I decided I want to try out a new hobby. I want to get a program to do some digital scrap booking. I want to make a scrap book for my mom for when she goes in the nursing home and it might even be good for making some cute baby shower invitations.
I’d like to make a book for each of our grandkids too. It’s something they can save and show to their kids, when they have some later on.
I’ve been checking out reviews of such programs and found a good one for under $40. But all this will have to wait until I move and get my stuff out of storage so I can scan old photos to put in mom’s book.
When you got married did you go all out on your wedding or was yours done on a budget? Did you buy expensive, fancy, engraved wedding invitations? They can get quite pricey. You could have made your own and here is one way to do that:
1. Decide on how formal your wedding will be. This has an effect on the design and wording of your invitations.
2. Look for do it yourself wedding invitation ideas by searching the web. You can find sites that offer free templates with or without designs and word samples. You can download templates to use as is or you can adapt them to suit your needs. Some sites will only allow you to download free templates if you purchase your wedding stationary from them.
3. Decide on your design or image and the wording that you will use.
4. Pick a font that goes best with the theme and style of your invitations.
5. Buy your stationery, including cards for any enclosures, such as RSVPs, Thank You cards and programs. You can use stationery blanks that are available in a wide variety of sizes and colors. Be sure to buy a few extra in case of a printing mishap.
6. Make sure you have plenty of extra ink cartridges so that you don’t run out in the middle of printing your invitations.
7. Set aside the time to create your invitations and then print them. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to complete them.
8. Before printing all of the invitations, print one copy of each piece on plain paper cut to the sizes of your stationery. Doing this you can make sure that everything is lined up correctly and check for typing errors.
9. Make sure your printer can adjust to the different sizes of your stationary.
10. Get family and friends who have great handwriting to help you address your invitations.
Are your picture frames dull and boring? They don’t have to be. You can use scrapbook supplies to spice up the photos in your picture frames. You can use foil embossed emblems, small banners, cut outs and other papers. Use alphabet letter stickers, around the actual picture frame, to spell out “Baby’s 1st Birthday”, “Our Wedding”, “Our Anniversary”, etc.
Put the picture in a frame that’s much larger than the picture then use a colored piece of paper as the background then apply stickers, writings, banners, cut-outs and other things to decorate around the picture, across the bottom or top, or down the sides of the photo.
(click for bigger) I finished up my tissue box picnic basket last night. I told you I would! I think it turned out pretty darn good. I didn’t feel like making the cherry because I would have to sew it on and I have no thread to do that with. I have to learn to loosen up a little when I crochet. I tend to make the stitches too tight so I had to add an extra row or two for the bottom of the picnic basket.
(click for bigger) this is a side view so you can see the pattern of the basket. I used black yarn but the light from my lamp makes it look brown. That pattern is done by alternating 2 front post double crochet with 2 back post double crochet. A single double crochet stitch is done at 3 of the corners. The 4th corner is done by joining the row to the top of the chain 3 beginning stitch of each row.
No I didn’t get the pattern from A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose.. I got the pattern from Annie’s Attic. I joined the club and get a bunch of patterns each month for roughly $6.00 a month. It’s a pretty good deal. I got 8 patterns in my 1st shipment this month.
I started a new crochet project last night. It’s a picnic basket cover-up for a tissue box. Isn’t it cute?
I didn’t have enough beige/tan yarn to make the basket part so I’m using black for that. I’m about halfway finished and it will probably be done tonight. I think it’s cute. I know cover-ups aren’t for everyone and they usually aren’t for me, but I saw this pattern and thought it was adorable.
Crocheting keeps my hands busy at night while I’m watching TV. It’s better than sitting around doing market research or smoking!
I made these can cozies several years ago and I’ll try to tell you how to make them.
You start with Worsted Weight yarn and a size H/8 crochet hook. Chain 6 and join in 1st chain to make a loop. Chain 3 then double crochet 7 times and join at the top of the chain 3 (8 dc). Next round.. chain 3 double crochet in same space. 2 double crochet in each of the next 7 spaces (16 dc). Join at the top of the chain 3. Next round… chain 3 double crochet in same space. 2 double crochet in each of the next 15 spaces (32 dc). Join at the top of the chain 3. The circle should now be the same size as the bottom of a soda can.
It’s a little dirty, it’s needs washing, but this is how the bottom circle should look.
Next round, working in back loops only, chain 3 and double crochet in each space (32 dc). Join at the top of the chain 3. Do the same for the next 6 rounds. You can either finsh it off and leave it plan or you can get a bit fancy and chain 5 skip 3 dc single crochet all around then fasten off. Weave in the loose end.
And here is the finished product that I use every day. It keeps my hand from getting cold in the winter and wet in the summer.
I hope you enjoyed this crochet project as much as I enjoyed making them.
As I promised in my last post here are pictures of what I’m working on right now. It’s not exact because I wanted to use a variegated yarn.
First the pattern picture:
The pot holder in progress:
I was crocheting a plastic bag holder for my kitchen. It was to be in the shape of a mouse wearing a long dress. I couldn’t go out and buy yarn for the project and I thought I had enough of 1 color for the dress part… I didn’t. I get frustrated fairly easily on things like this so I ripped it out and tabled that project for awhile. I decided instead that I’ll start on Christmas presents for the family. I’ve started on some pot holders. With them it doesn’t matter too much if you have enough yarn to make a whole one. You can use whatever colors you choose – wherever you choose to use them.
The potholders will go quick and easy. I’m half way done with one already. I’ll take some pictures tomorrow when I have more light in here.
