After a hellish month of work, I was SO ready for a release. This came in the form of the 2nd Monthly Meeting of the Laughs and Crafts Crew. What better way to relax than to craft something with your best friends while eating overpriced pizza? I can't think of anything.
We learned from our mistake of not planning our crafts at the first craft night and decided this would be a Cricut night. Jennifer needed help figuring out how to use hers and everyone wanted to experiment with making our own stamps with our Cricut machines. We also got to see the project binder Meghan made and put Angela's Valentines in there.
We decided that the best way to teach Jennifer how to use her Cricut is to complete a project. She wanted vinyl letters for her front door, kind of like this. No problem. We picked the font she liked best and set out to find the right size (because nobody likes a big ol' period right?). Craft night started out with a success and we were on our way. (We will have to update with pictures of how Jennifer's door looks.)
The stamps were more of a mixed result. We cut a heart because it was simple enough. We couldn't get it to look quite right. Jennifer came to the rescue again (after providing the quote of the night) and suggested we try stamping on a more solid surface. We did and were much more pleased with the result. We will have to do some more experimenting with it before we make a final decision but it seems like it could have potential. Worst case scenario, we have acrylic blocks to buy already made stamps that DON'T suck. It's a silver lining.
For our final project, we played around with heat embossing again. Since I do nothing in moderation, I had purchased multiple colors and finishes of embossing powders and embossing ink pens. We decided we needed to try them all on different colors of paper. At the end of our experiment, we could all feel the wheels turning. We also decided that glitter is the herpes of craft supplies. Once it's there, it never goes away. Well, I decided that. Jennifer loved the red glitter and Meghan is a 1st grade teacher, she can't avoid glitter.
As always, we had a blast and can't wait until our next craft night. We will be making coasters and etching some glass. Can't wait to have personalized Pyrex!
Ashley
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
How We Know Each Other: Meghan & Angela
After reading Ashley's post I really felt like the "third wheel" of the group, since I don't work at Country! Although, to be fair, I DID spend 18 months at State Farm, so I do have corporate/insurance experience. Either way, I'm glad they included me in the craft group, and my circle of friends continues to expand.
I never dreamed when Angela and I met that our friendship and relationship would become what it is today. We met two years ago at Fox Creek because I was her daughter's first grade teacher! Honestly, I have never become such good friends with a parent before :)
I taught sweet miss Ana and was always so impressed with Angela's parenting skills. (Seriously, she came to parent-teacher conferences with 4 or 5 kiddos in tow and you never would have known they were in the room....her kids are SO well behaved!!)
Somehow or another in the past year or so we discovered that we had a mutual friend in Ashley, which strengthened our bond a bit. It wasn't until August, though, that we really took things to the "next level". Brad and I found ourselves frantically looking for a sitter about two weeks before school started. We interviewed with her and were sold immediately. She has been watching our baby for us while we work and I constantly say that anything good that Carley does she learned at Angela's house. She's SUCH a great mom and so good with kids that I wish I knew her secrets! We are so thankful to have Carley in such a good, loving environment every day and Carley has such great little friends in Angela's kiddos. Since Angela takes care of my only baby every day I think it's safe to say our friendship is on a whole new level. I'm so glad we are able to spend time outside of school/daycare situations to take day trips to Chicago, or spend late nights together being crafty. I'm happy that working at Country wasn't a prerequisite for Laughs and Crafts!!
I never dreamed when Angela and I met that our friendship and relationship would become what it is today. We met two years ago at Fox Creek because I was her daughter's first grade teacher! Honestly, I have never become such good friends with a parent before :)
I taught sweet miss Ana and was always so impressed with Angela's parenting skills. (Seriously, she came to parent-teacher conferences with 4 or 5 kiddos in tow and you never would have known they were in the room....her kids are SO well behaved!!)
Somehow or another in the past year or so we discovered that we had a mutual friend in Ashley, which strengthened our bond a bit. It wasn't until August, though, that we really took things to the "next level". Brad and I found ourselves frantically looking for a sitter about two weeks before school started. We interviewed with her and were sold immediately. She has been watching our baby for us while we work and I constantly say that anything good that Carley does she learned at Angela's house. She's SUCH a great mom and so good with kids that I wish I knew her secrets! We are so thankful to have Carley in such a good, loving environment every day and Carley has such great little friends in Angela's kiddos. Since Angela takes care of my only baby every day I think it's safe to say our friendship is on a whole new level. I'm so glad we are able to spend time outside of school/daycare situations to take day trips to Chicago, or spend late nights together being crafty. I'm happy that working at Country wasn't a prerequisite for Laughs and Crafts!!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
How We Know Each Other: Ashley, Jennifer, and Angela
Inspired by Meghan, I've decided to share how I am friends with Angela and Jennifer. First of all, I love the fact that because of Meghan, not ALL of my friends are current or previous co-workers. It makes me feel a little more social even though the people in high school, much like work, are those that you have to be around. I'm glad I was able to find friends in both places that made it a little more tolerable.
I became friends with Jennifer first. She started working with me soon after I had my first son, so I'd say it's been over 6 years that we've been friends. In between providing stellar customer service, we've been through buying houses, Jennifer's engagement and wedding, and three more babies between us since then. We get along so well because we balance each other out (my best example is that I'm kind of loud and she's kind of not loud). She is fantastic to be around, which is one of the main reasons why we are still friends even though I'm STILL at the same job and she's since moved on (twice!) to different positions. People at my job come and go all the time but there are precious few that I choose to make an effort to keep in contact with.
My friendship with Angela also started at work. We've technically worked together for 7 years but didn't make a mark on each other's radar until about two years ago. Then, it was like "Where have you been forever?" I think of Angela as my Mommy Mentor because she knows everything about everything. She helps everyone with everything and doesn't know how to sit down and relax. She can handle a ridiculous amount of children at one time and she is a bit of a baby whisperer. She has the patience of a saint and I marvel at everything she does in a day. We now plan our children's birthday parties around each other and are comfortable with each other's children and houses that it's almost like dealing with our own children at our own house. Our families get along so all of us (11 in total) can get together and have fun. When one of us throws a party, both of us throw a party. She's a great sounding board especially since the solutions to my problems are typically "Duh, Ashley" answers. She's my voice of reason and I'm the devil on her shoulder FORCING her to do things for herself every now and then. I even yell at her husband for her and she does the same for me.
I'm so thankful not only that I have the best friends a girl could ask for, but that they all get along with each other too. I can't wait for our friendships to strengthen and grow through craftiness.
-Ashley
I became friends with Jennifer first. She started working with me soon after I had my first son, so I'd say it's been over 6 years that we've been friends. In between providing stellar customer service, we've been through buying houses, Jennifer's engagement and wedding, and three more babies between us since then. We get along so well because we balance each other out (my best example is that I'm kind of loud and she's kind of not loud). She is fantastic to be around, which is one of the main reasons why we are still friends even though I'm STILL at the same job and she's since moved on (twice!) to different positions. People at my job come and go all the time but there are precious few that I choose to make an effort to keep in contact with.
My friendship with Angela also started at work. We've technically worked together for 7 years but didn't make a mark on each other's radar until about two years ago. Then, it was like "Where have you been forever?" I think of Angela as my Mommy Mentor because she knows everything about everything. She helps everyone with everything and doesn't know how to sit down and relax. She can handle a ridiculous amount of children at one time and she is a bit of a baby whisperer. She has the patience of a saint and I marvel at everything she does in a day. We now plan our children's birthday parties around each other and are comfortable with each other's children and houses that it's almost like dealing with our own children at our own house. Our families get along so all of us (11 in total) can get together and have fun. When one of us throws a party, both of us throw a party. She's a great sounding board especially since the solutions to my problems are typically "Duh, Ashley" answers. She's my voice of reason and I'm the devil on her shoulder FORCING her to do things for herself every now and then. I even yell at her husband for her and she does the same for me.
I'm so thankful not only that I have the best friends a girl could ask for, but that they all get along with each other too. I can't wait for our friendships to strengthen and grow through craftiness.
-Ashley
Sunday, January 22, 2012
How We Know Each Other: Ashley & Meghan
I thought it'd be fun for us to do some posts about how everyone in our little group knows each other, and since I have known Ashley the longest I figured I would start with her:
Ashley and I met in junior high when I was in 7th grade and she was in 8th grade. We were both in the orchestra together (violins all the way, baby!) so we spent the rest of our junior high/high school careers having our 4th/5th hour schedule being the same, as that was always the orchestra/lunch block. While my memories of this time are fuzzy, I do remember that we always got along, but we never really hung out together outside of orchestra functions. (She WAS a whole grade older than me though!)
We reconnected through Facebook on July 9, 2009 (at 9:27 pm.....thank you, FB timeline). We were both still living in the Blo-No area. I was a newlywed, whereas Ashley had been married and was already the mother of 2 little boys. 2010 was really the year we bonded, as we both were pregnant, and due within days of each other (although Ashley had to show me up by birthing Lucia early!) As luck would have it, we both had little girls, and our friendship was officially sealed. Carley and Lucia have been having playdates since they were about 2 weeks old, and Ashley and I have been texting/emailing/calling each other relentlessly ever since!
-Meghan
Ashley and I met in junior high when I was in 7th grade and she was in 8th grade. We were both in the orchestra together (violins all the way, baby!) so we spent the rest of our junior high/high school careers having our 4th/5th hour schedule being the same, as that was always the orchestra/lunch block. While my memories of this time are fuzzy, I do remember that we always got along, but we never really hung out together outside of orchestra functions. (She WAS a whole grade older than me though!)
We reconnected through Facebook on July 9, 2009 (at 9:27 pm.....thank you, FB timeline). We were both still living in the Blo-No area. I was a newlywed, whereas Ashley had been married and was already the mother of 2 little boys. 2010 was really the year we bonded, as we both were pregnant, and due within days of each other (although Ashley had to show me up by birthing Lucia early!) As luck would have it, we both had little girls, and our friendship was officially sealed. Carley and Lucia have been having playdates since they were about 2 weeks old, and Ashley and I have been texting/emailing/calling each other relentlessly ever since!
-Meghan
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Yes, I Said Craft Night
I would like to start out by saying that it's nice to have friends that get it. Who don't give you the "Have you lost your mind?" look when you say you want to have a craft night but get excited with you. We are Hobby Lobby-loving, Pinterest-obsessed Craft Nerds. And we are proud of it.
After countless trips to Hobby Lobby, countless hours on Pinterest, and two books purchased from Amazon, craft night finally arrived. Everyone got to my house, the pizza ordered, went downstairs, and looked at each other. Now what? I do feel like the next time we do a craft night, we should have some sort of theme music to kick things off. It would make it much more festive.
It was kind of a catchall kind of night. We started with heat embossing (lots of ooohs and aaahs), moved on to a very frustrating try at using the Cricut machine to make embossing folders for the Cuttlebug (it eventually worked but I'm not sure it's worth the effort), and tried to cut glass with fire (one shattered, but other than that, there was little success). After that, we went back to my crafting area (it's a cart inside of what is actually my husband's theater room) and tried the markers on the Cricut machine. We were all impressed with how that worked and finally got a project completed. The 1st graders in Meghan's class will all get super cool craft night Valentines.
After working on projects, we looked at all of our papers, punches, and brainstormed some ideas for future craft nights. We decided it would go much smoother if we had a specific thing we wanted to focus on. At the beginning of the night, we thought it would be an every other month endeavor but we had so much fun, we decided to make it monthly. The February date was set up and we will be doing glass etching and making personalized stamps using the Cricut. More pictures and projects to come!!
-Ashley
After working on projects, we looked at all of our papers, punches, and brainstormed some ideas for future craft nights. We decided it would go much smoother if we had a specific thing we wanted to focus on. At the beginning of the night, we thought it would be an every other month endeavor but we had so much fun, we decided to make it monthly. The February date was set up and we will be doing glass etching and making personalized stamps using the Cricut. More pictures and projects to come!!
-Ashley
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