First Holy Communion Cake for James

One happy boy with his First Holy Communion Cake. He wanted a book cake that looked like the art work he did on his First Communion Banner. Hours later he got it. (Well except for his cake was missing the red dove.)

Here are lots of pictures if you need to make your own.

Caya was so sad when we covered it up before mass.

Doesn't he look sharp.

They all do.

Sun Flower Hat - Free Crochet Pattern

Sun Flower Hat by Dana White - Everyday Handmade - Made for Patty G's Twin Baby Girls I can't wait to see.

Hat

You can use any basic hat pattern you like. This is my go to pattern I picked up over the years. I never figure out gauge, I just crochet, and if it looks too big or too small, I start again. Always someone I can give a hat too.

Round 1: Start with a Magic Ring. Double Crochet [DC] 8 times into the center of this ring. Pull tight, Slip Stitch [SS] into first DC, place a stitch marker here. Chain 1.

Round 2: DC into the same stitch, 2 DC into each stitch all the way around. SS into first DC move stitch marker. Chain 1 [16 stitches]

Round 3: DC into the same stitch, 1 DC in next stitch, (2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next stitch) repeat around. SS in first DC, move stitch marker. Chain 1 [24 stitches]

Round 4: DC into the same stitch, 1 DC in the next 2 stitches, (2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next two stitches) repeat around. SS in first DC, move stitch marker. Chain 1 [32 stitches]

Round 5: DC into the same stitch, 1 DC in the next 3 stitches, (2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next three stitches) repeat around. SS in first DC, move stitch marker. Chain 1 [40 stitches]

Round 6: DC into the same stitch, 1 DC in the next 4 stitches, (2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next four stitches) repeat around. SS in first DC, move stitch marker. Chain 1 [48 stitches]

Round 7-12: DC into each stitch all the way around. SS into first DC, move stitch marker. Chain 1 [48 stitches] Last row fasten off. Weave in ends.

Sunflower

I was inspired by this pattern from CoatsCraft. No specific gauge is needed. I used an acrylic yarn for the center, and a cotton yarn for the petals. The cotton gives the petals a little more structure.

BROWN YARN - CENTER of FLOWER:

Chain two

Round 1: 6 Single Crochets [SC] into the first chain, SS into the first SC to complete. Place a stitch marker here. Chain one to bring you up to next round. 6 stitches

Round 2: SC into the same stitch and 2 SC in each stitch all the way around, until you get to the end of round, and finish with a slip stitch, move your stitch marker here. 12 stitches.

Round 3: 1 SC in the same stitch and 1 SC in the next stitch (2 SC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch) repeat to end of round, finish with a slip stitch, and fasten off, leave long tail to sew into hat. 18 stitches.

YELLOW YARN - PETALS:

Round 4: Attach yellow yarn with a single crochet, (chain 9, SC in 2nd chain from hook, HDC in next chain, DC in next chain, 1 TR into each of the next 2 chains, DC in next chain, HDC in next chain, SC in in the last chain, and SS into the first SC that started this petal. SC in next brown SC) repeat 17 more times. (on last petal, SS into the first petal you created and fasten off) You will have 18 petals when finished. Leave long tail to sew into hat.

Leaf

Chain 12, SS into 2nd chain from the hook, and in all chains. Chain 1 and turn.

HDC in first stitch, DC in next two stitches, TR in next three stitches, DC in next Two Stitches, HDC in next two stitches, SC in next stitch, SS in next stitch, chain 2, [turn and go back down other side of or original chain] SS in first stitch, SC in next stitch, HDC in next two stitches, DC in next two stitches, TR in next three stitches, DC in next two stitches, HDC in last stitch, and fasten off. Leave long tail to sew into hat.

I wrote this pattern up from memory, as I gave the hats as gifts this weekend. So if you see an errors in my written pattern, let me know and I'll update the pattern as needed.

Getting Crafty at the White House Today

 Mason Jar Solar Lantern

I was lucky enough to get my grandma's canning collection after she passed away. There was a few of the old pretty blue Ball jars in the collection. These are way too pretty to use for canning so I've been planing a solar lantern project for a while. As usually I found on Pinterest some very similar ideas.

A little trial an error and I think I've gotten it. 

My first attempt at the Mason Jar Solar Latern

I found in the shed of treasures some old copper wire that Tony told me was the old ground wire when they replaced the wiring to the barn a few years ago. I consulted Pinterest to see if someone had made a handle out of wire for a mason jar or something similar. Of course there was - Click Here.

It basically says to take your wire and about 8 inch or so from one end, twist the wire around a pencil to make a loop. Then wrap the two ends of wire under the lip of the jar and twist together opposite the loop.  Put your pencil back in the loop and twist one or two times to tighten up. Then take the long end of the wire and make a large loop (your handle) up and over the top. When you figure out how long you want your handle to be trim the wire leaving yourself about a 1/2" to 1" extra. Put this end through your original small loop and bend the end upwards to secure in place.

Well the copper ground wire was way too thick to bend easily. I used a pen instead of a pencil to twist and broke the pen. I used a pliers to twist it the best I could and a side cutter to cut the wire. I made it work but it's not very pretty. Still cute but much room for improvement. So I'm keeping it my self.

Next I took the metal rim with out the lid insert for the canning jar and my solar light top that I removed the stake from. I hot glued the solar light to the top of the metal rim. Seemed to hold okay at first but it didn't keep the rain water out and it let loose. So I easily pulled off all the glue and bought some clear outdoor silicon. I put the silicon around the top edge of the metal rim and and placed the solar light on top.

For my next version I bought some copper wire that I could easily bend and did the same as before but we decided that mom would want some more sparkly shinny things for her garden so I left the shorter end about one and half inches long after I twisted the two wires together and added a little curl, and did the same after I bent upward for the hook and securing the handle. Once I curled these ends I added some chandelier danglers I bought at a thrift store on my girls day out months ago.

John thought the jar was too empty and we should put something inside of it. So we decided on pine cones. Tons of pine trees on our farm you would think that would be an easy task. Nope. James and I went hunting. All the ones in the yard are the long skinny closed up "dog turd" looking ones as I call them. He started laughing and said, "Grandma will be like WHAT you picked up a dog turd for me, gee thanks." I laughed so hard. So we went up the hill standing in the middle of 30 pine trees and we find ONE, yes 1 pine cone, it's still long but at least open and pretty. We find Tony and ask him if we have any short pretty open pine cone trees around here. He takes us on a hike across the poopy plains, over the muddy river and up the mountain. (This is how we do our Dora the Explorer adventures when Caya is along - luckily she was napping with John babysitting.) Really it was through the barn yard, across the wetlands and up the hill to the Red Pines. I didn't wear my mud boots either so we had to take a longer route.  We found the pretty ones we were looking for. We started heading for home and the wind picked up, the sky turned dark and it started to sleet little ice chunks and rain on us. We went running though the pasture. Poor James tripped in a big cow hoof print and fell in the mud (and poop), he was not happy, but was a trooper about it. It was a cold slightly painful run home but we were all laughing so hard when we got in the door it was a lot of fun.

I've had some requests for more Caya pictures here. Here's one of Caya looking a little worn out but having fun and refusing to come in the house. Poor kid all her mom gives her to play with is rocks.

But Look What We Made With Rocks...

Mosaic Rocks

Caya's is Mickey Mouse down in the front. John did the Angel & Cross on the left and the dragon fly right next to it. James did the Angel & Flower in the center and the other angel to the right of it. I did the dragon fly over on the right. Lots of fun gluing on the pieces with the kids, but way more work than I bargained for grouting around the pieces. Very very messy project.

Stained Glass Garden Stake

Another Pinterest inspired project. Yeap I'm addicted to that website, but at least I do some of the projects on my huge list.

I really want to make one for myself too! (And see just how long it takes for the kids to destroy it.)

Stained Glass Garden Window Pane

Just Another Stained Glass Project - just had to share.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Crochet Bag

This Christmas I made my son and my nephews crocheted bags to hold the carved sling shots I got them. My sister-in-law said the bag was the perfect size for the kids Kindle or Nook (can't remember which one). She asked if I would make one for my niece. I decided to add my favorite puff stitch flower and turn the ends of the tie strings into leaves.

Free Crochet Bag Pattern (See below for pattern with color change instructions):

Size F Crochet Hook (I like to do a nice tight stitch to protect what is in the bag)

Cotton 4 ply Yarn

Gauge not really important

Chain 17 plus 3 more for your turning chain, which will count as your first stitch in round 1 (20 total)

Round 1: Double Crochet (DC) into the third stitch from your hook and one DC into each chain to the end. In the last stitch DC 4 more stitches (for a total of 5 DC in last stitch). Now continue around and DC into the bottom side of your chain all the way across. When you get to the last chain do 4 DC into that chain. Fasten your last DC to your first Chain 3 Turning Chain with a Slip Stitch (SS). (Counting your turning chain you should have 40 stitches)

Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as first stitch), DC into each stitch all the way around. Fasten your last DC to your first Chain 3 with a SS. (40 stitches)

Round 3-18: Repeat Round 2

Round 19: Chain 3, DC in next stitch, Chain 2, Skip 2 stitches, * DC into next 2 Stitches, Chain 2, Skip 2 * (*repeat to end) Fasten with a SS as usual.

Round 20-21: Repeat Round 2, Fasten off and weave in end.

Free Crochet Bag Pattern With Color Change Instructions:

Size F Crochet Hook (I like to do a nice tight stitch to protect what is in the bag)

Cotton 4 ply Yarn

Gauge not really important

Chain 17 plus 3 more for your turning chain, which will count as your first stitch in round 1 (20 total)

Round 1: Double Crochet (DC) into the third stitch from your hook and one DC into each chain to the end. In the last stitch DC 4 more stitches (for a total of 5 DC in last stitch). Now continue around and DC into the bottom side of your chain all the way across. When you get to the last chain do 4 DC into that chain. Fasten your last DC to your first Chain 3 Turning Chain with a Slip Stitch (SS).

Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as first stitch), DC into each stitch all the way around. Fasten your last DC to your first Chain 3 with a SS. (40 stitches)

Round 3 - 5: Repeat Round 2

Round 6: Use second color if wanted. Leave first color yarn attached and just move yarn off to your right out of your way. The yarn will carry along to the next row on the inside of your bag, no need to cut off. Take second color pull a loop through chain on your hook and chain 3. (I like to pull first color yarn tight at this point and you won't see the first color in your new row.) Now continue as you did in Round 2.

Round 7: Repeat Round 6 with First Color

Round 8: Repeat Round 6 with Second Color

Round 9: Repeat Round 2

Round 10: Repeat Round 6 with First Color

Round 11: Repeat Round 6 with Second Color. Cut off second color of yarn, pull through to fasten off. Hold this tail over the top of your stitches and crochet right over to weave in as you work.

Round 12: Repeat Round 6 with First Color

Round 13: 18: Repeat Round 2

Round 19: Chain 3, DC in next stitch, Chain 2, Skip 2 stitches, * DC into next 2 Stitches, Chain 2, Skip 2 * (*repeat to end) Fasten with a SS as usual.

Round 20 - 21: Repeat Round 2, Fasten off and weave in end.

Decorative Tie Cord:

Chain 100, feed the end of the chain in and out through the large holes in round 19, ending with both ends out side of the bag. Depending on how tight you chain you may need to make it longer to have enough room to tie. I then followed this leaf pattern right on the end on my chain, cut and weave in end when finished.

Leaf Pattern Click Here Scroll to the bottom of the page

Add a leaf to the other end the same way. Just pull a loop through the end of the chain (leaving a long tail) and again follow the leaf pattern. When finished pull through to fasten but leave a long tail to weave in and fasten on flower.

I made a Puff Stitch Flower by following this pattern. I found this pattern on her blog a long time ago and it is still my favorite flower.

Puff Stitch Flower Pattern Click Here

I took the long tails left from the last leaf and with a needle stitched the flower onto the top of the leave. I stitched it through the yellow center in a nice circle, so it looked like it belonged. Ended the green yarn on the back of the leaf. I tied the two green tails together and then weaved in the ends.

FINISHED

Stained Glass Window Replacement Project

A New Stained Glass Window for a TV Entertainment Center Door.

I traced the shape through the opening on to a piece of poster board. Then I measured the overhang on the wood door, and added this measurement to my traced shape. I cut out the shape along the most out side line.

I test fitted the poster board into the opening to make sure it fit very well. Make sure everything fits just how you want it to. Then proceed drawing your pattern. Remember that some of the edge of the project will be hidden by the wood on the door. Just don't have any detailing or beveled glass get hidden behind this edging. From here on out the project is just like any other stained glass project.

Here is a picture of all the glass cut and numbered before I started putting the copper tape on the edges.

 

Up Close Picture of the completed project.

Christmas Gifts - Stained Glass

 Greens and Oranges - this is one of my first patterns I did when I learned how to do stained glass. Usually I do a heart beveled glass in the center, this time I tried it a little different.

 This Stained Glass piece is for my mom. She wants a garden trellis with stained glass, not of anything thing and with lots of color. I finally found I project to incorporate one of my Geode Slices - yeah! I also included some flat marbles, leaving some open holes and a dragon fly for remembering my sister and my grandma who both have passed away. If you've never heard of the dragonfly project you should check it out here.

This one is to send rainbows all over the place.

Rainbow Crayons

James and I were talking about his crayons and he said, "They should make a rainbow crayon." I told him, "My mom made one for me when I was really little, I'm sure we could do it." So I looked online to see what all the possibilities are. I found this website and decided that was what we were looking for.

 

Sorry I didn't take any photos along the way.

We took all the broken crayons we could find. Sorted them by color and unwrapped enough to equal 11 full crayons of each color. Broke the pieces up even more so nothing was over an inch long. Placed the pieces into an old bread pan - Purple First.

Put the bread pan in the oven at 350 degrees. It took 7 minutes to fully melt. Give the melted purple crayons a stir to mix the pigments and wax back together.

I tried putting into the freezer to cool faster but it cracked. So back in the oven, and then this time in the fridge for 5 minutes. Let the melted crayons be just barely warm to the touch. If they are in the fridge too long, let it sit out on the counter to warm up to room temp before adding the next layer of wax. If the wax is too cold, the next layer doesn't stick very well and when you cut apart at the end, the colors come apart.

Next we melted the Blue crayons in another pan in the oven and once melted, stir and pour the melted crayons over the hardened purple. Back in the fridge. Continute on for each color you want to add. Each new layer took longer and longer to cool. By the Orange layer it was in the fridge for about 10 min. Still a tad warm to the touch. As the layers cool, they pull away from the edge of the pan. so new layers of colors seep below. Jut take your knife and scrape the colors off.

Once done, I put in the freezer for 5 minutes to get cold enough that it popped right out of the pan. I let it warm up to room temp. and I placed the block of crayons into the microwave for 30 seconds. Heated my knife up under hot tap water and cut into small rectangles. I ended up with 9 rainbow crayons. The two end ones are a little warped because of the roundness of the pan. But they worked great.

The Bobbi Hat - Free Pattern News Boy Hat

I named this hat "The Bobbi Hat" after Bobbi who sent me a photo of a similar hat, and told me I should go into business and she would take one for the team and be the first one to wear it. So I made it as a gift for her. I found a free pattern on the internet for a news boy hat, but it wasn't quite the right shape, so I created this pattern which worked out much better for me. So I thought I would share this. This pattern is copyrighted by me. Which basically means, make as many hats as you would like for yourself or gifts. Please do not sell the hats you make from this pattern or sell or re-post the pattern. If you want to link to my blog for this pattern, please feel free to do so. I would love to see photos of your finished projects, you can email them to me, just put Bobbi Hat Photo in the subject line.

See the bottom of this post for some more pictures, and some alterations I did.

Double Strand Acrylic or Cotton size 4 Yarn – Just your basic yarn using two strands at once.

(I did discover Caron Simply Soft is too narrow the gauge doesn't match up for me any way.)

Crochet Hook - Size K / 10.5 / 6.5 MM

Gauge: 4” = 9 DC Stitches 4” = 6 Rows of DC

Way way at the bottom of this page I have a chart made up for the hat, for those of you who like to follow charts.

Hat: Start with a magic loop I like the magic loop because it gives a nice closed top to your hat, rather than leaving a hole in the top. It's super simple, click on the words Magic Loop and see a You Tube Video.

Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as stitch here and through out), 9 Double Crochet, Slip Stitch to second chain (top chain) of your first stitch on this round to join. Pull Loop Tight, do not turn (10 stitches)

Round 2: Chain 3, DC in same stitch, *2 DC in each stitch around * Repeat, SS to join round (20 stitches)

Round 3: Chain 3, *2 DC in stitch, 1 DC in stitch * Repeat, SS (30 stitches)

Round 4: Chain 3, DC next stitch, *2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 2 stitches * Repeat, SS (40 stitches)

Round 5: Chain 3, DC next 2 stitches, *2 DC in next stitch, 1 DC in next 3 stitches * Repeat, SS (50 stitches)

Round 6-10: Chain 3, DC in each stitch, SS to join round, Fasten Off

Brim: Count 14 stitches to the left from where you joined the rounds

Row 1: 2 Single Crochet in this stitch, SC in each of the next 18 stitches, 2 SC in next stitch, chain 1 and turn (chain 1, counts as stitch here and through out) (22 stitches)

Row 2-4:1 SC in each stitch across, chain 1 turn (22 stitches)

Row 5: SC next 2 stitches together, SC next 16 stitches, SC next two stitches together, SC, chain 1, turn (20 stitches)

Row 6:SC next 2 stitches together, SC next 13 stitches, SC next two stitches together, SC, chain 1, turn (18 stitches)

Row 7: SC next 2 stitches together, SC next 11 stitches, SC next two stitches together, SC, fasten off(16 stitches)

Finished Edge: Reverse Single Crochet

Start right side where brim connects to hat. Single Crochet in this stitch, then basically just do a single crochet into each stitch but moving to the right as you work rather than to the left. It feels a little awkward at first but soon you will wonder why you never used this stitch to finish off your work before. The extra twist in the yarn gives the hat a very nice finished edge. Continue working all the way around the hat and across the brim to you are back where you started. Fasten off.

(If this stitch is more than you want to do right now, a standard single crochet all the way around will work too.)

Weave in all ends & trim.

Flower:

Use a single strand of yarn

Crochet Hook Size: F

Gauge is not important

Start with a magic loop again (3 Colors – Color A = Center of flower, Color B = Inside row of petals, Color C = Outside row of petals.)

Round 1: Color A - Chain 1, 6 Single Crochet, join with a slip stitch (6 stitches) (my chain one is difficult for me to crochet into here so I don't count it as a stitch, and just skip over it)

Round 2: Chain 1, SC in the same stitch, 2 SC in each of the next stitches, join with SS, fasten off (12 stitches)

Round 3: Switch to Color B = *SC in first Stitch, Chain 1, SC in next stitch, *Repeat, join with SS (6 Chain Spaces, 12 SC)

Round 4: Chain 1, * Into Chain Space 1 HDC, 3 DC, 1 HDC, SS into next 2 SC Stitches, *Repeat, fasten off (42 stitches)

Round 5: Change to Color C = Turn flower over to back side, SC into 1^st SS, * Chain 2, skip, next SS & Petal work, SC into next 1st SS of next group forming a petal, *Repeat, SS into first SC you made in this round to join. (You will have 6 chain spaces)

Round 6: Working in Chain Space, 1 SC, 1 Half Double Crochet, 1 DC, 3 treble Crochet, 1 DC, 1 HDC, 1 SC, repeat in each chain space around the flower, Join with a SS to first stitch you made in this round. Fasten off.

Weave in and trim off all ends but three. One strand that matches the center of flower, weave in until it gets to the center of the flower. Thread it through to the front of the flower. Use this strand to attach the button in the center if you wish to have a button. The remaining two strands (color that matches your hat best should be used here), weave in but don't trim off. I like to weave in so I have one end on the top of the middle section of the flower, and one on the bottom. You will use these ends to tie flower to hat after ribbon is attached. Stick both ends through around a stitch or two. Temporarily tie and try your hat on to make sure it is where you want it. Once you are happy with it, knot it well, and trim the ends.

Ribbon:

the crochet hat is somewhat stretchy, however the decorative ribbon is not. I found this part a bit tricky to attach correctly. To measure out ribbon, I put the hat on so it was stretched out to correct size. Measure around outside of hat, or just wrap ribbon around I found that easier. I placed the ribbon just above the reverse crochet stitch (finished edge) row. Add about one and a half foot of ribbon to your measurement for the bow. I used a hot glue gun to attach the ribbon in four spots. I kept the hat on and used a mirror, to wrap the ribbon around and get the ends hanging even. Pinched this area of the ribbon together with the hat. Took everything off and glued the ribbon ends right where I want the flower to be. My location was just behind where the brim meets the hat. Over lapping the ends just a bit with the tails pointing up to where the loops of the bow will be. Then I made the loops, and glued these ends down with the remaining tails pointed downward and some what out to each side. Make sure you are happy with how your bow lays before gluing. (note: If you have double sided ribbon you can just fold the ribbon over to make loops, it your ribbon is only pretty on one side, it is a bit more difficult, but you can make loops without folding the ribbon.) Then I put the hat back on my head. Straightened the ribbon again in the mirror. Pinched up the ribbon and the hat on the opposite side of my head. Hold these two together and go glue just a dot. Repeat for the front and the back. Attaching the ribbon in just these four areas, allows the ribbon to adjust when you are putting the hat on. When the hat in not on you will notice some slack in the ribbon this is normal.

Now tie your flower on over the center of the bow.

 

Little Girl version, Round 5 of hat I only did every other increase so I ended with 45 stitches, Row 10 I did as half double crochets instead of double crochets, to make it a tiny bit shorter. On the brim I skipped row 4 and row 7. I decided to weave the ribbon through. Under one stitch, over three, then hot glued the ends as above behind the flower.

This little girl hat I used Caron Simply Soft Yarn, so even following the pattern as written the hat turns out somewhat smaller. I changed this one up a bit just to add some more colors, in thinner stripes. Row 6 I did as half double crochets in a different color, Row 7 & 8, again as half double crochets and back to original color. Row 9 Double Crochets again. I wanted the hat to fit a little more snug around her ears, so I decreased together every 9 & 10th stitch so I was back to 45 stitches on this last row. I decided to make the edging show up a little more, did it with a single strand only of a bright color and made the flower to match.

Here is Aleatra's hat, same as Bobbi's.

Water Bottle Baby / Toddler Toy

My little one year old girl loves to play with water bottles. Always taking them, and me worrying she is going to get the top off and choke. She doesn't think they are very much fun with out the cap, they just go flat. So today she and I made her a new toy. We took the label off the water bottle, filled with tap water and left about 1 1/2 inches of air at the top. We have this ice cream bucket of mismatch beads my son bought at a garage sale (all by himself at age 4) for a buck. Two years later it is still almost full. So my little girl and I put the beads in the bottle until the water was right up to the top. She decided it was also really fun to take hand fulls of beads and shake her hands, so we had a few hundred beads to clean up, but at least she did help pick them back up too. Anyway, when we got the bottle full, I took some super glue and glued the cap back on. Now she can play with a really pretty water bottle, and I don't have to worry she will choke.

I did have to tell her, "No, no, no, that's mine." That made the bottle even more fun.

How to do the Knit Butterfly Stitch

I am knitting the preemie sized Butterfly hat. I used double pointed needles. On the first round of the butterfly stitch you will be slipping stitches with your working yarn in front (towards you), follow the pattern for number of stitches to slip. One row of slipped stitches, next row knit all, repeat until you end up with three strands of yarn that look like this.

Make sure that the strands of yarn are held loosely with your work stretched out. If you leave these strands too tight your hat will pucker up. A little slack is better than too tight. Your butterfly stitches will look nice and neat if you can keep the tension the same for all three strands.

Once you have three strand the very next row above you will knit until just before the center of your three strands. Then put your right needle under the three strands.

Do a yarn over.

 Pull the needle back down and out from under the three strands.

Next you will knit the middle stitch, then slip the yarn over over the stitch you just knit. This gets rid of the extra stitch you created with the yarn over.
Continue knitting until the same spot on the next set of three strands and repeat.

 And there you have the butterfly stitch.

You can purchase my butterfly hat pattern by donating $5 on my Relay for Life site. Please click on the link in the upper right corner of my blog. Donate and then with the same email address email me at dana@schuldt.org with BUTTERFLY HAT in the subject line. Let me know that you donated, once I confirm the donation I will email you a pdf of the pattern. Please email me with any questions.

Another hat I knit

This Hat was knit by my pattern tester Marta