If You Think You Can, You Can

Apparently Lindsay and I think we can. The collection jar at Cosmo Cricket is empty....... those poor charities. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read this entry.)

It has taken it's toll...... at least on me. I had a dream Saturday night. I was at a party and someone offered me a treat. It looked like a Reese's Peanut Butter cup, but it was white chocolate on the outside and had gooey milk chocolate on the inside (I think this was inspired by a bag of candy Lindsay's wife gave my husband...... it's a conspiracy I tell you). Anyway, in my dream I temporarily forgot our challenge and I took the candy....... opened it...... scooped the gooey chocolate off the wrapper and put it in my mouth. As soon as I had done this, I see Lindsay coming over to talk to me. Suddenly I remember the challenge and realize he is going to find me with chocolate in my mouth. I swallow quickly. Put my head down and try to get away. I remember being so worried he would be able to smell chocolate on my breath. It turned into one of those panic dreams where you have to get away or it will be bad.


Then, last night, I had to close myself in my office while my husband made chocolate chip cookies with my kids. But, while I was there I started this journal of my "Health Nut" experience. It is fun to do, has me motivated to keep my goal and will be fun to look back on. I thought I'd share it in hopes of inspiring the rest of you hopefuls into documenting your progress toward better things! If you think you can, you can!!

PS: The prize drawing below is still open. The winner will be announced tomorrow morning...... but maybe even more exciting...... you'll get to meet Larry the Temp.

PPS: I asked Eric to photograph these for me. He thought it would be funny to use a fork to hold the journal open. Ha ha ha.

Japanese Friends & Class Instructions

Here are some of the friends we met in Japan. There were many others including Rei who gave us a lovely gift and Yoko who made this album using photos and entries from our blog.

Sorry about the poor photos. It's very overcast today, and I don't have enough light to shoot these. But, don't you just love this album! I will treasure it. So many great memories! I especially love that she took stills from the videos and placed them in as film strips.

On another note, here are the instructions for the classes I taught in Japan. I wasn't sure how to save these for the blog. Hopefully they work for you (click on them for the full size sheet). If they don't, email us and we'll send them to you. You are free to use these for yourself or for classes or anything else you have in mind. We just ask that you credit Cosmo Cricket. Enjoy!

Birdie Card and Holder

Hi Ladies,

OK, I wanted to make an entire flock of these cards and maybe I still will. It took me a little longer this morning to figure out how to make the wire holder than I had planned (the feet need to be bigger than expected to get him to stand up!).

If I find the time, I'll do a photo tutorial of how to make the holder, but for now, here is how to make the bird.

1. Start with a square of paper. I used a 5"square, but I've also made these with 6" and 4" squares. They are really cute as page embellishments done tiny!
2. Fold that square in half, corner to corner. I used a piece of yellow Prism cardstock as a base, but it's not necessary..... just depends on what you want. If you do use a base, and you want the patterned paper to set inside a tad, instead of folding along the center, cut just 1/8-1/4" off center and use the smaller side.
3. For wing, cut a square half the size of the body. So, my wing was 2 1/2" square. Then cut in half, corner to corner.
4. Adhere to body along top edge only. I have done these with just a bead of glue, but sewing is too cute. One tip, I always thread my sewing machine with two spools of thread (sometimes the same color, sometimes different) when sewing on paper. If you do this and set your stitch length to the longest stitch you'll get a fairly hand-done effect.
5. For the beak and tail, I use a 1" square for most sizes. If you are making a really tiny one, you'll want to adjust, but usually 1" works. Cut these along the center like with wing. The only difference between the beak and tail is the way they are turned and the paper they are cut from.
6. Adhere as shown.
7. Find a cute button or brad to use for his little eye.
8. You can make a stand if desired by bending wire. I have also sewn them closed along the front body edge to make a pocket in which to place a special note. Maybe I'll make one of those next to show you.
9. Watch him fly right to the heart of a friend. (OK, was that too corny?)

Update:
I just realized it's suppose to be Weigh in Wednesday. I thought today was Tuesday!!! Yes, I am losing it. Anyway, since I've already eaten and stuff I don't want to weigh myself. So, we will play Theigh in Thursday this week! :) Be sure to check back tomorrow!

Fall! Brrrrrrr!

I live up in the very most northern part of Utah, in the mouth of a canyon, on a mountain. It gets really cold here. It snowed all day yesterday! I was soooooooo not ready for that. We had some flurries on Saturday, but yesterday we actually had a winter storm warning and SNOW. It wasn't so much snow that it really stuck, but when I woke up this morning the trampoline and grass were covered with white. I'm telling you this so that if I go into a deep depression, quit making happy posts to the blog, gain about 30 pounds and refuse to get dressed anymore you'll know why. Those of you that are loyal blog followers, might remember my "crisis" entry last April, when I was in my 7th month of snow falling (it also snowed in May and June). Why do I live here? I'm really not asking you all, I'm asking Lindsay Moore!!!

OK, enough ranting about things I can't control. Here is a layout I lifted from my sister in law Amy Combs. I thought I had a photo of her's, but I can't find it currently. Suffice it to say, they are about the same, but she used Skipping Stones (the polka dot paper) as her background and her title was handwritten (mine was made from the Holiday Just Your Type sticker book). Also, she took the time to cut out her leaves from the Nature Walk paper. I took the lazy route and used the adhesive die-cut leaves. It's so fast and easy!

This is my nine year old Kate and her best friend Kalle.

Products Used:

Two Winners

Congratulations Houston and NanaBeth, send us your addresses and we'll send you your prizes!

For everyone that wants to see, here is the link to my TV debut and the instructions for this project are below.

The program I was on today does not have the video available online, but I'll be photographing the projects and posting them here in the near future.

15 Years & Ready for S'more!

Can you believe it, Eric and I have been married for 15 years (yeah, we Utah girls get married pretty young). This would be our "Crystal Anniversary", but I don't really have a need for any crystal. I think that every year should be our chocolate anniversary instead. Darn! I'm forgetting it's Weigh in Wednesday tomorrow, no chocolate for me! Instead I'll share this super cute project sent to us by Brittney Smith. The only thing I think I would change are the name tags (For Him?!?!?........ no way!!).

Random Bits and Pieces

Hey everyone, I made a Mr. Campy card just for the fun of it. Looks like I need a sharper blade on my paper trimmer!

And on another note, I am really excited about my stained glass windows, below! I have "collected" these over the years and I can tell you a story with each window. Anyway, I have had them in storage until just recently because when Eric and I moved into this house, it didn't work to hang them inside the windows like we had done before. It took me almost a year to figure out where and how to display them, but I am pleased with the results, especially in the mornings when the lights comes through the windows and makes them sparkle. I also like how it creates a visual divide between the kitchen/dining area and the sitting room. Now, I have begun a quest to find enough pieces to finish the space. My mother just gave me one for a belated birthday present...... it will look great because it is in a painted white frame, which should help break up the brown.