Valentines ATCs

There's a new Alpha Stamps Kit for February, filled with all sorts of pretty stuff to make some sweet valentines. I made this set of ATCs using the hand-picked bits, bobs and collage sheets in the kit. (To have a look at the kit, click here!)

 This first one is a Kissing Booth, tee hee. 

 I think this one is my favorite of the three, because it's sparkliest. 

 Romance!

I'm determined to make today a good day... I hope yours is good, too. 

Crocheted Bead Necklace with Birds

Thank goodness, the last two days have been so much better... I got a migraine on Wednesday and it was ridiculous! But I have been feeling not-so-sick and in a better mood. I had to perpetuate the good-vibes by going sticker shopping on Ebay. Stickers make me happy. Learning new things also makes me happy! Today I made my first crocheted bead necklace.

The whole concept was much simpler than I originally thought. I have seen necklaces like this and have always thought, how the heck do you get a crochet hook through a bead?! How it's done: string on all of the beads FIRST and let them  chill out on your cord! (For this 24'' necklace, I strung on about 50 mixed beads and that was about right.) Then you just crochet the cord like you're chaining stitches at the beginning of a crochet project, slipping a bead in every 2 stitches (chain, chain, bead, chain, chain, bead, etc.). It's kind of awkward because you've got to keep letting go of your cord to slide a bead into your path. Maybe there's a tip for that. If there is, I don't know it yet.

Once I was done with these two strands, I tied on the clasp and added these little shell bird beads using some short headpins. I bought these at the gem & mineral show last year for probably too much money, but I can't resist birds sometimes. At least I finally used them for something.

I'll wear this necklace tomorrow, I think. If you want to take a crack at it, and my silly instructions weren't enough to create an "aha!" moment, here is a helpful youtube video: Bead Crochet Multi-Strand Necklace

I wanted to say thanks and give virtual hugs to everybody who left me such nice comments and words of encouragement earlier this week. They really meant a lot, kind words can really do so much to lift during struggly-times... I told my friend this, "I'm still a wreck, but I'm an optimistic wreck."

Still keep me in your prayers and thoughts, if you would, as Bobby and I keep riding this loco rollercoaster. Countdown to surgery has begun, countdown to finally having a baby or two should commence shortly thereafter :)

Peculiar Monster Card and New UC Challenge

Happy February, friends! This is one of my favorite months...because it means it's gonna be my birthday! But, that's not the thing today... There is a new challenge happening over at Unique Crafters which is "Lace and Fabric"! 

Stamp: Baby Cthulhu by Kira Nichols for Stampotique

For this challenge, I put together a little card/ATC with some lacy background and fabric hills. By the way, just check out that crazy orange printed paper on the very back. I had an appointment 2 hours away in Montgomery, so I went to Joann (we don't have one close-by). I got this big bag of shiny pretty colorful miscellaneous scrap paper from India... I swear, I've been thumbing through the bag non-stop. So pretty.

But anyhoo, go ahead and enter something fabricky or lacy in the challenge! This month is sponsored by Scrapbook Unique.