Painting my world

(the color is a bit off, the flash didn't work, sorry)

My very first painting -2008

Acrylics on Canvas 8"x10" 

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Butterflies - 2010

Acrylics on Canvas 8"x10"

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My "work in progress" right now...

'Just me and Dad'

Acrylics on Canvas 11"x14"

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Valentine's Day - Candy Bar Roses!

I made these Candy Bar Roses for my husband for Valentine's Day this year. He's hasn't seen them yet (thankfully he doesn't get online much, and never looks at this blog!) but I just know he'll love them!

 

Building the roses...

 (click on pics to enlarge, but beware - they are huge!)

Materials:

Pink and red tissue paper - cut into quarters - 2 quarters per rose, each rose either red or pink.

12 Kabob sticks (skewers)

green floral tape

Large vase

12 different candy bars

Tape

Scissors

green gift wrapping ribbon

Step 1. Wrap 12 skewers with green floral tape

Step 2. Tape skewers onto back of candy bar. Make sure they are taped tightly so they don't move!

Step 3. Stick skewer through middle of both pieces of tissue paper and push it up to candy bar.

Step 4. Bunch tissue paper around candy bar and tie ribbon around very tight, but not crushing the candy. Knot ribbon twice. Curl with scissors or fingernail.

Step 5. Place finished "roses" into vase, hide from hubby until V-Day!

Please make sure to tell people you share this with where they can get directions for it!! I came up with this myself, and would appreciate credit for the idea and directions, thanks!

~Miranda

The Ultimate Husband Hat

Husband Hat

I have to say one thing - this hat was a lot of fun to make. lol
I got the pattern from Miss Prendolyn the Weird, at Wilcox Wizard Wares.


Chris (hubby and hat model) has been wanting a Jack Skellington (Nightmare Before Christmas) hat since we went to Disneyland in September. I promised I could make him one. *sigh* So! I finally found some patterns that I liked and thought I could actually finish. He picked this pattern out of 4 different hat patterns online. With 1 skein each of white and black "Loops & Threads" brand 'Impeccable' worsted weight yarn, I went to work. I highly recommend this yarn, folks - it is soooo soft! Took me about 4 hours and ta-da... we have a hat! Now all there is to do is find a small Jack Skellington patch to stitch on there and I'll be home free! I know the pics are terrible, but to see the stitches with my camera, I have to take half with flash, half without.

Cherries!

Cherries

I made these simple and quick cherries using left over worsted weight yarn.

For the cherry pompoms, just wrap yarn around all four fingers of one hand held flat, about twenty times. Take 6 inch piece of matching yarn and tie a very tight knot around yarn between middle and ring fingers. Take yarn off your hand and cut all loops. Holding the long pieces from the knot, slowly trim all other yarn, keeping it all even, until you get a tight ball of yarn. Mine shown are a bit long and loose, I was in a hurry and didn't go far enough.

For stems, I used crochet hook H and chained 21. Then, slip stitch 7, chain 13. Finish off leaving a length off yarn and use that (with yarn needle) to tie pompom on. Do this for both pompoms and wah-la! you have cherries!

Upcycled Record Bowl

My Autumn centerpiece



 A vinyl record, made into a bowl, and filled with mini pine cones from our front yard. I got the idea and instructions for the bowl at Thrifty Fun.

Past Slices

Here are a few of the things I've done in the past. I have no patterns for them anymore, but I'll make sure to include all patterns for future projects, I promise!


Bold Striped Kid's Blanket

I made this blanket about 3 years ago. All stitches are DC except the blue stripes, which are SC. I made it for my son, because I thought he was "too big" for 'baby' blankets lol.

Husband Blanket

 I made this little gem (Notice the use of the word 'little'? Yeah....) about a year ago. I finished it about 2 months ago, after finding it stuffed under the bed in the guest room with threads dangling and no extra yarn. It isn't big enough for us both, but he can cuddle under it alone just fine.

The 10 minute cat toy
Again, a project that didn't turn out the way I planned, but still worked. This was my first attempt at "stuffed" crochet. It was originally going to be a Christmas scented door hanger, now it's a cat-nip scented toy.


I do actually have a pattern for this - but I will include it when I put up the picture of the actual scented door hanger ;)

Opening up Shop

Well - I'm here. I've been meaning to do this blog for a while now, and I'm glad to finally have the time to do it! Guess I should maybe introduce myself...

I'm Miranda, a 30 something wife and mom, living in northern Nevada. I work at a church, taking care of children during the week. I also do a lot of web design and computer graphics.

I am a craftaholic. Yes, it's true, I don't actually do a ton of crafting, but I spend countless hours reading craft blogs and working up ideas for crafts in my head. Mostly, my ideas don't get brought to life because I a: don't have the time. b: don't have the funds. or c: don't have any idea how to start lol. ;)

So, I guess I've put it off long enough - on with the crafting!