tiny moon

Crochet Bag Patterns (Free & Paid)

2026-06-13T08:16:52.044-07:00

Looking for your next crochet bag project? I've gathered a mix of free and paid crochet bag patterns, including totes, colorwork designs, simple classics, intricate textures and unique styles. Some of the free patterns also offer ad-free PDF versions, giving you the option to support the designer while enjoying a less distracting experience.

Free

Ophelia Round Bag originally designed by Nine Inspired posted on Littlejohn's Yarn

A very cute option for a Wednesday style bag. Cotton scrap yarn would work great for the colorful portion or a cute variegated colorway. Support ad free here

Perfect Fit Hobo Bag by Claire Ortega-Reyes on the Crochet Spot

I love this half moon shape! This would probably be super cute as an ocean theme with some matching keychains and a statement button.

Lucinda Bag by Divine Debris. Support ad free here

This tote is the perfect size and it has such pretty texture! Perfect for a pretty cotton yarn.

Shell-Shopped Bag by Tyrneathem

This would be a great option for using up cotton yarn in variegated and scrap colors. This features a shell stitch throughout the main part of the bag.

Granny Square Hobo Bag by Blackstone Designs. Support ad free here

A great pattern for using up cotton or acrylic scraps. Choose a theme like monochrome, gradients or pastels.

Paid

Feelin' Groovy Beach Bag by Sarah Miskelly

A pretty retro flower granny square design! Check out the other projects in the link to see how others made it. There's something interesting color combinations.

Fleur Market Bag by Ines Rodgers

Such a beautiful flower design!

Black Cat Tote Bag by Marina Vershinina

This is super cute. This colorwork technique is intarsia and it's for intermediate crocheters.

Reel Time Crossbody Bag by Kathy Olivarez

This pattern comes in 2 sizes and the design has a magnetic closure. Directions are included on how to line the bag.

I hope this collection helped you discover your next crochet project. Be sure to save your favorites and support the designers when you can. Happy crocheting!

What type of crochet bag do you enjoy making most?

Crochet Star Bag (Sailor Moon style)

2026-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been going through my storage bins lately and came across some of my old Sailor Moon crochet hats. Seeing them again gave me the idea to make a star bag version. I thought the sailor style stripes would look really cute on a bag and I happened to have some matching fabric that was perfect for lining the inside.

Available here: Crochet Star Bag by Ami Moon

Crochet With Me - Making a Mini Squid Amigurumi

2026-06-05T09:16:12.264-07:00

These little plushies are one of my favorite ways to use up leftover scrap yarn. They do not take much yarn at all and I can easily switch up the tentacle colors depending on what I have on hand.

I absolutely love making these mini plushies. I have ended up with a huge bag full of them! One of my favorite things to do is surprise people by randomly adding one or two minis to their orders as a little extra treat.

I always wondered how long it actually takes me to make one, so I finally timed it. It took about 15 minutes.

Cute Finds: Earrings

2026-05-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of cute handmade earrings from small businesses!

Noibat Earrings by Nerdy Little Secrets

These are made to order and you can choose between earrings or a necklace!

Kawaii Sakura Earrings by AtomikCupcakeDesigns

Floral Flight in Violet Reverie Earrings by The Goode Karma Co.

Witchy Frog Earrings by CranieYums

Circus Animal Cookie Earrings by Brightly Clear Designs

Paint Palette Studs Earrings by Cheri’s Boutique Supplies

Space Cat Earrings by Peripheral US

Miyuki Bunny Earrings by Miyukeve

Merry Mushroom Whimsical Moon Clay Earrings by ElliCreates

Micro Crochet Taco Earrings by YettaForever

Squid Amigurumi Pattern (Crochet & Knit)

2026-04-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

This squid pattern involves crochet and knit. I think it's still a good project for a beginner though

Published on Aug 2013

Materials:
C or D crochet hook
5.00mm knitting needles
Worsted weight yarn
9mm safety eyes
Polyfil stuffing
Optional: Weaving yarn needle

Stitches:
Single crochet
Increase (two single crochet stitches in one)
Decrease (skip a stitch or single crochet 2 stitches together)

HEAD
Magic Ring

1.   Single crochet 6 times. (6)
2.   Increase around (12)
3.   “Inc in the next st, sc” around (18)
4.    Sc around. (18)
5.   “Inc, sc in the next 2 sts” around (24)
6.   Sc around (24)
7.   Sc around (24)
8.   Sc around (24)
9.   Sc around (24)
10. “Sc in the next 5 sts, dec” Sc in the last 3 sts (21)
11. Sc around (21)
12. Sc around (21)
13. Sc around (21)
14. Sc around (21)
15. Sc around (21)
16. Sc around (21)
17. Sc around (21)
18. Sc around (21)
Stuff it and leave a short tail.

Tentacles (6)
Cast off 3 stitches.
1.   Knit 3 stitches. Turn.
2.   Repeat row 1 for your length.

I normally do 25-30 rows.
Bind off and leave a decent size tail to attach.

Circle Piece
Magic Ring

1. Single crochet 6 times. (6)
2. Increase around (12)
3. “Inc in the next st, sc” around three times. (9)

Sl st into next. Leave a long tail.

Please do share pictures/links with me if you make one!! ♥

The winner of the Group Sponsor Giveaway is Karel!
Congrats :) I have already emailed you.

Etsy Finds

2026-04-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

Dinosaur Earrings by TreasureTrove22Shop

Frœg Bag Charm by beautifullyregular

Corgi Amigurumi Pattern by Bedabee

In My Clown Era Sticker by acrylicana

Haunted House - Hand Dyed Yarn by EvergreenYarnStudio

Sewing Pattern Fluffy Bat Plush by SewCraftNbead

Nocturne Hexagon Cardigan Crochet Pattern by Szydelkoperz

Sparkly Mushroom Keychain by AlishaJeanArt

Which ones are your favorite??

Crochet Fox Amigurumi with 6 Tails

2026-04-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

✨available here ✨ by Ami Moon Shop

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Cute gray fox plush with six tails and white antlers. There's a moon gem feature on the forehead and star gems near the eyes. This handmade fantasy fox has custom glitter safety eyes in blue and purple with colorful specks, giving it a celestial inspired look.

Crochet Dog Amigurumi

2026-03-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

I made these crochet dogs using one of my base patterns and added a few different ear shape options to switch things up. I used some mystery tweed yarn from my stash which gave them a really nice speckle of color.

They turned out super cute and small. I’ve made a few more in bright colors too and I’ll be sharing those once I get photos taken.

Available on Etsy

These are Squittles ✨ Crochet Octopus Collection

2025-01-29T17:52:00.000-08:00

These are forever my favorite animals to crochet. They always look super cute with their big eyes! Back in the day, we had a shop full of colorful cephalopod plushies called Squittle and I still love that name.

This was one of the first octopus designs I came up with and I always wanted to write down the pattern, but it doesn’t exactly follow standard crochet rules. I also never count my stitches and just wing it… 😉 I'm sure there's a way to make it no-sew but I don't mind all the sewing. It's still a classic.

Here are some Squittle relics!

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with different yarns and textures to see what works best. I still love making panda bear octopuses and using whatever supplies I have on hand, like felt and scrap yarn. The chunky and acrylic yarn combo was definitely an interesting experiment!

Some of these amigurumi plushies are available at Ami Moon, so be sure to check them out if you’d like to give one a home! 💕☾

Drop a comment or visit the shop to grab your favorite before they’re gone! 💖

Pink Unicorn with Rainbow Hair Amigurumi

2021-05-06T09:22:00.011-07:00

I made this unicorn amigurumi using a pattern from Örgü Modelleri. I didn’t realize until after bookmarking it that it wasn’t in English, so I loosely translated it. I followed the body and horn pattern the best that I could. Some things were modified.

I used Big Twist yarn. Size E hook. 20mm Safety Eyes.

Eyelid pattern:

use the same hook as body

Chain 8.

Skip 1, Sc in 7 chains across.

Skip 1, Dec 1, Sc in next 2 sts. Dec in last sts.

Dec twice.

Finish off and leave a tail for sewing.

Hair:

Colors: dark pink, light pink, orange, yellow, light blue and lavender.

I made about 4 pieces of each color.

Hook E

Chain 46.

Skip 1, sc across. Turn.

Sc across.

Twist each strand for the curl.

Rose:

Hook E

Chain 31.

Row 1: Skip 1 chain. Chain 2, skip next chain, sc in next chain. *Sc, chain 2, skip 1, sc in next ch* repeat across.

Row 2:

-Chain 1. *3 hdc, ch 1, sl st* in ch-2 space.

-Sl st in next ch-2 space. *ch 1, 3 hdc, ch 1, sl st* into the space/hole.

-Sl st in next ch-2 space. *sl st, ch 1. 3 hdc, ch 1, sl st* repeat across until last 2 ch-2 spaces/holes.

The last 2 spaces you want to repeat the above but increase the 3hdc to 4hdc then 5hdc for the last.

Note: I made a matching rose headband by making 3 extra roses and attaching it to a chain of about 80.

Wings (make 4 pieces):

Chain 16

1. Starting from 2nd chain from hook, sc in each ch across.

2.Ch 1 and turn, sc in next 14 sts. Chain 3 and turn.

3. Start in the 4th st from hook, sc in next 10 sts then decrease 1.

4. Ch 1 and turn, sc in next 9 sts. Chain 3 and turn.

5. Start in the 4th st from hook, sc in next 7 sts then decrease 1.

Turn the piece to crochet into the corner and along the side (edge where chains are)

6. Decrease twice, sc in the side corner in next 2sts. Sc across the side (where the chains are)

Leave a long tail for sewing 2 pieces together. Whip stitch edges together.

Fungal Acne Skincare Routine *2025 UPDATE

2020-12-12T20:50:00.001-08:00

It's been about 6 months since my skin has been mostly under control. I wanted to share a list of my favorite products to help fight fungal acne. Sulfer and Nizoral weren't the best choices for me. My routine has changed and I've tried a bunch of new products.

Moisturizers:
Hada Labo Premium Lotion *2025 reformulated and unsafe
Hada Labo Gel Cream *It's only a trigger if you use products with fatty acids
COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All in one cream

Occlusive:
Cerave Healing Ointment
EltaMD Intense Moisturizer

Cleansers:
Vanicream Facial Cleanser
Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo

2025 PRODUCT UPDATE:

My skin is mostly clear, but my biggest trigger now is my own sweat. I still get small bumps around my hairline and the occasional rouge spot on my face. Retinol has helped keep fungal acne under control though it hasn’t completely eliminated it. I try to keep my skincare products FA safe.

I currently use:

COSRX snail 92 all in one cream
Torriden Low Molecule Hyaluronic Acid Toner
Vaseline/Aquaphor.

Eye Makeup Remover:
Swan Mineral Oil

Body Wash/Shampoo/Face Mask:
Happy Cappy Medicated Shampoo
Head & Shoulders shampoo
Selsun Blue shampoo

Conditioner:
Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner (*contains fatty alcohols)

Sunscreens:
DRMTGLY Broad Spectrum 45
DRMTGLY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
Cotz Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

2025 PRODUCT UPDATE:

I now use Garnier - SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-1 Waterproof for makeup removal. I use generic Zinc shampoo as body wash. I use whatever hair products and try to keep my hair off my shoulders in the shower. I always wash hair first then use body wash after.

I will use any sunscreen at this point whether it's safe or not: Walgreens and Dollar Tree. My FA safe sunscreen is COSRX - Ultra-Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF50 PA++++ though!

Note: EltaMD clear is safe and the tinted sunscreen is NOT safe. A tinted dupe is supposedly DRMTGLY Anti Aging Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46.

Retinol:
Retino A 0.025% (Tretinoin, not FA safe)
Differin

My Retinol Routine & Experience

Starting Out: The First 6 Months

I began my retinol journey with Differin (Adapalene) twice a week. My nighttime routine looked like this:

Wet face and apply a moisturizer all over.
Use healing ointment or Vaseline on sensitive areas—under the eyes, sides of the nose, and corners of the mouth.
Apply a dime-sized amount of Differin, dotting it all over my face.

Optional: If dryness occurred, I would layer moisturizer and ointment/Vaseline all over before bed for extra hydration.

Transitioning to Tretinoin

Once my skin adjusted, I introduced Tretinoin 0.025%, following a similar application method:

Apply moisturizer and let it dry for at least 30 minutes before applying Tretinoin.
Use a pea to dime-sized amount of Tretinoin.
After at least an hour (or right before bed), reapply moisturizer and a layer of ointment/Vaseline for added protection.

Sunscreen in the morning is a must. I've had some bad irritation that felt like a chemical/sun burn when I forgot to use it.

How I Incorporated Both Products

I alternated between Differin and Tretinoin to prevent irritation:

Differin: 2 times a week
Tretinoin: 1 time a week

The key is listening to your skin—if you notice redness, burning, or peeling, pause retinol use and focus on moisturizing and healing before resuming. Spacing out applications and using a heavier moisturizer when needed can help prevent irritation.

Reminder: Retinol works over time. You don’t need to apply it daily! If you’re experiencing burning every day, something is wrong.

When starting Tretinoin, begin with 1-2 times a week and gradually increase usage. You can bump up the percentage after your skin adjusts, whether that means increasing frequency or after 1-2 years of consistent use. Once you switch to a higher strength, restart the process with once-a-week applications and build up slowly.

***2025 Update: My Current Routine

I’m still using both Differin and Tretinoin, but I’ve adjusted based on my skin’s needs.

During colder months, my skin becomes drier and more sensitive, so I use Differin if my skin needs a break.
I no longer need moisturizer with every application. I'll do it for colder months if needed!
I now regularly use Tretinoin 0.05% and 0.1% gel versions.

Tretinoin: Cream vs. Gel

I've noticed better results after switching from cream to gel. It’s less irritating but can be very drying if overused. With Tretinoin, less is more!

Many people recommend using cream for acne-prone skin and gel for sensitive skin.

Since Tretinoin increases cell turnover, it may reduce the impact of potentially fungal acne (FA)-triggering ingredients in other skincare products. When I first started researching retinol, the only FA-safe Tretinoin I could find was 0.1% strength, which felt overwhelming as a beginner. My experience is that the faster cell renewal helped keep my skin clearer and reduced reactions to non-FA-safe products, including skincare, hair products, sunscreens, and anything else that comes into contact with my skin.

0.1% Micro Gel: Works best for me! It’s drying and has a grainy texture, but I prefer it.
Cream Formula: Smoother application and less drying—good if the gel feels too harsh.

I’ve been using retinol for five years nowmand if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that patience is key! Even after all this time, using too much can still irritate my skin. A pea-sized amount is truly all you need.

2020: I try to use Differin daily and throw in 1-2 days a week of just Tret. I’m using a nonsafe Tret for anti-aging purposes. If I got a purge or breakout then Differin takes care of it. I’m still in my first year of Tret and I’m working my way up to being able to use the safe product: A-Ret Gel 0.1%

I developed angular cheilitis on both sides of my mouth, which appeared as dry, irritated patches. To treat it, I applied Monistat 7 twice a day and it cleared up within a week. Any antifungal cream can help, but it’s important to stop using it once the issue is resolved.

I’ve also used Monistat 7 to prevent bad fungal acne breakouts from spreading, like the time I had it overtake on my earlobe. However, I don’t recommend it for daily use! Only as a targeted treatment when needed.

Shower Routine:

I apply zinc shampoo to my dry skin on my problem areas: face, neck, and chest as a 5-minute mask. I also apply it to my scalp and upper shoulders as a ‘barrier’. I apply conditioner and try to keep it off my neck/shoulders until I rinse.

Diet

I briefly considered going on the candida diet but it’s really restricting and not sustainable. I always thought dairy was a trigger for me but after reintroducing that into my diet- I had no noticeable reaction. It turns out gluten makes me break out the most. A day of pizza really helped me pinpoint it and any time I ever had beer had caused breakouts. Cutting back on that has helped keep my skin clear.

Recently I have been taking Nutrition Now Pb8 Acidophilus capsules. I’m wondering if it will fix my gut and help get rid of it. There’s not much information online about it. I’ll update if I notice any changes.

Fungal acne safe sunscreens with supposedly no white cast*:

DRMTGLY Broad Spectrum 45
Cotz Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
Robot Skin Lab Gokujun UV White Gel (or Hada Labo UV White Gel)
Nivea - Sun Protect Super Water Gel SPF 50 PA+++
Missha - All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk- (GREEN CAP ONLY)
*These were recommendations I found throughout reddit

DISCLAIMER~

As always!! I’m a regular person, not a dermatologist. I went on the Simple Skincare Science blog to learn about fungal acne and chose products from the massive list. You can ask me questions about any of the products I’ve used but anything else that’s not listed...I’m not knowledgeable about it. I also can’t tell you if what you have is fungal because bumps are bumps. The ONLY way you can figure out if it's fungal is by eliminating products and only using FA safe products.

Retinol for Fungal Acne

Fungal Acne Skin (Part 1)
Fungal Acne Products (Part 2)

Retinol for Fungal Acne

2020-05-27T20:10:00.004-07:00

I had "fungal acne" for 2 years before knowing what it was and how to treat it. Last year, I shared my experiences in 2 parts: Fungal Acne Skin and Fungal Acne Products. It's been over a year since and I still use some of the products! I decided to look into retinol because I'm in my late 20's now. I wanted to see if that would help with FA too.

I no longer get bad breakouts especially on my neck, back, or chest. I can't completely avoid that because it thrives off the humidity and sweat.

Differin

I used it every 3 days for the first month. I wet my skin, applied Hada Labo premium lotion and Cerave Healing ointment to the thin areas (corner of eyes, sides of nostrils, and corners of lips). I applied Differin immediately on top. I would apply moisturizer either the same lotion or Hada Labo Gel cream plus a light layer of Cerave healing ointment over it before bed.

I was shocked at how well behaved my skin became. There was a small purge for me but it was nothing terrible. My skin was tolerating it fine. No dry patches or peeling. I eventually stopped applying the extra moisturizers afterward. I still use a buffer before applying it.

Differin Purging

I noticed a difference with texture as soon as 2 weeks. Very soft, smooth, and glowing. Scars were fading faster than usual. I never kept up a skincare routine before. It made me realize how dull and dry my skin was.

Differin results at 2 weeks

Like I mentioned earlier, my skin was tolerating this very well and I started using it every 2 days. I've heard many stories on Reddit about the dryness and peeling. I eventually stumbled upon Tretinoin. I was interested in trying something for anti-aging purposes. So... I'm actually using both right now. Tretinon at 0.025%
This is really strong so the routine is different. I wet my skin, use my Hada Labo Premium Lotion and Cerve Healing Ointment on the thin areas. I let this dry completely in about 30 minutes. I apply a very small amount of Tret then wait 30 minutes up to an hour before applying my layers of moisturizers. It really depends if I'm going to bed soon. You can't skip the moisturizers at the end. I've accidentally used a little more than a pea-size amount and became a peeling lizard for 1-2 days.

Clear skin who dis

I've been using retinol for almost 4 months now. 5-6 weeks were just Differin then the rest have been Differin and Tret. I split it up across the week. At least one day in between each application. I do Differin, Tret then back to Differin.

It's obviously not a cure but my skin has become a lot more manageable. I'm careful with the products I use on my skin now. I have more clear skin days than anything else. I still get breakouts occasionally because of the humidity/sweat issue but one application of retinol takes care of it.

Before & After

Alter Ego Temptress Palette Review

2019-03-04T21:31:00.003-08:00

Alter Ego just released their first palette. Temptress was inspired by the ABH Sultry palette. I'm always excited to try out a dupe because we all can't justify spending high-end prices. This palette has a variety of matte and metallic shades. Most are warm but there are a few cool/neutral shades: Whisper, Stiletto and After Hours. It's only $16. Right now is the best time to order since there's free shipping and they are including a free 2 piece brush set!

Click here to use my code tinymoon for 15% off.

*Alter Ego sent me this product in exchange for an honest review

Packaging: The palette was in a bubble wrap sleeve and wrapped in black tissue paper. The box was put in a gold bubble wrap mailer.

Swatches:

These were shot outdoors in overcast lighting. My method for swatching will always be a swipe and a soft blend to mimic the way we apply to our eyes.

Whisper, Lust, Blush, and Uptown needed 2-3 finger swipes to show off the pigmentation. Metallic shades were good with one swipe. Stiletto looked really dark in the pan. I did several swatches to show off the buildability.

My eyes are small so I've never used black eyeshadow other than for eyeliner. I was really interested in trying this shade out because super pigmented blacks are crazy intimidating. My first impression was that this particular shade was really patchy until I used a brush to blend.

Lace disappeared on my arm so I had to swipe a thousand times for it to show. I'm NC20 by the way.
After Hours also has two swatches to show off the buildability.

The brush set includes a shadow and blender brush. Since my eyes are too small, I was only able to use the large brush to apply a base color down. The smaller brush I used for creating a higher crease for my slightly hooded eyes. Both were surprisingly soft! Now to comparing... The smaller brush has a shape similar to my Hakuhodo eye brushes but is twice the size. The larger one is similar in size to ELF's Flawless Concealer brush but it's flatter. It's just too big for me to use to put down any crease colors.

The eyeshadows applied more pigmented with a brush. I used my finger for some of the metallic shades but Fix+ really made it pop. I used both of the brushes for all my looks including smaller eye brushes.

Base color: Lace

Crease: Whisper

Middle + Inner Corner: Sterling

Outer-V: Stilleto

I did a test of what I hate doing on myself. I can never pull off the blending for those silver dark looks. It always looks messy. These shadows made it easy for me to control. No annoying patchiness. I was really shocked since I always go overboard with the outer v portion but it built up nicely. I didn't want the black to be super pigmented so this is a super wearable look for me.

Base: Lace

Lid: Blush

Crease: Uptown

Middle + Inner Corner: Champagne and Seduction

Outer-V: After Hours

I used Blush for a soft pink look with a pop of Champagne in the center. I had some minor issues with blending After Hours in the outer v. A little patchy but I went over with Uptown to help blend!

Wear Test:

I applied my makeup at 10am and wanted to see how long it would last at work. I was running around in a warm building for 5+ hours. Sometimes my makeup melts off. My eye makeup didn't budge or smudge for my whole night. It was still pigmented at 11pm.

Base: Lace

Lid: Uptown

Crease: Sterling

Middle + Inner Corner: Ritz (Fix+) and Seduction

Outer-V: Stilleto

If you need some reference to compare quality for dupe palettes. I prefer this Alter Ego palette over my Bad Habit ones. I don't want to have to fight to get shades to blend especially the matte ones. This palette will work for a beginner or someone who lacks techniques (like me!)

I really hope in the future, they will come up with their own color schemes and more brushes (smaller please!!!)

-

Temptress is cruelty-free and paraben free. Retails for $16. Right now is the best time to order since there's free shipping and they are including a free 2 piece brush set for now.

Click here to use my code tinymoon for 15% off.

*Alter Ego sent me this product in exchange for an honest review

Style: Dear Darkness Doll Dress

2019-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

This was my first purchase from Dolls Kill. I've been aware of the website over the past few years but it was out of my price range. I decided to reward myself after hitting my fitness goals. I didn't want to pick something simple like a plain black skater dress. Don't need an overpriced one of those! I couldn't find anything I really liked within a "budget" I set but then I went onto the next pages and found this. It's the Dear Darkness Doll Dress by Killstar. I bought it from Dolls Kill since they had a 20% off sale.

Killstar's size chart is here. I've heard mixed reviews about their sizing. My measurements fall under a size small but I decided to go with a medium instead. I would recommend sizing up to be on the safe side! It's a perfect size and I'm able to put it on over my head since I'm a lazy.

I was drawn to the lace, keyhole chest and ribbon tie. I haven't owned a satin dress before so this is very different to wear casually. I randomly wore it one day and my boyfriend told me I looked like a witch.
Isn't that the best compliment???

Dress- Dolls Kill / Tights- Dolls Kill / Boots - Unknown

Fungal Acne Products (Part 2)

2019-01-14T15:50:00.004-08:00

De La Cruz 10% Sulfur Ointment

Sulfur is an effective treatment against conditions like dandruff, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. People have shared successful results with it so I decided to try it out. I applied it and left it on for 10-20 minutes. Obviously, this stuff smells but I don't particularly notice it.

Hada Labo Skin Plumping Gel Cream

I've bought this about 2 years ago and loved it. This gel-cream contains urea and squalane. Urea is known to treat skin conditions, it's very hydrating and inhibits fungal growth. If you remember my earlier post, I mentioned that squalene is a trigger. Squalane is actually the safe one! Most Urea creams contain esters so Hado Labo is a good option.

If you like Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Gel Cream then switch over to this.

Noble Formula 2% Phyrithione Zinc Bar Soap

I've used this in the past out of Curology's recommendation. Just don't choose the acne triggering one: Cocoa Butter. This soap has helped my neck/back. Noble's soap contains oils which could trigger fungal growth so YMMV!

Some people have used this to apply to their face but it's very drying. You will feel squeaky clean. I wouldn't recommend this as a daily treatment.

Stridex Pads Maximum Strength

I apply and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. I used it every other day to treat. This drastically changed the way my skin looked after one day. Salicylic acid is recommended to use since it's not as drying as Benzoyl Peroxide. It doesn't increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun either.

First-time users: Use it once a week then eventually move up to 2 times a week. I've used this product enough to know my skin. I did have sensitivity and dryness when I first started. Now I could use this several times a week with no tightness.

Hada Labo Hyaluronic Lotion

I've used this for over a year. It's a hydrating toner that most people use after cleansing or chemical exfoliants. I liked to put on my regular moisturizer first and then pat this lotion on top of it. It's super moisturizing. This version's consistency is a thin, liquid that you only need to use a small amount of. I don't find it sticky but some people do. There are 4 ingredients in it that are humectant moisturizers.

Hada Labo Premium Hyaluronic Lotion

The reason why I got the premium version is that it has 5 ingredients types of hyaluronic acid and urea. Since it's not easy to find safe products that contain urea, I'll take whatever I can! The consistency is thicker and you only need 2-3 drops. This lotion is also known to be a bit sticky for some people.

Nature Nate's 100% Pure Raw & Unfiltered Honey

I was inspired to try out raw honey due to this post: [B&A] I cured facial sebhorreic dermatitis using a raw honey mask!

I was desperate because my skin was extremely dehydrated, red and swollen. I left the honey straight on my face for about 3 hours. I was really shocked at how much my skin improved. I used this the next 2 days for about 2-3 hours. Redness was gone and bumps were disappearing.

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

This is my favorite cleanser. It reminds me of Cerave's Hydrating Cleanser. It has a gel-like consistency. It's really gentle and lathers up better than Cerave! It removes any remaining makeup and leaves my skin feeling soft.

Monistat 7

I had found out through research that some people were using this product to clear their skin. My fungal acne was spreading rapidly to my neck and one of my earlobes. The bottom lobe was red, covered in tiny bumps and swelled up. It was also spreading behind my ear. I used Monistat 7 on my neck, ear and all over the face. My skin wasn't as inflamed and it helped it stop from spreading further. Only used this a few times and recommend it for those that have tried everything. I wonder if any anti-fungal cream could do?

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It's crazy how different my skin is after making all of these changes. I never once thought I even had fungal acne since it looked hormonal. The huge difference is the lack of itchiness I have on my face and neck. I had these breakouts going on for nearly 2 weeks straight then cleared up immediately within 2-3 days.

The products that helped me the most:

Moisturizers: Hado Labo Gel Cream and Premium Lotion (both contain Urea)
BHA: Stridex
Treatments: Raw Honey and Sulfur Ointment
Neck/body: Zinc soap

I noticed a drastic improvement by using Stridex and Raw Honey within 2-3 days. I alternate between those two and the sulfur to prevent breakouts. I love Hado Labo products so I'm not even mad about giving up my other moisturizers.

Fungal Acne Skin (Part 1)

2019-01-11T07:49:00.001-08:00

For 2 years, I had struggled with acne and nothing worked. I cut out possible triggers: certain ingredients, products, and food. It didn't feel like regular acne since I've always had the same type and this looked different. I had cystic acne as a teenager and mostly clear skin by my early 20's without any assistance. Not even a facial cleanser. I was lazy but I only had to deal with some hormonal bumps or whiteheads that would disappear the next day. I rarely ever broke out on my forehead. Those bumps would remain there for up to a week.

I believe the cause was due to switching to a different birth control pill. I immediately got bumps/whiteheads all over my forehead. I assumed it was a side effect and waited out 3 months with no improvement. I switched back to my regular pill and thought it would turn my skin back to normal. Nope! This was so itchy that I had to take Benadryl often.

My theories were adult acne, niacinamide allergy, dairy sensitivity or some other unknown allergies. I stopped the skincare routine I was doing (Cerave products, Retinol, BHA, sunscreens, serums) and only used super gentle products (Neutrogena, Hado Labo, and Vanicream). The bumps never went away but it was becoming less intense towards the last year. I kept using products that I had no issues with prior to the breakouts so nothing ever clicked.

I've been following r/skincareaddiction for years. It's where I found all the best product recommendations and routines. One day I stumbled upon a post about fungal acne but I never once thought it applied to me. It's not something you can easily search for pictures of and most websites said it was *only* closed comedones on the forehead. (I would get clusters of whiteheads on my forehead, temples, cheeks, jawline, and neck.) Eventually, it was my last resort because I had tried everything with no sustainable improvement.

I came across this post: Pityrosporum (Malassezia) Folliculitis Treatment: Kick Fungal Acne’s Ass (How to). There are many things that are considered triggers: fatty acids, oils, polysorbates, esters, yeast ferments, squalene, amino acids + lipids together, and benzoyl peroxide. Possible triggers were ceramides, glycerin, and your own sweat!

*Some people reported that their diet was also a trigger. So it is possible that dairy was one for me.

This was extremely problematic because the majority of my skincare products contained those ingredients. Cerave moisturizers have fatty acids, ceramides, and esters while their cleanser had polysorbates. My gentle Neutrogena cleanser that I bought twice had esters/polysorbate. I started looking up the ingredients in everything else: sunscreens, body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and makeup.

Why was my acne improving during certain times?

Apparently, I already owned some fungal acne safe products. It's difficult to find products that are 100% safe to use. So it's a YMMV situation. I made a document to track all of my products. My favorite moisturizers, cleansers, and sunscreens had to go. Baby wipes that I sometimes used to remove my makeup were bad. This finally made sense why my skin would improve then later get worse.

How do you get it?

It's not acne since it's actually Pitoyrosporum Follculitis (Malassezia). It's caused by a yeast infection. It's also possible to get other skin conditions like dandruff, psoriasis, eczema, etc.

Prolonged use of antibiotics, steroid use, birth control pills 🙄, stress, fatigue, high humidity, hot weather, sweat, excessive occlusion and more.

If you have fungal acne, you can use Head & Shoulders shampoo as a facial cleanser. I decided to try out Nizoral Anti-Dandruff shampoo with Ketoconazole 1% since people had great results. There was an improvement by the next day so I kept it up. After digging around, I have noticed some people ruined their skin by using this product.

I made the mistake of using this too much. It irritated my skin so badly that it got dehydrated. Guess what? Damaging the skin barrier can induce growth for fungal acne.

The top photo shows a typical breakout on my face and neck. The second photo is a few days of doing treatments including Nizoral. THEN I dehydrated my skin so both sides of my face were badly inflamed, dry and covered more in bumps. This whole process took nearly 2 weeks. I tried some new products which ended up saving my skin within 3 days!

My skin has been itch free since January 3rd. Part 2 will be coming soon! I'm going to share what products I used to get those after results.

My Lolita Dress haul

2019-01-04T07:30:00.001-08:00

Last year, I wanted to try out a simple dress specifically for a future convention. I can't imagine wearing it in my daily life though. It makes me feel too much like a doll. I decided to go with My Lolita Dress.

I had a huge interest in Japanese street fashion when I was a teenager. Back when Livejournal was a thing, I would browse images on there from the magazine Fruits. I liked Decora's neon colors and a thousand accessories. All the various Kei styles always layered items together well. My top favorite style was Gothic Lolita since the darker colors could make the outfit simple, cute or elegant. I always wanted to try it out but I never had enough money or the right resources to find more affordable options.

DETAILS

Dress: Sweet Organza Tailored Lolita Short Sleeves OP Dress $57.99
I ordered this in size L. My bust is 91cm and waist is 71cm. Nothing is tight and it's easy to get on over my head. I don't need to unzip it. The chiffon fabric

Petticoat: Diamond Honey A-line Shaped Super Puffy Lolita Petticoat $23.99
My first petticoat and this is a beast. It's for dresses that hit above the knee. It only comes in "average" sizing which goes up to 75cm.

Bag: Angelic Pretty Horror Bat Lolita Bag (Replica) $33.99
I remember when this bag came out and I wanted it but my wallet did not. I don't mind getting the replica at all!

💀 Shipping to the US was $48 💀

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Other Outfit Details:
The wig is from Ebay (Lolita Women Gradient Curly Daily Cute Japan Party Cosplay Wig Heat Resistant).
Stockings are Killstar's Neoma
Boots are Hot Topic

Darn Good Yarn of The Month Review - April 2018

2018-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is my first time trying out the Darn Good Yarn Club Monthly Subscription. It's only $10 + shipping. Each box contains a skein of premium yarn, a knit & crochet pattern, and a mystery gift. I also decided to add-on a mystery item worth $15.

Here is what I received in my box:

Darn Good Yarn - Worsted Weight Silk Roving Yarn in colorway Watercolors (75 yards) - $11.99
Patterns - N/A
US#8/5mm ombre knitting needles and a crochet hook pack - $19.99 (Mystery Gift)
Darn Good Yarn - Recycle Banana Yarn in colorway Kaleidoscope (60 yards) - $15 (Mystery Gift Add-On)

I placed my order in the middle of March and received my box at the end of April. I received an email at the beginning of April about a customs delay for one of the items in the box so that's why it was so late. A+ for communication.

As for the goodies, I really like the colors of both of the yarns. I'm not so much a fan of silk in general but since it's recycled I'm more okay with using it. I think the yarn would also be great for weaving or for making dream catchers.

I like the ombre look of the knitting needles and the crochet hook. Getting a set of both is a huge plus considering most other boxes cater to only one craft but the actual quality of the wood just seems so-so.

I didn't receive any patterns in my box so unfortunately can't review on that. Besides that, this box is definitely a good value if you like specialty and recycled yarns. I'm going to continue my subscription for a few more months before deciding if I'll actually be able to make use of what I receive in these boxes or not.

Sewing: Geranium Dress

2018-01-09T17:59:00.000-08:00

Since it's time for baby sewing mode, I looked for a simple baby dress pattern available in multiple sizes and found the Geranium Dress pattern by Made by Rae. The pattern has various options which are a huge plus. You can make it in a top or dress length, with a gathered or pleated skirt, with cutout neckline, side seam pockets, patch pocket, and it even has a couple of sleeve options.

I made the dress in View A in size 0-3 months and decided to go for the most basic options by skipping the sleeves, notched neckline, and the patch pocket. I also didn't apply interfacing to the button plackets because I wasn't completely sure if I would be using buttons, snaps, or velcro.

I stitched everything by hand rather than using a sewing machine so I could work on it wherever I went. It was still a relatively quick sewing project.

I used Two Daughters Cotton Fabric in Purple Bloom Allover as the main fabric with a pink fabric quarter from Joann's for the lining. I did velcro for this one with decorative buttons on the outside.

Sewing velcro by hand is not fun. The kind I used had a sticky backing and I broke 2 needles from trying to put the needles back in my pin cushions after the sticky residue wouldn't come off of them.

For this one, I used Keepsake Calico Cotton Fabric in Pink Flamingo for the main fabric and a purple fabric quarter from Joann's for the lining. I didn't want to sew velcro in again so I figured I'd try doing button holes for the first time. Mostly because I didn't have any snaps in a large enough size. It didn't completely come out bad. I think it looks neater than the velcro stitching.

I only printed out the pattern pieces and the instruction summary sheet so I didn't have the rest of the pattern's step by step photos to use as a reference while sewing. It probably would have made things easier if I did though. Despite this not being my first time sewing a dress, I still get mixed up on the order of things sometimes especially when sleep deprived.

The only thing I really found tricky was sewing the lining over the waist seam. I think I've only done that with one pattern before so I haven't had much practice. I don't know how people get it to look so nice! I also tend to back stitch when sewing by hand because it's somewhat faster and easier for me to get the stitching to look good (at least on one side!)

I'm already planning on making more of these but in larger sizes~!

Flamingo Finds

2017-04-01T22:18:00.001-07:00

I've found some cute and interesting flamingo things and here are the top 5:

Flamingo Pin by Luella

Crossbody purse with Flamingo made of legos by Agabag

Flamingo Cushion by Taaran

Miniature Embroidery Flamingo Necklace by PixiecraftHandmade

Flamingo Bracelet by WorldofMinimalistic

Favorite Logo Designs for Fiverr Clients

2016-12-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted because things keep coming up! I'm trying to do so many things. Here are some logos I created for clients via Fiverr since my last logo post. I usually create 2 or 3 ideas for them to choose from based on the information they provide.

Sometimes I'll get clients that know exactly what they want down to the font, hex codes, and layout. However, I'm usually only given a basic idea such as font style or colors they like or even just their blog or website URL and then I have to come up with a concept based on what I think would work best.

Here are some of my favorites:

I love this one because it's so simple yet adorable because of the brush style font and the tiny heart!

This logo was inspired by Lolita Fashion, elegant and cute with lots of pink and a scalloped lace design.

Another simple design with hand-drawn wings & a lovely brush font in a blue, purple, and pink gradient.

Another scalloped design but with a simple vector hamster & house design.

A simple watercolor bee with red heart wings. During the concept stage, I like to go with the font style originally requested and sometimes I'll take a chance and add another variation with a completely different font... Turns out the client loved this one for a square format!

I haven't worked on logos in about a month or so due to my busy schedule. I'm working on my amigurumi pattern book, the www.AmigurumiBox.com website (which is like a pattern marketplace and more), trying to write my novels, crochet for fun, and blah blah blah. I had to put my gig on hold. I was thinking about moving from Fiverr to my own website eventually... but the Fiverr order system is so convenient.

Design Inspiration: Sophia Font

2016-10-25T13:33:00.001-07:00

Sophia by Emily Spadoni is one of my favorite fonts. It's an adorable hand-lettered brush typeface perfect for a variety of projects! I especially love the ornamental fonts (Sophia Left and Sophia Right) which enable you to add a decorative swirl at the beginning and end.

Here is something I made using this lovely font:

Remember to check out her other amazing fonts at her shop!

More Jewelry + FotoFuze for photo editing!

2016-10-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

I was making quite a bit of jewelry months ago and it took me a while to get around to taking photos of them with my DSLR. I listed some of these in our new Tiny Moon shop on Storenvy.

I love these blue howlite beads look with the pearls. I'm probably going to make different color versions of this later.

Pastel oreo cookie earrings made by Crissy out of polymer clay. I only added some ear wires to them!

I'm obsessed with these amethyst stones so I'm always trying to not use them all at once! ;)

Blueberry cupcake ring made by Crissy out of polymer clay and it is modeled by my 4-year-old monkey.

Wire wrapped elephant pendant and various glass beads with dyed howlite beads!

A "slave bracelet" with turquoise stone beads.

I'm probably going to do some more wire wrapping soon. Maybe some rings!

P.S.

I edited these photos using FotoFuze. It's a free product photography enhancement application that removes distracting elements from the background and gives you a crisp plain background.

I really like using it when I don't feel like using Photoshop (or when I just don't have access to it because I'm on a different computer!) so I'm always looking out for great browser-based photo editing programs.

For best results, photos should be taken on a white or black background that is as texture-less as possible. I took my photos on a dark brown table that had a bit of texture to it and it worked well enough.

You can sign up via your Etsy account and grant the application access to your Etsy account to directly edit photos from your listings. Or you can just do what I did and create an account on FotoFuze and upload your photos into the application instead.

To select the product from the background, you use the yellow highlighter tool by coloring over all of the object. It needs to be entirely filled in or it won't render correctly. They have a "check for errors" box right next to your image that shows red on the possible problem areas. You can also use the eraser tool if you selected too much or on the wrong area.

Another nice feature is that you can highlight some of the shadows behind the product and those will show up in your new fancy background.

Do you have any favorite browser photo editing programs? I also like using Pixlr for basic retouching.

Etsy Shop Feature: KicaBijoux

2016-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted an Etsy shop feature. I'm always looking out for unique goodies on Etsy and I love to help out indie shops by sharing their items. I'm going to try to do a weekly post on my finds and I'm giving the shop owners an opportunity to share a bit more about their shops such as their crafting process, upcoming projects, and special sales.

This week's feature is on the magical designs by Kasia of KicaBijoux. Beautiful copper wire wrapped jewelry with lovely stones and unique beads. Many of the designs have a nice woodland and rustic feel to them. It's impossible to pick only a few favorites!!

I love the wire design of the Elvish Necklace!

I like the simplicity of the Blue Agate Ring. Isn't the blue striking?

I love the shape and all the little design elements of the Bohemian Dangle Earrings.

The color is gorgeous! Forest Fluorite Drop Necklace

I really like how these Pink Boho Earrings have an antique look to them.

The different colors and texture go so well together! Green Jasper Necklace

The Elvish Forest Earrings have such a lovely intricate design.

This Moonstone Ring is so beautiful!!

Check out the many other items from KicaBijoux and follow her on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with new products.

Also, I'm delighted to share that Kasia is offering a special coupon code for the readers of Tiny Moon! The code is TINYMOON30 and it's for 30% off everything. The code is valid until the end of November 2016.

I'm definitely going to place an order soon! Which ones are your favorite?

Cute Vintage Planter Finds

2016-10-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post about some of my recent favorite vintage planter finds because these are too cute to not share.

I'm pretty much in love with this blue cat planter from TresorsEnchantes. It reminds me of Lefton's blue Miss Priss.

This little lamb planter from Acrossthegap is an unique design. I love all the details.

Cute puppy planter from AllMyVintageLove. I love the pose on this one, it makes it more adorable.

I haven't seen a lion planter like this before. So much character. The face is cute and funny! You can find this at KanariKouture.

Because snails are awesome. Look at the embossed little details! This planter can be found at MerryUnicornVintage.

I love the flowers and the adorable face of this elephant planter from TheSweetBVintage.

tiny moon

Crochet Bag Patterns (Free & Paid)

Ophelia Round Bag originally designed by Nine Inspired posted on Littlejohn's Yarn

Perfect Fit Hobo Bag by Claire Ortega-Reyes on the Crochet Spot

Lucinda Bag by Divine Debris. Support ad free here

Shell-Shopped Bag by Tyrneathem

Granny Square Hobo Bag by Blackstone Designs. Support ad free here

Feelin' Groovy Beach Bag by Sarah Miskelly

Fleur Market Bag by Ines Rodgers

Black Cat Tote Bag by Marina Vershinina

Reel Time Crossbody Bag by Kathy Olivarez

Crochet Star Bag (Sailor Moon style)

Crochet With Me - Making a Mini Squid Amigurumi

Cute Finds: Earrings

Squid Amigurumi Pattern (Crochet & Knit)

Etsy Finds

Dinosaur Earrings by TreasureTrove22ShopFrœg Bag Charm by beautifullyregularCorgi Amigurumi Pattern by BedabeeIn My Clown Era Sticker by acrylicanaHaunted House - Hand Dyed Yarn by EvergreenYarnStudioSewing Pattern Fluffy Bat Plush by SewCraftNbead

Nocturne Hexagon Cardigan Crochet Pattern by Szydelkoperz

Sparkly Mushroom Keychain by AlishaJeanArt

Crochet Fox Amigurumi with 6 Tails

Crochet Dog Amigurumi

These are Squittles ✨ Crochet Octopus Collection

Pink Unicorn with Rainbow Hair Amigurumi

Fungal Acne Skincare Routine *2025 UPDATE

2025 PRODUCT UPDATE:

2025 PRODUCT UPDATE:

My Retinol Routine & Experience

Starting Out: The First 6 Months

Transitioning to Tretinoin

How I Incorporated Both Products

***2025 Update: My Current Routine

Tretinoin: Cream vs. Gel

Retinol for Fungal Acne

Alter Ego Temptress Palette Review

Style: Dear Darkness Doll Dress

Fungal Acne Products (Part 2)

The products that helped me the most:

Fungal Acne Skin (Part 1)

My Lolita Dress haul

Darn Good Yarn of The Month Review - April 2018

Sewing: Geranium Dress

Flamingo Finds

Favorite Logo Designs for Fiverr Clients

Design Inspiration: Sophia Font

More Jewelry + FotoFuze for photo editing!

Etsy Shop Feature: KicaBijoux

Cute Vintage Planter Finds

Dinosaur Earrings by TreasureTrove22Shop

Frœg Bag Charm by beautifullyregular

Corgi Amigurumi Pattern by Bedabee

In My Clown Era Sticker by acrylicana

Haunted House - Hand Dyed Yarn by EvergreenYarnStudio

Sewing Pattern Fluffy Bat Plush by SewCraftNbead