Candy Cane Nails and Amigurumi Squid!

Hiiiiiii!! I keep trying to be more diligent about adding posts to my blog but I swear this time of year is always the biggest challenge.  Lots of things on the ol' to-do list!


Here's an easy holiday nail art design that almost anyone could do.  Peppermint candy cane!  Simply apply a base coat to protect your nails, then paint the entire nail white.  Allow that to dry a couple minutes, then add red stripes in varying thicknesses either using a striping polish, or a thin paint brush from the craft store!  Finish with a clear top coat and you're all set!

I'm sure everyone knows being close to the holidays, it gets harder to share things on here since a lot of what I make are for gifts and I wouldn't want to spoil any surprises!! But that doesn't mean I haven't made anything outside of that... :)

This little crocheted guy (squid) was a special request as a Christmas gift for someone through Etsy.  I will be shipping him off tomorrow morning to his new home.  

I have also been adding new items to my Etsy shop for those looking for any holiday gift ideas... everything is unique and there's a lot of variety!! Check it out :)

www.maebellecreations.etsy.com      Also feel free to contact me about custom orders!

"Chinese Acrobat" hat (crochet)

This crocheted hat is called a "Chinese Acrobat" hat in one of Leisure Art's latest pattern books all about hats called 'Heady Affairs'.  There are 7 hat patterns altogether and they all seem to be on the above-beginner level side.  Several of them feature cable patterns or other complex designs rather than just your plain ol' beanie cap.  

It took me a couple of days to complete this one and it was made for someone specific for Christmas.. so hopefully he doesn't see this any time soon! haha :D  

I do recommend the book if you want some different styles of crocheted hats and are ready to take the next step up from beginner patterns. :)


On a separate note, I will be adding several jar necklaces with mico-mini polymer clay gnomes, candies and snowmen to my Etsy shop this afternoon.  If you are on the hunt for holiday gifts, head on over and check it out!  www.maebellecreations.etsy.com

Pink Cable Hat and Purple Neck Warmer (crochet)

Happy Veteran's Day to everyone!! And a special big Thank You to all veterans out there :) 

Today's post (just had to have one on 11/11/11) I have a couple of new crocheted items that I've done over the last week or so.  Above is a pastel pink hat done in a cable stitch.  It's the first time I've tried making a hat using that stitch pattern...and considering that, I think it turned out great! :D  Adult size (or teen) and thick, so very warm.  I will be listing it on Etsy in the near future...if you're interested before I get it listed, drop me a line. :)

And second, a beautiful neck warmer in a fluffy, soft purple yarn with bright purple buttons to close it. This pattern design came from one of my more recent Crochet World magazines and was relatively quick to make.  I love that it has a popcorn stitch in it for some variety on the look and also to make it a bit thicker and so, warmer.   I will also get this listed on Etsy soon and as above, drop me an email if you're interested in purchasing it before I have a chance to list it.  

I did also make another of these in the exact same style/yarn but with a mint-green color. :) 

www.maebellecreations.etsy.com                maebellecreations@hotmail.com

Penguin, Cupcakes, Santa Hat, Cape, Drawings...phew!

For starters....chocolate cupcakes just to make everyone hungry with a sweet tooth like me right now! :)

I thought this was adorable and share-worthy...The other night, the Mr sat down and did some doodling with the kids and this was what he and one of them came up with.  His drawing on the left, and theirs on the right...tried to do the same he was doing.  Very nice!

This little hooded cape is the same as the most recent two I posted (multi-variegated and red), only smaller yet.  I took a little longer to complete this one (about 5 days or so at random sittings) and am glad it's done!  It's another gift going out for Christmas this year, so I've been trying to tackle these "bigger" projects early on to make sure I have enough time. :)

It even has little ducky buttons :)

 These last two pics are a couple items that are going in my Etsy shop just as soon as I am done posting this.  A santa hat (left) and baby penguin (below).  There will be more photos there of them! :)


For gift ideas and goodies:
www.maebellecreations.etsy.com    

 

Oh yes..the nail polish is OPI's "warm & fozzie" from their new Muppets collection :) For anyone who wondered!  Love that color!

Mummy, Gnome and Gingerbread Man Scarf!

Rawrrr...No?  Well that's what I picture looking at the top photo :)  I didn't make that guy...the other half did.  I made the birthday gnome and there they are all ready to get wrapped in bubbles for their trip to my S.I.L.s house.  They were part of her birthday gift. :D  She loves gnomes and zombies...so he decided to make a mummy instead (do they count as zombies?). 

And this scarf- what a pain in the you-know-where! But it turned out so great, I'm glad I decided not to scrap it.  The pattern is from the Twinkie Chan book and the little gingerbread guy are indeed super fast/easy to crochet...but sewing them all together and putting on the details was time-consuming.  The suggested way to do white "icing" is to make a long chain and sew it on... I decided to surface crochet instead.  I do think it looks nicer than it would have if I'd sewn on a chain, but boy did it take some time!!   I probably would've made the mouth smaller than the pattern specifies, too, but oh well... it's done!

Definitely cute results :)