Fantabulous Friday #18

Fantabulous Friday

**There are 2 giveaways open for UPrinting Business Cards and a JUNE GROUP GIVEAWAYwith my amazing sponsors!! Have you entered yet??**

Happy Friday!! Welcome to Fantabulous Friday #18. I hope you all had a great week!!

In case you missed it, this week I shared:

Lauren at Tutus and Tea Parties joined me for Part 3 of “Hookin’…the legal way” where she shared some great videos on changing colors and finishing off your crochet projects! Her videos are fantastic and easy to follow!

We got to know Diane at Mamal Diane a little better with a Sponsor Spotlight. She is super incredible!!

On Father’s Day, I shared a little painting project that Miss M and I made for Daddy;) He loved it!!

I introduced you all to the amazing SWAP sponsors joining me here this month. If you are interested in sponsoring Little Becky Homecky, you can click here. My rates are extremely reasonable and I love helping you!!

And finally, because I am slightly obsessed with crocheting (Hence the Hookin’…the legal way!! series), I shared an infant crochet hat with a bow that is super adorable!!:) One of my followers (Mrs White from Little Homemade Housewife)made it the day I posted it and sent me a picture on Twitter..talk about an awesome moment!! There is no better feeling in the world!! 🙂 She really made my day!

Before we get started with the party, I want to share with you some of my favorites from last week:

Karyn @ Pint Sized Baker shared How to Make Watermelon Cake Pops! Are those not the cutest thing ever!?!

Rose @ A Rosie Sweet Home showed how she Spray Painted her shoes! These look absolutely amazing! I have a couple pairs I am dying to try this on!! Love it!

Bonnie @ Simply This and That shared her Boredom Box! This is not only one of the cutest boxes I have ever seen, but also a great idea!!

And, the most viewed link last week was…..

Delilah @ Confessions of a Semi-Domesticated Mama shared her recipe for Creamy Coconut Rum Cake. Delish!!!

What amazing projects have you been working on this week?? Link them up!!

Make sure you don’t miss anything!

Hookin’…the legal way! Part 2

Welcome!! I am so excited you are joining us for the second part of Hookin’…the legal way! If you missed part 1 of the series, click HERE.  Today, we have Sara from My Merry Messy Life showing us how to increase and decrease stitches.

These amazing shops are sponsoring Hookin’…the legal way. Check out their Etsy shops (Living In Amethyst and Two Girls Patterns) for some seriously amazing patterns and make sure to check back at the end where one lucky reader will be winning patterns from their shops! I know right!? I made this skirt and these slippers using these ladies’ patterns! So cute!!

Take it away, Sara!!:)

Hi there! I’m Sara and today I’m visiting you from over at My Merry Messy Life where I share my own free crochet patterns and share my passion for green living, motherhood, and children. The lovely Katie, your blogstress (I just made up a word!), has graciously asked me to write about increasing and decreasing in crochet today!

Increasing the Round
First, let’s start with increasing. This is a crochet technique that is used to make the width of your project wider. A project is made longer by adding more rows, but it is made wider by adding increasing stitches. An increasing stitch is simply two of the same stitch in one space. So, for example, I have chosen to use working in the round (see my post on that here) as my example for you, because it is one of the most common projects in which there are increasing stitches. Working in the round is one of the most important techniques to master in crochet as you can make hats, flowers, dolls, clothes and more. See my website for lots of hat and flower patterns!

Photo #1 – Chain 3, slip stitch to form a ring. Chain 2, 11 double crochet in the ring (for a total of 12 double crochet)

Photo #2 – This is an increasing round where we work 2 double crochet stitches into each space.

Photo #3 – Shows the completed round 2 which is an increasing round.

Photo #4 – This is another increasing round, but different from round 2. Chain 2, double crochet in the same space (so it looks like 2 double crochets have been worked). Now work just 1 double crochet in the next stitch. 2 double crochets in the next. 1 in the next. Repeat the 2, 1 pattern all the way around.

Photo #5 – Shows the almost finished round 3.

If you continued this circle, you would typically add one increasing stitch (2 of the same stitch, in this case, a double crochet) one time less each round. So, round 4 would be: 2 DC, 1DC, 1DC. Round 5: 2 DC, 1DC, 1DC, 1DC

Single Crochet Decrease

Now let’s move on to decreasing. Decreasing is important to learn in order to make things like ear flaps on a winter hat and clothing. There are different techniques for both single, half double and double crochet, and I have a photo tutorial for each of them for you! In each example, we’re going to make a triangle together. So, come follow along!

Photo #1 – Chain 12. In the 2nd chain from the hook, work a single crochet. Work 1 single crochet in each stitch all the way down.
Row 2 – Chain 1. (We’re going to begin a decreasing stitch. You’re going to start the single crochet but not complete it the same way.) So, insert your hook into the first space and pull up a loop. There should be two loops on your hook

Photos #2 to #3 – Leave the two loops on the hook and insert the hook into the next space and pull up a loop. There are now 3 loops on your hook.

Photo #4 – Yarn over, and pull through the first two loops. There are two loops remaining.

Photo #5 – Yarn over, and pull through the last two loops. Finished! See how there is only one space now for two stitches?

If you continue, the rest of row 2 will be to single crochet in the next 6 stitches, then work another decrease in the last two. (8 total stitches)

Row 3: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work a single crochet in the next 4 stitches, then work a decrease with the last two stitches. (6 total stitches)

Row 4: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 single crochet in the next stitch, work a decrease in the last two stitches. (4 total stitches)

Row 5: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 single crochet in the last stitch. (2 total stitches)

Row 6: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the last 2 stitches to complete!

Half Double Crochet Decrease

Photo #1 – Chain 12. In the 2nd chain from the hook, work a half double crochet. Work 1 half double crochet in each stitch all the way down. (10 half double crochet total)
Row 2 – Chain 1. (We’re going to begin a decreasing stitch. You’re going to start the half double crochet but not complete it the same way.) So, yarn over and insert your hook into the first space and pull up a loop. There should be 3 loops on your hook

Photo #2 – Leave the 3 loops on the hook, yarn over and insert the hook into the next space.

Photo #3 –  Now pull up a loop. There are now 5 loops on the hook.

Photo #4 – Yarn over, and pull through the first 3 loops. There are 3 loops remaining.

Photo #5 – Yarn over, and pull through the last 3 loops.

If you continue, the rest of row 2 will be to half double crochet in the next 6 stitches, then work another decrease in the last two. (8 total stitches)

Row 3: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work a half double crochet in the next 4 stitches, then work a decrease with the last two stitches. (6 total stitches)

Row 4: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 half double crochet in the next stitch, work a decrease in the last two stitches. (4 total stitches)

Row 5: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 half double crochet in the last stitch. (2 total stitches)

Row 6: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the last 2 stitches to complete!

Double Crochet Decrease

Photo #1 – Chain 13. In the 3rd chain from the hook, work a double crochet. Work 1 double crochet in each stitch all the way down. (10 double crochet total)

Row 2 – Chain 2. (We’re going to begin a decreasing stitch. You’re going to start the double crochet but not complete it the same way.) So, yarn over and insert your hook into the first space and pull up a loop. There should be 3 loops on your hook

Photo #2 – Yarn over and pull that loop through the 3 loops. There are now two loops remaining.

Photo #3 –  Yarn over, and insert the hook into the next space and pull up a loop. There are now 4 loops on the hook.

Photo #4 – Yarn over, and pull through the first 2 loops. There are 3 loops remaining.

Photo #5 – Yarn over, and pull through the last 3 loops.

If you continue, the rest of row 2 will be to double crochet in the next 6 stitches, then work another decrease in the last two. (8 total stitches)

Row 3: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work a double crochet in the next 4 stitches, then work a decrease with the last two stitches. (6 total stitches)

Row 4: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 double in the next stitch, work a decrease in the last two stitches. (4 total stitches)

Row 5: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the next 2 stitches, work 1 double crochet in the last stitch. (2 total stitches)
Row 6: Chain 1. Work a decrease in the last 2 stitches to complete!

Merry Crocheting!

 Be sure to stop back next week where Lauren from Tutus and Tea Parties will show us how to change colors and finish off a project.

Free Printable Blog Planner

Free Printable Blog Planner

I have been working on this for what feels like forever, tweaking and re-tweaking it to make sure it fits my needs as a blogger. I found so many printables out there, but they were always missing something. I am incredibly Type A and it’s really annoying;). OCD at it’s best! But, I have finally created a Blog Planner where everything I need is in one place and it makes sense in my head…which makes me happy:)

The Chevron Background was found here. There are so many other colors if you want to use some;)

1. Blogger Expense Tracker

I use this sheet to track the incoming money from sponsored posts and Ads and the money I pay out each month for sponsoring other blogs or giveaway items and their costs.

2. To-Do List

I made this a little while back to keep track of the different projects I have going on. Typically the 3 categories I have are sewing, crochet, and other…but right now that “other” is wedding projects for a friend that is getting married this fall.

3. Monthly Calendar

This is pretty self-explanatory.

4.& 5. Weekly Calendars

Each day has a section for the title of the post, the notes for that post, and keywords to use. In the same area, I have “Sponsor’s posts” so that I can keep track of the lovely ladies I have on my blog that are sponsoring me. If they have something going on that day, I write it down so that I can Tweet about it or post it to Facebook to promote them. On the far right, there are boxes for “Drafted”, “Scheduled”, and “Posted” to keep track of the status of each post. Also, below that is an area to check off if it has been posted to Twitter, Facebook and Google +. (Super anal right?… I can’t help it!)

6. Sponsor Information

I use this sheet to keep track of the sponsors at Little Becky Homecky. This includes the ad size, the name of the person and blog, their twitter handle, email, and what they are doing as part of their sponsor package (i.e. Guest Posting, Sponsor Spotlight, Group Spotlight, Giveaway, etc.) Then there is a column labeled “Mentions” where I write in how many are included in their price and then an area to tally up the mentions for both Facebook and Twitter.

7. Who I’m Sponsoring

I use this sheet to track who I am sponsoring. Not everyone uses Passionfruit Ads and so I like to have all the information in one area. Here I write down the name, how much I paid (or enter Swap if that is the case), whether or not I am doing a giveaway and the item, and what to expect. In the “What to expect” section, I write down what is included in the price that I purchased so that if it gets to be the end of the month and I have not been contacted when I am supposed to be doing a Guest Post as part of my sponsorship, I can be sure to contact them.

8. Giveaway Information

This one is also pretty self-explanatory, but it keeps things organized for me so that I don’t get too carried away with what giveaways I am participating in;)

9. Monthly Stats Tracker

Finally, we have the Stats Tracker. I keep track per week, and then also monthly. The information for the Pageviews and Unique Visitors comes from Google Analytics. Then, the other information is taken from each of my Social Media sites and totaled at the end of the row. I find this to be important for updating my Sponsor page to show those interested in sponsoring what my stats are so that they can determine if Little Becky Homecky is a good fit for them to reach their target audience.

I am so excited to be sharing this with you because it has made my life so much easier! I printed out the pages, added dividers and a cover, and took them to be bound at a local print shop. I could not be happier.

Click on the links below for each page to download and print.
Blogger Expense Tracker

To-Do List

Monthly Calendar

Week (Sun-Wed)

Week (Thurs-Sat)

Sponsor Information

Who I’m Sponsoring

Giveaway Information

Monthly Stats Tracker

**Additionally, I have included the following link which is a PDF of the documents all-in-one for each month. It is set up to be printed dual sided (duplex) so you will have to print out the file 12 times (one for each month:))

Full Monthly Blog Planner

Let me know what you think! I hope you find it useful!!

**These Free Printables are for personal use only. Please do  not replicate them and sell them. Thank you.**

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Victorian Inspired Clutch

FIR - Episode 1002
I made this clutch for my “secret swap” person through the Handmade Gift Exchange going on at Craftaholics Anonymous. Not going to lie, I am pretty nervous. I have never made something for someone who didn’t flat-out request what they wanted. This time, I was given a wish list to show me her tastes, and I am hoping she is going to like this.
The person that was selected for me in the swap liked Victorian things. What the heck does Victorian mean? Yeah, good ol’ Pinterest got me through that one;) I had no idea! Everything I found was lacy and ornate. I knew I had some lace to use (well an old lace shirt that I don’t wear anymore), so I started to brainstorm. Then I finally decided on making a clutch. Everyone likes clutches right? Ok…well I do! 🙂 In fact, I love them! So, I made this cute little clutch for her using a fat quarter piece of fabric I had lying around.

 

I really do like how it turned out so I am hoping she does!! We shall see! Fingers crossed!!!