-Bead and Wire Ornaments-

In search of a quick wire ornament for the holidays? Have a wire jig handy? Then give this simple design a try.

It’s a wire and bead tree-shaped ornament in two styles: loops on the inside or loops on the outside. Hang beads on the loops for instant mini decorations.

The wire is basic 18 gauge craft wire found in most craft supply stores, and it comes in a rainbow of colors. The color used here is magenta. Other tools you need are round nose pliers, wire cutters and headpins for adding the beads.

See this article I wrote at eHow.com for detailed directions.

Happy Holidays!

Wire wrapped on a jig.

A little of yourself goes into every handmade gift.

But I’m also thinking about those in less fortunate circumstances who could also use some holiday cheer. To me, nothing says you care like a handmade gift. That’s why during this season, and periodically through the year as well, I love to knit and crochet items for charity. Not only is it a nice thing to do for your heart, and your soul, but it’s also a practical way to use up some of that yarn that’s been accumulating in your stash over the year.

I just plain like to knit and crochet, but not everyone in my circle of friends can use all the items I make. I like knowing my handcrafted can go to someone who can use them, even if we’ve never met. Many charities recognize the special feeling a handmade item brings and look to knitters and crocheters for help. They need baby items, hats, scarves, blankets and other everyday items that will make another person’s life a little easier.

So how do you find these charities? You may find some spotlighted in knit or crochet pattern magazines, but Bernat Yarns has an online database of charitable organizations called Bernat Cares where you can search by type of item you would like to donate or search by location to find a charity near you.

Here are a few organizations I’ve donated to in the past and plan to do so again:

• Handmade Especially For You (http://www.handmadeespecially.org/home.html)
  This organization distributes handmade scarves to family crisis centers and shelters for abused women. I received a personalized “thank you” note from the program director that really touched my heart.

• Red Scarf Project (http://orphan.org/what-we-do/programs/red-scarf-project/)
  Sponsored by the Orphan Foundation of America, this program distributes red scarves as part of a Valentine’s Day package to OFA students enrolled in college and trade schools. Due to the timing of the care packages, they only accept scarves between Sept 1 and Dec 15. Free patterns are available for inspiration.

• Special Olympics Scarf Project (http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/)
  This program collects knit and crochet scarves made with the official dual blue colors of the Special Olympics games, and distributes them to participants and their supporters as a symbol of “unity, support, compassion and empowerment.” The official colors are available in Red Heart Supersaver skeins, which you can find in most craft and yarn shops, or purchase online. The 2011 website for this program allows you to choose which state you would like to donate to and includes all the detail about the donation process, including the specific yarn color numbers and free patterns.

Origami Dress Card

Card made with dress design from a Klutz Origami kit and general card stock.

Origami Shirt Card

Rather than spending oodles of dinero to purchase three-dimensional embellishments for your card crafts, consider making your own with a few simple origami folds. You can use thin scrapbook paper and find instructions online to begin, or create origami shapes using a kit. Whatever you choose, the results will be one-of-a-kind fabulous!

The shirt pictured is made using a Klutz Origami kit, Mrs. Grossman’s stickers, card stock, and sequins.

It seemed to me that if you get bored and lose enthusiasm after knitting one sock, the same probably happens after you knit one mitten. For myself, I could see that that would be true. I tend to like to move on to new projects quickly and don’t enjoy assembly line crafting where I’m making the same thing over and over. So, I thought why not give it a try? And you know what? It worked great!

The first pair of mittens, pictured in progress above, were a very simple pair where the fronts and back were identical so you didn’t have to worry about which was the left mitten and which was the right. I used two balls of yarn, one of each mitten and simply knit them on the same needle one next the other.

The next pair of mittens I tried were a little more complicated because the front of each has a cable and there is a definite difference in shaping between right and left. But the technique still works. I marked one mitten to I’d know it was the left one, and then simply did the specified stitches for the right mitten in the opposite order for the left mitten (except the cable, I left that as is).

You may notice in the photo that I used a circular needle for the cable mittens, but that was simply because I LOVE my new Harmony wood circular needles I got for Christmas and couldn’t wait to use them. I’m using the circular needle as straight needles here.

So, if you’re the type to get bored after that first mitten, give this technique try and you’ll have a pair of mittens done at the same time, in no time at all.

Until next time…

Happy crafting!

Embroidered Tote or Pillow Many of us have boxes and stacks of artwork our children bring home from school that we cherish and want to save. My sons are fully grown and I still of boxes of their primary school drawings. Here’s an idea for preserving those memories, and if your children are still young, this would be a great way to highlight their work.

This is an idea I thought was so adorable, and so special I just had to share it.

Stickers, Ric-Rac, and a little imagination make a heart-felt Valentines Day card.

Valentines Day is quickly approaching and you may not have time to complete a card for every one on your list… or so you think! Before you run to the store for a stash of pre-printed stock cards, check out your stash of paper craft supplies and use simple items to craft a quick, and “pretty” Valentines Day card.

It only takes a few minutes and a little creativity to arrange a few stickers, add a little ric-rac (or ribbon) trim, and create a hand-crafted card that looks like you put a lot of time and thought to it.

In the pictured example, pink linen card stock, a floral vase sticker, a series of heart shaped stickers with complimentary colors to the vase, a clear “sayings” sticker, and a white ric-rac trim glued on to the top and bottom with an inserted bow to finish the topping… create a very simply, yet elegant Valentines Day card suitable for a friend or significant other (just change the “sayings” sticker to reflect your sentiments!)

Make a matching envelope… or, dress up a plain white card envelopes to match. TIP: Keep a box of white card envelopes on hand always. They work with any card color and are great to turn to in a pinch when time is short and you don’t have the luxury of crafting a matching envelope or have a pre-cut card set on hand.

Put your “creativity” cap on, grab your paper supplies, and challenge yourself to create a Valentines Day card in 10 minutes or less! You’ll be surprised by the beautiful creations that come together quickly and you’ll have plenty of time to get your Valentines in the mail or hand deliver them on Valentines Day.

There’s no entry fee and who knows, you could advance to the final round, where you send in your completed item for judging, and maybe even win a nice gift certificate to Michael’s or a cash prize. The grand prize winner receives a trip to meet Vanna herself!

The four categories (afghan and throws, hats and scarves, baby items, and gifts and crafts) give you a great deal of freedom to be creative. What project couldn’t fit into the gift category, right? The only requirement is that you use Vanna’s line of yarn from Lion Brand. It includes three different types: worsted weight Vanna’s Choice, which comes in a glorious rainbow of colors; Vanna’s Choice Baby, a worsted weight yarn in a selection of  colors popular for baby gifts; and Vanna’s Glamour, a sport weight yarn with metallic thread woven in for just the right amount of sparkle. I’m dying to make a fashion doll dress with this one!

So, what’s stopping you from entering? Even if you don’t win (and there’s always a chance you could), you will still have a handmade item ready for your next gift-giving occasion. Last year, I entered a child’s hat I’d crocheted in red, white and blue (see photo below). Even though I didn’t win the contest, my son loves this hat, and wears it to school every day now the weather’s cold. Maybe I didn’t get the cash prize, but I still feel like a winner.

And yes, I”ve entered Vanna’s contest again this year–twice so far!

Happy stitching!

Patriotic Hat in Vanna's Choice

We journal, we create cards and luggage tags all designed to house our thoughts and sentiments.  During National Letter Writing Week, it’s time to share the joy of expression.

Time to dust off some of the card samples you’ve made or to create a new design to send a note to friends & family “just because.”

If you feel a little hestitant, simply tell them you are writing in the spirit of National Letter Writing Week… though I doubt there are many loved ones in our lives that wouldn’t be thrilled to find a hand-crafted note from a friend in their mail this winter.

If you are not into card-making, try crafting a simple letterhead design utilizing a word-processing program and your printer.  You can easily add a monogram with clipart, or even add an elaborate border.

Visit http://www.csuzberry.com/csberryprintlinks1.html OR http://printstationary.net/stationaryletterhead/index.php for ideas and templates.