Cross Stitch Skull and Crossbones!

For my birthday, I went to the craft store, and blew the $30 that my grandparents gave me on crafty crap.
Among the craft items was this terrific, blank, black tote bag...that I could decorate HOWEVER I WANT. WooHoo!
So, I cross-stitched this super awesome skull and crossbones onto it:



I got the pattern for this at supermitten.com.
I had a few problems in the beginning stages - mainly, with the waste canvas, which doesn't seem as easy to use as the package (and many cross-stitching websites) would lead you to believe. The combined thickness of the fabric and the waste canvas, as well as the inflexibility of the canvas itself, led to the impossibility of getting the fabric + waste canvas stretched over the damn hoop to make it easier to work with.
I ended up abandoning the hoop and the waste canvas, and went for my 14 aida. It was easy enough to apply, the stitches look uniform - and when finished, it actually LOOKS like the pattern. Unfortunately, it was a bitch to remove out from under the stitches. I'll make sure to attempt the waste canvas again - although, I'll definitely have to plan better.

A little off the subject...
I really can't figure out what to do with this tote bag. I have a couple ideas:
1. Run with the pirate theme, as I love pirates, and they are awesome and stuff,
or
2. Make it an 'Audrey Awesome' tote bag, covered in everything that I love: frogs, Folk Art Hearts, Happy faces, crochet patches/pockets, Peace signs, guns...you know - all the stuff that makes me ME.
OR (this just occurred to me)
3. Make a theme on either side (e.g. frogs on one side, pirates on the other)

I love themes, and I'm willing to run with one - but an amalgam of the awesome things that I ♥LOVE♥ really brings out the artist in me!

Another Plarn Tote

This is another pattern I got from the book: 'Kooky Crochet' by Linda Kopp



My tote came out quite a bit bigger than the one in the picture. I might have used a hook that is much bigger than what the author used...although, the instructions only specified "big plastic hook"...with no size listed. This made me a little frustrated, as I like projects to turn out looking like the picture that tempted me into making the project in the first place.
I also like detailed, EXACT instructions (especially when it has to do with the materials and supplies needed to complete the project). I was tempted to name this project 'Colossal Waste of Time' - because, more than likely, I'll never use this.
I guess the best thing about this bag is that it's made out of plarn...and I can chalk it up as a learning experience and drop it in a recycle bin.
I guess satisfaction isn't always guaranteed in crochet. As in life...

Plarn Tote Bag

This is my first plarn project:


Plarn Bag by ~audreydc1983 on deviantART


This crochet bag was made out of plarn; yarn made from plastic bags. I got the pattern through Crochet Pattern Central. Oh - here it is!
I altered the pattern a bit. I continued to crochet around, adding rounds to rnds 5-7 (I think I ended up doing rounds 5-11 like that, then following the remainder of the pattern).
There are quite a few tutorials on how to make plarn, including some stuff on youtube, but be warned - this stuff is hard to work with until you get the hang of it - the results are truly amazing! It stretches to accommodate things that have a weird shape, and it definitely gets the attention of the checkers at the supermarket (and other patrons!).
Hope you like!