DIY: Crochet Water Bottle Carrier

To go along with my 4th Flops, I made a quick water bottle carrier. This skip-stitch design was fast and easy. We all know how it is - go to a get together, sit down your drink, and forget where we put it!

I started with the following YouTube tutorial, but had difficulty getting the entire video to load (internet brain fart), so I followed it to the second round of skip stitches. From there I did six more rounds (8 total) skip stitches and topped it off with a round of single crochet.

The strap is just a row of single crochet, a row of skip stitch and another row of single crochet. Be sure to attach it securely with your blunt sewing needle!

Water Bottle Tutorial:

There are a number of applique videos and patterns on YouTube and Pinterest to customize your carrier with. As I mentioned yesterday, by changing color and motif, you can create an entirely new piece, like this Halloween style one I made for Britt:

DIY: July 4th Flops

Here's a fun and easy way to dress up a pair of flip flops for Independence Day!

You will need:
* Size H (5mm) Crochet Hook
* Blunt needle to sew in ends
* Navy Yarn
* Red Yarn
* White Flip Flops

(Below, I have embedded the tutorial videos I used for both the flip flop straps, and the star appliques. This same method could be used with other appliques such as flowers or butterflies to embellish your every day wear flops, too!)

Once you have crocheted around the straps and created your appliques, secure your stars to the flip flops by sewing through the back of the star and completely around the strap several times in the middle and on the horizontal points. Be sure to secure firmly!

FLIP FLOPS:

STARS:

RECIPE: Chocolate Covered Pretzels

These versatile treats make a great snack for any occasion or holiday! 

Example pretzels provided by Brittney

By simply using different colored chocolate and sprinkles, you can create a themed treat for any holiday or occasion- White chocolate dyed orange and purple with yellow and green sprinkles for Halloween, white chocolate with red and green sprinkles for Christmas... The possibilities are endless. They're also a hit with the kids!

INGREDIENTS:

1 bag White Chocolate Chips
1 bag Pretzel Twists
Garnish Candies: Colored Sugar, Sprinkles etc.
Food Coloring (if desired)
Wax Paper

Lay sheets of wax paper on your work surface. Melt chocolate in a large glass mixing bowl in the microwave- Heat for 2 minutes, stir, heat and additional 2 minutes. Chocolate should be easy to stir and all chips completely melted. Add food coloring at this time, mix thoroughly.

Use tongs to dip pretzels into chocolate, lightly tapping the tongs on the edge of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Lay pretzels on wax paper and lightly sprinkle with garnish candies.

Let pretzels completely cool before storing in an airtight container. 1 bag of chocolates makes appx. 4 doz pretzels.