The Big Christmas Project

So for the past few weeks, I have been working on my Sooper Seekrit project. Though, truth be told, it was really only a secret from my siblings and their spouses and my parents.

Anywhoodle -- inspired by this pattern from The Empty Bobbin, I set about making two card table playhouses. One for my sister's two kids and the other for my brother's one-soon-to-be-two kids.




I decided on a farm for my sister's kids as both of their grandfathers grew up on farms. I was going to do a zoo for my nephew, but after poking around on Pinterest, I saw an "Under the Sea" themed one and it was so stinking cute, I had to do that one instead. Plus, a good way to get rid of my felt stash.

Here's the farm:

Don't you just LOVE the cross-hatch window?? Stroke of genius on may part, I must say.

The tractor was one of my favorites. About 7 layers of felt on that sucker. I also made the tree an apple tree because my brother-in-law's farm has an apple orchard. I got some awesome vintage apple crates from him. I need more, I think. For fabric storage.

I had to eventually walk away from the corn stalks. I drew them out and then just kept adding more and more detail. I spent two hours on one of them. It just seemed like every time I added something, it just got cuter. I love those cornstalks.

And from the land of the farm, we go under the sea. My amazing husband, Joe, was the one who suggested the hatch wheel on the front.

This is the back. I centered the porthole on this side and then made sure the other portholes were on opposite sides to make sure that enough light would get under there. My nephew is under 2 and I was afraid he wouldn't play in it if it was too dark under there.

Sea turtle!!

One of the sides with a Nemo fish and a 3D Jellyfish. The seaweed remind me of Ursula from "The Little Mermaid". I'm not sure why.

The other side.

I'll admit, it was hard to let these go. In retrospect, I wish that I had gone a different route with the farm one. I think if I were to ever make another farm theme, I would use green canvas and put a different crop on each side and then "hide" the animals and such among the stalks.

Also, the animals and underwater creatures wouldn't be nearly as awesome if my friend Jen hadn't suggested using puffy paints for the details. I made two AWESOME seahorses that didn't make it on the one and I'm sad about that. They were pretty flipping sweet. Also, I wish the farm had a sun and the under the sea had bubbles.

But - other than the actual canvas and the dark green felt, I didn't have to buy ANYTHING. All of the animals and stuff were made out of scraps. GO ME!

I did try to sew some of the elements on, but I learned very quickly that to do it that way was MADNESS. I would still be sewing. And so, my glue gun and I became VERY good friends. I still have a blister on my right, middle finger from the glue gun trigger. It also inspired me to ask for a new glue gun for Christmas. Which I totally got. ROCK. See above re: amazing husband.

I also made a double fleece blanket for my other brother-in-law, 4 pairs of comfy pants, and a cover for my father-in-law's chessboard cover. But in my haste to get stuff done (which I finished at about noon on Christmas Day. The playhouses were both finished by 5am on the 24th. I slept for 4 hours and then got up and sewed some more.) I did not get any pictures of them.

But I also - FINALLY - made Joe a double fleece blanket. The fleece blanket kind of launched my sewing and crafting a few years ago. I made a tie blanket for my friend Suzi as part of a blanket exchange, but then never did it again until I was at a loss as to what to get my siblings for Christmas. So, I made them and their significant others blankets and then my in-laws, and then other friends got them, too. But it occurred to me on Christmas Eve as I was wending my way through the fleece aisles at Joann Fabrics that I have never made one for Joe. And then it happened - as it so often does with me and fabric - this jumped out at me. Oh. My. Gosh.

You ... cannot ... make ... this blanket ... in time...

With my totally geeky, Original Series fanatic husband, how could I NOT????

And so, I got back into the cutting line and got 3 yards of this and 3 yards of red and then scurried home while he was out shopping for me with our daughter and whipped up his blanket. As you can see, he totally hates it:

This blanket is not logical.

And so, that's pretty much it for what I have done up to date. Emeline got a new American Girl doll - Caroline, 1812 - bringing her total up to 4, so there is a lot of stuff there to be made. I still have some gifts I need to work on and then some projects I just WANT to work on. I just ordered some fabric to make curtains for my dining room windows or closet - not sure which yet - so I am sure you will get those postings soon.

Love you all!!
The Crafty Empress (Aims)

Still in Shock

Like the majority of the country today, I spent a large part of the afternoon glued to my television and computer desperately looking for some reason in world of madness. I picked my baby girl up from the bus and hugged her tight and then we spent the evening avoiding the news. I hope to shield her from this for as long as I possibly can. 

And so, in the light of tragedy, I am posting the pictures of my finished Christmas card holder. I finished and hung it before the news of today's horror.

I have started collecting buttons for various projects. My mom just gave me a tin of thousands of buttons from my great-grandmother. They are so amazing.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -- Matthew 19:14

Peace be to all of you. Hug your children and rejoice in them everyday. 

Aimee

Welcome to The Crafty Empress

Well, here it is. 

After thinking about it for minutes on end, I decided it was better that I create a crafting blog so I can stop clogging up my friend's Facebook pages with the ridiculous stuff I've been doing. Besides, I love another avenue to get all of the attention that I so rightly deserve, what with being an Empress and all.

So, welcome to my madness. I constantly have about 7 projects going at any one time ranging from "normal" crafts to Girl Scout projects to sewing projects. This year, I have decided to try to make as many Christmas presents as possible. I'm also adding to my own collection of holiday decorations. The presents won't be posted until after Christmas, but I'll be adding pictures of the stuff I'm making for my own home.

Today's project is making a Christmas card holder. I get all of these fantastically awesome holiday cards every year and never have anywhere to put them that looks even remotely festive. So, after being inspired by Pinterest (Horrible site. Never go unless you have 50 hours to waste.), I am creating my own using mini-clothespins, die-cut wood stars, paint, and the herpes of crafting - glitter.

Some in progress pictures -

The other project I'm currently working on are seasonal words for the walls or whatever. There is JOY, MERRY, and NOEL. Painted in red, green, and white. I am attaching the letters together with popsicle sticks and tilting letters to make it more fun. I need to get some shiny shellac or varnish or something - I am not happy with the matte finish. I'll put ribbons on the back to hang them in the house.

FINISHED STUFF!!! This is just a smidge of the stuff I have finished. If I posted everything, we'd be here til 12th Night. The one Christmas thing I have finished is my rag wreath. It is amazing and I love it beyond all reason. It took about 7 yards of fabric cut into 1"x7" strips, but that's why God invented the rotary cutter, right? The strips were tied into a 4-ring, 18" wreath frame.

 For Thanksgiving, my family and I went down to the Detroit parade. And so, I made us ear warmers with a bit of holiday flair. I didn't take "in progress" pictures because I was making them in the wee hours of the morning.

So there you have it. My new blog. I'll try to post daily updates, but I can't promise. I have projects, ya'll. 

Love to you all,
The Crafty Empress