Feelin' Crafty

For as long as I can remember, I have loved creating things. If I were to rate my own artistic ability, on a scale of 1-10 I would be a big, fat ZERO. On creativity though, I would rate myself a little better--perhaps a 6. Friends and family who see things I make might think I am being modest here, but what they don't understand is that I'm just really good at following directions and snagging ideas from books and the internet :)

In early December as I read Martha Stewart's Living magazine, I could literally feel my entire body become enveloped in the desire to create some holiday items. I fed my craft bug by making my first wreath for our front door, making a gorgeous candy-themed centerpiece for our Christmas dinner and by doing some crafts with my girls--their favorite being our home-made snowman snowglobes.

After Christmas my entire collection of all things craft related had to be packed up for our move, and 98% of my craft room is still in boxes. I've kept myself busy settling into our home and making bows here and there for our baby girl. This week though I really felt the urge to create coming on, and I'm really excited about a few things I'm going to work on in the very near future.

The first thing I'm making is one of these no-crochet fringe blanket props for when we have our baby girl's newborn photos taken. It can be used in so many types of photos for the whole first year and I can't wait to see how mine turns out!

Photo courtesy of this site where I found the pattern :)

The next item on my crafting agenda is to make my first fabric rosette, followed by about 50 more :) I want to make some of these for gifts, a few for myself and a few for my girls. I have so many ideas of ways to use these!

All photos of these rosettes, as well as a tutorial available here!

Next, my stepmom is going to be coming over soon to make curtains for the baby's room (I know, I know, a little behind we are, but her bedding won't be here for 2 more weeks so we didn't rush!), and while she's here I'd like to make a few of these with her:

They are so much cuter than any I've seen in the store and I would love to embellish them with buttons, fabric rosettes, etc. I think I have enough ribbon to make a thousand of these, thanks to my stash from making bows :) Well maybe not a thousand, but at least a few! The photo above and a tutorial for making the pacifier holders is available at this link.

Over the next few months, I would love to make a couple of these for all three of my girls. They would be so cute on their own for summer and then we could put long-sleeved shirts underneath for next fall and winter! I'll once again need my talented stepmom's help, but perhaps I can work on my own sewing skills under her guidance for these easy shirts:

I found these photos and a pattern you can purchase to make them here.

I'm really excited to have found a tutorial to make ribbon flowers like the one below, so you can count on seeing them on future bows I'm working on, and on other crafts too! I am always looking for new ways to spice up the centers of my bows and these are just too cute.

The tutorial for ribbon flowers is here!

Finally, in a few months (after I'm over the newborn-sleepless-nights phase) I'll make some time to work on one of these for myself. These would also make great birthday or Christmas gifts for my sisters....hmmmm :) I'd have to make a big one to hold all of my earrings, but that wouldn't cost too much thanks to Hobby Lobby's frequent 50% off frame sales! I would love to have my earrings all organized and hanging in one spot--it would make choosing a new pair each day very fun and easy.

Photo from this site, where there is a detailed tutorial for you and I!

Just seeing all of these photos has me super excited to get started on my next project. I think I'll pull the yarn out tomorrow morning for that no-crochet fringe blanket!!

What are YOU working on these days?? Anything fun that you'd like to share?