Last Minute Baby Shower Gift

Like a typical Monday, I arrived at work, glanced at my calendar to review what's coming up this week when this one event popped out on my calendar....

A Coworker's Baby Shower!

Yikes! How could I have forgotten? I already donated to the group gift, but I have made something small for all the babies at work, so I had to find something!

June Wrap-up

I finished several projects during the month of June. There's something for Duck Dynasty fans, Tinkerbell fans, monster lovers, hunters and children of the 80s. 

I had to bump the Cabbage Patch Kids hat to the front. Aren't these the sweetest things? I have two hats ready-to-ship in newborn/0-3 month sizes. These are $30 for newborn and range in price up to $40 for adult size. Contact me if you are interested in ordering or follow my Etsy shop, because I plan on listing the two I have already finished if no one claims them soon. 

One of the three Cabbage Patch Kids hats I made in June.

 Next up is this Tinkerbell-inspired doll using the A Doll Like Me e-book containing 4 doll patterns from FreshStitches. She turned out exactly as I planned, though I must admit that I spent 3 hours (at least) just trying to get her lips right. I finally glued on some lips and moved on. Do you know a little girl who would love her? She is $75.00 and is still waiting to find a new home.

Princess Ballerina

I love monsters. I LOVE monsters! Love, love, love them! And, I just recently realized how much cuter they are in tiny size. Look how tiny this gal is! She is wearing the Monopoly hat game piece. It fits her perfectly and just shows how teeny tiny she really is.

Ro the Tiny Monster

And, here she is with her mom who is also quite small with her beautiful flower eyes.

Tiny Toothie & Tiny Ro

And, now we get into the things for the Duck Dynasty fans.

I improvised this little camouflage deer hat.

 

Deer Camo Beanie

This awesome pattern for Drake the Mallard Duck is from the amazingly talented, HollieJolly Designs. I think Duck Dynasty fans will love this guy!

Drake the Mallard Duck

And, last, but not least, a customer requested something with a Cincinnati Reds theme. there are links below the picture where you can find the patterns for these items. I improvised the "C" for Cincinnati and cut it out of felt and sewed it on. It's a true baseball cap with the little hole in the back. And it comes with a crisp pair of white baseball shorts. I cannot wait for this baby to arrive so I can see him wearing this outfit. I might faint when I see the photo.

Baseball Cap and Baseball Pants

What I Learned this month

I learned a fancy new stitch called The Loop Stitch. It's used in the Cabbage Patch Kids wigs and is securely attaches the loops so they will not come out.

And, I got lots of practice working with felt and attaching it to my pieces. This came from the eyes/lips of the Tinkerbell-inspired doll and the Cincinnati Reds hat.

Plans for next month

I have all of my projects queued in Ravelry and I plan on working through all of the patterns I purchased by the end of the year. I have 6 months to do it, so that averages out to about 7.2 projects per month! Wish me luck!

I am continuing the yarn stash project where I focus on using up yarn from my stash. It's amazing just how much yarn I have and how much of it was bought without a purpose. For the projects featured in this post, I purchased only one new skein of yarn (yellow) to finish off the pig tails on the Cabbage Patch hats.

Stretching my Craft Skills

Welcome back to another edition of Pintastic Tuesday where I pick a thing or two from Pinterest and try it, then tell you if it was a success (pinTastic) or failure (pinDrastic).

Today's Pinspiration (Pin + Inspiration)

Sewing Baby Shoes

Source: Pinterest | Original Source: Pamela Susan Fine Jewelry & Gifts

Crafting One-of-a-Kind Button Art

Source: Pinterest | Original Source: Busted Button

Source: Pinterest | Original Source: Busted Button

Simple Headband Flowers - Pintastic Tuesday 07

I have so much fun browsing Pinterest and drawing inspiration from what others have done. Seriously, is there anything better than Pinterest to actually make me want to clean my house and have fun doing it?

This week's crafty inspiration was originally pinned on my Hair Clips / Headbands board.

The Project:

Source: Pinterest | Original Source: iCandy Handmade

I love, love, love to make photography props and all things baby! I don't have a baby girl of my very own. As much as I would love to have another baby, my love says we are done. So, I have two boys at home and I'm the only lady in the house. So, if I can't have any more babies of my own, then I can at least make beautiful things for babies and live vicariously through my little prop shop, right?

Pintastic Tuesday 02

Welcome back for Pintastic Tuesday #2! Here's the plan for Tuesdays! We (yes, you can do it, too) find ideas on pinterest, make it, cook it, try it, etc. and share the results. Was it easy/difficult? Was it pintastic or pindrastic? Trust me! I have had a pin-drastic failures.

The Project: Thing 1 & Thing 2 Hats

Source: Pinterest | Original Source: Micah Makes "Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss"

The Story:

I have wanted to make Thing 1 & Thing 2 hats forever! I kept telling photographer friends to let me know if they ever get a newborn session for twins. Photographers: if you have a newborn twin session coming up, message me with details (expected delivery date and gender) at niccupp [at] gmail [dot] com.

Last week, the idea finally struck me...my best friend has 3-year old twins. Duh! I can make the hats for them! How many of us have older kids that feel left out when a new baby is born and all the attention is on the precious baby as the older kid slips to the background?

I set to work right away and stayed up past midnight working my fingers to the wire and got up the next day and finished the hats. Their baby cousin was born while I was working on the hats. I wanted to make something special for the older cousins. I didn't want to leave anyone out, so I made a long-tail hat for baby cousin in Seussical inspired colors.

I messaged my friend with the idea and she loved it. Plus, I've got to say, she has some gorgeous kids and she is a talented photographer! The photos below are used with permission from Massa Photography (no link, sorry).

Pintastic Results:

And...drum roll please....meet their new baby cousin. Everyone is smiling.

Have you made anything fun from Pinterest this week? Join in and spread the fun by leaving your link below! NOTE: The text you type in "Your Name" will display representing your link. It says a comment is required. You aren't required to comment on this post, but please comment on at least one blog post you visit.

Pacifier Clip - Tutorial

I wanted to create a version of a pacifier clip that is cute, doesn't have buttons (choking hazard) and one that can have cute little interchangeable designs. I have a few baby gifts to make and I plan on gifting these.

Disclaimer: I give you full permission to use my method in any way you choose (personal or for selling). 

Please read the designer's release regarding the appliques that you use. They may or may not grant permission to sell items using their product. Please keep this in mind and be respectful of the designer!

Supplies:

1. Small amount of Cotton yarn for the base of the clip. I used I Love This Cotton in White and Lily's Cotton in Natural.
2. An applique (or two or three)
3. Crochet Hook (use size suggested on yarn label)
4. Suspender Clip (As of 6/5/2012, these are $1.99 for a package of 2 clips at Hobby Lobby)

Instructions:

The ribbon is created in sections rather than rows.

Section 1: Ch 15 and join with slip stitch to first chain.

Section 2: Chain 40

Section 3: Slip Stitch to 15th chain from hook.

Section 4: Single Crochet* in the next 25 stitches to get back to the beginning loop. Slip stitch to base stitch of the beginning loop and bind off. Weave in loose ends.

*Single Crochet in section 4 can be replaced by hdc or dc.  Here are examples of what the base of the pacifier clip will look like using different basic stitches:

Next, grab your applique!

• Bluebird byWhat I Should Have Done
• Butterfly by Curtsay Designs
• Balloon by Calleigh's Clips

I added a few chain stitches across the back of the applique to give the clip something to hold on to. I did not sew the applique onto the main section of the pacifier clip. There are loops of equal size on both ends of base ribbon.

1. Insert one of the loops through back of applique
2. Pull loop over the tail
3. Tuck the loop under the post of ch stitches on the applique and tighten so that it looks like Picture 3.
4. Place the applique and suspender clip face down. Slip the loop through the clip from bottom to top. The loop will come up on the backside of the clip.
5. Slip the loop over the suspender clip to the front of the clip.
6. Tighten the loop. (Between picture 6 & 7, I slid the loop down to the 2nd bar.)
7. Take the other end of the loop and insert through the ring on the pacifier.
8. Work the loop over the applique and length of the ribbon.
9. Tighten and wear. 

Here is a close-up of the completed Butterfly Pacifier Clip.

And whip up a pair of barefoot sandals with matching appliques for sweet little set.

Barefoot Sandals Designed by The Misadventures of Handmade

For more applique ideas, check out my Crochet-Applique board at Pinterest!

Appliques Featured in this Post were designed by:

    

Sneaky Peek - Mary Janes

I have a fear of making pairs...mittens, shoes, anything that needs to come out matching!

I set a goal for 2012: I will make 5 pairs of shoes (or socks) that come out the same size!

Here is a sneak peek of the first pair:

Aren't they gorgeous?!

I must admit, I was a little scared when I got a message asking for these. It's crazy to have a fear of something as small as booties. I can now breath a sigh of relief! As it turns out, I didn't have any trouble at all getting them to come out the same size. But, I was focused and made them in one sitting with no interruptions.

They still need the infamous Mary Jane strap and a cutesy little button.

Here is a close-up of the bottom:

Not too shabby, huh? lol

Pair #1 is done.

Pair #2 will be a baby gift of some adorable little baby sneakers.

One of my pairs this year will be a pair of knit socks. Just thinking of knitting socks is a little scary, but I am determined.

Are you a crafter?  Is there anything you are afraid of making (or even attempting)?