In the mood to boast

I need to boast to somebody, so this will be short and sweet.
I finished something!!! I have completed a WIP (work in progress). Not only have I finished it, it actually looks like the photo on the pattern, hooray.
I have made a basket to put all my granny squares in. I will post the pattern details next blog post.

A finished WIP

In my last post I mentioned WIPs (work in progress) & UFOs (unfinished objects). Well last night I managed to finish a WIP, hooray!

I am a lover of Starbucks, I just can't help myself. While looking on the Internet for ideas I came across various images for a cup holder, one of those cardboard bands that they put around your take away coffee. Well this idea spoke to me and I had a go.

I don't think it is bad for a first attempt, my DH is not so sure, his comment of "are you really going to use that" says it all. I think I will have another attempt, maybe some stripes or even seams might be good :)

Finished Crochet Project

Yes I did it I managed to finish a crochet project. Admittedly it is not the one I intended, but a finished project, is a finished project.
I just realised I haven't mentioned what I have finished other than it was crocheted. Can you tell I am pleased with myself? I finished (there is that fabulous word again) a granny square pillow for my girlie. Granny squares are a great way to start crochet and they grow so quickly. There are loads of tutorials on the web, just type granny square into google.
Here is my girlie with said finished pillow. The colours go great in her room, I used Patons Smootie DK (double knit).

It really is July!

Hello Blog, remember me? I am the lady who last posted on here in May. Yes I know I have left you but lets be honest, you know that I am a sucker for some sunshine and a holiday was much needed. Just in case you are interested blog, I had a fabulous time.

So what have I been up too? Well before we went away I managed to get some layouts done that featured DD's eighth birthday, yes my baby girl is now eight.

This layout features my two favourite people, I stamped the background which says "precious moments". I really like these papers they are from My Minds Eye, Stella & Rose, I love that they are not really girlie, so are great for layouts that have my DH on.

The layout below is very girlie, as it should be, with DD & her friends on it.  They were all so giggly &  they had the fidgets. I think that they all had a good time at the cinema & then pizza after.

I am trying to use some different coloured backgrounds, as I seem to have lots of white ones in my albums. I also used something new for me, washi tape. Eileen at a previous crop had given me some to try. I wasn't sure, but she assured me that it is really easy to use & that once I start I will want more. Eileen was right, it is really easy to use & I have ordered myself some. I blinged the wash tape up to add to the girlieness.

Another bold background below, there is nothing like some bright pink. Again something else new for me, I inked round a doily to add something different to my page. Really simple and easy and they seem to be coming back into fashion, maybe because of the jubilee? I also used a different size photo, 4x4. I love the effects that Hipstamatic & Instagram can add to your photos, so being able to print to print them out in all their glory is fab.

Last week DD had a tudor school trip, luckily for me Nanny was able to make DD's costume that was needed. Thinking about this I thought it was about time I scrapped the photos from the last dress up day that DD had at school, Mad Science Day. Looking at these photos I thought it would be great to have a go at the hexagon phase that seems to be going round. Karen posted a tutorial on her blog, so I thought I would have a go. Bonus it is a double pager!

In between scrapping I am still plodding away with my crochet, the bag has hit a slight hitch. I have discovered that gin and crochet do not mix, apparently a small glass affects my ability to count stitches. I have managed to complete two massive granny squares that will hopefully become a cushion cover once I have figured out how to stitch it together. Will keep you updated.

Can you see the potential?

Over the last couple of months I have been dabbling with crochet. I am finding it much easier than knitting & it is much easier to play around with as well as very easy to undo if you go wrong. I have completed a couple of hats for DD & her dollies & also made a flower brooch for her new denim jacket.

As yet I have not managed to complete a take out coffee cozy, which is what I am really wanting for me, I just can't seem to get the shape right. I have lots of odd flowers & granny squares but nothing to actually put together.

So I am challenging myself to make myself a crochet bag & finish it. A lot to ask I know, but a challenge is a challenge. I have fallen in love with the variegated wools that you can buy, you know the stuff that changes colour. So I have treated myself to a couple of balls & I have started with some circles.
I love the colours, they are very girly. Can you see the potential? This was last nights effort, so if I can average four circles a night, I might actually have a bag by next month. We shall see, wish me luck.

A first

I have completed my first crochet hat. Lily is now the proud owner of a new hat. It is by no means perfect, but DD is very pleased with it, so much so that she wants one.

There will be no stopping me now.

Not going to plan

I have come to the conclusion that my Dad is a very wise man. We have spent a lot of time together this week while my Mum was in hospital. One of his pieces of wisdom this week, is not to make plans. At the time I disagreed with this because I am the Mum of a very active/social seven year old and life needs to be planned, that is until said seven year old gets sick.

I had planned to go to the Eclectic Keepsakes Crop on Saturday, but germs decided to invade my house on Friday. My DD got sick, so my plans for this weekend went out the window, add in some snow and all hell has broken loose.

So what is a girl to do while DD is snuggled on the sofa dozing in between various Disney programs. Tidy her craft room of course. Now I would show you a before picture, but I am to embarrassed, let's just say that you couldn't see the floor or any of the work surface in there. It's a job that has been needing doing for a while, but if I have a spare minute I don't want to be tidying, I want to be crafting.

So here is my room in all it's glory, looking at this it still looks a little cluttered, but trust me this is a huge improvement, it was so bad that DD didn't think that it could be done.

I now have photographic evidence that I do actually have a carpet in there and for once it does not have hundreds of little white squares all over it.

I can now actually see the work surface.

My current Just One Sketch layout, I will hopefully be able to finish it this week. I still can't believe that I only have my current project out. Normally there is the leftovers from several layouts, all the punches that I own and whatever else I have used since my last quick tidy.

I have even rearranged the bookshelves, I now have empty boxes (shock horror), I have labelled my pizza boxes and I even put some magazines out to be recycled.

So how long did this take me, pretty much all day in between caring for the sickies. Did I miss the fab ladies at Eclectic Keepsakes, of course. Am I glad that I have done it, yes, there is always next months crop. Also on another plus side I found my crochet hook in all that mess, so I have begun to start to teach myself to crochet, again.

So my Dad will be pleased to know that this week, I have no plans. DD on the other hand is a whole different matter.