Infusible Inking with Cricut

I am in love with Cricut's infusible ink. I have made some T-shirts but have not ventured into other mediums yet. I am anxious to try some of the other surfaces and will probably try the ceramic coasters next and was also thinking about wood surfaces to maybe make Christmas gifts on. It's great that infusible products are now available everywhere. As always, I rely on Melody Lane for insight and inspiration and recommend her to all of my students. I also encourage them to become patreons also so they can reap the same benefits that I do. I would not be teaching Cricut myself if it hadn't been for her. So a big shout out!!!

Exercise; Not Craft Related

While scrolling through Facebook this morning I clicked on an ad for One And Done 7 minute exercise course. I watched the whole presentation and read all the comments. The course is $29 and did not have any bad reviews from folks who had bought it.The main complaint was that they don't accept PayPal.
The selling point of this program is that it is brief but effective no matter your present physical condition.
Since I am almost 75 and obese this sounded good to me. My only reservation was the cost if the program did not work or I was unable to use it. They do have a money back policy though.
I decided to Google that program and did not find any negative comments. What I did find is that Johnson and Johnson have a similar program for FREE in an iPhone App.
I downloaded that and tried it out right away.
I was able to do almost all of the exercises but had to modify some either because of my present level of ability or because they were floor exercises and I didn't have enough time to get on the floor (LOL)
My plan is to continue this routine and determine if the results are as promised by the One And Done version.
While I don't plan to divulge my current weight and measurements I will post whether there are any changes.

Conquering My Fear of Video Editing

At Last! I have been making and editing videos! This is such a relief. I firmly believe that videos are the best teaching tool and my inaction toward the process of making and learning to edit frustrated me. Teaching live Cricut classes finally made me aware of what I needed to do in order to move forward.
I began paying attention to how much my self talk about making videos was so much like the self talk of people who are afraid to use the new Cricut machines they were buying.

IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO FEAR OF FAILURE !!!

I tell my students to look at their Cricut machines and see if it has any teeth with which to bite them if they make a mistake. My aim is to help them appreciate that all new efforts are a learning experience and journey toward improvement and no-one but them will know about their mistakes along the way unless they want them to.
Additionally, every facebook group I belong to is full of people who have already made the mistakes that you and I make and are VERY eager to help us learn and grow in our craft.
So I began paying attention to my self talk to see what I was so afraid of or intimidated by and realized that I was fearful of ruining my video and losing a valuable piece of work.

My solution is to make videos that I don’t care so much about and won’t be so devastated if I destroy during my editing efforts. Now that I am more relaxed I am finding the editing process more manageable and, so far, I haven’t ruined anything!
The editing tool I am using now is iMovie and I have found some good YouTube’s on how to use it. My go to is “ How to edit video on your iPhone or iPad with iMovie-full tutorial”

I hope this post will be an encouragement to those struggling with learning a new technique.

Yesterday Life Gave Me Lemonade

I am so excited to say that I had my first Michaels Cricut 101 class. Some might have been disappointed to only have one student, but I was thrilled. I love having one person classes because I can attend to their specific needs. Plus, we really get to know each other.
So that was one glass of lemonade. But when I left and was loading up my car a shopper leaving Michaels offered to help me. When she saw that I had the Cricut Maker she commented that I would love it, thinking that I had just bought it. When I explained that I was actually teaching Cricut she was so excited. It turns out that she will be opening a consignment shop to have a place to sell her own crafts and stated she has a back room that she wants to use for classes and would love to have me teach there. That was a whole pitcher of lemonade.
I can't wait to start. She isn't opening till October though so I will have time to plan curriculum.

LIFE GETS IN THE WAY OF CRAFTING

In my last post I was excited to say that my video setup was complete and I was looking forward to making videos and learning how to edit same.
Instead I wound up in the hospital for a week. The problem was, and is, my foot. At least that is the visible symptom. So, even though I have had a similar problem in the past, my plea for the medics to look beyond the visible and appreciate my past experience went unheeded. A week was spent treating a non-existent infection. The positive to this was that every single person who entered my room, from doctors to housekeeper, was friendly, patient, and informative. Plus I got to lie in bed and get waited on hand and foot.
So now I am scheduled to see a cardiologist who will address the real problem which is, as I tried to tell them, poor circulation due to occlusion.
Now why am I posting this sad tale on a crafting blog? It is to bemoan my inability to make videos, clean my craft room, make cards, watercolor, play with alcohol inks, and mostly because I missed out on attending the Meet and Greet in Virginia with Melody Lane and Ashish Arora. Luckily a facebook friend was able to use my ticket. I also missed my Art Impressions class at the CKC Convention but did get to attend and pick up my kit and do some shopping as my daughter went with me and pushed me in a wheel chair.
So, all is not lost, just postponed. Today I was able to start an alcohol ink project and complete an Art Impressions watercolor. YEAH !

YOUTUBE READY AT LAST !!!

I have finally found a setup that will make it easy for me to make videos. I saw it on a youtube by Lelesdesigns where she showed a recording setup using an overhead pet grooming arm. She also recommended an iPad holder and a microphone.
I bought all three and got them set up and then spent the next week trying to relearn how to screen mirror, record, and save to a file.
My next task is to learn to edit. That is the most intimidating of the things I want to master.
A while ago I joined Melody Lane's OBS class and immediately tried a live Facebook broadcast. It was a disaster! The lag was soooo bad. The experience was traumatic and I haven't been willing to try it again. YET!  But now that I have my new and improved set up I know that is something to aim for in the near future.
If any of you have also been struggling with a video setup I encourage you to watch the one by Lelesdesigns.

FOURTH OF JULY

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY !!!

Does anyone else have to avoid fireworks because your dogs are afraid?