*This January is National Hobby Month post contains affiliate links

I recently found out that January is National Hobby Month. So I thought I’d share my many, and varied hobbies!

I love to crochet! I have been crocheting ever since I remember! I don’t remember learning, or who taught me, maybe my mother?? I remember carrying a bag of yarn to school when I was in like 3-5th grades. I would spend recess “finger crocheting”. Ever tried that? It’s a fun way to keep kids busy. lol And they love all the chains they make!

That’s a teddy bear in the making. I am using this free teddy bear pattern.

These are the crochet hooks I use. They are so comfortable to hold. I haven’t experienced any rough spots on the hooks to snag the yarn like I have with other hooks in the past.

I love this yarn. It’s one of my favorites to use. It’s so soft! I use it to make this shawl, that I’ve made several of to give away.

If you are a beginner crocheter, or you want to start, this is a great book to learn how to crochet with.

January is National Hobby Month!

I was so blessed by my children a year ago. They all chipped in and bought me a Cricut! I literally cried when I opened it. So I’ve been having fun slowly learning how to use it. I’ve made cards, mugs, and of course shirts! This is the one I have.

My latest project was these matching gingerbread man shirts for my husband and I. We were judges in a gingerbread house contest at church. We won the year before, so we judged this year. It was so much fun!

Basically, I love any kind of crafting!

Reading is another way I love to spend time. Here’s what I’m currently reading, in addition to my Bible.

And these e-books. And, yes, I do have a book problem. lol

I love to cook and bake, too! I started when I took Home Ec in Junior High. I remember the first time I picked a recipe from a cook book and followed it by myself. It was probably around the same time. I was baby sitting my little brother, and there were no snacks in the house. GASP! lol So I found a sugar cookie recipe that didn’t require cookie cutters and made those. They came out great! That’s how I remember it anyway. lol We all ate them, so I guess they were alright! lol

You can see what I’ve been up to in the kitchen with my In the Kitchen With Linda posts. As well as my In the Kitchen with Linda page that has all my recipes and tips linked.

Share with me some of your favorite hobbies. I’m always on the look out for something new to try!

*Disclosure: The post conatains affilliate links. If you click the link and make a pruchase, I will receive a small commision at no cost to you.

*This I Got a Cricut! Here’s My First Cricut Projects post contains affiliate links

I was blessed to receive a Cricut from some of my kids for Christmas last year. Then in January, before I had much time to play with it, we all got sick with “the virus”. So I lost a couple of months of play time. I’ve been making up for it though!

Check out some of my first Cricut projects!

My very first project was decorating my mixer! Using the vinyl that I received as a gift, I put these white flowers on my mixer. I love it!

But then I thought it needed a little something something. lol So I bought some vinyl in a color that goes with my kitchen. And added some more decorations. Looks pretty good, I think. And it makes me smile when I see my mixer!

The 1st t-shirt I made was for my mother. My great nephew, her great grandson, was having a super hero birthday party, and every was supposed to come dressed as a supper hero. So I made her a Super Granny t-shirt. Complete with cape! It was during the making of this shirt when I discovered that using an iron to make t-shirts is hard!

The next shirt was for my anthropologist daughter. Skeletons, of course. lol I actually had to make this shirt twice. The first one, made with my iron, messed up. So I then bought a Cricut Press and made her another one. Ah, much better!

My husband bought a new welding helmet, but someone else in the shop had one just like it. So He asked me to put something on it so he could tell which one was his. Flames, of course!

Then, about a week before Easter, I finally made something for myself! And I wore it every time I left the house all week. lol Oh, for the record, I washed it by hand in the sink at night and hung it to dry. Lest you think I wore a dirty shirt all week. lol

My son that still lives at home requested a Star Wars shirt. I had to pay for this design, but it wasn’t too bad. Only $1.99. And he likes it. lol Young men can be so picky! lol

I had to order more black vinyl for his shirt. So I tried a different brand of heat transfer vinyl. It has high ratings on amazon. I worked great for this shirt, with no problems. And it’s a lot cheaper than Cricut supplies!

I made a mug, too, with permanent vinyl. But I forgot to take a picture before I gave it away!

Do you have a Cricut? What have been some of your favorite projects to make? Let me know! I’m on the look out for more things to make! lol

Here are a few of the supplies that I have used:

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.

*This post contains affiliate links

 

A friend posted a picture on social media that said “Grandma’s Tweet Hearts”.

It featured kids footprints turned into birds.

 

I fell in love with it!

 

And the first chance I got I made one myself with my grandkids.

 

 

It’s pretty easy to do. And I’m not an artist. lol

The first step is to paint the kids feet with craft paint and put foot prints on a canvas. I used one foot from each of my grandchildren.

Make sure you have help for that step! At least 2 people are needed. 3 would be even better. It depends on how cooperative your babies and toddlers are. Some freak out when you paint their feet. lol

After that’s dry, add bird bellies, feet, beaks, and eyes.

I outlined the belly and beak, then filled in with yellow. I added a few paint brush strokes of brown and white for highlights.

I painted the little feet with yellow on a small brush. Then added just a few highlights in brown.

For the eyes, I put a dot of white, with a dot of black inside.

I printed “MiMi’s Tweet Hearts” on mine, but you can use whatever name your kids or grandkids call you.

I added their names, but you don’t have to. Then I thought it needed a little something something extra, so I added a few little hearts.

I think it came out soooooo cute! It’s hanging in my living room!

These would make great gifts, too!

 

*This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of the links, and make a purchase, I will received a small commission.

It’s been a while since I had done any craft projects. I have been itching to do something lately, though. So when I saw this, I just knew I had to try it.

I followed the directions for a Fishnet Wrapped Mason Jar from It All Started with Paint.  It was pretty easy to start.

 

 

It actually went pretty quick! It’s a little messy with all the little “hairs” coming off the twine.

 

 

And I love how it turned out! I filled it with shells and put it in my beach themed bathroom.

 

I love it! I think I’m going to make a couple more, too!