An Amazing Disney Vacation!

It was truly amazing. I haven't even transferred the photos from my camera to my computer because I am still swept up in the magic of Disneyland. 

I haven't felt this way in a really long time and I have been savoring it rather than jumping into the scrapbook or even cleaning up from all the Disney craftyness I did for the trip.  I want to retain this feeling of joy for as long as I can and it is easier than I thought because Disney branding is EVERYWHERE!  

I am seeing the mice and princesses at gas stations and in check-out lines and on antenna balls and on food at the grocery store (its a little bizarre.)  Thank goodness it wasn't a horrible trip or I'd be clobbered with reminders. 

That said, I hope you will forgive my gradual return to reality and the world beyond my family and the magical kingdom.  I am unpacked and some of the laundry is done.  I went to the grocery store too. But that is where I stand right now.  Once I'm back into my routine, I'll post the books I made for the kids along with a gazillion other things I have worked-on or thought about working on.  Until then, I will leave you with this:

A dream is a wish your heart makes.
-- Cinderella

So here's the skinny....

I have to tell you that I have a lot of irons in the fire right now and if only I had photos, I could share so much more.   First off... we are going to Disney next week!

It is a surprise for our kids and I am dieing to tell them because my husband is pretty low key about his excitement.  I am bouncing off of the walls happy and am having a hard time focusing on much else.  I'm almost done with the "TOP SECRET" and CONFIDENTIAL" files I made for the kids which includes laminated maps of both Disney and California Adventure plus descriptions of all the rides!  It also has a section where they can write their daily schedules.  It is also laminated so they can erase if they change their minds (or have to compromise with one another.)

I have also put together goodie bags for both kids in Disney drawstring backpacks that include Disney water bottles, suntan lotion, glow sticks, 10 little baggies, each with a shiny penny and a quarter for those penny stamping machines, a color coordinated personal electric fan and I even found Disney tissue packs and hand sanitizer!!

In addition, the kids are going to get another surprise when we get there. Hee Hee... My daughter will be getting a Cinderella princess makeover and my son will get to make a car at Ridemakerz.

I will post the confidential files one I finish them and some pics of their loot bags too.  There is no point in taking pics now because our camera take terrible photos at night.

I have also been working on the pants I started at my sewing lesson last week.  Golly, gosh darn it!  They are actually turning out to be pretty cute.  I'm adding some extra touches so they are a bit different then the original pattern.  You'll see...I will also post those photos taken in daylight.

Lastly, my Smash book is coming along nicely.  I am able to journal more freely because it all has to fit into a 2 x 3" slot.  My Canon Selphy has been instrumental in this process since I can print 4, 2x 3" pics on one 4 x 6" piece of photo paper.  It is awesome!  You just add this printer to your scrapbooking arsenal.  It is amazing!

One last note - something irrelevant to the crafty community but something I need to share.  Tonight was my last night as the Home and School President after 2 1/2 years.  While I have been ready to let go of the responsibility for a while now, it was still bitter sweet.  Even though I head a bunch of activity committees, I still feel like I feel like a certain chapter of my life has come to a close.  Anyway, those photos are on there way as soon as we get a little sunshine...  I'm off to tinker with my gathering foot on my sewing machine... why you ask??  you will see.

Sewing class - I didn't know I was so Ignorant!

My hubby gave me a sewing lesson for my birthday last month.   Today I cashed in my voucher and it was sew much fun! I love to assemble pretty things but a tailor I am not.  I've sewn my share of Halloween costumes and I made this quilt:

...and yes, with that old sewing machine. But that was a lot of cutting and straight stitch- nothing fancy.

I am a self taught, intimidated, spazzmaticly unpredictable seamstress.  I never know what I will produce, and what's worse is that I don't do "precision" (or ironing).

I'm the same way with cooking.  I can whip together a fabulous dinner with whatever is in the fridge but if you want me to bake... you may NOT be in for a treat.  There are measuring cups and timers and all these activities that have to be just so.  This just isn't my style.  I used to pretend like it was...which completely sucked because it was stressful and judgey and I wasn't fooling anyone anyway.  Now I try to embrace my impulsive, inspired, uninhibited creativity and remind myself that I am not any less artistic than the guy with sharpened prismacolor pencils. Ahhh - but I digress.

So anyway, I took my sewing lesson and since I was the only one in the class we basically wandered the fabric store discussing fabrics, patterns, thread, needles and all the common mistakes new sewers make when they get started.  Then we sat down at the machine and I learned what all the buttons do.  I even touched the tension knob! Ackkkk!  I was raised that whatever you do, never, ever, ever touch the tension knob on mommy's sewing machine.  Well guess what... the world didn't explode; I wasn't eaten by a big slimy monster, nor did I get arrested.  Sigh...  What a relief. She even had me sew stitches on the "1" tension setting (using the pedal and on medium speed!!) and it was no big deal.  Just a loose stitch.  Big whoop.  I'm so glad I crossed that off my bucket list.

She taught me how to use that weird ruler that every seamstress seems to carry around - the gauge.  How did I ever get through life not knowing about the gauge???  I learned to call the grainline "the grainline" and that a nap has nothing to do with hair.  It was fascinating and I feel like I have just scratched the surface.  I am looking forward to the next lesson where we will discuss "stick pins".  ha ha.

Actually I have begun working on F and D on McCalls' pattern M6250.  I have elected to make mine an outfit rather than P.J.'s and I'm going pass on the peace signs fabric.  I picked out tiny white polka dots on black for the pants and then a sweet pink and black pattern for the top.  What bugs me is that I could have bought 2 or 3 of these outfits with the money I spent on my cloth.  What is that all about?

So my SN@P album is now on my desk and I'm cutting patterns tonight.  I feel a little cross-eyed at this point, but I wanted to make sure I posted this exciting diversion that I'm playing with.  The hay garden, scrapbooking and finishing my kid's art books will have to wait for a couple of days.  You can never have too many projects going at any given time!

Please forgive me...

I am so sorry I didn't get the comprehensive overview of the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge posted.  I had to help my son get a big report done and I started working on a SN@P album.  It is addicting!  I wasn't sure I would like it because the binder wasn't very impressive, (it feels stiff and a little cheap) but it is a lot of fun.

I wish I could say that this is mine but it actually belongs to Melis at LilyBean's Paperie. 

I have completed 12 pages in my album so far and I wish I could do another one right now but it is bedtime.  I also wish I could eat some french fries and a Dove bar.  No such luck.  My body needs sleep not calories from fat.

I will catch up soon with pics, a cool tutorial and the cartridge overview I promised! I hope you had a crafty weekend!

Busy as a Bee

I just wanted to let you know that I have been working on the comprehensive overview of the Cricut cartridge, Stretch Your Imagination.  It is nearly written and then I'll have to do the proofing (which takes longer than writing) so you will have it this weekend.  It is a sedentary activity and since the kids have been home for Easter vacation, I haven't had much time to sit still.  I have been busy as a bee doing this and that so nobody gets "bored"... here are a few pics:

We are planting our first hay garden.  It took 10 days of constant watering to get the hay ready for planting.  We also grew our plants from seeds.  Its coming along and has been an extraordinary family experience.  I'll post more photos tomorrow including the kids hand drawn plant labels.

I'm in print!

Yay!  I received my copy of Cricut Mini Albums Idea Book in the mail today.  Butterflies flew around in my stomach as I slowly flipped through the pages and then BAM! on pages 94-97 there was my Enjoy the Seasons mini album.

I was invited to submit my work for publication by a representative from Northridge Publishing last October but I kept quiet about the opportunity because I did not want to jinx it.  I've been waiting for a little more than 5 months privately hoping that it would all work out.  I am so happy that it did!

It is just nice to get the validation that I have created a thing or two that look pretty to people other than me.

Enough of that - I wanted to let you cricut lovers know that I just started working on a comprehensive overview for Once upon a Time.  Stay tuned!

DIY Lace Doily Lamp

I wish I could take credit for this AMAZING DIY project but it is the handywork of Isabelle McAllister.

She is an incredible blogger and produces a really remarkable site. It is eclectic, creative and full of surprises.  Click on the tutorial photo below to get the step by step directions.  I am hoping to try this very soon and once I do, I'll be posting my project unless it is looks like a shriveled prune.  In that case, I'll just tell you what not to do.