Minecraft Shoes

I saw these shoes on "thegreenwife.com" and knew I had to make a pair for my grandson who will be turning 11 in September.  He is a huge minecraft fan!  I didnt have paint markers, but I did have brand new sharpie markers!  Ionly had two colors of green and a deep turquoise color that seemed to blend pretty good with the greens, so I thought I would try them out.  Here is the result.

 I hope he likes them!  TFL

Wedding Plate and Keepsake Tag

I did this wedding plate as a gift for a same-sex couple.  I was really kinda bummed out because I didn't have my SCAL to work with, so I did the best I could using only my cricut cartridges.  I guess it turned out ok.  I was feeling crafty and decided that I wanted to make a decorative keepsake tag to put on the package as well.  Their colors were black, red and yellow, but I decided just to follow a black and white theme throughout.    Below are the results.  TFL

Keepsake Wedding Tag

 Close-up of smaller tags hanging from larger tag

Keepsake page attached to package.

Crocodile Stitch Christmas Tree

Saw these adorable little Christmas trees on pinterest done in crochet yarn.  Wondered what they would look like using Crochet thread instead.  I had lots of turquoise beads and just decided to use black thread.  In the original pin that I saw, they sewed the beads on randomly after the crocheting was done.  On this particular project, I decided to thread the beads before I started crocheting and just slid them up the thread as I needed them.  It worked very well, but not so sure I like the outcome of pre-threading them.  I think I actually prefer the random look.  Live and learn through trial and error lol.  TFL

 This is what it looked like before stitching it together in back.

This is what it looked like after stitching, free standing and not yet formed.

Dual Color Braided Ribbon Wreath

After watching a tutorial yesterday on how to make the braided ribbon wreaths, I wondered why I haven't seen more than one color braided together and then wondered if it could even be done and still look good, so I sat down to try it.  This was the result.  It can be done!  For those of you who would like to know how, you can look up any tutorial on braided ribbon wreaths.  The difference in one and two colors is that with two colors, I did not fold my ribbon to find a center point.  Instead, I left a long tail and made my loop with both strands of ribbon held together.  Then just like the single color, I pulled the bottom color through the loop to begin the braiding process, leaving the second color hanging, while I pulled the loop down tight to secure both colors.  You then just alternate the colors, whatever color the loop is, you pull the other color through it.  When I got to the end, I wove both sides of ribbon though the opposite sides on the back to secure the wreath shape.  I then made a bow with both colors to put on the front bottom at the joining and secured it with hot glue.  I also glued a little loop to the back in order to hang it.  TFL

Easiest Ribbon Rose you will ever make!

All these years I have been rolling and folding my ribbon roses, sometimes they look beautiful, sometimes not so great and they had to be started all over...time consuming and tedious, especially if you want to make several.  Today I learned how to make them a different way, a way that is so simple, even your children can do it!  These would make great little roses for most any project and the best part is that you can use any size ribbon and the results will be equally as beautiful.  This would be a great project for mommy and daughter to do to make some cute little headbands.

For this tutorial, I used a 12 inch length of 1/2 inch ribbon. You will need more ribbon for the larger sizes.
Fold your ribbon in half and hold the center point between your thumb and pointer fingers.  Take the bottom ribbon and fold it over the top and hold it, you will simply continue to pick up the bottom ribbon and fold it over the top ribbon until the ribbon is completely folded.  It should be a nice little square shape of folded ribbon when you are done.   When you are have folded it as far as you wish to fold, hold on to the last two folded squares of ribbon and let the rest go.  I should then look like this:

close up view of what it looks like when you let loose of the squares.

You will then take the bottom ribbon, yet again, while holding loosely onto the top.  Pull the bottom ribbon as far as you can pull it and you will see the rose take shape before your very eyes!  This is what it will look like then:

Now you simply get out the hot or cold melt glue gun and secure the last two folds to keep the ribbon in shape.  Cut your ends so that they don't show and there you have a very easy, super simple, yet beautiful little rose.  My head is spinning thinking of all the things I can use these roses on!