Friday, October 28, 2011

Lotus Mandala Prayer Flag

This is definitely one of my favorite projects. I was poking around on a blog Crochet with Raymond and decided it was time to make one of these super cute flags. The process was a lot of fun, and I loved coming up with different color combos.



This was the first one I did, and I ended up giving it to my teenage niece for her birthday. She totally loved it!

I loved it so much in this little spot in my dining room, I made myself one in my favorite color combo ever.

It brings a little oomph, and color to this wall, and is exactly what it needed!


Doesn't it just totally make you happy?!?!?!?

DIY ring and ring base

The thought and motivation behind this little craft was nothing other than pure boredom. I wasn't working, and needed something to keep my hands and mind busy for a little while. I found some needle-nose pliers and wire cutters, and got to work making a ring.

This is where it started...



I actually used a kitchen (turkey) baster as a template, and wrapped the wire around in a spiral, then around the baster, and back again. It wasn't as sturdy as I wanted, so I found some thinner wire laying around and wrapped it up to make it more strong.

I was originally going to keep it as just the wire cause I really liked it, but then I needed more time to kill, so I came up with the idea to make a fabric flower, and slap it on there. I simply used a strip of fabric I had laying around, and twisted it and spiraled it, until I had a size I liked. I then added a cute little pearl in the center.

A little wire + a little fabric + boredom = a super cute ring!

So, once that one was done, I got another wild hair up my butt and decided to turn a charm I had into a ring as well.

This charm was once my sisters (who has since died) and I have always wanted to do something with it but never knew what. I couldn't put it on a necklace cause the holes were too small, so the wire was a nice match.

Its the perfect size! The band (wire) is just the right gauge and it really makes the charm stand out well. This is a ring that I love so much, I have been wearing almost every day.

This was a super easy project to do and I can't wait to go to the bead store (mental note for tomorrow!) and get some super cute beads to make more rings out of.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Shrinky Dink Necklace


I just recently picked up some sheets of shrink plastic (AKA Shrinky Dinks) and am totally in love! This stuff has put a new spin on my creativity, and caused me to think in new ways. I have been ferociously scribbling down ideas and designs, and find myself even thinking of things I can make just before I fall asleep. It might be on the verge of weird and obsessive, but I am having fun so, Oh well!





I recently made this fun necklace charm out of shrink plastic. It was super easy- simply draw on the plastic, cut it out, and stick it in the oven.




Though I would love to take credit for making the necklace too, it came from my sister. I simply attached a jump ring to the charm, and stuck it on the necklace I already had.

This was my first experience with this material, and since then I have really experimented and tweaked a lot. So, the next time I show you something with shrink plastic, it will look better than this!

Pink Crochet Necklace

Some members of my family are loving this type of necklace, and have been asking left and right for one of their own. Needless to say, I have been making them up a storm the past several months.

This one is done with pink yarn, and light pink beads in between the circles.

I've posted about a blue necklace I did like this one, and the thing that inspired the concept of these was the fact that key chain loops were on sale at Beverly's for like 99 cents for a huge bag. A little yarn around them, and nobody can tell what they are!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Felt Fun

Hey there! Wow, sorry its been so long since I posted! You know how life is sometimes though- so busy you just can't keep track of what comes next. I have been through a whirlwind of changes in the past couple months, and am just now settling down again.
But never fear, cause I have been super duper crafty and creative in that time, and I have a lot to catch you all up on and a lot to share with you.

So without further ado, here is something that was simple, fun, and colorful for my bedroom!


Not sure what would be an appropriate name for this, but its just layered felt circles attached to ribbon.

I recently found a ton of felt in my studio, and decided to keep my mind and hands busy with this quick project. It was fun picking out all the color combos!

Once I had all the colors cut out and shaped up, I got to work with my trusty friend- The hot glue gun! I dabbed glue on all the layers, then attached the last layer to the ribbon, and TA DA!!!

Its not much, but it does make me happy to look at when my bedroom door is closed

Friday, September 9, 2011

Doodle on watercolor

Something random and different to show y'all...

I used to watercolor a lot when I was younger, and just recently pulled out my old set. I painted a fun background, and then got to work with a purple sharpie once it all dried.




This was another random doodle that I did with the kiddos I watch. Clearly I was having more fun than them!



Kitchen Inspiration Wall

I'm the type of person who really needs inspiration for the things I do. I need something to keep me motivated with mundane tasks that I don't necessarily always enjoy. Like cooking. I like it most of the time, but when I run out of ideas or motivation I need a little pick me up. Hence my inspiration wall!
I started with these burner covers that I got from the Dollar Store. They were both in the same package, one big and one small.

I decided they were going to make perfect magnetic chalkboards, so I spray painted them with the chalkboard paint, and added them to a little cork board I got from Beverly's (using a gift card!)

Its a great fix to this big, boring wall we have in our kitchen, as well as a message board (got house-mates), and an inspiration board!

I love all the circles and then theres the square shape of the board... Fabulous if I do say so myself!

I added fun and exciting recipes to the cork board, so that every time I walked past it I could be inspired to make them. So far it has been pretty effective, and I have been cooking a lot more than I was.



The chalkboards can be used for virtually anything too. Right now I have them set up as one being a shopping list, and the other a place where we can put the bills. I realize that its kinda tacky to have your bills out in the open like that, but getting multiple people to pay them is hard enough as it is- we don't need it hidden away where we can forget about it for even longer!

Isn't that fabric great!?

Friday, September 2, 2011

Mommy & Me Hats

Another cousin of mine asked for some matching hats for her and her 2 year old daughter. She just told me that she wanted it to be either white or cream, and that I could just do whatever I wanted.


So I made up my own pattern, and used a half double crochet with a scalloped edge at the bottom.




I really loved this purple/periwinkle color of yarn I already had, so I made a big flower and sewed it on to the side of the hat.


Such an easy hat, yet so incredibly adorable!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Green Chain Cuff

This cuff continues to be a favorite of mine...


This particular one is an extra small, and would be super cute on a child or young teen. I love the sparkle that the buttons bring.





See something you like? Email me for sales of any item you see on my blog as well as patterns or tutorials. I would love to hear from my readers!
Turtlemeg@gmail.com

Lotus Flower Cuff

I found this great pattern from Creative Yarn, and have been oogling over it for a really long time now. Well, I finally got around to making it!


It gave me a good reason to spend some time at the beach! I worked on it in the sand, then got to photograph it there too!


I adore this yarn, cause its not fuzzy. I like the fresh, cleanliness it brings to the cuff.


I really want to try using some fabric stiffener on my next cuff- Anybody have any advice on doing that with crochet? Is it pretty easy?

Monday, August 1, 2011

Felt Owl Lavender Sachet

My obsession for owls started quite a while ago, and it is still going strong! There is something about the owl that is mysterious, intriguing, cute, and wise all while holding the ability to conveniently fit adorably in any setting.




I had a bunch of different pieces of felt lying around, and did a little search to be inspired to do something with it. I landed upon many different ideas (google image "felt owl") and fell in love with one like this. It looked easy enough, and took me no time at all to get started!

I ended up filling this little guy with some fresh lavender from my garden, and it smells wonderful!

Adorable, right?!?!?!?!? I think this little guy might end up living in a drawer to keep my unmentionables smelling like lavender... Then again, it might be a little weird to have anything with eyes in my undies drawer...