YOU MUST READ THIS IF YOU ARE CRAFTING FOR A BABY

i love babies. it also seems sometimes that the pure purpose of kniting and crocheting is to make the most adorable stuff just for them. i just found out that my sister is pregnat with her second child. know if you are in the same situation your just about ready to go buy a ton of yarn go wild with making booties and hats and just about any thing under the sun there are a few guildlines that you need to follow.
1. Until you know the gender of the baby only make colors that would work on both, such as green and yellow. If you make the wrong color you will be stuck keeping it till some one else has a baby.
2. Keep the colors pastel. Babies are cute and adoralble so keep them that way. No one wants to see them in black or dark red. Stick with light pinks, baby blues, and other pastel colors.
3. Scratchy yarn is a no no. Babies have skin that is so much more softer than ours. No one likes those scratchy sweaters but for babies it could cause irritation and rashes which will lead to the item to never being worn again.
4. No buttons or small objects. No matter how cute it would look if there were buttons all over an adorable little sweater dont do it. If one of them falls of the baby think ohh shiny puts it in their tiny little mouthes. Its a terrible hasared and if they get hurt you will feel guilty the rest of your life.
5. Don't go insane. Its totally nice of you to make a pair or to of booties, a hat, and a baby blanket but if you make 10 or 20 things its going overboard. No baby needs 10 crocheted hats and 10 pairs of booties. if you want to spend a lot of time doing something make a blanket for them.
6. Only make things that the parent can use. Usalble things include but arent limited to :booties, hats, mittens, blankets, and maybe crib garland. Not usable things include but are not limited to: Scarves (see #7), crocheted/knitted baby toys (see #7), boob warmers for breast feeding, and anything like bottle warmer or anything else.
7. Remember saftey. Things like scarves (choking hazard), home made toys (easily breakable means its harmful), and buttons could be harmful to the baby. there are hundreds of websites with complete lists on baby safety. BEFORE you start a project check to make sure that it is 100% its safe for the child to use. You dont want the baby to get hurt.
8. Use soft but strong yarn. The yarn that you use is almost as important as what you make. It has to be soft to not cause irritation but it also has to be strong for when the child plays with it or pulls on it. When choosing a yarn pull on it really hard to check how easily it breaks. If it breaks easily then dont buy it but if it doesnt break then it will be okay. There are tons of yarn that are made perfectly for the use of babies and this will usally be indicated on the packaging but still break test it just in case.
9. Dont forget the mom. If you know how to make sweaters for pregnant women make one. Or make and adult size blanket. Do some thing nice for her because right now she could use something to brighten up her day.
10. Dont only make one size. Babies get bigger a lot faster than adults. If you make two pairs of booties make one a 4-6 month and the other a 8-10. Also dont make 1-3 month sizes or premie. If the baby comes out already in a size 4 month (which does happen comonly) there will be no use for the small clothes so they will prpbably be given away or stay in the bottom of a bin forever.
This is only the start of what to think of when crafting for babies so before you get working on the cutest project ever think it through. I will have more tips and guildlines for baby crafting soon!!!
Alex

It's Time to get Inked up

So I have been apart of this website for a long time and I thought that I should share it to any and all that cared about literature. The sites name is called Teen Ink. The only thing this site does is any literature that is submited by teens. Every thing submited is read by the editors then if your piece is good enough it will be put the print magazen. I've never gotten anything in it but I've met so many people on it and read so many great pieces I really don't care.  I recomend this site to any one who is even thinking that one day they want to write. Its a way to get your stuff out there, a way to be seen, and editors from alot of different publishers look at the site ocasionaly. A girl I met on there got discovered that way though it wasn't very big she did get paid like $50 for her poem. Plus it was a start for her. So if you want to be a writer help your self out just join the site. You wont regret it. YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!!!!!! <3 Well I'm gonna go so
C YA
Alex

The Colors of the Rainbow

So is any one else really excited that school is less than a month away. BECAUSE I TOTALLY AM. But I have also seen some of the supplies that places are trying to get us to buy now. I use to think it was totally cool to buy those binders and other supplies with the cool designs on them but now I'm buying ALL white stuff. Yes you heard me all white but thats the best part! Its a white open canvas. You can put what ever you want on it. Every thing can be all about you and not a single other person in school will have anything like yours. Its pretty much just like my new shoes but on everything. I did though have to buy alot of sharpies. I had to buy a 12 pack and some extras of my favorite colors. And it took me forever so I advise if you do something like a back pack start at least two weeks before school starts. It will probably only take you a week but the week just before school will totally be buzy with a bunch of last minute stuff you have to do so just do your self a favor and get it done a week early. Just saying. Well thats all I have to say. Oh wait just one last thing. I know not many people have ever read this or ever will but if any one is out there please just drop off a comment. I want to know what you think I really do. So BYE
Alex

Books DUH!!!

I know that crafting can be amazingly fun but alot of times its not very transportable. So when your hands need a break I say... dramatic pause... READ. Now I'm like a total nerd when it comes to reading and I can read just about anything that I can get my hands on. But I know that most people aren't like that. So I've created a list of good reads that are nothing like the snoozers that they give us in school. And all these books are good for book reports. So since I have done reports on some of these I will give you a few ideas for projects that will totally impress the teacher folk (hehe yay I just used folk in a sentance boo ya).
To start of the list I will start out The Hunger Games (the best book made into a movie of the year)
Then a personal favorite of mine Just Listen by Sarah Dessen but I have read most of her books and all of them are really good
The next is The sisterhood of the traveling pants by Ann Brashares
The dark devine by Bree Despain
Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Prophecy Sisters by Michelle Zink
So that was the last of my recomended books for you but trust me there will be more
SEE YAS!!!!!!!
Alex

IDC= i don't care

I know most of the people that look at this blog think "OMG this chick is like so lame her entire life is crafting". Well I just want to say no crafting isn't my entire life. I actually was wondering what I was going to share with you because I've had lots of creative ideas just not really craft-like ones. So I decided IDC. I don't care. So know that I got that out of the way.... LET THE CREATIVITY FLOW. I'm just warning you that now that I have taken down my limits there will be alot of stuff from books to music to braclets and I might even share some writing with you. Well I'm gonna go gather my funky-ness to share.
TTYL,
Alex
P.S. YAYA

Step Out of Normal

So a few days ago I looked at my shoes and realized that I needed some new ones. I really love converse but I went to buy a pair and they now are $50. I'm sorry but those must be some really nice shoes for me to be spending that much money on them. So the next day my mom bought a pair of $5 white keds and it got me thinking. Insead of spending so much on the converse I could just color on the keds. So I bought a pair and lets just say I went sharpie crazy. I only used markers but you can do just about anything. You could paint them or even bedazzle them. And you can have tons of shoes without spending alot. You can buy 8 pairs keds and a giant box of colored sharpies for the same price as one pair of converse. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. My first pair didn't turn out so good so I just blacked them out to make some black ones then I bought a few more pairs. The best part about this project is because you will use them every day and if you mess up the keds aren't that expensive. Well time to get creative!!!
BYE!!!!

alex

Colorful Drippage

So I was looking through my blog and I found that I had promised you guys fun crafts but all that I’ve been giving you is crocheting crafts. That is why I am sharing with you this new fun craft that is totally crochet free. This one I haven't tried myself but my sister has and she says it’s really fun and easy. This craft is called crayon melting art. I couldn't find my sisters original pattern that she used so I will just walk you step by step through the project. For this craft you will need a canvas or paper or what ever you want to melt the crayons on to (my sister suggests using something a little more durable than paper but its your choice), crayons, and a hair dryer with a high setting, glue (my sister suggests using a hot glue gun). The process is actually really simple and really easy to mortify to your liking. First you glue the crayons at the top of your canvas. Some people like to take the papers off the crayons but I think it looks cool with them on. Then you lean your canvas up against a wall or something. The canvas must be at an angle for the wax of the crayon to drip down. Put newspaper under your canvas to catch the extra drips that will run off. Then all you do is take your blow dryer and go back and forth over the crayons till they start melting. This part is all what you make of it. You can make long drips or short ones it’s all up to what you think looks best. I have also seen people put down tape before they melt the crayons so when they are done melting them they can pull the tape up to show that shape in the white of the paper. Good luck and happy melting,
Alex

Coolest Crochet Site EVER!!!!

A while my power was out I spent a few days at my sisters. She had power and let me use her computer to pass some time while she was out running erands. I know right now your thinking "alex if you had access to a computer why didn't you post you just kept us waiting" well you know what her computer stinks and blogger doesn't work on her computer. I don't know why it just doesn't. So while I was looking around for a new pattern to share with everyone I stumbled on this cool website that every crafter that crochets should know about. Its name is all free crochet.com. Just typing allfreecrochet.com into that thingy up there (look I'm a crafter not a computer genius so I dont know what its called) then it comes up easy on google. This site is awsome because its totally free and they have a pattern for just about anything you could imagine and more. Man you have to love the internet. So check it out and get back to me. Also if anyone finishes a project or finds a new one that wants to share with everyone else please share with some feedback. You know i love feedback but haven't gotten any yet :( well I can wait longer but trust me I'm not the least bit shy so don't you people start being shy. Well good luck to every one on all there crafting endevors,
Alex

Something to Craft For

I'm so sorry that I haven't posted but it's not my fault i swear. Really. You can blame it on a a freak storm that left thousands of people in my area with out power. I had to suffer a week with out power. The horror!! The real kicker was the heat index was at an average of 106 all week. I looked at the temp. at midnight one night and it turned out to be 91 degrees. AT NIGHT!!!! Sorry but thats just wrong. But just because I had no power that doesnt mean that I wasn't crafting. Nope. And this time it's super important that I get it done.
I was passing time on all free crochet.com (i will tell you guys about it later) when I found out that they are have a sort of fundraiser but instead of looking for money they want home made blankets. They are doing this for a charity called Project Linus (you know like linus from charley brown). The idea is that they want people to donate these homemade blankets to give to kids that need to stay in the hospital for long periods of time. They think that if a kid has the blanket they will have something keep with them so they know that some one cares. Plus it will give them something that is all theirs in the hospital. Anyone who has been in a hospital knows they arent very homey either. I think this is a great cause so I have started working on a few blankets to send. You can send a blanket to Project Linus at any time. All you have to do is look Project Linus on google and get directed to the website. But allfreecrochet.com is having a little rafle for the people who send the blankets through them. You will be entered for a crochet bag some yarn and lots of other little thing. The blankets through allfreecrochet are due by July 15. I'm sorry for the short notice but it was a suprise to me to. And if you dont see this in time i still urge you to make a blanket for Project Linus. The blankets dont have to be super fancy anything that you can make for them will be apreciated. I will post the link at the bottom of the post. Happy crafting,
alex
http://stitchandunwind.com/crochet-charity-blanket-drive-giveaway-prize-package/

How to Hand Paint Yarn

So this next one I have for you isn't so much a craft in itself but more like a way to make your crafts better. Now that summer has come on full blast I have found myself wanting more vibrant colors  in yarn. The only problem is that these neon colors that I'm looking for can be much more expensive than your normal white or pink. To solve this I have found another online tutorial but this time its hows to paint your own yarn. My one little tip for this is watch the video once through before you start this project. Another little tip is they say gloves are only if you want them but I have two stained hands that are screaming at you that they are so NOT optional. My last tip to you is that if you want one solid color then buy another thing of food coloring because you will need alot of the coloring. Again if the link at the bottom doesnt work then go to youtube and type in How to: Hand paint yarn. Again there will be a few choices but chose the one posted by allfreecrochet. This fun little project is like finger painting with yarn and can turn out really cool. Just have fun with it. This isnt an exact science so just do what ever you want with it. HAVE FUN!!!! Please don't be shy wist the coments and if you have and questions about this or anyother projects I would love to hear it.
Hope you enjoy your beautiful hand painted yarn
Bye!!!
Alex :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NG8m0OKIdw

Crochet baby bootie high tops

So the first cool craft that I want to show you is these adorable high top baby booties. I came across these cute little things when I was browsing the internet looking for a good baby shower gift for my aunt. I instantly fell in love and started making them. I have to warn you that they aren't really "baby" booties. If you use the big hook that he uses they will turn out to be more like toddler booties. So I suggest using a smaller hook unless you really want booties for a toddler. I also suggest that no matter what color you chose for the main part that you leave the sole of the bootie white. All converse high tops that i have ever seen have always had white soles so if you really want them to look like converse keep it white. At first you will wonder why he has broken the tutorial up into so many small videos but about half way you will be thankfull that you wont forget your spot when you need to take a break. At the bottom of this post I have pasted a link strait to the first video in the series. If for any reason this link doesn't work for you, you can go to youtube and type in crochet 1 baby bootie high tops. There will be many different choices but go to the one but mikeyssmall. Good luck with your booties and if you have any questions comments or sugestions don't be shy. I would love some feed back.
Good luck,
Alex

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TPSCK7y_D8&feature=relmfu

Just plain old me

Oh this is so exciting. My first post. Well before I share all the fun crafts I have come across I just want to tell anyone who is reading this a little about myself. Well I'm one weird teenager but I like it that way. I don"t spend countless hours sleeping or on the computer or watching T.V. Instead I craft. I'm always finding fun little crafts that I just have to try out myself. I have been knitting since I was 7 when I got a book for christmas on how to knit and crocheting since I was 10 when i bought a book on how to crochet but it seems that all my life I've had some craft project in my hands. The other thing that I've noticed about my crafts is they always seem to start with a book or some written instructions. No one really ever taught me my crafts they just seem to come to me. The last thing that I want you to know is that I am not your conventional crafter. I will never be that steriotypical grandma kniting on her rocking chair making itcy sweaters that no one ever wears. In fact I'm the farthest thing from it. The crafts that I make and will soon share with you will never be hiden in the back of a closet or sent to the nearest goodwill. Most likely your friends will be asking for one of their own. And I'm all over the place. I never stick to one craft for to long that I can promise you. Well I guess I will stop going on and on about myself and start crafting.
Tata for now,
Alex