Category: Crafts

Last evening, I realized that I had not sent the BF’s parent’s a thank you card for hosting us at their home in Delaware. That was a few weeks ago. Sighs… seriously Opal? I love sending and receiving handwritten cards/notes/letters.

I sifted through the handmade cards/envelopes that I had made and decided that none of them were “right” for his parents and so I pulled out my card stock and made them a card and an accompanying envelope. I even used my Cuttlebug and some of my embossing folders on the actual card and the envelope. I did not stop there, I made four more cards also.

After their card was completed, I wrote a nice note. It basically said what I’d written in my follow up email. So yeah…I guess I really did not have to write a handwritten note, but I did and my daughter signed the card also. I wish I could say that I took a picture of their card; however, I did not and I mailed it bright and early this morning. You know something? I do believe, I’ll recreate the card and post a picture of it here. That way you’ll see what they will receive. In addition to that card, I mailed the BF a cute little card. I’d made it last evening too.

 

This past weekend, I made another knitted dishcloth. I would have made the dishcloth longer, if I hadn’t ran out of yarn.

No… I have not made them in a while, and to be perfectly honest, there’s been no need to do so, since my loom gives me a much tighter woven dish cloth. I only use cotton, and I find the fabric to be super absorbent and a much better option than any other material.

And that’s what you want when your making an item to wipe up spills right? Something super absorbent that will eagerly sop up the mess.

Although I love my loom woven cloth, this past weekend that wasn’t an option since my daughter and me were over at the BFs and during some of our downtime, while he was watching COPS, I pulled out my Hiya Hiya knitting needles and started knitting. The stitch I used was a simple moss stitch. The moss stitch is quite simple… If you have an even number of stitches, the two row pattern is k1, p1 on row 1, then p1, k1 on row 2. If you have an odd number of stitches, it’s just k1, p1 for each row. See? Simple!

Pete J. says:
May 26, 2015 at May 26, 2015 4:23 pm (Edit)

Jennifer, Thank you for the very kind words! I can’t express enough just how much that I absolutely adore Opal! Ask her. When most ladies knit or crochet, most guys tune out, pick up the remote, and off to LA LA land they go. I am absolutely mezmerized! I can’t take my eyes from her “flying fingers”! I find it amazing. Especially when it seems she’s doing it so effortlessly, or not even looking at what she’s doing. She made me a washcloth over the weekend. The most sentimental thing about it is that I was right there next to my love when she knitted it! Love you, Opal! Thanks for just being YOU!!

On the baked ziti post, my BF made the above comment. He really seems fascinated with the whole knitting process and spent some of the time watching my fingers fly with the yarn. Although this dishcloth isn’t the right size to dry dishes, it is the perfect size for wiping up the occasional spill and of course, I’ll eventually make him more. Most likely, I’ll use my loom.

This past Friday (May 1) we celebrated my BF’s son’s birthday. He turned 19 on May 3.

I went to my selection of cards, only to find that only one white embossed card existed and I had no more envelopes. Sighs… since I did not have time, I used the card and simply tucked the card (along with his gift of money) into a tiny gift bag.

Yesterday, my daughter and I hung out the entire day and so I started making cards/envelopes.

I love bright colors and so naturally I chose the appropriate card stock and patterned paper.

I also wanted something quick and simple so I did not get elaborate with emboss, stamps, etc., I’ll be making more cards this week, to build up my supply and I’m sure I’ll get a bit more fancy, although I don’t think I’ll get as elaborate with mine as Jennifer.

I do love my various crafting hobbies. Last evening, you could find me mending my daughter’s large backpack. There was a bit of grumbling about the poor quality fabric that is used to create many of the backpacks today. Today, as I drove her to school, I told her I would be making her a backpack.

Daughter: “Oh no mom, don’t do that just buy one!”

Me: “Silly girl, you do realize that those backpacks are made by someone, right?”

Daughter: Oh… wow you can really make a backpack?”

Me: Mmmhmm

Daughter: Squee… ok, can I pick out the colors?”

Me: Sure you can, but I won’t be starting on it this weekend…

Daughter: Awww… (gives me the sad face)

Me: I look at her and shake my head laughing. “You know that’s not possible, your uncle and nephew will be in town tomorrow.”

I’m currently looking at the Backpacks Pattern Book by Cindy Taylor Oates. I’m hoping it actually includes a physical pattern since I really don’t feel like drafting one for a backpack. Pattern drafting for clothes? Sure, no problem. I do that all the time! However,  I rarely make bags, so I’d much prefer an actual pattern.

Last evening besides the backpack mending, I also made designs for my daughters school notebooks. I did those with my Brother Scan N’ Cut.I used vinyl sheets for the lettering. She was so thrilled to have her own personalized notebooks. Simple things make my daughter happy and I enjoy doing them for her.

My fathers birthday was July 24.

I believe I mentioned in a post about the stainless steel bottle that I’d purchased for him. He loves practical gifts. What I didn’t post was the personalized message that was imprinted on the bottle with my Brother Scan N’ Cut. The reason was simple, I hadn’t created it in time for his birthday.

I finally got around to adding a personalized message. This was my first time using vinyl with my Brother Scan N’ Cut. The blue is actually much darker than what appears in this photo. In fact, it looks black in person.

Knowing that my father doesn’t like anything fancy, I went for a primitive vibe. Result? My dad likes his workout bottle even more. He told me he takes this every time he works out at the gym. He works out several times weekly.

I would consider my father to be a Bible Scholar. He is very knowledgeable about the Bible and will study and read about it hours daily; that’s no exaggeration. While simple, my father’s favorite Bible verse is John 3:16. I decided to include three crosses on the bottle and the scripture.

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Sure it’s easy to become a Christian, but not too many are. All too often, people will insert their personal reasons on why they aren’t. Well guess what, at judgement day there will be many that find that the gates to heaven aren’t open to them since being “politically correct” or doing good works isn’t enough to save you.

3 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Accepting and believing in Jesus is the only way to get to heaven.

 

Here in the United States, it’s Memorial Day. Many businesses are closed on this day.  Some will visit graves of those who lost their lives fighting for this country. Others pay tribute in a variety of other ways to; parades, reenactments, visiting special events, etc.,

 

 

A few years ago I shared a lot of Memorial Day facts…

I love history. Over the years, I’ve read a lot about this particular holiday. Did you know In 1865, freed slaves took part in a huge celebration in Charleston, South Carolina? The celebration was held at the Washington Race Course now known as Hampton Park.

What’s interesting is that this location had served as a temporary Confederate prison camp for captured Union soldiers. Mass graves on the site contained Union soldiers. I found it fascinating that in 1865 freed slaves removed bodies from the mass graves and placed them into individual graves. They also placed a fence around the graveyard, and declared it a union graveyard.

So do stop by if you’re interested in reading additional Memorial Day facts, check out that post… you might learn something new.

Brother ScanNCut and a Memorial Day Card

Today, my daughter and I visited family friends. We had a lovely time with them. To say thanks, my daughter made this lovely card.

 

I really love how the Brother ScanNCut handles fussy cutting. It means one less thing that I have to do with my X Acto Knife.

The above picture is a coloring page that I printed and scanned into my Brother. The Brother ScanNCut did an excellent job cutting on the line, don’t you think? I can only show you part of this cards page, since the families information could be seen from the other side.

 

My daughter thought it would be a nice touch to add a grill and so I printed an image of a grill that was scanned into the Brother ScannCut. Both pictures were direct cut and my daughter colored the pictures.

Photo Source: Mass Casualties

 

Well, look what arrived yesterday!

 

It’s my Brother ScanNCut! I have not had a chance to do too much since it’s been busy, but I did at least give a few test cuts. Surprisingly not on fabric, but on paper. Jennifer, I think you’d love some of it’s capabilities.

I’m brand-new to electric material/paper cutting machines. I’m finding that I have to actually pay attention to the manual. The Brother ScanNCut can scan images, convert to the proper format and actually cut what it’s scanned. You can also convert images to the appropriate file, load onto USB and upload to your Brother ScanNCut.

Get this… you can actually draw with this machine too! It uses pens, that are inserted into a cartridge that’s similar to an ink cartridge dispenser. I’m looking forward to trying out that feature. There are permanent markers that can be used, along with erasable markers that are great to make seam allowances on fabric.

My daughter seems to enjoy this machine. I cut out a few images that she’s added to her birthday invitation cards. Although her birthday is today, she won’t have a party until next week. I’m looking forward to more time with the Brother ScanNCut and after I’ve used it for a bit, I’ll be sure to post a review.