Tag handmade

Red Panda

CraftyK Leave a comment

Stitching on scrap 40 count linen for the second time. This pattern is from World of Cross Stitch. It was the free gift kit. I used the pattern from the magazine and gave away the kit for someone else to enjoy. I was able to source all the materials from either my or my mom’s stash.

I spent several months not knowing how to finish this project. I kept telling myself to go to the local cross stitch shop and ask, but I held off until picking up fabric for another large project.

The recommendation I accepted was to create an ornament of sorts, something to hang off a lamp or tree if someone wants it for once a year. This took another several months to actually be made.

What spurred me into action was the Moco Loco St. Jude art auction fundraiser. To enter the auction, pieces must be finished and photos submitted before mid-June. I slowly collected what I needed and took a day off to complete the project. I’ve never made an ornament before, so YouTube was my friend and helped me out with how to do the finishing. The local shop said to look it up on YT.

The finished project reminds me of an ice cream sandwich. It is fairly thick and weighs in at 40g! I used very sturdy hardboard for each half, so it’s a solid piece.

I’m excited to see what it ends up going for. I have to pay for shipping to wherever the winner wants it sent. I should get going on finding a box…

Stitching

Started: October 18, 2025

Finished: October 26, 2025

Stitching time: 9.5 hours

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3

and watch live on Twitch CraftyK3

$ Buy stuff $

2026: April update

CraftyK Leave a comment

I took a day off work and managed to make a few cards. I’m easily distracted so it did take the majority of the day. I also recorded myself making them, so be sure to check out my Instagram for that. The base paper I used is from a wallpaper piece featuring sunflowers. The initial card was a commission for a 70th Scrabble card.

To work through my stash more efficiently I am trying to use a sheet to its fullest before moving on. I have the rest of this sheet plus a couple others I’m trying to finish up to use up as much of the pages as possible. It is a challenge, but I am hoping to get through some scraps and be able to start fresh soon.

The big 5 update

If you would like to read the origin stories, you can find that here. Follow my Instagram to see official progress photos when they are released.

Cats Library, Heaven and Earth Designs.

+598

Disintegration, Heaven and Earth Designs

+635

Universal Monsters, Witchy Stitcher’s SAL from 2019

+677 and a room finish!

McGonagall, Cross Stitch Studio

+411

Super Mario World Map, Box Cat Shop (Etsy)

+510

Monopoly update

I landed on an unowned property and the WIP number corresponded to Dolphin Family. That means only one pattern isn’t started yet. It got off to a bumpy start. This pattern has several nuances to it with floss amounts. Hopefully as I work on it, I’ll get more comfortable with it.

+558

How did April go?

I only longer-term track my stitch counts on the ‘Big 5‘. I added more math to my tracker to attempt at an estimated completion date based on my current rate of work. McGonagall came in at being finished sometime in 2100…

Here’s how I did in April for chipping away at these: 2,831 stitches across the five.

The Big 5 have a combined stitch count of 1,295,620. I’m 4.24% complete with all five, which isn’t bad considering I have limited time to work on them.

Need to make it an FFO

There is one project, Red Panda, that has been sitting fully stitched since October. I entered it as an auction item in the St. Jude fundraiser MocoMade hosts. It’s an application process, and I don’t have this finished yet to show them what it will be. But the board is cut so I can get started now.

Happy crafting!

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3

and watch live on Twitch CraftyK3

$ Buy stuff $

2026: March update

CraftyK Leave a comment

One of my cousins had a milestone birthday in March, so one card was made! I was really struggling that day. The card was supposed to be horizontal, but ended up vertical because I stamped happy upside down. Whoops. Cursive font threw me off. Here it is:

I do like the purple paper as a cutout versus a background as I have been using it. I set out the last (I hope) of the purple paper for another card, but working multiple jobs has left me with little time for card making or stitching.

The big 5 update

If you would like to read the origin stories, you can find that here. So far the progress on these has not resulted in an official update photo, but there should be progress photos coming in April. Follow my Instagram to see them when they are released.

Cats Library, Heaven and Earth Designs.

+587

Disintegration, Heaven and Earth Designs

+339

Universal Monsters, Witchy Stitcher’s SAL from 2019

+626

McGonagall, Cross Stitch Studio

+1,013

Super Mario World Map, Box Cat Shop (Etsy)

+968

Monopoly update

So far only Safari has come up for Monopoly and was a new start. McGonagall is also coming up and getting more stitches completed on that one as well.

Turtle Tower from DailyCrossStitch.com, Dolphin Family, and Nativity remain unchanged.

How did March go?

I only longer-term track my stitch counts on the ‘Big 5‘. All five are now in progress. I put in a total of 3,533 stitches on those in the month of March. Which is more than February with a total of 1,515.

The Big 5 have a combined stitch count of 1,295,620. I’m 4.03% complete with all five, which isn’t bad considering I have limited time to work on them.

Need to make it an FFO

There is one project, Red Panda, that has been sitting fully stitched since October. I’ve decided to turn it into an ornament, but that’s as far as it’s gotten. Once that gets finished up, there will be a blog post for it. (Yay bonus post!) < This is the same update from February, no progress has been made.

Happy crafting!

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3

and watch live on Twitch CraftyK3

$ Buy stuff $
Shine like the stars

2026: January Cards

CraftyK Leave a comment

As I mentioned in my 2025 annual post, I am moving this to monthly. I know I can manage to complete one card a month and this is a way to post with more frequency. I have less interest in posting about individual cards and more about sharing the finished pieces as inspiration for your own creations.

Most of my supplies are second-hand, so I’m not always able to point to where you can buy more. I hope you can find inspiration in the shapes and layouts for your own paper crafting journey. I am available to chat live a couple days a week on Twitch about paper crafting. I do cross stitch on stream, but happy to chat paper. I usually have my finished cards nearby as well.

January 2nd was an intense day of card making. I had thank yous to make for Christmas gifts and had other paper/stamps set out to make some other cards. My sheet of silver paper with shiny dots is now all used up. A few cards did make it to the Ko-Fi shop.

The sympathy cards with cats were inspired by people I know who have lost their cats recently. I haven’t lost my first cat yet, but she is quite old now and I’m sure I’ll be a mess when it happens. Maybe someone will send me a sympathy card when the time comes.

Shine like the stars

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3

and watch live on Twitch CraftyK3

$ Buy stuff $

2025 Cards

CraftyK Leave a comment

My annual card gallery is here! Check out every card created in 2025 by month of creation. The end of 2024 brought on just shy of two dozen new cards. Each year I strive to improve, learn and try new techniques and create some beautiful cards. 2025 saw twice as many with 49 new cards created. I started up my Ko-Fi shop at the end of 2024 where you may find some of the cards below listed for sale.

I set out the year to grow in the card making space. This meant posting about it and at the very least making at least one card per month.

For 2026 I plan to release a post each month with the cards made the previous month. There may be a little more info about how they were made, but I still strive to keep my musings short. I feel that you shouldn’t have to wait all year before seeing all the cards created.

Use these as inspiration for your own cards!

Most of my supplies are second-hand, so I’m not always able to point to where you can buy more.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3

and watch live on Twitch CraftyK3

$ Buy stuff $
Turtle in clear keychain.

Turtle & cat on linen

CraftyK Leave a comment

I went to a local cross stitch store to get fabric for my next project (which turned into two) and came away with a sample of Jobelan and linen scraps to try out.

I think it was expected that I just make little x’s of nothingness, but I have so many patterns, I found a cute little turtle in a World of Cross Stitch magazine to blow up large enough to stitch. And mark off progress.

I decided to try the 40 count linen first as it came highly recommended (once you get used to it). Day one I put in 43 stitches and I’m not a fan.

Day two or three taking the project outside and using sunlight helped immensely. I could finally see the holes! Stitching went easier. Since I stitched using 1 thread, I finished up some backstitching when working on the eyes.

Turtle on brown linen minimal backstitching

Finishing, it paid off to stitch over 2. Which I decided to do because of the backstitching. It meant built in holes for all the backstitching landing in the middle of a square.

Part two of the sample pieces from the local cross stitch store. The cat is from the same issue of World of Cross Stitch magazine. Again, recharted in WinStitch. This time not only to make it bigger, but because the key is two pages away.

It paid off again to stitch over 2. There is backstitching in the middle of the square. This one I timed and it took 2.5 hours all in. I didn’t take a progress pic of the cat, it went from stitched to backstitched the same day to finish.

Stitching – Turtle

Started: August 8, 2025

Finished: August 12, 2025

Stitching time: didn’t track it

Turtle in clear keychain.

Stitching – Cat

Started: August 17, 2025

Finished: August 19, 2025

Stitching time: 2.5 hours

Light and dark grey spotted cat in clear keychain

See finished projects and updates on Instagram @craftyk.3
Updates on Snapchat

and watch live on Twitch craftyK3

or buy stuff

3 mini Christmas cards

CraftyK Leave a comment

Christmas bird

The first pattern of three. After stitching this and working through the backstitching, I recommend finding 28 count fabric if you can and working it over 2 holes, effectively still stitching 14 count. I used what the kit came with, which included a lot of making new holes for quarter stitches and backstitching details.

Stitching

Started: June 10, 2025

Finished: June 15, 2025

Stitching time: 3.25 hours

Christmas tree

The second pattern of three. At this point I’m determined to get these done and get back to my full coverage pieces. This one wasn’t the most fun to finish, and the backstitching was a pain. But it’s done now and ready to be placed on the card.

Stitching

Started: June 15, 2025

Finished: June 16, 2025

Stitching time: 5 hours

Holly

The third pattern of three. This one was easier overall. Except I missed a lot of half stitches and had to go back and fill those in. The backstitching went much smoother with most stitches starting and ending in a hold that already existed.

Stitching

Started: June 16, 2025

Finished: June 21, 2025

Stitching time: 4.25 hours

These patterns did come as a kit with square cards and envelopes. Originally I was going to assemble these as intended, but since I intend to list them on my shop, the branding on the back wouldn’t work so well. I changed course, found a stamp with the same sentiment, got out all the Christmas paper I have and set to work making three new Christmas cards. I think they turned out well!

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3
Updates on Snapchat

and watch live on Twitch craftyK3

or buy stuff

New home

CraftyK Leave a comment

When my in-laws moved to a new house, I wanted to make a little card commemorating the move. I came across a pattern I liked in Helen Phillipps’ book with samplers and card designs. I changed the colors used to match the house and used a favorite color to personalize the design more.

If you read this blog, you probably know my new found addiction to Pattern Keeper. I charted out the pattern in WinStitch and exported for Pattern Keeper. Sadly, it still can’t read backstitching, so I did print out a large copy for when I get to that stage.

Somehow I managed to not actually finish the stitching, marked it done in Pattern Keeper, and took a photo before I started backstitching. I made it a couple stitches up the right side of the house before I realized the roof was missing. Instead of taking a different photo, I kept what I had, got my slightly lighter grey out and stitched the roof. Then I continued on with the backstitching.

I did something very different this time when it came to assembly. I live streamed the process on my day-old Twitch account. Yup, that’s a thing now I guess. While setting up my Ko-fi shop again, I decided to look into Discord and Twitch since they seem to be big integrations. Turns out, I think those platforms are better for what I make, so I’m trying it out.

I couldn’t believe my luck with the bottom strip. It’s a piece of wallpaper that matched the aqua and purple in the cross stitch so well!

Stitching

Started: December 31, 2024

Finished: January 19, 2025

Stitching time: 8.25 hours

See finished projects on Instagram @craftyk.3
Updates on Snapchat

and watch live on Twitch craftyk3

2024 Cards

CraftyK Leave a comment

If you don’t want to read the nuances about the cards I created in 2024, this is where you can see them all by month of creation. After the surge of cards made in December 2023, I hope these cards don’t disappoint. I’m also hoping you see an increase in quality and creativity.

Use these as inspiration for your own cards!

February

May

June

September

October

November

December

Follow current projects on Instagram @craftyk.3
Also on Snapchat

$ Support me $

Nightmare before Christmas, well sort of…

CraftyK Leave a comment

A family member who loves Nightmare Before Christmas unexpectedly came to town for Christmas. I was told two days in advance. The day before Christmas I decided to make her a keychain. I had patterns from a little Disney kit for Nightmare and a couple of them are small enough, if stitched on 25 count. My full coverage projects are coming in handy. Without those, I wouldn’t have 25 count fabric on hand.

Sound familiar? I did the same stitch count for my Secret Snowflake Pokémon keychain. It’s actually not that bad stitching so small. I do like the one strand of thread instead of two as well.

In addition to the two cross stitches I also made one of my first Christmas cards now that I have more stamps. Normally I don’t keep Christmas themed stamps when I get them, but I did save a few and they came in handy this year.

I used Winstitch to plot out the patterns from the itty bitty book. There was no way I could keep count from the original patterns. By doing that I was also able to put the stitching part into Pattern Keeper and I printed a huge copy for the backstitching. I think they turned out really nice.

I found a way to use my ho ho ho paper. It didn’t work so well with the cross stitch mouse, but for this card it worked out well. I’m pretty sure the Santa stamp is part of a retired Stampin’ Up collection. It was part of a large set of stamps donated to me in CD cases. I used my dotted embossing folder for the red paper on the right. I also added some glitter to Santa’s beard after I took the photo. This card is also larger than my usual at 5×7.

Stitching

Started: December 24, 2024

Finished: December 25, 2024

Stitching time: 2 hours Jack and Sally, 1 hour Zero

Follow along on Snapchat
for current projects!

Also now on Instagram @craftyk.3