Make Madness 2018 – Day 11 | Lotion Bars

Posted on March 11, 2018 by gracieed

 I don’t know about you but I suffer from incredibly dry skin especially in the winter.  I’m constantly on the look out for lotion that will actually moisturize my skin without having to spend a small fortune.

I’ve seen recipes for lotion bars around Pinterest and today I decided to give them a go.  I regularly make soap so I had all the ingredients and was particularly drawn to the recipes that contained Shea butter.  Shea butter has wonderful moisturizing properties and always makes my skin feel very soft.

I was all set to make a simple lotion bar with coconut oil, beeswax and Shea butter when to my dismay, I found that my Shea butter was rancid.  So I had to resort to making my lotion bars with out it.  There were several recipes on Pinterest and they basically all said the same thing:  1 part coconut oil, 1 part beeswax, scent from essential oil.

So that’s what I did.  I used 1/3 cup of each oil, 10 drops of lemon essential oil and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil.  I melted, constantly stirring, the oils (which are solid at room temperature) in a heat safe Pyrex bowl over a saucepan filled with water at a rolling boil.  Once the oils were melted, I added my essential oils, stirring the whole time and then carefully transferred the oil to my silicone ‘dog paw’ mold.  [Yes, dog paws]. You can obviously use any shaped silicone mold.
I let the paws cool and as they cooled, they hardened.  I also popped them in the fridge for 30 minutes to ensure that they were completely solid before removing them from the mold.  Don’t they look amazing?  I need to make sure Mike knows they’re lotion and not white chocolates.
They are wonderful to use, smell great and would make great gifts.

 

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you need a paw you just need to ask.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Make Madness 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make Madness 2018 – Day 10 | Tiny Gnome

Posted on March 10, 2018 by gracieed

 Today I sat down to make something out of the embarrassingly large collection of wine corks I have.  A few were individually acquired ;-), but the majority were found at garage sales.  Last summer, it seemed that everyone was getting rid of their wine corks so I snapped them up with great intentions of making “cork” boards and every other wine cork craft I could find on Pinterest.

I love taking something that could end up in the trash bin and making something out of it.  Today it was a tiny gnome.

I found this pattern on Ravelry and with a few minor modifications, I made this tiny gnome. He was easy to make and a great use of my sock yarn scraps.

 

 

Here’s today’s video showing the results of my efforts.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

Sure that gnome is cute, but I think I look much cuter in a scarf.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Ravelry, Recycling, Repurposing, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make Madness 2018 – Day 9 | All about the Heels!

Posted on March 9, 2018 by gracieed

Since making my drawstring bag yesterday for the As Time Goes By sock pattern by Susan Burzynski  I decided to spend today putting the heel in as well as the heels on another pair of socks.

My nephew gave me the book Sock Architecture by Lara Neel for Christmas a couple of years ago and I’ve been wanting to work through all the different constructions of socks.  There seem to be a bazillion!

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s two heels were made in two different ways.  The heel on the As Time Goes By socks is a short row garter ridge and the heels of my vanilla socks (which I’m calling A Sunny Day at the Beach) are made with the Fish Lips Kiss Heel pattern by the Sox Therapist.  This is an amazing pattern for only $1 because while it shows you how to construct the heel it also tells you about the history of sock making and walks you through making a pattern for the specific dimensions of your foot.  I found it fascinating and additionally it’s a wonderful heel because you don’t have to pick up stitches like you do with the traditional heel, flap and gusset heel construction.  I’ve made that traditional construction using a pattern/tutorial by Stacy of Very Pink Knits.

I loved both the short row and the Fish Lips Kiss Heel and plan to try other heels that are found in the Sock Architecture book.

Here’s today’s video showing the results of my efforts.

 

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

 

 

We know how to heel. We don’t always do it, but we know how.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Ravelry, Socks, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make Madness 2018 – Day 8 | St. Pawtrick’s Day Drawstring Project Bag

Posted on March 8, 2018 by gracieed

I’ve been wanting to make a drawstring project bag for a while now.  And last week I started a sock project that needed it’s own bag – the As Time Goes By sock pattern by Susan Burzynski.  I’m using Freckled Whimsy‘s Serendipity base (a 75/25 Merino/Nylon) in the Kevin’s Favorite and Just Kevin colorways.  I explain in the video the significance of Kevin.

I searched around Pinterest and found this tutorial by Kristin Omdahl for a fully lined drawstring project bag.  The tutorial was excellent: very well written with lots of instructional photos and easy to understand.  It didn’t take into account directional fabric and I had to make some adjustments because I was using directional fabric, but it was no big deal.  I’m really happy with how everything turned out. I’m all set for St. Pawtrick’s Day with my new bag and hopefully with a pair of socks by the end of the month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s today’s video showing the results of my efforts.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

Ok so we wore the sparkly green bow ties last year… do you have anything else in mind for this year?

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, DIY From Scratch, Dogs, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Pinterest, Ravelry, sewing, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Make Madness 2018 – Day 7 | Kool Aid Dyed Polka Dot paper

Posted on March 7, 2018 by gracieed

Nothing makes me happier creating beautiful papers with color and shimmer.  If it sparkles and shimmers then I’m sold.  Back in December I discovered a Youtube video by Hermelinda Z. Aguilar where she demonstrated how to dye paper with Kool Aid and also create an awesome polka dot effect using items from the Dollar Store.  Here’s the link to her video.

I followed her instructions to the letter and here’s what I made today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These papers can be used in art journals, for collage art, as backgrounds for card making or even as wrapping paper.  The possibilities are endless.

 

 

 

 

Here’s today’s video showing the results of my efforts.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

Don’t mind me.  I’m just hanging out waiting to see if anything resembling a dog biscuit will be coming out of the oven today.  So far it’s only been paper.

Posted in Accountability, Art Journal, Cards, Challenges and Contests, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Make Madness 2018, Paper Crafting, Saving Money | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Make Madness 2018 – Day 6 | Knitted Dish Cloth

Posted on March 6, 2018 by gracieed

I have used knitted dish cloths for years for all the cleaning in our home.  I always have one in the sink for dishes and I use them when I’m cleaning the floors and wiping down counters, etc.  They’re incredibly sturdy, wash up beautifully and dry out really quickly, probably because they’re made with 100% cotton.  My current stash is about 6 years old and when Amber of the Yarn Hoarder Podcast mentioned she was knitting one dish cloth per week this year, I thought it would be a good time to rejuvenate my collection.

I primarily use Sugar n’ Cream by Lily but also have Knit Picks Dishie in my stash.  My go to pattern is Gramma’s Favorite (a free pattern on Ravelry), but today I was introduced to a new pattern called the Knitlist Lacy Round Dishcloth (also free) by Lyndagrace of the Joey’s Scarf podcast.  Thanks Lynda.  It took about 3 hours to knit and used up a total of one ounce of yarn.  The skeins are about 2 oz so I’ll be able to get two dish cloths out of one skein.

 

*** Update on yesterday’s Make Madness | Wool Dryer balls.

After felting

Before felting

After running them through a hot wash cycle and promptly drying them on high heat, I ended up with felted dryer balls.  (see side by side comparison: left-before felting  right-after felting) I then ran a load of laundry, and threw 3 dryer balls that had been scented with peppermint and lemon essential oils into the dryer with the laundry.  I also reduced the usual drying time by 25% and was very happy with the results: no static cling, fresh scent and fully dry clothes.

And I filmed a quick video about the dryer balls and today’s project.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

 

The dish cloth’s are nice and all, but Mindy just informed me that the dryer balls aren’t for playing with.  I need some time to figure out how I feel about that.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Cleaning, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Saving Money, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Make Madness 2018 – Day 5 | Wool Dryer Balls

Posted on March 5, 2018 by gracieed

I have always loved making things from scratch: soap, laundry detergent, lotion, lip balm and now wool dryer balls.  I love how economical it is as well as the simplicity of the ingredients.  I also love the fact that I can pronounce the names of the ingredients. 😉

 

Dryer balls are used as a substitute for dryer sheets.  I used this tutorial from the Overthrow Martha blog and Lion Brand’s Fisherman’s Wool.  It’s important to use 100% wool because you want the dryer balls to felt.

 

 

 

 

And I filmed a quick video showing you how I made today’s project.

 

 

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

Okay, I’m not sure what a ‘dryer’ is, but these look remarkably like tennis balls.  Just sayin’.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Cleaning, DIY From Scratch, Goals, Homemade, Make Madness 2018, Saving Money, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make Madness 2018 – Day 4 | Cubs Project Bag

Posted on March 4, 2018 by gracieed

I usually have several knitting/crochet projects on the go at any one time.  And I always like to have each project in it’s own project bag just to keep things organized and tidy.

Today I made myself a project bag using some Cubs fabric.  It has a zipper, is lined and have a boxed base.  All in all I’m pleased with how it turned out – it’s just too long.  It will work out perfectly for sock projects and I will use it but next time I need to pay more attention to my dimensions.

 

 

 

 

I used this tutorial from Jedi Craft Girl and I lightweight fusible fleece from Pellon to give the bag some structure.

Here’s a video to show you the end result.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

Since you’re into this ‘making’ thing at the moment, we have some requests:  new dog beds and team collars for our favorite baseball teams.  We want to be ready for opening day.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Fabric, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, sewing, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Make Madness 2018 – Day 3 | Notions Tin

Posted on March 3, 2018 by gracieed

I don’t know about you, but every time I need scissors or needles for my knitting projects, I can’t seem to find them.

My sister-in-law bought me some Altoid-sized tins so that I could cover them with fabric and/or paper and use them for very basic notions tins.

I used the top of a memo sheet that I found at the dollar store, traced around the tin, cut out the image and then glued it with Mod Podge.  I covered it with a couple layers of Mod Podge to secure the edges and give it a nice finish.

Inside the lid of the tin, I attached flat magnetic sheets for my needles.

 

All in all, this project took about 10 minutes (including glue drying time).  I love having a few of these notions tins ready for use in my projects and REALLY love knowing that the basic tools I need for my projects will always be with the project.

 

Here’s a video to show you the end result.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

We were wondering if these tins might contain treats?  And if so, could we have some?

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Dogs, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Paper Crafting, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Make Madness 2018 – Day 2 | Dog Collars

Posted on March 2, 2018 by gracieed

Today’s project is one I’ve had on my list to do for ages.  I’ve made collars for my dogs for the past several years and every 4 years or so they need new ones.

I discovered this wonderful fabric that looks like knitting and decided Ellie and Mindy needed collars befitting the dogs of a knitter ;-).  So today that happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a super short clip of the dogs showing you their new collars.

I found a wonderful tutorial years ago for making these collars.  They’re fabric wrapped and the cool part is when I’m ready to replace collars I reuse the hardware.  The only thing I replace is the nylon webbing.  The fabric I used this time I found at Spoonflower and the original hardware I purchased from Amazon.

Until tomorrow,

Grace

 

 

 

 

So sorry I’m facing away from you, but I wanted you to see what my mom made me and this really is my best side.  The neighborhood dogs are going to be so jealous.

Posted in Accountability, Challenges and Contests, Dogs, Fabric, Goals, Homemade, Knitting, Make Madness 2018, Recycling, Yarn | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments