Make a Font in Inkscape

I was browsing through some online tutorials to get ready for the arrival of my new Cricut, when I found a video by CleverSomeday showing steps to create a font using Inkscape. The video can be found at this direct link. It looks so simple; I must try it!

Cricut Winning Bid!

So, my search for a Cricut is over. It ended while setting through two red lights waiting to turn left on the way home from work.

During the first red light I checked EBay on my phone to find that the bundle I wanted was in striking distance, and the auction was about to end. So I put it a bid, and what do you know I was ahead. Refresh…behind.. bid again.. crap the light is green. Oh good, there are too many cars, and the light is red again. Bid again, still behind, and just seven seconds to go, and that light will be turning green again soon. BID! BID! Darn green light.

At the next light I checked again to find to my surprise, I had won the auction. I turned the car around, and took the Cricut Expression that was sitting in the back of my car back to Joann Fabric for a refund.

My final price was $222.50. That is for the Cricut Expression, the four cartridges that I had wanted: “Storybook”, “Paper Doll Dress Up”, “Home Accents”, and “Doodlecharm.” Plus it comes with two different ink packs. $22.50 more than I had wanted to pay, but what an incredible deal!

Now the only problem is that the reason I was trying to go so cheap, is to save money to buy the Sure Cuts a Lot software, which is what pushed me over the edge from “I would like to have a Cricut” to “I MUST have a Cricut!”

Must Have A Cricut!

I've finally decided I must have a Cricut. I've wanted one for a while, but was holding out until I could pay for the larger one with money made from selling crafts, rather than using my pay check, and take money out of the "family" budget.

That was my plan. Then the little Cricut went on sale for $79 at Joann Fabric this weekend. I couldn't resist the urge to buy anymore, so I grabbed one.

When I returned to the car with it my husband just had to point out that it wasn't the one I wanted. Like I didn’t already know that.

What resulted from his comment was a three day EBay binge, with me bidding and bidding and bidding to get the Cricut Expression for less than $200 without waiting until Black Friday.

I'm not sure how this will end, but I will keep you posted.

This has been one exhausting week. The only night I’ve been able to come home after work, was the night I had to bring work home. The trend hasn’t ended yet either. I will be “volunteering” at the football game tomorrow night. Normally, I would be looking forward to it, but I just want to so badly to come home after work and get some well deserved rest.

I’m looking forward to next week, where my only full evenings will be Monday and Tuesday for Coral’s music school. No appointments and no volunteer duty. Ohh...it I can hardly wait!

Mojo Monday 153 - Birthday Card

This is the card I made for the Mojo Monday 153 challenge. This is also one of the first cards I've made. Just picked up my fist batch of foam adhesive, and distressing ink today. The scallop squares were die cut with the Cuttlebug dies that just came today! Just in time to make the card. I used chalk ink for the green stamps, and I love the smooth coverage it provides. I didn't have any stamps small enough for the "Happy Birthday" at the bottom, so I printed that with my ink jet printer and cut it out with scissors before adhering it to blue card stock.



This one is my nine year old daughter's version. I had to help a little bit, attaching the bow, and cutting out the ovals, but she did pretty good on her own. I like the colors she picked out.

This was a lot of fun. I'll be trying it again next week!

Plastic Storage Bins

Today I'm sharing some more really old pictures. This is my cheap storage solution for my craft/computer room. These are expensive plastic storage boxes from Wal-mart. I printed labels for each of them on card stock, and decoupaged them to the end of the box. Not only can I tell at a glance what is in the boxes, it also makes them look not quite so blah.

These have held up very well. I made them over a year ago, and no labels have pealed off. I wasn't sure at the time, because I had never decoupaged anything prior. The only complaint I have is I've now out grown them, and need to put up some more shelves with more boxes.

By the way, the shelves, they are closet doors from Habitat for Humanity. I think they were about $5. I can't remember if that was each or total. These are much longer than the shelves that were available at Lowe's and Home Depot. They are also hollow, so they aren't nearly as heavy as a regular piece of wood. They are also extremely sturdy.

Stamps from Craft Foam

This my very first attempt at carving a stamp. I tried to find the rubber normally used to carve stamps, but they didn't have it at Michael's or Jo Ann Fabric. I opted to use the cheap craft foam from Dollar Tree, since it was all i had. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I glued the cut out to some recycled plastic and made a nifty clear stamp out of it. After this picture was taken i added a lid from a milk jug as a handle, and it is easier to use now.

I made a couple more stamps last night, and I plan to purchase some thicker foam to see if it is a better medium.