Mother's Day Project

Hi everyone,

I've been real busy the last 3 days spring cleaning around the house. I have so much more to do. It's amazing how dirty your house can get in such a short time. A lot of my problem is that I allowed it to get too cluttered! I am going through everything, and I am donating or throwing out what we don't need. I still don't know what I am going to do with my books yet. I am such a book worm, but I don't read as much as I used to. I also have an e-reader now, so I don't really want over 200 books taking up most of my dining room any more. LOL! I am working on a crocheted wrap for a mother's day gift, and I'm about 1/4 of the way done. I didn't realize how quickly mother's day was approaching. I have to think of something for the mother-in-law's gift as well. I will be working and doing some LOs soon so I will keep you posted. Right now, I am concentrating on getting the house in order. Especially the scrapping room. Once the construction is done, I will be back to posting on a daily basis. Next month I am going to a Scrapping Event at the Scrapbook Super Station in Butler, PA from 9Am to 12AM Midnight! For $55 I will get 2 classes, a goody bag, 2 Make-n-Take sessions, lunch, prizes, scrapbooking, and sales all day. Anne and I are going, and I am super excited. I will be taking my camera, and I will be posting pics of the event! I would love to have a blog hope with candy. If anyone is interested please let me know. I would prefer to do it on the weekend, but anytime is ok.

Please don't forget to visit my Esty.com sight at Pynoblem's shop. I have a coupon for 20% I believe it is. I apologize, I forget the code. If you buy a cancer cap, 20% of the proceeds goes to the American Cancer Society. I also make cancer caps for the society and donate them. I also just started making baby blankets, but I'm not sure which children's hospital I'm going to donate to. I would also like to start making toys for Shriner's for Children's hospital in Erie, PA. They will take patients without insurance and give them care for free. This includes any medical equipment the children might need. Each time the child visits the doctor, they get to choose a toy, or a book, or whatever happened to be donated to the hospital.

Happy Scrappin & Hookin,

Michelle

Birthday Card

Hi everyone, I made a birthday card with DCWV paper. I have a birthday cake Sizzix die cut that i ran thru a couple of times with different color paper. I cut a strip of yellow cardstock and glued it to the bottom of the card. I used green cardstock for the card itself. The cake is made with the DCWV paper. This is a quickie card I made to have on hand for those times when I need to pull out a card and put some money in. I am going to make a box with indexes, and I'm going to make a few cards for different occasions and have them on hand. I've decided to make our Christmas cards early this year too. This will be a lot less stressful. The scraproom project is coming along. We finally have the bed taken apart. I'm waiting for someone to pick it up. Once that's done, I can really get in there and get rid of a lot of clothes. Then, I can finally start moving my stuff in.

We are going to have some windows replaced in a couple of weeks too, so I have to be careful not to block them off. We had a wonderful Easter with my mother and father yesterday. She makes the most delicious lasagna! I hope your Easter went well.

Happy Scrappin and Hooking,

Michelle

Mother's Day Card

I made this card with DCWV paper and I stamped the girl on white cardstock using Molly Bloom stamp set including the cupcake. I colored both with markers, and cut them out carefully and pasted them to the circle. I used a green chalk ink pad to stamp I Love you Mom with a $.50 stamp bought from Pat Cataan's. I am also working on a cross-stitch wrap of my own pattern for her present if it gets finished in time. If it doesn't, I will give her money to go to the CHA in June or July. I can't remember which month. My sister is having her spend a week with her, and they are going to CHA together for mother's day.

Here is a pic of the wrap I started.

Have a Happy Easter,

Michelle

Ice Cream Days

I used DCWV paper. I used a cloud stamp for the ice cream using different colors of card stock. The cone is made out of Co'ordinations brown paper, and I used sand paper to bring out the embossing. I used a paper doily from Pat Cataan's and I placed it on the paper. I chalked in the holes on the doily, and when I lifted it, I had a pretty circle design. I think I'm going to punch out my pics with shaped punches and make a collage inside the chalked circle.

I started on a couple of cards tonite, but I wasn't able to finish them. I'm also working on making a pop-up card. I have steadily been knitting the baby blanket, and I'm finding out that it takes much longer to make something when you knit vs crochet. I have to admit that I'm starting to get a tad frustrated. I might start a crochet project for Mother's Day. I started my Mother's Day card, but I have to finish it. I'm starting to try new techniques. I found out that I need more and if possible better markers for making my cards. I'd love to buy copic markers. Maybe I can start by buying them a group at a time. I'd also like to start getting better stamps possibly thru a stamp club. I haven't found one that I really like yet.

By the way, Pink Stamper on pinkstamper.com is having a give-a-way for an Expression2. Go to her website and leave a message for a chance to win!

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Thank You Card

I used Cardstock and See D's "Thank You so Much" stamp. I used A green and blue Ribbon by Yard ribbon. The background was embossed using an A2 Darice folder. I love these folders, because they are so pretty and they are cheap too. I just bought 2 for $5 at Pat Cataans last week. This is the last of the cards and scrapbook pages that I made on last Saturday's Scrappin at Pat Cataan's. If I'm up to it, I'll have to put something together for tomorrow.

Happy scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Happy Birthday Card

I made this Birtday card using cardstock. I used a ribbon hole punch to add the ribbon. I used See D's stamps.

I'm slowly working on clearing out the room that will be my scrapbook room. I just can't wait to get everything set up so that I can get to work. I will paint and add the custom desk later. I figure do things as time and money allows, but it will be nice to be able to access my cricut and tools without trying to squeeze into a small space or step over things. I will have a comfy chair to sit in too which makes a big difference. I don't think my DH will ever see me. He will probably get lonely! LOL! I told him tonite that we should go see our son's new apartment, and make a trip over to the scrapbook store in that town. You should've seen his face. I spent a lot of money this month. I don't think he's so eager for me to spend more next month. I think we all know how that is. It's so easy to get carried away. I also spent some on yarn this month too. I don't even want to add them all up! Ignorance is bliss.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

My adoption LO

I found this cute saying about adoptions which is great, because both of my children are adopted. This is the first time I found something like this for scrapbooking, and it made my day! I made the puppy using the Animal Kingdom cart for Cricut. I used the Darice A2 folder for the swirls on my picture backgrounds. The paper is DCWV. I just hope the manufacturer's start to become more sensitive and make more adoption stickers and sayings for those of us out there. I received my children at ages 6 & 7, and I am going to take their baby pics and make a book with nothing but their baby pics. The one child does not want the others in their book. I think this would be a nice way to keep memories of themselves. Almost like a memory book that adoption agencies suggest that they make.

My girlfriend is having a National Scrapbooking Day at her house on May 11th. She is providing lunch, and we are all providing 4 LOs with supplies for each of us with a different theme so that we will all have 12 LOs to make that day. Just a suggestion for those of you who wanting to save money, but still would like a little inspiration. If I had my camera, I would do it live. Maybe next time.

Happy Scrappin and Hooking,

Michelle

Spring Has Sprung Layout

I made this LO with DCWV paper I cut DCWV paper for the picture background and for the flower punches. I used a marker to draw the flower stems. I used the Animal Kingdom cart for the cricut to cut the Elephant at about 5 1/4 inches on Core-dinations paper. I used sandpaper to bring the pink out on the face and on the edges of the elephant.


I am knitting right now, but I am having a few problems. I am going to finish what I started for now, and not frog it. I have frogged about 3 times so far. I want to see what mistakes I'm making, and if I can correct them. I am so excited to be knitting. I tried to learn about 16 years ago, but I would get it, and then it would go right out of my mind and I couldn't do it. Now that I am teaching myself at an older age, it seems easier. :) I like the idea of using less yarn, but I think I will always be a crocheter at heart. I love quick and easy. Sometimes though, you want it to look like it came from a store. That's why I'm learning how to knit. Hope you had a wonderful day. It was a bad pain day with all the rain, but a great day for knitting and crocheting.

I just want to start working on the spare bedroom. We decided that since no one ever stays here that we are converting that room to my scrapbooking room! I don't know if I want to paint it pink or blue. My DH is custom building a desk that will span across the room in front of the window to let natural light in. I just need to clear the room of all our old clothes and the spare daybed. We also have 2 dressers, and I'm thinking that I will get rid of one of them. However, I am keeping the antique one for storage of my equipment. Right now, I am scattered all over the dining room, and it's still not enough storage for me. My DH is so sweet! He is disabled from chronic pain, and he wants to do all this for me, with my help of course. I first started out in a small cubbyhole craft space in the computer room, and it was plenty of space. I remember thinking that I would never have what everyone else had. So if you are just starting up, keep at it and look for the sidewalk sales where you can buy things by the bag full. Some stores have yard sales. Always check the clearance bins first. Always try to use the coupons and sign up for the newsletters. Eventually, you will wonder how in the world you ever came to get so much stuff.
I will have another project for tomorrow.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

New Cat-ittude stamp from Inkadinkadoo

I just got my new Cat-ittude stamp from Inkadinkadoo in the mail, and I tried it out on Saturday. I love it! It is so cute! It was very easy to color in the fur. I haven't figured out a caption to put on the front and inside of the card yet. I am looking on the internet and in books. If you have a suggestion, please let me know. I Cut the cardstock in half, then in half again (I didn't measure) to get this size. I cut my circle using using Martha S. circle cutter. I stamped the image with black ink, and I colored it with markers.

Happy Scrappin and Hooking,

Michelle

Sending You Hugs Card

I know everyone is busy doing Easter cards. However, I am tired of Easter cards. I am all done with them, and I thought that perhaps there are some other people that are too! So I did a basic card with the caption "Sending You Hugs". I got the stamp set from my Simply Cards & Papercrafts March Issue #80 Magazine. They were given free with the magazine. I stamped the images in black and colored them in with markers. I used regular cardstock to make the card. I used the new Martha Stewart circle cutter to cut the circle out for the white background. This cutter is so easy to use. I absolutely love it! My mother has the Creative stuff, and now she wants the Martha S., cuz she saw how much easier it was today while we were scrapping. We had so much fun today. My mother is so nice. She packed a lunch for me and our friend Anne for while we scrapped! I have to do something really nice for her on Mother's Day. I'm thinking of giving her money to go the CHA in June with my sister. This way she will have money to spend. Anyway, I am thinking that once my followers reach 100, I'm going to have a giveaway. Maybe a paperstack or some bling. Let me know what you think. I don't have any sponsors, and I'm on a tight budget, so it can't be too expensive, but I definitely want to do contests and giveaways. I didn't think I got a lot done today until I looked at my projects when I got home. I'm really working hard on being on a particular design team, but I don't think it's going too well. We will have to wait and see. I am working on beginner stamping and 2 page lo classes at the Hermitage, PA Pat Cataan's. If you live in the area, please let me know if you would be interested.

Here is the card:

I have finally figured out that the stamps are the foundation of professional looking cards. If you don't have the right stamps, then you don't have anything to work with. They don't have to be expensive, just large and easy to color with markers or colored pencils. This is the trick to making them look professional in my opinion. I also like shapes cut out for the stamp to stamped on then pasted onto the background of the card. You can see this in the card that I made. With this simple formula, you can't go wrong!

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Pics of Cancer Cap and Mug Cozy

Here are the pics of the cancer cap and the mug cozy that I crocheted the other day. I finally was able to get a couple of batteries to charge for my camera. I went to a scrapbook session at my local library yesterday, and it was very nice. The lady who put it on had everything laid out real nice and orderly. She had all the basic supplies and how-to books available for beginners. The only thing I think they should change is the time. It was for an hour. We would like it to last for 3 to 3 1/2 hours if possible so that we have more time to finish projects, not to mention that having the lady lay out all of the supplies for 1 hour is a bit much!

I am selling the Cancer Cap for $8 plus 2.50 shipping in the US on Etsy.com

I am selling the Mug Cozy for 4.50 plus 2.50 shipping in the US on etsy.com.


I spent a good part of the day outside today. What a beautiful day! When I got home, I opened a good part of the windows to air the house out and to cool it down. I just renewed my license, and had my photo taken. I can't believe how much older I look in such a short period of time! I will be scrapping from 12-5 tomorrow at Pat Cataan's so I probably won't post until late, if at all. Scrapping that long pretty much takes every thing out of me.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Crocheted E-reader Cover

I designed my own e-reader cover for myself and my mother. I am selling them on Etsy for $12. You can't really see it too well, but I have a sparkly cupcake button. The novelty buttons would vary. I couldn't find what I wanted in the stores, so I made it. My camera is down, or I would show you the cancer cap I crocheted last nite. I have finally made it to shaping the arms on my sweater too, but I did run out of yarn, and I will have to wait until next month for more yarn for that project. I did nothing but crochet yesterday. I couldn't get enough. It's my version of cheap therapy, just like my scrapping. I am going scrapping tonite with my friend Anne and my mother. My DH is starting to complain that I'm never home. :) I told him that just a short time ago he was complaining that I was home too much. :) I also crocheted a cute mug cozy that I need to put a pic up here when my batteries are charged. Let me know what projects you are working on.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Butler, PA Scapbook store haul

I bought these at the Butler store plus two ribbons and a whole bunch of brads for $40! I only paid $20 for the Sizzix die. Sorry I didn't post yesterday, but my fibro was up, I ended up sleeping most of the day. I have a crochet class to teach tonite. I know I have at least one person showing up. I like having it one-on-one, because it's nice just to be able to give that extra attention to someone who is just beginning to learn. Our library is having a scrapbooking on a budget every thursday nite this month starting tomorrow. So, I will have quite a few projects to post in the next few weeks. I will also be going scrapping at Pat Cataan's next week. I love going there, because you get free product and free materials to scrap with, and it only costs $5!

I am working on my sweater with a cross-stitch crochet pattern, but it's coming slow. I have to wait, because I run out of yarn due to money issues. My DH says I'm always running out of yarn of one sort. Which is totally true. I have at least three projects going on at once. I think I need yarn for 2 out of 3.

Happy Scrappin and Hookin,

Michelle

Saturday's Haul from Scrapbooking Expressions in NewCastle, PA

Here is my haul from Saturday. I spent $22 total there between the store and the yardsale. I had one more pre-made layout, but I gave it to my friend Anne. I felt bad for her, because she put the bag of stuff she bought from there on the roof of her car and drove off. Someone turned the Butler store bag in, but no one turned in the NewCastle bag in for her. My mother and I gave her a page we bought to help her out. Thank goodness she did not have her paper pack in there! That would've been another $16 down the drain. Anyway, I also had quite a bit of templates that I couldn't fit into the pic. I think I got my money's worth and more. We had gone in the afternoon, and it was picked over. Just think of what it will be like in September when we get there early! :)

New Layout Using Summer Paris Cricut Cartridge

I used the Summer Paris Cricut Cartridge to cut the girl and the dress makers dummy at 4 inches. I used the new Martha Stewart's circle cutter to cut my circles at 4 inches and 6 inches for the mats. I glued a measuring tape brad to the paper which came pre-stitched and is in the Creative Memories line. I bought the brad and paper at the Newcastle, PA Scrapbook store. The paper was 50% off, so you may have a hard time finding it, or you may already have it in stock. It only took about 10 to 20 minutes to design and finish this page.

All of my pages are available to purchase for $2.50 per page. The two page layouts are 7.00 as they require a lot more planning and materials.

Happy Scrapping and Hookin,

Michelle

More Pics from the Knitting Fantasy

Went to Knitting Fantasy Today

I went to the Knitting Fantasy today with my friend Anne and my mother. We had a blast. I love the exchange table where everyone puts what they no longer need or want, and then you take what you want. I grabbed some great stuff. I got quite a few skeins of yarn, a couple pair of knitting needles that I needed, and a knitting needle holder that is a fabric tapestry. I was really happy with the square tunisian knitting needles that I got today for free, and my friend just bought them for $72 2 days ago! I picked up 2 more skeins of 100% peruvian wool yarn for the purse that I'm almost halfway thru crocheting. I also picked up some roving to dye and felt and sculpt into flowers for my purse.

Here are some pics of us and the knitting vendors.

So Excited!!!

I am taking my camera with me tomorrow to both the Knitter's Fantasy and the Scrapbook Yard sale to that you can essentially be there with me. I just went to Jo Ann's Fabric Store yesterday and I bought a Sizzix die for my Big Kick for just $2.50! My fibro is kickin up today, so I don't know if I can scrap today, but I have been working on my purse. It's about halfway done. If I run out of yarn, I'm going to start working on the mouse cat bed that I've already started for Jinxie my Siamese blue point. She is beautiful! I am going to post pics of my kittles soon. We also have a basset hound (Sweet pea) and an Irish fox hound (Cinnamon), and last but not least, my little cockapoo bully (princess). Princess bounces off of the walls with all of her energy. Sweat pea the the beagle likes to pick up the balls of yarn and take off with them. He also like to kick them around LOL. Sometimes when we come home from being out, all of my yarn will be strung from one end of the house to the other!

Pictures Added!

Boy, this was easier than I thought. Now, I just have to figure out how to do it one-by-one so that I can do layouts with recipes. I am on my way. Once I really get this sight going, I want to start doing contests with blog candy. I think I'm going to try out for some of the creative staff, but so is the rest of the creative community. I have been slowly building my Cricut cartridge stash up. Just when I think I finally have some of the new ones, they came out with about 20 new one. LOL I can't wait to get some of the newer ones, especially the 3D card cartridge. That one looks like a lot of fun. I have really started getting into stamping and card making, and I'm finding out that I like the alcohol based markers the best, but I just don't have the funds yet. I am going to a scrapbook yard sale this Saturday, and I hope to pick up quite a few items. I'll put a pic of my stash up no later than Sunday. Today I have been crocheting my first felted purse. I've never worked with wool before, and I'm really looking forward to the felting process. My friend is helping me out with some of the yarn I need. I am swapping some yarn with her. She is also teaching me how to work with roving? yarn. I guess you can sculpt flowers with it while you felt. I am going to go through her stash of over 500 stamps, some of which are Stampin Up stamps, and they will cost $.50 to $3.00! I can't wait. Most of my stamps are the dollar ones or on sale in the clearance bins. LOL! I get to go Scrappin twice next week. Can't wait. I wanted to do some small projects today, but fibromyalgia is rearing it's ugly head and crocheting it was.

Happpy Scrapping or Hooking,

Michelle

New Yarn Stash!

I found a new yarn store in Grove city, PA. It's called Wolf Creek Yarns, and they have a huge variety of quality yarns that you can't find at the discount stores. They also carry a variety of patterns although they are geared more towards knitting. I bought 2 skeins of 100% Peruvian wool for $12! I plan on going to the Knitter's Fantasy in Youngstown, OH on Saturday. It's only $3 to get in and go shopping. Then my friend and I are going to a yard sale at the scrapbook store in New Castle, PA where we both will be selling items for credit for the store. I think we may be buying more than selling. LOL! Between these two hobbies I keep very busy and very poor. LOL I met with our crochet group yesterday, and I spent an hour trying to master the bavarian stitch from instruction from the web, and after 2 hours I think I am giving up for a while. I will go back to it, but I will use the you-tube tutorial. I was printing a bunch of patterns off of ravelry.com last night, and I think I have enough to keep me busy for a while. I may do a project that uses my scraps. My yarn stash is getting really low. I'm going to have to keep my eyes open at yard sales.

New Crochet Project

I just started crocheting a sweater in the April issue of "Intereweave's Crochet" magazine, pg 45. I am substituting an acrylic sports yarn, but I did a gauge swatch, and I am using an E hook instead of a g hook. I think it may still be too small for me, but perfect for either my daughter or sister for X-mas. I may even sell it on Etsy.com. I am meeting with my knit/crochet group tomorrow, and then my friend and I are going to a quality yarn shop about 45 minutes away that I have never been to. I always used to buy the cheapest yarn available, but as I get older I am learning that it is worth it to pay a little more for the better quality yarns. I am taking some of my project magazines with me to see if I can find some for the projects that I have been wanting to try. I made a birthday card yesterday for my mother using the bunny Sixxix die-cut several times to layer the colors for both the bunny and the flower. I then embossed flowers on the inside of the card. I cut out sayings and glued them on the front and inside of the card. I would take a pic, but I gave it to her right afterwards. LOL I need to start making things in advance, so that everyone can see what I do. I am going to scrapbook next Thursday and Saturday, so I should have lots of pics for you to see.

Blog Hop Today

I did a blog hop today, and I hope to win some candy. I may eventually be able to offer some candy on my site during contests. I just bought last years summer Paris cartride for $12! I am going to work with that one tomorrow hopefully. I'd like to do something with vinyl and make wall art. I also have to make a belated B-day card for my mother. I love to stamp, so I will probably incorporate my stamps and markers with my cricut for the card. I have a graduation party coming up, and I want to make her a stationary set some time this month. I also want to step outside the box and do things with my Sizzix Bigshot. I will be posting pics as I complete my projects. I would love for you to comment on my blog, and if it's possible to post pics of what projects you are working on. If it's not possible, please let me know. I'll try to fix it. I want to start having competitions on pages and cards for prizes.

Crocheting Sweater

I am cross-stitch crocheting a sweater with 80% bamboo and 20% wool. I am excited, because it is a new stitch for me to learn. It is a really pretty pattern. I will post a pic when I am done. I have been crocheting towel toppers, tawashis, hats, cancer caps, afghans, etc. I am going to start selling my items on etsy.com and Jo-Ann's website. I will also be taking orders for specific color and items once I post pics of my items. I teach beginners and intermediate crochet classes at the Hermitage, PA branch of Pat Cataan's from 5-6:30 PM. If you live in the area and are interested, please sign up. I will also teach privately if you prefer.

I have been crocheting since I was 8 years old which makes it about 32 years now. I am just now teaching myself to knit. I am also going to start integrate crocheting with scrapbooking.