How to make a Pom-Pom

I've tried several pom-pom 'recipes" over the years for various crafts.  But I finally found a great one on the internet to use for my knitted hats.

You'll need 2 toilet paper tubes, 2 cardboard circles  - one with a hole punched in the middle big enough for yarn.  I think the link below should take you to the video I use from youtube.com.

If it doesn't work, just try googling "making a pompom with toilet paper rolls".


hps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I7vwZcETDg8tt

they can make a fun gift bow also

Framed Recipe

As I was moving Edith out of her apartment to a nursing home, I found one of her handwritten recipes taped inside her kitchen cabinet. It was the only one she'd saved.  She was a fabulous cook and this Pecan Pie of hers was scrumptous.  I held on to the recipe.

She died a few months later and I put the recipe in a shadowbox type frame.  I thought about putting it on a little easel in the camper, but didn't get around to it.  When David and I settled down and bought a house in October 2018, I found the perfect spot for it in our new kitchen.

I think I shall add one of my mom's handwritten recipes to the mix soon!

Bubble Wrap Sunflowers

Naturalist in the Know activity

During one of my volunteer days at Great Plains Nature Center, I talked to little visitors about wildflowers.

As we talked, the kids made sunflowers.  We colored or painted paper plates, cut the edges, glued on a bubble wrap circle for the center, and colored it. Since sunflowers (asters) come in a variety of colors, the kids could choose the color they wanted theirs to be.

Ponytail Holders

So I went into World Market in Wichita and saw all these cute ponytail holders.  Even on clearance I thought that price could be beat.

this is the "ribbon" I bought

and this is the final product

They're as easy as they look! Simply get some fun elastic cord ribbon and cut them about 6 or so inches.  Tie them in a good little knot and they are ready to give to some little girls in the fam!

Beaded Bracelets

When we get together with the Goff's for Thanksgiving, we try to do a craft together. This year (2018) Laci, Victoria, and I made beaded bracelets.  It was easy and we had fun visiting while making them!  Love my niecey, Laci.

The jewelry expert at Michael's pointed me in the right direction for the stretchy line to put through the tiny holes in the beads.  Worked like a charm.

One thing I forgot to take with me was my E6000 glue, which I would've used to glue the knot on the finished bracelet.  It dries clear.  We used gorilla glue instead and it dried a little yellowish.

I think I'll glue a little leather strip around the knot to hide it.

James Goff made a beautiful Christmas tree!!

And while we were crafting at one end of the table, Pam led the kids in some crafts of their own!

Cork Keyrings

My bestie, Kathy Palmer, gave me tons of corks.  So one of the things I found on Pinterest was cork keyrings.

Above is the list of the materials needed.  Minus the ringer volume.

Laura Lee chose these 2

Turned out to be an easy and fun project!

I had some leftover charms I'd purchased at Michael's for other projects.  But what was really special was that Linda Sue had given me several of her mom's, David's Aunt Bonnie.  So I used a few of those as well.

Hanky Jewelry Trays

So many special people have give me vintage hankies that belonged to someone they loved.  So I've looked for things that I could make for them that would be a good memento.

One of the things I found on Pinterest, was jewelry trays.  I bought small -- very small -- frames at Michaels.  I took the frame hardware off the back, clued on some felt, and put a piece of hanky in the frame.

I have made some with 5x7 frames, but that's a little big to suit me.

Even a torn or tattered hanky would be ok for this project because you will only be using a little bit of it

perfect for a dresser or bedside table

Messy Bun Hats

2018: Found this great pattern on Ravelry. (pattern name is in one of the pix below)

Brooke receiving her messy bun hat

Brooke's probably felt good in that Washington State winter

Crystal modeling hers

I had so much fun making these.  For adults and kids alike.

love this soft Cascade yarn - baby alpaca and merino

these are for the Goff girls

Lacey Goff wore hers on a frigid Texas morning for her run

I knew she would rock those colors

I especially like this yarn for Macie's hat from Flatland Ranch: alpaca and bamboo mix

Laurie and Crystal got one for Christmas this year

Sherry's is a pompom because she  doesn't have a bun

Tommie Foster

 Tommie modeled this one at the 2018 CWF Christmas party. Hugh Dean won it, but she has no bun.

Kathey wanted Razorback (or Christmas) red

Kathey modeling hers at Tamolly's -- evidently it was mustard shirt day

Julie asked me to make some for her girls

one of her daughters shared hers on Facebook

Carol put hers on as soon as she finished cutting my hair

A few more of my peeps will get one of these this Christmas!

Meleah requested that I make one in blue for Amy Kay

she looks beautiful in it!

Macy Knight -- I tried to incorporate some Boise State color

Amy's and Macy's might come in handy in the north country (Idaho)

My Derby, KS yogis! Angela and Shelly own the yoga studio I went to there

Our other Amy looks so pretty in  hers, too!  She got that same red yarn I used for Kathey's, plus one row of the black/white/gray that I used on one of Laura's hats

Amy asked for a few more!

made myself a couple of the closed versions of this -- I decided to remove the pompom from the red one

Marlee Kay got and extra

This has been such a fun project and gift idea!  I'll have a tough time finding diy gift ideas for Christmas 2019 that was this fun and trendy!