~ Oh Cristmas tree - oh Christmas tree ~

I've been working on this Christmas tree for a couple of weeks, and finally completed it yesterday evening. 

 

Now I'm not gonna lie - this was kind of a pain in the rear to do.  It was easy enough to craft - just ball-head pins and lots of green buttons pushed into a Styrofoam tree - but the pain in the rear part came from trying to fit the buttons together without leaving too many empty spots.  It was like working a puzzle almost.  Does this fit?  No.  Does this one fit?  No.  Try this one.  Ah, yes - this one fits.  When I did have an empty spot, I just pushed in a pin with no button.

 

If you'd like to craft one of these - all you will need are these supplies:

 

 

A Styrofoam tree, green acrylic paint, ball-head pins, glue (optional), and lots and lots of different shades of green buttons.

 

*  paint the tree with the acrylic paint and let dry

 

*  take one ball-head pin, insert into a button and then push the pin into the Styrofoam tree.  Repeat this step 15 million more times.

 

*  if you end up with a small empty spot, just push in a pin with no button

 

*  for the top of the tree - layer up 3 or 4 buttons and pin in place  

 

If you're going to use glue - after you insert the pin into the button, dip the pin into the glue and then push it into the tree.  I ended up not using the glue just in case I had to move some buttons around.  You can make the choice on whether you want to use glue or not.

 

I'm gonna go now - have to get my house straightened and cleaned before we go to the campground early in the morning tomorrow.  My nephew Spencer and his wife Berlin are going to house-sit and dog-sit for us and I can't leave a messy house for them to see.  We've decided that we're going to spend the weekend there - so no Rolling Thunder on Sunday.  Maybe next year.

 

Enjoy your day.  :)   

~ soft rainbow preemie blankie ~

Here's a little preemie blankie I finished up last night.  The pattern is just a basic granny square.  I used Red Heart Super Saver, ILTY!, and Bernat 4-ply worsted weight yarns with a 'J' hook.  It measures 24" square. 

The soft-white square at the beginning started out to be something else, but I decided that I really wouldn't wear it, so I switched to crocheting the blankie.  Here is the picture of what I started to crochet:

and here is the link to the blog where I found it if you're interested:

http://hobilerimveben.blogspot.com/2011/07/hanm-dilendi-bey-begendi-motifinden.html

She doesn't give a written pattern, but there are a few pictures to show what she did.

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This coming weekend is going to be a busy one.  My nephew Michael is celebrating his 14th Birthday at the campground on Saturday, and then on Sunday my Vince is going to be riding in the 'Rolling Thunder Run'.  I'm thinking I might ride with him - I haven't made up my mind yet, but I'm leaning toward yes.  

 http://rollingthunderrun.com/ 

Thanks for dropping by my little part of the world.  I hope ya'll have a wonderful day.  :)

~ checkerboard baby blankie ~

I finished up this preemie baby blankie about a week ago.  I crocheted it with Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn in the colors of 'chocolate' and 'butterscotch', and it measures 17" x 26".  The 'butterscotch' color does look a little more yellow in real life - I just couldn't get a good picture of it.  

 

The pattern I used is the small 'double duty square'.

 

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Before I leave to go do my shopping today, I will leave you with this happy song I first heard on a tv commercial.  I hope it makes you smile.  :)

 

 

~ a fairy garden ~

I know - I know - my fairy gardens are always a little sparse.  I like it that way though - gives the plants room to grow without over-growing. 

 

The little house and the bridge was purchased at the Dollar Tree.  The 'water' under the bridge is clear blue glass gems - the walkway from the bridge to the house is flower shaped glass gems.  I think I got them at the Dollar Tree too.  All of the succulents were in one pot that I got at Home Depot for $4.98.  Oh, and the very large coffee mug planter was bought at the thrift store a while back - I paid either $2.90 or $4.90 for it - I can't remember which.

 

Fairy gardens are fun to play with - kind of makes me feel like a giant.  :)

~ double duty square ~

This square pattern can either be used for a coaster or a motif for a baby blanket.

Materials:
- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- J hook

Size:
- rose square = 3 1/2"
- aqua square = 4 1/4"

Notes:
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.
- The ch 2 at the beginning of Rnd 1 does not count as a stitch.

Directions:
-for rose square:
Rnd 1:  Ch 3 (make the 1st ch a little loose), 12 dc in 3rd ch from hook.  Join with a sl st to 1st dc.  (12 dc)

Rnd 2:  (ch 1, sc, ch 4, sc) in same dc as joining.  2 sc in each of next 2 dc.  *(sc, ch 4, sc) in next dc, 2 sc in each of next 2 dc.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 3:  Sl st in ch-4 space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-4 space, ch 1, skip next 2 sc, dc next 2 sc together, ch 1, skip next 2 sc.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-4 space, ch 1, skip next 2 sc, dc next 2 sc together, ch 1, skip next 2 sc.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.  

Rnd 4:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining.  Sc in each dc and ch-1 space around with (sc, ch 1, sc) in each ch-2 corner space.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.  End off.

-for aqua square:
Rnds 1 - 3:  Repeat Rnds 1 - 3 of rose square.

Rnd 4:  Ch 3 dc in each dc and ch-1 space around with (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in each corner ch-2 space.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 5:  Repeat Rnd 4 of rose square.

***Debi Y's pattern*** 

~ hold the phone! ~

I was browsing around Pinterest a few days ago, and came across a cell phone charging pouch that was made out of an empty lotion bottle.  I thought that was a pretty cool idea, so I set about to crochet one for my phone.  It was quick and easy and took no time at all.

 

 

Materials:
- 1 1/4 oz. 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- K hook
- one plastic child's bracelet

Size:  5 3/4" x 3 3/4" not including the bracelet

Notes:
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook
- pattern is worked with 2 strands of yarn throughout

Directions:
Row 1:  Sc around bracelet 9 times.  Ch 1, turn.  (9 sc)

Row 2 - 4:  Sc in each sc across.  Ch 1, turn.

Row 5:  Sc in each sc across.  Ch 15, turn piece and sl st in 1st sc.

 
Rnd 6:  Ch 1, sc in same sc as joining, sc in next 8 sc, sc in each of next 15 chs.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnds 7 - 18:  Ch 1, sc in same sc as joining, sc in each sc around.  Join as before.  At end of Rnd 18, end off.

Flatten bottom, match stitches evenly and whipstitch the back loops of the front and the front loops of the back together.

Decorate as you please.

***Debi Y's pattern***

~ 'merry-go-round' square ~

Materials:
- 4-ply worsted weight acrylic
- J hook

Size:  6"

Notes: 
- I crochet tight, so you may need to adjust the size of your crochet hook.
- the ch 2 at the beginning of Rnds 1 & 2 do not count as a st.

Directions:
Rnd 1:  Ch 3 (make the 1st ch a little loose), 12 dc in 3rd ch from hook.  Join with a sl st to 1st dc.  (12 dc)

Rnd 2:  Ch 2, 2 dc in same st as joining.  2 dc in each dc around.  Join as before.  (24 dc)

Rnd 3:  Ch 3, dc in same st as joining, ch 1, skip next dc.  *2 dc in next dc, ch 1, skip next dc.  Repeat from * around.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 4:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, sc in next dc, 2 sc in next ch-1 space.  *sc in each of next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-1 space.  Repeat from * around.  Join with a sl st to 1st sc.

Rnd 5:  Ch 1, sc in same st as joining, ch 2, skip next sc.  *sc in next sc, ch 2, skip next sc.  Repeat from * around.  Join as before.

Rnd 6:  Sl st into ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in same ch-2 space, ch 3.  *sc in next ch-2 space, ch 3.  Repeat from * around.  Join as before.

Rnd 7:  Sl st into ch-3 space, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space, {2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 1} 2 times, 2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space, {2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 1} 2 times, 2 sc in next ch-3 space, ch 2, skip next ch-3 space.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join with a sl st to top of beginning ch 3.

Rnd 8:  Sl st over to corner ch-2 space, (ch3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same corner ch-2 space, ch 2, 2 hdc in ch-2 space, {hdc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1} 2 times, hdc in each of next 2 sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2 space, ch 2.  *(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next corner ch-2 space, ch 2, 2 hdc in ch-2 space, {hdc in each of next 2 sc, ch 1} 2 times, hdc in each of next 2 sc, 2 hdc in next ch-2 space, ch 2.  Repeat from * 2 more times.  Join as before.  End off.

***Debi Y's pattern***