Thursday, April 21, 2016

Newton's Nook Designs' April Release ~ Day 2: Tag Sampler


Welcome back to the second day of Newton's Nook Design's April Release!  I am TOTALLY in LOOOOVE with the set Jen is revealing today, because it combines ALL my favorite hobbies rolled into one -- Introducing 'Tag Sampler':


Don't you just LOVE the little banners for CROCHET (SQUEEEE!  I have seen other sets that mention knitting or sewing but NEVER CROCHET and crochet is one of my FAVORITES!  If you haven't tried it, you don't know what you are missing out on people!  LOOK at the sweet little crochet hook image!!  Thank you so much Jen!  THANK YOU!!), knitting, sewing (which includes quilting), and stitching covers all you folks who embroider and needlepoint out there!  So even though I knit and sew (and did needlepoint and embroidery too in my earlier days) I am paying homage to CROCHET in my creations today:

Here is a little card I made to accompany a blanket I crocheted for my niece:

Crocheted border Card by Crafty Math Chick | Tag Sampler by Newton's Nook Designs

I crocheted a single crochet border ('sc chain 2 sc' repeated and 3 sc in the corners - for my crocheting friends) around a series of holes I punched using a 3/16th inch hole punch - trying to achieve spacing was a little tricky I must admit.  I used size 3 yarn with an E hook for this project.  Originally I envisioned using a B hook and embroidery thread, but it was splitting horribly (I have a new found respect for folks who do that teenie tiny amigurumi crochet!) and was difficult to see even with magnifying glasses and it was torturing my trigger thumb, so I should best leave tiny scale crochet for my friends with better eyesight and younger hands. I tried to match the colors in the blanket, which are deep purple, fuchsia and light pink.  The blanket is done with two strands of chunky yarn (size 5) and a Q hook according to this great tutorial by Melanie Ham if anyone is interested.  

I also tried to crochet a double crochet shell border around the main panel, but that looked... clunky? on paper - paper is not as forgiving as yarn, and in order to have holes that were big enough to fit five double crochet stitches left gaping semicircles that just weren't pretty, especially the anchoring single crochet stitches in between the shells to hold them down; I though the sc border was MUCH prettier!

I also wanted to show a little love to knitting, as I do enjoy it as well, with this photo of tags accompanying projects I completed last year (thought they acted as good props):


Handstamped Knitting & Crochet Tags by Crafty Math Chick | Tag Sampler by Newton's Nook Designs

The bone was a crocheted amigurumi toy I created in just 2 1/2 hours (which is available as a free pattern from amigurumipatterns.net, but you have to be a member - membership is also free) for my little Ty baby when he was sick using white Caron Simply Soft yarn and the payer blanket is simply knitted stockinette stitch with a fancy crocheted border using Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Tea Leaf and Buff.  

If any of my stamping visitors would like to see knitting and crocheting related tutorials and posts in the future - please let me know in the comments!  Likewise, if any of my yarn enthusiast friends would like to see introductory stamping tutorials or videos - please let me know that in the comments as well!  

Ooops - in my excitement over this set I forgot to mention is coordinates purr-fectly with NND's Tags Times Two dies:


Pretty neat, huh?

Would you like to win a 'Tag Sampler' stamp set?
This set will be given away to ONE lucky winner!

Here's how to win:

Comment on the NND blog and the Designs Team and Guest blogs (see list below)!  The winner will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' release posts.  Make sure you check out each of the blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning!  you  have until Thursday, April 21st at 9 pm CDT to comment -- the winner will be announced on the blog post on Friday, April 22nd.  Note: If you have already ordered this stamp set and you win, you may replace it with any in stock item of equal value. 

Check out all these awesome Design Team & Guest Blogs below to enter:



Jess Gerstner is next on the hop, I am sure she has created something spectacular for you to see!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day!


~ Crafty Math Chick

20 comments:

Lori said...

Love this! I haven't crocheted in awhile!

D.Ann C said...

What a cool card idea combining crafts! Love the bone!!

Marilyn M said...

Love your card with the crocheted border. Crochet was one craft I could never master. Great job!

Sue Smith said...

Fun idea to crochet around some paper to add to a card. Great set of stamps.

Oliev said...

Your card is awesome! Thanks for the link for the dog bone, I love crocheting:-)

Mary Holshouser said...

Love the matting around the layer
Great way to highlight the tag and
the gift.
I envy anybody who can knit. I could
crochet but the knitting defeated me.
Bear loves the bone - she's wishing
she had one just like it.
thanks for sharing.

Jennifer Jackson said...

Super fun projects! I LOVE the crocheted edge on the card and I bet Ty loves that dog bone toy! So fun! I forgot to mention that I like your new blog theme too with the paw prints ;)

Andrea Shell said...

I love that you crocheted around the tag! So clever!

Unknown said...

This tag set is going to turn us stampers into yarn gals and vice versa! Love this set!

Sue D said...

Love the tags you created and the crocheted border. That is something I have been meaning to learn. Actually a great aunt taught me to crochet and I made an afghan but she lived far away and I never got back to it. I do knit.

Heather C. said...

Cute!!!

Purrfect Paper Creations said...

I love crocheting too--love your card! Great idea!

Chris L.

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

Love that you incorporated crocheting in your card. Fun way to make a border. TFS

Taunya Butler said...

Amazingly cute tags!! So fun and clever and cute!!

Indy's Designs said...

I am very jealous of your knitting and crochet skills. (I can't believe I never learned how...well maybe this summer I will give it a whirl!) Anyway fabulous tags and crochet/knitted projects!

Kimberly Rendino said...

Looks so awesome, Meredith! It was worth the struggle in the end! I hope you're feeling better!

SUPRFOXdesigns said...

Your card is fabulous! Love your added crochet and those tags are so much fun! Love this new set from Newtons Nook

Denise Bryant said...

love that pretty edging on your tag!

Fikreta said...

so nice!
hugs
Bad Kitty's Craftroom

Susie Sonnier said...

What a great stamp and die set. A must have.