Unintended blogging break…

Well, that blogging bread wasn’t planned lol! I just lose track of time when our schedule gets so out-of-wack! The kids were on vacation for a couple of weeks and my husband’s schedule has been crazy…I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I did spend a couple hours yesterday getting myself back on track. I spent time with my calendar and started making different “forms” to make things easier. I don’t know if it my history with Lyme disease or if I was just born this way but when I try to envision “time” or a calendar it’s as if I’m dyslexic. I really struggle with timelines. Anyways, I’ll share the files with you that I’ve created once I figure out how to share them lol.

I’ve also been playing ALOT with making my own SVG files. It is addicting! I can make anything I want and my eCraft will cut it. I still have to tweak quite a bit and wish I could spend more time on these projects!

In crafty news I made some of these-

We had a Pinterest party at my book club. Each of us had to make something we saw on Pinterest and make enough to share with the other members and provide directions. I made these little guys. My directions were something like:

Crumple up a ball of newspaper and cover it with tinfoil. Stab a piece of wire through it to become the hanger. Cover it with polymer clay. Paint it. Make a little hat and ruffle. Glue them on. Glitter. Well, they took about a week to make by working with them off and on. I just wish I had made more. I only made about 10. I think from now on I will be making multiples of everything right off the bat. That way I’ll be better prepared for the bazaar in the fall.

We are now planning an ice-fishing trip. The first one as a family in the new ice-castle. I’m both VERY excited and worried I’ll forget to bring something. Along with some drawing supplies I’m bringing my calendars this trip to get them nailed down and organized. I want to feel in control this year. I’m making a “master calendar” to stay in my purse and whoa to the child that messes with it. ha ha!

Happy Crafting!!!

Needle felted Santa…

I can’t remember where I got the inspiration for this Santa but he sure has been a hit! And I’m tired of making them…I made 10 last weekend and they are all gone. Phew! I also made 10 snowmen and got them shipped on Friday. It has been a busy Christmas Season!!! I’m now working on paper projects. People…I’m making my own SVG’s! (That is the file that my eCraft cuts from). Hopefully I’ll have something to show you next week. I have glue and ink all over my fingers…and floor…and table! I have to break out the shop-vac today and get rid of some paper and dust bunnies! I can’t have random dog hair and dust getting stuck in my glue lol!

If you have time on your hands go read this post about making a simpler Christmas. I agree with her!

And I have to say my heart is broken over the tragedy in Newton. It’s so hard to watch the news coverage…I pray that each and every family finds even a moment of peace and comfort.

Cutting ornaments and cards with eCraft…

There’s a lot of wonderful free cutting files out there and I’ve been having a ball finding them and seeing what my eCraft can do! One of the free files I’ve tried is the “Baubles by Bird” file.

I’ve also purchased a few files from Lettering Delights. One of my favorites is “Season’s Tweetings”. So far I’ve been very happy with my purchases too! Here are a couple birds using the Season’s Tweetings set-

And here are some ornaments using “Baubles by Bird” files-

  

I have just been having waaaaayyyyy too much fun! There is paper EVERYWHERE…little tiny pieces wedged into every crack and crevice of this house lol! Good thing it vacuums up so well…

Happy Crafting!!!

eCraft

Did I ever mention that I got an eCraft digital cutting machine for my 40th birthday…a year and a half ago? I did! I was so excited I went to JoAnn’s and bought 75 sheets of scrapbooking paper to practice with!!! I expected there to be a learning curve with the machine…but I didn’t expect to fail so horribly. I had done a lot of research before I decided which machine to buy. I picked the eCraft because you didn’t need to use a cutting mat and you were only limited by your imagination as to what you could have the machine cut. Well after getting discouraged time and time again by bad cuts and ripped paper I finally realized I received a lemon. Last summer I packed it up and shipped it back for a replacement. I got my replacement and am just now starting to play with it. I approached it like it could bite me – I was scared. The good news is that this machine works much much better than the old one. As you can see in the picture I’ve had it cut some pretty intricate cuts and so far so good. If I really get excited about everything being “just right” I’ll cut off the little tabs with my craft knife. I’ve started to play again. Now I can’t wait to rush through my housework and get back to the eCraft. I want to design my own SVG’s (that’s the file the machine cuts) and that will take more time. Maybe even more time than I can give it…lol. My brain doesn’t accept learning as quickly as it once did. The program has almost gotten the best of me a few times. When I explained to my dad what I was buying he said “Isn’t that cheating?” my dad uses an excavator to dig basements…is it cheating to use the excavator rather than a shovel?

Happy Crafting!!!

How I make washing dishes more pleasant…

Aside from not using a dryer my dishwasher is also on the fritz. I’m pretty sure I can fix it but I just haven’t taken the time to try. I really don’t mind doing dishes. Of all my mom-cleaning jobs washing dishes may be the least offensive. I like to see the cluttered counters all tidy again. It’s instant gratification. It’s also a good time to ponder. I ponder very important things like…how can I make this job easier? (While I don’t mind washing dishes I don’t want it to take all day!) And after a big meal like yesterday, Thanksgiving, the dishes were everywhere!!! Here are my tips and another installment of my jury rigged life:

• Above you’ll see what I use to drain my silverware. It’s a plastic container some french fried onions came in…I drilled holes in the bottom for drainage and clipped it to the outside of my dish drainer. This way I have the entire dish drainer for plates and bigger stuff. The one that came with the dish drainer is under the sink holding sponges…it took up way to much room in the dish drainer.
• My dish drainer rests on the top sides of my sink…I like this because if something needs to be dumped out, like milk left in a glass, it won’t get on my clean dishes and it won’t get my dishwater icky.
• I fill up my copper bottomed tea kettle with the cold water that comes out of the faucet before the hot water gets to my sink. My hot water heater is in the basement on the other side of the house. Darnit. It’s cheaper and hotter to heat the water on my gas range than to keep pulling it across the basement from my electric water heater. 
• Let the hot soapy water do the work! I fill the dish tub with plates and silverware first and let them sit in the hot soapy water. While they are soaking for a bit I add super hot water from the tea kettle. Then I’ll do something else in the kitchen for a couple minutes…like put away the pot holders…or get recycling ready. When I get back to the plates they are clean and only need a wipe…not a scrub. Refill the sink with glasses or whatever and repeat. I always wash the silverware last. I don’t know why…habit.
• Have two dishcloths in the dishpan! While waiting for the hot water to do it’s magic on the dishes use one dishcloth to wipe the counters…if there is a really sticky or stained area don’t stand there wasting precious crafting minutes scrubbing! Take the other hot soapy rag from the dishpan and lay it on the problem area…while that is soaking go back to the dishes. When a new load of dishes is soaking go back to the problem area. Chances are the hot soapy dishcloth dissolved the problem and you can just wipe it away.
• Let the dishes air dry and have the kids put them away later. Air drying is more sanitary…having the kids handle them…well it’s a chance I take.
• I periodically refill my tea kettle, heat it on the range and add more hot water to the dishwater as needed.
• When I’m really on a roll I make sure my sink area is clean and tidy. Sometimes it’s the cleanest and tidiest place in the house. Sometimes it’s also the most peaceful place to be in the house…nobody bothers me because they don’t want to get roped into helping lol!
• Other tips: Use a good dish soap. I stick with Dawn. It’s nice to have a plant or pretty piece of pottery to stare at while pondering at the sink. Have something pretty in that area. If you use a sponge get it really wet and microwave it for a half a minute or so to sanitize it, don’t wash your dishes with bacteria from a dirty sponge!!

Well, while this seems like some pretty basic stuff to we “pro’s” I’ve noticed a lot of teenagers going through my house who don’t have a clue how to handle a huge mess like the aftermath of Thanksgiving…this post is for them…

Happy Crafting!!

More needle felting…

I’m starting on a new needle felting path. When I demonstrated needle felting at our church bazaar many people commented on the “cute pin cushion” I use to keep my needles in. So next year I will be offering some up for sale. This is the first one. I think I need to needle the little bird a little smaller. It’s funny how something looks different in a photo.

I’m also going to start showing you guys my “Jury Rigged” life piece by piece. Did I ever tell you that I challenged myself to live without a clothes dryer for a year? Well, it’s been about 6 months now without a dryer and I really don’t miss it. That might change come winter. Anyways, as long as I do a load of laundry every day we’ve been getting along just fine. But sometimes I don’t get that done. Like this weekend. I then end up with more laundry than clothes line. One thing I’ve jury rigged is this-

This can be a real lifesaver when a million socks need to get dry. I just match them up right out of the basket and clip them on the clothespins. To make it I drilled holes in a wooden hanger and drilled holes in the clothespins and wallah! I will probably modify it later – I think some jump rings and chain would be better than this cause the pins are “stiff” but if you have a similar problem this works great! (I then hang the hanger on the drying rack, I’ll show that another time.)

Happy Crafting!!!

Needle felted snowman picture -

 

Sorry for the fuzzy picture…I couldn’t seem to hold still. Well, the Bazaar is all done now and it went great!!! When we have the final numbers I’ll give you a recap but everything I made (except the pouches that took me TWO DAYS to figure out) sold!!! Last I’ve heard the Bazaar raised well over $10,000!!! I spent my time at the Bazaar needle felting. It is relatively new to this area and people are fascinated by the process so I demonstrated. It was so much fun meeting so many different people. I even made a contact for future wool…

I needle felted this little snowman this morning. I’m not 100% sure he’s done but I had to get him on the wall. I picked up the frame at a thrift store and made my own “rub-n-buff” by mixing carnuba was and pigment powders together and applying it with my finger. The frame was originally a bright brassy gold color…now it’s kind of a copper color. Mary if you see any of these frames at our favorite thrift store pick them up for me please!!! Doesn’t matter if they have glass in them or not…I picture a bunch of them on the wall with seasonal themed needle felted designs… I hope I come across lots!

Happy Crafting!!!