Crochet and card "purse"

I've had tons of crafting ideas flying through my head lately.  I can't get them all done fast enough.  Plus everyone in my house has been sick this week. 

So, here is one of my latest projects:








I might add some more embellishments to this bag.  It can be used for holding fake flowers, small craft supplies, mini album etc.

These are the supplies that I used:

Three post cards.  I bought a pack of them at Goodwill for $0.59.  So, I used about $0.15 worth.
Black chain.  I bought two chain necklaces at Goodwill for $0.59.  So, I used about 2 cents worth of the chain.
Red pearl crochet cotton (size 5). Again, this was from Goodwill.  I think I paid $2 or $3 for the bag of crochet thread it came in.  So, I probably only used about $0.25 worth.
Black lace. Another Goodwill find.  I probably used about $0.05 worth of the lace.

So, the grand total for this project was approximately $0.47.

Flower

I learned how to make this flower by watching this You Tube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkd6iFWfRQI


I'm really happy with it.  I bought the ribbon at Goodwill.  The heart was an earring that my Mom didn't want anymore.

Collage picture frame

I put this project together this morning.


This picture frame came from an antique mall a couple of years ago.  I think I paid $4 for it.


So, this is what I did with it.  The backing is made out of a book cover that I cut to size.  The ribbon, lace, and crochet motif were Goodwill finds.  I made the ribbon roses using a tutorial that I found on You Tube this morning.

I'm really happy with this project.  Now I just need to decide where to hang it.

Goodies! I got goodies!

My local Goodwill has had great crafty stuff this week!


bag of lace $0.99
box of beads $0.99
ribbon $0.79
elastic $0.79
wooden christmas lights $0.79





Books $0.25 each
clip boards $0.99 each
bag of lace $0.79
shirt pattern $0.79
chipboard alphas $0.59
hair ties $0.99
stitch and stretch elastic $0.79

I plan to use the clip boards and hair ties for scrapbooking.  The wide lace at the bottom of the black paper is elastic lace.  I'll use the laces for sewing and scrapbooking projects.  I think the hair ties could be used as closures on mini albums. 

Yet another Goodwill haul

$0.99

$0.59  When I picked this up I thought it was just a length of chain.  I plan to use it for mini scrapbooks etc.  When I opened the bag I realized that it's two necklaces!  So, I have two clasps and several sizes of chain to use on projects.  I'll take it all apart and use the lengths that I need for each project.  Not bad for 59 cents!


$1.99  So, this works out to $0.50 per spool of ribbon/thread.  There isn't much of the crochet thread left but there is tons of that ribbon.  Isn't the lace awesome!  The black ribbon is faded on the outside but the rest isn't.

There was a big box full of beads, craft tools etc for $15.99 but I didn't buy that.  I try not to spend that much.

I love thrifting!

I went to Goodwill today and found two awesome items!


There is 2 yards and 9 inches of the blue trim.  I recently bought a bunch of other ribbon etc at Goodwill.  There is a pic of it in another post.  Isn't this trim gorgeous!  $0.99!

Guess How Much I Love You is a great kid's book.  I have read to my son A LOT!  So, I just had to get this!  It's basically a photo album and the book combined.  There are slits on the pages where you can tuck the corners of your pictures.  I might just scrapbook right over those pages and ignore the pre-planned picture spaces.

I found this book on Amazon when I got home.  They have it starting at $55!  I bought it at Goodwill for $1.99.  The storage box needs to be wiped down but other than that it is in excellent condition.  The book is in perfect condition. 

Mass Scrapbooking

Several years ago I organized a group of family members to meet at my Grandpa's house to put all of his photos into scrapbooks.  He had boxes of photos that no one ever looked at.  So, we spent months sorting, labeling, and scrapbooking the photos.  When we were done we had three thick 12x12 scrapbook albums, two pocket photo albums and a couple of small shoe boxes of photos neatly organized and preserved.  It was definitely worth all of the hard work.  Grandpa passed away in 2008.  He loved those books.  Everytime I would visit him we would look through the books.  He loved to quiz me about our family.  He was one of 18 children.  Grandpa would point to a picture and ask me who the person was and how we were related.  In a family as large as ours that can get really difficult!  He would laugh when I would shrug and admit that I didn't have a clue.  Good times.

I have those books now and I really cherish them.

Now, I have embarked on a similar project.  This time it is my parent's collection of family photos and I'm doing this project on my own.  Oh boy, this one is going to take some time!



I got home the other night with two tubs and a bag full of photos to sort.  Then I found out that we missed a tote!  

This is what I do when I work on a project like this:

1.) Gather all of the family photos, cards, keepsakes etc.
2.) Sort them by person, family group, event etc. The categories depend on your family and the type of organization you want in your finished books.
3.) Label the back of all of the photos to the best of your ability.  If you think the photo was taken in 1953 based on the information that you have, then write it on the back.  Don't worry if you might be a couple of years off.  Close is better than nothing at all.  Same thing with names.  At least write the family that you think the person belongs to.
4.)  I have used shoe boxes with index cards for dividers to organize the photos.  I have also used manila envelopes (stapled up the sides).  Use whatever works for you.
5.) Scrap one group of photos at a time.  So, for example I will take the folder of one of my sister's photos and organize those by date, youngest to oldest.  I will make sure they are all labeled, sort out duplicates and bad pictures.  If the picture is really fuzzy or just doesn't really help capture a memory then I will either throw it away or save it in a photo box.  Maybe some else will want it.

Then the actual scrapbooking can begin but that will have to wait for another post.