Writing Challenge #6

 So this week the Writing Challenge was inspired by the Writing Prompts Boot Camp by Reader's Digest. This was Day Six of their program. And it was to write an Alphabet Poem. I wrote one with the theme of Family in mind. And I will share that with you. But I am going to add a little twist on that challenge.

For an easier challenge, pick one word and use the letters in that word to create your poem. For a medium challenge try doing the same thing, picking a word or two and writing it around a theme (example: Mother's Day or a Birthday). And then of course the ultimate challenge, is using the whole alphabet to write a poem!

Always in my heart

Bringing smiles to my face

Cuddles on the couch

Delicious dinners every night

Everyone special and unique

FAMILY

Grateful to have such amazing people

Homemade cookies for dessert

I love you

Joking around and having fun

Kissing bruises better

Lots of Hugs

Memories that make you smile

Never too far away

Oak trees and Maple leaves

Protective of each other

Quirky looks and habits

Respecting differences

Supportive no matter what

Things that make you laugh

Universally bonded together

Very affectionate and kind

We are in this together

Xs and Os

You have a friend

Zigging and Zagging through life

Basic Theme Challenge #3

 It is that time again! The first Saturday of the month is our Basic Theme Challenge, and this month our theme is Bread. Now this may sound like a pretty difficult challenge but we have two different challenges, one a little easier and one slightly harder so that everyone can enjoy!

This month we are looking at bread and we want you to create your own bread. It can be any type you like, it can be by hand, it can be in a machine, it can be bread, buns, bagels, whatever you want as long as it is "bread".

That is the hard challenge, the easier challenge is Make a Sandwich. You can take the bread, bun or bagel you made and create a Sandwich with it! Or you can use store bought bread to make your own creation. But try to think outside of the box, make something new and different!

Today we are sharing a spice blend for Everything Bagels in hopes it will inspire you. This is another 3-3-2-2-1-1 recipe. They are the easiest to do and remember!

3 tbsp Poppy Seeds

3 tbsp Sesame Seeds

2 tbsp Minced Garlic (Dried)

2 tbsp Minced Onion (Dried)

1 tbsp Salt

Freebie Friday - Shy Guy

 Today we are sharing more graphs for our Crochet Along! This time we are sharing the Shy Guy! And we have two examples today. Again you can crochet one or both depending on how many and which projects you plan on doing. The only difference in these Shy Guys are the colour. One is red and one is pink You can see them in both colours throughout the game so it doesn't really matter which you choose.

Colours needed for this graph:

- Red / Pink

- Black

- White

- Background Colour

Starting the Blankets (Blanket 1)

 This post may look familiar! This is the same post as the one with the three layouts. We are reposting it because we are going to start focusing on making the blankets. This month we are going to be posting four graphs (Mario Monday). Again if you are doing the Ultimate Crochet Along, you will make all of these. So layout one is of four graphs together in what looks like a windowpane. Now the example says 15 x 10 but that's just an example. You can use 35 x 20 or 40 x 20 here, we are using 40 x 20s (the graphs where the characters are holding items - also you can choose to use one of each character or all the same character).

**NOTE: Most of the time you can substitute 35 x 20 graphs for 40 x 20 graphs. You just have to pay extra attention to the layouts and remember the substitutions you have made. Keep in mind the graphs you use now will effect the ones you have leftover for the other blankets. **

Layout #1:

These first three graphs are somewhat "basic" we are just going to use the four graphs and then do a simple stitch around them. Now you can use any stitch you want to help grow these blankets. We are going to do three different examples, you can choose the one that you enjoy best or do one of each.

Option 1: Granny Stitch - Now there are many different granny stitches you can do. For this option we are sticking with a more tighter one, simply so we can show the explame we have stitched. Any granny square type will work well. So like the example below, all the way around the rectangle we have created with the graphs, until you have reached the size you like or want for this blanket. (If you are crocheting a baby blanket it may be the perfect size without the added border.)

Option 2: This one is also a granny stitch but this one is going to work up much quicker and it will have more holes in it. So something like below, but again with the graphs at the center of the blanket.

Option 3 - This one is plain and simple, using any stitch you want around the graphs and then finishing with a border of your choosing (and even that is optional). For this purpose, we are going to do half double crochets around, and then end with a ribbon border but that is totally up to you.

Don't worry if you don't know yet how to do these options we will be sharing tutorials all month long to help out!