Fishing Sign/ Birthday Gift

Last weekend was my Brother-In-Law's Birthday.  I had been racking my brain as to what I could do for him.  Then in the morning of his Birthday dinner it came to me.  I am not sure why I cannot come of with ideas until the last possible moment, but that is how it is for me.

He loves to fish so I decided to make him a sign.  I found a design in the images from Cricut Design Space and thought I could start with that.  While I was designing and tweaking what I was making another idea hit me.  We were at our cabin, so while I have quite a bit of stuff to work with I don't always have what I need.  I didn't have the right kind of wood for the sign to begin with but we were going to Walmart and I thought I would get a piece of shelving about 8" wide and 24" long.  I could cut it into 2.  The shelving at Walmart was not what I was looking for so we stopped at Mendo Mills.  I asked the guy out in the lumber yard if they had any junk wood I could have.  The guy was great and not only found what I wanted but he cut it the size I wanted and gave it to me for free.  Score!

I glued the pieces together, painted it and I had my husband sand all the rough edges.  I also had him add a couple of screws to where I had glued it so it would hold.

While he was doing that I finished up my design and started cutting out my design after I took out what I didn't like and added things I wanted.  Yes it is finally coming together!  Half way through another idea hit me.  To go along with the sign I would make him a door hanger that says "gone fishing".  I had a couple of cereal boxes that  I cut the door hanger out of and glued the 2 together to make it stronger. 

I always tape down my thicker material so it doesn't move.

I cut the first one and the flipped the second one thinking the cereal box design would be in the middle.  WRONG!  It ended up on the outside.  Oh well no time to change it now.  The vinyl will adhere the shinny side.  That what happens when it is last minute!!!!

Next I cut out my vinyl,  after adhering the vinyl I realized I need to cover the back side too!  So I had to cut the vinyl again.

 After I adhered I cut out the first part of the design.  Then I cut the Gone Fishing in Silver.  You can see that in the bottom photo.

Here it is all completed!  I had a whole 5 minutes to spare before we had to leave for dinner!  Made It!  I kind of like how it turned out too!

Maybe one day I can make something ahead of time!  What do you think?

Cricut January "Snow Bird" 2019 Mystery Box

Here is my video for the January Mystery Box from Cricut.  It is loaded with Permanent Glossy Vinyl and Transfer Tape.  Love, Love, Love it!  hurry and get yours before they are gone.  You won't be sorry.

Getting Your Cricut Out of the Box Class 101

Last weekend I did my first Get Your Cricut Out of the Box Class at my not so local Scrapbook store It's All About the Scrapbook in Dixon, California.  The owner kept asking me to do it and that she knew it would sell out fast.  We set it up for Jan 12 from 10-1.  This is one of the last ones left and we really need to support them.

They came from Grass Valley and King City.  They had to drive hours to get there and they all said that no one offers Cricut classes.  I feel very blessed and excited that they came from far and near.

I am so glad that I did it!  I can really see a need of classes like this.  It is just easier to have hands on instruction as you go.

The class sold out within a couple of days, so the owner called me and we set up another for latter that afternoon  from 3-6.  That one sold out soon after it opened.  I am now set up to do this 101 and a progression of Cricut classes every month this year.  So I am now booked up until Jan of 2020. WOW!

I was very nervous, although I have had a Cricut and use if almost daily since 2006.  I was worried I would be clear or get them started on the right foot.  If you have a Cricut or any machine there is always a learning curve and some frustration that goes along with it.  I started prepping for the class way ahead of time.  Trying to go step by step in my description as well as my outline.

I love teaching  others all about my passion of Cricut and what it can do.  Just ask any of my friends and they will tell you how much I love my Cricut.  LOL!

The morning of the 12 arrived and people were arriving and the next thing I knew it was 6:30 and everyone was gone.  In each class there were 15 eager students who came to learn.  Some had not opened their boxes and some had.  Some of them were more advanced and were still able to learn a new trick or two.  It was nice hearing "I had now idea I could do that"  from the more advanced students.

I really did try to do it like A,B,C and cover everything you see on the Canvas and what it was used for.

I have already gotten quite a few wanting private classes to answer questions that some of them have on projects they want to do or are already trying to do.

I can't wait to show them more!

The classes went by so fast that I never go any picture or video's or even a go live for FB done.  But there is always next,!

I have already tweaked my outline to make it go a little smother so it should only get better from here!

Now to work on Cricut 102!

I have decided to do Video's that will go along with my classes,  They will just cover one step and they will be under 5 min.  I am starting with How to Load Your Cricut Mat into the machine.

Cricut Maker is not just for Crafting

Look at what else you can cut out and make with your Cricut Maker!  Here is a Welding Shop and Train Depot.  How cool is that?

These are just 2 of the buildings that were cut out with the Maker.  Don't tell you husbands because they will be taking over our Cricut's.  LOL!  one is done in O scale and the larger one is HO scale.  I would say that are very cute but I am sure that would not be except-able terminology.  But hey, they are cute.

This gives you a better look at the roof and the shingles

Here they are in the Making (pun intended).  They were cut out of 1/16" Basswood and 1/16" Polystyrene using the Knife Blade.  If the pictures are not here they will be soon.

CTMH Magnolia Frame Kit

I have to say that I love this Kit.  When it is complete you will love it too!  Getting the choice between the Whitewash frame and the Wood grain frame is a hard choice but I chose the Wood grain frame because I was going to put it in the bedroom at our cabin.
You can also see the new Seasonal Expressions Jan - April, 2019 catalog along side of the Kit. Although you won't find the kit in the catalog because it is one of the specials for January National Paper Crafting Month  You can see and read more about it here.

As usual in the kit you will get everything that you need to put it together except for adhesive.  I used Art Glitter Glue.  The cutouts come out very easily and cleanly.  I didn't even need to sponge any of them at all.  The sheets are clearly marked with Lg flower #1 and a box around all for each flower.  This makes it very easy to assemble.  It comes with great instructions and photos of different ways to use the frame kit.

The instructions are very easy to follow.  The center Shiplap piece is easy to place because the backing is clearly marked on where to put it..  I centered the home on the Shiplap, but next time I will complete the frame and then place the home or love.  Other than that I love it!  I want to make another one and put pop-up pieces on it with hoop and loop dots.  Using different items of all the seasons on it, that I can change out.  Like Valentine's, Christmas, and so on.

Let me know if you would like to see a video on what I end up doing with my next one..
Thanks for stopping by