In a worrisome, troubled world, people took comfort when President Hinckley said, in his fatherly, assuring way, "It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out."

Saturday, February 14, 2009

More Project Photos

I'm still having fun with my Cricut.
Thought I would share a few more photos of my projects.
Pictures are: etched glass vase, turtle stamped with stamp I made, fabric flowers on t-shirt and misc.cut outs.You can click on the photo to enlarge and see details better.




Friday, February 13, 2009

THE TOY

My new toy is ....... drum roll please ...... a Cricut!

No silly, not a small insect. That is spelled cricket.
This is pronounced the same, but is much more fun.

A Cricut is a computerized die cut machine. Does that still not make any sense?
I will explain. It cuts shapes that can be used for scrapbooks, cards etc. I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but it does much more too. Some of the things that I have made so far are Valentine cards and gift bags. I cut a stencil and etched a glass vase. I cut fabric flowers and put them on a t shirt. I made a vinyl decal for hubby's truck. (An orange Tiger paw, of course) I made a rubber stamp of a cute turtle in the exact size I wanted. Have you heard of "Wall Words". It is a quote or saying made of vinyl placed on the wall. Very popular and pretty expensive. I can make these in any size, color and style that I want. If you want to know more go to cricut.com or look for the infomercial on late night TV. Yes, I sometimes watch infomercials, but I saw the Cricut first on a craft show, then on QVC. Yes. I watch that too. You can google Cricut and utube has videos of Cricut projects. I know, this is my new obsession, but it is so much fun. Brandon and Lisa gave me a program that lets me take any font or wing ding on the internet and use it to cut. So many possibilities! If this STILL doesn't make much sense maybe some pictures will help. And yes lil sis I can and will make something for you. I already have something in mind that I think you will like. Anyway here are some pictures.






Wednesday, February 11, 2009

My Newest Toy

Everyone knows I LOVE crafts, gadgets and technology. Anytime I can combine ALL three, well let's just say I am a happy crafter. That is exactly what my new toy does. I have wanted this for a very long time, but couldn't justify the price of $400 or more that it was advertised for. Now don't misunderstand. I have no problem going to Michaels every week with my 40% off coupon and buying something/anything. I mean it is wasting money not to use a 40% off coupon. After all I will eventually use all the craft supplies that threaten to take over my house. I mean I just have to live till I'm 103. I'm in Michael's so often that the people greet me by name as I enter and ask me about my latest project. I really think our local Michael's would close without my business. So I am doing my small part for the economy. OK, back to my newest toy.It is tradition in our house to check out the Thanksgiving sale ads after we have consumed enough feast food to satisfy an army of starving hyenas. This year as I was checking out the Walmart ad I saw IT! There It was for an unbelievable price of $200 at the early bird sale on the day after Thanksgiving. Now I was suffering from the most awful cold in the history of womankind, besides I already had my shopping battle plan set to the second. So unashamed child that I am, I begged my wonderful, indulgent hubby to brave the crowd of crazies to get it for me before they sold what was probably the only one they had at that price. I insisted that it was absolutely the only thing I wanted for Christmas and I had resisted the temptation to buy it at full price for a LONG time. I assured him that I could make wonderful, marvelous things for everyone we knew. So bright and early on black Friday my one and only trudged into the crowds and came home with IT. He placed it behind the couch, covered it with a blanket, and made me promise that if I dared to even peek under the blanket that it would disappear back to where it had come. I know this is hard to believe but I didn't peek, really I didn't. But I did go on line and read every thing on every web site I could find about all it's wonderful, magical possibilities. Now by now I'm sure you are imagining that I now have in my possession a machine that will end world hunger, do away with war and at the least take me back to my younger and much more slender days. I would settle for the last one. Oh dear readers, I am afraid I have built you up for a terrible disappointment, but drama queen that I am I was having just to much fun getting carried away with my writing. Alas, I have wasted too much time at the computer this lovely morning. I must get back to my dreary life and do some laundry. I promise that my next post will include pictures of my toy and what it has created. Don't you just LOVE a "cliffhanger" ending.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sunbeams

Ok, contrary to some tabloid accounts, I was not abducted by aliens nor was I conferring with Stephanie Meyers on my top secret roll in the next Twilight movie.
I have been alternating between playing with my Christmas toy (More on that later) and teaching three year olds on Sundays. I have spent many years teaching Primary kids on Sundays, but for a few years now I have been leading women's groups. (just bigger kids really) Anyway it is taking me a while to get used to teaching little ones again, but I love it. Three year olds are like Mexican jumping beans they can't be still for a second. Their attention span is shorter than a gnat's. I use lots of visual aids, games, and roll playing to try to keep them somewhat under control for an hour. After which I send them back to mommy and daddy with a handout explaining what the lesson was "supposed" to be about in the hopes that their parents can get them to listen for a few minutes. I have 7 little darlings in my class; four boys and three girls. some have just barely turned three and some are almost four but will stay in my class until next January. At this age there is a wide range of development which keeps things interesting. Really though they are so sweet and I do love teaching. I come home exhausted, but by next week I'm ready to see my little Sunbeams.

Tomorrow I will share my new toy with you. Hint: Think awesome scrapbooks, cards and sooo much more.