Monday, January 16, 2012

A Link To Starbella crochet


Steve and I ,Nana out for the evening . Look at how classy my Starbella scarf is !!


This is the link for information on how to make a scarf like I was wearing to the installation and shower this last weekend,January 14th and 15th.
We had all discussed the possibility of crochet vs knit....well here it is.....
You can crochet as well as knit,I knitted mine.
Don't be intimidated and think that it looks hard because it really isn't.
I did discover that aluminum knitting needles make a slick work surface.I was fooled at first and thought that was what I wanted but really I didn't. It was much easier when I purchased a pair of bamboo knitting needles.With the wood the yarn is not as prone to sliding off. If your work does slide off the needle don't hyperventilate as I did because you can work it back through,you will see where the needles came out and slip them back through.
The scarf I was wearing was made with about 3/4 skein of yarn as I wanted a shorter scarf. I have seen them done longer and they look great too. Length is a personal preference.
I did notice you can order the yarn directly from Premier yarns .com ,cool !!
If you follow this link back you will see yarn products available.Since I made mine they have some new yarn colors that I am anxious to try.
I worked mine in the black,white and gray called Night Clouds.
I also have Plum Preserves,a purple and pink on hand to try next ;)
I forgot to say.....I Love this yarn !!
Happy crafting,
Nana

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Paper Folded Snowflake Tutorial

This is what your origami snowflake will look like when complete.
To complete this project you will need the following: 6 pieces of paper,I used a standard size sheet of copy paper for this demonstration, scissors,mono adhesive or tape and a stapler.
Fold each sheet of paper as shown above ,on the corner creating a triangle.You will have about a 3" margin left over.This margin is left because the snowflake is created from an exact square and copy paper is a rectangle..................just cut the margin or edge off.This piece of paper will not be needed for the snowflake. After you cut the edge off this is what you will have a triangle........

This is where it gets a tad tricky,so pay close attention to this part ;)
Pick the triangle up as it is shown above,by the point.You will fold the paper triangle up once more to make a smaller triangle.
When you have done this ,folding up,you will have a folded edge at the bottom and the wing/flaps at the top. I drew lines to illustrate where you will be making your cuts.When I am actually making snowflakes I don't draw these lines.I cut from the bottom where the fold is to about 3/4" from the top.You can cut as many strips as you want,for this snowflake I did 4 cuts,remember to stop about 3/4" from the top.


Carefully open your 6 pieces of paper and this is what they will look like.If you held the paper on the point and the fold at the bottom and the wing/flaps up you will get a diamond effect and this is what you want to have.
Next use your tape or mono adhesive to alternate,front then back in sticking the points together.



Notice above the little one was done 1st (sorry for skipping that photo) and then it was turned over to join the next on the back side.
This one illustrates turning it back over to the front side and joining the next.The lst one will be done on the other/back side.
Oops,same photo and I have not yet learned how to delete an individual photo.I tried earlier and deleted the whole tutorial and had to start over...ugh,not even trying right now as I am on a roll.....This is what one looks like finished!Yeah!!
Now work the same process with the other 5 .......6 all together,finished


I laid them out in a circle and can see the snowflake starting to happen here!!

Here I have gathered all 6 points together.......

After gathering, place a staple just far enough in that the complete staple catches paper...
.
Next where you can see me pinching/gathering the sides is where the next join will be.Each side will be stapled or taped.I like a staple here as it seems to hold best. You will have 6 sides to join on the complete snowflake.

Yeah!! You are finished !!!






You can do this with most any size square.This one done from a full size piece of copy paper and then trimmed is pretty large !!The smaller ones I posted were done from a half piece of copy paper.I cut the copy paper in half, folded and trimmed the edge off and went from there.



You will be surprised at how easy these snowflakes are to make once you get through the 1st one ;)




Once again,I am proud of myself!!I just finished my very 1st tutorial !!!!


Thanks for hanging in there with me !
Nana


























































































































































































































































































































































Thursday, January 12, 2012

Pretty Pink Origami Snowflakes

Origami Snowflakes
I recently learned how to make these pretty paper folded snowflakes.
Aside from the fact that they are fairly easy to craft, these snowflakes make a great party  or classroom decoration.
I want to teach you how to make them too,  but am still figuring this blog thing out.
I have an incentive though.....I am just dying to post a tutorial so it will happen soon !!
Please check back in for  the complete tutorial!
Nana ;)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012