Cute huh? These would also be great for soccer, roller skating and hiking because you should always wear tall socks to protect yourself from ticks! They are so easy too, in today’s video I’ll show you how to make the more complicated rainbow design, the one color design is even easier!

And here is a photo tutorial for the one color socks, just remove the elastics (AKA rubber bands) when you are done and let dry.

If you prefer to use fabric die I recommend purchasing a tie dye kit with squeeze bottles. It should come with soda ash, you soak the fabric (after tying) in the soda ash then squeeze the dye on the wet fabric. The soda ash will help prevent fading. I like the acrylic fabric spray paint because it stays bright and will not run in the wash. I used this kit from Oriental Trading. If you have any questions on this project just leave a comment and I will get right back to you! Happy crafting!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

So, you think you can sew?

Here is what you should do when you pull that machine out of the box, especially if it has not been used in a  while! You will want your manual handy but if you do not have one search the make and model # on the internet, if you cannot find the exact one try similar models from the same manufacturer until you see one that looks like yours. Sewing machines really are not that different…that is until you get to fancy computerized ones, I know NOTHING about those!

1. Clean it! Use a small soft paintbrush to sweep out any dust and fuzzies that have collected in your machine, especially in the bobbin area and in the door you can open above the needle when the light bulb lives.
2. Oil it. Your machine might have little holes for you to drop oil in, otherwise put a drop or two of oil on every moving part you can find.
3. Thread your machine, wind a bobbin if you need to, practice sewing on a scrap of material   Relax and get comfy with your machine!

No machine? No problem.

Maybe you want to get an affordable machine, before you head out to Target to buy that Brother on sale for $89 look through your phone book to see if you have a sewing machine dealer or repair shop in town because often they take trade-ins or fix up old, way better than the plastic junk they sell at department stores, machines and they will sell them for a song. Even better you have a relationship with someone who can fix you machine or adjust things for you later. The department store machines will not last, I got one once and did a lot of sewing on it and a year later it died. Same thing happened to my neighbor about 3 years after she bought hers. I think these machines are designed to last long enough to sew some curtains and maybe a few maternity clothes before they crap-out. By then many people lose interest in sewing but if you are reading my blog I think you are a more hard-core crafter who will want to buy something that lasts for less money, am I right?

Well, that was a long post for me! I hope this helps you get that old sewing machine out of storage and in good working order, let this be the weekend of sewing revival. And yes, your husbands can thank me for getting you fired up about yet another craft that will over take your dining room table. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Oh the sparkle, the pearls, the art-deco lines! My inner glamour girl is in jewelry making heaven! So, when someone asked me to make a custom necklace to wear to a wedding this weekend I had to put a little Gatsby in it!

The thing I really like about this set is the clasp on the necklace. I picked up a pack of these at Joann Fabrics  they are by Blue Moon Beads and I will definitely be buying more. The neat thing about these clasps (besides the Art Deco design) is that there is a loop on the back perfect for hanging dangles from!

Beaded tassels will be a big trend I think with this move coming out, the three dangles off the clasps echos this without being too “trendy” I think. The necklace can be worn frontward or backwards, the lady I designed this for has a cute shot haircut so the clasp and dangles will be a lovely accent at the back of the neck. It is also pretty for long hair worn up.

I am seeing a lot of glass pearls and crystals being used too, some bead companies are even packaging their glass pearls with coordinating crystals. Crystals give you a lot more sparkle that regular faceted pressed glass because they are cut, not molded and those sharp flat edges reflect the light better. That is also why they are more expensive, more work involved…when you think about it beads are a bargain!

I admit the triangle earring are a little more “groovy” that “Gatsby” but I had two scraps of Tiger-tail wire left after trimming the necklace and rather than toss them out I strung on some beads and made earrings. Changing the shape and adding a millefiori bead completely changes the feel of the jewelry. See how it doesn’t take much to change the look and feel of your beadwork.

That’s all for me today! I am working on the last painting for the children’s book I am illustrating, I can’t wait to share more of this with you. I will be really excited when I can hold a copy of the book in my hands! Have a great weekend everybody and till next time happy crafting!