I am the black cat, of course, and she is the frog. That was her nickname in high school, mine was Helen Keller. Yeah I know, not very nice!
August 28, 2008
Another Banner
I am really keeping myself busy with my Photoshop program. Here is another banner I made for my best friend's and my blog.
I am the black cat, of course, and she is the frog. That was her nickname in high school, mine was Helen Keller. Yeah I know, not very nice!
I am the black cat, of course, and she is the frog. That was her nickname in high school, mine was Helen Keller. Yeah I know, not very nice!
August 27, 2008
Photoshop is the BOMB!
I have been wanting to try a graphic design program for quite some time now. The main reason, to make some of those really cute advertising buttons so many people have and to try my hand at making my own Etsy banner.
I looked around online, in Etsy shops, and graphic design blogs and found most people wanted to charge $15–$20 for ONE button and about the same for a really cute banner. I need more than just one, and I don't really have $100 to spend on blog buttons and banners, so I decided to give it a try myself.
After reading several reviews and recommendations I decided that Photoshop was, by far, the best graphics program. So, I went on the Adobe website to check it out. You know what I found? It is $649, SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINE DOLLARS!!! So much for saving money. The good thing is they have a free 30 day trial, so I figured why not give it a try.
After an hour of the thing downloading and me realizing that I need a faster computer, I was ready to go. I don't know if you guys have tried Photoshop, but it is like reading an instructional manual in Japanese. I had no idea what anything meant. So I did what I normally do, read a little of the instructions and then started pushing buttons.
After three days of a trial and error period, I finally figured out what the layer tool was all about! I think that is the most important thing to master, at least that is the conclusion I have come to thus far.
My next goal was to find really cute illustrations and graphics. I had my heart set on an illustration of sheep. I know sheep sounds strange, but I wanted to make a new banner for my crochet shop. My thinking was sheep=wool=yarn=crochet. It made sense to me anyway.
I read that a lot of people use iStockphoto so I checked them out. When I searched under sheep illustrations I found the graphics to be so cute but too expensive, especially if you want to use them for any type of sales. I then did a Google search for royalty free photos and then scrapbooking. Bingo! I found the graphics to be just as cute and cheaper, so I got my graphics that way.
After five days, three hours, six graphics, and NINE layers here is my very first web banner:
Whee!!! I am very happy with it. I do have a few issues like my lamb's feet are missing and the bigger the banner the fuzzier the text, but overall I think it turned out great.
And, here is my little avatar to go along with it:
You can see his feet in this picture. :)
So needless to say, Photoshop is the BOMB! Now I need to find a way to raise $649 so I can buy this thing (I only have 25 days of my trial left). Any suggestions?
I looked around online, in Etsy shops, and graphic design blogs and found most people wanted to charge $15–$20 for ONE button and about the same for a really cute banner. I need more than just one, and I don't really have $100 to spend on blog buttons and banners, so I decided to give it a try myself.
After reading several reviews and recommendations I decided that Photoshop was, by far, the best graphics program. So, I went on the Adobe website to check it out. You know what I found? It is $649, SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINE DOLLARS!!! So much for saving money. The good thing is they have a free 30 day trial, so I figured why not give it a try.
After an hour of the thing downloading and me realizing that I need a faster computer, I was ready to go. I don't know if you guys have tried Photoshop, but it is like reading an instructional manual in Japanese. I had no idea what anything meant. So I did what I normally do, read a little of the instructions and then started pushing buttons.
After three days of a trial and error period, I finally figured out what the layer tool was all about! I think that is the most important thing to master, at least that is the conclusion I have come to thus far.
My next goal was to find really cute illustrations and graphics. I had my heart set on an illustration of sheep. I know sheep sounds strange, but I wanted to make a new banner for my crochet shop. My thinking was sheep=wool=yarn=crochet. It made sense to me anyway.
I read that a lot of people use iStockphoto so I checked them out. When I searched under sheep illustrations I found the graphics to be so cute but too expensive, especially if you want to use them for any type of sales. I then did a Google search for royalty free photos and then scrapbooking. Bingo! I found the graphics to be just as cute and cheaper, so I got my graphics that way.
After five days, three hours, six graphics, and NINE layers here is my very first web banner:
Whee!!! I am very happy with it. I do have a few issues like my lamb's feet are missing and the bigger the banner the fuzzier the text, but overall I think it turned out great.
And, here is my little avatar to go along with it:
You can see his feet in this picture. :)
So needless to say, Photoshop is the BOMB! Now I need to find a way to raise $649 so I can buy this thing (I only have 25 days of my trial left). Any suggestions?
August 26, 2008
Poppies!
I have a new love, crocheted flowers! If you want a great way to use up your yarn leftovers, plus make a really cute accessory, crochet a few flowers.
This is the first one I made to add to my aunt's scarf, which I still haven't mailed yet. Oops!
I actually made it into a pin in case she wants to wear the scarf without it. It was really easy to transfer it into a pin. I just stitched a pin to a piece of felt and then stitched the felt to the crocheted flower. Viola! A crocheted flower pin. I think it needs a few leaves though. I'll have to work on that.
The pink, blue, and tan flowers were made with Lion Brand Jiffy yarn and for the red flower I used Vanna's Choice. The red one came out bigger than the others, though you really can't tell from the picture. Not really sure why since the Jiffy yarn is thicker.
Are you inspired to make your own bouquet of flowers? If so, check out this site for some patterns.
This is the first one I made to add to my aunt's scarf, which I still haven't mailed yet. Oops!
I actually made it into a pin in case she wants to wear the scarf without it. It was really easy to transfer it into a pin. I just stitched a pin to a piece of felt and then stitched the felt to the crocheted flower. Viola! A crocheted flower pin. I think it needs a few leaves though. I'll have to work on that.
Since I had so much fun with the first, I had to make several more.
The pink, blue, and tan flowers were made with Lion Brand Jiffy yarn and for the red flower I used Vanna's Choice. The red one came out bigger than the others, though you really can't tell from the picture. Not really sure why since the Jiffy yarn is thicker.
Are you inspired to make your own bouquet of flowers? If so, check out this site for some patterns.
August 25, 2008
Lovely Links
Additional blogs & websites I love to peruse for. . .
Inspiration
Pretty Things
L.L. BeanModa Bake Shop
Resourceful Tools
Tutorials Page
Page currently under construction!
Blog Design Series
Series Prep
Series Prep
Charts
Crochet Crafts
Felt Crafts
Miscellaneous
When Life Gives You Lemons, Have a Lemonade
I've been battling quite a pesky sickness for the past few weeks. I really haven't had the energy to do anything, especially cut the grass which now looks like part of Sherwood Forest, but I did take a minute to make myself into an avatar.
I think it is a pretty good cartoon of me. I love how smooth my skin is!
I made a point of taking it easy last week to try and recuperate as much as possible. After all, I needed to get my energy up for this past weekend's Lazy Daze craft festival. I circle the second to the last Saturday in August on my calendar every year for this festival, which officially starts MY countdown to fall.
Lazy Daze is a lot of fun and showcases some of the best crafters from the Southeast. It also serves some of the greatest lemonade around. The first thing I do when I get to the festival is check the map for the lemonade stand. Is that crazy? Oh well. If you had a drink of the lemon flavored sugar water you'd love it too :) Thank goodness it is always as hot as Hades that day so I can sweat off my thousand pounds I put on from my lemonades.
The lemonade kind of reminds me of a Polar Cup. Do you remember them? I remember we used to go to one with a drive up window in Florida. Come to think of it, I think there was a Polar Cup man that used to drive through our neighborhood too like the ice cream man. Anyway, it was kind of like a lemon Slurpee and they'd always give you a spoon straw to scoop it out.
What I'll always remember the most about Polar Cups was the lemon slice in the bottom of the cup. I would pray the entire time the guy scooped the Slurpee into the cup for a lemon slice in the bottom so I could jab my spoon straw into it and get an extra jolt of lemon. The lemon would already be in the bottom of the cup before they added the Slurpee so it would depend on the cup and whether you got the sought after lemon slice. I'd always look for a shadow of the lemon in the bottom of the cup and would get so peeved if my sister got the cup with the lemon slice and I didn't. Ahh, the good old Polar Cup days!
So here's to the Polar Cup, wherever you are. I wish they'd bring you back, whoever they are, but until they do I'll have to settle for my yearly lemonade at Lazy Daze. It is pretty darn good too!
I made a point of taking it easy last week to try and recuperate as much as possible. After all, I needed to get my energy up for this past weekend's Lazy Daze craft festival. I circle the second to the last Saturday in August on my calendar every year for this festival, which officially starts MY countdown to fall.
Lazy Daze is a lot of fun and showcases some of the best crafters from the Southeast. It also serves some of the greatest lemonade around. The first thing I do when I get to the festival is check the map for the lemonade stand. Is that crazy? Oh well. If you had a drink of the lemon flavored sugar water you'd love it too :) Thank goodness it is always as hot as Hades that day so I can sweat off my thousand pounds I put on from my lemonades.
The lemonade kind of reminds me of a Polar Cup. Do you remember them? I remember we used to go to one with a drive up window in Florida. Come to think of it, I think there was a Polar Cup man that used to drive through our neighborhood too like the ice cream man. Anyway, it was kind of like a lemon Slurpee and they'd always give you a spoon straw to scoop it out.
What I'll always remember the most about Polar Cups was the lemon slice in the bottom of the cup. I would pray the entire time the guy scooped the Slurpee into the cup for a lemon slice in the bottom so I could jab my spoon straw into it and get an extra jolt of lemon. The lemon would already be in the bottom of the cup before they added the Slurpee so it would depend on the cup and whether you got the sought after lemon slice. I'd always look for a shadow of the lemon in the bottom of the cup and would get so peeved if my sister got the cup with the lemon slice and I didn't. Ahh, the good old Polar Cup days!
So here's to the Polar Cup, wherever you are. I wish they'd bring you back, whoever they are, but until they do I'll have to settle for my yearly lemonade at Lazy Daze. It is pretty darn good too!
August 22, 2008
Craft Resources
I've compiled a list of my favorite sites for various craft resources. I hope you find these sites as useful as I do.
Annie's Attic
WIPs finished, but more on my hooks
I've been a busy crocheter these last few days. I finished a couple WIPs I'd been working on for awhile.
This was the first scarf I made, my Asheville scarf for my aunt. I used Lion Brand Jiffy yarn in the color denim and a size J hook.
Unfortunately, I needed two skeins for this one because of the width. Jiffy yarn is good, because it is thick, but I am now stuck with an almost full skein of denim yarn. I'll have to find something small to crochet so I can use it up.
Then I did this one, my Franklin scarf for my uncle. I used my favorite yarn for this one, Vanna's Choice in navy (I just love Vanna's Choice. It is heavy enough that it is easy to work with, but is also soft). I only needed one skein of yarn for this one, and I even used a bigger hook, a size N.
Both scarves will be making their way to the mountains of North Carolina next week. With the way this crazy summer has been, I think they are going to be needed sooner than later.
I've also started on my Christmas presents. Yes, I know it is only August, but you have no idea the tasks I have taken on this year. Whew! They are not easy, so we'll see how many I can actually finish.
Here are the two that are currently on my hooks:
The beginning of a purple afghan. Yes, the color is actually purple heather even though it looks brown. I have quite a way to go on this one!
And a brown pillow, which is ,in fact, actually chocolate brown.
I'm not going to say who they are for, just in case they are reading this, but they are coming along nicely. I know they don't look like much yet, but when they are done in time for Christmas they should be really nice!
August 21, 2008
Free Patterns
Charts:
Crochet Patterns:
Felt Tutorials:
Miscellaneous:
'80s Craft-A-Long:
PacMan & Ghosts Perler magnets
Feel free to make items for your own enjoyment, but please remember, patterns and tutorials are NOT to be used for commercial purposes.
All original crafts, images, and content © 2007–2009 Missie Zee. All rights reserved.
Speaking Greek pattern
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I don't even like SPAM
Talk about a fine way to start my new personal blog. . . Blogger tagged it as a spam blog! Maybe it's the name, Crafting with Cat Hair. I thought it was funny, not spammy, but funny, and so true.
I often wonder why they call bad computer stuff spam? Could it be after SPAM, the food? That is pretty bad. All I know is every time I hear SPAM I think of the NCIS episode where Ziva mixes up the saying "spic and span" with "spic and SPAM". Tony corrects her and then tries to explain the meaning of the saying to her. That was a funny scene and a good episode.
Well hopefully, in the next 48 hours, my blog will be back to normal again. Until that happens, I am required to enter in a word verification with every post or update. It is a pain, but at least Blogger is taking measures to block spammers. I guess that is a good thing.
After all is said and done this will be my new personal blog. I tried to keep everything on one blog, Crafts by Alice, but it didn't work out. I think it will be best if I keep all shop related stuff on one blog and everything else here. I don't think my patrons care to hear about my daily adventures, Drusilla's latest quirk, or even what crafts I am working on unless it pertains to the shop. So, I'll type all that here so all of you wonderful readers and read it.
I didn't realize how much I would miss writing about inconsequential stuff. It's good to be back!
August 19, 2008
In the News
last updated 6/18/09
Contests I've Entered
Dabbled - 2008 Anti-Valentine's Day Contest *Won first place*
Instructables: Craft Skills Contest *Won second prize*
Dabbled - Halloween Contest *Won honorable mention*
Dabbled - 2009 Anti-Valentine's Day Contest *Won second place*
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aka: crafts by alice & crafty carolinagirl
Gallery
I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. What started out as playtime (Shrinky Dinks, Fashion Plates, and Lite-Brite) led to my own Etsy shop (felt sweets, crocheted scarves, and plush toys) . I really took an interest in trying different craft mediums in 2005 when I taught myself crochet and embroidery.
This is a collection of some of the crafts I have made over the past four years. To see all of my crafts, please visit my Flickr page. Many of the items were made using my own patterns, while others were made using patterns from fabulous crafters.
My online shop, Missie Zee, carries several of the crafts featured in this collection. Please swing by the shop to see which items are available for purchase.
My online shop, Missie Zee, carries several of the crafts featured in this collection. Please swing by the shop to see which items are available for purchase.
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August 16, 2008
August 15, 2008
Puzzle: '80s Movie Quotes Answer Key
Answers:
1. Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe? (The Breakfast Club)
2. I feel the need, the need for speed. (Top Gun)
3. Red rover, red rover, send Art right over. (The 'Burbs)
4. Let your Soooooouulll Glow! (Coming to America)
5. Nobody puts baby in a corner. (Dirty Dancing)
6. Give me a keg of beer! (Teen Wolf)
7. E. T. phone home. (E. T.)
8. Look kids. Big Ben, Parliament! (National Lampoon's European Vacation)
9. Andy! You Goonie!!! (The Goonies)
10. I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek! (Sixteen Candles)
11. I'm Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell's wart. (Uncle Buck)
12. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen. (Say Anything)
13. Luke, I am your father. (Return of the Jedi)
14. I'll be back. (The Terminator)
And my absolute favorite. . .
15. You slip me the cash and I'll slip you the wiener.
But I don't have any cash.
Then I don't have a wiener! (Adventures in Babysitting)
August 2, 2008
'80s craft-a-long tutorials
'80s Craft-A-Long:
PacMan & Ghosts Perler magnets
Feel free to make items for your own enjoyment, but please remember, patterns and tutorials are NOT to be used for commercial purposes.
All original crafts, images, and content © 2007–2009 Missie Zee. All rights reserved.
Speaking Greek pattern
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