those cute crochet flowers.

I am also terribly facinated with Copic Markers and the blended coloring techniques in stamping.  Again, while exploring You Tube, I found a cool video showing how to get a Copic look with the way cheaper Bic markers.  Sooooo, you guessed it.  I bought a few Copics while Hobby Lobby had them on sale, a good black inkpad,  and the 36 count set of Bic's from Sam's Club.  I got a few small stamps at Michael's, but am eyeing a few CUTE sets from Cornish Heritage Farms that I will be ordering this weekend when I can really sit down and figure out what I need.  And, even though I got the Bic's, I LOVE the colors from Copic.  So, I will be gradually adding to my collection when Hobby Lobby runs them 30% off again.

Well, that's all  the obsessions passions that I have going on with me now.  What do you find yourself drawn to when the weather gets cool?