My Little Artist

So you know those plastic easels you can buy for your kids? Yup, have one of those in the kids playroom, but Avery insisted on making her own so she could paint like Grandma! She got a cereal box, taped it to the back of a chair, then put a box under it so she had somewhere to put her paint. I love kids' imaginations!!

Finger Pupper Fun

These cute little finger puppets were super easy to make! Although when I asked Avery what each animal was, she thought my mouse was a cat, my cat was a dog, and the bunny was a cat but she loved them anyways. They are also from Kata Golda's Book "Hand Stitched Felt". They come with a little pouch that each one can snuggle inside of, and then it can be rolled up & taken anywhere.

Craft Book Addiction

So I have a confession to make....I am addicted to buying craft books. There I said it. I love to buy them, look through them over and over, keep them on my bookshelf, admire all the great things in them, and say to myself "I can make that." I even like to buy the materials needed, which are stockpiled so lovingly in my basement/storage room/craft room. So my 2010 promise to myself is to make at least one thing from every book I have.

My newest favorite book is Hand Stitched Felt by Kata Golda. I love her work as it is cute, quick and super easy!

I just finished these notebooks during Wednesday night craft night at the Arts Station. They are made with the store bought felt, and embellished with felted sweater bits and pieces. I also have a stockpile of paper in my basement/storage room/craft room (for scrapbooking of course!) so that is what i used for the inside. FUN!

Swirly Tree with Sun

I have always had a thing for cool looking trees, like the Burmis Tree in the Pass. This is just a picture of a swirly looking tree using the wet felting technique. Once it was dry, I did some needle felting on the "swirlies". (Is that a word? Wonder if I could get away with that one in a game of scrabble?) I sold this picture and hope they love it!

Felted Bowl Addiction

Have you ever shrunk a wool sweater in the wash? Well then, welcome to the world of felting. All you need to felt is wool, hot water, soap and agitation. These are felted bowls I made over balloons. I covered a balloon with 3 layers of wool roving (that nice fluffy wool from a sheep, that has been cleaned and dyed). I then add hot soapy water and rub the balloon with bubble wrap to agitate or "felt" it. Once it starts felting you pop the balloon, rub it a little more and voila

you have all these cute felted bowls all over your kitchen for your husband to adore when he gets home from a hard days work!! I seriously became addicted to making these....I have so many...could not stop making them. I use mine for "clutter catchers" in the kitchen and bathroom, or have put a jar or pot inside them for flower vases or plant pots.

Avery's First Purse

Many people wonder how I do any crafting while having two kidlilngs. Well Kaden, a 2 year old boy, is quite happy to empty the kitchen drawers, wreak havok with his mighty machines, or dump out all the pasta from their packages while I am crafting. Avery on the other hand wants to craft all the time. This day she simply said "Can we sew a purse today?" So I figured I would teach her to do some hand sewing on felt. All I did was thread the needle, show her a couple stitches and off she went. I then cut out some felt pieces for her to glue on & helped her with the handle. Not only was she thrilled but I had some time to work on my own projects!

Happy Valentines Day

I made these adorable softies for Avery & Kaden for Valentines Day.

The monkey is for Kaden, and is made out of some of his old baby clothes that I loved - a blue courdoroy shirt and a blue & white plaid shirt. I even attached the pocket from his shirt onto the monkeys tummy, with a red felt heart. He loved it and had to take it to bed with him!

The house is for Avery, made out of a really cute pink shirt that I loved her in. I have boxes of baby clothes that I can't bear to part with so I loved making these, and can't wait to make more! Thanks to my Wednesday night girls for introducing me to the book & ideas "Softies Only a Mother Could Love".