Craft A Week #23 Crocheted Baby Uggs

The latest edition to our family is due within the next few weeks and I am really getting into the baby mood.  It's been awhile since we've had a tiny one (the next youngest is 4 1/2). Babies bring such a sense of renewal, promise and hope to the world. I  just love, love, love them!

While I have been crafting alot lately, not much of it has been on baby things. My mom is the queen of baby blanket making (seriously, her work is an art form) so she had those covered. Since our little Marcus will be born in the spring, the immediate need for bulky sweaters is out too. So in my quest for baby adorableness, I found the following.

Aren't these just too cute?! They were such a big hit in my house that I promised my youngest daughter (who is not married, pregnant, or planning a baby in the foreseeable future) that I would make her a pair and put away for her future baby.

These remind me of the Uggs I have.  I only had these buttons on hand but I think they would look so cute with an oversize wooden button, don't you?

 I found the pattern here:  I'm Topsy Turvy. The instructions are straightforward and really simple. I used an "F" hook and mine ended up measuring 4.5" on the sole. I'm guessing they will fit a 9-12 month old baby so Marcus will just have to grow into them. I was concerned about making them too small so I went bigger. It could also have something to do with the yarn I used. My yarn was thicker than the baby yarn recommended in the pattern; it was thicker and has some wool in it.

There is also an adorable little girl pattern (with a scalloped edge). These are also so cute. I may have to make a few pairs of thesejust to keep on hand for a baby gift.

Craft A Week #14: Pelier Bead Bowl

Another super simple kid craft!  Take Pelier beads (those little plastic beads that are used to melt onto a plastic frame) and melt in the oven to make a bowl.  Really, it's that simple. Here's more details:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Oil an oven safe bowl.
3. Dump a handful of Pelier beads in the bowl. Push them into the bowl so they are single layer and go up the sides of the bowl. Make sure you have large gaps filled.
4. Put the bowl on a cookie sheet and heat for 10 minutes.
5. Keep an eye on this so they don't burn. Once the beads start to spread and the center hole gets large, they are done.
6. Allow to cool (about 10 minutes).
7. Slide the melted plastic bowl out.
8. Wash the oil off the bowl with a little dishwash soap. Just do so carefully.

(See, told you it was super simple).  Here's what they looked like shortly after removing from oven:

See how they've expanded (melted)?

Here's the final product (after letting it cool and then sliding out of the bowl):

I don't think they were that spectacular but the kids liked them. They seem sturdy enough for things like change, keys, jewelry, etc. I just don't think they'd withstand alot of handling.  If I do again, I think I'd find a slightly smaller bowl to put inside the first one so the beads can be stacked up higher and have a more finished look.

Happy Crafting!

Craft A Week #13: Finger Knitting

When I saw this craft on Pinterest, I knew I had to try it with my grandkids, particularly A.J. (age 9). A.J. is really interested in my crochet work and I "taught" him how to a few months ago.  (Not so much taught because he couldn't really do it himself; more like I sat with him and half did it for him. Being a big boy of 9 AND a perfectionist, this really didn't work for him.

I'm not sure how I never heard of hand knitting before. It's sort of like weaving (over/under) and really simple.  Here's A.J. in action:

Note that he is knitting so fast that it is all just a blur!

 

So simple. All you do is wrap the yarn around your fingers one way, wrap the opposite way on your way back, then pull first round over the second.  Can you see one of the finished scarves on the couch beside him?

Here his is proudly showing off one of his finished products while working on another.

The complete, step by step instructions can be found here:  Flax and Twine Finger Knitting.  This was a perfect craft for a 9 year old, though it was a little boring and challenging for his sister Kylie (age 8).  Anne Weil (at Flax and Twine) says she's taught much younger kids (age 4 or so) to do this but it seems to me it would have to be a very dexterous kid.  While this craft is super simple, it does take some fine motor skills.

A.J. wanted to make a scarf from his strips so I single crocheted two together to make it thicker and more substantial.  This is a great project for a kid to make as a gift. He learned how to do this last night and within a few hours, he completed two strips (which I sewed into a scarft). He made another for his sister, one for me, and now working on one for his mom.  What a great craft for a kid!

Happy Crafting!

Free Summer Bowling Pass for Kids

I know those of us with kids are always looking for something to keep them busy over the summer months. Check out www.kidsbowlfree.com . This site offers 2 free games of bowling a day all summer long. Further, they offer a deal for the family pass. This offer is only good at certain bowling alleys; the site provides a list of sites. The closest to us are in York but they suggest checking back often because they add sites frequently.