Knitting Content - Sort Of...

I received my final package from my SP13 pal yesterday. I have been spoiled by Kelly of The Vagabond Weaver. She's in the process, from what I see on her blog, of transferring her old posts into the new server she's with. It's been a real pleasure getting spoiled by her and I hope to get to know her better now that the Secret Pal 13 has run its course.

Here are the goodies she sent me this time - I love them all!! I got some yarny goodness - some Opal sock yarn (I think it's from the Rainforest collection because it has a picture of a toucan on it), some really soft 100% baby alpaca from Blue Sky Alpacas (Tinker Belle loved this. She tried to get at it numerous times). The colour number is 800. There are some really cute sandstone buttons in the picture too. I took a close-up of them so you could see the detail. She had everything wrapped up in super cute Easter bags. She wanted to celebrate Easter a little early since there's been so much snow lately...it was certainly a bright spot in the day!

Not only did Kelly send these items, but she had a cute tote bag included as well! It's nice and environmentally friendly - I can tote my yarn around in it, or I can take it to the grocery store and use it there.

I'm on March Break now, as of yesterday, and will have the next week off. Unfortunately, I have homework to keep me busy. I did a little of it last night but got stuck, so I'll wait to do the rest of it. I do plan on doing some relaxing this week though; things have been a little hectic at school the last couple of weeks. I plan on getting the scarf done for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal. I'm also supposed to make something for a couple of friends. We're having a little gift exchange of something handmade (it can't be food) and I haven't started yet - been so busy. We were going to have the exchange on St. Patrick's Day, but we moved it to April Fools Day. I have a month, but depending on what I make, and how much free time I have...I don't know if I'll get their gifts done on time...might have to extend the time on it. Hopefully I'll get something done for them on time though.

I made a couple of cards again today and I'll post those in a separate post...hopefully tomorrow. One of them is plain, but bright. The other I am quite fond of, though it's "plain" to a degree. I used some pattered paper and a little "border" and a cutout - a limited amount of supplies, but I'm happy with how it turned out. Anyway, I'll discuss those in the post tomorrow.

Happy knitting/crafting!

Two More Cards

So sorry for the lack of knitting content lately. However, I did originally set up this particular blog to show any crafts I happen to do. It turned into a knitting blog because that was my main craft. But, from time to time something else might pop up, as is the case with this post (and the one from a couple of posts ago).

I made both of these cards the other evening (Thursday I believe), but didn't get a chance to take pictures and post about them until today. Most scrappers and card makers (or any type of paper crafter) can typically tell you the names of the papers they used, the specific colourways (much like yarnaholics can do) and which set/company they got their rubber stamps from. I've picked that up from reading several paper craft blogs recently. I, on the other hand, cannot do that just yet. The reason being is that what paper I do have I bought at Michael's in those "grab bag" type of packages - and 99% of the paper I do have is cardstock. The rest might be patterned paper such as the background in the next card.

When I made this card, I wasn't paying close enough attention to stamping the lighthouse, and it ended up a little crooked (is that how you spell that?). The stamp is actually one piece with the words to the left on the card, actually appearing below the lighthouse. It says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" and comes from Psalm 119. I used my watercolour pencils to colour the image. I must add that I'm not all that great with colour combinations, LOL, but I thought they might look nice together. Also, the words could be up a little higher in that area...or maybe I could find some kind of embellishment to put there...

This next card I used some striped scrapbook background paper (one of those 12 x 12 sheets) and tried to get the solid cardstock colours to be as close a match to the stripes as I could. I think they were pretty well close to being the same. Sorry the picture is a little dark. for the upper right corner, I cute a triangle of the blue cardstock using some scissors with a patterned edge. I used the same scissor to cut out the red and blue circle as well.

The words in the triangle area say "Thinking of you is a nice thing to do" and the little mouse in the circle is holding a little flower. I got this set from Stampin' Up a few years ago. Again, I used my watercolour pencils to colour the mouse and flower. Unfortunately I don't think it shows up too well since the cardstock is a little dark. I only have the watercolour pencils and some chalk (from Stampin' Up) to colour my cards with, so I'm limited. Someday when I have a job (and I'm not in school), I may be able to get some of the markers and other items many of the papercrafters 'out there' have! But, until then, I am limited to what I have to work with...unless I get together for a day of card making with some friends and they have items they are willing to let me use...

Well, just wanted to post the pictures of the cards. Must get back to the tons of homework I have for the weekend - a 6 lesson unit plan (this one is a group thing but in total we have to have 6 lessons...I've got to get mine done for Monday so the others who need it to work from can use it), 2 lesson plans for my math class, go over my stuff (and gather the supplies) for my little mini presentation in phys. ed. for Monday evening, work on a resource binder for phys. ed., work on my wellness portfolio for phys. ed., work on my teaching portfolio, and an assignment using a new marking program we got the other day in one of my classes. Tons to do, and most of it due this week...

So, happy knitting and/or happy stamping to you!

Butterfly Award

My friend Jodi gave me an award! Thanks so much Jodi!

I choose to give the award to:

Kelly at Celtic Cast On
Robyn at Knit and Purl Mama
Janice at Willow Way Knitting
Monica at Monica Knits...a lot!
Rhonda at Home of the Stitching Nut
Carol at An Island Girl




Why not pass on the love? Here is what to do: 1) Post the award’s logo on your blog 2) Add the link to the person who nominated you 3) Nominate at least 6 others & post their links.

*****

Been doing a little knitting on the scarf for my Ravelry Exchange Pal. I really want to show a picture, but she wants to be surprised and she might stop by the blog some time. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for her.

I also made a couple more cards last night. I like these results better than the two from the previous post. I don't have the pictures of them yet - hopefully tomorrow though. I will post them when I get the pictures taken.

Until then, I'm heading out for supper in about half an hour so I must go get ready.

Making Cards

I haven't been getting much knitting in lately, though I have done some work on the scarf for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal. I'd like to post a picture, but she wants to be surprised with it and she might visit the blog. I will post a picture though once she has received the scarf (we have to mail it out by the first week of April...have to check on the date for sure though).

This past week I've been getting the itch to make some cards again. I haven't done this since before I went to South Korea. I've seen some really gorgeous cards online recently, and borrowed Jodi's Stampin' Up catalogue last Thursday as well. I don't have a lot of the pretty papers and things (or a lot of really cute stamps), so my cards are turning out kind of plain and boring.

This evening I made two cards. The first one I am not very happy with. It's plain and boring. I'm sure there is something I could do to make it look nicer, however I was just trying something. Actually, the first idea I had for it didn't quite work out, but I think it would have been plain and boring as well. I'm not sure if clicking on the image will enlargen it or not. However, on the dark blue background I used the Versamark ink pad and a stamp that had some little tiny hearts and dots on it (it's more of a background stamp). On the red I have the one black heart that you can see, but also used the Versamark ink pad to put some other hearts around it. I attached a little tag that says "all my love" to the right. Like I said, it's plain and boring. I'll have to try this again using different papers or something...

The second card I made is a little more to my liking, though it is quite plain as well. This one I used some pink and yellow striped paper, though the yellow seems to look a little white (probably because I had to use the flash). I attached a pink sheet of paper, stamped a flower vase and the verse "May God's love brighten your day!" at the top. As well, on both sides of the vase I used the Versamark ink pad and the corner of the little heart & dot background (the same that is in the card above). I coloured in the flowers and vase using my watercolour pencil crayons. Like I said, though, this is still quite plain. Someday I'll learn how to make really nice cards - just need to have a better supply of paper and stuff onhand I think...

Anyway, I just wanted to share some of the other crafts I enjoy doing - even if I don't do so well at them just yet.

So, other thank knitting, do you have any other crafts you enjoy doing (even if you don't have the time)? If so, let me know what they are in the comment section!

Happy crafting!

Flutterbye Dreams

My friend, Jodi, from school is into crafts. I knew she somewhat did crafty things like making cards and scrapbooking, however, I just discovered on the weekend that she is into more than that. She even has an Etsy shop! It's called Flutterbye Dreams and she has some really cute things there. I saw pictures of some of her other crafts that she doesn't have listed, and let me tell you, she makes some pretty cool things!

So, I just wanted to help advertise her shop and hopefully send some customers her way. Go check out her blog and her shop - tell her Shelley sent you! And before you can ask, no I'm not getting any kind of commission for this; I'm just doing a good deed.

Time To Knit?

Well, between not having any knitting mojo and school work, I've got hardly any knitting done since the beginning of 2009! I am starting too feel the withdrawls now and feel the need to knit!

So, this afternoon (after my classes) I went and got some yarn for my Ravelry Scarf Exchange pal's scarf. I do hope it will be one she likes. I also got some Bernat cotton to make a couple of dishcloths. I figured maybe a quick knit from time to time might help get the knitting mojo back!

Today I had a group presentation for one of my classes. We had to talk about and discuss Gender Separated classes. I'm glad that one is over. My next presentation is in a couple of weeks, so my group will have to get together soon to decide what we're going to do and how we will present it.

We got more snow last night - another storm. Schools were cancelled today, even though by early this morning it wasn't snowing, the roads were plowed, and it really wasn't too bad out there. Sigh, I can't wait until I'm a teacher and can get snow days too, LOL!

Ok, just wanted to put a little update on here and let you all know I'm still around. I'd better head off and get some knitting done before the motivation and mojo disappear again!

Happy knitting!

P.S. I have turned comments moderation on because I've noticed sometimes lately I am getting spam in the comments section (I have the filter apparently on, so the spammers are now being done by 'live' people...). It's so annoying that the spam is happening again, but hopefully this will catch it. If I wanted to advertise on my blog, then it would be set up that way. I hate spam!