Two Fun Layouts

I picked up these Basic Grey papers eons ago with the idea that I'd make a page for my hubby and one for me. If you click on the pages, you can see a closeup. They are word pages, male and female. So, I finally sat down and picked out some pictures of us and did the layouts. I'm really happy with how they both came out. I think "Why Do Animals Love Me So?" with the bird on my head just says it all. I love how my husband's page came out. He's such a great dad and I just love these pictures of him with the boys.

Altered Playing Cards

I ran across this really interesting altered playing card project on ScrapJazz.com (http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Techniques/Altered_Art/1394.php) and decided to try it out myself. My nephew Jarred was having a birthday, so I decided to make him a birthday card mini album out of playing cards.

I used Marcella by Kay playing card alphabets and spelled out his name, J-A-R-R-E-D. I then decorated each playing card with an assortment of foam die cuts from American Crafts, Autumn Leaves buttons and various matching ribbon and rubons. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the top lefthand corner of each card and then inserted an eyelet into each hole to reinforce it. I then used a chain to hold the cards together in order. Voila, altered playing cards.

Of course, no ordinary envelope would due for this album, so instead I altered a plain bandaid tin. I used cardstock and glue dots and a matching cardstock tags. Added a few ribbons and rubons and it was ready to hold my mini Birthday Card album.

It was a hit with my sister-in-law and she is planning on putting small sized pictures from my nephew's birthday into the little album and showcasing it at her home. My nephew really liked it, especially when he discovered that there was a gift card to Target nestled inside.

Seed Stitch Scarf

This is a really easy scarf to make. What makes it look so special is the yarn that you use and knitting it in seed stitch*. First, you would use the fun fur yarn to cast on about 15 stitches. I then knit in seed stitch for about 4 rows, then switched off to my really beautiful ribbon yarn for about 4 rows of seed stitch using only the ribbon yarn. Then I alternated each one more time. The middle part of the scarf, I used only the fun fur yarn. I used 3 skeins of fun fur and about 1 skein of a really pretty luna ribbon yarn. When the scarf reaches your desired length, you alternate the two rows of ribbon yarn once more. Final touches are sew in your edges and then using a crochet hook, loop in pieces of your two yarns and some silk ribbon in a coordinating color. This scarf took me about 1 day to complete.

I'm working on a pink/black version now, using a really fun citrus colored ribbon yarn.

*seed stitch - alternate knit, purl stitches and finish with one knit stitch. Your last stitch each row must be a knit.

Free Knitting Lesson Sites

Here are a few more sites where you can find free knitting lessons for beginners:

http://www.craftown.com/knitlesson.htm

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/518.asp

http://www.socknitters.com/lessons/lessons.html

http://knitting.about.com/od/learntoknit/a/begin_knit.htm

There are TONS of sites out there just aching to teach you how to knit! So....what are you waiting for? Go get those needles and some yummy yarn and get knitting!

How Did I Teach Myself to Knit?

Wondering how I did it? Through the magic of the Dummies series! Knitting for Dummies by Pam Allen (http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-076455395X.html) was my teacher and guide. Since that first tome, I've since picked up a dozen or so more knitting books that have each contributed to my success in a small way. But, for the most part, the basics and how to do them are all in the Dummy. :)