T-shirt rug

I've been working on this t-shirt rug foreeeeever and today I took it out again to add to it. I was wondering exactly where I was going to put it. Looks like Nutmeg made that decision for me--now it's a cat rug! I put it on the floor to see how it looked, and she immediately laid herself down on it. As you can see, the hook is still in it! Well, I'll just finish it off and let her have it. I'm sure here sister Melody and even Shadow will want to lay on it, too!

A Father's Day Gift

Here's what I made Mike for Father's Day. It is not my original idea, but Mike got a big kick out of it. Of course, Katherine guessed it came from Pinterest! 

Basically, you take a big can (this one held 2 lbs. of peanuts originally), then you cut a piece of cardboard to fit down inside of it. I covered hte outside with decorative paper and put a bow on top, too. 

Now Mike has a place where he can throw his pistachio nut shells!

BTW, I am obviously still among the living. Just have too many projects that are 'in the works' and I haven't really had the chance to post. So thanks to any loyal followers who still visit! 

Crochet Frame

You can get packages of little girls' bracelets in various shapes pretty cheaply. I bought a butterfly one for about a dollar. You can use these to make crocheted frames!

All you have to do is work slightly loose single crochets around the shape, then continue to crochet to the size of frame you'd like. (As you can see, the points show on the butterfly, but that's okay. Obviously, a plain circle would be easiest!) I did some long single crochets between each section of the butterfly's wings to emphasize the shape.
For the back, just make a round piece big enough to cover the opening. Sew it in place a little more than halfway around.
Then you can just slip a picture down into it. 
I'm linking to the Saturday Sparks link party over at "Pieced Pastimes." Go and check out what else is cool over there!
http://piecedpastimes.blogspot.com/2013/05/saturday-sparks-link-party-10.html

Finished Bunny

Well, I didn't get the cross stitched bunny done in time for this Easter, but he'll look cute hanging up next year! I'll keep him in the pink embroidery hoop and add a big, pink bow on top. It's been a long time since I did counted cross stitch, and I look forward to my next project!

Yet another use for creamer bottles

I'm trying to start some seeds in my kitchen and needed a way to water them without drowning them. So I put some water into a clean large-size liquid Coffee Mate container. I have these bowl covers that come in a zillion sizes and put that over the top, securing with a small rubber band to make it even tighter. Then I poked a few holes in the top. Voila--a super easy watering bottle! (And by keeping the red lid on when I'm done, there's no chance of a spill.)

Flower

Sometimes I actually make the things I pin in my "Stuff to Make" board on Pinterest. Here's proof (besides the pig bank from yesterday):

You make it this way:
Start with 6 circles.
Fold them in half.
Baste along the curved edge.
Pull up the basting to make a petal.
Make 6 of these.
Sew them in a flower shape.
Embellish. (I happened to have the yo-yo made already).

So what am I doing with this? Don't know yet. I put it in a bin with all the other flowers I've sewn or crocheted. I'm sure they'll come in handy someday.

"Piggy Bank" from felt

I've seen this done and I think I even pinned about it. It's just two pig-shapes cut from felt. I sewed a buttonhole using the largest setting (the thing you put the button in, which I just opened up all the way without a button) to make the slot for coins. 
I looked up 'pig' and found a simple drawing that I copied for the pattern. I think this would be a cute way to give some birthday cash to a kid--maybe with some change inside and a bill sticking out through the slot. You could even put it in a birthday card since it's nice and flat!

Oh! I stuck a piece of pipe cleaner between the layers. You should sew over it very slowly if you do this. Even though pipe cleaner wire is fine, you wouldn't want your needle to hit it directly.
I wrapped the p/c around a narrow knitting needle to make the tail.