JoAnn’s recently shared their new Cape Discovery catalog with me, which features 72 projects perfect for kids & teens to make as Summer projects! They asked me to make a project from the catalog (I can’t wait to share it with you!) and they also gave me a $25 gift card to give away so one of my lucky readers can also buy supplies to make something!

Wanna win it? Here’s how to enter:

First Entry: Go check out JoAnn’s Cape Discovery catalog and leave a comment telling me your favorite project.

Want extra entries? Post a separate comment for any of the following:
♥ Like JoAnn & Gleeful Things on Facebook
♥ Tweet this about the giveaway on Twitter:
@GleefulThings is giving away a $25 gift card from @JoAnn_Stores! Enter here for a chance to win: http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=5887
♥  Follow JoAnn & Gleeful Things on Twitter
♥ Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave your link in the comment).

Entries will be accepted until Midnight on Friday, May 31st. 

A lot of people have asked me if the Waffle Cone Slouchy hat could be made by using two strands of worsted weight yarn, so I wanted to give it a try! Turns out it works pretty well! I might actually like it more than using bulky yarn because it’s less stiff, so it slouches better.

All of the hats in this post were made with Caron Simply Soft. In case you’re wondering about the colors, I used: Ocean, Blue Mint, Grape (I think!), Harlequin, and Passion.

This one is made using one strand of Harlequin and one strand of Passion.

What do you think? Have you tried making one with worsted weight yarn?

I have a sketchbook full of project ideas that I think will be perfect for Summer & so much fun! I want to use my ideas to make lots of tutorials to share with you! The projects will be based around two of my favorite Summer activities: camping & biking and there will also be plenty of Summer clothing projects! I need to raise some money to make it possible though. So, I’ve decided to have a little fundraiser! I’m going to share some of my inspiration with you below and if you enjoy it, please take a peek at the bottom of this post where I have several options for contributing.

Photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Camping: I love the idea of pretty camping or “glamping”, so I want to do some projects that will be great prettifying your campsite! I have ideas for decorated tents, sleeping bags, luminaries, etc.

Photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Clothing, jewelry, & accessories: I have ideas for some fun & easy skirts, dresses, and Summery tops! Some will be reconstructed & some made from scratch! There will be lots of fringe!

Photo sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Bikes: I’m going to show you how I made my bike basket liner + a couple other ways to decorate your basket. I have ideas for bike bags, streamers, and lots of stuff make with yarn! ;)

* I just want to point out that I will not be copying anything in the photos above. They are merely my inspiration for the projects I have planned. I do not want to give away my ideas so I’m not showing the actual project ideas.

Want to help me make these tutorials happen? Please consider any of the offers below! 100% of the money raised here (aside from shipping cost of the surprise boxes) will go towards supplies needed for these tutorials. 

*edit* I got a way better response to this than I expected! Thank you all so much! Rather than continuing to sell items on this blog post, I opened a store where I will continue this fundraiser. Please click here to visit. I currently have Surprise boxes and sponsorship deals available!

Starfish + Sea Slugs! We found SO many of both on this day! I wish I had my actual camera with me!

The fog was so rad this morning, I had to do a panorama of it!

I go out of my way to buy nuts to feed to squirrels! I’m a little obsessed!

I like taking my picture in reflective things! (at a classic car show) + Supporting local breweries!

If you want to follow me on Instagram, I’m Oolie :)

I’ve been having some frustrations with the fringe bags I’m working on. I started putting together the linings and zippers and when I sew them into the bag, it gets all weird. Kinda twisty like? That’s hard to explain but you can probably tell in the picture below, how the zipper gets all wavy rather than laying flat. I think the solution will be to try one with no lining, just a zipper. The bag really doesn’t need a lining anyway, I just thought it would be pretty.

Another thing I’ve been working on is trying to decide how I want to attach the strap. The first one I did was the green one below. I used little D rings, because I thought it would look nicer. But no matter how I attach the ring, it ends up turning so the pointy end is up. I would have tried O rings if any stores around here had them (I hate ordering supplies online, too impatient). So I ended up just attaching it to the top round on the blue one, which looks a lot nicer I think.

I really want to finish this pattern already! It seems too simple to be taking so long but I’m kind of a perfectionist! :P Anyway, I’m gonna keep working on it and I would love to hear what you think!

I hope you like pink because I’m having a big pink giveaway! One lucky person will win everything in the picture above! You get a High Tide Skully with ear flaps, a Heartbeat Skully, a Beary, and a pair of Peacock Barefoot Sandals.

Wanna win it all!? Here’s how to enter:

First Entry: Leave a comment below & tell me what your favorite color/color combo to wear is (doesn’t have to be pink!).

Want extra entries? Post a separate comment for any of the following:
♥ Like Gleeful Things on Facebook
♥ Tweet this about the giveaway on Twitter:
@GleefulThings is having a big PINK #handmade #crochet giveaway! Enter here for a chance to win: http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=5763
♥ Follow Gleeful Things on Twitter
♥ Post about this giveaway on your blog (leave your link in the comment).

Entries will be accepted until Midnight on Tuesday, April 30th.

P.S. The winner of the previous giveaway, for the Heartbeat Skully Hat is Francie! Congrats Francie! I’ll be contacting you by email! :)

I’m so excited to share this tutorial with you! Jo-Ann so generously sent me some fabrics from their new line of HGTV Home Fabrics to try out and review and I used them to make a big yarn storage basket! I really love this Urban Blossom fabric that they sent me because it’s honestly really me! It actually reminds me of the fabric that I have in the header on my blog. The HGTV Home Fabrics line also has some chevron prints that I really like as well as some other floral prints! Jo-Ann also sent me a coupon for you so if you’d like to try these fabrics, scroll down for a coupon! :)

Now, I’m going to show you how I made my yarn basket! It’s a pretty simple project, but definitely requires some sewing experience! This basket is big (12″ high x 17″ wide) so it would be great for so many things, like a laundry basket even!

Supplies:

♥ 1 yard each of two coordinating fabrics – I’m using HGTV Urban Blossom Berry & HGTV Checkered Past Berry
♥ 54 inches of matching trim – I’m using HGTV 1” Pleat Twill Mulberry
♥ 2 yards of extra stiff interfacing
♥ Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies/tools

Step 1: Cutting out all the pieces:

♥ From both fabrics & interfacing – cut 1 circle that is 17 inches in diameter (53 inch circumference) + 1 piece (for the sides) that is 54 inches long x 13 inches tall.

♥ From the outer fabric – cut two pieces that are 12 inches long x 3 inches tall (for the handles)

Step 2: Handle pieces: With right sides together, sew along the long edge (green line) using a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Step 3: Turn the handles right side out and use your iron to press them flat. Top stitch along the green lines.

Step 4: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: With right sides together, sew along the short edge (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 5: On both of your fabrics & interfacing: Pin the bottom circle to the side piece (right sides together) and sew around the circle (green line) using 1/2″ seam allowances.

Step 6: Pin the handles in place on your outer fabric.

Step 7: Putting all the pieces together!

Put the outer fabric inside the interfacing and then with right sides together, put the lining fabric inside the outer fabric. Pin all the way around then sew together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Be sure to leave about 6 inches unsewn so that you can turn the whole thing right side out.

Step 8: Turn right side out and pin the hole shut that you left for turning.

Step 9: Pin your trim in place all the way around the top edge. Sew around (this will also sew up the hole that you left for turning).

All done! Now stuff it full of yarn and enjoy! :)

I was able to fit about 45 skeins of yarn in there! If you wanted to make a smaller basket, it would be really easy by simply making a smaller diameter circle. Here is a circumference calculator that I always find helpful for this sort of thing!

Here is a 10% off coupon for you to use! From April 14 – May 4, the HGTV HOME line is 50% off at Jo-Ann and the coupon can be used during that time for extra savings!

1. Crochet flowers - pretty, pretty!
2. Cupcake candy jars – Clever use of caulk!

3. Flower photo booth backdrop – This is so pretty, I’d put it on my wall just because!
4. Crochet skull motif - I want to sew one of these onto a hat or bag!

5. Leather tassel keychains – I want to try making these with various (non-fraying) fabrics.
6. Simple crochet bows – Simple but so cute! I need to find a use for these!

7. Striped slouch hat – I love this hat pattern and need to make one so bad!
8. Tiny clay pots – This is so clever! I’m going to try making some larger versions of them!

I’m loving making these fringe bags! Thank you for all of the love you guys left on my last post about them! I always love hearing your feedback on stuff I’m designing.

I had fun shopping for lining fabrics yesterday. I think I’m probably going to make maybe five of these before I post the pattern, just to experiment with different fringe styles and embellishments.

Anyway, sorry for the quick post. I wish I had more to show you but I haven’t had as much time to work on them lately as I’d like to!

Picnicking under cherry blossom trees!

California poppies are the prettiest thing! + Sunset over the ocean!

I photograph sunsets a lot, it’s hard to resist… I love silhouettes and playing with light!

Legwarmers and cute flats are my thing right now + Good hair day! I put my hair up in a bun when it’s wet, let it dry that way and sometimes it comes out just perfectly and makes my day!

Fabric from Joann’s for a home decor project/tutorial I’m working on + My new glow poi (they change colors)!

I’ve been really bad about Instagramming this past month or so. I need to work on taking more photos! Yesterday, I realized that I never play with Hipstamatic anymore, which I used to LOVE! So I’m going to try to remember to use it more often and maybe that will make my Instagramming a little more frequent! :)

Do you Instagram? Feel free to follow me @oolie! :)