Monday, October 05, 2015

Craft Hoarders Anonymous October Blog Hop


Welcome to the Craft Hoarders Anonymous October Blog Hop! The Hoarders Crew has been hard at work, de-hoarding and creating! Hop along and see what they have made! 

My blog is the first blog in the hop! After visiting me, hop over to Vicki Robertson's Blog next! For the full list of Bloggers, see the list at the end of this post! There are 20 ladies, with amazing projects to share! Keep an eye out for Bloggers who are giving away Blog Candy!

I not only dug into my paper hoard this month, but I also started to use up my yarn hoard!



A few years ago, I learned to loom knit in order to make baby hats for charity. I added to my yarn hoard at that time. I have no idea why I even had a yarn hoard, because up until the fall of 2013, I did not knit or crochet! It was mostly yarn that I purchased for homeschool craft projects.

This summer, I decided to teach myself to crochet! I had crocheted when I was in jr. high, so it was not too hard to relearn from watching YouTube videos! The hard part is that I am left handed and need to "translate" the directions. I started making striped baby blankets using single or half-double crochet. Easy peasy. Which means, I am hoarding even more yarn!



Since I plan to donate the blankets to charity, I want to have some sort of gift tag to match. I used tag dies to cut out tag shapes from my hoarded Graphic 45 Little Darlings paper, and ta-da, instant tags! Little Darlings is retired, but you may still be able to find it online. The newer baby collection, Precious Memories is still available. But, since this is a "use it up" blog, just grab some coordinating prints and make some tags!


I have a vast hoard of chipboard letters. I was able to use the pre-colored chipboard for this blue tag. I stamped the scripture sentiment onto a smaller tag an added it to the base tag. I did cover the backs of the tags as well, and I may add a gift card holder to the back of some of the tags.


I created the green tag to match the bow! I had made this green bow for something and then never used it. It's one thing to hoard ribbon, but another entirely to hoard bows! I used naked chipboard, colored with pigment ink for the word "baby." I also hoard buttons...and I do mean HOARD. I have so many buttons... and I cannot stop buying more! 

This blanket has two shades of blue, white, and a variegated yarn in shades of blue. I used single crochet only. I think the foundation is about 90-100 chains long. Then, I just chained one at the end of the row, turned the work, and placed a single crochet in each chain, repeat. I varied the width of the stripes, and that's that! I used a "K" hook. The blanket is about the size of a receiving blanket.


This green version is also single crochet, with various widths of stripes. The yarn was a bit bulkier, making for a heavier blanket. I used two shades of green, white, and a variegated yarn of green, pink, and lavender. (Don't ask the brand or weight of the yarn. I don't remember! It's all bulky, baby yard. From either Joanne's or Hobby Lobby.) I used a "J" hook.



I am currently working on this blanket using super bulky yarn (Bernat) in Baby Yellow, Vanilla, and Pitter Patter. This blanket is a bit larger than the others, as I think I chained 103 to start. I have one huge ball each of the yellow and vanilla and three regular size balls of the variegated. I am working this blanket with a half-double crochet and a an "L" hook. We will see if I run short of yarn!

I hope that you enjoyed my October Craft Hoarders Anonymous Blog Hop post! I know some of you are saying...what...this is NOT a yarn blog! But, most of us crafters are multi-talented, right?! Come back November 5th for the next post!

Now hop on to Vicki's Blog!

Make sure you visit all the ladies in the group. They have some AMAZING projects to share. A few of the gals may have Blog Candy to give away as well! 

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Blog Hop List:
Gloria Stengel (you are here)
Vicki Robertson
Debbie Seyer
Ginny Nemchak 
Pam Bray
Jacquie Southas
Glenda Brooks
Amber Milone
Tracey Sabella
Donna Idlet
Bonnie Garby
Nancy Dynes
Wendi Robinson
Teresa Horner
Kathy Clement (on vacation, hop on to Barbara's Blog)
Jan Ennenga (on vacation, hop on to Barbara's Blog)
Barbara Rankin
Karen Zueger-Brownell (on vacation, hop on to Marisa's Blog)
Marisa Job
Christy Houser

Tag Supplies:
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Natural
Decorative paper: Graphic 45 Little Darlings
Stamp: Verve Wonderfully Made
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black
Chipboard: various alphabet
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Celery Green Plaid, Natural Solid Baker's Twine, Blue Topaz Double-faced Satin
Buttons: various
Dies: Sizzix tags, Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplates
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, hot glue

21 comments:

  1. Adorable! The tags are so cute and I love handmade baby blankets!

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  2. What an amazing project of love! Your blankets are exquisite and the tags perfection!

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  3. I've been working on a blanket for Bella. I've used the bedspread weight thread to make scarves and snowflakes and now using yarn feels totally foreign to me. Love all the soft baby colors and your tags are so cute!

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  4. So cute what a wonderful gift idea, so love the sentiment on the tag as well !

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  5. Love your handmade blankets and baby tags!

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  6. I just "happened" upon the Hop after seeing Tracey post ... I had a delightful HOP; so much inspiration !
    I'm gonna have to set aside a day to do hoard projects... I have a UFO Day already :)

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  7. Amazing blankets & adorable tags, Gloria!

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  8. Beautiful tags and blankets. What a clever idea!

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  9. Lovely Tags and Blankets ,x

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  10. Hey, Rock Star!! Double treat today.....gorgeous tags AND baby blankets!! Beautiful job all around!! HUGS!

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  11. OH Gloria, I just had to come over and see your marvelous work up close! And it's even more stunning to me now!! What beautiful gifts for new baby and I so admire your crochet work--a hand crocheted anything is just about the most special thing I can think of as far as crafting goes. I have always longed to learn myself and have even made half-hearted attempts a few times in the past, but nothing ever really comes of it. I'm inspired by you that you are left-handed because I am too and that often makes learning certain small motor skill tasks more difficult if they are being demonstrated by right handed folks. I will get on youtube and see if I might get a renewed desire to try again, as your sweet little blankets are making me wish that I could do something so nice. I also LOVE the scripture stamp and I hope that Verve still sells it because I must buy it right away if it's available. Thanks for sharing your stunning and awe inspiring work!! :)

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    1. The Verve stamp is still on the site. I just purchased it about a month ago. ;)

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  12. What fabulous crocheted blankets Gloria and those tags are fantastic. You have endless talents!!

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    1. Bonnie, you have no idea! ha ha ha ha

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  13. Your little blankets are adorable, and you even matched the tags. Wow, you are one talented lady!

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  14. These are so perfectly adorable! LOVE!

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  15. They look so soft....I want a Nana sized one!

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    1. Jonah put in his order first. hee hee

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  16. seriously!!! these are sooo cute and sweet!!!!!! love your tags and blankets!!

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  17. Love that you included your new skill and shared the crocheted blankets. The tags are adorable and I love the sentiment!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    Garden of Grace

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  18. Love that you included your new skill and shared the crocheted blankets. The tags are adorable and I love the sentiment!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

    Garden of Grace

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