Double Gnome Happiness

I made this on my kindle fire. 

Artisan Component Market Grand Opening!!

Join me and my fellow bead mates for the grand opening of Artisan Component Market Place! To celebrate, I am offering a 25% discount with the code "GRANDE" We are also giving away tons of goodies!! Please help us bring to fruition a true artists selling forum. One that celebrates us fellow artists and won't bury us beneath imported mass produced crap!  

http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/jeraluna/?page=2

http://artisancomponentmarketplace.com/

Tibbs Favorite Kitty Cupcakes

                 

 My cat LOVES these cupcakes and has stolen many from my work table. I think because they are still round enough to bat around.

Materials

Small amounts of worsted weight yarn, brown for the bottoms and whatever you fancy for the tops.

A small bit of red or pink for the the cherry.

I like Lily Sugar and Cream because of the bright colors and the yarn is sturdy for rough cat play.

Poly fill stuffing

bell (optional)

catnip

Yarn needle

scissors

G or F hook whatever gives you a tight crochet stitch because we don't want the filling to show, I use smaller because I tend to crochet loose so whatever works best for you.

Stitches Used

Magic Circle

Single Crochet – Sc

Slip Stitch – slst

Cupcake Base

Round 1

Make magic circle and 6 sc into circle slst into first chain sc. Pull on yarn tails to tighten up circle.

Round 2

2 sc into each stitch around slst into the first stitch (12)

Round 3

1 sc in each stitch around slst into first stitch (12)

Round 4

*sc in the next 3 stitches and 2 sc in the next repeat from* slst into first stitch (15)

Round 5 and 6

sc into each stitch around and slst into first stitch. Fasten off and weave in tails

Frosted Top

Round 1

Make a magic circle 6 sc into circle pull to close slst into first stitch.

Round 2

2 sc into each stitch around slst into fist stitch (12)

Round 3

Sc into each stitch around slst into first stitch (12)

Round 4

*sc in the next 3 stitches and 2 sc in the next repeat from* slst into first stitch (15)

Round 5

sc into each st around slst into fist stitch (15)

Keeping yarn on hook take the cupcake base and and frosted top and line up stitches slst the two together all around until you have 5 or 6 stitches left.

Add stuffing, catnip and bell ( don't be afraid to cram it in there) then continue slsting around until first stitch.

Keep the yarn on the hook for the spiral frosting or edging *

Round 6

SC from your last stitch into the frosting at the base and around in a spiral going up until you get to the top, break yarn and weave in tail.. Crocheting in a tighter spiral will make a pointier frosted top while looser with be a fatter one.

Cherry on top!

Make a magic circle, 4 sc into the circle slst into the first stitch pull tight on tail to close. 4 sts

1 Sc chain into each slst into the first fast off with a long tail. Tada you have a cherry!

Take the ends and sew on the top off your cupcake.

You can also use the ends to make tiny sprinkles on top of you cupcake which is especially cute on the cupcake with edging.

Here is Tiberius, Tibbs for short but he is known to answer to baby, buddy,Tibby,  and here kitty kitty. Isn't he handsome? He tests all of my my kitty toys whether I want him to or not! These cupcakes are Tibby approved!

Download here! PDF

Making Head Pins

It is October and 100 degrees outside. So I have decided to turn on the air, binge watch some old Xfiles and make head pins. 

 It's pretty easy actually. You just need some polymer clay, wire and a cool design. After I bake these guys I will sand  and paint them. Then a cold glaze that will keep them pretty. 

You can make your own or you can visit my store and pick some up there! Which is probably cheaper in the long run. I also have some lovely porcelain head pins. I can't wait to make more of those! I just need to set my new kiln up. 

Ear buds Key Chain Pouch

                                           

Here is an easy fast project that can be done in under an hour. It can be turned into a coin pouch with a zipper sewn instead of a button. The buttons I used in this project are mine and made from porcelain clay but any cute button will do.

Materials

A small amount of worsted Weight yarn

button

Key chain hoop, lanyard clip

E (3.5) hook whatever gauge gives you a tight crochet stitch

waxed thread or dental floss

stitch marker or different colored yarn to mark your round

yarn needle

Stitches Used

Single Crochet – (SC)

Single Crochet Increase (sc inc)

Slip Stitch - ( SLST)

Magic Loop

We will be working in a spiral

Round 1

Make magic loop, crochet 6 sc into loop, pull to close.

Round 2

2 SC in each SC stitches around (12 st)

Round 3

Add marker if you need to, * sc in next st, 2 sc inc into next repeat from * (24st)

Round 4

Move marker up,* 1 sc in the next 3 st, 2sc into next repeat from* ( 30 st)

Round 5

Move marker up, *sc into the next 4 st, 2 sc inc next repeat from* into each st all around (36 st)

finish off and weave in tails.

The second circle is done the same as the first but instead of f finishing off leave on the hook!

Putting together your pouch

Holding the two circles with wrong sides facing each other and line up your stitches with the front and back pieces.

Sc into the back and front of circles. Take hook off and use the dental floss or waxed thread to pull the yarn loop from your first sc through the button holes.

Once through add hook and continue sc around both circles stopping 5-6 stitches from the button.

You should have a small opening if you want it smaller add more sc. If you want it bigger pull out some stitches.

Once you find a size you like crochet a chain loop from the last stitch to fit around button and then slst into the last sc stitch. Break off yarn leaving enough to sew on key-chain loop or clip using a yarn needle. Weave in any extra tails of yarn.

Yay! You are done!

Download this pattern here! PDF

Super Fast and Easy Crocheted Rainbow Mice

   Super Fast and Easy Crocheted Rainbow Mice

            with or without bell and with or without curly tail!

Materials Needed

A small amount of worsted scrap yarn. I used Craft Smart Fiesta worsted weight acrylic yarn for the rainbow mice. A 3.5 mm/E crochet hook *, yarn needle, poly-fill stuffing, catnip, black embroidery thread and needle.

* Note on hook- I used an E hook because it gave me a tight crochet as I am a loose crocheter. Feel free to experiment on what hook will give you good tight crochet so that the filling is not seen.

Optional a Jingle bell, plastic wrapper or bag scraps that makes that crinkly sound cats love. Stitch Marker or piece of yarn to mark your stitches. Dental floss to help with bell.

Skill Level Easy

Stitches used

Single Crochet (SC)

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Double Crochet (DC)

Slipped Stitch (SLST)

Single Crochet Two Together (sc2tog)

Finish Off (FO)

If you want a bell on the tail

Chain 2 add bell using dental floss or waxed cord makes it easy to pull yarn through bell hole.

Chain 7 more. Move on to round one.

Without a bell

Chain 9 move on to round one.

Curly Q tail

Chain 12*, DC in 2^nd chain from the hook 2 SC repeat until second to last chain from hook. Move to round one.

• Note on chain you can make your curly tail as long or as short as you like, although too short will be like a pigs curly tail! Below is a picture of a mouse
• with a short curly q tail.

Round 1

6 SC in the last chain, join together add stitch marker and turn so tail is facing you.

Round 2

Working in spiral 2 SC in the 6 stitches -12

Round 3-8

Work in a spiral for 5 more rounds. You can go further is you want a longer mouse.

Round 9

Easy Peasy Ears!

I like to find the top of my tail and have it perfectly in the middle before I add my ears.

Crochet around stopping to slightly to right of top of your mouse

In front loop only*

1 SC 1 HDC 1 DC 1 HC 1 SC then 1 SC in the next front loop stitch, in the front loop of the next stitch 1 SC 1HDC 1 DC 1 HDC 1 SC, continue SC all around stopping when you get to first ear and do 1 SC in the back loop of the ear stitch, then 1 SC in the next back loop, then 1 Sc in the next ears back loop.

You just made ears!!

Round 10

Okay you should still have 12 stitches in the round, (don't freak out if you don't just keep going) this is where we will start decreasing and stuffing this baby mouse!

2 SC, sc2tog, repeat all around – 8 stitches

This is a good place to stuff your mouse. I add a little poly-fill, a pinch of catnip ( optional bell or crinkly plastic) then more poly-fill.

Round 11

1 SC , SC2TOG, repeat around -5 stitches

Round 12

5 SC around, this should close it up, finish off leaving a long enough tail so that you can sew up if there is a slight hole and then weave in your yarn with your yarn needle.

Use your embroidery thread and needle to sew on eyes. TA DA! Your cat now has a new play toy! Now make more!!

Link to PDF Pattern