Holly Jolly Christmas Boots

Christmas is such a happy time of year!  My mom is a fanatic about Christmas stockings, she makes sure everyone who comes to her home for Christmas has a stocking filled with all kinds of joys.  Just like last year, I started making Christmas stockings; this year I made A LOT more!  It is the perfect gift to give, you can fill the stocking up with candies, toys and much more.

I think EVERYONE needs a Christmas stocking.  It really makes everyone feel special and unique, and when Christmas comes around every year--the person you gave the stocking to will remember you.

If your into sewing or into giving, this is the perfect gift.  Here is a link to the pattern, along with directions:  http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/xmas_stocking/Christmas_stocking_pattern.html

The pattern is really simple and easy to follow, try it out!  

I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas and you get to spend it with your family.  Let us all remember  what the true meaning of Christmas spirit is, being grateful for loved ones, happy that we are loved and we can love and appreciate all precious time spent with one another.  At least thats my Christmas spirit. Bless you all and thank you for being apart of my life.

God Bless All
-ashley

A fairy, A tooth, A fairy thats a tooth.

Bella's birthday is coming up and shes at the age that she gets money for losing teeth, not paying money to get teeth implanted!   So to celebrate her and her special day, I decided to make her a door hang to help her collect funds from the over-giving tooth fairy!  I hope she LOVES it!  I got the pattern from this blogspot:

http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/02/tooth-pillow-revisited.html .

You can add your own special ideas and cute accessories.  I added a bow and a few rhinestones, of course, on the back of her wings.  Take a look!

I used ribbon so it can hang on any door handle!

 

I bound the wings w/ the same fabric.

 

:UPDATE: Give Away

Look what one of my fan's will be getting!  I made these for my recent give away.

5 Card Give Away

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thanks to ALL my fans for your support.  I will continue to give away some of my creations -- on my facebook page!   http://www.facebook.com/CreativeCoqueta  It's pretty simple, just go to that link and click "like" to become my fan, and when I have a give away or contest you will be updated and included!  Also, if you want to just click the "like" button to the right on my blog, you can become a fan that way as well!  

Set of 5 Cards... Give Away on my Facebook Fan page.

I'm doing a give away on my facebook fan page.  I am going to choose a random winner once I hit 45 fans!  You can be the lucky winner of 5 very cute cards (shipping included)!  All you have to do is be a fan ON my facebook page!

Follow this link: http://www.facebook.com/CreativeCoqueta  Click "like" once you arrive on the facebook page!

This is a TY card I sent my mom today! (sample)

I currently have 32 fans and will select the winner at random when I reach 45 fans.  Good luck to everyone!!

1st Card set -- "The Annmarie"

I finally finished my first card set.  Since it's for her, I named it after my favorite Annmarie. She's pretty, sassy and smart!   I had fun making the set and actually learned some things about card making.  I learned about the rule of 3rds.  Here is a really good description of that rule via MelStampz.  Rule of 3rds: "http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008/04/design-focus-rule-of-thirds-birthday.html" .

The cards came out really cute and I'm really proud of them.  They took me a few days to make, some designs didn't work with certain cards and I had to take a few of them apart and start all over again.  The set is a combination of thank you, birthday and just because cards. I also got some really nifty spray.  Tim Holtz "Perfect Pearls Spray".  When you use it, the surface you spray it on becomes shiny and pearl like.

Annmarie and me on her birthday.  I love you buddy.

"The Annmarie"

Card w/ Perfect Pearl spray

Book my Face!

Hey everyone, come check out my facebook fan page!   I'm in the process of moving, so all my craft and sewing supplies are packed up and I wont be able to use them for a few more weeks, I'm a little bored.  I have started searching for ideas for greeting cards.  I found some really cool links and have a few that I have already made.  I have pictures on my facebook fan page.

http://www.facebook.com/CreativeCoqueta  

The following are really great websites for card making ideas:

http://www.vickiscardmakingideas.com/

http://www.making-handmade-cards.com/

and of course, this following website has TONS of links to other websites for about ANYTHING you can think of!  From cleaning your house to building a cabinet.  From games to DIY beauty products.  AND of course a big section on crafting, crafting about ANYTHING!

http://tipnut.com/

Viva La Rhinestone

I have been messing around with rhinestones a little bit.  I have made a few pins with them and when I am done with moving my stuff to our new place, I think I will try rhinestones that need the special heat tool to glue them to fabric.  I'm not too sure what I will put them on, but I'm sure I will find something, then go nuts from there.   Here are the two brooches I have made so far:

This is the only pic I have of this one, rhinestones on fabric covered button.  Button is on top of a few silk flowers.

This one has rhinestones on a piece of fabric, then that fabric is wrapped around another piece of fabric, creating a bow look.


Both of these have pins on the back so you can move them about the purse, or you can take it off.  They are not too over the top, just add a little sparkle. 

Christmas in September

I know they are stockings or socks, but my boyfriend calls them boots; I think its cute.  I found some really cute fabric and decided to sew a "boot" out of it.  I also finished a boot for me =).

Mom helped me embroider my name before putting the whole thing together.

Inside

Outside, room to either paint or glitter paint your own name!

These are perfect gifts to make and send to a loved one who might not live so close.  You can put little things in them to remind them of home.  Candy, deck of cards or a Christmas ornament.  ANYTHING, you can use the boot as gift wrap.  Let me know what you all think! hOhOhO

SF BAG NO 2... my first zippered pocket attempt!

My first time sewing a zipper inside a bag.  It was a little challenging, but it turned out OK.  This bag will be going to the the consignment store, wish it luck!  3 out of 5 bags, down...two to go!  

my first inside zipper!!!

Threadmill on Etsy

Hi Everyone!  I wanted to share a really cute website with all of you!  Check it out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Threadmill?ref=top_trail

Dottie made me a hat, and it is REALLY cute!  The hat was made and sent to me very fast and I love it.  It's called a "Rasta Hat", you can wear it however you want.  I am a self proclaimed Hippie, and I love the way it looks and makes me feel, it has a very laid back feeling to it.  BUT these are not the only hats she has, she has SEVERAL more on her etsy site, you should check it out.   Thank you so much for making the hat for me Dottie!

Here are some pics of the hat, most of my hair is tucked back inside the hat, but you can wear the hat with as much hair as you want in or out of it.   CHECK IT OUT!:

Hello Meow Meow!

My friend had asked me to sew her a bag MONTHS ago, here it is:

Inside print.. snap closure.

It was my first time using a packaged pattern; Simplicity 0483.  I modified it a little bit too.  Instead of sewing the handle directly on the purse, I used "D Rings", first time for that too.  I wasn't too sure how to sew the fabric around them, but I think I did OK.   Anyway, I hope you like it, Grease Monkey.

Past Due Baby Blanket

My friend had her baby... awhile ago.  July 29th to be exact.  I made her a blanket (the first blanket I have made) that I thought would be simple; a front panel sewn to a piece of fleece.  However, my mom suggested that I embroider some of the images, so I did.  It took awhile, but the back looks cute, the back of it appears to have an outline of the panel.  I know its hard to see, but if you look REALLY close, you can see it.  There are some felt flower patches I put on opposite corners of the blanket, one of them has the baby's name and birthday on it.  It was also my first time making a card using my Cuttlebug!!  Anyway, its finally done.  I hope you like it Lynsay.  ♥ ❤ ♥ ❤ ♥ 

Front of panel blanket

The back has a little flower patch made out of felt, it has the baby's name and DOB embroidered on it.

My 1st CARD!

Finished, yay!

I also made this a wall decoration.. haha =P

Sports Bag

World Champions 2010!

I made my own labels! Avery labels and card stock.

I made this bag for my Aunt about a year ago before the Giants won the World Series last year.  She will be taking the bag I made her to the consignment store to see if the lady will sell them there, along w/ my key fobs!  

The inside is lined in ORANGE and has a magnetic snap; the little flower decal on it is a pin so you can move it about on the bag, or just wear it on your clothes.  It was hard to construct the bottom of the bag, but it worked out.  It actually has some cross stitching canvas on the bottom of it to help it keep its shape.  

Cross Stitch Canvas

Glad my Aunt likes it enough to show it to her friend!  =)  

                                                       

Some of Mom's Best

I know its really hard to believe, but I was not fond of cheesecake.  My mom used to make these little bite sized cheesecakes and I would look at them in disgust.  NOW, I think cheesecake is wonderful!  Almost as wonderful  as a pair of new shoes.   My mom found the recipe for me, I have made them and posted it here for you.  Take a look at this yummy little bites -- they taste as good as they sound.

Cream Tarts

2 8 oz packages of cream cheese

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla

1 box vanilla wafers
FOIL MUFFIN CUPS* (foil cupcake liners)

Beat all of the above until fluffy. Line foil muffin cups with one vanilla wafer
Put filling 2/3 full in cups. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Top with strawberry or blueberry, apple pie filling or any favorite. Makes 16 large or 35-40 miniatures. 

(You can either add the preserves before baking so it cooks into the cheesecake or wait til it comes out of the oven.  These cream tarts are pictured with the preserves added before baking.)  

The cute Giants fan approves!

Make sure you stick them in the fridge!!  It is CHEESEcake. 

I cut the recipe in half and it made about 9 regular cupcake sized cakes.  If I would have made the full recipe, I would have ate ALL of them!  You can make the full recipe for a potluck, if you have "nice" coworkers.  Almost everyone at my job is bitter, so they don't get any!  My cute boyfriend will be enjoying these, and I will take a few to my cute wonderful mom.  ENJOY!

Sweet Balls 1st Attempt

This was our first attempt at making these balls.  For father's day, my super cute boyfriend and I made "Cake Pops", but w/o the sticks.   They turned out really good although I think next time we will lessen the amount of Candy Melts candy that we put on the balls.  We added a few extra toppings to experiment which might taste good; candy melts make the balls sweet enough, no extra toppings are needed.  Some sprinkles might be cute, but not too many.

What you need:
1: Boxed Cake Mix (follow the recipe on the box)
2. Cake Frosting

After you bake cake as directed, it can either be cool or warm, (we waited for it to cool off), crumble it into crumbs, almost to look like large sand pebbles.  After that, add in cake frosting 1/2 C at a time, mix in frosting until cake and frosting make a doughy like substance.  You can  make your cake pops or balls into any size you want, just roll them in between your hands and place on wax paper lined baking sheet and place in freezer or fridge for about 15 minutes.  After the cake pops are cool you can dip them in your candy melts.  Easiest way to do this, is if the pops are already on a stick (we just dipped the balls in the frosting).

This youtube video does a really good presentation (fast too) of how to create cake pops.  Gives good examples of how to decorate and also how to place the stick in the pops, if thats what you desire.  Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXCm7XTKXRc 

There are plenty of youtube videos on how to make your cake pops, also gives you some good decorating ideas.  Here are our cake pops, almost everyone liked our balls.

Chemo Caps

My family and I participate in the ACS's "Relay for Life" event every year, this will be our 8th year!  My mom started sewing these caps first, so I decided to help her make some more.  When you do Relay for Life, you have to have an "onsite fundraiser", we will be having a few this year and selling these caps will be one of them.  I dont know what price my mom was thinking.  Maybe some of you can help me come up with a price range?   

Side view, I added a silk flower pin.

The cap is double sided.  The inside is a jersey knit fabric, soft for your head.

Fighting for Love

Monster Love.. My little nephew Jacob's birthday is soon.  His sister Bella had a doll that I made her, Jake wanted one too-- I made him a Monster instead.  He may look vicious, but hes a "softy".  

Yay, I finally finished something for myself!  Initially it was going to be a purse, but when I finished sewing it, it was too small.  I decided to use it as a make up bag instead.  Its lined w/ polka dots and has a pull tab zipper.  

I finally finished something for myself, I will use it as a makeup bag.

I love me some Elvis.

Don't leave home without them... Llaves

   I made a handle for my keys.

                                       


                           


****UPDATE!!!!!****
The NEW key fobs are nestled away in a little bag and ready to go to the consignment store.  Keep your fingers crossed they will do well.  Let me know what you all think!

Which one is cuter??!

BYE BYE and good luck Key Fobs!