Creating Me

Granny Square Baby Blanket

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Anita

Sometimes it’s fun to get back to basics! That’s just what I did on this baby blanket. It’s a simple granny square pattern made with 3 different colors. If you need a refresher on how to make a simple granny square, click here for great instructions.

I used Caron One Pound Yarn in Off White, Soft Sage (it’s more of a blue than green), and Lace. I started in the center with Off White and crocheted 6 rows. Then I switched to Soft Sage and stitched 3 rows, changed colors to Lace and crocheted 3 rows, and switched back to Off White for 3 rows. I continued the color changes (Off White, Soft Sage, Lace) for 3 rows each until my blanket measured about 32 inches square, ending with the Lace color. I had 3 sections of each color when I finished.

Tip 1: Sometimes when you make a granny square blanket, the finished blanket can end up a little wonky. That’s why I like this pattern. By turning your work after each row, it helps to keep the blanket more square and less wonky. 🙂

Tip 2: Like almost everyone else, I hate weaving in my ends! So one thing I do is to stop every color change or two and weave in the ends. That way I only have to do it a little at a time instead of having to weave them all in at the end.

I made a simple border using Off White. For the border row, chain 1 and work 1 sc in the space between the dc clusters from the previous row. Chain 1, (work 3dc, chain 1, 3dc) in the next space between the dc clusters, chain 1, sc in next space. Continue this pattern around the blanket, making sure that you work the (3dc, chain 1, 3 dc) in each corner.

The finished blanket measures about 33-1/2 inches square.

The Caron One Pound Yarn becomes much softer after a quick wash on the delicate cycle with a little fabric softener added. I put it in the dryer on delicate for about 10 minutes and then laid it flat to dry the rest of the way.

One of the great things about the basic granny square is that you can make it any size and any color combo you want! It’s also such an easy pattern that once you get started, it’s the perfect project to work on while watching your favorite movie or TV show.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Crochet, Gifts | 4 Comments

It’s a Boy

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Anita

This teddy bear is just the cutest little guy! He’s from the Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set by Stampin’ Up. I think he’s just perfect to welcome a sweet new baby boy. 🐻

I stamped the bear and his ears with light brown ink on white card stock. Then I stamped his face with dark brown ink. I trimmed the bear and the ears and attached the ears to the back of the bear’s head. The bow is stamped with blue ink and punched out with the Cookie Cutter Builder Punch from Stampin’ Up. I attached the bow with foam tape.

I embossed a piece of white card stock with the heart folder that came from Stampin’ Up. This particular folder is discontinued – just use whatever folder you may have, or even use patterned paper instead. I layered the embossed piece onto a piece of blue dotted swiss card stock and attached it to a white card. I punched a scalloped oval from the same blue dotted swiss card stock and attached it to the card. Then I added the stamped bear with foam tape. To finish the card, I stamped “it’s a Boy” with blue ink at the top of the card.The stamp is from Stamps by Judith & Heather. I’m not sure if it’s still available…again, just use whatever you have in your stash – welcome baby, congratulations, congrats, or nothing at all! 🙂

I think this card turned out “beary” cute! 😉

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Anita

Is there anything in that name that doesn’t sound good?!?!? Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars…when I found this recipe on Pinterest I knew I would have to try it! The recipe is here at Crazy for Crust. These bars are amazing and so simple to make!

Fresh and hot from the oven – they smell so good!! It was hard to wait for them to cool before I cut them. 😉

Just look at all that caramel goodness! 😋

These yummy Chocolate Chip Caramel Butter Bars would make a sweet Valentine treat for your family tomorrow. ❤️

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Slow Cooker Bacon Corn Chowder

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Anita

This cold weather makes me want to have something warm and hearty for dinner! This Slow Cooker Bacon Corn Chowder is just the thing. You can find the recipe here at Spend with Pennies.

I love this recipe – you just add most of the ingredients (except the evaporated milk, corn starch, and butter) to your slow cooker in the morning and let it cook all day. Then 30 minutes before you’re ready to eat, you stir in the last 3 ingredients. That gives you time to bake up some cornbread or dinner rolls to serve alongside this yummy soup.

It not only looks good – it smells amazing!

I cooked my bacon the day before to save some time in the morning. It only took about 10-15 minutes to chop the carrots, onion, and potatoes and add everything to the slow cooker. Perfect if you have a busy day ahead!

I hope you enjoy this family friendly recipe from Spend with Pennies – I know we did!

Stay warm!

Anita

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Anita

I love the way this card turned out! It has such a vintage feel to it and it just makes me happy! 😍

Both the heart and the sentiment are from the You Had Me at Hello set from Unity Stamp Company. The Stitched Circle Scalloped Edge Frame die is from MFT Stamps.

Stamp the heart with red ink on white card stock and trim close. Stamp the sentiment with pool ink in the center of the heart. Attach the heart to a red scalloped circle punched from red card stock with foam tape. Die cut the frame from pool card stock.

To make the card, cut a piece of white card stock to measure 10 inches by 5 inches and fold it in half. Cut a piece of pool card stock to measure 5 by 5 inches and attach to the front of the card. Cut a piece of patterned paper slightly smaller than 5 by 5 inches and attach over pool card stock. Attach the scalloped circle with the heart to the card with foam tape. Attach the frame with foam tape. Finish the card by attaching 3 sequins in the bottom left corner.

A quick and easy card with a vintage feel to send your love on Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Anita

Posted in Cards, Stamping, Uncategorized, Valentine | Leave a comment

XO – Papier Mâché Letters

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Anita

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away…do you need a little something for your table or mantel? These papier mâché letters can be decorated any way you’d like to add some Valentine love to your home. ❤️

I found them at Hobby Lobby in the scrapbook/paper craft section for just $1.99 each – and they were on sale for 50% off – so I got both letters for $1.99!! They are 8 inches tall and 1 inch thick.

I painted the letters with 2 coats of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Romance. I traced the letters onto patterned scrapbook paper, cut them out, and attached them to the papier mâché letters using scrapbook adhesive. Then I sponged the edges of the letters with Craft Smart Chalky Finish Paint in Rich Brown to give them a distressed look.

I die cut a heart from coordinating patterned paper, sponged the edges with the Rich Brown paint, and attached it to the “X” with foam tape. I tied a ribbon bow around the “O” to finish it off.

And here they are! I think they turned out pretty cute 😉 ❤️

Hobby Lobby has the entire alphabet in these papier mâché letters. You can use any letter and any color scheme to match your decor. These would be cute in a nursery or child’s room or maybe a dorm room. They would also be great decor in your craft room!

XOXO,

Anita

Posted in Decor, Uncategorized, Valentine | 2 Comments

Otter Love

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Anita

Is this not the cutest little guy?!?!? He’s sending a big hug to your special Valentine!

This sweet guy is from the Otter Love This Much stamp set by Unity Stamp Company. I stamped him with black ink on white card stock, colored the image with Copic markers, and punched it with a circle punch. The frame is die cut from red card stock using the Stitched Circle Scallop Frames by MFT Stamps. The sentiment is stamped with red ink on white card stock, punched with an oval punch, and layered to a scalloped oval punched from red card stock.

Cut white card stock to measure 10-1/2 inches by 5-1/4 inches and fold in half to make your card base. Emboss a 5 by 5 inch square of pool colored card stock and attach to card. This embossing folder is from Stampin’ Up – I think it’s discontinued so use what you have or even substitute patterned paper. Attach the stamped otter image, red scalloped frame, and the sentiment to the card with foam tape. Add 4 sequins to finish off the card.

Wishing you lots of love and hugs this Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

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Hearts of Love

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Anita

Valentine’s Day will be here soon! ❤️

This stamp is called Bounded Hearts from Unity Stamp Company. I think it’s just perfect for sending love to that special Valentine.

I stamped the hearts with red ink on white card stock, trimmed it close, and rounded the corners. I layered it to turquoise card stock with rounded corners. I attached a piece heart patterned paper to a light turquoise card. Then I die cut the heart doily from MFT Stamps from red card stock and attached it to the card with foam tape. This particular die is discontinued, but any doily die will work – or use a paper doily from the cake decorating section of your local craft store. I attached the stamped hearts to the card with foam tape. To finish it off, I added 3 red sequins to the swirls of the hearts.

Just a simple card, but filled with love! ❤️

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Cards, Stamping, Uncategorized, Valentine | Leave a comment

Love Wood Sign

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Anita

I love all the fun farmhouse signs that are everywhere right now. I’ve looked at so many and seriously could go broke if I bought all of them that I like. 😳 So I thought I’d try my hand at making a simple L❤️VE sign for Valentine’s Day with this cool stamp set from Unity Stamp Company. If you like to stamp, you need to check this company out! They have amazing stamps and have incredible sales all the time…I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. 🙂

The stamps in this set are about 4-inches tall – perfect for making a fun sign for your house. I used a scrap piece of wood to make my sign. It measures 15-1/2 inches by 5-1/2 inches and is 3/4 of an inch thick.

I painted the board with Home Decor Chalk Finish Paint in Maui Sand. After it was dry, I painted a thin coat of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Lace, feathering it out to the edges so more of the gray paint is showing. Again, make sure the paint is dry. Then I used Real Red Classic Ink from Stampin’ Up to stamp L❤️VE on the board. The ink didn’t come out as red as I thought it would, but I really like the soft pinkish color.

You could also use stencils instead of stamps to add the letters and heart to your sign. I’m really happy with the way this turned out! I may even leave it out all year long.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anita

Posted in Decor, Gifts, Valentine | 1 Comment

Easy Crochet Chain Stitch Scarf

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Anita

Have you tried making one of these super easy Crochet Chain Stitch Scarves? They are fun and very quick to make because, except for the band where the button is attached, it is just one long chain.

I used Bernat Blanket Yarn in Vintage White and an N/10mm hook. I started making a chain (leaving about a 3-inch tail at the beginning) and just kept going. And then I chained some more. 😊 My chain ended up being about 44 feet (yes, feet!) long when I loosely measured it. The ends of the chain are slip stitched together so you have a long circle (leaving about a 3-inch tail when you cut the yarn). Then just fold the chain in half. I gave it a single twist as I brought the ends together. Then I did that 3 or 4 more times so it ends up looking like the picture below. I wrapped and tied the tails from the beginning and end of the chain around the scarf to secure all the loops.

To make the band the button is on, chain 14. Then single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each stitch across. For the second row, chain 1, turn. Single crochet in the back loop only of each single crochet across. Repeat row 2 until you have 5 rows. Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing the band around the scarf. Sew the button to the center of the band. Wrap the band around the scarf and sew ends together. I wrapped the band around the scarf to cover where the loops were tied together.

I found this great 2-inch coconut button at Walmart. I love the texture it has and I really wanted a big button!

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Bernat Blanket Yarn is so soft and cuddly. This scarf adds just enough warmth on a day when you don’t need something bigger and can also double as a necklace.