Knitting 101: Everything you need to know in an 11 minute video!

Seriously folks, knitting is that easy. I’ve been teaching children to knit at the local library for over a year now and I have really learned to simplify the process. If you are new this video is for you. If you are rusty have a look and be reminded of the techniques. If you think you are unteachable and could never get the hang of it try it again. You can pause the video whenever you like and rewind it until you get it right.  This video shows you how to cast on (CO), knit (k), purl (p), and (BO) bind off.  Not bad for 11 minutes eh? I have noted what times each technique is covered below the video so you can skip around if you need to.  So, are you ready to get knitty with it?

See, I told you it was easy! For quick reference here is when each technique is demonstrated:

• Slip Knot 1:04
• Cast On 1:30
• Knit Stitch 2:50
• Purl Stitch 5:10
• Bind Off 7:00

If you get stuck on a project you can just refer to the part of the video you need. You’re welcome! I hope you have some time this weekend to do a bit of knitting. If you have any questions just let me know. Did you know all of those fancy stitch patterns you see in knit wear is just a combinations of knits and purls, who’d a thunk it? Happy knitting and til next time happy crafting!

Unleash Your Inner DIVA! {Make Disco-Diva Earrings!)

Happy Friday folks! TGIF! You can whip up these earrings in minutes and you will be ready for whatever fabulous adventure you have planned this weekend, even if it is just a trip to the grocery store (you might as well look pretty while you are picking out produce!) Watch this 4 minute video to see how!

My daughters want to make some of these this weekend, they are so fun and sparkly. The 10 yard roll of jewel ribbon is about $8 at Papermart. they also have glass rhinestone ribbon but I think that might be heavy for earrings. I can see many uses for this jewel ribbon from more jewelry to Halloween costume ideas (I have a feeling every girl is going to want to be a flapper this year!) and it is cheap enough to buy a couple of colors! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Stamping with Watercolor Paint {use what you’ve got!}

Howdy friends! Today I have a quick, fun technique project for you that will have you making cards in minutes. Feel free to substitute supplies I used for ones you have on hand. You can use ANY watercolor paint for this. I use Gel Sticks on the card base but if you don’t have them try watercolor crayons, oil pastels or even kid’s crayons. It’s not about having the most resources at your disposal, it’s about being the most resourceful! Here is the video!

Here are a couple close ups of the quick cards from the video.

You can do this! You don’t need hours to create something worthwhile. Use those little snippets of time and make something wonderful! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

WOYWW: Ask a Crafter Week 4!

Hello there! Time again for another peek at my workspace. I finished up a bunch of projects over the weekend and took everything off my big bench and re covered it with brown paper, man, that feels great! Then I put my cutting mats back and hooked up my torch which hadn’t seen use for the past few months! I have my watercolors out because I just filmed a video on using watercolors to stamp, it will be up by tomorrow at the latest;)

You can also see the legs of my tripod in the photo, yep, it is time for another episode (yes, Lindsay’s having an episode again!) of Ask a Crafter where I answer the questions left on my last WOYWW post and ASK a Crafter Video, here goes!

So if you have a question ask away in the comments section and I will answer it next week! If you want to see more crafty desks pop over to Julia’s blog the Stamping Ground and see the big WOYWW party! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

DIY Mint Chocolate Lip Balm!

A couple of years ago I ordered fancy lip balm base from a cosmetic supply company so I could make my own chap-stick  It was a small, very expensive jar of soy based balm. I got the jar of lip balm base and noticed it looked like Crisco vegetable shortening, when I read the ingredients my suspicion was confirmed.  Practically the same exact thing. Fool me once. So the other day I set out to making my own lip balm with ingredients from my cupboard and here is what I made:

It works great too and tastes good enough to eat! And it is all natural, so, unless you are allergic to chocolate or soy you are good to go. You just need 3 ingredients: Vegetable shorting, Chocolate chips (or carob) and mint. You also need a glass measuring cup to heat and mix the stuff in and small food safe jars to pour the lip balm into. You can get the jars in quantities of 24 at Papermart. Disclaimer: The tins I used in this video are for demonstration purposes only.

One would think that if I could whip up a batch of lip balm with success than I would be a good cook too. unfortunately that is not the case. I felt kinda bad that my husband came home to a house that smelled of mint and chocolate but there were no yummy goodies to eat.

Ha ha ha ha, actually it was my husband who came up with that “hey girl” line, he posted it on my Facebook wall and I just about died laughing, I had to make a meme of it! That’s actor Benedict Cumberbatch in the photo (AKA Sherlock) by the way, why should Ryan Gosling have all the fun LOL!

That does it for me today. I have a studio full of projects that need to be wrapped up and a knitting class to prepare for. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

USA Birthday Card!

Here is an easy card you can make for an enlisted friend or family member or for Operation Write Home:

I made this card for my niece’s husband who is leaving for basic training, it was also his birthday. I built it on a kraft cardbase, tore a book page and sprayed it with my homemade shimmer spray and layered an embossed blue panel that I glided a white Gel Stick on top to bring out the design. I stamped a never before inked Statue of Liberty and colored it with Gel Sticks. Added a few eyelets and a Happy Birthday sentiment and that was it! Easy peasy! Have a great Monday everyone and til next time happy crafting!

What a Difference a Few Degrees Makes…

Happy Mother’s Day! Yesterday it rained so both the city-wide cleanup project and the Little League game we were planning to attend were postponed so I had some free-time to play in my art room. I had cleaned off my big work table Friday after finishing the last illustration for the book I was working on so now I can have a bit of “play time.” My bead torch had been looking pretty lonely on the shelf lately so I decided to make a few beads.

When I first got the torch I was making beads like they were going out of style but then there was a problem with the torch and it would not spark so I had to light it manually, like with an open flame, so I called the maker Diamond Tech and they happily replaced it for me! I love that company, they make the microwave kiln and bottle cutter I use too! I had a replacement mid February but was so busy with projects that I hadn’t had a chance to use it.So, getting around to the title of the post my last bead making experiences were in February with it was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit in my studio, brrr, what can I say, I suffer for my art LOL! Well it is now May and a balmy 65 degrees down there so I went to work making beads with my Devardi Glass known for being cheap and shocky. It was so much easier to work with! Now I realize that my beads reek of an amateur  they are not centered, the edges are uneven and I think I overheated the aqua glass because there seems to be some brown schmutz in the glass. But I made them, they are a leg on my journey as a bead-maker and I love them. I also tried making two beads the same size (really harder than it looks!) so I turned them into earrings. Not great, but not bad for a 4 month hiatus from the torch.

It is very relaxing to work with glass at the torch which is funny because your hands are inches away from a very hot flame and molten glass. To each her own right? I hope all the moms out there have a nice Mother’s Day and til next time happy crafting!