A Few Sneak Peeks

I've been working so hard to try and get as many new items in both shops by tomorrow, but not everything will be finished. Bummer!  

I did manage to finish quite a few items though, like this fall scarf for World of my Own Designs:

and this Halloween cookie tea set for Crafts by Alice.

I'll post some more pics of new items tomorrow. I can't give away all my secrets. I want you to be surprised on something!

PSP is my new BFF

Well, I couldn't stay away from digital scrapbooking too long. I went ahead and bought Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. I chose PSP over Photoshop Elements because I heard you can do almost the exact same things as with Photoshop. Thanks to whoever said that because they were right on.

It has taken me awhile to get the hang of PSP, and there are still a few things I haven't figured out yet (like adding color to fonts), but overall I am very happy with it. And the best news, it was $600 cheaper than Photoshop!

Here are a few banner designs I came up with as I was fooling around with my new toy:

A new banner layout for my blog. Not too crazy about the colors, but I got to practice using ribbons. I used a total of nine ribbons in this layout! 

A simple Christmas banner. Another issue I have is with fonts, but I am slowly learning.

And my final two, which happen to be my favorites!

These are my final Etsy shop and blog banners. I actually got the templates from Scrap Girls. Though they are templates, I still had to put the pieces together and add my own paper and embellishments. So needless to say it wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be, but I learned a lot while working with the banners (the Crafts by Alice banner has seventeen layers). I think I can honestly say I have finally mastered the art of layers!

You can take a peek at my Crafts by Alice blog to see my very first sidebar tags too. 

I think they turned out really cute!

Fall is here and I am sick

I've been feeling under the weather all week, which I think it is due to the change from summer to fall, that always does it to me.

One thing I learned while being home sick for two days is there is NOTHING on TV during the day. I did manage to find Growing Pains and Kate and Allie, talk about two blasts from the past. Thank goodness for my DVD player and USA Network!

While being confined to the couch, I did finish my Sarah Palin squares. I'll be sending a Republican elephant square and this one:



It is supposed to be the state of North Carolina, though it kind of looks like a blob. Oh well, I tried!

I have also been working on quite a few new items for both of my stores. I'll be posting pics of them next week.

Contest Update

Well, I'm bummed that I didn't win the Indie Fixx contest, but thanks to all of you who voted for me. I appreciate it!

So much for no more contests! I have decided to enter two items in the Dabbled Halloween contest, as you can see in the the little button on my sidebar. I actually won the Anti-Valentine's Day contest back in February and am really excited to enter two more spooky crafts. I am sticking with my previous theme, poison, but changing it up just a little for both of my entries!

Here is the first:

"Something for your sweet tooth!"

The second entry requires a little more work, so it is still in the process of being crafted, but my little poison lollipops are done and will be available in the shop on October 1. I am not sure if I am going to sell them separate or combined with something else, so stay tuned for that.

That is all for now!

Pirates are cool!

Avast ye Hearties! Har it is, me completed potholder. Gar!

No, I haven't completely lost my mind, well not completely! Do you know what today is? It is talk like a pirate day. Amazing that there is an actual day for talking like a pirate. Who knew? 

I was going to try and write this post totally in pirate talk, but found out that it is really hard to talk pirate. Aye, it ain't easy bein' a pirate. But, I did come across a website where you can have your phrases translated into pirate talk. You can find it on the "talk like a pirate day" site. It is pretty funny. 

So enjoy talkin' like a pirate today, though I'm not so sure I'd do it in public. Aye, Ye might end up lookin' like a scurvy dog!

Toot, Toot

Please allow me a minute to toot my own horn. Toot, Toot!

My local Etsy team was chosen to be a featured Etsy Team. How cool is that? Well, there are 250+ teams and we were picked. I think that is pretty cool. Here is the awesome article if you'd like to read all about us. And if you look closely, you will see me in the picture! 

In other team news, we are starting a new monthly giveaway on our blog. This month features a really great item from Start to Finish.  So swing by if you'd like to enter. And keep an eye out for one of my items to be included in the coming months.

Bye, Bye Photoshop

Last night ended my 30-day trial of Photoshop (*Sigh, I am really going to miss it), so I was working like mad trying to finish up my new shop banners. 

Coming up with a banner is not easy. I have seen so many cute scrapbook designs that gave me inspiration, but when I sat down to try to put my own look together I found it is very difficult. 

I really wanted to come up with a banner design that would tie both shops together but also be different enough to keep them separate. Well, after several days and many trial banners I came up with these:

The Crafts by Alice one was especially difficult. I tried a little bit of everything in the design, but didn't like how any of it looked. One banner even had tea pots, cakes, butterflies, mushrooms, and swirls all together. I decided to go with something simple and classic, the colors of Alice's dress topped off with her black hair bow.

World of My Own Designs was designed first, so it helped me with the design for Alice. I love pink and green together so the color choice was immediate, but the green lettering is a little hard to read when it is small, like on my avatar. The little crochet hook ties the whole theme of the store together well. 

So now back to the crafts I've been neglecting. Believe me, I have plenty to work on, most importantly getting my shop stocked for the holidays. I've closed my shops until October 1, so I only have a couple of weeks to get everything done. Yikes!

New Challenge WIP

I was invited to join a Monthly craft challenge on Flickr, aptly titled, The Monthly Craft Challenge. I already host a monthly challenge with my Etsy group, but this one sounded like too much fun that I had to join in. Plus, I just had to add something to this month's theme. . . Pirates!

I just love pirates! Whether they are from the Caribbean, Pittsburgh, or down on the Goon docks, there will always be a special place in my heart for them.

So here is my WIP:

Notice the colors? Yes, I made mine a Pittsburgh Pirate potholder, try saying that three times really fast. 

I've been meaning to make one of these ever since I got the Happy Hooker crochet book, but I never found the time. Now that I found out how it easy it is to follow charts, I might be making some for presents. 

So avast ye mateys. The pirates might be invading your home this Christmas. Argg!

Another Freebie for You

Here it is. My very first crochet chart! Just in time for National Crochet Day.



The grey colored area around the elephant is to be single crocheted in white (white wouldn't show up on the chart so I had to use grey).

I am pretty excited that I got to use my twenty-plus years of cross-stitching skills to make this crochet chart. I knew it would be good for something :)

For my block, I used acrylic yarn and a size G hook. I am not thrilled at how the Red Heart yarn worked, so I would suggest a cotton or a soft acrylic yarn. I also stitched three felt stars to the block, but that is not necessary.



Need some ideas on how to use this chart? Crochet two blocks together to make a potholder or cross-stitch a pillow or bookmark to give to your favorite Republican.

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© 2008-2009 Missie Zee

Please remember that items made using my patterns and tutorials are for personal use only and can not be sold for profit. Thanks!

Happy National Crochet Day!

In honor of National Crochet Day, I share with you a quick and fun crochet-related tutorial. . . crochet stitch markers. It is crazy how many stitch markers tutorials are floating around the web. So naturally, I decided to add another one to the mix.

My simple yet retro crochet stitch markers show a little love to one of the biggest boy bands of all time, the New Kids on the Block, and their new fall tour.

I will not have the pleasure of attending this tour, though I did see them back in the early '90s on their Magic Summer Tour, as proof in the picture above (I'm the one in the grey standing next to Danny), but my sister and her best friend will. And boy are they excited! So Mel and Les, these are for you.

"Step by Step" stitch markers

Materials/Tools

round-nose pliers
needle-nose pliers
wire cutter
round plastic alphabet beads
assorted colored beads
head pins or eye pins
S-hooks

Directions

Step 1: We can have lots of fun

Choose the beads you want to use.

Step 2: There's so much we can do

Place the beads in order on the head pin and cut off any excess wire, leaving about an inch from the top of the bead.

Step 3: It's just you and me

Hold the head pin in the round-nose pliers with one hand.

Using the other hand, take the needle-nose pliers and bend the wire to form a small loop.

Step 4: I can give you more

Hook the small loop onto the S-hook and tighten the the loop by squeezing it shut with the round-nose pliers.

Step 5: Don't you know the time has arrived

Ta Da! You now have your very own stitch marker.

To attach the heart: place the heart on a head pin, bend the wire to form a loop, hook the head pin and heart to the loop end of the eye pin, and squeeze shut.

Also remember if you are making name stitch markers, only six letters fit on one pin. Thank goodness all the guys' names were six letters or less.

Now go on and make a whole "funky bunch" for yourself and your crocheter/knitter friends. I know that's Marky Mark but he's a sibling extension of the group, so I couldn't resist.

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© 2008-2009 Missie Zee

Please remember that items made using my patterns and tutorials are for personal use only and can not be sold for profit. Thanks!

Have you seen this yarn?

Has anyone tried this new Bernart, Glow in the Dark yarn yet? It actually glows in the dark, which is great for kids' Halloween costumes.

The Bernart website has some free patterns to knit and crochet using their new yarn. I might have to pick up a few skeins and work up a little Boo bag. It is a knitted pattern, but I might be able to change it into a crocheted pattern. 

Crocheting Republican

This is definitely not a political blog. I am not one of those people that likes to debate or argue over my beliefs, but I also feel that I, just as every other American, have the right to support whatever party I choose (even in my crafting) without others blasting me with hateful comments. 

So over the next two months, I'll be posting pictures of some of my craft projects that favor the Republican party and the candidates. Please respect my point of view and keep your hateful comments to yourself!

Having said all of that. . .

I am so thrilled that John McCain chose Sarah Palin to be his running mate. I was also just as thrilled to find the McCain/Palin Ravelry group. Finally, a bunch of crafters that share my beliefs. And, I was really psyched to see a Sarah Palin CAL/KAL taking place. I had to join in, of course.

The goal is to finish one or two 6-inch square blocks that will be sewn together for an afghan for Sarah Palin and sent to her a week before the November election. I came in a little late, so the countdown is on. My square(s) have to be in the mail by October 2, but that shouldn't be too hard to do.

Here is one I finished this weekend:

It is my second personal crochet pattern, but my very first chart. I am still a beginner when it comes to working with charts and changing colors, so it is a little ragged (on the upper left corner) and the back looks pretty awful:

Unfortunately, I don't think this one will be headed to Alaska, but I am going to be doing a second one this weekend with cotton yarn. My hope is that it will turn out better.

I'm working on drawing up the chart as a PDF, so check back soon for my freebie chart!

Craft Contests are Cool

I've been neglecting my Christmas presents lately to work on some crafts for contests. Here are a few I've finished:

Two Peas in a Pod

Crocheted birthday cake with felt candles

The great news is both of these are finalists in Indie Fixx's Craft-Off contest. Yea! The rule was to incorporate the number two somehow in the entry. I think I accomplished that, plus my felt candles are the colors of Indie Fixx's website.

There are some really cool prizes, like a year subscription to Craft magazine (I really want that). Please consider casting your vote for one of my items (voting is open until September 15). My entries are crocheted birthday cake and felt candles #5 & two peas in a pod #11. I would really appreciate it if you would vote for me, here.

Everytime I hear the saying, "Vote for me" I think of the Golden Girls. I don't remember what episode it was, but Dorothy was telling a story about a kid in school who was running for student council. She said his slogan was, "Vote for me and I'll show you my wee wee. . . He won by a landslide." That is too funny!

Here's a blast from the past. My very first crafty win in Dabbled's Anti-Valentine's Day contest:

Poison tea and scary cookies

I think I need to refrain from entering anymore contests until the new year. Yeah, we'll see how that pans out.

Also, I am working on a really fun, pop culture inspired "step by step" tutorial that will be featured this Friday. So hang tough, and check back on Friday!

Here Comes Hanna

The Carolinas will be dealing with an unwanted guest this weekend, Hurricane Hanna.

Hurricanes are something I know quite a bit about. Growing up in Florida, I remember having hurricane days instead of snow days. I don't like them, but at least they give you a few days to get prepared, unlike tornadoes. Plus, Hanna doesn't seem to be that bad. Then again I think I gauge all hurricanes by Hurricane Andrew. If it isn't an Andrew, it isn't all that bad.

But one thing I have learned since moving to the Carolinas is this area will flood. A lot! I have seen my fair share of orange colored rapids down the street and even experienced my very first flash flood here. What is that saying, "Turn around, don't drown"? I think that was made for this area. 

So, I guess I'll be staying put all weekend. That isn't so bad, I'll just stay in crafting all weekend and working on a few tutorials I have in the works. Too bad USA Network's NCIS marathon isn't this weekend, it's Monday. I just hope Hanna is nice enough to leave me electricity. I dealt with no air for two weeks in June and I REALLY don't want to do that again! 

Hopefully all will be back to normal next week and Drusilla and I will have no more unwanted guests, hear that Ike and Josephine!

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go

I put away the Photoshop for a few minutes and worked on a fun little project.

In honor of the Steelers first regular season game this Sunday against the Texans, I have started using my little Steelers pincushion I made last year for the pincushion challenge.

This year I have made little footballs for every team the Steelers play:

Texans - red & blue

Browns - brown & orange (2)
Eagles - green & white
Ravens - purple & yellow (2)
Jaguars - teal & yellow
Bengals - orange & black (2)
Giants - white & red
Redskins - maroon & yellow
Colts - white & blue
Chargers - blue & yellow
Patriots - white, blue, & red 
Cowboys - navy & white
Titans - light blue & red

One thing I realized while cutting sixteen mini felt footballs was so many teams use the same colors. Look at all the teams with red, white, and blue colors. It is amazing they don't get confusing.

So, for every win we get, that team's football will be pushed into the pincushion. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is full of all of the pins by the end of the season, but I know that is almost impossible. I'll settle for any ten, plus the New England Patriots. . . okay and maybe the Bengals, Ravens, Cowboys, and Browns too!

Go Black and Gold!!!

The Ruby Slippers

I don't know what it is with my lately, but I've had The Wizard of Oz on my mind. Maybe it is due to the fact that I've been listening to the Wicked soundtrack for the past two weeks straight. What a great soundtrack that is. I've been singing along to it on my hour drive to and from work every day. I must be giving the other drivers quite a show!

I decided to go along with my new Wizard of Oz/Wicked obsession and make two web buttons:

one with a little pair of ruby slippers

and one with the wicked witch hat

I don't really know why I made them since I have absolutely no use for either, but it was fun and it gave me some practice on web buttons.

I think Dorothy would be happy with these, as well as the Wicked Witch.

Follow up on Photoshop

I've been neglecting my crafts all week, sorry yarn, and focusing all of my time fooling around with Photoshop and design tutorials. I am having so much fun and am really getting the most out of my Photoshop 30 day trail period.

One thing I realized, time flies when your searching on the web. Last night, I was so engrossed in my searching that I didn't even realize my craft room/office/guest bedroom had turned pitch black. It was also 9:45 p.m. I might have to set my alarm for now on. 

I did accomplish something though. After my many hours of researching I realized that while Photoshop is the king of all graphics programs, it is not the only one out there that does the trick. And the best news, the other programs are only around $100! Yea for bargains!

Photoshop Elements and Paint Shop Pro seem to be the best, cheaper versions of Photoshop. I have read reviews on both and looked at some tutorials and am leaning toward Paint Shop Pro Photo X2. Any thoughts on either? I came across a really great site, through another great crafty blog, that offers really cool scrapbooking tutorials for Paint Shop Pro too. Can't wait to give them a try. 

I often wonder how I happen upon blogs. I guess it is just Google being good to me. Thanks, G! After searching through dozens and dozens of scrapbooking sites, I came across, The Pink Toque with its wealth of scrapbooking freebies, info, and links. Though I still have yet to totally understand how to use these items, I downloaded some of the freebies, most importantly the knit and crochet sets. I am so excited with the crochet set. Now I just have to figure out something to use it with.

If you want some great scrapbooking freebies, be sure to check out the site. And be sure to take a peek at the Chicago Bears set. It is just too cool, but too bad it isn't the Steelers. Maybe I should make that my goal, to make a Steelers scrapbooking set. Yeah, we'll see how advanced that is. I might have to stick with making Etsy banners for now.