Harry Potter Halloween : Front Window

Next in my edition of Harry Potter Halloween 2013 - the front window. This is only the beginning.

I have been debating what to do with this ever since I decided on this theme weeks ago. Before the Harry Potter theme, I was going to try something like this Martha Stewart window idea. And I have some Christmas lights, so I was going to put that behind anything to light up whatever silhouettes I put in the window. 

Here is my front window. I have those three windows - so three separate things? or one big thing across them all? or whaaat?!?! I have not been able to decide!!

Today I at least got a start to something. Here is the window: 

I got that black butcher paper a long time ago. Two yards of the paper fit nearly exactly in one panel of the window. Can you say perfect??

I finally decided to do three separate things in the window. In the middle, I am doing "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, BEWARE."

Now to put it up in the window!!

The rest of the window projects will come soon!


Supplies:
2 yards black butcher paper: $1
Red paint: leftover from past project
Foam paint brush: on hand

September Date Night (kinda)

Good evening!!!

If you remember, I made this Twelve Dates of 2013 scrapbook for one of Steve's Christmas presents. We have been right on track every month. Except September got way busy and we ended up not going on our date that month. So we just decided to double up in October.

Tonight we went out for our September date. We were supposed to go to Barnes & Noble and listen to some music and enjoy our favorites and find some new music to enjoy. Well...who knew that Barnes & Noble didn't have the music area anymore?? Or at least the one nearest us doesn't. Boo. So that was a bust.

Instead, we went shopping for a few more Halloween crafts/decorations and got some Subzero ice cream. That was fun and relaxed, which is how we like it.

Sheldon is really eyeing that ice cream...

The sizes were bigger than anticipated. Mine (the first picture) was a size small. Wuuut?? And Steve's was a medium. And no, his was not vomit-flavored, even though it looks that way. His was mint.

So glad for my date night with my hubs.

Craft room organization goals

Well, I have mentioned before that I'm on a mission to organize my craft room. 

Here is what it was looking like after my first little bit of organization. But sadly, you can't even tell a difference. Whoops.

The desk is especially embarrassing because I can't even use it! Boo.

Here is my list of goals for organizing the craft room:

• Get rid of my Mary Kay supplies, or use them
• Organize/purge bags & purses (3M hooks)
• Organize yarn shelf
• Combine ribbon
• New ribbons storage
• Organize and donate shoes out of shoe bin
• Come up with new window treatments/coverings
• Go through/organize junk boxes (from moving in...)
• Go through/purge nightstand
• Possibly relocate nightstand
• Purge/organize scrapbooks, etc.
• Purge any shopping bags and what is inside
• Get sewing stuff all in one spot
• Organize gift wrapping supplies
• Organize kid craft things

I decided to try and do things little by little. I am not very motivated for organization right now. (Motivation usually comes to me in small, rare bursts.) So I started with my yarn. I cleared a shelf on the bookshelf and gathered my yarn from all over the house and put it on the shelf. 

I works for now, but I feel like it's not going to work long-term. I have no idea what to do later. I want to make sure they are out of the way but easily accessible.

I put all the really small odds and ends of yarn in this basket. So it has to be in a separate spot than the other yarn. Boo. I'll have to figure something else out soon.

If you have any great (and cheap and easy) yarn storage ideas, please let me know!!

Harry Potter chevron crocheted scarf

Well I told ya there would be another Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf on the way - and here it is! (And the crowd goes wild!!)

I made this one in a chevron pattern because I wanted it to be something I would want to wear more than just on Halloween.

I actually adapted this pattern from a baby blanket pattern. I got this free pattern from www.redheart.com. It's the Rickrack Rainbow Baby Blanket - which I've made for my cousin's baby and I loved it so much! This is another great beginner crochet project because it's all just single crochets and counting stitches.

I believe I chained 26 to start out with. (I forgot to count it out before I joined the ends, so I'm not 100% positive. If you try this and that's wrong, let me know.) I wanted it to be a bit wider, but knew I probably didn't have enough yarn left. So I just did 26.
Then I just followed the pattern above. Instead of only crocheting the single crochet only in the back loops, I did it through all the loops.
I kept measuring along to way to see how long I wanted it. When I got it to the length I liked, I just joined the two ends together with single crochets.

I don't know if you can tell in the picture, but it does curl a little bit. It doesn't just lay flat. So if that would bug you, you probably don't want to do this project. Since it was made into an infinity scarf, I didn't think it would bug me much at all.

As I mentioned in the last post, the yarn was $2.99 for each color (Burgundy and Gold). So I got two sweet HP scarves for only about $6!! Holler!!

I couldn't wait until Halloween to wear it, so I wore it to work today! I like it because the colors are very Gryffindor, but I would feel comfortable wearing this any time because it's a more "trendy" way of being Harry Potter-ish. So awesome!!

Harry Potter crocheted scarf

Well I'm on my way to more Harry Potter-ness for my Halloween. I have gotten supplies for a few different things, so I'm trying to focus on one thing at a time in order to actually have finished projects by the time Halloween rolls around.

General Conference was this weekend (go here to learn what that is: gc.lds.org ) so I had some time where my hands could be working while my brain was still focused on what was being taught. Today was the perfect day to start my crocheted Gryffindor scarves for our costumes. I actually started the first one last night, and finished it during Conference today.

Here is the first scarf:

I went with the basic single crochet so it would look similar to the scarves in the movies. So if you are a beginning crocheter, this may be a great project for you to do! However, if your stitches aren't very even yet, work on that first so that all your sides will be even, tight, and straight.

First I got the yarn. I chose Burgundy and Gold of the Red Heart Super Saver brand. I like Red Heart because it's a good price, and I've never had a problem with it. I've used it for a majority of my projects. And the yarn was $2.99 each. I haven't bought new yarn in quite a while, so I'm not sure if that was on sale or not. But I figure two scarves for about $6 is a great deal. Woot!

Here is the simple pattern I made up, since it was super easy anyway:

Start with which ever color you want. I switched colors every 20 rows. And I made it so that I ended with the opposite color of what I started with. That was my preference.

Chain 21.
Row 1: Single crochet in second chain from the hook, Single crochet across, Chain 1, turn.
Row 2-end: Repeat Row 1.

See?? Easy, right?? I didn't even have to type that out for you!! ;)
At the end I just had to weave in all the loose ends and I was done.

I have seen people that made the stripes different sizes, like the burgundy 20 rows and the gold 10 rows. And I've seen people that put cool fringes on each end of the scarf. They look awesome! But like I said, I was going for what it looked like in the movie and simplicity. Easy peasy.

The second scarf will be coming soon...because I decided to make it a little differently!

For Peace at Home (and in my heart)

I am so happy that I am blessed to have the love of Christ in my home. As I re-listened to this talk this morning, I was reminded of where my home and heart should be centered.

I know I will learn more about centering my life on Christ this weekend.

"Greater peace will come as you couple your efforts to be obedient with serving those around you. So many individuals who have what they perceive to be meager talents humbly and generously use those talents to bless the lives of those around them. Selfishness is the root of great evil. The antidote for that evil is exemplified in the life of the Savior. He shows us how to focus our lives outward in unselfish service to others."
Elder Richard G. Scott
For Peace at Home
April 2013 General Conference 

Cutesy card

Happy October! I'm so excited! I'm already planning our trip to the pumpkin patch! And I'm totally loving the cooler weather we've been enjoying.

Just thought I'd share a card I made to start off the month.

Hope you have a lovely beginning to your October!!