Cool Tool

I am really in love with the Cuttlebug from Provo Craft. It is a die cutting and embossing tool that is easy to use and the embossing is the best I have seen from any of the other products out there and I have most of them ( Sizzix Big Shot, QuickKutz Revolution and the Wizard from Spellbinders). I really like all of my die cutting machines, but the Cuttlebug has become my favorite mainly because it embosses so well. The A2 size embossing folders are really terrific for creating small, professional looking cards in nothing flat.

I have a few projects on my list right now and will start on some of them this weekend. I purchased some antique wood printing blocks on ebay a month ago and I want to try to print some wrapping paper. The blocks are hand carved in interesting looking patterns and I am curious to find out how well they print. I have never printed with wood blocks so it will be interesting to see what I can do with them. I am going to experiment and try printing first with my inexpensive craft store acrylic paints. If these paints are too thin, then I will have to purchase some heavy bodied acrylics and see if those will work.

Another project I want to work on and complete in the next few weeks is a mini heritage album featuring photos of my grandfather. I have photos of him that my siblings do not and I think this would be a great way to share the photos so they will have this remembrance of him as well. My goal is to create four of these albums before my older brother's birthday in March.

I also want to learn how to upload photos to this blog. If I can figure this out - I will post photos of my foray into block printing.

Following through on projects

One of my new year's resolutions is to follow through on projects. I have a talent for starting a project and then putting it aside to jump to the next project. This blog has also been victim of that syndrome - finishingprojectsitis. My new goal is to post once a week and stick to that schedule through the end of this calendar year. I think once a week will be more manageable than every day. I just don't seem to have the discipline to sit at my computer and post every day.

This resolution has also encouraged me to pick back up an embroidery project that has been languishing for 6 years. It is a lap quilt that is about half completed. My goal is to finish this project in the next three months. I think it will be a beautiful piece when it is finished.