Knitting for The American Girl Doll

Have you ever seen these American Girl Dolls before? Well, my little sister has one so I decided to knit up some accessories for the doll. I found a decent amount of patterns on Ravelry and Knitting Pattern Central for accessories/clothing for the doll. Below are a few pictures of accessories I knit.

If anyone knows of any sites for free knitting patterns for these dolls, please share in the comments for the rest of us. Thanks.

I decided to make my own hat pattern for the doll. Once I find out that the hat fits the doll well, I'll share the pattern. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I found the pattern for these cute little mittens at My Mom Knits. I'm going to make some of the mittens for Christmas ornaments next year as well.

I decided to make a matching scarf as well. There was no pattern for this one either.

Craft Project: Googly Eye Thumb Tacks

The other day I got the idea of googly eye thumb tacks when crafting with my son. To make the thumb tacks I just used E6000 glue to adhere the googly eyes onto the tacks. They were quick and easy to make. Try it and see for yourself.

Craft Project: Tea Towel Cake

Here's an easy inexpensive craft you can make for last minute gifts. Directions below.

Supplies:
Tea towel
Cardboard
Corrugated Cardboard - any color will work
Plastic Holly Pick - cup cake picks, craft picks, whatever you want to use
Rubber band
Cellophane
Ribbon

1. Roll the tea towel into a cylinder and secure with a rubber band.

2. Trace a circle onto the cardboard and cut out. This will be the base for the tea towel cake so it should be the same size as the rolled up tea towel.

3.Cut a strip of corrugated cardboard out to wrap around the towel (refer to picture). Staple the cardboard together.

4. Place the the towel onto the cardboard circle. Place a decorative pick in the center or the tea towel. Wrap the cake with cellophane. Tie closed with ribbon. Done.

Craft Project: Felt Bird Cage Ornament

This little Christmas ornament was inspired by a tiny sticker, of all things. This is a simple craft project with basic stitching. Pattern plus directions below.


Supplies:
Felt - blue, orange, and off white
Embroidery thread - dark brown, blue, and orange
Thread - off white
Polly fill
Ribbon
Sewing Needle
Scissors

Right click, copy, paste, and print pattern.

1. You might need to shrink the image. Cut out two bird cages on the dotted lines in the off white felt and one bird (on the solid line) in the blue felt. Cut out a small orange triangle for the bird's beak.

2. Using a back stitch, embroider the wing on the bird with two threads from a strand of dark brown embroidery thread. Make a french knot for the eye.

3. Using a running stitch, sew the bird onto the bird cage. Using a running stitch, sew the beak on as well. Using a back stitch, embroider the legs of the bird on the off white felt (refer to picture).

4. Using a back stitch, embroider the bird cage design around the bird (refer to picture). When embroidering the top of the bird cage attach the ribbon loop on the back of the felt piece.

5. Using the thread, sew both bird cage pieces together around the edges with a blanket stitch. Leave a one inch opening. Stuff will poly fill. Sew up the opening. Done.

Craft Project: 2009 Calendar

I found this Canon Calendar craft project via One Pretty Thing and knew I had to give it a try. All the patterns and directions to make it are here. It was really easy to make but just took a little time. This would be a fun gift for someone in the office, perhaps. This calendar is even cuter in person, honestly.

close up of calendar

layers of the calendar condensed

Craft Tip: Lucky Star Paper Strips

Use your wrapping paper scraps to make lucky stars. A good quality wrapping paper is the perfect weight to make the stars. Cut strips into 3/8" by 10" rectangles. For directions to make the lucky stars, click here.

Craft Project: Creative Gift Wrap

I've been playing around with creative ways to wrap gifts lately. I find myself coming up with lots of ideas when I have 23 + gifts to wrap. That's right, I have 23 people on my list this year. Which brings me to a question, how many people do you have on your list? I'm guessing I'm on the high end but I really have no clue. Curious to hear your answers.

Directions below.

Supplies:
2 kinds of wrapping paper - any kind will do, I like to use the gold Hallmark brand paper
glue
exacto knife
ruler
scissors
mizuhiki cord or ribbon (optional)


Start with a basic small box. You can use a large one too but I think a smaller box looks nicer with this design.

Glue wrapping paper to the top of the box. Make sure to cover most of the surface.

Cut out the correct size of wrapping paper for your box. Wrap it over the box to figure out where the wrapping paper will sit on top of the box. Run your fingers around the top of the box to make creases on the wrapping paper. Take the paper off the box and turn it upside down. Glue a piece of wrapping paper on the space where the creases are.

Flip the paper over from the last step. Cut an "X" with the exacto knife where the two wrapping papers are glued together.

Wrap the gift as normal. Pull back the paper where you cut the "X". I curled it around a paintbrush handle to make it curl (refer to picture). Now just place whatever you want in the center. You could place the recipient's name, bow, or picture in the empty space. Done.

LEGO Christmas Ornaments: Work with What Your Mama Gave Ya

Last year I got the idea of using LEGO blocks to make Christmas Ornaments. I finally got around to making some and they came out as planned. I didn't use any glue to make these so they can be taken apart after Christmas to play with. To hang the ornaments I placed a tied loop of fishing line between two of the LEGO blocks (exp. LEGO head, fishing line, hat). These are ornaments that anyone could make, even the craft challenged. I could picture a whole tree covered in LEGO ornaments.

Have no idea who this LEGO man is supposed to be. I think it's a toss up between Santa Claus and Dusty Hill.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy LEGO Place Card Holders.

Kokeshi Doll Christmas Ornaments

This weekend I was busy making kokeshi doll ornaments for my daughter's nursery class. Each child is supposed to bring something to give to the other children. I decided to give ornaments since I've been told no one throws away a Christmas ornament. Do you think this true? Have you ever thrown away Christmas ornament? The only ornaments I've thrown away were broken ones. Curious to hear your thoughts.

Directions to make Kokeshi Doll Ornaments here.



I also made this gift tag to go with the ornaments. You're welcome to use the image to make tags for yourself. Just right click, copy, save, and print on heavy card stock.

Walnut Shell Place Card Holder

Recently a friend asked me what she could make with walnut shells. My first thought was ornaments. After a little more thought, I came up with the idea of place card holders. This place card holder took about a minute to make, literally. Use them at your table setting or give them as hostess gifts.


Supplies:
Craft saw
Walnut shell halves


Starting with a walnut shell half, make a groove with the saw at the top of the shell. Saw in one direction, do not saw back and forth. Make the groove deep enough so it will hold a place card. Done.

* I don't recommend this project for a child. The craft saw can slip easily. However, you could have a child paint the walnuts gold if you wanted.

Here's the place card I made for the project. You're welcome to use it. Just right click, copy and save. You might need to shrink the image down. Print out on a heavy card stock.