Handmade Thank You Cards

This year, I decided to make my own thank you cards for the holidays.  Some friends and I got together for a crafting day, and it was the perfect opportunity to try some new things!  I love how these cards turned out, and definitely plan to keep doing this throughout the year.

Paper Source (my new obsession) is a great place to source the materials needed for this project.  Here's what I used:

• Envelopes and paper 
• Pretty paper to line the envelopes
• Envelope liner template kit
• Tape runner
• Rubber stamps
• Stamp pads (ColorBox is the best!  You want high quality stamp pads)
• Embossing Powder (I only buy clear, gold, and silver embossing powder and then invest in different color stamp pads.  You can get more versatility this way.)
• Embossing Heat Tool (you will not regret this purchase)

The whole project takes about an hour.  Anything that can be completed in one toddler nap time is golden in my book.

Catching up on Crafting

Way back when I started this blog, I talked about wanting to reinvigorate my crafting hobbies and pick up knitting.  Well, months have gone by, but I've been knitting away!  My current specialty is hats for the little ones in our life.  Liam is the proud recipient of my first project, and then I decided I needed to make him a second hat that didn't have so many mistakes in it.  My third hat is for a dear friend's baby due this fall, and my fourth hat was gifted to another friend's toddler for her birthday.  I gave that one away before I could snap a picture of it, but it was one of my favorites!

I've generally been knitting from the same pattern, and I learn something new with each project I undertake.  YouTube has been crucial, as have the wonderful ladies over at Aylin's Woolgatherer.

The pattern book I've been knitting from is called Tiny Tots Essentials, and it's been really great for a beginner like me!  There are patterns in there that I'll be able to use as I become more advanced.  But for now, the simple beanie hat for little boys and beret for girls has been challenging but manageable. 

I hope to continue capturing my projects on this blog.  And I'd love to know, what are you working on?  Any other good beginning patterns you'd recommend?