Super Snuggly Baby Blanket

I was browsing Pinterest looking for ideas for something I could make for the arrival of my friends’ first baby and came across Mrs Brits’ Sweet and Chunky Baby Afghan crochet pattern here. This looked like just the thing I was after. Being in chunky yarn I knew it would crochet up quickly and the pattern is easy peasy so it was something I could mindlessly follow whilst sat watching something on the TV in the evenings. I loved the colours of the yarn Mrs Brits used for her blanket, which is what caught my eye in the first place, but I knew my friend was expecting a baby boy so wanted something more boy appropriate. The pattern uses Bernat Baby Blanket yarn, but this does not appear to be terribly easy to get in the UK. However there are sellers on Amazon and also eBay where I got mine. I wanted something a little bolder than typical baby colours so after much deliberation I ended up buying 2 balls of the Bernat Blanket Big Ball yarn in Sailors Delight. This is a multi-coloured yarn of blue, orange, brown and beige and is sooooo soft. The end result is a super snuggly blanket! I followed the pattern exactly using a 9mm crochet hook and my finished blanket roughly measured 30” wide and 36” tall. I think this may become a go to pattern for new arrival gifts!

© 2015 Jennifer Richardson

Alternative Christmas cards:

I’ve always wondered when I make handmade cards whether people hold on to them or whether they just end up in the recycling with the rest. Of course I don’t expect people to hang on to everything, but when you put effort into making things its sometimes hard to think that they may just find themselves in a bin. So, a few years ago I decided to make what I call ‘alternative’ Christmas cards in the hope that people would be more likely to hold on to them. My alternative cards are generally some form of tree decoration. Of course, not being flat means postage is more expensive as they generally have to be sent with large letter stamps, but I like thinking that all the people on my Christmas card list are essentially getting a small gift.

Over the past few years I have made felt Christmas puddings, felt Christmas trees, fabric presents, crochet stars, and knitted mini stockings. Here are a few examples of ones I’ve kept hold of for my own Christmas tree:

© 2015 Jennifer Richardson

For this year’s cards I have been making fabric yoyo Christmas wreaths. I bought all the supplies from eBay. I’ve used red beads and the cutest mini red buttons to look like berries and red satin ribbon for the bows and hanging loop. I’m pretty pleased with how they have turned out so I hope their recipients will like them also.

© 2015 Jennifer Richardson

Gift tutorial: Japanese paper pendant

This is a quick and easy tutorial to make a Japanese paper pendant that can make use of any scraps of paper left over from making my tea bag folding cards, the tutorial for which can be found here.  I have attached my pendants to keyrings, which I think will make great stocking fillers for Christmas!

© 2015 Jennifer Richardson

You will need:

• Pencil
• Scissors
• Silicone craft glue
• 1 X Cabochon setting (I am using a 25mm square antique bronze setting)
• 1 X Glass cabochon (I’m using a 25mm X 25mm X 7mm transparent square)
• A scrap piece of Japanese paper (at least big enough to fit your setting)
• Cord/key ring fob to hang pendant from (I’m using an antique bronze key ring fob)

1. Take your scrap piece of Japanese paper and place your glass cabochon on top of it and move it around to find a section of the paper you particularly like. I am using a 25mm X 25mm X 7mm transparent square glass cabochon to fit a 25mm square setting.
2. Holding the glass cabochon in place with one finger, take your pencil and draw around the cabochon.
3. Using your scissors, cut out following your pencil outline giving you a piece of paper that should fit your cabochon setting.





© 2015 Jennifer Richardson

4. Spread a thin layer of silicone craft glue to the inside of your cabochon setting.
5. Place your piece of paper into the setting right side up. Press down lightly to make sure the paper has stuck and there are no creases or air bubbles. Here I am using a 25mm square antique bronze setting, but you can use any shape, size or colour. It doesn’t have to be a pendant setting. You may wish to make earrings or cuff links instead.
6. Give the back (flat side) of your glass cabochon a polish to remove any finger prints and apply a thin layer of silicone craft glue. Place the glass cabochon into the setting on top of the paper and press down to remove any air bubbles. Polish the top side of your cabochon.
7. I have attached my Japanese paper pendant to an antique bronze key ring fob matching my cabochon setting. To do this I used a pair of pliers to open the jump ring at the end of the key ring chain and fed this through the loop of the pendant then used the pliers to close the jump ring again. If you want to wear the pendant as a necklace, however, you may wish to thread a piece of cord through the pendant loop instead.



© 2015 Jennifer Richardson





I bought all my supplies for making my Japanese paper pendant key rings from eBay.