Making Memory Tags with the Cricut Joy

My main birthday present in December was an excitedly anticipated Cricut Joy.  I have been enjoying using it, in the spare moments I get.  It's difficult to find the time to really get stuck in, with an energetic toddler around, but I'm learning bits here and there!

You know when you have so many things that need to be done around the house... but you get some time to yourself and a (pretty unnecessary) task such as making memory labels somehow whizzes to the top of the priority list?!  That's what happened here...

I started with a free tag shape in Cricut Design Space.  I added text to that to have my daughter's name at the top, then the item I was tagging below that.  The font I used for her name was P.S.  The font I used for the description was Quinn Type.  These are both free writing fonts within Design Space.  When you make the tags, the Cricut Joy uses the pen to write the text, then you swap to a blade to cut the tag out.

I also added a small heart shape and used the slice tool to remove it from the tag, so that it would leave a heart shape hole when cut out.  I cut this out from ordinary white cardstock, using a Cricut Standard Grip mat.

This is how the first layer of the tag came out.  I then used the same free tag shape and made it slightly bigger so that it could sit behind this and would be seen around the edges and through the heart cut-out in the top layer.  The second layer had no writing or heart cut-out, just the hole at the top, which needs to be in the same place as for the first layer.  I cut that out of some coloured cardstock I had, using a Cricut Standard Grip mat.

I joined the two layers via the hole at the top, using a mini eyelet setter and an eyelet that matched the colour of the card I used for the second layer.  I then threaded some bakers twine through the hole to attach the tags to items.

These could now be popped, nicely organised, into a memory box for my daughter!

I found this an immensely satisfying little project!  I have the tags saved to be amended to use for other items in the future.  This should help in keeping organised!

I hope you enjoyed this design, and I aim to bring more Cricut Joy creations to you in the future - it's great for organisational projects!

Knitted Rosewater Shawl

 I finished knitting this shawl in August 2018... it has taken me this long to block it!

I used Lazadas Blocking Wires and some T-Pins to block it.  A bit fiddley but with a good result.  I think this is the set I ordered, but the packaging seems to have changed in the subsequent years!

It's quite difficult to photograph in the dingy light at this time of year... but hopefully these pictures give some idea...

The pattern is the Rosewater Shawl by Janina Kallio.  I used the recommended needle size, but should have gone up needle sizes, as I am a tight knitter.  I'm not sure how I ommitted to do this!

The shawl is therefore smaller than it should be, but I'm happy about that as it fits around my neck quite neatly.  I sometimes find lots of excess shawl a bit annoying, flapping about!

The light is best in this last photograph, and you can see the lovely colour of the yarn.  It was a hand-dyed skein of yarn from Dandelion and Dogwood - back when they were The Little Tailoress - called Jam Tart.  It actually sparkles, but I haven't been able to capture that on camera.

I'm glad to get another WIP finally finished!

Check out my completed knitted projects here.


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Watercolour Valentine's Hearts - Kids' Crafts

I don't go in for Valentine's decorating usually, but I thought it would be nice to do some Valentine's crafting with my daughter, who is coming up for 21 months old.  Anything to provide some entertainment during these lockdown days!

First I gave her some pink, purple and red watercolour paints to use on an A4 piece of plain white card.  I had to fill in the gaps, as she was more interested in painting with just the water than the paints!  We covered both sides of the card and left it to dry.

I then cut the A4 sheet into 3 sections that would fit into my Cricut Joy and used it to cut out hearts.  You could easily do this by hand, though.

To make them more durable when being manhandled by a toddler, I then laminated them...

I punched small holes in each one and prepared some sparkly gold and pink yarn into hanging loops...

The sparkly yarn I used was Anchor Artise Metallic* - I have this in quite a few colours!  It's especially good for Christmas crafting!

Then my daughter got involved again... she would hand me a heart and a loop, which I would string together.  She'd then hang them on a decorative white tree I have, or show me where to hang them.  She retained interest for about two thirds of the hearts!  (Some re-distribution did occur afterwards!)

A pretty Valentine's tree was the result!

If your child is older they could be involved in more elements of the process.  Emily was happy with this, though, and proudly showed her Daddy the heart tree she made!

Do let me know if you give this a go - I'd love to see!

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Knitted Bracelet

I knitted this bracelet last year, but then didn't get round to sewing the clasp on and finsihing it off.  I'm trying to get a few things finished that have been languishing, so have finally completed it!

It was made with a kit by The Knitting Gift Shop that I bought at Unravel in February - who knew that would be my last proper outing before Covid struck?!

I'm pleased with it and it's easy to wear as it's soft and doesn't clunk against things!

Featured here with a lovely bracelet my friend Anna made me!

Check out my completed knitted projects here.


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