Granny Square Basket

I just finished this very cute Granny Square Basket crocheted from random yarn in my stash and it fits my kids toy perfectly!

It was made with just five granny squares - four make up the sides and the fifth is the base. If you want to make one too then remember to make the squares the same size and you get to choose how big of a square you want to make.

I crocheted all the sides together, I first joined the sides and then I crocheted the base on and finished it with a decorative crochet trim and handles are just chain stitch.

It honestly, couldn't have been any easier! My daughter loves it and it is apparently the perfect size to carry her Beanie Boos in!

I tweaked your brain with ideas on using up some of your old stash? Are you going to make one too?

To check out some more crafty stuff, please click here.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Sew Quirky Cushions

In an effort to finish long overdue projects, I turned our applique projects into cushions. 

These fun designs are from a designer called: Sew Quirky. Joe & I undertook a class with her a couple of years ago on my birthday and Joe loved the class so much but we never really had a chance to finish them at home as life just got in the way.   

My project was the panda but this adorable doggie was Joe's. Didn't he do an awesome job! He was only 8 when he did it!

I had to wrestle with pins & pompoms for a bit but I got there, also, it's kind of fun to wrestle with pompoms! 

The dog applique pattern is this one. 

The panda applique pattern is this one.

I absolutely love the fabric on the back but I couldn't find the exact match to share with you but this one is from the same collection and just as awesome. 

Pompom trim is everything and you can get some here, here or here.

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

Two little pixies

I knitted these little pixies for the kids.

I had planned on making lots but for me, the pattern just sucked. I struggled through it, knitting only two (one for each of my children) and then tossed the pattern.
Now, I don't know about you but I like a well layed out knitting pattern. To me, this pattern had too much 'white space' within the pattern and the graph/chart wasn't complete, you had to refer to the line in the graph/chart then turn the page to the instructions to find out how many rows you needed to do of it. I like graphs/charts that tell you exactly what to do without having to refer to the instructions for further details otherwise, why do you have the chart?

How do you like your knitting patterns (with graph/charts) to be layed out & written? Do you have a favourite pattern or a prefer a designer just because they layout their patterns & graphs/charts wonderfully, care to share which ones in the comments as I'd love to know.

Anyway, the kids loved them, they play with them and that's all the really matters.

Pattern is this one.
The stunning yarn was this and it's seriously gorgeous!
You can get the wooden peg dolls from here or here.

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

            

Caterpillar Butterfly soft toy

Yesterday was the last day of our self isolation (after 2 months of iso), so I took the opportunity to make one last thing with/for the kids before they headed back to school. I printed out a pattern that I'd had for a while (& not used) and hit out fabric stash to make these cute butterfly/caterpillar toys.

They start as a caterpillar and then you can turn them inside to reveal the butterfly then back again to the caterpillar & so on.

We didn't use the fabric type recommended as it's not something that I normally have in my stash. I actually cut up an old pair of jeans to use for my caterpillar!

Do you think they're cute?

Also, didn't Joe do an excellent job on his (the blue butterfly), I did the sewing machine bit but he did everything else.

Whilst it is super cute and the kids love it, gosh, the pattern was frustrating.
The pattern pieces were easy to cut out BUT the designer had skipped the most common thing when it comes to patterns. For example, they did not add "cut 2" etc to each pattern piece. It was so frustrating, I don't know about you but I tend to refer to that actual pattern pieces when cutting (like with clothing or bags) but I had to keep going back to the actual written pattern to find out how many I needed to cut for each piece.
It would also have been helpful to find have a note on what other fabrics were recommended too.  And when it came to joining it all together (inserting the caterpillar to the butterfly) the designer relied on a photo with a vague description on what to do. Luckily, I have sewn many bags & pouches and know how to do this in a breeze but my son struggled with this part.

Pattern is this one. You can quilt whatever design you want onto the wings, I just went with simple. I also just used a piece of batting on the inside to give the wings some structure.

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

           

A crochet basket

I've been having fun experimenting with crafty stuff whilst I supervise the kids at home and this tshirt yarn bowl is my first of three experiments.
I used a bamboo basket base, tshirt yarn and just sat and played around with it until I got something that I liked.

I like the result, do you?
I think I need to go back and add an extra row of stitches to the base to cover up the holes but besides that, as a first attempt I'm happy!

Now on to the second base, which is bigger!

Have you ever used tshirt yarn before? It was a first for me and I'm liking it. I'll end up having some yarn left over, so I'll be testing it out to see what I can make with that too.

Click here, to check out my Amazon Page for some great crafty inspo and links to some great books to read.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

           

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

I confess, I'm tired.
I'm fed up.
I'm mentally drained.
Yes, this Covid-19 lockdown/self isolation is really hard and it's extra hard if you're at home with kids.
Now, Mother's Day is approaching and normally that would mean I would receive a handmade item from one of my kids that they made in school ...but they won't be at school for Mother's Day this year because we're "schooling from home" ......so this blog is here for everyone to tag their loved ones in for those big "Hint, Hint, Hint" reminders that they'll need because we all deserve to receive an treat this upcoming Mother's Day.

In no particular order, I'm going to list some really cool ideas that you may like receive or maybe even buy for yourself or your own Mum this Mother's Day.

One of the many gorgeous basket bags by Sea and Grass 

A creative rainbow macrame kit by LB Art & Design

A personlised recipe book by Fabulous Favours Gifts 

A gorgeous necklace by Delezen 

Stunning yarn pack from Zyzuline Design.

A fun personlised family graphic by Paw Print Illustration.

A luxury spa pack by Birchan Bay Apothecary

Personilised Infinity Bangle by GRS Jewelry 

Bee embroidery kit by Hoop Embroidery Co.

Or you can check out the Mother's Day Gift Guide on Etsy here..
Which one is your favourite?

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

    

Coping with self isolation & social distancing due to Covid-19

Hey there!  How are you?  How is your self isolating going?
I'm at home with two primary school age kids and my husband, who has taken over the kitchen table to work.  Life is umm... unusual, weird, hectic, annoying, frantic, slow, messy, chaotic but we're home & we're safe.

I thought I'd share some fun ideas that you can do at home, I've been using my printer to keep us all occupied and have found some great links for you & your family too.

If you have younger kids, then you might like these:

Printable Kids Worksheet for Mindfulness, Gratitude & Curiosity by MakeSunShineCo

Homeschool worksheets from LilyGirlPaper 

If you have older kids, then these printable might be fun for them:

My Body by GrammasLittleShop - this is so neat, you print out the pdf, 

then you cut out all the individual body organs then assemble then!

For little kids, big kids and grownups:

Flying Squirrel Paper Puppet from ArtistInLaLaLand, it was so incredibly hard to choose only one to show you as they have a shop full of awesome stuff!

Rhino mask from LPobjects and other gorgeous 3d diy pdf projects including a unicorn, bears & koala just to name a few.

Cute puppets from Aniushop like this Poppycat DIY puppet

For you:

Take the time to write up some of your favourite recipes up onto cards for either yourself, your children, neighbours or penpals using this personalised template from TheLittleBride.

Write your loved ones or penpals some letters to cheer them up in this time of self isolation using either this gorgeous print from BreezyColorsDesign.

Now that you've done something for everyone else, why not take some time to do something for you.
Here's some suggestions on some patterns to print & create something for you:

Devon Pouch by SotakCo 

this is actually already printed & sitting next to my sewing machine already!

Wavy C2C by BrightBag  

I've got this one printed too, just waiting for the kids to be fully distracted before I start it!

Christmas Diorama Ball by HandMadeAwards 

yes, I know it's months until Christmas but this year, we've been given this opportunity to be really organised!

#standwithsmall

Ok, that's my suggestions for this week, do you have any printable/pdf suggestions that you'd care to share as well?
Covid-19 really sucks doesn't it.

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you.   So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie