My V-Day project (a day late)

Back in January I was at Michael's and saw some cute Valentine garlands, but they were selling for $20.  They looked simple enough so I attempted my own version with some twine and fat quarters from JoAnn Fabrics.  It was a quick and easy project that has helped perk up my mantel (I get so sad when the Christmas decorations come down).  I also didn't spend anywhere near $20 so it was a win in the finance department as well.  

If you are interested in making something similar, I don't have very precise directions.  I basically ripped the fabric into similar widths and lengths, cut those in half.  Started tying the pieces on my twine--I guestimated the center & tied one there; tied one at each end as well.  Continued tying (double-knotting, actually) at regular intervals, trying to mix up light and dark pink fabrics.  I like the rough edges of the fabric, but it might be a good idea to use a product so they don't unravel (I've also used a candle in the past, but since this is probably not the fire safety method, I am not officially recommending that).

Hope you all had a fabulous V-Day filled with the ones you love!

Craft Fair

My next craft fair is quickly approaching!  If you'd like to stop by, I'll be at Hamagrael Elementary School in Delmar, NY on Saturday, December 3rd from 10-4.  It should be a fun holiday market!  I've even got some new products, especially for the gift giving season, on tap for this event.  
Some of the items for sale will be:-baby fruit hats-brooches/pins-napkin rings-ear warmers-seasonal notecards

Hope to see you there!  

The Apple Festival...in Photos

Here's a closer look of the Apple Festival!  (At least my booth :) )




Setting up




The hats




The flowers




The pictures




More flowers




The set-up




Proud booth owner

   

It was lots of fun.  Maybe you should come check it out next year!!!!

     

Thanks to all who came out yesterday to the Vermont Apple Festival!  It was fun to meet so many new people and chat about craftiness.  I hope that you were all able to grab some apple goodness and celebrate the beautiful fall day.  Stop by the blog again soon for some recent project pictures!

   

Etsy Shop

New photo notecards and flower pins are being uploaded to the Etsy shop!  Come take a peek at the new offerings: 

Contemporary Pluss Creations Etsy Shop



Pretty Packages Tied up with String...

Some Christmas Eve eye-candy...

     

Another Present Revealed

Mr. P and I have given out some of our Christmas gifts already so you're getting an early present reveal...

Remember this post?  When I was so excited to get wool roving?  Well, here is what became of it:

It's felted soap!  If you'd like to try it, follow this tutorial from Miranda (yes, I realize that I get all of my ideas from her).  So easy and so quick.    

  



Our Tree

Since Mr. P and I are going to be here for Christmas, we decided to not go all out in tree decorating department.  We pulled out my old artificial tree from my single days, added lights, red garland, and about 5 ornaments.  Then we strung some popcorn to add a little something different.  Here are some pics:

 

Popping corn the old-fashioned way

The tree, finished.  Sort of.  I kind of ran out of steam and only made two
garlands of popcorn. 
And yes, that is a card in the tree. 

     

More Handmade Christmas

Guess what came in the mail yesterday?  

Actually, this picture doesn't do the colors justice.  They are so vibrant and the wool is soooo soft!  This is actually a better picture.

So, what might I be doing with this beautiful wool?  Why another handmade Christmas present, of course!  And, it actually has nothing to do with knitting.  Even you non-knitters out there could do this project.  However, I must leave you in the lurch as this is meant for a present, I can't give you the details yet.  But I promise you it is awesome, and that you will be able to make it and give it as a present in the future.  Even if it's not Christmas...and even if it's not the winter time.  

Stay tuned...


Oooo...I just can't wait to reveal all of the Christmas presents after the holidays!  I have been making more and more progress and am excited to share them with you! 

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I made this super easy ribbon tree last year

Speaking of Nieces...

Yesterday's post was about Mr. P and I's newest niece...and her new booties.  In order to be fair, today's post will be about our other niece.  She just turned one this week.  We got to Skype with her on Sunday which is just so much fun! 
Have you discovered the wonderfulness that is Skype?  Don't you love how we have turned it into a verb?

Well, since this little girl was celebrating the big...O-N-E.... she needed a special celebration banner. 

To create this banner I used a 3" scalloped-edge punch.  After punching, I layed out the circles to decide my order, then sewed them together on my machine. 

**I made one similar to this for our other niece's baby shower and learned this lesson--be sure to sew only 1/4 of the way down the circle.  Otherwise, the circles have a tendency to flip and then all the hard work you did to get just the right punch will be lost because the circles will flip front to back all willy-nilly. 

After I sewed the banner together, I wrote on it in black sharpie CELEBRATE. 

I absolutely love making these banners.  They are quite versatile and you can be creative by changing the papers, lettering, punch shape, etc. 

Have you made these banners before?  Who would you make one for?  Are you as in love with "punches" as I am? 





This is what I've been doing

I've been spending many hours sewing these...

 

 

 

 

...so that the hats will look like this...

 

 

 

 

 

 



Check List

*Business cards bought

*Hats finished

*Flowers knit and embellished

*Banner made

*Notecards printed, cut and taped

*Baskets assembled

*Table decor planned out

 

 

7 steps closer to being finished...

 

 

 

Are you currently working on any projects?  What steps have you checked off? 

 



Notecard Preview

Here is a preview of the photo notecards.  Mr. P and I were working on them last night...