Obsessions and Addictions

Do you have an Obsession or Addiction? 

I've heard friends talk about their chocolate obsession... others say they have a favorite Latte addiction... Others are into being a Gym Rat so much that yup I believe they are also obsessed- even addicted to that adrenaline rush. I'd have to say that as obsession's go I am coming  pretty close with my love of Youtube's varied topics!

 

No matter what your need or interest, I have found it on Youtube. 
Need a little happiness? Check out babies laughing.
Need to feel close to animals? Wow you can watch newborn eaglets in the nest! 
Are you trying to repair your broken appliance? Yes I learned how to repair my microwave by watching Youtube!
My Youtube topic list has grown so long I cannot find the correct topic when I want to save a great video. Hmm, now have duplicate topics. Yikes! 
Really though, I love, love, love Youtube! 

I can be watching a demonstration of a unique new gadget one minute  and then another moment see what people around the world do with plastic containers to repurpose them. 

A recent favorite though is the  arts and craft trade.There are many great demonstrations showing  exciting and new products and how to use them, also new ways to use products that have been around for a while. Today I was watching one of my favorites. A show demonstrator, Tim Holtz at Creativation 2018. Tim was showing off their new color additions to the Alcohol Ink line. I would use the old advertising jingle and say "You've Come A Long Way Baby"! 

I've bought and used alcohol inks before.... Sadly they would evaporate so fast I'd only get a few uses from it. They were fun but some of the redesigns that Tim demonstrates pumps me full of enthusiasm to go out and buy this whole set AND the cool tin to keep it in!! Another item I have not used before was discussed, Yupo paper, a synthetic paper. I am excited to try this product. Check out the video, if you are obsessed with creating paper arts, a collector of new and fun craft and supplies or just enjoy surfing Youtube check out this video below.

So-oo any friends want to explore some of these newer Alcohol Ink techniques? Come on over, "Lets Play."

Rainbows Everywhere

Rainbow Looms

It is a craze that has swept the world and especially the world of my grandchildren, grand nephews and grandnieces.They have fallen in love with these crazy colorful rubber bands! We bought one for my grandson last December and lo and behold he received two other looms from friends at his birthday party! As we celebrated birthdays with some of the grandnieces I noticed they also squealed with delight to receive one. This weekend we will be celebrating with another grandnephew and guess what he has on his list? More Rainbow Loom goodies :) If we could figure a way to create fun stuff incorporating all of his favorites: Legos, reading, action figures and the beloved Rainbow Loom we would be super stars in his world! Well I'm not unhappy to be a favored Auntie I guess ;) 
Today I'd like to share a pattern from one of my Youtube channels, ScrapTimeVideos. It is called a Hexagon Bracelet.

You can find unlimited ideas for the Rainbow Loom on Youtube! This one is so clear and concise. 
I mentioned that it would be great if I could incorporate all of my grandnephews favorites...well it may be possible! Check out this fun Lego Bracelet. 

Another amazing project from a Youtuber on the DYIMommy channel creating an owl from Harry Potter. Soooo Cool! 

I'm such a beginner I'd need to stick to some simple design but look how cool this one with perler beads is!

Don't these fun and colorful projects make you want to be a kid again!

Well I know my grandnephew is going to love the gift we picked for him since he is the one who shared his birthday list with us hehe...can't wait to see him open his present!

Web Ideas, Spiders and Beads??

Hi Friends,

Today I have some free time to myself and of course my love for creating has me thinking of a few really cool ideas.
I love to surf the net to see what others are doing too and so it led me on a search through the topic of printables because I wanted to make a little something for a young friend who just had a birthday. I was thinking something that had his interests and viola! I found a site with Kung Fu Panda images. Don't you just love the web for all the great resources.
Well the idea of printables had me thinking of a fun Ladies Night Out I enjoyed last week I thought it would be fun to create some crafts for another Ladies Night Out. I found some really great sites and a darling template for a popcorn box. I can't wait to try that one out!

LOL no wonder the term web was coined... Ideas  and web surfing really are like a spider web the way they take off. Some are messy and some are very symetrical as you can see. Just take a look at these spider web pictures...don't you agree? 

I'm not really a fan of spiders except that I have come across some very cool ones. In fact I spent money for one of these invaders...cold hard cash! Well today I found a video that shows what I purchased and how you can create your own...well at least a cousin of my find :) I just had to share this idea and  a few other ideas as well.

Neighbor Christmas Treat Bags

Each year as the holidays approach I am on the lookout for clever ideas to create a gift to share with my neighbors and friends. I love Christmas and giftgiving but it can be physically taxing to get all of my preparations and shopping done. Each year I look to getting my tasks done earlier so I can spend time doing fun activities, hanging with family and friends. In July I saw a wonderful little hand made container...so-ooo perfect for those special homemade cookies, candies and other created surprises. I decided right then I needed to try it out then get my thoughts recorded so when the holidays came I would be ready with the idea. I'm a visual learner and I was so grateful to the folks at Cosmocricket for their How to Fold a Treat Bag Video Tutorial. And....Ta-da!!! I've found the perfect treat for my neighbors I though but when it came time to work on the treats I changed my mind and went with a chocolate dipped mini pretzel because of all the fun possibilities in decorating and flavoring them. I can't wait to hear what my neighbors think of them :)

Here are my results...Isn't it cute!!

Favorite Youtube Videos

Recently I completed a Swap-bot swap that involved sending my favorite Youtube DYI links to 6 swap partners. These swap partners do not necissarily share the same interests so the potential for alot of new ideas was stimulating and tantalizing to say the least! The day I spent as I compiled my favorites was lots of fun as I sorted through my youtube channel and my favorites list. The fav list alone was quite daunting...over 100 were in that collection! It gave me a reason to review and sort them which was a "good thing" as Ms. Martha would say.  I came away with my list of 10 plus current favorites based off of the most recent crafty interests but of course we all have a few youtube videos that make us happy, right?
Here was my list...

 

• Crescent Artist Trading Cards Mixed Media Inchies
• Rubber Stamped Backgrounds 2 
• Tea Stained Backgrounds
• Half Cut Ornament Window (Movers and Shapers Dies)
• How To Make A Beaded Spider
• Text In A Circle
• Watercolor Wonders
• Sliding Knot Bracelet
• Embossed Napkins
• Making your own sticky dots

And the ones that make me smile...

The Singing Italian Gourmet

Crystallize Lindsey Sterling

Holdman Christmas Light Display

Wrinkled Ladies Anita Renfroe Remakes "Single Ladies"

Countdown To a CRAFTY CHRISTMAS *DAY 1*

Beginning in December I wanted to share a craft idea each day as we count down to CHRISTMAS. One of my favorite ways to share ideas this past year has been with Pinterest, a website designed for the social sharing of things YOU and I are interested in. Here on my blog over the next 25 days as we COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS I wan to share with you 25 crafty ideas to make.

*DECEMBER 1*

Get Ready, Get Set.....

The holiday season is fully upon us. We put up our Christmas tree last night and decided our tree still needs to have a few more touches before we are satisfied with it so I will be visiting a few stores to find just the right ornaments to set off the tree. Where do you find just the right decor to add to your holiday decorations? I love to visit Tai Pan Trading and Cost Plus World Market during the holidays, I find amazing finds there! Another favorite is my local Roberts Crafts, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Crafts.

I look forward to putting on some finishing touches to the tree very soon...We'll invite over some friends, have some yummy dessert and eggnog, and enjoy some favorite Christmas music.  

In the meantime I wanted to share a simple handmade Christmas Chains idea I found at 300dpi.com, a digital scrapping site I like to visit. All you need is a stack of your favorite holiday print and solid papers cut to 6" x 1" pieces and advesive to glue the chains together. Look how cute!