Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Halloween Swap - lots'o'stuff

I recently participated in a swap on craftster.org for Halloween.  We needed to send out 13 packages for the 13 days of Halloween.  Here's what I made:

First up is a bag that folds into it's own pocket.  I got the pattern from my mom.  Funny thing is - she had the bag cut out already, I just had to assemble it - with only half of the instructions.  I didn't put it together correctly but it came out nice anyway.

 My favorite project was the wreath I made. I bought a cardboard floral wreath at Micheal's and wrapped it in black felt that was glittery.  Then I added skulls and bats.  The bats came sparkly, and I added the glitter to the skulls.  My original idea was to wrap the wreath with a black feather boa instead of the felt, but those suckers are expensive.




I did two thread crochet projects; a spider and web bookmark, and a bat filet.  The bookmark pattern I found on ravelry and can be found here: http://sandyfroglegs.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-spider-to-web-bookmark-pattern.html.  The filet is from the Happy Hooker book.  This was my first filet project and I may make a version with multiple bats to hang up for next Halloween.  I didn't realize how easy filet crochet was until I tried it.  It's all double crochet and makes pretty pictures :)



I've had the Big Ass Book of Crafts forever, and now I've finally done a project out of it.  I made a leaf garland instead of a curtain.  I wasn't sure how it would turn out, I was a little afraid it would look like a kindergarten art project.  When it's all spread out it looks really nice though.  I picked colors that would go with my my swap partners decor.  I may make this project for myself in browns and greens for our mantle.


Next up: a simple tri-fold wallet done in skully fabric.  This is an easy project.  I took two pieces of the fabric, sewed them wrong side together, turned them right side out, sewed shut the small turning hole, and pressed the fabric.  Then I folded it into the wallet shape and pressed again.  Finally sew up the sides, leaving the flap free, and attach a fastener.
The knit project I threw in was a skully washcloth.  Pattern can be found here: http://www.blackrayne.com/pages/skully.html
Finally was a project I've been wanting to try for awhile.  I saw these on craftster a few months back and loved them.  Washer necklaces.  The tutorial is here : http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=329854.0.  I chose two paper patterns that I thought were Halloweeny and went for it.  There was a third, but the washer was too small and it looked bad so I didn't send it.  People may be getting a version of these with their Christmas presents.

All of my other presents were either store bought or had been posted about before.  Well except for the poly clay miniatures I made for her dollhouse.  I forgot to take pictures of those so just imagine really small pumpkins, a cauldron, and a witches broom.