Busy Hands Crafting Blog

I've always admired the handiwork of other crafters who make embroidered felt things. They're just so adorable! I had snagged some felt off of My Favorite Things a few months back, during one of their retirement sales. As I was scrolling through the black hole that is Pinterest, I saw several gorgeous felt ornaments. I remembered about the felt and immediately started digging through my die stash for ideas. Thankfully, I have a few basic shape sets that worked perfectly for the bases. My Sizzix Big Shot cut through the felt like a dream. After I die cut out all my shapes, I set out on stitching them up. Now, I'm not the best at embroidery -- I don't have a whole lot of practice. But with each ornament, I felt like I got just a little bit better at it. These are far from perfect, but it adds to the "homey-ness" of them, I think. If anything, I hope that one day my boys will put them on their own Christmas trees and remember their crazy, imperfect mama, who l

I made my own soap! I was planning on making some as gifts, but offered up my extras on Facebook. I had a HUGE response, so I'll be making more this week, evidently. They are super easy to make! I followed this recipe . Merry Christmas!

As I was finishing addressing my Christmas cards, I realized I needed one more -- oops! So, I made this quick, modern take on Christmas. Just stamped the background, stamped the ornaments, stamped the sentiment, popped the panel up on foam tape, and finished the card off with some enamel dots. NOW I'm done! Products Used: Concord & 9th O Christmas Tree MFT Whimsical Waves Background MFT Painted Prints Smitten 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaFine Ink

My very last Christmas card this year -- lucky number 15! Whew! I die cut the ornaments and scalloped panel, adhered the ornaments to the scalloped panel, stamped my sentiment, and then popped the whole thing up with foam tape. Super simple. Products Used: MFT Filled with Joy MFT Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges MFT Hand Lettered Holiday MFT Petite Plaid 6x6 Paper Pack

So fun! I die cut the letters, snowman parts, and scalloped panel first. Then I stamped my background using the same color ink as the card stock for a tone-on-tone look. I then finished it off with some shimmer pen for some interest. Products Used: MFT Filled with Joy MFT Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges SSS Gingham Background MFT Premium Dye Ink VersaFine Ink Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen

This card is SO much prettier in real life! I heat embossed the sentiment and trees first and then did some ink blending in various blue tones. I then flicked white watercolor onto my panel, added the sparkly star, and adhered it to my dark blue card base. I just love it! Products Used:  SSS Big Peace Tim Holtz Tree Line MFT Filled with Joy VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder Distress Inks Kuretake Watercolors

Made a comfy winter hat for my stepmom. Pattern: Double-Thick Cuff Hat  by Staci Perry Needle Size:  US 6 - 4.0 mm Yarn:  Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed

I heavily modified this pattern to both fit my dad and satisfy his requests for a hat that would cover his ears and the back of his neck. He has about a 25 inch head, so used someone else's modifications as a jumping off point for sizing. But my modifications are as follows: Cast on 43 (20-3-20). Work 31 repeats. Decrease 10 repeats. Work 30 repeats. Increase 10 repeats. Work 31 repeats. Graphed together the ends. Total of 112 stitches.  Worked about 5 inches from the bottom of the forehead band. Decreased with no plain knit rounds in between (K 14, K2TOG...K 13, K2TOG...etc.). Looks kind of silly, but it's what my dad asked for. Kind of reminds me of an old football helmet. Pattern: 1898 Hat  by Kristine Byrnes Needle Size:  US 7 - 4.5 mm Yarn:  Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed

I needed a masculine Christmas card and I had this idea rolling around in my head for a few weeks, now. I LOVE how this came out. I stamped my images with Distress Inks and then watercolored them, using the stamped lines (I then stamped over them again to bring back the lines after they were dry). I then quickly watercolored a background, also using Distress Inks. I die cut a square window and the birch trees. I adhered the birch trees to the back of the window panel and the truck to the front. At this point, I remembered I needed to stamp my sentiment, so I quickly did that, using my MISTI to make sure it was stamped correctly. I popped up the window panel with foam tape and then adhered to the watercolored background. I adhered everything to my card base, finishing things off with a quick brush of my shimmer pen on the leaves of the birch trees and some white gel pen on the windows of the truck. I love the overall softness of the card. Products Used: Honey Bee Little Pickup

I finally finished my Christmas socks! I'm tickled with the way they turned out and can't wait to give them to their recipients. Pattern: Favorite Socks by Kristin Lehrer Yarn: Knit Picks Felici

Cold weather = a reason to make a new hat! A chunky, slouchy cable beanie with a faux fur pom pom. ❤ Was destined to be too small, so I frogged it and started over. Cast on 90 sts and then increased to 100 sts before starting cables. Made longer (about 9 3/4 in) to make a slouch. Pattern: First Snow  by The Vulgar Knitter Needle Size:  US 10 - 6.0 mm Yarn:  Knit Picks Chroma Twist Bulky

After making six cards this weekend, I was really starting to run out of steam at this point. This card was filled with issues, but I'm still fairly pleased with it. I stamped the scene with black ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then ink blended the sky using five different Distress Ink colors. I heat embossed the sentiment on some vellum using white embossing powder, wrapping the ends around the edges. I added some stars to finish it off. Products Used: Hero Arts Greatest Gift Distress Inks VersaFine Ink VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder

I really wanted a subtle, yet elegant look for this card. I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out! I dry embossed the background using this lovely embossing folder from Spellbinders. I added a little bit of ink blending here and there to "age" it a bit. I then stamped the background for the cross and then die cut it out. I also die cut the poinsettia at this point, too. I added some ink blending to the edges of all my die cuts. I stamped the sentiment on some cream colored card stock and popped up the just the middle with a large foam square. I also popped the cross up on some little foam squares, to give it some dimension. Products Used: MFT Cross Die-namics Dee's Distinctively Dies Poinsettia Spellbinders Overlapping Circles Embossing Folder Hero Arts Greatest Gift MFT Wood Plank Background Distress Inks VersaFine Ink

This card has all the bling going on! I die cut all the snowflakes and "assembled" them. I then adhered them onto my card, after finding a layout I liked. I heat embossed the sentiment and die cut it out, along with two glitter strips. Lastly, I added the snowflake sequence -- because there wasn't enough bling going on already! Products Used: Sizzix/Tim Holtz Paper Snowflakes Dies MFT Die-namics Slanted Sentiment Strips SSS Glitter Paper Pack Penny Black Joy & Happiness VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder

Fun card! I stamped the background using Kraft colored ink and the Wood Plank Background. I then cut out a circle from the same kraft card stock and stamped the sentiment. I then die cut all the pine branches out of two green card stocks and began gluing them around the circle, making sure to fill in any empty spots. I then die cut the bow, assembled it, and attached it to my wreath. I finished it off with some glitter pen for some festive bling. Products Used: Concord & 9th Take a Bough Dies Cottage Cutz Basic Circle Dies MFT Dainty Bows Die-namics MFT Hand Lettered Holiday MFT Wood Plank Background VersaFine Ink MFT Premium Dye Ink

So, I'm insane. I decided to make fourteen DIFFERENT Christmas cards this year. FOURTEEN. What??? Basically, I had all these random Challenge cards sitting around and I didn't want them to go to waste, so I decided just to add to them with other cards made from products from other companies. I have to say, it's been a lot of fun. I obviously LOVE My Favorite Things and their amazing products, but I do have quite a collection of items made by other companies that I really wanted to use. So, I did. This card is one of my favorites from the bunch. I stamped the background using a tone-on-tone technique. I die cut the poinsettia pieces out and inked the edges with Distress Inks. I did the same thing with the sentiment. I really love the way it turned out! Products Used: Dee's Distinctively Die Poinsettia SSS Merry Christmas Script MFT Musical Notes Background SSS Glitter Paper Pack Distress Inks MFT Premium Dye Ink

I love, love, LOVE this new Cross Die-namics from MFT! I didn't have a MFT poinsettia set, so I improvised and used an old Stitched Flower set. I do try really hard to use only MFT items on these challenges -- which is a challenge in itself. I stamped the cross with the Wood Plank Background using Hot Fudge ink. I then used the left over to make a matte for my panel. The sentiment is heat embossed onto vellum and then wrapped around my front panel. Products Used: MFT Cross Die-namics MFT Sensational Stitched Flowers MFT Wood Plank Background MFT Beautiful Blessings MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaFine Ink WOW Embossing Powder

I went back to basics on this one and decided to make some simple, colorful Christmas trees! I die cut five sizes of triangles from three different colors of patterned paper, die cut a square out of kraft card stock, and then a star out of yellow card stock. I then created my "scene" using blue and white card stock, creating the snow drifts just by cutting wavy strips with a pair of scissors (seriously -- nothing fancy, here!). I then glued my trees behind the snow drifts, popping the tops up on some foam squares. I stamped the sentiment, cut it into a thin strip, and then glued it to my panel, popping the ends up with foam tape, also. Add some glitter to the stars and tops of the drifts and boom -- done! Products Used: MFT Birthday Blowout 6x6 Paper Pack SSS Perfect Shapes Dies Generic Star Dies MFT Filled with Joy VersaFine Ink Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen SSS Craft Tacky Glue Doubled Sided Foam Squares

Finished up this custom pom pom beanie for someone. Hope he loves it. =) Pattern: Be Loving by Melissa Simpson Yarn: Random Stash Acrylic Yarn

I really love how this card went together. I die cut the images and then stamped them. I stamped the background with the knit stitch background and the sentiment. I popped up the images on foam tape for dimension. I just love it! <3 Products Used: MFT Winter Warmth MFT Hand Lettered Holiday MFT Premium Dye Inks Copic Sketch Markers Double Sided Foam Squares Tombow Xtreme Adhesive

I needed a baby card soon-ish, so I decided to use this week's Sketch to make one. I love the soft colors and sparkly stars! Products Used: MFT Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges Generic Stitched Star Dies MFT Welcome Baby MFT Super Boy MFT Homespun Gingham 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Watercolor Wash Brights 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaFine Ink Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen SSS Craft Tacky Glue Double Sided Foam Tape

A clean and simple masculine birthday card for a family member. Products Used: MFT True Blue Houndstooth 6x6 Paper Pack Hero Arts Many Everyday Messages MFT Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings VersaFine Ink Tombow Xtreme Adhesive SSS Craft Tacky Glue

I call this card "I tried". Ha! I taped off the bottom part of my panel and inked it up with embossing ink. I then used a glittery snow embossing powder to create a sparkly hill for my bear to sled down. I then stamped my images using the same embossing ink and used white embossing powder. I filled in the trees with the snow glitter embossing powder so they would match my hill using an embossing pen. I then colored my bear and sled using colored pencils and then fussy cut him out. The red pencil dyed my embossing lines pink, so instead of scrapping it, I went with it and colored over the lines with red Sharpie. It is what it is -- a last minute entry for this week's Sketch. Products Used: MFT Cooler with You (retired) Prismacolor Colored Pencils VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder Uni-Ball Signo White Gel Pen Ranger Emboss It Pen Sakura Glaze Pen SSS Craft Tacky Glue Tombow Xtreme Adhesive

My life has been such a chaotic mess lately, I haven't even felt like making cards. But I pushed myself to make one for this week's Sketch Challenge. I recently used some birthday money to buy myself a set of Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors and some Silver Black Velvet Brushes and decided to use them to color in the images on my card. They are so lovely and I can't wait to play with them some more. The card itself was pretty simple after that. I used some left over die cut leaves to add as embellishment and finished it off with a little twine bow. I'm desperately trying to hold on to fall, as everyone is charging towards winter/Christmastime. Products Used: MFT Harvest Mouse MFT Blueprints 27 MFT Falling Leaves Die-namics Cottage Cutz Basic Circle Dies SSS Gingham Background Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors VersaMark Ink VersaFine Ink Distress Inks WOW Embossing Powder MFT Prestige Card Stock Neenah Desert Storm Card Stock Tombow Xt

I was frustrated with my usual cell phone picture quality when trying to capture this card. I worked so hard on it and I was so proud, but my images kept coming out all washed out. Time to bring out the big guns. I think I might start using my DSLR to take pictures from now on. It's a lengthier process, but the results are so much cleaner and more professional looking. Anywho, on to the card itself. I attempted to watercolor a galaxy background for my star, and I'm mostly pleased with it. I think this is my first time painting one, if I'm remembering correctly. I then die cut the star out of some black card stock, popped it up on foam tape, and adhered it to the watercolor piece. I finished it off with a heat embossed sentiment (in all the galaxy, you're a big deal!) and die cut a small star out of silver glitter card stock. Easy peasy! Products Used: Generic Star Dies Koi Watercolors MFT Happy Hippos MFT Blueprints 6 (retired) Canson Watercolor Pap

These cut and emboss folders from Spellbinders make some very unique cards! So pretty and such an easy card to put together. Products Used: MFT Die-namics Twice the Thanks MFT Spring Wreath Spellbinders Diamond Lace Frame VersaFine Ink MFT Prestige Card Stock Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen Ranger Multi Medium Matte Double Sided Foam Tape

I love pansies! Coloring and fussy cutting them is not so fun, however! Took me hours. Might have been worth it. I guess. As I said, I colored and fussy cut out the pansies and leaves. I then dry embossed the background and added a little ink blending behind where I wanted the pansies and sentiment. Products Used: SSS Pansies Spellbinders Overlapping Circles MFT Die-namics Fishtail Flags STAX (retired) MFT Feel Better MFT Extreme Black Ink Distress Ink Copic Sketch Markers Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen SSS Craft Tacky Glue Double Sided Foam Squares

I really love it when I can hammer out two challenges in one card. =) I kept this one pretty simple. I die cut the squares and then die cut the snowflakes from the squares. I then die cut the snowflakes from glitter card stock and inlaid them into the squares. I taped them together and popped the whole panel together with foam tape. I then stamped little snowflakes from three different stamp sets with the same color of ink for a tone-on-tone look (although it's hard to see in the image). I stamped out the sentiment from yet another stamp set and popped it up on foam tape. Products Used: MFT Filled with Joy Die-namics Cottage Cutz Basic Square Dies MFT Cooler with You MFT Frosty Friends MFT Winter Warmth MFT Hand Lettered Holiday MFT Premium Dye Ink MFT Prestige Card Stock SSS 6x6 Glitter Assortment Pack Tombow Xtreme Adhesive Double Sided Foam Tape

I saw this set from Concord & 9th and I fell head over heels in love!!! It's just so beautiful! I stamped out the "watercolor" part using three different colors of ink and then stamped and heat embossed the leaf part. I then die cut the "grateful" multiple times and stacked them to make it pop up a bit. I really love these fall-ish colors! Products Used: Concord & 9th Lace Leaf Stamp Set Concord & 9th Grateful Dies MFT Blueprints 15 (retired) MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder Ranger Multi Medium Matte Tombow Xtreme Adhesive

I've been wanting to get the old tattoo I have on my ankle covered for years. A yarn ball with a hook and needles is absolutely perfect! This one is definitely on my "tattoo to-do" list.

I couldn't resist using this new-to-me set! I just love this little panda almost as much as I love sushi! Almost! Products Used: MFT Sushi Date (retired) MFT Sushi Date Die-namics (retired) MFT Die-namics Sentiment Strips Copic Sketch Markers MFT Premium Dye Ink MFT Extreme Black Ink VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder Tombow Xtreme Adhesive Double Sided Foam Tape

This one was pretty simple. Die cut a circle mask, stamp the flowers around it, remove mask, and stamp the sentiment. The circle was stitched and some of the ink escaped through the holes, but it ended up being a happy accident and gives it a little bit of a watercolor feel. Products Used: MFT Beautiful Blooms Cottage Cutz Basic Circle Dies MFT Black & White Dots 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Premium Dye Inks Tombow Xtreme Adhesive

I've had these images colored for awhile, now, waiting to use them on a card. I had to do some "stamp surgery" to create the perfect sentiment. I love it! Products Used: MFT You're Super MFT You're Super Die-namics MFT Super Boy MFT Super Boy Die-namics MFT Tweet Wishes MFT Sunrise Radiating Rays Stencil MFT Extreme Black Ink VersaMark Ink Distress Inks Copic Sketch Markers Double Sided Foam Squares

I've never participated in World Card Making Day before! Isn't every day card making day, really? I'm not much for rainbow cards, but I'm fairly pleased with this one. Makes for a fun birthday card for a colorful friend. I'll keep it in my stash and wait to give it to the perfect person. =) Products Used: MFT Sweet Birthday Wishes MFT Sweet Birthday Wishes Die-namics MFT Stitched Scallop Basic Edges MFT Party Patterns 6x6 Paper Pack Copic Sketch Markers MFT Extreme Black Ink VersaFine Ink Tombow Xtreme Adhesive SSS Craft Tacky Glue Double Sided Foam Squares

I am so, so, so excited, you guys! I've been wanting to design this tattoo for myself for quite awhile, but couldn't really land on what I wanted. For a little backstory, "No Matter What" is our family motto. Love each other...forgive each other...be there for each other -- no matter what. It's something that just stuck with us during hard times. I've wanted to get a tattoo that works with our saying and finally this popped into my head the other night. It bothered the crud out of me until I was able to sketch it out the next day. I'm so in love with it! A sitting with a local tattooist is in the works; just have to scare up the funds. I can't wait!

Eight cozy fleece baby blankets ready to go to our local pregnancy crisis center. Cutting fabric is not my most favorite of tasks, but I did enjoy crocheting borders onto these simple blankets. What a quick, fun project!

This is a VERY popular blog post over on my personal blog , but now that I have a blog devoted to crafting, I decided to move it over here. I was contacted over Ravelry  from someone requesting my pattern for this hat. Staring blankly at the screen, I think, "...how did I make that?" Ha! So, I sat down, strained my brain a bit, and wrote out a vague pattern. Enjoy. Share. Gift. But the pattern's mine. Even though it's really basic. But it hurt to think about. So, I'm claiming credit. So there. Basic Earflap Hat This hat his completely customizable, including yarn, size, and creativity. Don't let the vague instructions scare you. Now's your chance to make it your own! All SCs are done using BOTH loops for added thickness and for appearance. Materials: Any worsted, chunky, or bulky yarn Hook size according to yarn packaging Row marker (optional) Terms (US): SC: single crochet SL ST: slip stitch CH: chain ST: stitch

Fairly pleased with the way this card turned out. The colors were very vibrant, so I opted for small images on a mostly white card. Took me awhile to stamp out, but it was worth it. Products Used: MFT Buildable Blooms MFT Double the Smiles MFT More Essential Sentiments MFT Die-namics Stitched Rectangle STAX MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder SSS Craft Tacky Glue Double Sided Foam Tape

MFT's Sketch Challenge 404. It's fitting that this is number 404, because inspiration just wasn't found. =\ This was my second attempt at making a card and I still wasn't 100% pleased with it. Love these fun Halloween dies from Spellbinders, but I don't feel great using them for a MFT challenge. Products Used: Spellbinders Small Die of the Month Club - September MFT Abstract Art Distress Inks MFT Premium Dye Inks MFT Prestige Card Stock SSS Craft Tacky Glue Ranger Multi Medium Gloss Double Sided Foam Tape Xyron Sticker Maker