Yarn Stash!!!

I love my yarn stash, now that I have a decent one.
I had someone wanting a custom order, and i was able to just get a yarn and send a pic of it.
So very nice :)

 I'm happy, I've been almost making a real living on Etsy for the past week, my OneStitch site has had it's first sale. I just hope this pace can continue! and get faster. Because I don't think unemployment is going to side with me on this one.

mmm, taco eggrolls

This is a very easy recipe to make, a little bit different, though.
It's essentially a taco, rolled up in an eggroll!

You will need: (I never do exactly the same recipe twice, so no amounts are given, use however much you want)
1 eggroll wrap for each
hamburger
a couple of eggs
velveeta cheese (cubed)
cream cheese (cubed)
green peppers (diced)
onions (diced)
taco seasoning
salsa
cooking oil
whatever else you want to taste

Essentially, whatever you might put on a taco, plus i like to add cream cheese and velveeta cheese. then the egg is for the cover.

Directions: cook hamburger thouroughly, drain fat, add taco seasoning and vegetables, cook until veggies are softened.

have eggs beaten in a bowl ready and place 1 eggroll wrap on your working space. lightly brush the edges with egg, then fill with some hamburger, 1 or 2 cubes each of each cheese, salsa, etc.

Wrap eggroll around this concotion, making sure there are no holes, brush the whole thing in egg, and fry it!

 eggrolls will have to be turned halfway through frying to get both sides even- it floats

 drain eggrolls just as you would fried chicken :) and enjoy!

This recipe is uber fattening, I recommend no more than 1 to a customer, and have a nice side with it :) 

The Book Press

So Steve made me a book press (he's teaching me woodworking so I can make my own stuff :) ).

I needed one so I could make pocket journals in the perfect bound method (how paperbacks are made).

Drew up a quick drawing, because I can't describe anything in person :D.


Here is what Steve came up with!
Looks good, doesn't it? Instead of using nails or screws to hold it together, he glued the straightening rails. Only hardware needed was 2 carriage bolts and 2 wing nuts for the pressing part. 

Here's a blurry picture of it in use, as I was folding the cover over the glue. I was making a book that was 1/4 inch thick.

I've had this book press for a few weeks now, and looking around yesterday i found one kind of similar to one here:
http://www.diybookbinding.com/diy-book-binding-equipment-binding-jig-for-perfect-bound-books/  well, that's pretty similar! There's a full tutorial on how to use it there too.

 And here's the finished product!
This one's mine, the first one of any of the journals always is. I'll be making more later.

Update: Listing Frenzy

The original post: http://stephaniemakesall.blogspot.com/2011/03/listing-frenzy.html

Well, I have been listing multiple items daily for a while.

I've determined that
1) I can make enough items in a day to make this my full time job
2) I do get more views when I list this often.
3) I am not getting anymore sales, in fact, right now I'm getting none.

I am hoping that it is just the time of year, being right before taxes are due. We'll see.

Matchbook NotebooksTutorial

I have matchbook notebooks in the Stephaniemakesall shop now!

Matchbook style notepads are perfect for jotting down a quick note, a phone number, or anything else that comes to mind.

Matchbook notepads also make great favors.

I cannot re-make any of the recycled cover ones, so decided to put out a tutorial! Here's how to make one of your own, in any size.



 1) Cut 10 sheets of paper to whatever size you want. I cut mine to 1 14" X 2 1/8". This step is easiest if you have a paper guillotine.

Stapled to fold only

2) Chose your cover. Use a heavier paper. Cardstock works great. I use the covers of magazines, advertising inserts, and pieces left over from my journals and origami boxes. Whatever catches my eye.

Stapled through to back

3) Cut the cover to fit your writing papers. cover should be at least the width of the inside sheets, it's better if it is at least 1/8th inch wider. Cover should  be at least 2 X inside sheet length + 1/4" long so it can wrap around the papers inside. My covers, for example, are 1 3/8" X 4 1/2".


4) Fold bottoms of covers. Fold enough of the bottom of the cover to be able to stick your sheets into it and staple the sheets to the cover.

5) Stick your sheets into the matchbook cover. Line them up, insert them, then staple them! You can staple them either to the folded part alone, or staple through the folded part, the sheets, and the back.  


6) Fold top of cover over the sheets (third pic) and insert into the bottom of cover (as shown in last pic)

 7) Enjoy your new matchbook notebook!