Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #248 - Anything Goes

Well, hello everyone and a very happy new year to you all.

This is the first Challenge of the year for Crafty Cardmakers and so it was decided to start our year off with an easy 'Anything Goes' Challenge.
Our fearless leader, Lin, is hosting this one and there is also a one off prize on offer which was donated by the lovely Kim.

As this Challenge is Anything Goes, I thought it the perfect opportunity to share some of the Amigurumi dolls I crocheted recently.

 The patterns for all of these dolls were freebies from the net. 

 This is the Kelly Doll and, if you are interested, you will find her pattern HERE.  She is made with 4ply yarn and I used a 1.75mm crochet hook.

As you can see, her beret is removable ..

.. as are her bag and jacket.  Her top, pants and boots are part of the doll and cannot be removed.
For her hair, I have used a super bulky yarn called Hometown USA by Lion Brand.  I actually split the yarn in two before hooking it to the head.

I made this doll a couple of months ago and cannot remember which pattern I used.  A touch of old age I think .. LOL!!   I do know that I used 8ply yarn for this one with a 2.00mm crochet hook. 

The dress is tied at the back with a couple of bows and is removable.

I love the hair on this doll.  It is also made with a super bulky yarn but I had this in my stash for quite a while and have no idea what brand or type it is.  Once it was hooked on and cut, I simply fluffed it out a bit.

This doll was also made with the Kelly Doll pattern.  She is slightly taller as I added a few extra rows to her legs and I also gave her a different jacket.  It is so easy to adapt these patterns.  If you want a different look to your doll, simply add a few rows to make them taller or, you could also add a few extra stitches to change the shape.  Just make sure you adjust the rest of the pattern accordingly.

Her jacket is also removable and her hair is made from the same yarn as the first Kelly Doll.  Different colour obviously!  LOL!
I actually added a little nose to this doll and I think I might continue to do that for any future dolls.  I kinda like it!!  Might even decide to try adding a mouth .. won't hold my breath for that though.  Can be a bit tricksy!

I love these boots!  Sooo cute!!

Please pop on over to the CCM blog and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  I'm sure you will be inspired to join in!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #248 - Anything Goes

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I am going to make an effort to post a bit more often as I have been very slack lately.  Life gets in the way at times doesn't it?

Have a wonderful day!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - #236

Hello sweet visitors.  Welcome to my blog.

I'm here to share my project for the new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.  Angela is our lovely host and the Theme is 'Anything but a Card'.  As always, you may create anything you like, as long as it isn't a card.

Thought this would be the perfect time to share another of my Amigurumis.

I have crocheted quite a few small animals but this is the first actual doll I have made.  I used a pattern by Laura Tegg called Standard Weebee which is available free on Ravelry.  This pattern is for the full body and has a simple hair cap as well.  The hair I have crocheted for my doll is from another pattern.

The boots and knickers are removable.  I used the appropriate sections of the original pattern and simply used a slightly larger hook so they would go on and come off easily.

The hair was done following a pattern by Denise Angelo.  She shared it on Facebook for the WeeBee Appreciation Society.  You need to be a member of this group to access it.

Her dress is also made with a free pattern by Laura Tegg.  It is called the Pretty Shells Dress and is also available on Ravelry.  The underskirt I created free hand and also added a simple tie at the waist.

I crocheted the doll and the clothes with 4ply acrylic yarn and she stands approx. 8" tall,

I named her Esmeralda but she will have a new name now as she has gone to her forever home with a friend's little girl.  Hope they have some wonderful times together.

Would love it if you would pop over to the CCM Blog and check out the awesome creations by my Teamies.  They have some amazing inspiration for you over there.  The link is below

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #236 - Anything but a card.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Am looking forward to seeing what you create for our Challenge.

Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Just Playing - Making Cards #5 and a little Amigurumi

Hello everyone, thank you for stopping by and hope you are having a wonderful day.

I'd like to share another card from my 'Just Playing' series and, at the end of this post,  also thought I'd share another of my Amigurumi as well.  Killing two birds with one stone so to speak!  LOL!!

So, first up, the card.

The papers are by Kaisercraft. 

This was the last card I made while playing with my 'made up kit' and so there wasn't a lot left in the way of embellishments.

I used up one of the last clocks and, as you can see, I also used a piece of hessian fibre ribbon and a little chippie but was left with a mainly blank card.

Luckily, I had a light bulb moment, and punched out some circles from the remaining papers and used those as embellies!!  Did a little doodling around the edge of them and was quite pleased with the result.

I know I could have delved into my stash and found numerous other things to fill up the card front but I'm glad I stuck to my guns and only used what I started out with.  Was a great excercise for me and it was fun!!

Before I gave this card away, I did add a sentiment but forgot to take an updated photo.   Happy to say, the recipient was thrilled with it!!

So, now onto the Amigurumi!!

 This is my little Bean Bag Puppy!

This was one of the first Amigurumi I made and hadn't yet learned that you need to use a slightly smaller hook.  As you can see, the holes between the stitches are a little big and shows the stuffing.  One of those things you only learn from experience!

The pattern is a free one (if you're interested, HERE is the link) and I used a lighter yarn than the original so mine is a little smaller.  The pattern states he should be about 5" tall but mine is just 4". 

Has a cute little tail too.

My second Amigurumi is adapted from another free pattern called 'Little Big Foot Lion'.

The original pattern has him standing up but I adapted it so he could sit because, I think, it looks more natural.  (and cuter too!! LOL!!)  HERE is the link to the original pattern.

I made his paws a little bigger too and stitched in the toes.

Don't you just love that mane??

So there they are!  My Big Foot Lion and Bean Bag Puppy and I love them both!
I'm actually getting quite a collection of these Amigurumi.  I really love making them and have now started crocheting dolls as well.  Will show those some time too if you're interested.

Thank you so much for stopping by.
Sorry that this post is a bit long but I'm so pleased you stuck it out to the end.

Have a wonderful day and, whatever kind of crafting you're into, have fun with it!!

Take care and God Bless.

Amigurumi - Bunny in the Hood

Hi everybody.  Thank you for stopping by today.

Thought I would share another of my Amigurumis with you today.  I found this pattern on a website called Once Upon a Cheerio.  It's a blog by a lady named Juli who lives in Vancouver, Canada.  If you'd like to take a look HERE is the link.  Thank you so much Juli for freely sharing this pattern, I love it!!  Have already made three of them but this is the only one I still have.  The other two went to friends who also fell in love with him.

Isn't he adorable!!  All dressed up to go and see his girlfriend.  He's even bringing her a little bunch of flowers.  Just my kind of guy!!

I made him in 5ply yarn with a 2.5mm crochet hook and he stands about 5.5" tall, including his ears.  In this version, I made his ears just a little bigger and more rounded than in the original pattern.  I also made the hoodie just a little bigger.

He can wear the hoodie down as well, which I really love.   

He does have a little black nose in the original pattern but I liked him just as is. 

Of course his hoodie needed a couple of slits so he could poke his ears through ..

.. and, it was a bit cold outside so he had to put his hoodie up again!  LOL!!

Well, I hope you like my little Bunny in the Hood.  I so enjoy making these little toys although, at the moment, not sure where they are going to go.  As I said, some of my friends have adopted a few but I would like to donate the others to the Children's Hospital or perhaps St. John's Ambulance.  Haven't made enough of them yet to give away but hopefully, someone will want them.  I will still keep making them though.  Having so much fun with them and there are so many patterns out there yet to try!!  Just not enough time in the day!

Thank you so much for your visit and have a fabulous day!!
Take care and God Bless.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #225

Hello dear friends and welcome!  So pleased you came by for a visit!

Here we are with Crafty Cardmakers' first Challenge for 2019.  Lin is our host and the Theme is 'Winter'.
This is really odd for me at the moment as we are suffering through a fairly intense heat wave right now.  Temperature at this moment is 36C and for the next couple of days it will be in the low 40's .. hot, hot, hot!!!!   Thank goodness for airconditioning!!  LOL!!

Anyway, our Challenge, as always, is for whatever you care to create.  It can be a card, a scrap layout, mixed media piece, home decor, whatever you wish to do is fine as long as it fits the Theme.

So, for my DT contribution, I have created a little Amigurumi Snowman!

He stands 5" tall and was made from a free pattern found at Amigurumi Today.

To display him, I created a very simple background.  Using watercolour paper, I stamped the snowflakes with embossing ink and then heat embossed them in white.

I then mixed up a little Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals with water to create the colour and simply brushed it on using more water to move the colour around a bit.  Colours used are Tiffany Lou's Blue and Danny Zuko's Denim

The splatters were created with watered down gesso.

A sheet of tissue paper was used for the foreground and I added a few berries and tiny pine cones for a little more interest.

I hope you like my little snowman and the background I created for him and that you feel inspired to join in with the Challenge.

For a ton more inspiration, and to link up your entry, pop on over to the Crafty Cardmakers blog and check out the fabulous creations by the rest of the Team.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 225 - 'Winter'

Thank you so much for stopping by and for any comments you may care to leave.  I read them all and appreciate each and every one!!


Have fun crafting!!
Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge # 220 - Fairies or Other Mythical Creatures

Hi everybody and welcome to my blog!! 
Hope you are all having a wonderful day!!

It's time for a new Challenge at Crafty Cardmakers.  Jackie is our host and the Theme is Fairies or Other Mythical Creatures!

As always, anything you care to create is fine as long as it fits the Theme.

Must say, I do love this Theme but, when I started hunting through my stash to see if I had anything that would fit, I found absolutely nothing at all.  No fairy stamps, nor any type of mythical creature stamps, stencils or anything!!   Shock!!  Horror!!  What was I going to do??

Well, I did remembered this lovely Amigurumi pattern I saw on the net so, I went and found it again and crocheted this gorgeous little Unicorn!!

Isn't he adorable??
I had this lovely green coloured five ply wool that I had been wanting to use and I felt this would be the perfect piece for it.  It looks so nice against the white .. I love the combination.

He's only about 4.5" tall and sits quite comfortably in the palm of your hand.

I added some strands of blue to his mane and tail for a bit more contrast and interest and then decided to also add some beads for a bit of sparkle!!  Something to make him stand out from the crowd!

I love how it looks!!

I was going to trim his mane, because it looks a bit unruly at the back, but I decided to leave it as I quite like it that way.

I think he's a very handsome little fellow.

For anyone who may be interested HERE is the link to the free pattern.  I must point out that mine does look a little different from the original because I made some alterations to suit the wool I used and I wanted him to be a bit smaller.  I also created a simpler mane and tail.
I am actually contemplating if I should create a second blog just for my Amigurumis.  I have made about half a dozen so far.  All of them made with free patterns from the net but most of them I have adjusted to suit myself and I am wondering if I should share those adjusted patterns, always giving credit to the originals of course.  Not sure if there would be much interest.
I'll keep thinking on it!!

So, please do pop on over to the CCM blog and take a peek at the fabulous creations by my Teamies.  I am sure you will find heaps of inspiration to join in with the Challenge!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #220 - Fairies and Other Mythical Creatures.

Thank you so much for popping in!!  I hope you have a fabulous day and can't wait to see your entries!!

Take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg