Wordful Wednesday - Wishes

On Sunday, Jeff and I went to the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party.  We had done it with the kids last summer and had a great time, so we decided to do it again by ourselves.  For those of you who do not know what the party is...it's a nightly party over in Magic Kingdom.  The party is full of all you can eat desserts and a private viewing of the amazing fireworks in Magic Kingdom.  Huge bonus is not fighting the crowds to watch the fireworks in July.  Oh and Tinkerbell flies overhead.  :)

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus,  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia,  Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

Hello

Wordful Wednesday - Hello Handsome

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus,  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia,  Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

Main Street Philharmonic

Love catching some of the street performers on Main St. in Magic Kingdom.  While waiting for the 3 o'clock parade to start I got to see the Main Street Philharmonic.  I have never seen them perform before.
So, Ian are you going to learn some "disney" songs for mom?  ;)

Taken from atop the platform for the Disney World Railroad Main Street U.S.A. Station.

Sunday Citar - Happiness

Don't wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you've got to make yourself. - Alice Walker

Happy Place

Feeding Deer

The other day I wrote how Lily's favorite experience at Marineland was feeding the baluga whale. 

Ian's favorite thing we did at Marineland was feeding the deer.  (I remember doing this here as a kid.) 

At first there were plenty of deer that wanted food.

Or I should say a couple piggies.  ;)

Then we walked to the other side (it is a huge circle) to see if we could feed other ones.

These deer were skidish. 

Eventually we fed a few more.

The kids had a great time. 

Happy Birthday Ian!

Happy 12th Birthday to my little man!  (who is not so little anymore)

Facts about 12yr old Ian...
...is almost as tall as mom.  (I only have him by .25in now.)
...wears a size 10/11 shoe.
...still gets up at 6am.
...is going into the 7th grade (Middle School)
...is in the High School Marching band. (1st year doing it.)
...loves to play the tuba/sousaphone.
...likes to harass his little sister.
...still loves Pokemon & Stitch.
...loves to play video games like Minecraft & Spiral Knights on his computer.
...thinks he is a nerd.
...already shaved his mustache. 

Happy Birthday Sweetie!  We LOVE you and are very proud of the young man you are becoming. 

You can read about his nightmare of a birth story here.
Here is Ian at age 8, age 9, age 10 & age 11.

On a side note...I started this blog 5yrs ago today!  =)

Wordful Wednesday - Apple Camp

Over the last couple days Ian has attended Apple Camp.  He created this video last year and LOVED doing it so I signed him up to do it again this year.

I love the Apple Store.  Lily had fun playing on the i-pads while waiting for Ian.  We always find new cool apps when the kids play with the i-pads, too.

Day 1 they make their own song in garageband and Day 2 they make their video.

The second day there was a bit of a hiccup with his video, but after a trip back to the store where the boys played on the i-pads and the instructor fixed it everything was all good.

Here is the video Ian created.  (We can not attend the preview day on Saturday, so they have Ian his video today.)
(This time he used screenshots of his Minecraft world to make it.)

For more WW check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Seven Clown Circus,  Parenting by Dummies, Project Alicia,  Focused on the Magic & Fresh Mommy.

Questions & Answers about Polymer Clay

It seems like I have been working with polymer clay FOREVER!

I get questions all the time asking me about selling on-line, taking product photos and creating with polymer clay.

The other day I asked my fans on facebook if anyone had any questions for me about polymer clay.

Here are the questions I received...

Q - "What are the must have starter tools?"

A brick of clay and your imagination.  ;)  My first large polymer clay project was making daisy flower magnets for my wedding favors 15years ago.  I used white and yellow clay, a toothpick for the lines in the peddles and an old cookie sheet to bake them on.  Over years I have accumulated alot of tools.  My favorite tools are my pasta machine, a stick tool (it's pointy at one end), a long tissue blade (helps scrape off clay pieces from my tile), an exacto knife and a large ceramic tile (purchased at home depot...I glued felt to the bottom of it so it will not scratch my table). 

Q -  "Do you shape them by hand or is the special shape cutters you use?"

Most of my items are shaped by hand.  When creating all of my objects, I do look at each component as a shape though.  Kemper tools are my favorite cutters. 

 All of those objects above turned into these below...

Q - "My 13 year old step daughter is wanting to learn how to make figures. She can do a lollipop..lol.. Is there a book or a site to help her learn more?"

YAY!!  Love to hear kids want to learn to make figures.  I recommend Youtube!  There are some amazing polymer clay tutorials on youtube.  Type in polymer clay tutorial, you will get tons.  (you can also search gum paste) When I started I purchased clay craft books in the clay isle...that was pre-youtube.   

Q - "About how much does it cost to start up? And can you use standard ovens? I don't think I'd ever attempt the clay creations that you make because yours are exceptional but it does make me curious."

I guess cost depends on what you want to make.  To make one item all in one color it can be pretty inexpensive.  A brick of clay is anywhere from $1.00-$3.50ea.  Tools can be anything, as long as you are not using them for food again.  Toothpicks and needles make wonderful tools.  While you can purchase a toaster oven, polymer clay is completely safe to cure in your own oven (follow manufacture's directions on packaging).  When you bake your items you can use a cookie sheet from the dollar store.  You should try your hand at it, make some Christmas ornaments with the kids.  That is how I started many many years ago.  

Q - "What kind of glaze do you use and what is your favorite kind of clay to use?"

I do not glaze my pieces.  I am more of a natural girl.   My favorite clay to use is Fimo Soft.  

Q - "Where can you buy the tiny shapes,I.e. stars and hearts. I've looked but they are all too big" 

The tiny cutters are called Kemper Klay Kutters.  I have purchased my kemper tools from lots of different vendors over the years.  My first set was a gift from my sister and she purchased them from a local art supply store called Hyatts many many years ago.  The last set(s) I purchased by googling kemper tool cutters.  I don't have a one go to shop to purchase them.  

Q - "How do you not leave fingerprints?"

Honestly, there are fingerprints all over my items.  :D  I never found it an issue though.  I know some clay artists will use gloves or do other special things to remove them.  

Q - "Do you use any special tool to smash the clay?, so when you use a cutter it is all the same high. TIA" 

I personally use my hands & a pasta machine to condition my clay.  To make everything the same thickness I use the pasta machine.  You can also use a deck of cards and a rolling tool.

I hope this information sheds light into how I work with polymer clay.   If you have questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to leave them in the comment section below and I'll respond to them in my next question and answer blog post. 

Feeding Baluga Whales

On our anniversary we took the kids to Marineland in Canada.  I hadn't been since I was a kid.  We had a great time.

One of the highlights was when Lily fed & pet the Baluga Whale.

Baluga Whales are now her favorite.  :)