I Made it Monday/De-Stashing Month: two projects

Sometimes making the effort to use only what's in your stash can lead to some ugly stuff (see sweater). I was sure it would be nasty when I wanted to knit a washcloth, and had only these two colors in cotton. Fortunately,it's growing on me. It reminds me of cherry limeade. I could really go for a cherry limeade right now... Anyway, if I hate it eventually, I'm only using it to clean with. This is my first time working up this ballband dishcloth pattern. I really like it. Much easier than it looks, it becomes very rythmic and is a great project to do while watching a kid play in the yard.

Now, here we have the project where I spent some money. It's all out of the change box, still, and that box is still heavy with coins. I spent $2.50 on the seashell buttons for these cards, a gift for my new sister-in-law. I also spent $3.30 on some good quality glue for the buttons, but that's a crafting must-have and the bottle is huge enough to last forever. I've already used it on another project!

One gift-giving thought: Thank-you notes are a great bridal shower gift, and the one I usually give. When I received a set, I was so grateful for the thoughtful person who put postage on all of the envelopes for me. It's nice to have one less thing to thing about while you're setting up a home and adjusting to married life.

What are you creating (crafty or otherwise) this week?

I Made It Monday: Fail

If I'm going to show the awesome things I've done with no money spent, I have to share the flops, right? It was supposed to be a pull-over to cardigan conversion on a sweater that never fit me very well. It was converted. It is not pretty. I learned in the process, though. First, I need to cut the same size binding as I do for a quilt, and second, V-necks aren't a great option for this. So I'm wondering what else a sweater can become to rescue this terrible project. A stuffed animal? A pillow cover? Heaven forbid, a kleenex cozy?

I Made it Monday: Letter Magnets

message left for me by WBH this morning

This project topped my list of de-stashing projects. Wanting letter magnets, but not the kind with tiny, health-hazard magnets, I bought two sheets of magnet paper, then traced 2 sets of the alphabet and numbers, plus an additional two sets of vowels onto each. When cutting them out, please use cheap scissors, because it really does a number on them. I finished by painting them with acrylic paints. An hour of sitting in a sunny spot later, they were ready for the fridge. Stinky really enjoys them- and I enjoyed waking up to this message!

With some magnet paper leftover, I created a magnet by modge-podging a postcard I liked to the magnet paper. Other de-stashing projects this weekend include a pullover-to-cardigan conversion, and some knit baby booties for CraftHope , with a pattern I developed myself. Pictures soon!

July Projects

Many are doing a no-spend month for July. Well... that's really not a matter of choice over here. As we wait with baited breath for the house to close, we're clenching our pennies with all our might.

So, I'd like to share my take on No-Spend Month. Here, it's going to to be a stash-busting month. I want to see just how many projects I can crank out this month on VERY little cash. Any money spent will need to come from the change-bowl in the dining room. Which currently totals less than $10. You can bet that everytime I clean a room, I'm adding the 17 cents I find.

I have a list of projects that I have the supplies for, and I'm really looking forward to sharing the results. I should have something to share on Friday!