Thursday, October 30, 2008

Next up...

Now that the Halloween swap is over, I can look forward to the Winter Holidays. I've joined another Pringles can swap. I was thinking of making the can look like a candy cane, since she likes them. But I'm picturing something that looks like a barber's pole... not the look I'm going for :D

I'm also going to hit a craft show or two with my mom, so we can make a few bucks. I'm looking for recipes that are quick, easy and good to eat (gotta test them before I sell them, right??). If you have any or know of a link with some great recipes, email me at krafter.kat@gmail.com (krafter dot kat at gmail dot com)

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday - Week 4

terrorific-tuesday-week-4

This month has flown by as fast as a witch on her broom! Can you believe that Halloween is almost here?? Well, unfortunately this is the last Terrorific Tuesday of the year, so whip out that glue gun and scissors and get to work on one of these great ideas that will be sure to delight ghosts and goblins of all ages!

Spooky Jewels Katie Hacker strings this red and black set using a Fresh resin pendant, polka dots, and metal skulls.

Fangtastic figurines Retta a.k.a. Attercat breaks out the polymer clay and whips up some glow-in-the-dark figurines.

Cool canister Serena the Crafty Mom revamps a bargain bin canister into an awesome Halloween decoration!

Gothic Pink Melissa J. Lee explores the spooky side of one of her favorite pastel colors.

"Eye"gor pin cushion Kiki of Kiki's Craft World knits up this eye-catching pin cushion bracelet.

Stamped paper coffin Kate Pullen, the Rubber Stamping Guide at about.com folds and stamps up this little coffin box that Dracula would envy!

Fun party food ideas Amy at Living Locurto threw a Halloween party and came up with tons of great ideas for the food table including this adorable witch cake!

Double the goodness from Margot! The Impatient Crafter™’s final Terrorific Tuesday offering is a two part story of friendship, Goth Style. Here are links to see Morticia Invites Miss Havisham to Tea and The Invitation.

Spiderman pendant (but not the Spiderman you're thinking) Kim Ripley a.k.a. Stoopidgerl pours up a glittery sweet skull and crossbones resin necklace.

Quick & easy polka dot treat cups Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner shows you how to make quick and easy Halloween treat cups sure to wow your guests!

3 brand new Halloween jewelry projects! Tammy Powley, the Jewelry Guide at About.com does an all-nighter (almost) as she pushes for a few more Halloween jewelry projects, including a super cool sterling silver spider, a glass framed mixed-media Halloween-themed pendant, and to top it off, a silver headless skeleton charm.

Fast & Fun Halloween Boa Sarah E. White, About.com's Knitting Guide knits up this super cute boa perfect for those chilly fall nights!

Dia De Los Muertos Cigar Box Shrine Kathy Cano-Murillo a.k.a. The Crafty Chica honors the Day of the Dead with this beautiful shrine.

Happy Haunting Greeting Card Phyllis Dobbs treats us once again with this cute Halloween card, perfect for all your favorite goblins!

Gypsy Traditions Lorilyn Hurley of the Dream Life shares a touching story of her family's love for Halloween & their passion for playing dress up at their annual party!

More spooky pendants Rebecca Hull for HHH Enterprises does it again with these ultra fabulous pendants!

Boo Bucket Michelle McGee crafts up a spooky and scary bucket that will leave goose bumps on all your guests!

Vintage Postcard Banner
Kris Tuey aka: the Collage Contessa
has made it official. Now you know exactly what time it is when you walk into her house. It's HALLOWEEN time! This vintage project using fun Halloween postcards is so simple you can even entice the kids to help as well!

Fall Wall Hanging
Kim of Sew Sugary Sweet
stitches this wonderful and whimsical wall hanging for her Fall Swap partner

Monday, October 27, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday!!

Eye see you!!

My friend Red and I went to a Halloween Bash this past weekend. I was a crazy seamstress and she was my dolly. A crazy seamstress needs a funky way to store her pins! It's based on the eyeball with nerve endings pattern, designed by Regina Rioux Gonzalez at Monster Crochet.


It's basically done in the round, which means a continuous spiral. I used a G hook, worsted weight yarn in black, blue and white. Here are my modifications.

Rnd 1 - Start with black in the magic circle. (6)
Rnd 2 - Join blue. 2sc in each stitch around. (12)
Rnd 3 - Sc in next stitch, then 2sc in next stitch. Continue around (18)
Rnd 4 - Join white. Sc in next 2 stitches, then 2sc in next stitch. Continue around (24).
Rnd 5 - Sc in next 3 stitches, then 2sc in next stitch. Continue around (30).
Rnd 6 - Sc in next 4 stitches, then 2sc in next stitch. Continue around (36).
Rnd 7 through 13 - Sc in each stitch around.
Rnd 14 - Sc 2 stitches tog. Sc in next 4. (30)
Rnd 15 - Sc 2 stitches tog. Sc in next 3. (24)
Rnd 16 - Sc 2 stitches tog. Sc in next 2. (18)
Rnd 17 - Sc 2 stitches tog. Sc in next 1. (12)
Rnd 18 - Sc 2 stitches tog. (6)

Leave a long tail so that you can attach your elastic wrist band. I just cut a piece of elastic to fit my wrist and used a few stitches to attach the ends.

(I didn't have time to stitch on the nerve endings, so I used a red marker to draw them on)

For her hair, I cut lengths of various yarns and randomly tied them to hair elastics. I just wore a funky house dress, with a few scraps of material sewn on randomly and a really bad wig. Her apron is made from a little kids cape, with an added piece of red fleece for the strings.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday - Week 3

terrorific-tuesday-week-3

Another week has gone in October and you know what that means! It's Terrorific Tuesday! This week, we are featuring 20! fabulous projects and inspirations! This roundup features jewelry, scrapbooking, party ideas, knitting, sewing projects, mixed media art, photography, and so much more! So sit a spell (or cast one) and enjoy this hearty helping of haunting Halloween projects!

Furry Monster Bucket Kiki of Kiki's Craft World shows how to make a clever project that you'll have to keep an eye on!

Hooty the Hoot Owl Retro Jewelry Set Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter tried her patience making a paper crafted jewelry set for this week's Terrorific Tuesday.

Mini Pumpkin Quilt Phyllis Dobbs shares a spectacularly whimsical quilt!

Sugary Sweet Skull Coasters Stoopidgerl makes some awesome resin coasters packed with candy, rainbows, and skulls!

Halloween Party Pics/Picks Swelldesigner a.k.a. Alexa Westerfield gets nostalgic with cupcake pics inspired by Halloween's of yesteryear.

Witch’s Hat Pin Tammy Powley of About.com has a super simple witch’s hat pin project for you that is so quick you’ll want to make up lots of these to give to other Halloween witch’s.

Witchy Woman Angela of Angela’s Art Diary gets in the spirit when she puts herself in her own bewitched portrait!

Fairy Witch Frame Lorilyn Hurley of the Dream Life piles on the glitter and vintage charm in this inspired frame.

Spooky and Kooky photos Chris Garris a.k.a. Universal Stopping point puts his photography skills to the test and creates a set of haunting images to get you inspired.

Halloween Charm Bracelet Jean Yates charms us with this gothic and glam skull bracelet.

Easy Dia de Los Muertos Story Box Kathy Cano-Murillo a.k.a. Craft Chica uses toys, a mini box, and lots of glitter to tell a beautiful tale.

Double Skully Bracelet Melissa J. Lee creates this red and black dazzler strung with double the skull goodness!

Bootiful Belt Buckles Rebecca Hull at HHH Enterprises makes an awesome Halloween accessory out of ordinary belt buckles!

Knitted Ghost Sarah E. White whips up this little ghost, perfect for haunting your house!

Spooky Photoshop Tutorial Amy Locurto of Living Locurto shows you how to create your own Photoshop still life to use on a custom invite!

Pumpkin Scrapbook Pages Michelle McGee scraps up some adorable memories of her little pumpkin!

Wicked Witch Brenda Pinnick's witch is a bit scary, a bit fun andoh so colorful. She is made using heavy weight watercolor paper and acrylic paint. The paper sculpture techniques bring this gal to life!

Rubber Stamp a Luminary Kate Pullen
shows you how to use your rubber stamps to create a paper bag luminary
for Halloween on her About.com Rubber
Stamping Blog
.

Fall Owl Pillow Kim of Sew Sugary Sweet gives a hoot with this cute owl pillow perfect for fall!

Silhouetted Paper Lanterns Robin of Urban Debris gets super spooky with vintage paper lantern patterns.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday - Week 3

It's that time of the week again!!

This is a project that I've had in mind for awhile, and I've just gotten around to it. It's based on this project by fellow Craftster member callakat. I actually did make a wreath using the same fun fur and colored ping pong balls used on Mr Monsterhead here.



After searching high and low for the large orange ping pong ball and my glue gun, I started with a plain old halloween pumpkin bucket that you can pick up for less than $2. I tried to fashion a pattern with newspaper, but it was horrible. I used the newspaper "pattern" to cut out the fun fur to the approximate size I would need to cover the pumpkin. Then I cut several slits along the top and bottom length to accommodate for the roundness.

Thanks to Margot Potter and her special guest Jenny Harada for the tip on how to cut fun fur. Some of it still gets loose, but not like the first time where it looked like I had shave a maroon cat!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Just for fun




What Your Handbag Says About You




You tend to be relaxed throughout the day. You are naturally at peace.

You are open and comfortable with who you are. You don't hide anything.

You are a very creative person. Your life tends to be a whirlwind, but you always seem to pull it together.

You are a very unique and special person. There's no one else who is anything like you.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday!!

It's back!!!! It's the second official post of Terrorific Tuesday! The following very fantastic crafters have brewed up some great projects and want to share them with you. The pics above are in order with the links below, so sit a "spell" and peruse the links or get out your glue gun and scissors and join in on the party!

terrorific tuesday mosaic week 2

Amy Locurto paints & constructs a marvelous Minnie Mouse pumpkin that's simply adorable.

Rebecca Hull at HHH Enterprises crafts up some spooky "Itsy Bitsy Spider" & "Murder at Midnight" Pendants that are absolutely terrorific! Be inspired to make your own pendant using your favorite Halloween image.

Lori-Lyn Hurley of the Dream Life makes a quick and easy craft by turning plain jars into spooky accents!

Tammy Powley, the jewelry guide at about.com, wears these fun spider earrings every year around this time. Seed beads, a few crystals, and craft wire are all you need to make a pair of your own.

Phyllis Dobbs haunts us with an adorable gift bag using Brenda Pinnick's Sizzix dies.

Kate Pullen, the Rubber Stamping guide at about.com, does a Halloween spin on a fun & classic craft – the paper chain!

Sarah E. White, the knitting guide at about.com, shares with us knitted jack-o-lantern bag that’s a real treat!

Braaaiiinnssss!!!! Kiki of Kiki's Craft World crafts up a cute brain slug hair accessory!

Marice Rodriguez gets carded with this totally cute Jeepers Creepers card!

Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter™,offers this seasonally appropos and simple to recreate 'Runs with Scissors' charm bracelet. For those who know the hazards of crafting far too well and yet continue to play with sharp objects, toxic substances and messy paints and inks, this one's for you!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner shows you how to become a living masterpiece. She creates a costume from an artist canvas.

Kris Tuey a.k.a. the Collage Contessa gets her spookiness on with a Skeleton House Frame and oodles of glitter!

Brenda Pinnick's three happy little ghosts have figured out how to spell "Boo!" . Her Halloween greeting card is made with her own clear stamp set available from Sizzix and her papers, available on QVC.

Melissa J. Lee gets bit by a passion for vampires with this simple fanged Bite Me necklace.

If you'd like to participate next week, please read more about it here. It's open to all bloggers out there who want to join in!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Swap: Once You Pop Round 8 - Halloween Edition SENT

The objective of this swap was to fill a Pringles can with homemade Halloween goodies.

I sent last week, and as far as I know, my partner got it. Here it is, in all it's Pringles glory!


The Pringles can. My partner likes Egyptian mummies, and I created this using cheesecloth, Mod Podge and those flat backed glass marbles used in planters and fish tanks. (Don't worry, they're clean!) I used two large round ones for the eyes, and an oblong oval one for the nose. Now that I think of it, it looks like I mummified Gonzo from the Muppets...


An Original Fearless Crafter Project

4 polymer clay pirate coins. My partner also likes pirates. What's a pirate without a few coins?


A polymer scarab. I got the directions from Polymer Cafe Magazine.



Barry the Bat (could be used as an ornament). Pattern



A Futurama Brain Slug, made from this pattern.


The bottom of Brain Slug. It's a hair accessory!!


A knit scarf, made of Lion Brand Incredible yarn.


I was so very tempted to keep this last piece for myself (but I didn't)! Drum roll, please! My personal favorite piece of this swap:

A polymer covered altoid tin!!

An Original Fearless Crafter Project

I covered the tin with polymer clay, black on top and red on the bottom. Then a jolly roger skull and crossbones. I used the new Sculpey Studio Bake & Bond to adhere glitter for the eyes since I didn't have any gems small enough. I used the gems I did have to create the eye sockets. Then put a thin coat of the Bake & Bond and very carefully added the glitter. As you can see, not all the glitter made it in the eye sockets.

Crafty Lesson Learned:
If you're going to use glitter with Bake & Bond, make sure you bake it right away!! My jolly roger skull has a slight case of red eye because I let it sit for a day before baking.

For the inside, I used a leftover piece of black fleece scarf to line the bottom and sides. For the lid, I cut a piece of plain white paper to fit. I then printed a pirate map from a graphic I found online. I found a section of the map that I liked, and cut it to fit the lid. I then ripped pieces off, and used a black stamp pad (I didn't have brown) to make the edges look burned. I even tore a little hole and inked the edge of that as well. I added a printed compass and the letter N, as well as the phrase "A pirate's life for me"

Friday, October 10, 2008

Halloween Decorations

I love Halloween, and hopefully this year I can get the yard done before Halloween. We bought a graveyard "kit" for the yard. I also want to get one of those jars with the eyes in it, you just add water and they float.

Last year, I stuffed a pair of old jeans and flannel shirt with newspaper and stuck a plastic skull on it. His name is George and he sits in the yard, keeping watch. (We all kept wondering who was in the yard all last October). I have a motion sensitive skeleton that talks. His name is Bonesy and he sometimes asks for a glass of water.

I think I might even do a giant spiderweb. I have plenty of yarn, and can't see spending $5 on something I can make myself. I'm really digging the climbing skeletons. One friend made grave stones made out of sheets of styrofoam insulation. I'm going to try that this year.


I definitely know what I'm doing for next Halloween!
Werewolf Head

Other Halloween Decorations from Instructables

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday - Week 2

Here is my submission for week 2 of Terrorific Tuesday.

It's a brain slug that I crocheted using TLC Essentials Light Celery. I used this pattern, but created my own antennae for it.
(mini-pattern time!!)

I used a size G hook for both the body and the antennae.

Working in a spiral, start with the beady end of the antennae.
Start with a magic circle (4 sc)
2 sc in each sc (8 sc)
Sc2tog (4 sc)

At this point, I then cut two pieces of 24 gauge wire in equal lengths. I folded each in half and placed it in the beady end. I stuffed the end a bit, then continued with the stem.

Sc in each around for as long as you want the antennae. I think I made the stem about 1 1/2" long, about 10 or 11 rows. FO.

I used a piece of felt for the eye, and a safety eye. Attach a hair clip, and you can wear your brain slug proudly!

Monday, October 06, 2008

Terrorific Tuesday - week 1

You've got to check it out! Terrorific Tuesday is a great idea presented to us by Alexa, the Swell Designer.

The first week turned out some awesome projects!

Melissa J. Lee's Once in a Blue Moon necklace is gorgeous! It's perfect for a night out on the town with the ghouls! I really like the blue bead used to signify the moon.

Head over to About.com, and visit Sarah E. White at the Knitting blog. There are some totally wicked patterns like a ghost, a textured washcloth and a pumpkin bag!

Alexa Westerfield shows us her eye for design with googly eyes! I love the frame, choker and headband. Wearing that headband will show that I not only have eyes in the back of my head, but on top too!!

A sweet Trick-or-Treat candy pot, made out of a terra cotta pot is sure to please kids of all ages in Phyllis Dobbs' neighborhood!

I've been dying for a machine like Sizzix! Those lovely cards made by Brenda Pinnick have swept me off my feet!

What's better than Frankenstein? A glittery one! Marice Rodriguez put together this cute card, full of glittery goodness!

Jewelry maven Tammy Powley from About.com shows off her boo-tiful Halloween resin cabochons. She gives great ideas how to use them on the Jewelry blog.

Kate Pullen lights up my day with her stamped Halloween Candle. Who knew rubber stamping could be so versatile? Check it out at her About.com Rubber Stamping blog.

I've been ensnared by the beauty of Margot Potter's Crystal Web necklace! Swarovski's are a girls best fiend!

Flyin' high, with hauntingly good wishes from Lorilyn Hurley. Why can't I find vintage images?!

A wonderful wall hanging is sure to cheer up any grouch that comes to Christina Tuey's door! The Collage Contessa shows off her skills with this wonderful collage.