Cricut Expression 2 Giveaway!

One of my favorite scrapbooking websites

 

is currently hosting a giveaway for a new Cricut Expression 2! 

For your chance to enter visit http://www.cricutholiday.com/2011/04/enter-here-to-win-new-cricut.html They have generously allowed for 26 entries per person! 

Good luck ladies!

I caved....

...and finally bought a Cricut Expression.  I have wanted a Cricut for months.  My original plan was to buy the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter.  Retail price for the Personal Cutter is $199.99, but Joann's frequently has it on sale for $89.99 or $99.99.  On Black Friday it was even as low as $69.99!  I was waiting for it to go on sale again and then I was going to buy it.  However, I kept hearing that it was silly to buy the smaller version because in the end after using it for a while the person just ends up buying the larger version, so I should save myself the money and just buy the Expression. 

A few weeks ago I was going through my normal routine at work, opening up the office, logging on to my computer, and checking to see what the Daily Deal was at Target http://dailydeals.target.com/.  It was my lucky day, because the Daily Deal happened to be a Cricut Expression for $199!  Normal retail price from the expression is $399.  But that wasnt even the best part.  Not only was it 50% savings, but is also came with 4 cartridges!  These cartridges are available seperately in the store and retail $89.99 each.  Luckily these also go on sale pretty frequently for $29.99.  It seemed like such a good deal that I couldnt pass it up.  The cratridges that came with the machine were Storybook, Destinations, Desginer's Calendar, and Stretch Your Imagination. 

So I am not the proud owner of a Cricut Expression!  I can't wait to start using it and buy some more cartridges.  I really want to get the Hello Kitty Cartridges.  I also need to look into which cartridges have the patterns for making little boxes and bags. 

Thank You!

I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to Cara over at Sweet Memory Graphics for creating this new blog layout.  I love it!  Thanks so much!

If you are interested in getting a custom layout done, check out their website.

http://smgraphics.proboards.com/

Crochet Zebra Afghan

I bought the book "48-Hour Afghans" several months ago and fell in love with this pattern.  I desperately wanted to make it, but I couldnt find the yarn I was looking for, Lion Brand Homespun yarn in Metropolis (a black/white/grey multicolored yarn).  There was a reason I couldnt find, it had been discontinued.  After searching on-line I found a craft store chain in California that still had some skeins in stock.  Needless to say I bought them out :-)  I used Caron Simply Soft yarn for the solid black, white, and grey yarn.  This pattern was simple enough to follow.  It used a single stitch, double stitch, and popcorn stitch.  It turned out fabulous! 

(Ignore the mess, I spent the day glued to the couch in order to finish it)

I made this afghan to giveaway as a Christmas gift this year.  Im pretty sure they are going to love it!  Hopefully between now and then I dont convince myself I should keep it!

Crochet Baby Girl Dress

I've found myself struggling to make items of clothing for myself and though maybe I should start off with something more simple.  So I crocheted a newborn dress to give to a friend of mine when she has her baby girl, which should be any day now.  She was due on this past Tuesday (4/12) and the little one just doesnt want to come out!  She is being served an eviction notice on Thursday (4/21).  I really like the way this turned out!

Its a full length empire waist dress that frills out so nicely.  I can't wait to give it to her!

I got the pattern for this dress out of the book "Oh Baby! Crochet".  I did run into a few problems using the newborn pattern, but with some tweaking I was able to make it work.

Crochet Dragon

Last year I stumbled across a pattern for a crochet dragon on etsy that instantly made me think of my cousin and her love for dragons.  I decided to go ahead and buy it and see if I could make it.  It was my first project that was not a blanket, so I was a little bit worried about whether I could pull it off or not.  I gave it my best shot and have to say I think it turned out pretty well.  There were a few errors and some spots where I didnt quite understand what the directions were saying, so I did the bed I could.  The final project measured about 3 feet or so. 

My cousin loved it, as did many other people who saw it, including a friend of mine.  I ended up making her one as well. 

My friend picked out the color scheme on this one.  I think I prefer the red one.

I purchased the pattern for this dragon from etsy.com seller 'DeliciousCrochet'.

Old Crochet Projects

I remember my excitement when I first learned how to make a granny square.  I enjoyed the simple granny square pattern so much that I decided to make a giant granny square blanket. 

I think most of the excitement from learning to make a granny square stemmed from the fact that I learned how to make the granny square from following a pattern in a book....I could read patterns!  This opened a whole new world of possabilities for me.  After that I sort of went on a crochet book shopping spree.  I have so many books now, that my husband insists there couldnt possibly be a pattern out there that I don't already have.

Once I realized I could read patterns the next project I tried was a shawl.  This involved a little bit more of an intricate pattern.  Again, I was surprised that I could easily follow the pattern.

One of my favorite projects so far has been a granny square baby blanket that I have made for a few friends for their baby showers.  I really like the lacey look to this and how they dont lay quite flat, but have more of a ripple effect.

The pattern for this blanket can be found in the book "Afghan's by the Pound".

Crocheted Elephant and Giraffe

A while back a friend of mine had a baby shower.  I had planned on making her a baby blanket so I asked her what the color scheme to the nursery was going to be.  I suspect she knew why I was asking.  Because she hinted that there was a giraffe she pattern she had seen on line and wanted.  I laughed at her and told her I would love to make it for her.  Turns out she had a jungle theme going for the nursery, so I decided to make an elephant too.

Over all I think they turned out pretty decent.  I have yarn left over from both so Im considering making another one of each and putting them up on the Etsy store.  But that might have to wait til I finish the current projects...I always seem to have multiple projects going, as I get bored with one and move on to another.

The pattern for the giraffe is a free pattern that can be found at http://www.lionbrand.com/.  The elephant pattern came from the book "Cute Little Animals".  I purchased my copy at Joann's, but its also available on Amazon.

Introduction

Since I seem to have gotten back in my crafting groove I thought it might be fun to start a blog about all of my creations.  I think I am going to have to dig up some pictures of some old projects, because some of them are definately post worthy, especially the giant dragon I made as a gift to my cousin :-) 

If you happen to see anything you like, I might be able to make some special requests. 

Also be sure to check out my Etsy shop.  There will be items for sale in there from time to time.