LTCblog (weekly)
Posted from Diigo. The rest of LearningTheCricut group favorite links are here.
MIA: from my heart to yours
Cricut Friends,
I just wanted to touch base with you all because I know it seems I have dropped off the face of the earth. So many of you I consider friends and I just wanted to let you know what has been going on.
First, the blog. Yes, it has been forever since I posted anything. The truth is that with taking care of my mother-in-law with her brain injury combined with the a million new Cricut things coming out nonstop, I just needed a break. I began to feel like I couldn’t keep up with the new “this” and then the new “that”, and was feeling pressure to always be creating something for my readers.
Second, Facebook and the Learning the Cricut page on FB. It’s a long story, but my FB account got messed up, and ultimately I had to start a new profile. In all of that mess, the Learning the Cricut page (with over 5,000 likes/followers!) was also lost. I was honestly heartbroken. I cried- a lot. It also discouraged me because I felt like I lost contact with so many friends that I only knew through the Cricut world. For those of you who even noticed I disappeared and would like to connect again, you can find me on FB HERE.
So, what have I been up to?
Many of you know I started using Heritage Makers (www.StorybookingToday.com) for my scrapbooking. I am doing yearly hardcover books and lots of other fun projects. If you have any interest at all in digital, you should check them out. It’s been a nice break for me not to have supplies covering every surface in my house:)
My main focus lately has been the health of my family. My husband and his mother are overweight (okay, okay, me too, lol). With my mother in law’s brain injury, she often doesn’t remember eating so she will eat again, sometimes several times. My husband has been miserable over his weight also.
Thank God I met a friend on FB who told me about a 90 day health challenge she was doing. After researching it I became super excited. My husband and I started first, then a month later his mom and sister started. My husband has lost 30 pounds, I have lost 10 and lots of inches, my MIL has lost over 10 and his sister had lost 14 pounds last I heard. It is pure nutrition, and has become the fastest growing health challenge in America. Hulk Hogan, Dennis Rodman, MMA fighters…all kinds of people are seeing how awesome the challenge is. It has really changed our lives and I know we will only keep moving forward from here.
If you would like to check it out also, you can watch some videos on it at www.GetTheChallenge.com.
I just want to end by saying how thankful I am for all of you, and how much I have missed connecting with you all.
Obsessed with Scrapbooking Gallery
If you aren’t familiar with Joy from Obsessed with Scrapbooking, you need to be! I was so excited to see she has added a gallery to her site. You can see her awesome work HERE.
Cricut Competitor Black Cat Lynx Announced (Scrapbook Update Article)
A recent post from Scrapbook Update: (click through to see pictures as well)
Cricut Competitor Black Cat Lynx Announced
By Betsy Burnett on April 11, 2011World Innovations Ltd. has announced the addition of a new machine to their line-up, the Lynx. This machine is a version of their popular Black Cat Cougar electronic cutter model designed for the craft market. The Lynx is intended to be capable of cutting a wide variety (such as cardstock, vinyl, cereal weight chipboard) of crafting materials up to 12? in width, and will work with the full line of Cougar accessories already on the market. In addition, the Lynx is reportedly compatible with many of the software programs already on the market that are designed to work with electronic cutters (such as Makes the Cut and Sure Cuts Alot), and it will also be fully compatible with the company’s upcoming “Black Cat Cutting Studio.”
The Black Cat Cougar Line of die-cutting machines was launched in December of 2008 as a collaboration between Colin Russon and craft industry designer and teacher Dawn Grantham. Russon is the partnership’s technical expert, while Grantham has knowledge of the craft market. The Cougar is based on a machine originally designed for the sign making industry, but is modified to appeal to crafters. The Cougar machines vary in size depending on the maximum width needed to cut various materials. Machines range from a 13? cutting width to a 24? cutting width. They are designed to cut everything from paper and cardstock to vinyl and heavy chipboard. There are even cutting tips designed to etch (toughened) glass, emboss metal, cut stencils and do intricate cutting work. For more examples, visit Grantham’s website Thyme Graphics.
The Lynx is priced at $499 retail. The Cougar starts at $689, and increases in price based on the cutting width desired. Additional accessories available (for additional cost) include specialty blades/blade holders, cutting trays and more. For more information on the Black Cat line of cutters, visit the company’s website.
