• Blog - Crafts - Creativity

    Graduation card

    It’s grad party season…that means is card making time too. This year I decided it might be fun to use the school colors for each of the graduates especially since both of them are really active in athletics.

    I searched around on Pinterest for inspiration. I saw a few cards featuring tassels and thought that would be really fun. In fact it was the tassel in particular that prompted me to look up their school colors so it would be more meaningful.

    school colors graduation card

    I used my Cuttlebug with the Sizzix Bricked embossing folder to give the texture to the white layer of cardstock. It added that “school” look I was going for.  The tassel is embroidery floss. They are quite simple to make. I wrapped the floss around a card until I had the desired amount…personal preference here. I slipped a length of floss through the top and tied a knot. I then cut the bottom and pulled the card out. I cut another length of floss and tied it around bundle approx 1/4 inch from the top.  I poked a hole in the hat and threaded the top strings through and taped it to the back of the hat before mounting. I trimmed the ends nice and even to the desired length after attaching the hat. The hat was made using a 2 inch square punch which I then adhered with 3M foam mounting tape.  I also used the foam tape under the congratulations banner for interest.

    I have one more card to create but that one will be blue and yellow instead of the black and gold. I think I may create a few more in our school colors as well as long as I have the supplies out. I know I’ll be needing the eventually.

  • Around home - Blog - Crafts - Creativity - Outdoors

    Refreshed flags

    Several years ago I made a banner for the deck rail.  It added a bit of whimsy to the deck box garden.

    Refreshed flags | Halle's Hobbies

     When we added a second garden I made flags for that as well. Over the years the elements have done a number on the flags. Up until last winter I always took them down at the end of each fall. Knowing that they really needed replacement I left them up to continue the whimsy throughout the cold months.

    Refreshed flags | Halle's Hobbies

    Today’s version of the flags are single sided. They still blow sweetly in the breeze adding a fun element to an otherwise boring fence and deck rail.

    Refreshed flags | Halle's Hobbies

    Refreshed flags | Halle's Hobbies

    Next is the planting….

  • Around home - Blog - Crafts - Outdoors

    The lost art of bartering

    I don’t know about you but I love it when I am able to barter for something. It truly is becoming a lost art. People now days just go buy or hire someone when they need something. I feel it stems from our lack of community. People don’t know their neighbors. They come home, park in the garage and never step into their yard except to perhaps finely manicure the grass. We are lucky here as we DO know our neighbors and have a good sense of community at least on our block.

    So with that in mind, a friend is finishing off their basement and is starting to buy accessories to match the rustic style of the decor they’ve chosen. She’d been telling me about wanting feed sack pillows for the couch but was overwhelmed by the price on Etsy. She purchased feed sacks at an antique store but then was stuck. She was afraid to cut them plus she didn’t have a sewing machine. I told her to bring them on over and we’d get it figured out.

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    Marvin decided he really needed to “help”.

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    After getting him interested in some toys we were able to cut them down and stuff the  pillow forms inside. I left the hand stitching to my friend to do at home.IMG_5348

    Look how awesome they look!!

    So what does this have to do with bartering…well they had leftover stone veneer from their fireplace. I got to take it home.

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    I’m hoping that I’ll have enough to build a fire pit. The rain is supposed to clear out tomorrow so then I can lay things out to make sure before buying the materials to complete my project.