Pages

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Etsy Milestone Sale

I was so excited last week! I noticed I'd rolled 15,000 sales in Etsy. What a big milestone. This is just one of my online shops but it's big player in the big picture. What an amazing 5 years! 
To celebrate I though I'd offer up a few sales! 

I'd like to say I'm going to have a sale in just Etsy but with items and patterns it's hard to set it up that way with out a lot of work.


So I thought we'd offer an item sale in Etsy and 
a pattern sale in Raverly.
However - I'm going to re-list my retired patterns in Etsy Only. 
These few will be marked down and no coupon required.  I get asked about them a lot so I thought this might be a fun time to pull them out. 
They will only be available during the sale. 

All crochet patterns in 

Raverly  - 60% off!
That is under $2.50 each or 5 for the price of 2!
Use code
SPRINGFEVER

See 
LIMITED TIME SALE 
Category in Etsy for the Retired patterns available for a limited time. No coupon needed. Enjoy! 

Finished Items in Etsy
 I'm offering Free Shipping on orders in the USA ONLY! 
Check it out! 
Use code
SPRINGFEVER


All Codes Expire Midnight Central, Friday Feb 26th, 2016 
If you forget to use the code or enter it wrong and checkout. There will be no refunds! 

Thank you for your support! Enjoy the savings! 



Jimmy Beans Wool February Beanie Bag Reveal

One of the latest crazes is subscriptions boxes. I love getting my Ipsy bag, Stitch Fix or Julep subcriptions each month but what's better than make up or clothes well anything related to yarn or needle arts of course!  


Have you heard of Jimmy Beans Wool Beanie Bags!?! It's monthly mystery subscription for only $10.00. You'll receive samples of yarn, notions, patterns for crochet and knit all in a cute zippered bag! 
I've been getting them for 4 months now and video blogging the reveals. I've really enjoyed getting these. It's such a treat to try out some premium yarns and get a yarny surprise each month for really a low cost. You can read the full details on their website : Jimmy Beans Wool Beanie Bags

This is my November-February Bags! 

Jimmy Beans Wool February Beanie Bag V-Log


February Bag contents! 

If you would like to get more info on the Eddie the Eagle Free Patterns patterns visit here.


Jimmy Beans Wool January Beanie Bag V-Log



Jimmy Beans Wool Nov- Dec Beanie Bags V-log 






Friday, February 12, 2016

Police Officer Crochet Hat and Pants Set

I'm adding some new finished item sets to my Etsy Shop
I haven't enjoyed just crocheting from a pattern in a while. Writing/Creating my own patterns can be a lot of work and trying to put your own spin on it can be difficult especially when there are already great designs out there. So I decided to work from a fellow designers pattern and then add my own special touches for this special Police Officer set. 

Police Officer Hat and Pants Set


This free pattern is written very clearly and I had no issues with it at all. I did make a few minor changes for my own preference. 

*There wasn't a gauge measurement included but based on the stitch count and yarn used I knew I would need to go down one hook size.  I used a H (5.00mm) instead of the I (5.5mm). 

*I never do a Magic Circle. I like to work in a chain instead, so I chained 3 and worked 10 hdc in the 3rd ch from the hook to start. 

*I also increased my stitches and worked the brim just slightly differently just adding my own special shaping for my own design preference. 

The badge design shaping was fabulous! I love the way it turned out. The only thing I may change next time is to work it with 
G-hook just to make it slightly smaller for the Newborn size. 

Overall though I highly recommend this design, plus her fabulous pattern is written in all sizes Newborn to Adult. So you could make one for everyone! My son wants me to make him one! I'll have to add that to my to do list soon! 

Police Pants
I used my Firefighter Pants Design



This is a great basic pants pattern and I knew it would work great!
If you already have this pattern simply work the Waistband in Black and the Rest of the Pants in Navy omitting the color changes.

The set is so cute but I think it's missing a few fun extras.
 I'm going to work up some little Black Work boots, little cuffs and maybe a donut. haha!  What would you add? 


If you love this set. Don't miss out on this freebie pattern.
Thin Blue Line Beanie






Thursday, February 11, 2016

Simple Ways To Save Up Money For Crochet Patterns And Yarn



I often hear, "I wish I had more money to purchase your crochet patterns" or "I can't afford to purchase this right now!" Well let me tell ya I totally understand. I have bills to pay too!  That's why I started my crochet business. I love to crochet & I love being able to work from home! I had to find a way to pay for my habit LOL. Well that's not entirely true but some what! 


I'm always looking for ways to save a few extra bucks or make a few extra dollars! They say to work from home you can't put all your eggs in one basket. You have to have income come through different sources. For instance. I have 3 Pattern shops Etsy, Craftsy and Raverly. I sell finished items.  I also have my blog with various Ad affiliates and sponsors. I also work as a contractor for Hobby Lobby as  a pattern tester and designer as projects are available. 

Just like I work various jobs you can use various means to save or make a few bucks here and there. Here are a few options that anyone with a current cell phone can do! 

I'm not really a coupon clipper. It kind of overwhelms me! I however love to use apps on my iPhone! I'm pretty sure most of these are available for Android based phones too. 

*This post contains affiliate links.  




My favorite is Coupon App is 
  Ibotta

Unlock Cash Back Rebates, Go shopping at your favorite stores, buy products and keep that receipt, Verify your purchases by scanning products and taking a photo of the receipts and then you cash back.

I love this app because of the any brand rebates on common items like- milk, eggs, fruits and veggies and so much more. It's not just for groceries though! You can get cash back for Grocery, Apparel, Electronics, Wine, Beauty, Home, Fitness, Pets and well just about anything. 

I find this to be my most used coupon app. If you also have friends that use it (links through Facebook) has bonuses and challenges where you earn extra cash back! You can't cash out until you hit $20.00 but when I have cashed out it goes straight to my paypal immediately! I've cashed out several times and I've been using it over a year! The great news is if you sign up I get $5 cash when you sign up with my referral and redeems a rebate with in 2 weeks, Plus for you, you get and extra $10. So Sign up here : Ibotta


 This one I just discovered and I like it for a few reasons. 
1. Shop anywhere, not store specific
2. No minimums or thresholds. Scan your receipts. Payment with in hours, never more than 24 hrs.
3. Any brand rebates - milk, eggs, fruits, veggies, bread



I've used Checkout 51 for a while now and honesty it's been slow going. You can't cash out till you reach $20.00 and I'm sitting at about $9.00 after like a year but..... I find that it's really different products and they might appeal to you more than me. Plus they have been getting better offers lately.  This one is good though for the weekly "You Pick" offer on fruits and veggies which changes weekly. Some of the Offers are store specific but most are not which is nice. 

It's nice when you can submit your receipts to all the different apps and that's when the saving stack up. So while this one isn't my favorite I can for instance maybe get free bananas when each app is offering a rebate! So you have to look at the big picture! 


This is a new one too me! Honestly I signed up for the free Lindt Chocolate Bar! I find this app has really unique new items to get rebates on. So while I haven't used it much it has potential. Plus again it has a referral program for $2.00 for each friend that signs up after they turn in their first rebate. If you'd like to use me referral code it's KMEGUMFZ
Go get you some free chocolate for Valentines Day! 


This is also a new one for me. This app is more store specific. The deals seem to be buy more save more. Like spend $30 in this brand get $5.00 off. It also has a weekly offer like 20% off a fruit or veggie. So again stack these savings! 

This app is simple. You turn in your receipts. You get points. You earn Amazon or Paypal cash. This is so easy to use but I often forget to enter my receipts. 

Snap by Groupon

I will/have stopped using this app as of March 1, 2015 they are changing the program completely over to Groupon. Bummer :( 


Craftsy



These last three Apps I've been using a lot! These aren't for cash rebate, more for gift cards but you can get Amazon gift cards and you can purchase anything on Amazon. Including yarn! 


This may sound silly but my hubby and I like to use this app! Basically you can earn "Kicks" (points) for walking into certain stores like Target, JCPenny, BestBuy, Walmart. You can also earn "kick" by scanning items. So we make a game of it. It's gets us out of the house and moving. Generally we like to just walk around the mall to get out of the house sometimes and it's an easy way to earn kicks pretty quickly. Cashing out your points for gift cards is really easy and quick too! I've done this several times over the past year! My hubby enjoys Starbucks and he often gets it free because this is his favorite gift card to get! I don't recieve any money if you sign up but they do have a referral program. You can earn 2000 kicks for every 3 friends that sign up, up to 100 successful invites!  

Swagbucks 

Okay this sight is huge but I earn gift cards through this every year. I like that I can cash out for Paypal and Amazon. A lot of friends I know use this all year and buy Christmas presents with it!

I've used it for several years! 
You earn Swagbucks "point system" by doing certain tasks. Some take literally seconds like polls, clicking through some offers, searching the web and other take more time- like surveys and watching videos. If you like to watch tv while you crochet this could be an easy way to make extra Swagbucks. 

Inbox Dollars
This sight is just like Swagbucks only you earn actually money instead of a points system or gift cards. 
You can cash out once you reach $30.00. 

You earn money from surveys, videos, tasks, paid emails and more.

I find it fun and easy to use. You can sign up here.

Maybe in one month I'll make a earnings report for what I saved in February! I think you'll be surprised how much it all adds up! 


Well I know that was a lot but again if you do combine all these you could easily save yourself a lot of money to use on crochet patterns, yarn or what ever you need extra cash for. 

What apps do you use? What are some of your favorites? I'd love to know about more! Happy Savings! 






Wednesday, February 10, 2016

WIP Wednesday - Doll Clothes Pattern by Red Heart

I'm still crocheting don't worry but I'm totally obsessed with knitting doll clothes right now! 

With Valentines coming I thought this fun 
was perfect. 
I was able to practice color changing which was a challenge. 
The Sweater pair's nicely with the Sparkle Christmas skirt too! 
I want to make more of those skirts in some neutral colors! 


This next set was so fun to make! My Daughter (age 6) and I like to browse Pinterest and Raverly for Doll Clothes! I have a million things saved! She picked out this next set 


I love that it used worsted weight yarn. I used Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn in the Colorway Lemon Ice. She requested I leave off the hood, which was good because I totally messed up when I made it. I just didn't read the directions correctly and I had to unravel it! oops! I still like it with out it. 


My favorite part was making the fun little bunny slippers. 
They were so easy to make. 
Worked up supper fast too! I'll have to make more of just the slippers for her dolls. 
They slide right on and fit perfectly. Some of the shoes she has are difficult to put on and 
I could use lots of scrap yarn to make lots of slippers or boots! 
It's easy to adjust the height of the slippers.  



I think the set turned out great! she requested a 2nd set in another color for her other doll but I have something else on my needles already for Valentines Day! I can't wait to show you once it's finished! 


Red Heart has lots of cute crochet and knit patterns for dolls! Check them out below! 

Crochet 

Knit

This isn't a sponsored post. I just really liked the fun selection of free patterns for dolls Red Heart had to offer! 



Wednesday, February 3, 2016

WIP Wednesday: 18 inch Doll Clothes

I've recently become obsessed with knitting doll clothes for my Daughters 18 inch dolls. She has couple. I bought one about 5 years ago for myself at Target called the Our Generation Line, as I'd intended to design some dolly and me hats but I went another direction with my business designs and gave her the doll.  Now that my Daughter is older she was given and American Girl Doll for her B-day last year from her Oma. She plays with it all the time so I started making her some new outfits per her request! 
This is really when I started to enjoy knitting. I just prefer the look of the knit clothes on the doll.  Here is what I've made so far! 
Good news too is these are all free Knit patterns! 


I love this hat! it's only the 2nd knit hat I'd ever made and it turned out great! It's well written and I like that it used Caron Simply Soft. I have a lot of it to use up! 


 Next up is my 1st ever knit garment! I fell in love with this dress in Raverly. 
I love the construction of the dress. It's worked top down in the round and I just love all the picot edging! It's a great starter dress if you are just learning to knit like me. 


I just love this! Maybe because purple is my favorite color! 
This was a fun set to make. 


Around December of course I had to make something Christmassy. I'm trying to only use the yarn I have on hand in my stash right now which is plenty. haha! I found a skein of I Love This Yarn Holiday Sparkle. 

the Skirt is a great basic skirt from a fun set on my to do list called 



My Daughter had been asking for a doll purse! I'd found graph with the heart design which I can't remember where I found it. (sorry) but I basically made up the square into a purse for the doll. I made  one square, pickup of stitches on the bottom to make the opposite side and then I added ribbing around the top and added a handle. It turned out super cute and was fun just to make it up. 


It's been so fun making all these! I have a few more sets on my needles too! I'll share those next week!  

Oh and be sure to check out my two designs I have for dolls!