Finger Crocheted Beanie

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I did!
My favorite part was after the presents are all wrapped and all the cooking was finished, I'd curl up in my chair with a ball of yarn and watch Hallmark Christmas movies.

I have a few projects by request I could have been working on but I do not have the yarn colors handy and no way was I going fight the traffic to get some. They will have to wait a few days.

That left me itching to make something. I didn't know what to make so I just grabbed a ball of yarn I had on hand and began fidgeting with it. I have seen where crafters will crochet with fingers and knit with arms but they all say you have to use bulky yarn. My yarn was not bulky, but I attempted it anyway.

With just my fingers and and idea, I created a this cute summer beanie. "I bet bulky yarn doesn't say summer like my plain ol four ply worsted yarn" . Mine turned out soft and loose and worked up just fine.

Finger Crocheted Beanie
This is crocheted in the round, not joining at beginning stitch so grab a stitch marker.

Make a magic circle
Row 1: sc 10 into the circle (10)
Row 2: 2sc in each sc around (20)
Row 3: sc in next, 2sc in next, cont. around (30)
Row 4: sc in each sc around (30)
Repeat Row 4 approx 24 more times (depending how slouchy you want it).
(my last few rows, I did tighter so it would create a band but this is not necessary)
Tie off and weave ends.

It was a little tricky during the first couple rounds but got alot easier as I went.

Now that I have the feel for it. I may create a couple more.
I have a pair of pink glasses that match this color and I looked like a total geek, but that's ok. It was just to get picture, which is hard to do by myself. Ha.

I'm going to say it again, "Perfect for summer" with its light weight and airy feel.

And speaking of summer, I can hardly wait!!!!


Ive shared this at:
cityofcreativedreams
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks

DIY Wine Cork Trivet

I finally got all my Christmas shopping done.... I think.... There is always one more thing I want to grab. Actually, I got my shopping done last weekend so I had this past week to clean house, and get some Christmas goodies made to share with friends and neighbors.

While working in the kitchen I kept eyeing my collection of wine corks. Ok, before you call me a wino, they are not all mine. My collection also consist of corks I have found laying around at the beach. I have been saving them to make a bird house for the spring, but this is all I have after two years so, a bird house isn't going to happen. Instead, I decided to make a hot plate.

I love the way it turned out and used only the corks from my favorite Carolina Duplin Wine. I was two short, of that design so I added a couple odd corks. It added a little uniqueness to it. I would love to do one with a variety of different corks but I will have to keep collecting. Sure they can be bought at thrift shops by the bag full but that takes all the fun out of it.

 

There are may different ways to make these but here is how I did mine.

Grab a wooden picture frame and removed the glass.
If the back has a flappy stand, remove that and the metal rail that the back slides onto.
Replace the cardboard into the frame and hot glue it in place. Push it as close toward the front as possible.
Flip over and place the corks in a pattern. There are many different ways to turn them and they can even be cut to fit small places.
Once you have a plan, hot glue each cork into the frame, using the cardboard you placed inside as the floor for them to glue too.
I also dabbled a little glue to the back side corners to keep it from sliding around while in use.

I've already used mine and it worked great! I like how it looks sitting on the counter as well.
If you have a lot of corks and a bigger frame, you can hang it on the wall and use it for a cork board.
That could possibly be my next cork idea but it will take me a while.

I've shared this at:
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy.com
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
monday-handmade-linkup-party at judyscardmakingandpapercrafts 

Sugar Lemon Cookies

Christmas is just a couple weeks away now and you still haven't decided what to take to that party. Or maybe you just want to add something sweet in the break room at work. Well, your at the right page. Im fixing to share a simple recipe for some lemon cookies that you can whip up in a matter of minutes.

These little powdered covered cookies will add just enough sweetness to any occasion. They are not to sweet and have a hint of lemon. If you want more lemon taste, just add more lemon juice.

It only takes about five minutes to mix them up and ten minutes to bake.

Try it.

Sugar Lemon Cookies.

 

One Stick of Butter

1 Cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 Tablespoon lemon juice (best from lemon squeeze)

2 Cups self rising flour

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

With a mixer, Cream butter & sugar in a large bowl , add egg, vanilla, lemon juice and zest.

With a fork, Stir in flour. (dough will be sticky so use a spoon and spoon a ball into powdered sugar, roll it around coating all sides. Place 2-3 inches apart on a greased baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes, Once cooled, coat with more powder sugar (optional).

That's all there is to it. They are simply light and sweet. Not sure if its the lemon I like best or the powder sugar. I love making things with powdered sugar. Maybe its just eating a cookie in general. Could you imagine how happy they world would be if everyone made cookies at the same time?



Ive shared this at:
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog
mizhelenscountrycottage
cityofcreativedreams

Oh Fudge!

Ive made up my mind not to even try to diet in December. With all the Christmas parties and dinners planned, light eating is not going to happen.

With that being said, im going to share an easy fudge recipe with you. Grab your kids because its easy enough for them to do too. There is no cooking or electric mixers involved.

This is my first attempt and it turned out great.
 

Just look at that ewy gooey goodness.
 

Easy Fudge

4 tablespoons butter

3 cups simi sweet chocolate chips

1 14oz can condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

 

In a bowl, add chocolate , condensed milk and butter.

Microwave 1 minute

Add in salt and vanilla 

Mix until smooth

 

Line a pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray.

Pour the fudge into the pan, smooth out and refrigerate until cool and firm.

Release fudge on to a clean counter space or cutting board and cut into squares.

Best served at room temperature.

 

This is not my recipe, its a recipe I found on Pinterest. You can click HERE to see a step by step video.

These fudge bites are so creamy and good. I even added one to my coffee for an extra sweet creamy shot.

The next batch I make will have peanuts or pecans in it.

What Is your favorite fudge flavor? Id love to hear all the possibilities.


Ive shared this at:
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
tuesday-pin-spiration-link-party at thestitchinmommy
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage

 

Swowman

Swowman: My made up word  for a snowman made from a sweater. This is exactly what I just made. I'm loving the way he turned out. I'm loving my personalized buttons too. They can be purchase from wearhouseindustries. I use them on my crochet coffee cozies.

I was cleaning out a closet and came across a little knitted shawl that belonged to my daughter years ago. My favorite knitted colors are beige or tans so I wanted to transform it into something.

I thought first that I could use this shawl to cover a pillow but I couldn't find a pillow anywhere to use. Then another thought came into my mind. I have been looking for a simple decoration to use in my daughters room for Christmas. This worked perfect!

What happened is, I cut the fringe off the piece of knit and cut out enough to sew down one side and across the bottom. Once that was done, I stuffed him with some stuffing I had on hand. Next, I sewed the end shut (like making a pillow) then I took some yarn and stitched and gathered the middles. Nothing fancy or neat. I am definitely not a seamstress. Then for the fun part, I used some scrap yarn and crocheted him a hat and scarf. 

Waaa laaa, meet woolly the swowman.

Ive shared this at:
before-after-wednesday at thededicatedhouse 
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner  
worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog 
weekend-bloggy-reading-link at serenitynowblog
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks FEATURED
nifty-thrifty-sunday at niftythriftythings
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
cityofcreativedreams.

Little Paper Houses

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend because my recently moved away daughter came to stay with us for four days! I miss her so much even though she's only 45 minutes away.

Its our tradition to put up the tree on Thanksgiving night after we are all stuffed and tired from all day visiting and eating. We turn on the Christmas music and get to work on decorations while drinking hot chocolate. Just puts you in the mood.

My daughter and I wanted to do something crafty during the weekend so I found this cute template on Pinterest to make paper houses. Simply cut them out and add a battery operated tea light inside to make them glow.

I used to have a Christmas village I would sit out and add a little to it each year. That ended a few years ago when my Christmas stash was accidentally sold in our garage sale. Imagine the feeling I had. A lot of memories went down in history now adorning someone else's tree. That's over now so there is no use crying over spilled milk. We just started a new collection and let it be a lesson learned.

Making the paper houses or paper villages would be a great craft to do with children. I left the paper white and plain but they can also be colored or painted and decorated. This will keep them busy for a while. An adult will need to cut out the houses as you will need a razor blade to do so.

first you will need:
Template

Card stock paper
scissors
razor
wax paper
glue or tape
battery operated tea lights.

I found my tea lights at the dollar store. They were two for a dollar and seem to burn a long time. They will get you through Christmas and then some.

On a cutting board, cut out the template. Using your razor blade, cut out the windows. Now cut some wax paper and glue to the inside so the windows will have a frosty glow. This is not necessary but makes it look better.

Then you fold the houses and tape or glue into place, add your tea light under them. I swapped the paper trees out for dollar store trees. They stood in place better.

In no time you will have a luxury village you can simply smash up and throw away at the end of the season.


Ive shared this at:
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy.com- FEATURED
tuesday-pin-spiration-link-party at thestitchinmommy 
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner 
Worthwhile-wednesdays at craftyallieblog 
Weekend bloggy reading link up at serenitynowblog
nifty-thrifty-sunday at niftythriftythings
snickerdoodle-sunday at 2crochethooks