What's For Dinner

Every day it's, "What do you want to have for dinner?"  It is a frustrating process when you don't have anything planned.  I have actually ventured to the store, after work, without a plan, and walked up every aisle just to put together a dinner.  Ridiculous!  In an attempt to organize life better, I created a Weekly Menu board, which I will update every Sunday. 

After searching on Pinterest, and google, I found some layouts that I liked and got started on gathering the supplies.

Supplies I used:
A deck of old playing cards.
2 old playing card boxes
Acrylic Paint
Close Pins
Dimensional Paint
Beads
Scrap booking Card stock
Hemp Cord
3 magnets (to keep it from swinging around)
Removable Hook

Bringing Outdoor Fun Inside

Not sure where the idea to make an indoor Hop Scotch came from (somewhere on the internet), but I knew I needed to make one for my niece.   

 

Materials Used:
Craft Felt
Acrylic Paint
Non-slip Shelf Liner
Scrap Fabric and beans, for Bean Bags

Directions:
Plan out the layout.
Paint numbers on each of the rectangles. I had to paint three to four coats on each.
Sew together; take #3 and #4, put right sides together and sew middle seam. Do the same with #6 and #7.
Next, take #2 and overlap the bottom edge 1/2" on top of the top edge of #1, sew together. 
Take #3/4 and overlap the bottom edge 1/2" on top of the top edge of #2, sew together.
Take #5 and underlap the bottom edge 1/2" underneath of the top edge of #3/4, sew together.
Take #6/7 and overlap the bottom edge 1/2" on top of the top edge of #5, sew together.
Take #8 and underlap the bottom edge 1/2" underneath the top edge of #6/7, sew together.

Pin Non-slip Shelf liner on the backside starting at #1, up to #8.  Sew the together along the outside edge.  Trim excess.  Measure and cut additional rectangles to sew to the back side of the outer edges of #6, 7, 3 and 4.

Bean Bags:  Using scrap material cut four, 4" squares, sew three sides, fill with 1/4 cup beans, sew fourth side.

Just Add Water

My first attempt at a hemp twine pot holder.  This pot holder has been in the "work in progress" pile for some time.  It is the third or fourth try, and has been looked over because up until last night it was curled up and distorted.  I just could not get the two different sizes to lay right with each other.

After doing a major clean up of the craft room I looked at this and it dawned on me....just block it!  So to the sink it went.  Amazing what a little bit of water will do.

Next up hemp medallions to hang in the window.

I am a Gaget Queen

Electronic gadgets, I LOVE them!  I have a laptop, net book, BeBook reader, PSP, three different mp3 players and that is the small list.  My newest favorite toy is my Kindle Fire, that my husband got it for me for Christmas.  I was really nervous asking for the Fire after reading all the reviews on Amazon...but now that I own it, I can't believe I ever lived without it. (Amazon is not paying me to say this)

So when does the crafting come in?  Well, all of my gadgets NEED cozies, and the Kindle Fire is no exception.  I looked everywhere on the web for a nice cover/case, but all were super expensive and they weren't anything special.  Of course this means I made one.

The cozy is crocheted using Rowan "Cotton Braid" yarn.

I made the button myself.

My Sweet Pea

Another Merry Heart-mas present complete!  For the past few Saturdays, my friend and I have been getting together so I can teach her how to crochet.  This has been great for me in many ways.  For one, I am making dedicated "crochet" time and the bonus "girl" time is good for the soul as well.

This pattern is from the book "Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker", called the Sweet Pea Shawl.  It was an easy pattern to follow, but it took a few rows for me to get the hang of it.