Printable Bunny Silhouettes

The graphics fairy has a whole sheet (8 per page) of these wonderful running rabbits in two sizes you can print for your Easter Place Cards or other Easter projects. Download and print here. She made something much more complicated.

The real story behind 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster

Watch this very enjoyable short film that tells the true story behind the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster discovered by the proprietors of an old book shop in England. I downloaded their [free] Keep Calm App to my iPhone and love it. I can't wait to play around with it. I am such a child. Click here if you are unable to watch this video on my blog. I promise you are going to like it ! ! !

Screen shot of the Keep Calm app for iPhone and iPad. Download here.

Forcing Narcissus Bulbs

I started forcing my narcissus bulbs way before Christmas and they are just starting to come to life. It must have something to do with my thermostat setting which is pretty low. That's fine with me because they last much longer in a cool environment.

This arrangement is right beside "my seat" on the sofa. I hope you like my first iPhone photo of the new year.

I did a little photo editing with SNAPSEED for iPhone and iPad. It was the iPad app of the year for 2011. It's not that easy to use on the iPhone bacause of the small screen but it will be awesome when I get the iPad 3 when it comes out. This app normally costs $4.99 but it's FREE for a limited time. Download it HERE. Video lessons for Snapseed HERE -- keep scrolling. Click photos to enlarge.

Trio of Holiday Mice with Free Knitting Pattern

© Barbara Prime
Free pattern -- Download PDF Here.
Details here.

2012 Calendar -- 12-Sided Geosphere, 3-D Calendar with Tutorial, Free Download

Your free download for 2012. I just finished making mine for the coming year.

This was my #1 most popular download last year. The 12-sided calendar is also known as a regular dodecahedron. The upcoming year (2012) will be my 5th year with one of these on my desk. It's pretty tricky to assemble - especially at the end when you feel you need another set of hands. Do all cutting, scoring, and folding first; then all you have to do is to remember to do NOVEMBER last. It is the only month that doesn't have any fold-over tabs. It is helpful to have a chopstick or bamboo skewer handy to poke inside to assist in securing anything that's not sticking or properly aligned. This prevents bending the paper. I used card stock and scored all the dotted lines with the sharp tip of a compass guided by a see-thru ruler. Cut out whole design before scoring and folding. Cut solid lines, score dotted lines. I also had to adjust the pdf to "fit to printable area" since without that correction some of the outside edges did not print on my printer.  If you have finished your shopping you might want to make some for holiday gifts. People love them and everybody needs one. You can't beat the price either. One sheet of paper, some glue and your time. The ultimate home-made present that will be used every day next year. Perfect!

Download PDF 2012 Calendar Template here. (showing MONDAY as the first day of the week)

Download PDF 2012 Calendar Template here. (showing SUNDAY as the first day of the week)

Most American calendars show Sunday as the first day of the week. I used this template to make my 2012 calendar.

I don't know if I can correctly call this origami because it requires glue. I highly recommend YES Paste - Acid Free. An $11 one-pint tub lasts forever.

Save Your Hollyhock Seeds

Don't forget to save those dried hollyhock pods in your seed saving envelopes. Click on the link (and keep scrolling down) to choose and print the free patterns I've created for you over the years.

Yale Opens Online Digital Library with 250,000 Free Images

Zebra oil on canvas painted by George Stubbs in 1763. View a wonderful slideshow showing the great diversity now available from Yale with delightful background music here.

Read complete article.

May Day Flower Cone Template | Free Download

Happy May Day

Wouldn't it be fun to leave one of these hanging May Baskets on the front door of a friend as a May Day gift? I might make some too. Here is the FREE TEMPLATE to download. Have fun.  

I didn't have to make any adjustments when I printed my template but the following note was included by the original author of this template. Technical Note: Please make sure your printing margins are set to .5 inches  (1/2 inch) or the template will not print completely. In your browser's Menu bar, select File -- Page Setup, and change the margin settings to .5. (The selections may be slightly different between browsers.) This template makes a cone measuring 6 inches high, and the opening diameter is 3 inches. This cone is perfect for holding fresh-cut flowers, small clumps of potted plants, flower petals, or small candies! I plan on reinforcing the hole on the reverse side with some heavy packaging tape I have on hand. You should apply the tape before poking/punching the hole.

Hermès | The Story of the Kelly Bag | Download

Designed by Robert Dumas in the 1930s, the Kelly was simply unlike any other bag around. It was first called sac à courroie pour dames, meaning bag with straps for ladies.

How interesting. I learned lots of new things about the original Hermès Kelly Bag. Read more . . .

The bag became an overnight sensation after this photo appeared in Life Magazine in 1956. It wasn't officially renamed Kelly until 21 years later. Grace Kelly loved this bag and used the half-dozen in her collection to hide her pregnancy from the paparazzi. 

As you can see from this photo the bag did an excellent job for Princess Grace of Monaco, our American princess.

 Download your Kelly and make an origami paper version.

How To Fold Your HERMES Scarf -- 21 Diagrams

I never knew there were so many different ways to tie a scarf. You might learn something useful if you have lots of scarves in different sizes. You can make halter tops, purse straps, belts, headbands and many other items. Click here for the Free PDF Download from the Hermès website. Have fun tying yourself up in knots.

Free Fonts for Commercial Use ~ Nice!

Here is a very nice site full of free fonts. I'm a fond of fonts as you all know. You should definitely visit and download some of these. Free is good.

Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Dogs Aren't Almost-Human

This quote made me smile. I often say Webster is just like a person and I must stop. He's way smarter. Designed with a free font you might want to download.



Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Happy Christmas - John Lennon 1971 [Video]

War is Over.Would that this were true.
John and Yoko with The Harlem Community Choir ~ 1971.



Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Download + Print SANTA'S BEARD

Download and print Santa's Beard. Click here for the PDF.

When wearing, don't forget to "Ho Ho Ho" in your best Santa voice. See the pictures on Flickr of people wearing the beards.

Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Jack Skellington Halloween Hat + Mask To Knit | Free Pattern

Get out your knitting needles -- you still have time to make this wonderful hat/mask for Halloween. It's great for skiers and snowboarders as well as Trick or Treaters since it adjusts to all kinds of winter weather. It makes for a very original, warm and practical Halloween accessory too.

The design is mostly inspired by the character Jack Skellington from the animated movie 'The Nightmare before Christmas’ by director Tim Burton.

Download Free Pattern from Knitty Magazine

The Fall 2010 Issue of Knitty Magazine is available here.



Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Handwriting Lessons for Children

Learning to write isn't easy. I have such admiration for the community of homeschooling parents facing this struggle now that the school year is well under way. Hopefully the following links will help.

Download these cursive flashcards here.

Online cursive lessons with animation.

I also found a site where you can download and print your own lined penmanship paper and regular notebook paper as well. Don't worry -- it's free.

Download lined penmanship paper here.

You can also download other things from this site. Look for the section that looks like the photo above at the top of the page under the large red title.

I have blogged about handwriting in the past and these links continue to attract viewers. I thought it was time to post them again so you don't have to dig so deep to find them.
First image ©Mary Engelbreit scanned from one of my books.



Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Knitted Hot Water Bottle Cozy | Free Pattern

This is wonderful. Download free knitting pattern here. It is marked "intermediate" so I think I will stick to my original plan of making one by cutting up an old sweater. You master knitters can make this one from scratch. I so love a hot water bottle in the winter.



Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

2011 Calendar 12-Sided Geosphere | Free Download | 3-D Calendar with Tutorial

The photo above is the 2010 calendar. I haven't made one for 2011 yet. I am including pdf templates for both 2010 and 2011 at the end of this post.

This was my #1 most popular download last year. The 12-sided calendar is also known as a regular dodecahedron. The upcoming year (2011) will be my 4th year with one of these on my desk. It's pretty tricky to assemble - especially at the end when you feel you need another set of hands. Do all cutting, scoring, and folding first; then all you have to do is to remember to do NOVEMBER last. It is the only month that doesn't have any fold-over tabs. It is helpful to have a chopstick handy to poke inside to assist in securing anything that's not sticking or properly aligned. This prevents bending the paper. I used card stock and scored all the dotted lines with the sharp tip of a compass guided by a see-thru ruler. Cut out whole design before scoring and folding. Cut solid lines, score dotted lines. I also had to adjust the pdf to "fit to printable area" since without that correction some of the outside edges did not print on my printer. If this is your first attempt you might want to experiment first with regular paper before jumping to cardstock. I am publishing this super early this year in case you want to make some for holiday gifts. People love them and everybody needs one. You can't beat the price either. One sheet of paper, some glue and your time. The ultimate home-made present that will be used every day next year. Perfect!

HINT: Before you start scoring and folding you might want to use a highlighter to mark any dates that you need to remember such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Download PDF 2011 Calendar Template here.
(showing MONDAY as the first day of the week)

Download PDF 2011 Calendar Template here.
(showing SUNDAY as the first day of the week)
I just learned how to make this adjustment.
Most American calendars show Sunday as the first day of the week.
I'm going to use this template to make my 2011 calendar.

Download PDF 2010 Calendar Template here.
(First day of week Monday)

I don't know if I can correctly call this origami because it requires glue.
I highly recommend YES Paste - Acid Free.
An $11 one-pint tub lasts forever.

Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

Pedicure Socks + Yoga Socks | Free Knitting Patterns

Down load free Pedicure Socks pattern here.

Download free Yoga Socks pattern here.

I've never knitted any socks because turning the heel aways scared me. These socks would make cute gifts for your friends. I always see ladies walking around in the winter in flip flops with cotton sticking up from their toes and naked feet. These cute pedicure socks are just the ticket, aren't they? Love the yoga socks too.

Here is the complete list of free patterns from Vogue Knitting. Happy knitting.

Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.