Make it Monday // DIY Ombre Yarn Stitched Tote Bag

If you have a chance I would run to your nearest Target and see if you can find some of their old Handmade Modern craft supplies on clearance.  On Saturday, I was strolling through my Target (the one that is 30 min south of me!) and stumbled upon a bunch of clearance craft stuff from the Handmade modern line - including a set of two tote bags and some mini balls of yarn.  I immediately snatched it up to create a fun stitched tote bag! 

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I liked the premade groupings of yarn because the created an obmre effect and also because I didn't need to buy full skiens of yarn to use 1/4 of a yard!  If you can't find these Handmade Modern kits see if you can find any kids yarn craft kits at your craft store.  Like the 'learn to knit' or 'learn to crochet' type of kits.  Often you'll only spend about $10 on a little kit but get enough yarn to make what you need.  

supplies // canvas tote, pencil, stencil image, stencil (paper, sticker paper, card stock, etc), metal yarn needle, yarn scraps, Cricut Explore or craft knife

For this DIY I also created a stencil you can use!  I've created PNG and a PDF for download here - if you have a Cricut Explore (or any other cutting machine capable of cutting a PNG image) you'll love this DIY.  If you need to trim the stencil by hand, just skip this little part here.

Upload the PNG to Cricut Design space by opening a new canvas, selecting Upload Images, and choosing the file from your computer.  Save it as a cut file since we won't needing to print then cut for this project.

Add the image to the canvas and size it properly - for my tote the size was about 8 inches.  Then click Go.  I used sticker paper to create my stencil but card stock, stencil material, spare poster board or the like can be used to create the stencil.  Load the mat with the chosen media into the cutting machine.  Set the dial to cut the media loaded - for the sticker paper I have, variations of the paper setting will kiss cut the sticker paper.  Wait for your Cricut Explore to do the work for you!

Place the stencil on the tote bag and use the pencil to trace around the letters.  I found putting something hard in the tote bag will make tracing easy.  Remove the stencil and begin to stitch the saying onto the tote.

The best stitch to use for the block letters that spell PLANNER is a backstitch.  This creates a nice line of loops to outline the letters.  For the thinner letters something like a stem stitch works well.  I did not use an embroidery hoop, but that will help keep your work straight!

And now you're done!  A super cute tote to carry whatever you need!  You don't have to stitch this phrase, you can use the Cricut Design Space to create your own saying in your own fonts.  If you don't have access to a cutting machine like a Cricut Explore, the online design machine that is PicMonkey can totally help you out!

I love my Cricut Explore for quick projects like this.  When I have an idea the simplicity of Design Space allows me to quickly bring my idea to life.  The cut settings are easy to use - no removing blades and changing depths - simply rotate the dial or choose from various materials in the custom menu.  There is very little guess work involved and projects can go from idea to realization in no time!

If you want to create your own phrase to stencil here is a post on suggestions for combining fonts, but keep in mind how difficult it might be to stitch certain fonts.  And here is a list of all the PicMonkey DIYs on the blog for some design inspiration!

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // Crochet Face Scrubbie

I haven't crocheted in a long, long time.  One of my favorite things about being me is that I am so creative.  (Vain much?) But really, I'm too creative for my own good and I end up changing my interests quite often.  I love getting really into a new hobby/craft and often I ignore other things I once was passionate about.  Crochet was definitely one of those things.  I can't remember the last time I crocheted for more than one second.

this post contains affiliate links, please see my full disclosure here.

Because this weekend was a long weekend I found myself with extra time....who would have known?? I just wanted to make something small so I pulled out some cotton yarn from my stash that I found on sale a little bit ago and got to work.  I totally pulled out my project about 1000 times, but I finally settled on a little face scrubbie.

I based my little scrubbies on a pattern like this one (which is actually for a potholder!) and used super bright, fun colored yarn.  This is the first I've seen of bright cotton yarn, usually when looking for cotton yarn all I find is white, pale yellow, baby pink, multi colored pastel....so blah.  Fun, bright colors - that's where it's at.  I can't believe I found these Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton Yarn on clearance at our Meijer.  It seems like my Meijer's craft section rotates through craft supplies pretty frequently, I never know what I'll find in their clearance.  (Sidenote - my Joanne's rotates through stuff quickly also - ours is small and it moves stuff to clearance that I still see on the shelves at the bigger one about 30 min away!)

Each scrubbie worked up very fast, about 2 in 45 minutes and I could get 2 (maybe three) out of a single skein of yarn.  Can we talk about an early start on Holiday gifts?  I used an H hook, chained 20 + 3 for a turn, and got to work in double crochet.  If you'd like a more rigid cloth single crochet would be better as you'll get a tighter weave.  I've just been needing a light bit of exfoliation and these are easy to reach for when I need a quick face wash.  I've been relying on makeup removing wipes and my skin is paying for it!

Anyway, this super bright cotton yarn was just sitting in my yarn basket for ages but you can still totally grab some fun colored cotton yarn from Lion Brand during the Back to School Sale going on on Craftsy through 9/9 - each skein is $1.65 (45% off!) and there are 14 colors to choose from.  Of course you can browse all their cotton yarn selections, I'm just partial to these!

During their back to school sale you can also score some discounted lessons in crochet.  This project is very simple, with some basic stitches down you'll be able to whip these up in no time - but if you're looking for more techniques and patterns check out their online classes and even the kits (they have one for knitting and crochet!)  No time like a long weekend to get started with a new hobby, or pick up an old one!  Seriously, if you're going back to campus, these kits send you everything you need to make a project and the crochet ones look so fun to work up!

Hope your Monday is productive - but if you just lay in your jammies watching Netflix and crocheting, I won't judge.  I might end up just looking at all the crocheted items on my inspiration board and not work through any of them.

xoxo, Moe

Make it Monday // That Time I Spun my Own yarn

You may not know this about me......I am a part of a group called the Society for Creative Anachronism, or the SCA.  (Read about it here for the full details.)  Pretty much it's a bunch of like minded people who get together and hang out.  We're all a bit creative, a bit into history, a bit talkative, and a bit different.  For me it's like a living art history class - we research and recreate the arts & skills of pre-17th century Europe.  It might seem a little weird but it's honestly the most creative group I've ever been a part of.

There are constantly Arts & Sciences competitions - on the local & the kingdom level (yeah, there are 19 kingdoms in the "Known World") - where participants research and explore techniques and skills of a certain, specific time period.  If you've ever done a Senior Thesis or the like, the dedication to the projects is on that level.  Some people dedicate their whole lives to developing a technique!  The surprising thing is that some of the people don't have any official training in the things they practice.  I find levels of dedication I would have expected from a trained artist - yet they are creating calligraphy and other art (and craft) objects from purely self taught skills.  There's research involved - much like you would have done to support any thesis you'd presented in school - that is done to back up techniques and creations these individuals submit.  Pretty much if you enjoy scholarly things - like research - and appreciate the arts & sciences of the middle ages, Renaissance, etc then the SCA is for you.

Oh yeah, and we wear funny clothes:

But this post isn't about the funny clothes - it's about the time I spun my own yarn from an Alpaca fleece from an Alpaca I know.  A few years ago when Zach's mother got two alpacas and decided to try out sheering them...I got the fleece.  It sat in the garage for a good long while until we headed down to southern Illinois last weekend to For Hands VII Metal & Glass.  An event featuring A&S (Arts and Sciences) classes in metal casting, metal work, jewelry work, and fiber arts.  Are you kidding me?  It's like I could feel my art degree quivering!  What could I learn from this event?  So Zach & I set off on Friday to spend three hot ass days doing some fun ass activities.  While Zach was busy pewter casting - I was over with the ladies all day doing a class called From Sheep To Shawl where I carded & spun some of the alpaca fleece I brought!  I also gave the other part of what I had away because lets be real...what the heck am I going to do with a whole bunch of alpaca wool!!??!?

So I took this wet dog looking thing (really it's just the alpaca fleece that's been sheared...I promise), combed it out with some dog combs (so clever!) and to speed up the process used a drum carder (that thing on the TV tray) rather than hand carders.  Here's the alpaca fur about to be carded:

Once it's been carded it looks kind of the same - still very long fibers in there.  But it reminds me of an old lady's long hair.  It was so thin and easily caught the wind so I had alpaca fur all over me and everyone that was in the tent!  I was even pulling it off my lunch.  So after it's carded, which I don't have a picture of....I spun it on a drop spindle.

And because I'm no pro I had a lot of over spin in my yarn.  When I went to ply it, it got so tangled!  Eventually the lovely instructor and I were able to get it under control and I walked away with a nice sized ball of yarn!

Now I don't know weather to keep it wound or use it for something!  I am so proud of myself and this even had to have been my favorite event so far.  Talk about putting my interests to good work.  This event was like adult summer camp, there were so many activities.

If you want to know where we were camping at - we stayed at Camp Dubois, the Lewis and Clark winter camp.  There was a fort too but since it was sweltering and the fort was more like an enclosed cabin type deal everyone who stayed in it said it was horrible.  But camping in our tent was horrible with the heat as well.  But all in all I thought it was a great weekend.

xoxo, Moe

My 3 Favorite Places to Buy Yarn

I've mentioned before that I am not an idle person...I always have to be doing something with my hands.  Since being in Michigan, I've picked up my love of crocheting & knitting again and am getting a real work out.  I need to be careful & pace myself otherwise I'll end up with carpal tunnel and that will be no good!

Since I went to Renegade & met the wonderful (fellow crocheter) Susanah, I've fallen even more in love with yarn.  There is just something so inspiring about finding a fellow individual that loves the same thing as you do! Her designs have a great sense of direction & are just plain lovely!

I've been asked, & recently quite a few times, where the best places to get yarn are.  After I shared the above photo on instagram loads of IGer's shared a love of Red Heart yarn with me.  I remember when Red Heart yarn was under $2 & now it's close to $3.  I watch yarn prices like I watch gas prices (no joke!) & when there's a sale I grab it up!  But what about buying yarn just cuz you want to buy yarn? Where can you find affordable & unique skeins?  Here are my top 3 places to go for yarn besides the craft store:

Big Lot's - I remember the first Bit Lot's trip where I discovered they sold tiny skeins of yarn for $1.  I nearly fell over backward! It was at this point in time in 2011, that I'd just moved to Williamsburg & needed something crafty to sooth my itch to make.  I bough up about 10 or so skeins & set off to make one big granny square blanket.  I made sure to buy all the colors I needed up because, with those stores, you'll never know when it will be gone!  The hard part was that there was no dye lot.  I assume they were just ends of things wrapped together & sold.  So I sat in the aisle & pulled out all the skeins that looked to be about the same colors. Jack pot! I recently did this again when I first moved to Michigan & am working (in between other things) on a blanket for our new home!

Thrift Stores - This may seem a little gross, but you can get partially used or even unused skeins at some thrift stores.  My favorite one back home has grab bags of craft supplies & specific bags of yarn.  I've gotten unused skeins of yarn at like 4 for $2!  My only suggestion (it's what I do) is to either unravel the whole skien, wrap it around a chair's legs, tie a few strings around it, & wash it OR wash the item you've made with it very well.  This was a great penny pinching way for me to boost my stash for hat making.

Etsy & Craft Shows - While this isn't an affordable route, in my opinion it is the best one.  Why? Because you are supporting individuals with the same passions you have! And you can get super unique skeins you won't find anywhere else.  I've bought 2 skeins of hand spun yarn from craft show & have loved them each time.  I am working through the yarn in the picture above (bought at Renegade from Biggie) to make myself a hat specifically for the Michigan/Indiana Winter that's coming a long.

Crocheting & knitting are great hobbies to learn if you're like me and want to make, make, make.  They can be intricate & sometimes even mindless.  I like to make big crochet granny square blankets because I am doing something, I don't have to pay much attention to it, & I can still watch TV.  Sometimes the repetitiveness helps me think up new ideas & it always calms my nerves. 

If you want to learn either, I'd suggest hitting up YouTube.  There are some awesome tutorials out there!

Where do you find your favorite craft supplies?

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