So many crafts, so little time...

I have done a few more crafts since my last post, but they are more of the same, so I thought I would lump them all together in the same post, just so I can have them out there.

First off, was the Zombie cross stitch I made for my hubby.  This was the first one where I actually made the pattern myself.  I did get some inspiration online, but the zombie was made from scratch.  I was really proud of how it turned out and my hubby has taken it to work and put it on his desk. 

The second cross stitch I made was for myself.  It has "Han shot First" with a picture of a blaster.  This one was another pattern that I had made, but took pretty much all of the inspiration from one I found online.  I still need to buy a frame for it since it will require a 4X5 frame and I didn't have one in my stash.

Last but not least is the dice bag that I am crocheting for my hubby.  It is not quite finished yet as I still need to make the drawstrings, and I am also going to add a felt Ork insignia on it.  I took my inspiration from this pattern, but didn't feel the need to make it so big.  I settled on 20 stitches to start and crocheted "in the round" so that the total circumference was 40 stitches around.  I did 20 rows before starting the eyelets and then did three more rows on top of that.  It holds all of my hubby's "Waggghhhh" dice perfectly!  In total it only took me a couple of hours to make over a couple of days.  I just had to remember to count my stitches after each row (just in case) and to mark down how many rows I have done (I am always forgetting).  Stitch markers help greatly, but I am unwilling to shell out the money for some, so I used a bobby pin instead.  Worked like a charm!

Cross Stitching FTW!

This weekend I decided to get back into cross stitching.  I can't quite remember when I first started, but I know it has been a couple of years since I did one.  I had always gotten a kit that included everything and then would go from there.  This time I wanted to do some projects that didn't involve those kits.  So I looked online and found a pattern that I liked and I even made a couple as well using Excel.  This way I knew the project would interest me and I wouldn't start it only to leave it in the back of a closet somewhere, never to be completed.

The weekend started with a trip to Michaels.  Since I wasn't using a kit, I would need to buy everything that would be required.  I grabbed all the colours of floss I needed, Size 22 tapestry needles (round end), a 6" hoop and 14 count aida fabric.  I chose the 14 count, as that is what I am most familiar with and the 22 needles are what is recommended for that count.  With purchases in hand, I was ready to begin.

It actually took me quite awhile to get going.  Not being familiar with cross stitching without a kit, I was a bit nervous that I would screw it up.  I decided to go with an actual pattern that I had found rather than one I had made just to ease the transition.  I nervously cut my fabric to be around 8X10 since that is roughly how large the pattern was.  I left a few inches on all sides just in case.  I wasn't exactly sure how big it was going to be in the end.  I then folded my fabric into quarters and marked the center.  Once that was done, I taped all the edges to prevent fraying.  I used scotch tape on three sides, and then since I ran out, packing tape on the fourth side.  As it turns out the packing tape worked the best.  The scotch tape was recommended online, but I found it wasn't sticky enough and didn't really hold onto the fabric well.  The Internet also recommended that I iron my fabric first, but since I was using a hoop, I decided that ironing really wasn't necessary since it would get hoop lines in it anyway.  After this I found center on my pattern and I was ready to go.

It took me a bit to get back into the actual stitching, but after a couple of rows I started to get the hang of it again.  I started off doing every stitch, just so I could recall what I was doing.  Then I moved into doing half stitch rows; going back over the row to complete the stitches.  This method seems to be faster, but that could very well be an illusion.

I chose a simple pattern, so was done by Sunday evening.  I ironed the fabric flat and framed it just using a dollar store frame, and trimming a bit of the excess fabric on all sides.  All in all, I am very happy with the results, and I am looking forward to more complicated cross stitches in the future.  I am also glad that I picked it back up so easily.  I guess it is just one of those skills you never really forget.

Yet another IPhone case!

The other day one of our friends gave me a Warmachine figure that he had bought and decided not to use.  Since it was for my faction, he said I could have it so that it wouldn't go to waste.  I wanted to give him money for it (the thing cost about 10.00) but he said no.  I felt bad because I hate not paying people back for their kindness.

When I made my hubby his Hulk themed IPhone case, our friend expressed interest in a Captain America one.  I decided that this would be the perfect way to pay him back, so I got an IPhone case and went to work!

I am really happy with the way this one turned out!  I feel I am getting better with each one I complete.  I learn something new every time and they keep getting neater and easier to do!  Needless to say our friend was very happy with his new case!

Marvel comic flats - A Friday night adventure

I've been kind of on a decoupage kick lately and on Friday night I was bored and decided to try something new.  I had an old pair of fabric flats that I wasn't wearing anymore, and I had seen some nice shoes done with comic panels on Pinterest.  So I figured I could try it out and see what happens.  If they didn't turn out, I was only out a pair of shoes I didn't wear anyway.

I went about choosing some various action panels and then a few character panels that I could add on later.  I Mod Podged each panel and went about setting it on the shoe.  The more Mod Podge the better as it makes the panels more pliable and easier to follow the curve of the shoe.  One thing became apparent right away.  Fabric shoes are not the way to go.  They bend too much while you are trying to set your panel and even as they are drying can collapse on themselves.  It is very hard to keep the two materials together while they are drying as well.  I know for next time that a sturdier shoe would be the best for decoupaging.  But, I made the best of it and muddled through.  I even tried stuffing the shoe, but since I had to secure the panels to the inside I didn't want the stuffing to be suck to the shoe too!  After the first layer of panels was down it became a bit easier as the shoe was now sturdier but the toe was always an issue.  I then placed my character panels where they fit best and used three more coats of Mod Podge to secure everything down.  It was at this point that I decided to secure everything with a layer of sealer, just in case.  So, I stuffed the shoe with plastic bags and wax paper and spayed it with the sealer.  I then let them dry overnight.

All in all I am happy with them, and I was able to wear them to "The Avengers" movie.  There are things I will do differently next time, and I will never use a fabric shoe again! 

Hulk IPhone case

Last night I finally bit the bullet and created my hubby's IPhone case.  I used the exact same technique as I used for mine, but having previous experience, I was actually able to improve on some things.  I didn't leave so much excess in the corners and his phone fits better in the case then mine does!

All in all I am pretty happy with the results and a little jealous too!

Steam Punk House Number Time!

We have been living in our house for just over a year now, and we bought numbers to go on the front at the very begining.  Yet, they never seemed to make it actually onto the house!  I think it was becuase I wasn't very satisfied with them.  They were pretty, but there was a lot of room on the plate and that made it look...well...naked!  Finally last month I had a plan.  I wanted to steam punk our numbers!

So at the begining of last month I ordered some small watch type gears on Ebay.  Then I waited.  They had to come from Florida, so I waited and continued to wait.  Finally last week they arrived and I had a project to do for Sunday!

Basically, I took our exisiting numbers and then placed the gears in a diagonal pattern across them.  This filled up some of the empty space, but did not fill it up so much that a) it looked too cluttered and b) you can still read the numbers.  Once I was happy with it, I started to glue the gears down.  Initially I figured I would hot glue them all, but I started off with the first one and the glue dried so quickly I couldn't place them in time!  So I settled for super glue.  It dried quickly as well, but I could still place them as I wanted.  Although some of them did "fall" where I didn't want them.  Once that happened, they were there for good.  So I just worked around those ones and varried my design as I went.

All in all I am happy with the results.  Not sure why this picture is sideways, but it won't rotate for me!  You get the idea though.  It is very simple, subtle and it's exactly what I wanted.  It wasn't too difficult either, but it did consume more time than anticipated.  I also had a casulty of a super glue finger print on my brand new nails!  Luckily that stuff dries clear!

Easter dinner!

Last weekend we hosted Easter dinner for my parents.  I wanted it to be a bit special, so apart from the normal cleaning, I was also able to implement a very nice table setting and two new recipes.

The first thing I did was set up the dining room table.  I used the light blue table cloth we have and placed my bridal bouquet vases in the middle.  I then took some light blue daisies I got at the dollar store and cut off eight (two per person). 

Taking wine glasses, I placed two daisies underneath each dome.  This created an "under glass" look.  Once I had them all positioned like I wanted them in front of each person, I placed tea lights on the bases of the glasses.  This finished off the look and I was quite happy with the elegant simplicity of it!

I am all about getting as much as possible done before the guests arrive rather than trying to talk and do things at the same time.  The dessert I chose was something that could be baked the morning of and then left to sit until the time came to serve; pumpkin chocolate chip bars.  These were delicious, although I found them to be a bit on the salty side.  I would probably reduce the salt by half when I make them again.  I also ran out of cinnamon, so added a couple of dashes more of allspice and nutmeg (freshly grated of course).  This didn't seem to effect the taste as they tasted just like pumpkin pie...well, without the pie part and with a ton of chocolate chips in them!

The next new recipe I tired was an amazing appetizer.  Very simple to do and very tasty.  I took Asparagus spears and wrapped each one in a slice of prosciutto.  I then took that and wrapped the whole thing up in a single sheet of phyllo pastry.  I covered a pan with oil and the tops of the phyllo in oil and threw them into a 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes.  I checked them at this point and found they weren't golden enough for my liking, so I had them go back in for another 5 minutes.  They were so delicious!  Perfect balance of salty, crispy and sweetness from the asparagus.

Our main course consisted of my hubby's famous gnocchi and my Alfredo sauce.  Despite some technical difficulties (emergency flour run anyone?) they turned out fantastic.  The gnocchi were like little clouds of potato goodness and the Alfredo was a perfect balance of garlic, cream and cheese!

All in all I am happy with how everything turned out and despite my mom being sick, everyone seemed to have a great time!