My vacation earlier this month was time to check off some WIP’s before starting any other new projects... I picked a hat I casted on back in January, a pair of socks I casted on in 2013, and a sweater I have to finish from 2012, yes no typo there it was 2012 when I casted on this sweater. Then I worked on my Soldotna as well.

​First up my sockhead hat by Kelly McClure which you can find on Ravelry as a free pattern. I used Legacy Fiber Artz yarn Jess Mariano in their Cozy Toes base (MCN fingering weight) and Grey Gardens in their Cloud base (mohair & silk) for a great halo effect. This hat is so soft and cozy, which will make it a great hat for this winter.

This picture was back a few months ago when I was working on my Endless Wrap, which came out fabulous. Checkout my post on it here.
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https://www.paperandpurlgurl.com/blog/endless-wrap

So if you are in need of some zen knitting the Sockhead hat is a great project. Happy knitting to all my Fiber friends out there!

I’ve been doing more knitting lately. I’m trying to finish up some WIP’s, and this one has been on my needles for over a year. It’s a gift for a friend. That same friend helped me finish putting together some Ikea bookcases for me to be able to see my yarn. Now I can start using more from my stash rather than running out to buy some more yarn for that sweater pattern calling my name.

This pattern is the Endless Wrap by Sylvia Hager. I decided to use Malabrigo Rios in Pocion. These skeins of yarn have so many colors. Plus I love how it will pull out colors against what you are wearing with this wrap.

This pattern was great for using some texture with a little lace work between breaking up some ribbing down the other side. I found this was also a great knit while watching tv since the pattern repeats the same 8 rows. Once you’ve gotten through 3-4 repeats it’s easy to keep going without having to keep looking at the pattern.

This wrap is so long, which is great at keeping you warm on that cold winter night. I’m 5’ 3” and it’s actually a little more than twice my height in length! Yes it hits the floor when I put it on, but my friend is about 5’ 10” so it won’t hit the floor on her.

Happy knitting! I hope you enjoyed this pattern.

I just finished up my very first KAL! So for those of you who don’t know, a KAL is short for “knit along.” This was a KAL for Legacy Fiber Artz, which you could knit or crochet a shawl using DK weight yarn 🧶. So in the 6 weeks you had to complete your shawl, and follow along with everyone else on the Ravelry “chatter thread.” Then you post your FO (finished object) on the “FO thread” to enter for a chance to win gift cards for their Indie yarn in fabulous colors and different yarn bases.

This project started with a fabulous pattern by Andrea Mowry. DreaReneeKnits.com and Ravelry are where you can purchase the pattern for yourself. Click on the link or picture to purchase.

Although Andrea used 3 colors in her version, I used 4 colors. The Buttercream Frosting I used for the thinner stripes and Wedding Cake for the thicker stripes.

The beautiful spring colors I chose from Legacy Fiber Artz romance collection Pocketful of Posies (MC), Buttercream Frosting (CC1), and Wedding Cake (CC2). Then from their holiday colors Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel (CC3.)

The very beginning of my shawl I started with Pocketful of Posies as my main color, alternating with Buttercream Frosting. Pocketful of Posies has shades of blues, greens, and yellows, which gives you the chance to use many color combinations.

This picture shows the variation of the yellows. Wedding Cake is the top left and a bit darker/richer than the Buttercream Frosting in the bottom right. Pocketful of Posies is the bottom left, showing the multiple shades of blue, green, and yellow.

​Below you see how the blue of the Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel pulls out the blue in Pocketful of Posies.

Here is my FO! I love how “springy” it looks. I’m looking forward to some warmer days where a shawl is all you need instead of a coat.

​Happy knitting everyone!

Well despite trying to get some knitting projects finished the past couple months, I just had to make this Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure. This is a great knit if you want some zen knitting, which I’ve needed in between finishing a pattered wrap I’m still trying to finish.

This hat in particular is great because it’s a unisex hat and can be adjusted in size easily. I used US size 3 circular needles (since I didn’t have size 2.5 circulars) and cast on 144 stitches. I made it the length called for in the pattern, so I could get a good feel the pattern. As well, if you want it less slouchy or even beanie size you can decrease the ribbing and/or stockinette stitch accordingly.

I used Cozy Toes yarn in Plaid Flannel by Legacy Fiber Artz LLC. This yarn is sssooooo soft! It is Merino and Nylon with just the right amount of Cashmere, which I love in my sock yarn.

A quick pic of when I started this hat back in November below. This is a really quick knit despite the month and a half I took because of some other projects I have been working on.
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Thanks for stopping by my blog and hope you stop by again soon. Keep your eyes out for a couple other projects soon.

List of Supplies

Sockhead Hat pattern by Kelly McClure
http://bohoknits.com/
Also on Ravelry
https://pdf.ravelrycache.com/bohoknits/624130/Sockhead_Hat_V3.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJNNSUP6J3RN4WZYQ&Expires=1546375643&Signature=tJH6PuXYEzZ7ACPxeOPbvQb07YI%3D&key_expires=1546375643&key=rUMRt4DDxdPeInvNYcujTw

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Cozy Toes sock yarn in Plaid Flannel by Legacy Fiber Artz
https://legacyfiberartz.com/

Merry Christmas and I hope you’re all having a good rest and making some memories with family and friends. Take some time to relax and reflect on the good things. Hug the ones you you love today.

My card today was because a friend was looking for a card, although I’ve been so busy I carved out time to finish this card. I had started coloring this image a few weeks ago and decided to finish it up and send it out at the last minute for her.

This church is perfect for the holiday season. I actually used a digi image and printed it on my Whisper White cardstock. I colored the image with my Stampin Blends.

I went back with colored pencils and added some depth. Then darkened some of the nooks and crannies with a black marker. Then I added highlights using my white gel pen. I grabbed my oval stitched die to cut out the image and used Night of Navy ink to blend in some of the background and edges. I adhered it to some Night of Navy cardstock and used pop dots to adhere it to an A2 sized card in Pear Pizzaz.

I added a few white enamel dots for added bling. Then stamped the banner in Night of Navy ink on Whisper White cardstock and adhered it with pop dots. As well, I used the Night of Navy on the sentiment inside the card.

I hope you enjoy your holidays and thanks again for stopping by my Blog today. Happy stamping everyone.

It’s Christmas Eve and I hope everyone is enjoying the day. Don’t forget to slow down a little today. For me working in healthcare, it’s my holiday on. Despite having to work the holiday, I will try to carve out some quiet time this evening. Hallmark is definitely my go to channel for a happy Christmas movie, since I see enough sad stuff at my other job. What is your guilty holiday pleasure?

​Christmas Eve with my family is one of my best memories. My parents, sister, and I would get a little dressy and go visit family. We usually stopped at about 5 or 6 houses, Aunts and Uncles, a couple cousins, but our last stop was always my Uncle Albert’s. His house always filled with lots of family, and my Aunt always getting us a little gift we usually needed. I looked forward to that gift every year, which was usually an umbrella. My cousin Mickey and I reminisced about this very memory a couple years ago. We miss them dearly, but cherish those beautiful memories of family. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with family and friends, and take a minute to enjoy the moment.

I got this sweet stamp set at Inspiration Station in Stafford, CT. It’s a great store if you are in the area and looking for something specific or just to browse. I decided to stamp the images in Momento black ink on Whisper White cardstock and the “Believe” sentiment in Real Red ink.

I used Real Red for color since it’s the best red for Santa’s hat! Then finished coloring the boots with my Spectrum Noir markers. I adhered the image to my DSP. Although the stars are pretty, I truly love all plaid DSP!

​Finishing touches, I added prisma glitter to the furry boots and hat, plus a few Red Rhinestones! You can never really have too much sparkle on a card for Christmas, am I right!

Then I “popped” the DSP onto Real Red A2 sized cardstock. After that I took another piece of Whisper White cardstock, and added the sentiment in Real Red ink for the inside of this Christmas card. Don’t you remember being little and waiting for “The Big Guy” to bring you all your gifts.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Happy stamping and hope you stop back again.

List of supplies:

Stampin Up products
Real Red cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Festive Farmhouse DSP
​Under the Mistletoe DSP
Real Red ink pad
​Real Red marker
Red rhinestones
​pop dots
​Big Shot

Stampendous products
​The Big Guy is Coming mini stamp set

Lawn Fawn products
​Prisma glitter
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Spectrum Noir Markers

​*paper trimmer, scissors, quickie glue pen, and double sided tape

These mittens are so sweet for this Christmas card. I ended up making 2 cards with various markers and colored pencils to highlight this great image. I wanted to make one in shades of purple since it’s a great way to show not all cards need traditional Christmas colors to make a pretty Christmas card. I used Copic markers for the purple card with complimenting shades of pink.

The green and yellow mittens are colored in Stampin Blends. So you really can use any markers you have on hand and make a great card. I started out stamping the images with Staz On ink to Whisper White cardstock.

Both cards, I used my Chameleon color tone pencils to add depth. I used my white gel pen to accent in places, and darkened areas with a black marker. Then I used my clear glitter pen to highlight the white balls. Plus I added enamel dots for that little bit extra touch for the holiday.

I hope you all enjoy your holidays, and find a little time for yourself.

List of supplies:

Stampin Up products
Gorgeous Grape cardstock
Old Olive cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Festive Farmhouse DSP
Gorgeous Grape ink pad
Old Olive ink pad
​Staz On ink pad
​Stampin’ Blends
Glitter enamel dots
​pop dots
​Big Shot

Power Poppy products
Bough Wow Wow stamp set
Glistening Paperwhites stamp set

My Minds Eye
Enamel dots in Winterberry

My Favorite Things
​Petite Plaid 6x6 paper

​Gina Marie Design products
Stitched Rectangles

Chameleon products
Color Tones Colored Pencils

Sakura products
White gel pen
​Clear gel glitter pen
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Copic Markers

​*paper trimmer, scissors, and double sided tape

Today I snuck in a little coloring. I used my Stampin’ Blends. I really like these markers especially since they coordinate with all the ink and paper colors for Stampin’ Up. Don’t forget the tools and inks are on sale until midnight if you want to pickup a few to tryout.

I will add some more accents to the image over the next few days, and will then show you the completed projects for these colored images in the next couple weeks.

​Happy Wednesday and keep crafting!

This is a digi image called “Snowy Church”.

Today I decided to do a little coloring for a Christmas card. I thought it was a good break while putting up the Christmas tree. I always seem to take 2-3 days to put up the tree.

I have this beautiful stamp set from Power Poppy, Bough Wow Wow. Power Poppy have such detailed stamps which are great for coloring. I stamped the image on Neenah white cardstock using StazOn ink and my Stamparatus. I colored the image with my Copic markers first, then I came back to it and added the accents with Chameleon Color Tones and a white gel pen. I sharpened the lines using my Momento black marker.

I have a few more images stamped to color so be on the lookout for more coloring and cards for the holidays. I hope everyone has had a great weekend and don’t forget to get a little “me” shopping done along with your Christmas shopping for family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving Day to everyone! Here’s a card I made at the weekend for the holiday. I’m trying to get myself creating again despite all the bustling of the holiday season. I’m enjoying today relaxing with some knitting, all the usual foods of the holiday, and of course some quality time with the family including the pets.

I stamped this pumpkin from Stampendous from their “Fall Arrangement” on Neenah #130 cardstock. I wanted to try a thicker cardstock for coloring with my Stampin Blends markers. After coloring the pumpkin arrangement, I used my corner rounder on the detailed punch on the plaid DSP and adhered the pumpkin.

I then popped the simple Happy Thanksgiving sentiment on some scrap Whisper White cardstock using Cherry Cobbler ink. Cherry Cobbler is a perfect match for the plaid in this Festive Farmhouse DSP. I always love plaid paper and this DSP is by far my favorite from this holiday catalog.

Lastly I added the sentiment inside the card using Cherry Cobbler ink to match the plaid Festive Farmhouse DSP.

List of supplies:

Stampin Up products
Gray Granite cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Festive Farmhouse DSP
Cherry Cobbler ink pad
​Stampin’ Blends
Detailed Trio punch
​pop dots
​Big Shot

Stampendous products
Fall Arrangement stamp set

​Right at Home products
​Be Thankful sentiment stamps

​*paper trimmer, scissors, and double sided tape