Uncategorized

by

A Very Crafty Christmas

Pinterest makes you feel like you can craft anything, doesn’t it?  Its “DIY” category was the basis for most of my Christmas presents and decorations this year.

My first project was a yarn ball wreath.  My husband fashioned a ring for me from coaxial cable, which I wrapped with yarn.  I used foam balls from JoAnn’s as the center for each “yarn” ball and Red Heart Super Saver yarn, which is pretty inexpensive. It took me a while to determine the best way to secure the balls to the ring.  After experimenting, I used floral U shaped pins, and then my handy glue gun.  I added some inexpensive silver gaudy balls (as my husband calls them).

The final result:

1473408_10151828969095886_1801919093_o

Next year I may add more of the smaller balls to the outside ring.

For my front door, I made a quick, inexpensive wreath with gaudy balls, a wire hanger and ribbon.  The picture is a bit blurry, but you get the idea.

Image 1

Of course I knitted a few things to gift, including ear warmers, boot cuffs and a beer cozy (didn’t want my brother-in-law to feel left out).  I also made some fingerless gloves, but I didn’t get a picture of them.

bootcuffs:

IMG_2799

IMG_2810

I made body spray from distilled water, witch hazel, vegetable glycerin and essential oils:

IMG_2803

I crafted ornaments:

IMG_2784

IMG_2795

But what I was most excited about making was the lip balm.  For the majority of my life, if I discovered I didn’t have a ChapStik in my pocket, I swear I could feel my lips immediately drying and cracking.  Now I can’t imagine ever purchasing it again.  I bought the tubes through Amazon, but the first batch I received was awful–not a single cap stayed on.  So as not to waste them, I put a small dot of hot glue on the tube to make them fit.  Subsequent orders from different vendors produced appropriately sized lids.

There are many recipes for lip balm on the Internet, and I settled on one that combined beeswax, shea butter, sunflower oil and essential oils.  I made peppermint, citrus (orange and grapfruit) and lemon batches.

1546734_10151888941990886_198067612_o

In addition to these items, my husband made strawberry bread, pumpkin bread, and zucchini bread.  It was a very crafty Christmas indeed, and even though my family in Florida pokes fun at me, wondering if my children are being used as sweat shop labor, I had fun and I’m even a little bit proud of myself.  🙂

Currently on the agenda:  I am knitting a wall hanging thingy–the idea came from Pinterest, of course.  I am also making t-shirt yarn out of tank tops that I dont wear anymore–I eventually want to crochet it into a rug or a basket.

photo-5

Are you making anything right now?

Related articles
by

A Few Pinterest Projects

I have been pretty busy this summer.  I’ve accomplished a lot, but I have certainly been neglecting my blog.  Sorry!

Those of us who are Pinterest users know that the site is a mixed blessing.  On one hand, it provided thousands of amazing projects and recipes and excellent tips.  On the other, browsing Pinterest can also make a person feel insecure and totally unaccomplished.  Who really has time to do all of that exercise, cook all of those amazing meals, entertain your kids every moment with clever and funtastic projects, and decorate your entire house in perfect nature hues and with pallets?

I certainly don’t.   I often turn to those “Pinterest fails” websites–they make me feel so much better.  But I have come to terms with Pinterest, to some degree.  I pin projects and recipes that are achievable in my world–and have attempted a few of them with differing levels of success.  For instance, I love the zucchini enchiladas.  They are amazing every time I make them.    The white chicken enchilada is also wonderful.  I have made the Panera knock-off broccoli cheddar soup.  I have been regularly making the Skinnytaste pesto and freezing it into cubes.  Other things I’ve tried, such as the breaded string cheese  didn’t turn out quite as well.

The kool-aid dyed Easter eggs were awesome, if a bit messy.  The knitting patterns were great (though they usually led me back to Ravelry…where I had already been).  For Christmas, I transferred pictures to wood blocks for my sister.  Recently, I tried my hand at a few more:  the penny covered bowling ball yard art, the pallet garden bed, and a reconfiguring of a t-shirt.

The bowling ball project was fun, and allegedly, and especially if you use enough pre-1982 pennies, it will help deter slugs and snails from your garden.  Good enough reason to try it for me!

Here is the “pin” I was working from:

penny ball

I went to the thrift shop (with $20 in my pocket…no…just kidding) and purchased a $2 pink bowling ball.  I collected all the pennies in the house, and gave them a bath in vinegar.  I wouldn’t recommend this course of action for cleaning the pennies.  It took a really long time, and didn’t seem terribly effective.  I used a DAP silicone rubber sealant and attached the pennies face-up to the bowling ball.  In order to prove to myself that I have some control over my OCPD, I glued just one face down.   Ha!  In your face, perfectionism!  The original pinner said to fill the finger holes with caulk, but I didn’t.  After the adhesive dried, and the pennies were securely fastened, I took a few erasers and systematically cleaned up the pennies.  That worked better for me than the vinegar–although it took me the length of a movie to do it.

Voila!  Yard art and hopeful slug deterrent:

1080106_10151607316325886_1169051720_n 1085311_10151607875310886_1972640298_n

I’m happy with that!

I used another pin in my garden–pallets for easy, nearly ready-made raised beds.  I write “nearly” because my husband had to nail boards to the sides to keep the soil in.

Here is the original pin:

Here is my attempt:

IMG_1806

I’m pleased with the results, but I think next year I will limit what I grow in the pallet, and I will only use one (I had two this year).  The kale, romaine, spinach and radishes did really well.  You just have to be careful when planting because the seeds wash under the boards.  Also–I will loop my drip line over the pallets instead of hand-watering.

And finally, I attempted to redesign a t-shirt that I’ve had forever by never wear because I don’t like its fit.

Here is the original pin:

tshirt

I didn’t take a picture of my original shirt, but, it was just a basic t-shirt.  I fought with my sewing machine for a while, and had to redo the straps to make them a little longer, but this is what I came up with:

1080724_10151613792385886_1229437892_n

Again…not too shabby.  It is not meant to be a “finished” shirt, although it certainly could be with some hemming of edges.  I just cut the pieces and left it at that.  If they fray, they fray.  But I will actually wear this now…even if it is just for working in the garden.

Thank you for coming along on my Pinterest adventures tonight!

Related articles
by

My Fascinating To-Do List

I have so much to do.  I’m not really complaining because most of my tasks are self-imposed.

I have essays to grade (I assigned them).

I have garden plots to weed and prep (I decided to have 3 this year).

I have a speech to write (I accepted when asked-yikes).

I need to organize the planting of strawberries and raspberries (I agreed to be the garden director).

I have two more pairs of fingerless mittens to knit (I plan to gift them to my yoga instructors).

I have 4 cabled  wash cloths to knit (teacher presents).

I have a new course to plan (I pitched it).

I need to redo my yard where it was torn up when the garage was being built (Only self-inflicted because I can’t have an ugly yard).

I need to build raised beds for the west side of the new garage (I don’t have to do it this year, but I want to).

I decided to create a new flower bed, and change the shape of another (to accommodate a new path that will lead from our house to the garage).

I also have to teach, clean, parent, be a wife, and play with my dog.

I need to find time to work out.

I have neglected my blog because of this to-do list, which makes me feel guilty.  I decided to combine the two, which probably doesn’t make for fascinating reading (despite the title), but it is helping my organize my thoughts.

So thanks for that!  🙂

Here’s a nice picture to make up for my boring post.  When I get time, I will write a post about the three-day Montana Judicial Institute I just attended.

308743_10150285701345886_1726115_n

The view from Apgar Lookout