Crochet Cute Little Baby Sneakers

Baby booties is one of the most adorable essentials for babies. It can be the cutest little gifts for those little pair of tootsies.

Even better if you know how to make one, either by crocheting or sewing, it can be a perfect handmade gift for newborn.

I love crocheting baby booties and I can't never get enough of it. It can be quite tricky for crochet beginners but once you practice and sharpen your skills as a crocheter you will be very much satisfied of your ability to produce such a fine art. 

And the satisfaction you get when your handmade fits those newborn feet? It's just amazing. 

Crocheting a baby sneaker are indeed appealing to myself as a crocheter because it resembles just like the adult sneaker! 

I only start crocheting right after my only son turn 3 years old. So I couldn't make one for him. But I made for most of my family and friends who just had babies. 

You can find free patterns online if you want to make one. But my favorite are the these;

josicroche@blogspot.com


It is in Portuguese, but you can find the English translation at the bottom of the post. 

Enjoy crocheting.

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Mini Flowers - A Decade of Memories

Flowers is the perfect gift for all occasion as it is associated with the feelings of passion. It can serve as Valentine's gift for your ladies (or even men, for those who loves flower? Who knows?), Mother's day for your lovely Mum, for birthdays and also for weddings. 

For myself, I love fresh flowers. Nothing can beat the fresh scent and the smell of garden (for bouquet of flowers) presented right under your nose. And the feeling and moment you experienced after receiving such a beautiful creation of God is just heart warming. 

But it won't last long right? For some people, it is a waste of money because it will eventually die. 

Why not hint your men for the next gift giving occasion with this mini flowers that can lasts up to 10 years. It needs minimum care as you are only required to spray it with water once a day or if the air is humid you can just leave it as it it. But the best part is........*drum roll*.........just when the little flowers are expose with mist of water the bud blooms. And when it is dry the bud tightly closed. You can keep it in your living room, bedroom or office as no sunlight is required.

It is a miniature flower, which is a type of chrysanthemum that is treated with Japanese freezing technology.

You'll definitely need this!

Mini Flower

GET THEM HERE!

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How to Crochet a Ribbon

Crochet ribbon is cute and easy way to embellish a crochet hat or any craft project. If you are new to crochet, learn the basic stitches in crochet here.


1. Crochet several chains or until the length of your desired ribbon. Turn.

2. Single crochet the second stitch from your hook to the end. Turn. 
Repeat for several rows until you produced a rectangular shape. At the end of the last row, slip stitch the yarn. 

2. Connect both ends of your crochet piece by slip stitch.

3. This what your crochet piece will look like after slip stitching, sort of like a tube.

4. Tie at the center of the tube to create a ribbon. Easy right!

Attach to your crochet hat! Enjoy! 

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Crafting with Strips of Paper

I love paper craft. With incredible selection of papers available today, you will find endless creative possibilities you can do with just a piece of paper. Even with a strip of paper, you can roll them, shape them and glue together to create decorative designs.

The art of of designing strips of paper are called Quilling. You will be using tools such as slotted tool, a circle template, glue and not forgetting the strips of paper which are also called quilling paper. Alternatively, as a beginner, you could also use toothpick or needle to roll the paper.

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Quilled paper projects usually involve two stages, making paper coils, then assembling the coils into a design or pattern. Refer the following basic techniques to create paper coils;

Step 1: Roll each length of paper around your chosen twirling tool (needle, toothpick or slotted tool) beginning at one end of the strip and rolling tightly to the end. 

Step 2: Apply glue to the ends of the strips with a toothpick to secure your quilled shape.

Step 3: Lay the tool on a flat surface and allow the tension of circles to release the desired amount and if you have the circle template you can lay it on the selected circle size.

Step 4: Pinch the sides or ends to create variety of quilled shapes.

You can create almost any shape and use them in your scrapbook, cards or picture frame.

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If you have the desire to create your own quilling project, get the supplies at Bavakoo Gifts & Crafts. If you like paper craft, this kind of art can be quite addicting. 

Enjoy.

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The Best Crochet Baby Sweater Pattern

I love crochet for babies! Is there anything sweeter than seeing a baby in a handmade crochet sweater?

Crocheting a sweater can be intimidating for beginners but this pattern from Caron is by far the most easy crochet baby sweater pattern and it is one of my favorite (click caption for link of pattern) By using this pattern alone I was able to crochet different styles of baby sweater.

Caron Baby Hoodie & Hat

These are sweaters I made from the pattern with some variations. Some I made with ribbings and some alternating the stitches.

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Homemade Playdough - EASY & SAFE for your toddler!

Homemade carrot from playdough!

Play-Doh can be quite expensive. Why don't make your own playdough!

Cook your own playdough using just a few ingredients and a few minutes!

This recipe makes playdough which are much more softer and lasts longer than the store bought! Even when Julian left it overnight, the playdough was still soft in the morning. But we usually store it in a container. 

You will need:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• food coloring of your choice

For method of making, please refer Youtube video from chef Nicko. I find this recipe is the best for making softer playdough.

Your kids will love this!

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Things I want to do before I die - The Bucket List

I saw this movie, The Bucket List starred by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman about two strangers both suffering from cancer, in a same hospital room having the desire to complete list of things they want to see and do before they die.

According to google, a bucket list is a number of experience that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime or would I say, before you die. 

We may simply says it's goals you want to accomplish in your life. Well here's goes mine....

1. SPORT-RELATED BUCKET LIST

I am not the athletic type. My 3 brothers love sports but I'm the only one left with the creative gene. I am the one who could stay home all day and do scrap booking or paint. But I can proudly say I accomplished some of my sport-related bucket list.

Parasiling. I have always wanted to do this.

Rafting. Climb onto a raft and vomiting afterwards. Sad..

Learn to swim. Okay, learn in a public swimming pool....by my husband.

And I still have bunches of sport-related bucket list.

Learn to roller blade.
Learn to ice-skate.
Go on a scuba-diving trip.
.....and more to come.


2. UTILISE MY GOD GIVEN CREATIVE TALENT

Start a craft business and be one of the most successful craft blog and online craft shop in Malaysia.

Be the boss of your own business.

Write an e-book about craft.

Publish book about crochet.

Learn knitting and knit the most beautiful sweater.

3. TRAVEL BUCKET LIST

This bucket list is still new but my goal was to travel the world with my loved ones when I reach certain age when everything is financially stable.


Vatican City, Rome (This would be first on the list and it should be with my parents.)

Colosseum, Rome.

Venice, Italy.

Taj Mahal, India.

Pyramid of Giza, Egypt. 

I love ancient history and would like to see every historical sites I can possibly see.

What do you want to do in your life before you die? What is your Bucket List?

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UNUSUAL and CREATIVE Homemade Valentine's Day Gift

Stuck on what to buy your loved ones for Valentine's day? It's a lovely event where couples exchange gift with each other to signify their love for each other. But don't let expensive gift represent your truest feeling! Express your affection by making your own gifts this Valentine's day and even more why not make one of a kind gifts. One you can not found in store.

1. DIY Valentine Light Bulb - Can be quite intimidating, but it's quite simple. 

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2. DIY Quotes on Stones - Its easy and fun too. Search for a smooth surface stones and using a Sharpie or marker, write your loved ones favorite quotes.

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3. Messages on Banana - This is cute and all you need is............banana and a Sharpie.

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4. Sock Bouquet - This is perfect for guys or fathers. 

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5. Valentine Fortune Cookies - Circle patterned paper, glue and messages on a strip of paper is all you need for this cute and unique gift.

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From Sabah Land Below the Wind to the Pearl of Orient

Once a year I go back to my hometown, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for a whole month of Christmas with my family. One month would be like 1 week for me, time flies so fast that suddenly it would be the end of December.

These are the things I would always remember to bring back to Penang once the holiday is over cause I'll be getting homesick for a few weeks......

Sabah Chili. I was raised eating every meal with a spicy condiments. This blended bird-eye chili is a must!

Tenom coffee in Sabah is the one of the most popular brands in the country. It is famous for its fragrant.

Just found out that they produced 3-in-1 Tenom Coffee. 

Seed of bambangan, a type of wild mango with brown skin. The fruit itself is made into a pickle or cooked with fish. The seed is used in making Hinava, raw fish with lime. Our very own sushi.

Not forgetting Pickled Bambangan. Slurp, slurp...I love this!!

Kuih Cincin, a sweet delicacy.

Salted 'Sinsilog'. 'Sinsilog' is a type of eel but much larger. 

Actual fresh-water eel. Image from borneoinsider.com

Happy New Year 2015 everybody!

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