Fall Cuties

Found these cute little guys at a dollar store and couldn't pass them up.

A little fall whimsy.

Halloween Cross Stitch ATC

Finished my card for Halloween and got it mailed out. Hopefully it will arrive on time.

It was a free sampler pattern, I just loved the look of it with all the little quilt squares and 

flourishes. I used the cat as my focus since you can only fit so much on a 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 card.

It turned out pretty cute.

Free pattern

Happy Halloween!!

No Bake PB Crunch Candies

I was given this recipe years ago while attending a Girl Scout mother daughter weekend. 

When I requested it, the gal was so excited and had told me that she had found it in the 

local news paper the year before. 

I had been meaning to make some, and had forgotten about the recipe.

Not sure what the original name for this candy is, but it was shaped into logs when she made it.

No Bake PB Crunch Candies:

1 bag of powdered sugar

1 jar creamy PB 

1 jar crunchy PB

6 cups of rice crispies cereal

1 bag milk chocolate chips 

In a Big bowl, mix all ingredients together until the powdered sugar isn't visible.

After its mixed well and all your shapes are finished

melt the chocolate chips and drizzle over the top of your logs/scoops (original recipe).

For mine, I just added the chocolate chips in with the rest of the ingredients.

I used cookie sheets lined with wax paper and put them in the refrigerator to set up.

With the scoop shapes it made a little more than 80 candies. (20 per cookie sheet)

Note: mixing this was hard and took me quite a while. I ended up mixing it by hand. 

          Might be easier to mix in smaller portions at a time.

Instead of the log shape, I found it was easier and faster for me to use a medium 

Melon baller scoop. 

After I got it all mixed up, I started off by trying different shapes. I liked the scoop the best, 

and it went a lot quicker for me.

They would also look cute in cupcake baking cups. I just topped them off with what ever colored sprinkles I had, so I picked orange for (early) Halloween. I was out of the chocolate ones.

Happy Fall!

Alphabet ATC's

I think these letters were for the month of August, but I have fallen behind and am not 100% sure now. Hate when that happens! Here are the letters 

H, I, & J . I'm still working on Septembers letters and will hopefully have those posted soon. 

Birthday Boy

While I have been struggling with my app to figure out how to write my posts, I missed posting Oliver's birthday.

Our boxer mix, Oliver/Ollie had his 12th birthday during the month of August. 

We didn't throw him a party, but we stopped at a gourmet shop for doggie treats instead. 

lol I don't think he minded at all! They had so much to choose from it was crazy. It was actually our first time in there too.

It was great and they had a doggie daycare. Who knew? 

                           HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLLIE !!

Would You Be Flattered Or Ticked?

Lol would you be flattered or ticked?  Today I was looking through chicken scratch patterns and came across my own projects posted on another site...I couldn't believe it. Usually you ask permission to post some one else's photos and give the credit to the creator and post the original blog link... And of coarse there was not a comment section on there.

I don't think I like the idea of some one claiming my photos for another site:( 

However, I don't mind individuals using my photos for inspiration and coming up with their own projects. Stay crafty, honest and respectful:) 

Check this out.... 

http://shopecoff.com/free-chicken-scratch-embroidery-patterns/

Below: my photos not my blog !?!

Not a link to my blog in site! 

Alphabet ACT's

My Cross Stitch Alphabet ATC group is moving right along...just finished letters E,F, & G.

The partner I'm swapping with via snail mail lives in Belgium.  Even though these aren't great 

Works of art, I think it's a great way to share a craft you have in common. Pretty 

Amazing that some thing I made will end up so far away. 

I like the fact these make great take-a-long projects for busy schedules. 

Cross Stitched Alphabet ATC's

My group is doing three letters for this swap...B, C, & D. It's challenging finding different fonts of

letters that I really like. Plus I like to add some thing decorative to each card. So far this is what I have done... I'm still working on my third card, but will add it to this post as soon as it's finished.

 The pattern I had originally decided on for the letter D didn't fit on an ATC card like I thought it would. I bought the thread colors and every thing.

I'm getting most of my patterns off Pinterest or other free sites.

Gotta love technology for that alone.

Crochet Crowd Mystery Afghan

Last weeks border was so fun...this week, week9, not so much. I'm not sure if it turned out the same for a lot of other people, but this weeks bordered for me turned out a bit wavy...almost a ruffle. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be flat! Not sure if I will take the time to go back and change it or not. I hate to be invested in it this far to not finish it to my liking though. To RIP or not to RIP that is the question for this week!

Crochet Crowd Mystery Afghan Wk 8

Week 8 started the edging of the afghan. I really liked the looks of it so far, and it was pretty fun to crochet the twisted/crossed triple crochet stitch once I got the hang of it. It took me longer to pick it up and get started on this than it did for me to complete these two steps.

Clue/week 9 will add more layers to the edging we just finished. Very close to being done....I can see the light at the end of the tunnel:)

Happy Easter!

I found these adorable bunnies and chicks while serfing the net. Doesn't look like the bunny WIP I have is going to get done on time...to many projects at once:) Finished the chick for one of my sons friends, her favorite color is purple and I just happened to have a couple different shades on hand so that's what I went with. She loved it!  These are great scrap yarn projects. 

pattern

Crochet Mystery Afghan

Finished up clues 6 & 7 just in time for the new clues today. It was a total pain in the behind,

but I had fun learning a new technique. I'm also thinking at this point my afghan is far from perfect.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but my loops were crocheted a little too loose. In fact, I went back and loosened them up a bit thinking they might go down the middle of the "x" instead of pointing up towards the corners. Lol, don't they always say to go with your first thought...and once again this theory is proven correct.

I'm ok with it, and like my afghan in spite of any artistic differences it might have:) I also like the pattern, and have seen some crazy colors come together to have a stunning affect.

Above is actually a picture of the back...

Alphabet ATC

I recently joined a group that will be cross stitching and swapping ATC's (artist trading cards).

As you can tell from the title, the theme is the alphabet. I have a good collection of ATC cards already, but few cross stitched ones. This will also be my first complete alphabet if I stick with it.

There are so many different styles of letters to make...this should be fun:)

I finished my first letter and will be dropping it in the mail later today. Yea!

Easter Bunny Pin

I've been making these for years now...they make cute small gifts for teachers & friends.

The pattern is for a mouse, but I also use it for the bunny. Allow an extra length of jute/twine (double it) for the larger bunny ears when you cut your pieces. I knotted twice the length I wanted for the bunny body, cut the ends leaving about half inch tails to be hot glued in the middle of the body when I folded it in half to make it a lapel pin. It just gives it a little more stability (helps keep the ears flat) and adds some shape. For the bunny, I glued the whiskers on the back at the top, and the pin on the lower body. A small piece of tan felt will hide the glue. You can also add a small bow by one of the ears. Easy peasy:)

Easter Bunny & Christmas Mouse 

I already had the body done when I decided to finish a mouse for 

the photo. The ears could be a little smaller for the mouse pins.

Macrame Mouse

Square Knot