Crocheted Handbag for Spring

I finally finished my first crochet project.  It took a while since:
 a) I didn't really know what I was doing and,
 b) I've been working on other projects these past few weeks.

My husband says it looks more fitting for a little girl, so I will most likely give it away to my niece or put it up for auction at my kids' school fund raiser.  (Although we are leaving for Virgin Gorda next month and I could maybe use it at dinner one night!).

FYI, the handles were from a canvas wine bag that my husband received at a golf tournament.  The bag was imprinted with the company's logo (and we would never have the opportunity to reuse it for anything), so I cut the handles off and sewed them onto the purse.

Though not perfect, it's cute and it was good practice for my next crochet project - an afghan (Lord help me!).  If it goes anything like my quilting projects, I may NEVER finish it!

Snow Day of Scrappin'

We're snowed in (again)!  I am quite tired of all the snow this winter. Is it spring yet?

Anyway, after shovelling, I retired to my scrap room and got a few layouts done.

This first layout is a design I use a lot to showcase two 4x6 photos.  This page features Webster's Pages Home for the Holiday's Mistle Toe Kisses paper mounted on chocolate brown cardstock. The holly spray is from Prima and the lace and sticker embellishments are also Webster's.

I love the look of the  little journalling card tucked under the glittered leaves

I also have enjoyed playing with the Anna Griffin Valentina paper.  Here's another idea I scraplifted from the AG website.  I changed the title to make it more fitting of my two boys horsing around in the snow, but what a fun Valentine layout for boys. Who cares if it's pink!

 

Hope you find some time to get creative in between shovelling this winter season. Enjoy!

Valentina

Have you seen the latest papers from Anna Griffin?  I bought both new lines - Isabelle and Valentina - from the HSN special (BTW - my first purchase ever on HSN!).  They are delightful - a welcome change from some of her lines from last year (I wasn't a huge fan of either Flora line or the Riley line) but I do love these newest papers. 

This layout design is right off her website showcasing the Valentina craft projects.  I had to cut the rose petals free hand from a self-made template.  I tore apart a silk rose I bought at the floral department of a craft store to create the template.  I made some smaller than others to recreate the look.  I used the card stock version of the red flocked damask paper to better fold and bend the paper into looking like a flower.  I also used my bone folder to crease the veins into the leaves. I'm quite happy with my scraplift. There's a couple of other layouts on her site I want to try.  I got some great shots of my boys tussling in the snow this weekend that would look perfect on the "Valentine Be Mine" block layout!

Pam K. is teaching a class at Scrapbooks-Plus using this line.  Check it out on her blog.  It is completely different take on using these cheery, red papers. I haven't signed up for the class yet since the store has been closed due to all the bad weather, but will do my best to get on the list before it sells out.

With all the bad weather here in the DC area, I can't think of a better way to brighten things up than making happy, colorful Valentines.  I think I'll start on my cards next!