A Mommy Moment - Oh poo!

Okay so this may be TMI but looking back on my morning I find it quite funny and I'm sure I'm not the only Mommy that's had a morning like this. I hope to just make you laugh!

So I'm not feeling well and am attempting to get ready for church this morning. While in the shower I hear someone pounding on the front door  {7:00 in the morning}!  The puppies had escaped out the tiny crack in the wooden gate which I underestimated apparently because there isn't another way out. Just glad someone saw them and brought them home.

Meanwhile Calleigh my 22 mo old is up but playing nicely in her crib which is nice because I'm trying to finish getting ready. {i love to listen to her play with her stuffed animals} . My son {3 yrs} got up and I got distracted, got breakfast ready and let the pups out again just to discovered a smell. my sons brand new shoes we bought yesterday is where I discovered the smell. Apparently he'd stepped in poo yesterday and I hadn't noticed. {good thing they were just in the garage.} So I had to clean those up {because he just had to have them today}

I finally get around to getting Calleigh! I opened the door to what I thought was a very stinky diaper. Oh it was and it wasn't on her. She was completely naked and playing with her poo. it was on her face, hands and body. {remember I'm not feeling well} I thought I was going to be even more sick!
(did I mention I bought her a brand new bed set last yesterday and put it on before bed last night)
So laundry is going and the poo is cleaned up but I'd like to say please no more poo today!
I don't think I can handle it!

So do you have any mommy moments like these? Please feel free to share!

New Affiliates and sponsors

Hi all! Last week I talked about Monetizing my blog more. I've tried a few new affiliates this week. Some I'm not impressed with others I'm quite excited about.

The two I'm most excited about are:




It's a community for Coupon users! I've found so many amazing deals. Plus I like that I can search for current coupons on products I use. Check it out! There affiliate programs is easy. You start out with $3.00 just for signing up. I've only had it a week but I make .03 cents per click. I make more here a day than my blog right now ....LOL!

The next Affiliate for me just got approved today and I'm super excited about because I like the site and I've been a follower and a customer. So I'm happy to advertise for them.



Hopefully I'll have an update about how this affiliate works for me soon! If you are a crafter of any sort this is a site for you! You may even what to publish some of your tutorial or patterns via "You Can Make This .com :)

The other Affiliates I've tried are

Sponsored Tweets :     
I'm not really thrilled with the advertisements. I've gotten a few $1-$2 ads to share but there not getting clicks and I can't say I'd click them either. I don't really want people to think I'm spamming on twitter either. I'll keep it but I'm only going to share things I would want to tweet myself. 


My Likes

This pretty much like sponsored tweets only with more relevant ad. I like it better than sponsored tweets and have made a few $$$ from it but as with the other unless I really believe in the ad myself I don't want to spam these sites out.

I hope some of you bloggers can find this information useful.

Have any of you tried other means of Monetizing? What do you think of these sites? I'd love some feedback!


On a separate note I'm looking for unique bloggers and shops that might be interested in our site sponsoring a giveaway or me even a simple shout out/review for your blog or shop. It can be about a business, a tutorial or pattern. I've got a few neat giveaways in store in the coming months but I'd like to add on more. Please see our Advertising page and contact me using the contact tab if interested! I look forward to hearing from you and supporting your endeavors as well.

New this week - Flower ribbon bows

It's been a while since I've had a chance to make bows. I cleaned up my ribbon stash and got excited to create some great new items. Plus I've seen some cute new ribbon I want to get so I need to make room :)

Here are a few things I made this week. Many are One of a Kind!


Here are a few finished products:

Here are a few more in the works! 

This is a new style I might implement. What do you think? 

Of course these are my all time favorite! Daisy flower bows 

There aren't listing in the shop just yet since i mostly sell these via facebook so if you're interesting in anything have a look at all the ones I've creative in the past year look here and just use the contact tab to place an order! 

Wordless Wednesday

{Big Brother - Lil Sister - New Pups}

A New Look!

If you haven't already noticed my blog got a little makeover. I loved the logo set I got for my Etsy/Artfire shop and business cards that I decided to go full circle with it and implement the look to my blog. It was all designed by Alicia of Dream Like Magic's Etsy shop. If you're looking for an adorable logo, banner, cards, and more for your business you should check her out!

She was very helpful with my blog since I thought I knew what I was doing and messed it up a little last night. She set it up just the way I needed it! You may notice a few more changes along the way but I'm very satisfied with our new look!

What to do you think?

We have a new blog button too! So grab one up from the wall and post it on your blog or site if you'd like! We would just love it!

Fire Hydrant Applique Crochet Pattern

Fire Hydrant Applique

You may be thinking "Why in the world would she/I crochet a fire hydrant?" 

I have a great explanation! LOL

My Mother runs Poch Pooch Designs. She wanted an applique for her dog sweaters but she just wasn't liking what she was coming up with and challenged me to try. This is what I came up with and she loved it. So I figuered I should share all my hard work with you. I think this would be a fun applique on hats for boys. You could even get creative and embroider a hose on the hat from the fire hydrant. All kinds of fun possibilities!

I've included lots of pics to help explain along the way! 

Crochet Fire Hydrant Applique Pattern

Materials : Red or Yellow Yarn ( or your color preference)

Hook : F

Start working in Rounds 

RD 1 - ch2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from the hook, Join with sl st to 1st sc, ch1

RD 2 - 4 sc in Back Loop of each sc , Join to 1st sc, ch1 , (4)

RD 3 - 2 sc in each sc  around, Join to 1st sc, ch 2 (8)

RD 4 - 2 dc in each sc around, Join to 1st sc, ch2 (16)

RD 5 - *FPDC in next 3 dc, BPDC in next dc, repeat from * 3 times, join to 1 st dc, ch2 (16)

RD 6 - *FPDC in next 3 dc, BPDC in next dc, repeat from * 3 times, join to 1 st dc, ch1 (16)

RD 7 - sc in front loop of each sc, join in 1st sc, ch1 

You should have this so far. Kind of looks like a mini hat. 

Now working in Rows

Flatten out top with joining seam to side not in the back. you will be closing up the opening on the bottom. 

open

closed

Row 1 - sc 2 Back loops at a time (across from each other ) left from row 7. 

I ended up with 7 SC, ch 1 , turn

Even though you sc you will have an extra loop on the hook because you are grabbing both the back loops (inside loops) to close the opening 

Should look like this when your done with row 1 ! 

Row 2 - Sc in each sc across, ch2 turn

Row 3 - DC in next sc, BPDC in next sc. FPDC in next sc, BPDC in next sc, FPDC in next sc, BPDC in next sc, DC in next sc, ch 2, turn

Row 4 - DC in next sc, FPDC in next sc. BPDC in next sc, FPDC in next sc, BPDC in next sc, FPDC in next sc, DC in next sc, ch 2, turn

Row 5 - Repeat row 3

Fasten off and weave in ends.

We are now going to sc around the mid section only the right side will have the two rows of FPDC not the three rows of BPDC

Starting at the top left sc evenly 3 stitches, ch 3, sl st in same sc, continue to sc around to 1st corner, 3 sc in same sc, sc to next corner, 3 sc in same sc, sc in next 3 sc (should be across from other ch 3, ch 3, sl st in same sc, sc to the top right, fasten off and weave in ends. 

All Finished! 

If you make one feel free to share your work! Hope you enjoy this and if you have questions you can always use the contact tab to email me questions! Thanks! Elisabeth

Learning to Monetize?!?

I've slacked off in my blogging the past few weeks but life has been crazy busy in a good way though! I came across a great resource for monetizing my blog. What's Is Monetizing? Well it's making money with ads on your blog :)

I've had my blog for a year and it was never my intention to make money blogging. I'm a terrible writer and I don't want to share the same reviews and coupons as every other "review" blog out there. I just want to talk about family, life and business and share a few fun things along the way.

I've honestly only made $25.00 so far with my blog using bloggers built in feature of Google Adsense. It's really easy to set up. I don't have a huge fan base and like I said I don't want a bunch of flashy advertisements from random Affiliates.

I came across a great resource for those of you looking into other ways to Monetize. I figure the more I use the faster it will add up but we'll see :)

On Simply Stacie's blog she has a whole section dedicated how to Monetize and some great resources. She' tells you how much she's made and received. Check it out here.

I've already signed up with We Use Coupons . I've heard great things about there program and in the short day iv'e had it I've already made a few dollars.

I also signed up for Sponsored Tweets but I don't know if I like it. I don't twitter to much but I don't want people to think I'm spamming either.

I'm hoping to look into more and I'll let you know what I come up with.

Addicted to Angry Birds

Okay so I'm not one that is usually into gaming. I got sucked into the facebook social gaming world for a little while but gave it all up once I found my true enjoyment in crochet which is more constructive to me anyway :).

I have a droid phone from Verizon and like to explore the apps once in a while but not like my hubby does. He'll download fun apps for me from time to time that he's found. One was the Angry Birds game. It's free on my phone for the full version but I think you only get a trial on an Iphone and the full version is 1.99 or something around there.

It's a silly game where you slingshot cartoon birds at funny looking green pigs. It sounds weird but I'm totally addicted! it's fun and funny. My three year old loves to play it too.

If you have access to it you should try it (at your own risk) Angry Birds

Recently I found a few fun crochet and sewing patterns for the characters of angry birds and thought I'd share with you .

Crochet Angry Birds Cardinal
Plush Angry Bird Cardinal
Plush Pig and Blue Bird
More Angry Birds Plushies

Patterns for Angry birds in Ravelry - some are free some are not.


Enjoy!

Snowed it Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

BRRR! Seems like a good part of of you are taking an involuntary part of what they are calling Snowmagedon. We are too! 

Since your probably stuck inside I'm sure you'd love a quick crochet project so I thought I'd have a giveaway for My crochet head wrap pattern in the picture below! The pattern has sizing for little ones to adults and includes a flower pattern as well. 

To Enter just comment below on the blog with what color you might like to make it  :)

I'll close this later this evening so enter quick!

Want a 2nd entry - share this giveaway with others on you Blog, facebook or Twitter

(make sure you leave a 2nd comment for the 2nd entry since I'll drawn a random number! 

If you like the Shell Stitch Beanie Calleigh is wearing it is from another fantastic crocheter The Dainty Daisy (for free) 

Good luck! 

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Winner is #8 - Jaimie Bell said...

I would make it Pink with a red flower! :) Thanks for a great giveaway!

- Jamie please use the comment tab above to contact me and I'll email you your free pattern :)

Free 3-D Sock Monkey Applique Crochet Pattern

Sock Monkey's are timeless and loved by people everywhere. I designed this pattern by request from my Mom. She writes patterns too but was trying to give me an idea for something new which she always has! I'm not the creative one, I'm the technical one. Anyway I tried to make this different than any monkey applique I'd seen. 

So why did I call it 3-D. First because you could actually use it as Amigurimi (stuffed toy). It makes a ball shape and you could stuff it with bead or stuffing for a fun toy! To use as an applique just keep it flat. It's a little thick but not heavy. Just follow directions below and make it how ever you like! 

Free 3-D Sock Monkey Applique Crochet Pattern

Materials: ww(4) yarn 

I used I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby  in Red, Ivory, black and Vanna’s Choice in Taupe Mist for the Monkey.

F Hook

Measures approx. 2 inches x 2 inches

Stitches used:

(ch)chain

(sl st) slip stitch

(sc) single crochet

(hdc) Half double crochet

(hdc dec) half double crochet decrease

Applique is worked in rounds

Start with Red or your color preference

Rd 1 - Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from the hook 8 times, Join to 1st sc with sl st

Rd 2 - Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, join with sl st  (16)

Rd 3 - Ch1 , *2 sc in sc, 1 sc in next sc around , join with sl st (24)

Rd 4 (change to cream) ch1 , sc in each sc, join with sl st (24)

Rd 5-8 (change to Taupe) ch 2, hdc in each sc (24)

Rd 9  - ch 2, hdc, Hdc dec around, join with sl st , ( do not fasten off! We’ll come back and close this off in the end)

Mouth: 

With Cream yarn

Ch 8, Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, work 3 sc in last ch,

continue around on opposite side of ch, sc in each ch with 3 sc in last ch, join with sl st to first sc. fasten off but leave a long tail to attach mouth to face.

Use Red yarn and sew a few stitches across the middle of the mouth. I attached the mouth to the face her but you don’t have to at this step. 

Attach mouth to face by sew around edges of the mouth. 

Eyes: sew two x’s for the eyes or you can attach small buttons if you’d like.

Closing up the Monkey head : 

Rd 10 - sc dec continually around until only 4-5 stitch remain, sew the hole shut, weave in ends. 

Ears: Make 2

Rd 1 - ch 2, 5 sc in 2nd ch from the hook

Rd 2 -  ch 1, 2 sc in each sc (10)

fasten off but leave a long tail to sew on head

Sew on the ears

Make a tiny pom pom and sew it to the top of the hat

(need help- check out this site for instructions)

You can now attach you applique to anything you’d like! hat’s, scarfs, purses and more! 

To attach applique just use coordinating yarn or thred and sew along the edges. 

You could also use this as a fun small stuffed toy or ball. Just fill with stuffing or beads. 

Copyright ©2011 Calleigh’s Clips & Crochet Creations All rights reserved. These instructions may not be photocopied or reproduced in any manner. They may not be sold. I have made every effort to ensure that these instructions are accurate and complete. You may make this pattern and sell items using it I just ask that you give me credit by linking back to my website - http://www.calleighsclips.com