Lazy Girl's Crochet Hook Holder

Remember this project? 

I totally love it.  It's what I keep all my crochet hooks in.

But I got to thinking, is there a down and dirty way to make this without having to cut out fabric and piece it together?  Enter: the placemat.

It's a double sided, ready-made chunk of fabric.  And heck if I can turn it into a purse, I can surely sew it into a crochet hook holder.  It's a Lazy Girl Project (just coined that term, wonder if someone's already trademarked it??  A quick search shows that it is a blog, and they make purses, go figure!)  I digress, and again wonder what we ever did before google.

OK, back to the task at hand. Get yourself a cute little placemat.  I found mine at Target, and for once used my smarts and bought more than one cuz they were so darn cute.

Step One: Fold the bottom third or so of the placemat up towards the center.  Use your hooks as a guide to be sure you have enough top flap leftover to cover the hooks.  The hooks will stick out of the pocket.

Step Two: Fold a length of ribbon (approx. 20-24") in half and sandwich in between the two layers you just created on one side. Sew along the length on both edges.  Do as I say, not as I did on this one.  I didn't sandwich the ribbon, and ended up with this zigzaggy mess putting my ribbon on after the fact.

Step Three: Stitch the pockets.  Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and ending of each line.  Use your hooks as a guide for width, keeping in mind that the larger hooks are quite thick.  I sewed several pockets at a narrow thickness (maybe 1/2-3/4") and the rest at about 1".  I left a large pocket at the end for scissors, stitch markers, and stuff.

Step Four: Stitch along the length of the fold of the top flap.  This just helps to create a crease so that it folds in the right spot every time. 

Then fold it up:

 And tie it closed:

That's it! Seriously, a 30 minute project.  Give it a try!

Dads and Grads Blog Hop and Crop

The DT and Staff at Scrapbook Heaven have put together 8 days of how-to's, sketches, and inspiration for the Dads and grads in your life.  The fun begins this Friday, the 11th and runs through Saturday, the 19th.  And there will be prizes!!  You can check out all the deets at the Scrapbook Heaven Blog

Here's a sneak of the project I'll be sharing.

why i scrap

I have been wanting to create a page about why I scrapbook for quite some time.  Courtney's challenge last month gave me an excuse to examine this question, and create a LO.  Of course, I missed the May 31st deadline, but I got my page created, and that's what's most important!

Journaling reads:

to record: our legacy for generations to come, so our great- great- great-grandchildren will know where they came from.  to play: with papers and embellies, to have fun, experiment, and get messy. to remember: the happy times, the sad times, the special times, and all the times in between.  to express: what's deep down in my heart, the love I have for the people most important to me.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

OK, so I am a giveaway delinquent!  I was thinking of reposting the giveaway to try to get a few more entrants, but what the hey--there'll be other giveaways!

My apologies for all those who have been waiting with bated breath to see who would win the 3 tubes of Pink Paislee Pixee (say that 10 times fast).  I guess it pays to be first, so...

Lolly Chops, you're the winner!!

I will get these in the mail to you this week.  I know you will make something fab with them!

Reveal Time at Scrapbook Heaven!

It's the first of the month, and that means it's time for the big kit reveal over at Scrapbook Heaven.  This month I worked with the Elite Kit, though I am kicking myself in a huge way that I didn't scoop up the Petite kit as well (hope they're not all gone by the time I get to order one).  The Elite kit has so much variety in it--I was able to scrapbook about Christmas, Easter, the beach, and everything in between (what kind of kit offers that??)

So here are my LO's".  I'll let you know what I supplemented (it's hardly anything at all).

supplemented with white cardstock background

I painted the orange letters with acrylic paints in the word "color".

100% kit here folks

added vanilla cardstock; printed title

used my own kraft cardstock

again, my kraft cardstock

supplemented with vanilla cardstock

my own green cardstock background; machine stitched the pp blocks and top border

100% kit, including that yummy green rosette trim

And after all that, I still have kit leftover for quite a few more projects!

Head on over to the forum to check out the rest of the DT's gorgeous projects using both kits.