LollyChops

Crochet & Knit-A-Thon

Today is gonna be one of those all over-the-place days...  I saw two tutorials last week that I HAD to try plus my sister was in town for a surprise extended stay (I have basically seen her more this year than I have in the past 5 years combined...  it's pretty darn awesome)... so I have a TON to share and I cab't leave anything out...  so bear with me if you can stand it girls!

Saturday morning...
RonChops installed new craft room shelves for me right before I went to Chicago... and I finally had some time to start putting things away on them (mind you it took me 5 hours to just clear a path to even get to them)!  The place was such a mess!

I love these type of open shelves...  they aren't the most decorative looking things but are easily adjusted and give me tons of room for stuff to hang out all over the place!

I think HarrietChops was worn out after all the stuff I was doing that day...  she seemed to lay down right where I needed to be and kept having to move out of the way...  poor lamby!

Saturday afternoon...
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I'll be a guest designer on Live with Prima on August 24 (to say that I am excited-nervous-freaking-out-and-happy) is an understatement!!!  I try to catch at least 2 - 3 LWP shows per month!  You would not even believe the awesome craft/art tips you can get from one little show...  this past Thursday I watched Marion make a cool bib necklace (you can watch that show HERE)!  Since my sister was in town I used her being here as an excuse to make one as a little gift!

Originally I was going to make her one in yellow...  but I had all of 2 yellow flowers in my stash...

Then I thought that pink might be nice...  but I used up nearly ALL of my pink flowers for my Shimmerz project...

So...  I was stuck with the only color I had enough of to make something with...
(try not to groan ok...  I swear this was the ONLY color I had)

 
...teal...
(what a total teal heartbreaker right?!?!?!?!)

 
I ended up wrapping the ends with a piece of felt (cause the cord was fraying real bad)!

So... Saturday night....

I had a girls night out with some friends (MomChops and VikiChops came along)... and I brought the necklace to her then...

 
 ...and she looked FAB...

...the necklace however...

...looked BLURRY!

ACK!

Since this was a one time shot I did not get a better pic!

We had super yummy greek food and talked for 3 SOLID hours!

It was a BLAST (blurry necklace and all)!

 
I highly recommend taking a peek at the video (HERE) so you can make a bib necklace of your very own...
(or you can make one for my sister...VikiChops has requested 3 more from me)!
(just a note...  it took me less than 10 minutes to make this...  the hardest part was picking out the flowers)

Sunday... (5:00 am..don't ask)...
The other project I wanted to try was something that I saw in Donna Downey's inspiration book (video HERE)...  it's a fabric rolled flower (made with Helmar Craft Glue instead of hot glue (which is how I had made them before))...  plus Donna had a cool twist on it that I wanted to try...

 
I busted out my two most often used Sizzix dies on the whole entire craft planet...

Circles #2 and Clear - Circle...  I honestly use them so much I might as well strap them to my hips!

hmmmm...  that gets me thinking...

I need a crafty tool belt!!!!  heh heh

 
I cut some plain felt circles and tore strips of plain muslin and started gluing and rolling and gluing and rolling and gluing and rolling...   you get the idea!
(again... you can learn how to make these in Donna's video HERE)

I had never used the Helmar Craft Glue before and I gotta say...  it's FABULOUS!

I received a very lovely box from Helmar with goodies to try and this was in the lot...
(and I have more Helmar news but I'll wait and share that at the end)...

 
I even braided some of the strips and made that fella there in the front...

He's kinda nifty and bumpy!

I am not sure what I am gonna do them yet...  but I think they might end up on my next project...

Sunday (7:00 am)...

 
MomChops bought me this Donna Downey / Prima canvas tote bag a few months ago and I had yet to decide what to do with it...  until yesterday morning at roughly 6:42 am).

 
I used 3 of my favorite colors from Plaid - Folk Art Acrylics...

They are from left to right... #320 Jamacian Sea, #481 Aqua & #503 Yellow Citron

 
I squirted about 1/4 of the bottle into these empty "Eclipse" gum containers.
(these containers are perfect for this as you can seal them up for a few days at a time)!

 
I added water to the container (about 2 parts water to one part paint)...
(mix it up really good so everything is blended)

I lightly sprayed the bag with water and then...

 
...started painting each section...

 
I let each one get mostly dry so they would not bleed on to each other...

   
I loooove that greenish/yellow color!

It's KILLER!

 
In order to keep the sides from buckling...

I placed the little paint bottles inside to keep the walls propped up...

   
...and to keep the flap from touching the backside I used those rolled flowers in a stack!
(see...  I told ya I would use those flowers in my next project)...  heh heh

Later that same day...
I bribed MomChops and VikiChops into having brunch with me...
(and then innocently asked them if they wanted to come over and help me with some small knitting and crochet samples)...

...and they agreed...

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 
Things started out innocently enough...

Just a few colors of green yarn...

   
VikiChops was knitting...

   
 MomChops was in charge of the crochet side of the house...

 
VikiChops was cabling without the aid of cabling needles...
I don't know what that means but it sounded complicated and impressive!
(heck...  anything related to knitting is complicated and impressive as far as I'm concerned!!!)

 
MomChops had some deep concentration going on...

...about 2 hours into things...

 
Folks started getting tired...
(I think I heard "slave labor" uttered a few times) 

So...

 
I decided it was tea time and got out the gourmet snacks...
(courtesy of Little Debbie)

 
At first DogChops tried to act like she didn't notice the snacks...

 
Then she did an open faced stare at them for a little while
(combined with a little panting for sound effects)...

(the whole time this drama was unfolding MomChops and VikiChops were working their little fingers to the bone)
(free brunch = lots of crochet and knitting at the LollyChops House of Crafts)  

 
Then DogChops slid VikiChops the sideways glance...
(just in case she got inspired to share one of those little cakes with her) 

 
...after that didn't work it turned into a full out stare down...
(at which point my sister informed me that I had better get a move on with the picture tacking cause she was starving!!!) 

   
oops...  looks like VikiChops snagged a bite...

After the blood sugar levels were restored...

 
Everyone was all smiles again!!!

 
 ...even the doggies got a snack...
(I just can't leave them out)

 
So can you guess what we're making yet???

 

RUFFLES!

I decided to decorate the back of the bag with crochet and knit ruffle layers!

 
I couldn't decide it I should leave the teal layers in there or not...
(I actually did NOT just utter those words... that was the little Debbies talking) 

   
Sadly...we ran out of time!!!

It was MUCH more time consuming to make these layers than I realized...
(even with 3 people working for 3 hours with one tiny tea & cake break)

What do you guys think???

Teal ruffles or no teal ruffles???

I'll be back next Monday with the finished bag!

Now...  for the winner of the Sizzix Create-A-Bow die giveaway from last week...

RonChops called out number #161 (who is Dianna from Myself & Di)!  I emailed her with the good news...!!!

Lastly...  I have a serious question for you guys...
How do you feel about blog giveaways?  I have been offered some pretty neat crafty papers and products (all for giveaways)... only I'm not sure you want me doing that kind of thing here.

What do you think?  I would keep on doing all the same ole stuff (only there might be a giveaway at the end of some of the posts)...  or I could just move them over to my FaceBook blog page...  I really want to know cause I want to keep things fun around here!  I know that too many giveaways can get kinda old (at least to me)...  so I want to to know how you all feel about it.

Just FYI...Helmar is the first company who has offered me a little prize pack to offer up here (its pretty awesome stuff).  Honest!

I'll be back next Monday (which will be my 2 year blogaversary...  I am very excited about it)!

I hope you all have a terrific week!

Keep on truckin'!

Crafty XO's

Lolly

P.S.  Enrollment for "Inspired :: 2011" opened this past weekend!  I'll be teaching there and would love a chance to meet some of you guys!  Let me know if you are planning on attending so I can make sure we get to hang out some!  You can learn more about the event HERE!

P.S.S.T.  Pretty please save August 24 (8:30 pm CST) to drop in and watch me shake my way through my Live with Prima web cast.  The project isn't ready yet but will be soon (and I'll share it here ASAP)!  Besides possible profuse sweating, shaking and an occasional deer in the headlights look or two...  I promise there will also be teal (doesn't that sound entertaining as all get out)!!!  

Have slippers... will craft!!

Happy Day After Mother's Day Everyone!
I had a MomChops filled weekend plus crafts which equals the best kind of weekend there is!!

Saturday we had breakfast at her house, shopped for skirt fabric in two different places, stopped for a quick lunch and did a whole lotta gabbing (craft gossip and planning at it's finest)!

Sunday was another breakfast get together followed by hours of crafts.  In the afternoon Chef RonChops came into the craft room and informed us that he would be serving us a 3 course lunch.  The courses were:  macaroni, cheese, and rotel (rotel is diced tomatoes with jalapenos for those of you who have never heard of it).  He called his gourmet feast "macaroni and cheese with rotel"...  it was utterly delicious and oh so fancy (thanks Chef RonChops)!!

Little MomChops Story
When MomChops comes over she always has a bag with her... inside her bag is usually a finished craft project or two and other random craft supplies.

However... also inside the bag is the most important crafting accessory of them all.  One every crafter should never ever ever be without.  Ever.

Slippers!

If she forgets her slippers it usually means she pilfers a pair of RonChops socks (don't tell him cause he might freak out a little bit...  hehehe).  I wanted to take a pic of her slippers but she forbade me.  She crocheted them before I was born (167 years ago) and she's declared them too old to be seen by anyone but me and DadChops.  I just wanted to share that little MomChops story cause it's one of those things I love about us hanging out together at my house!  I am a lucky little LollyChops to have such a cool MomChops.  Love you MomChops (xoxo).

So what are you rambling on about Lolly...  let's get going with some crafts already (sheesh)!
A few weeks ago I shared a flower with a button center ringed with a bead embellishment (see it up top there)!  Several people asked me about how I did that and I thought I might share a little tutorial on the technique!

Firstly...  you'll want to start with some beads.
They can be any color really...

Teal, turquoise, metallic teal, light teal, dark teal, medium dark teal, translucent teal, frosted teal...
...you get the picture right?

Beads come in tons of sizes and shapes but I am using seed beads specifically for this project.

Just to let you know about what size seed beads come in... here is a little example!

I really like to use the size 11 beads for most of my regular craft projects.  These are the easiest to find and there are TONS of colors to choose from (more teals than the law allows really).

If you can find them, get beading needles!
They are fairly cheap...  25 for $1.25!

They are MUCH thinner than sewing needles...  and the best part...

... is that they bend.
You need to get these kind of needles if you really get into beading.

You tend to work the needles in and out of the same beads several times and when they are all snugly and close together you need the needle to bend some so you can get in-between all those fellas!

I also use Nylon thread combined with thread conditioner...
I am not telling you guys this stuff to scare you away from beading... you can use a regular needle and thread...
...but if you really get into beading you will want to get a few essentials!

Most beads are glass and over time regular thread will get cut and fray on the edge of the bead!
(that's why you use special thread (it's just more durable))!

I drew a little swirl pattern...  just using a pencil on some muslin.

I came up from under the material and threaded 4 - size 11 beads on my needle.

Get as close to the last bead as you can and put the needle and thread back through the material.

It should look something like this!

Now...  you will want to poke the needle up through the middle of the second bead.
Get as close to the center as possible!
(between the two beads and the bead line you are trying to make)

Pull the needle through the center of those two beads...

Now for the tricky part to explain...
You will want to take that needle and run it through the two beads that are facing the direction you are beading!
(holey cow that was kinda confusing and hard to explain!!! YOW!)
Basically what you are doing is creating a stronger line for the beads to follow and helping to connect them all together!

Pull the needle through those two beads and add 4 more beads and start the whole process over again...
(with a slight variation)


4 beads added...

...so now...
If you remember the first time you basically backed up 2 beads and threaded through them again before you added more beads to the row...
Well now you back up 4 beads (the ones you just added) plus 2.
So you are backing up 6 beads.

The thread will come out between two beads again...

...and then you take the needle and run it through those 6 beads
(again heading in the direction you are beading)

You just keep on going.
So basically you add 4 beads, back up 6, poke the thread through and thread back through those 6 beads before adding another 4 beads.

Scared LollyChops Here
I am pretty worried that this is not going to make any sense to be honest with you.
I was kinda nervous about doing this tutorial cause it's really hard to explain in pictures!!!

If this makes NO sense let me know ok you guys.  I will do a video!

This is the finished swirly pattern...

I also did this same technique around one of those felt embellishments for my skirts...
...it's not too fancy but I think it adds something kinda special!

I added that same line of beads around some buttons too!
Again... this is super simple but can kinda jazz up your projects!

Oh...  and be careful while beading...
If you knock the table with your mad craft muscles you get a big beady mess!

It's actually really super fun to clean up!
(so you might want to give it a try to see what I mean)!
(just kidding you guys!!!!)

Pink wreath dilemma...?
Last week I shared a felt and flowers thank you wreath I made for MomChops (you can see it HERE) and I was not sure if I was going to go with pins, french knots, beads, sequins or what...  for the centers of the flowers!  You guys really came to my rescue and basically told me to do them ALL (I know right???)!

So that's what I did!  I added a little bit of everything (I even left a ton of the white pins) and it came out really nice!

So thanks a ton for being so generous and and helping me decide!  It was really fun to read all of your comments!

And now for some random stuff...
I saw a scrapbook layout (a.k.a. LO) over on Stacy Cohen's site and I knew that I had to learn how to do this crochet technique she featured (the border is teal and I might have actually squealed when I saw it).

You can see her utterly fabulous LO HERE.

I sent the link to MomChops and sure enough she knew how to do this - so when she came over for crafts Sunday she taught me!

It's super easy!  If you guys want me to do a tutorial on this technique, let me know!  I could not get over how easy (and COOL this is).  I think you are going to be seeing a LOT of this outta me (thanks for the inspiration Stacy)!!!!

Last to lastly...
I wanted to share more of the LollyChops inspired projects you guys have been doing lately!!!
So here we go!

Wendy made this beautiful bag and embellished it with some rolled flowers (tutorial HERE)!

 
Tara made this totally adorable set for her friends daughter!
I love love love how the little fishes are following the whale on the back!
You can download the free embroidery pattern (PDF HERE)!

Marla from Sincerely Home made her first ever crocheted rose!!!
GO MARLA!!!!

...and so did Karen!!!
I love the variegated yarn she used and I especially love how the little fella on the left looks like a rose bud!
Sooo pretty!
You can see the tutorial for how to make these roses HERE!

Lastly...
Jacynthe from Coups de coeur de Jac made a little framed picture from this tutorial HERE!
I think it really came out great!

Thanks for sharing your projects with me girls!  I love seeing what you are up to!

What's Next?
I'll be back next Monday with the most exciting project ever (assuming I get what I need in the mail before Friday - keep your fingers crossed for me ok girls)!!!
The only hint I'll give you is that there are owls involved (and it's teal...that's more of a given than a hint really). 

TEAL OWLS!!!!!  ahhhhh yeah!

P.S.  I have started a little LollyChops FaceBook page (welcome to the modern times Lolly).  You can see my page HERE.  I am going to post there during the week (little random bits of top secret crafts).  So drop in and give me a HUG if you are a Face Booker.

P.S.S.T.  Owl always love yas!

O.M.T.  Here are some resource links!!!
Thread Heaven Conditioner:  HERE
Beading Needle (size 10):  HERE
Size 11 seed beads:  HERE
Nylon thread:  HERE

Wall Flowers Week - Finally Fuschia Friday!

This is it folks!  The last day of Wall Flowers Week!  I have had so much fun this past week!  I cannot thank you enough for dropping by to see what I have been up to!

I have the last of the tutorials to share today AND a KILLER giveaway!!  So stick with me till the bitter end!

Today's Colors:  Pink, Pink & Pink (with some Fuschia thrown in on the side)!

Today's Featured tutorials:
MomChops - Crochet Rose & Crochet Butterfly

First off... we need to start with some video tutorials for those of you out there who don't know how to crochet!  I double DogChops dare you to learn!  If you cannot figure it out from the videos, hunt down a local yarn shop...  they will teach you!  ...and if that doesn't work, come on over to my house this Saturday for a craft room clean-up party/crochet lesson!  Doesn't that sound like like funsies?!?!?!

Learning to Crochet...
I tracked down what I think are absolutely fabulous crochet tutorials!  They are clear, nice and slow (perfect for beginners), beautifully shot and very very well explained!  These videos cover all of the stitches you need to make these two projects!

1- Slip Knot & Chain - HERE
2- Single Crochet - HERE
3- Double Crochet - HERE
4- Triple Crochet - HERE

Give them a watch and practice your hearts out!  I know that those of you who are desperate to learn to crochet can do this!!!  Lolly believes in you girls!!!  Keep me posted on your progress!

Let's get started with the crochet rose first!

GET YOUR PATTERN:  You can download the PDF pattern for the crochet rose HERE.

Leaving a 10” length for sewing, chain 57.

Row 1
In sixth chain from hook, double crochet, chain two, double crochet, *chain 2, skip next 2 chains, then double crochet, chain two, double crochet in next chain; repeat from * across.

This is what your first row finished should look like.
Rather shellish.

Row 2
Chain 3, turn, 5 double crochet in first chain-2 space, single crochet in next chain-2 space, (6 double crochet in next chain-2 space, single crochet in next chain-2 space), 5 times.  (With your beginning chain 3 and 5 double crochet “shell” you will have a total of 6 of these shells.  Then (9 double crochet in the next chain-2 space, single crochet in next chain-2 space), 5 more times (you will have a total of 11 shells made).  Then 12 double crochet in the next chain-2 space, single crochet in the next chain-2 space, across until complete.  You should end with a single crochet in the last chain-2 space.  Finish off leaving several inches for sewing and tying.

Once you are done you will have this lovely pile-o-curly-crochet mess.

Get yourself a mega needle with a blunt end (it's not too sharp and really thick).
I also use one of those needle threading things cause there is no way this Lolly can work yarn through a needle eye.
Regular thread is tough enough.  Yarn is nearly impossible.
That is unless you are MomChops...
She never uses a needle threader thingy.
She has mad crochet skillz!!

Thread yarn needle from 10” length at beginning of your original chain...

With right side facing, and beginning with first petal made, roll your petals, sewing as you go.  Once together, gently tie the two ends together and clip OR use the ends to tie on pin or barrette backs to your rose.

Tie off your bottom...  this is what the underneath side of the rose will look like and...

This is what the FABULOUS side of your rose will look like!!!

Moving on...  Crochet Butterfly!!!

GET YOUR PATTERN:  You can download the PDF pattern for the crochet butterfly HERE.

Chain 5 and close with a slip stitch to make a ring (or make a magic ring)
Chain 3, then make 3 treble crochets into the ring (yarn over twice)
Chain 3 and slip stitch into ring.

ummmm....  I am not sure where we are in the process here...
Sew...  download the pattern!
...and call 1-800-Mom-Chops for moral support...
I know.  What help am I!?!?!?!?!?

MomChops did all this fancy stuff.
I am just over here doing what she tells me.
...and she's not here to hold my little baby hand (with the horrid cuticles) to walk me through this...

See...  it's craft magic!
It's the sweetest green butterfly EVER!
(download the pattern...  that should help)
(honest to peanuts)

There you have it!
The little butterfly even has teal antenna!
I heart that little fella.

Now for the wall part of the post...

MomChops made ALL of the roses for this frame!
We simply used some Cosmo Cricket - Material Girl - Measuring Up patterned paper as the background.
We hot glued the roses directly to the paper.
We punched and inked several leaves using the ever faithful MS leaf punch
(those leaves were in half the projects this week!)
We then strung some #10 crochet thread through a bunch of buttons...
...and hot glued them to the outside of the frame...
Once they were on there good and dry, we tied little double knots with the thread and cut them nice and short.

Here is a little closeup so you can see the details a little bit better!

...and fast as you please...
You have a nicely framed perfectly pink project!

Almost lastly...
I wanted to share some of MomChops creative process with you guys (so you can see where my insanity comes from). 

I sent MomChops a link to Crafty Diane's website about two weeks ago asking her if she could help me figure out how to make some of these lovely creations.

Since MomChops was not able to drive at the time (that whole knee replacement thing keeps you from driving for 6 whole weeks)... she called RonChops (he's CEO of "Craft Emergency Shopping Shuttles, Inc.") and asked him to take her to the store so she could pick up the thread she needed for these experiments.

So within about 3 days time MomChops had busted out TONS of examples from free patterns she had found online.  The woman is a crochet machine!

I love how she made one up sample, pinned it to the paper and then wrote the details about the needle, thread weight and what the flower was supposed to be.

On some of them she simply printed out the patterns and pinned the samples to them directly.

This is a fantastic way to keep samples together with your patterns for future use.

What she doesn't know is that I plan on breaking into her house this weekend to steal ALL of her samples to use in future craft projects.  Just don't tell her I was the guilty party.  She might think RonChops stole them all to use in his man crafts.  That's believable right????

So last to lastly...
I wanted to share some of YOUR projects from this week with everyone!

Michelle from Life Made Creations made these beauties!

 

AND

Bookette from House Full of Monkeys posted these flowers!

 

AND

 

MomChops made this pretty one!

 

Tiff with Dogwood Lane Designs made these lovelies too!

 

AND

Thanks for sharing your beautiful creations with me girls!
I loved seeing them all!!

So time for the big giveaway!
I was contacted by Diane from Wise Gal Designs about doing a giveaway of one of her jewelry pieces this week (you MUST go check out her shop...  she does beautiful custom work)!  Diane told me she would create a custom piece with LollyChops readers in mind!  Of course I jumped at the chance...

I asked that she design it with 3 bits of inspiration:
1) Flowers
2) Teal
3) ...and HUGS...

So guess what she made!!!!

Don't you just LOVE it to pieces!!!!
Holey teal flowery hugs batman!

How to win!
If you want a chance to win this beauty, all you have to do is leave me a comment letting me know which of the Wall Flowers days this past week was your very most favorite!  Were you digging Teal Tuesday or Yellow Wednesday...  or perhaps you were really into the Orange explosion from Monday???  I'll leave this giveaway open until Sunday April 4, 2010 9pm CST!

That's all she wrote!  Thanks again to each and every single one of you for stopping by this week to leave me some love!  I had fun and I hope you did too!

HUGS!!!

 

P.S.  I am going to work on responding to your comments this weekend!!!!  I have read them all, I just haven't had time to write you guys back yet!  xoxoxoxoxoxoxo's!

O.M.T.  After this I am done...  I promise.  I just had to share this one last picture...

Guess where RonChops is standing with the treat bag wrastling in his hand????
Have you ever seen a more attentive and patient bunch?!?!

P.S.S.T.  If you are interested in buying some crochet flowers... CraftyDiane (the source of the original inspiration for all of these crochet flowers today has an Etsy shop...  you can go check it out HERE)!

Was that the longest post ever or what!?!?!  Whew.

Sew Shy Sammich

Howdy pards!

Lookie there...  another LollyChops craft project...  and it's in teal!

What a shocker!!!!

(ok so maybe I am overdoing the teal thing just a little bit)

Pah.  There is no such thing.

Anyhoo...

The Square Bear
Sunday morning I had a vision of a bear softie with a square body, square arms and square legs.  He was gonna be squaretacular!  It's hip to be square right???

Groan...

(that was a two cheeser for sure)

Once I had the square body part made I decided that the bear that was square actually looked more like an awesome sammich!  The only problem I had was that I had started off with teal...  so this meant that I was basically making a teal sammich.

hmmmmm

I debated the logistics of this for about 1/18th of a second and decided to roll with it.
If anyone can get away with a teal sammich it's me right?

How to make your own Sew Shy Sammich - in Teal

Cut two pieces of teal felt into 4 inch squares (I used this teal felt HERE).
Cut a coordinating strip of fabric 18 inches long and 3 inches wide.
Fold in the sides and iron them down so that you are left with a 1 1/4 inch wide strip.
(the reason you fold the sides in is so that you have a finished edge)

Blanket stitch the strip 3/4's of the way around the felt square.

When you get to where the two pieces of fabric meet up, sew the ends of the fabric together so that the finished side is facing out.  Trim the excess fabric.
Then finish blanket stitching the rest of the felt square.
(you should have a little fabric box that looks like this)

The top should look something like this.
Do the exact same thing with the other felt square.

When you are about 3/4's of the way done, embroider sweet little closed sammich eyes to one of your felt squares (or you could be smarter than me and do it BEFORE you get this far into the project).
Stuff your little sammich with batting.
Then finish stitching the rest of the way around the side till she's all closed up tight.

(I don't have any pics of this step cause the cuteness factor was too great and I got overly excited and I forgot to take them)
(if you have any lavendar add it in there too...  you could make this a sachet sammich)

 

Now you have a shy sammich that seems kinda sad and plain.

You need to jazz her up!
She needs some head adornments!

That's where these little sammich dunce caps come in.
Kidding.

 
I actually used the dunce caps to make these beautiful flowers (one in fabric and one in felt)!

I saw a tutorial on how to make them over on 17 Turtles (with Juliana Michaels).

Note:  I sent the link to MomChops and she went straight to her craft room and had 4 of them made THAT DAY!

You can learn how to make them HERE.  They are sewwwwww EASY!  Trust Lolly.

So here she is with her stunning floral hairpiece!!
(all shy sammiches should never be without one)

Here she is showing off her mad for plaid sammich sides.
Can you believe I found some brown AND teal plaid fabric!?!?!
(so dreamy)

Keepin' it Real
So in the process of making this tiny teal sammich...

..I also shot three ScrapyLand video tutorials (I'll let you know once they have been released)!
(they are all about glimmer mist, masking and heat embossing)

You can see Hurricane CharlotteChops nestled under the craft table up there.
She pretty much stays in that same spot when she's in the craft room... 
...and for some reason really gets to itching and scratching RIGHT as I am shooting my videos...
(notice how she's laying ON the video camera stand)

Tip:  An itching and scratching dog who happens to be laying ON the video camera stand whilst shooting video tutorials causes a rocking the boat motion in the final video.

Who knew?

This is about 5 projects going at once.
I am sitting here typing this in the midst of that mess (I think there might be a button stuck to my elbow).
...and Charlotte is being as quiet and still as a little lamb (or should I say little turkey)

So Dainty!

...and lastly!
I took this picture of DogChops with her lady like paws crossed and one arm sticking out.
I had to share it.  It just totally cracks me up.

...last to lastly...

Catherine from Original Stitch sent me these pics of her girls coloring and decorating the LollyChops 2010 mini calendars.
I ADORE that little green jumper!
I am gonna see if I can get her to make me one (in teal of course).

So that's all I gots for today!

P.S.  Thanks to those of you who have signed up for my super secret card drive (I loves you guys)!  I started to get cards in the mail on Friday (operation secret santa-o-cards starts today)!  If you wish to find out more leave me a comment and I'll send you the details!

P.S.S.T.  XOXOXOXOXOXOXO's

Teal tea toters and more tatters too...

I have more tea stuff and tatting to share today but before we jump into that arena of rabid over caffeinated sharks (I am talking about the tea drinkers not the tatterers)... I  want to share a few peeps of my first ever ScrapyLand Design Team project!

Susan (DT boss lady) asked us to create a project with no constraints...  all she asked was that it have a theme of "resolutions"...  So I busted out every single craft supply in my arsenal and 20 hours later I had a cute little mini book that only had one page (totally not kidding...  just one page...  for reals).  I might be a teeny weeny tiny whiny bit overzealous when it comes to these DT assignments (hard to believe right) but I am having so much fun with it I don't mind putting in a little extra lovin' (crafts are the coolest!!!!!).

So there it is.
My first ever mini book (with a mini-mini book inside)!

It's mostly teals...  are you shocked?

Teal...  really Lolly?!?!

NO WAY!

Hello?

Anyone out there?

If you read this blog with any regularity you will know this is my way of indicating the cricket sound
(also known as the cricket cone of silence)
He's cheesey and teal and I am ok with that!

Speaking of cheese...
(this is what we call a mega veer off course)

I have been thinking that we need a cheese ranking system around here.
If I get a tad too cheesy I have decided to rank my cheesiness.

Here is how this will work...

1 cheese =  when writing the post I utter an inside groan (nothing audible)

2 cheeses = eye roll combined with a barely audible groan

3 cheeses = loud groan with thoughts of quitting blogging because I am losing it

(this particular section...
...the creation of the cheese ranking system
...constitutes a 3 cheese ranking)

 
That's a LOT of cheese.
(If I ever rank my cheesiness too low you gotta let me know so I can revise the cheese rank for the post)
You guys cool with that?
heh

Ok now that I have that out of the way...  back to my project!

The spine of the January mini-mini book is made from felt and it's teal too...
...yet another LollyChops shocker...
(seeing as how I am part felt and I actually bleed teal... this makes perfect sense really)

...and that's the back cover.

You can read ALL about my project (what it's supposed to be, how I made it, see more pics, etc... over on the ScrapyLand blog today!  Go check it out HERE!

So let's talk tea (again)...
After I finished up the paper tea bag template last week (you can see that version HERE) I got to thinking that a fabric version was in order (paper is only going to last so long in your purse and evidently a LOT of you guys carry super special secret blends of tea bags around with you).  So I called MomChops Sewing Shop and she came over with her mad sewing skillz Sunday to help me work the template into a fabric version!

We'll roll right into that and then I have a few more small things to share...

Cut out two pieces of fabric using the template I am going to share at the bottom of this post.
Sew the two pieces together (right sides facing each other).
Leave the end open (the end is the left side where the orange squiggles are in the pic)

Clip your corners and trim your edges.

Then right side out the pieces you just sewed together...

...and iron the seams nice and tidy and tuck the ends inside the little pocket you just made.

Your end should look like this.

Sew around most of the edges like this - see next pic to see what I mean by "most of the edges"
(sewing on top of the seam you just created on the right side of the fabric gives your work a nice finished look)

The only way I can tell you where not to sew is to show you...  so here goes.
You gotta fold the right side over to make the little pocket...  so don't sew on the bottom of the fold or on the left inside corner (does that make sense???).

If you sew all the way around the whole thing and then fold it over and sew again...
...that's just not as nice looking in my crafty opinion.

So that's what your tea pocket should look like when done!

Oh and if you goof...  and make a tea bag holder with a left side pocket instead that's ok too!
You can give it to your left handed friends!
(momChops and I goofed and made the second prototype the wrong way...  we always work in muslin first for just this reason!!!)

So now that you have the pocket made you gotta close it right?!?!

You can either use Velcro (which you need to sew on for best results) ...  this is the sticky kind and it's a bear trying to sew the sticky stuff on...  so get some of the non sticky for this closure method)

OR

You can get all crafty fancy pants and sew a button hole and button on.
I personally LOVE this one (MomChops took the orange butterfly and the pink one home with her and I kept the teal one...  yeah yeah I know...  me and teal).  hehehehe!

You can get the fabric version of the tea bag template below!

 

Now that you have your lovely fabric tea bag holder I thought it might be nice to direct you to a lovely post that Catherine from OriginalStitch wrote for the brewing of proper English tea (you can read it HERE)!  She shared this with me last week and I wanted to make sure you guys saw it.  The very night I read this I had 3 whole cups made just the way she described and I have been hooked ever since.  No more tossing the tea bag in cold water in the microwave.  This is my new favorite way to drink tea!  Give it a try!

Oh and if you want to see another totally COOL way to make a fabric tea bag holder go take a look HERE.  Jennifer sent me that link and I think that's another totally awesome tutorial!

I also wanted to share another pic of my Sister's tatting!  She's finishing up her first week of tatting and she sent me and my mom these pics!

She's evidently making a bracelet for that gold circle thing in the picture
(which she tells is is some sort of thread cutter - coolest looking thread cutter ever!!!).

...and this is her other project!
I am so proud of her!
She's totally rocking this tatting thing!!!

So LASTLY...  one more bit of news and I am off!
In about 3- 4 weeks I am going to reach 1 million hits on my blog!  I think that's pretty darn neat and I want to celebrate!!!  I am definitely going to do a giveaway...  I already started making what I am going to give away and you guys are gonna LOVE it (I hope)... 

But... I really wanted to see if you had any other ideas for what I could do to celebrate!  This is exciting stuff right!?!?!?!  I would love to hear your ideas over the next couple of weeks.  I wish we could all get together for a mega party...  would that be COOL or what!!!!  Sigh.  This whole giant planet earth being so big thing is so totally not cool.

I hope you all have a terrific week!  I loves the lot of yas!

 

P.S.S.T.  Guess what comes in the mail today (maybe)?????
MY REPAIRED VIDEO CAMERA!!!  WOO HOO!
I'll be sharing the fabled craft video tutorial next Monday (assuming I don't blow anything up).

O.M.T.  Here is a little sneaky peepy of my NEXT ScrapyLand project!

It's totally FUN!

I cannot wait to show you the whole thing!

More HUGS than you can stand!!!!!