Christmas Crafts

This year I did two craft projects for Christmas. I made my cousin a plarn purse and I made ornaments for all the Mom's, Grandma's, and Aunts. I'm still working on the ones I intended to make for my friends.

The plarn purse came out great! I used Cindy's pattern (www.myrecycledbags.com). I gave it to my cousin yesterday. She loved it!



Now for the Christmas ornaments. This was my second try at Santa ornaments. The first are too embarassing to post. They look like evil egg santas. I think these came out much better.


Front view of Santa


Side view of Santa

Merry Christmas everyone!

Coming soon: My craft goals for 2009!

Recycled Magazine Mini-purse

My sister's birthday is today. I made her a recycled magazine mini-purse. I think it's my best so far. I even added a little clip to the zipper so she could attach her keys. It should be big enough to fit her cell phone and ID along with the gift card I'm putting in for her birthday. :)

Save The Children Caps

This year I'm going to crochet more hats for Save The Children. The caps are being sent to developing countries to keep premature infants warm.

I've made one so far...

If you have a lot of leftover yarn, this a great way to use some of it up.

Recycled Purseabilities

A few months ago Nan at Nannybird Crafts asked me to test a crocheted plarn purse pattern for her. Nan probably didn't know this was the first purse I ever crocheted and that it would take me a while. More than two months later, I'm finally done. Well, almost done. I still haven't lined the purse, but I'm not sure I'm going to. Crocheting with plarn is different. I would call it a unique crocheting experience. I may try it again some time, but not right now.

Here it is:

This is what the back looks like:

I used velcro to keep it closed:

Magazine Ad Bracelets

Note: I've revised these instructions to cut the strips 4.25" by 1.9". It won't make much of a difference with the bracelets, but I think it will solve my problem fitting the pieces together to make the purses!

Supplies:
Magazine Ads
Packing Tape (cheap storebrand tape actually works best)
Scissors or a paper cutter

Making the strips
The strips need to be 4.25" by 1.9" (or the width of the packing tape). I usually can get 6-8 strips out of one magazine ad (it depends on how cleanly you rip the page from the magazine). I prefer to use the paper cutter because it is faster but scissors work just fine.

My steps to tape and cut strips:
1. Apply 3-4 pieces of tape vertically to magazine ad.

2. Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut the paper into two pieces 4.25" wide.

3. Cut between the tape to make the strips.

Now you have 6-8 strips that are 1.9" x 4.25". Most of the bracelets I have been making are 20-24 strips. It depends on the size of the wearers wrist.

Folding the paper and making the chain

There are already great instructions for this elsewhere so I am not going to reinvent the wheel. Start at step 3 of these instructions and make the chain using an even number of strips. http://www.gumwrapper.com/build.htm

Finishing the Chain

Once you have your chain made, you will have to finish it to make a bracelet. It's hard to explain so I'll post pictures soon. Mylinda did a great job explaining it in her purse tutorial. http://www.candywrapperpurse.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

I finished my first purse

I finished my first purse!

I attached the handle using Mylinda's instructions. I'm not quite sure I did it quite right so I'll have to see how it holds up. I used velcro to close the purse. I think next time I might try a magnetic purse snap.

My next paper folding project in between making bracelets for our fundraiser is to try to make a wristlet and attach a zipper.

My Craft Addiction

I found so many craft project ideas and tips by reading other's craft blogs that I decided to start my own about what my husband nicely refers to as my craft addiction. I like to experiment with crafts of all kinds. As a result, I have more projects started than I could probably ever finish.

My latest addiciton is folding paper in an attempt to make purses. I discovered bracelet making by accident. My Relay for Life team is going to make them to sell at our Relay next month. The purse still needs some work. I have to finish the flap and I didn't quite get the hang of sewing it together until I was halfway done.