Crocheted Mandala Wall art

My friend Amy over at Mama's Little Monkey's gave me this cute idea.  A simple crocheted mandala attached to an embroidery hoop.  Super cute, simple, crochet wall art!

I was lucky enough to have a 6 inch hoop just laying around...YAY ME!

I searched for a pattern that I like and ended up deciding on THIS one.  I just loved the spring time look of it.

I used WW yarn and a 4mm crochet hook.  I started with 10 groups for rnd 1 (instead of 12) and then followed the pattern as written.

When I got to rnd 8, I did a sc rnd before working rnd 9.  I just did a sc in each sc and 3 sc in each ch space.

Then I did rnd 9 as instructed but I used the FRONT loops ONLY for this rnd.  Remember to SKIP the sc that was originally between the ch spaces from rnd 8.

This left the back loops free so I could attach it to the inner loop.

To attach it to the inner loop, I used #3 cotton and a D hook.  I just went through the free back loops and crochet around the loop.  I pulled each stitch tight as I went.

Then just attached the outer loop and slide all the stitches so they are tight, straighten out the ruffle, hang and ENJOY!

This is how it looked after I did my sc round around the loop.  Yes, it is a little messy looking but this is easily fixed by sliding the stitches around so that the tops of the sc are towards the back.  This also helps to pull the mandala taught. 

Side view with the stitches pulled tight and the outer ring attached.

Hanging on my kitchen wall.  I love it and I may need to add some more to this wall! 

Close up view. 

Here are a few links to other mandala patterns you may enjoy or want to use for this fun project:

- http://crochethealingandraymond.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/ornamental-pot-holders/
- http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2012/07/7-best-crochet-mandala-patterns/
- http://www.beingspiffy.com/blog/tea-rose-crochet-dishcloth-pattern.html
- http://winkieflash.nl/2012/11/12/free-pattern-mandala/

Rainy day fun...FLUBBER!

My little guy and I were home today and wanted something fun to do on this rainy day. I have lots of projects on my "to-do" list but today's choice was FLUBBER!!

This was seriously one of the easiest projects we have made, that had such a great success.  This stuff is really great and the kids are having a blast.

Here is what you need: (I only had a 1/2c of glue, so I halved the whole recipe and it worked GREAT!)

3/4 cup COLD water
1 cup Elmer's glue
Liquid food coloring
1/2 cup HOT water
1 tsp Borax
TWO bowls

- First you want to mix your glue and COLD water in one of your bowls and set it aside. 

- In your other bowl, mix the HOT water and the borax.  Mix it until it is completely dissolved. 

- Next, you want to slowly add the glue/water mixture to the borax mixture. Stir while adding.  It will instantly start to set so you may have to get it off your knife or stirring stick to keep mixing. 

- Mix well and then you will pour off any excess water. 

-  Then I took it in my hands and molded it together until it was a solid consistency.  It will NOT stay slimy and messy if you do it right. 

-  NOTE:  I laid ours on a paper towel for a sec and the paper towel does NOT come off..LOL  I got as much off as I could, the rest as molded INTO the flubber...can't even see it anymore.  haha

Here is our completed flubber.  It is so soft, NOT messy and easy to play with!

Small cup + flubber = fart sounds

Landon making fart sounds.  He is having a blast.

Easy to mold, stretch, roll into a ball...anything!

Fun making hand prints

We made bouncy balls also, following THIS recipe.  We were not too impressed with the finished bouncy ball but it was easy and it DID work.  Flubber is the clear winner for today's FUN!

My Birthday Butterfly

My little girl is 7 years old today.  She has a love for butterfly's, particularly the Monarch Butterfly.  I saw THIS pattern and I knew I just had to make them for her.  They looked simple enough but let me tell you, crocheting around a molded hanger is much more tedious then it looks.  I could only get one wing done per evening.

Hangers molded into wing shapes and yarn picked out. 

Night two, progress :-)

Ta Da...completed Monarch Butterfly wings. 

My newly 7 year old butterfly

She wanted to act out the life cycle.  Egg, caterpillar, pupa, butterfly.  Love this little sweetheart!

They were a huge hit.  She is even sharing them with her new pet horse!