2012 Top Project Posts

 

Happy Almost New Years! I am going to jump on the blogging band wagon and do a wrap up of my most popular projects for the year. This was my first full year of blogging and I have learned so much this year. I think my posts have improved leaps and bounds. My picture taking skills are so much better and so is my writing. My followers have grown through the year to the point where I feel like I have a little piece of the blog world to myself. Thanks for following and actually caring about what I have to say! You make me feel special :)

Here’s a look at what I was working on this year.

#1 My most popular post of the year (and all time) is my Easy Crochet Newborn Hat Pattern. I made this cute little hat for my friend’s daughter in February.

#2 My next most popular post is the Crochet Football Helmet Hat I made for Mike. I get a ton of search traffic from this pattern too.

#3 is my Flare Leg to Skinny Leg refashion. The popularity of this post surprised me a little since I felt like this was a simple project.

 

#4 is my Diaper Cake Tutorial. This one is partly a sensation because an Italian blog linked to it in a diaper cake round up post. It makes me feel pretty worldly.

#5 is my favorite project of the year, my Dress Refashion. This one makes me feel like I took my refashioning skills up a notch.

 

Now I’m going to add five of my favorites in no particular order.

 

DIY Bow Shoe Clips. I wear this pair of shoes at work all the time and I didn’t like them before I added these cute clips.

Fake Flower Headband Tutorial. I gave this headband to my sister but I kind of wish I kept it for myself :)

Crochet Headband with Interchangeable Flowers. I love how this project turned out.

Easy DIY Necklace. Easy is always good!

Crochet Puff Stitch Beanie Pattern. This is one of my more recent projects but I love this hat and I wear it all the time. I think I need more if different colors.

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas! I am spending this Christmas Eve finishing up a few last minute crocheted gifts. Nothing like working under pressure! I have a few more gifts to wrap too but the bulk of it is done.

Mike and I started making Christmas cookies last night on a whim. We weren’t going to make anything but ultimately decided to get in the spirit and make cream wafers. I got the recipe from one of my co-workers and they are so tasty! I will share the recipe in an upcoming post.

We are having Christmas dinner at our house again this year. We will spend the morning with Mike’s family and then my family will be over in the evening. I think we will have around 15 people over. We are really getting the hang of having large get togethers! We are making ham, shrimp cocktail, veggie lasagna and mac and cheese. The rest is coming with our guests.

I’m not sure when I will get my next post out but expect to see all the crochet presents I’ve been working on the past couple of weeks. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family!

DIY Faceted Bead Necklace

Remember how I told you I was on a jewelry kick? Well I’m rounding out the week with a third necklace. I modeled this one after one of my favorite simple black necklaces. The length is perfect to wear with almost everything and it’s simple enough that it doesn’t overpower an outfit. This will be a an office staple for me.
I have had some faceted black beads for awhile that I bought at Michaels. I have tried to figure out what I wanted to to with them in the past but I didn’t have any beads I thought would work in between. Enter these round glass beads from Prima Bead. I had a bunch leftover from my first project with them and they were the perfect combination.

I decided to use beading string for this project since I was starting to run low on beading wire. I also used two jump rings, a lobster clasp, and two connectors. I have no idea what they are called but they are meant to be used to cover up knots. Also not pictured is e6000 glue and jewelry pliers.

To use the connector I cut a piece of string, with plenty of length for my necklace. I slid the connector onto the string and tied a knot. I put a tiny dab of e6000 glue onto the knot and closed the round end with my pliers over the knot. Then I closed the loop at the top so it would be ready for a jump ring.

Next I strung all of my beads onto the thread and added the same connector to the other end. It’s kind of tricky tying the knot at the other side so you don’t have a bunch of extra string so I haven’t quite mastered that part yet.

I added a jump ring to each connector and connected the clasp to the jump rings to finish it off.

Here’s how I wore my finished product to work the other day.

Disclaimer: I received the round beads from Prima Bead. All opinions and creativity are my own.

I may be linking up to these parties: