Autumn Paper Penny Rug

Here's a paper penny rug made with metallic thread and paper. Small little 'mouse' shapes and orange pumpkin shapes are hand stitched to the paper (brown card stock). It makes a cute little decoration around Halloween and Thanksgiving.

It's been a cute story starter for my kids when they hold it and take a close look at it... they get really imaginative and creative with their stories - I guess it's like a creative writing prompt.

Penny Rug Inspired Key Chain

I'm thinking this post is more of a tip or a "hey, you can do this" easy craft idea... quick project and can be a gift...Here's a how to or a craft tip on making a quick handmade key chain. Needed: Needle (tapestry or embroidery needle) thread (can be hemp, cotton, wool, as long as it has the thickness of embroidery thread) Jump Rings (the size depends on your own preference, I'm using a small and a larger one for this key chain) Felted Wool Ball (Michaels Craft store sells 100% wool and wool felted balls if you don't have or make your own) Wool circles Beads (I'm using beads for added decoration) I just realized that the supplies fit in the palm of my hand!

I'm using green thread instead of the brown in the pic.

Really little wool circles (easy to cut from a small wool square - these are about the diameter of a pencil. All you need is to blanket stitch a few little circles to the wool ball, and then to your key.

Add a bead or two to the top with your tapestry needle and anchor it to the first small jump ring. Then you can add it to the larger jump ring...

2008 Penny Rug Wrist Warmers

These were a product of a felted wool sweater (or one that was accidently tossed into the washer/dryer) back in 2008 and I thought I'd share them here since in NY, it is that cold time of year & quick & easy crafts are fun ;) wrist warmers...

view on craftstylish

Paper Penny Rug

I always think "early Americana" when I see crows in rugs... Paper Penny Rug

Quick Crochet Coaster

So when you find yourself with lots of odds and ends... or in crochet terms - squares, circles, stars... flowers... like I did with these cotton pieces, I decided to make a heavy blanket - It probably won't be that big and it definitely will not be finished any time soon! I get easily distracted - or bored of the same, so I guess that's why I've decided to just start putting this blanket together. Knowing me, it will likely turn into something else. But for now, here are my supplies.

In the meantime I lost my embroidery needle... so I'm hooking the loose yarns of the circle and then the star on top of the circle with the loose yarns from each piece. I know this can be much simpler, but I don't want to cut anymore yarn at time time, since I really just want to see what it will look like together, as a flat piece.

So I stick the crochet hook through the back and catch the yarn & then pull it through.

I will do the same with the crochet star piece.

Here is what the finished "heavy" square will look like... So... the title of my blog post is not Crochet Heavy Blanket! It is Quick Coaster... well, that's because I have to get working on 50 or so more pieces to accomplish that & for now, it's a completed project - a quick coaster. I needed one anyway for my coffee cup! I do love heavy blankets... so maybe I will continue...