Thursday, April 30, 2015

DIY Hand Knit Disney Princess Anna Mittens

These darling mittens are my very own creation! Millie asked me to knit her some and I just couldn't say no! Who could resist such a request? Of course it's finally getting warm enough here that she won't need them now; but won't they be adorable next winter?

I couldn't find a pattern on Revelry that suited me; after all, the rosemaling in Frozen is so beautiful and rather specific to the region. So instead of endless searching I decided to make a pattern myself. I've knit enough mittens and socks to understand the structure and they don't have to fit just so, the way a sweater should. They can be forgiving. Especially for a child!

I designed the charts from those found in Mastering Color Knitting. And I used a basic toddler sized mitten pattern and adjusted the size ever so slightly to accommodate the patterns I chose. If you are into making your own charts you should check out the Tricksy Knitter. There you can create your chart and edit the colors quickly and easily until you have the combination you like.

In the end, I love the way they look! They definitely remind me of Anna, who inspired them. I used Palette yarn, a wool blend, from Knit Picks, a very affordable online yarn supplier. You can find all the details, and a rough idea of the pattern, on my Ravelry pages.

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!


Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Shark Bait Finding Nemo Inspired T-shirt in RedBubble Shop

And because you just can't have enough Shark Bait designs, I give you my latest t-shirt design: Shark Bait Hoo Ha Ha!

I know, I know, Nemo, Nemo, Nemo. But I couldn't resist this one. How adorable would this be for your Disney friend's little one?? I think It's awesome. But this design just didn't translate as well to the other products, so this one is exclusively for t-shirts.

Check it out in the shop, and until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Drip Drip Drop Design Now In RedBubble Shop

It's been a very wet spring for us in the Midwest and I just couldn't resist the opportunity to make this sweet Bambi inspired design for my RedBubble shop. It's not just for babies! Although the onesies are truly adorable!

You can also find this design on bags, pouches, pillows, duvet covers and mugs! This little deer is so adorable you'll want it on everything!

Stay dry, dear readers and until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Ring of Fire Design Now in RedBubble Shop

The littles and I have been on a Finding Nemo kick lately. They tend to watch movies like that: over and over until they are memorized! So when that happens, it seems best for me to just roll with it and take inspiration! And that's where this idea erupted from (see what I did there?), that continual Finding Nemo loop and Nemo's initiation into the Tank Gang.

If it's been a while since you've seen Finding Nemo, suffice it to say that Nemo has to conquer the Ring Of Fire (swimming through the bubbles from the volcano in the dentist's fish tank). Here's a clip of the original scene:


As usual, you can get this design in my RedBubble shop on T-shirts, bags, mugs, leggings and cases for your electronics. Go crazy! Initiate your friends in the bonds of tankhood. And until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

DIY Disney T-shirt Yarn Baskets



Remember how, long, long ago, I was creating a Disney T-shirt quilt? Well that project is still underway. It's just that it takes A LOT of T-shirts to create a quilt and I seem to be short by about nine. So until such time as we have more shirts than we can cycle through (that may be a while!) the project is on hold.

BUT, I did wind up with a bunch of t-shirt scraps from the bottoms of the t-shirts, and I wasn't keen on throwing them all away. So I scoped out Pinterest and found a couple tutorials on how to make t-shirt yarn (so simple), and how to join t-shirt yarn (a little tricky, but I finally got the hang of it), and then whipped up some cute and functional baskets from the scraps! I LOVE it when my projects are functional as well as pretty.

Now if you were really on top of things, you might try and theme the colors to your favorite Disney characters: red, yellow and black for Mickey, blue, red, white for Donald, etc. I was feeling lucky to just have enough scrap to make baskets big enough to hold my yarn projects! In fact, it didn't take nearly as much yarn as I thought it would. If you'd like the pattern I used for these baskets, you can find it here. I made the first one with the handles, and the second one without. I also went up a size on my crochet hook for the white basket, as my yarn was thick and it was difficult to pull it through. Sizing up a hook was exactly what I needed to make it easier.

Now to get on with that T-shirt quilt! Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Scrapping WDW | My Favorite Apps for iPhone Photos

Five years ago I would never have believed you if you told me I wouldn't be carrying my DSLR to Walt Disney World anymore. I mean, I am the queen of snapping vacation photos! I love to catch every moment - many times! And I actually scrapbook. Photos are a major part of my vacation experience anywhere I go.

But I have, in fact, been photographing my family exclusively with my iPhone for last several years. It may be because I now have two toddlers who keep me on my toes! Or it may just be the fact that I feel like my entire life is on my iPhone. Whatever caused the switch, I am quite happy with it. Let's face it; the iPhone is smaller, easier to pop out to catch that photo with, and always with me!

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who is experiencing this change in photography habits. So here are some of my favorite apps. They both help me post great pictures on the fly (to Instagram and Photos) and get them ready for the scrapbook! In full disclosure I use an iPhone 6 and have only tried these with the iPhone.

1. Snapseed - This is my go to app for any of the photo editing basics like brightness, contrast, and tone; it also has the ability to add some fancier features for filters, grain, etc. This app is free.
Edited completely in Snapseed

2. PicFrame - easy to use collage app that allows you to change the shape of just one photo. App price is $0.99
PicFrame was used to create this collage

3. Big Lens - my newest favorite! With this app you can create the effect of changing your aperture on a DSLR. Essentially you can get your subject to stay in focus and blur the background after you've taken the photo. App price is $0.99
Edited in Big Lens and Instagram

4. Squaready - can edit any photo to fit a square frame. Very easy to use and uploads directly to IG if you wish. It has several other functions, but I don't use them. This app is free.

5. Over - gives you the ability to put text and or art work on your photos. It's interface is super easy and allows for the basics. App price is $0.99
Over was used to caption this photo Doors Of Dublin

6. Rhonna Designs - this is for lots of artwork options and text. I use it sparingly, but it has lots of options for design. And there are tons of preloaded phrases and goodies so you don't have to come up with them yourself, all for an additional cost. App price is $1.99

7. RealBokeh - allows you to add bokeh to your photos after you've taken them. You can choose where to put it and what shape you want. There is also a Mickey mouse shape perfect for your Disney photos! App price is $1.99


And there you have it! The apps I use to edit my iPhone photos. Once you have the hang of it, it's easy to do while waiting in line or for your ADR! Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Edna Mode Inspired Design Now In RedBubble Shop!

After a long spring break hiatus I am finally back to the blog! Ireland was amazing, but it's time to think Disney again!

I love just the Incredibles and Edna Mode is inspired! No one but Brad Bird could pull of such a great character voice. Pixar is just full of surprises! This is perhaps Edna's best known quote, "I never look back darling; it distracts from the now!" And now you can wear it with pride!

Remember, you can customize size and color for all my designs. Head on over to my RedBubble shop and take a better look. And be sure to check out all the other great items with this design, including tote bags, hoodies and mugs!

Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!