Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

hp Sprocket instant pocket printer review

I have been researching the hp Sprocket mini printer for a while and finally gave in and purchased it. This is a super fun pocket-size printer that instantly prints 2x3" photos using ZINK zero Ink printing technology. That ZINK feature is pretty much what sold me on this buy. NO INK! Because I am a Happy Planner and scrapbooker, I really wanted to be able to add small photos to my pages to help remember special, and perhaps even more importantly, everyday, moments. I tried using my regular printer to get those pics but a) I needed to wait until I had enough to fill an entire photo paper page, and b) my regular printer SUCKS ink and it was costing a fortune (and inconvenience) every time I printed. I didn't do this more that 3 times before I realized I needed a different approach. My source for printing regular photos only offers mini prints in a collage of 4 of the same so that wasn't cost effective, and certainly not convenient.

The HP sprocket is exactly what I was looking for. Instant prints, one at a time, right at home, no waiting, and with no ink. It cost about $160 for the printer and the packets of paper are about $25, making each photo about $0.50. To be honest, I am a gadget/electronic girl to begin with so the more I watched videos of this little guy in action, the more I convinced myself it was worth every penny. I am not disappointed!

My very first print was a little streaky but after that, they have been really good! The reviews are mostly favourable and I am having so much fun using the sprocket. It is so tiny and light, fits in the palm of your hand, and is really sleek (I got the white one with rose gold). It is so simple to set up and use and the app offers SO MANY fun features! It is really cool to be able to completely edit your pics right on your phone and add borders, text, fun filters, etc. I could play for hours! There is instant gratification to be able to print a photo immediately to include in your planner page right away. 

You can save your edited photos to your phone, share them on all the social media platforms, and even add them to a print queue to print later. You can print directly from those social media sites directly as well so that is super fast and convenient if you're willing to sign in and share data with HP. You can print on the go, enable mobile printing from other apps, and even create custom stickers from your own drawings. One feature I'm quite excited to try is the tile printing option. You can print out different configurations of a photo and then assemble them to create a large tiled mosaic print.

There is a photobooth mode and even a way to scan photos and link them to relive memories through more images and videos from the same day or location. Again, if you are willing to share your info and photos, there are available magic frames and hidden treasures, themes and seasonal additions that can allow for augmented reality experiences! That gets a little too weird for me but could be fun!

I am thrilled so far with this purchase and love printing my photos in just the right size for my planner. There are some instances when I can print a quick pic to represent an everyday activity that I probably wouldn't otherwise print (our weekend bike route, a picnic lunch, or picking veggies in the garden, etc.) and it's nice to be able to remember those moments along with the big birthdays or vacations.

I have even changed the way I'm going to scrapbook and memory keep because of the sprocket and can't wait to share what system I have put together!

New Happy Planner Haul

I had to travel to find them but was delighted to load my shopping basket with a bunch of newly released Happy Planner products. They were just launched at Michaels and were 30% off. I was drooling when I watched the MAMBI YouTube VIDEO (there are a few!) and made a list. Unfortunately, when I found the display rack I didn't have my list and was in a rush so I just did a grab & go (tee hee).

As you can see I loaded up on the new boxed stickers. These are awesome and so needed since they are rolls of the most-used daily stickers for each category. I use the fitness ones the most but I love the Mom and Home Life packs too. New to me is the Wellness line of items and I was inspired after watching the video to incorporate that inner check-up in my day as well as the physical side of fitness. I bought the extension kit to add to my regular planner. It has such beautiful photography and artwork and I'm very excited to bust it open. There are stickers and calendar pages, dividers, and prompts. It's going to be amazing to play with!

Another inventive and useful product is the Weekly Meal Plan half sheets of paper. While I was using the mini planner to make up my menus and lists, it was killing me in stickers having to customize the schedule paper each week. It was necessary to cover up the date and time info to make it work for organizing my meals and grocery lists for the week. These dedicated sheets will be so much easier to incorporate into my regular Classic planner. I purchased a co-ordinating sticker box too. There are some really cute food stickers, lists, and shopping reminders.

We finally have a quiet house so I am down in my workshop today. I know I want to sew next week so I'm getting my planners ready now while I have a chance to set up the dispenser boxes with washi (watch the video for great tips!) and dig in to the new stuff. It has been such an amazing holiday this year and everything was so lovely. I'm excited for 2018 to get here and it is an incredible feeling to go into a new year feeling so content, healthy, blessed and loved. I wish the same for all of you <3

by annie's Soft and Stable

I've had Soft and Stable on my 'get list' for ages and finally bought some while in the States. I found it in a small quilt shop and the owner only had one package with an 18"x58" piece in stock but assured me it would be enough for a standard tote bag. This product has been featured on several videos and Annie herself demonstrated some cute placemats on the Fat Quarter Shop channel (see below).

Soft and Stable is much thicker than other stabilizers and allows for bags and purses to have more body and maintain shape. It's still lightweight and easy to sew, is washable, and soft. I'm really excited to give it a try because I dislike 'floppy' fabric bags. I have had a pattern and fabric for a tote bag ready on my table but was waiting to get the stabilizer. Now I'm all set but realize the pattern only asks for medium weight fusible interfacing. I'm no expert but I'm sure I can just use the Soft and Stable in its place. The tutorials on byannie.com make it seem very simple to use so it shouldn't be a problem. I'll be sure to share the results when it's done. If I can't figure it out I will totally be making the placemats instead!

LED Magnifier

I bought this OttLite 1.5x Optical Grade Magnifier with LED Illuminator because I thought it would really come in handy while sewing my hexies together. Since I plan to work on these while traveling, waiting, and when the power goes out (!), the LED battery operated light alone seemed like a really good idea. As I get older I also find that my vision is not as great as it used to be. Reading glasses help a lot but close, detailed work can still be a challenge.

The magnifier is on a neck cord and has no-slip rubberized feet to keep it in place on your chest in the correct position. The lens has a vanishing edge and a spot viewer to get even closer. It's really similar to the one attached to my Ott floor lamp. I really like it except that I can't seem to get used to the zoomed in view! I tried it out while I sewed the binding on my quilts and it brought the work so 'close' in my vision that I can't gauge the size of my stitches.

I'm sure if I persevere I can get the hang of using the magnifier. The reviews I read were so positive and many commented they couldn't live without it. This weekend will be a good chance to really test it out and hopefully adjust to the clear view! I have it tucked in my portable kit (safe from scratches in its soft pouch), where it fits perfectly. I'm glad to have it with me wherever I happen to be stitching so no matter what the light conditions I can see what I'm doing.

Cricut Die Cutting

I went to a surprise party last week and it was suggested we take along a funny poster. It has been a long time but I knew the Cricut would be perfect for the sign. I pulled out the larger Cricut Expression and dug up all my old supplies, including the mats which have been used so much there's not much 'stick' left in them.

I plugged in the Gypsy (the hand-held 'computer' designer that goes along with the machine and makes positioning and sizing so much easier) and the Cricut and both worked! I searched the cartridges I had linked and found the phrases and shapes I wanted for my layout. I even added some shadowing layers although I am not sure I got everything exactly proportional. I'll need to re-educate myself how to make sure that the different layers adjust in sync as I play with the sizes of the icons.

My poster turned out great and since I had everything out and at the ready, I decided to cut a few things for my England scrapbook pages. It was really fun to look for words and pictures that would suit and then cut them from the exact printed papers that co-ordinate with my pre-planned pages' artwork. I gave the mat a quick spray with my 505 temporary adhesive quilting spray (just a touch because that stuff is expensive!) and it worked like a charm. My images cut perfectly, with no shifting or tearing. I adjusted my machine to cut slowly and with less pressure because the designer print paper from Creative Memories is much thinner than die cutting card stock.

I'm happy with what I was able to produce and add to my pages. Everything has been cleaned up now as I work on the Vintage quilt binding. I've almost finished adding the flat piping, which looks so cute, and then I have to make the binding. I didn't have enough black fabric and I chickened out when I saw how stark it would look on the quilt (the power of auditioning fabric choices first!). I chose that matching pink for the piping (I had ordered solids from the Fat Quarter Shop which go with the Bonnie & Camille lines) and a red for the binding. Both fabrics are by Moda and look terrific. I'm really enjoying sewing again but I really loved using the Cricut again too!!!!

Plannering

Every Sunday my daughter and I have a "plannering" date. That's our made-up word for decorating our planners for the week ahead. I ended up buying my other daughter her own and she is super excited to play too. Unfortunately, her version doesn't start until July but her wonderful boyfriend managed to find her an extension pack and this past weekend she got caught up so as to join us next Sunday.

I am in love with my Quilter's Planner (read about it HERE) and it is ideal for my life and hobby. I am able to track all my weekly errands, tasks, and appointments, as well as keep a running list of all my quilt projects and the stage I'm at in the process. One thing I've noticed already is that if I add something I need to do on my Planner page I am more than likely to DO IT! It has been a great place to record both my to-do list as well as my 'got it done' list, a definite motivational plus to see all I've accomplished. Of course, it comes in handy to be able to refer back to confirm when something was done (bill paid, letter sent, phone call placed). Our family calendar is a wipe-off model so when the day is over it gets erased and the information is gone forever and as much as I rely on my phone, I do indeed prefer having a hard copy. Adding the scrapbooking elements of embellishments, cute stickers, pretty paper, and washi tape just makes it all crafty, fun to do and look at!

Fabric Bookmarks

I'm not ashamed to say that the 'pattern/instructions' for these cute fabric bookmarks is from the Singer Kids Sewing series. I had ended up on the company's website and they have a section with free project patterns and I thought it was a very cute idea. Initially, I was searching for a tote bag that I'd seen on YouTube but I ultimately printed off a whole variety of inspiring, easy, fun things to stitch!

The bookmarks couldn't be simpler to make (they are intended as a little kid learn-to-sew craft) and it was a great way to use some whimsical novelty fabric I had in my stash...library and book themed, no less! You add fusible interfacing to one piece, stitch around the perimeter (leaving a hole to turn right-side out) and top stitch (I experimented with some pretty variegated Aurifil thread). I made 4 at once, for my 2 daughters, a niece, and myself. The recipients thought they were cute and since all three girls are bookworms, very appropriate gifts. I tested mine out and it works - found my page in no time! ;) (and no dog-eared page corners, which drive my DD crazy!)

I need to make a couple more bookmarks since husband has requested one too! It's fun to pick the fabric that suits each person and this is a great, no fuss project to whip up on my Featherweights. You can find the pattern for you OR your kid, RIGHT HERE.

Craftsy Stuff Your Stocking Sale

Have you finished your shopping yet? I got almost all of mine done before vacation but I'll continue to pick up odds and ends right up until the day. Craftsy is having a Stuff Your Stocking Sale on yarns, fabrics, quilting and sewing supplies so I might just add something for myself to open!

You can click HERE to reveal what's on sale and find a little something for the crafty person on your list...even if that's YOU!

Craftsy BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

From Friday through Sunday MONDAY*, Craftsy is hosting their Black Friday Sale! All Classes $19.99 or less! Now is a great time to get the classes you've been eyeing all year! Craftsy classes also make a great gift, so do some holiday shopping for the crafter in your life. If you have a free-motion quilter on your list I can highly recommend The Secrets of Free-Motion Quilting, the new class packed with modern, easy, free-motion quilting designs taught by Christina Cameli. By the way, you don't even have to pick the class for the gift certificate - the recipient gets to choose whichever one they want (but you can always suggest it!!)

*Craftsy extended their Black Friday Sale one more day! Through Monday, December 1st, All Classes $19.99 or less!

CRAFTSY's 5 MILLION FLASH SALE!

Wow!  I can't believe Craftsy has 5 Million+ members now.  I signed up with this amazing company pretty close to the beginning so I could participate in the FREE Craftsy's Block of the Month 2012 class - still one of my all-time favourites.  I am SO glad I gave them a chance (hey, I figured it was free so what did I have to lose?) because as I've written before, Craftsy has pretty much changed the course of my life!

It's been a couple years now and it is amazing to see how the company has grown and expanded to meet the needs and wants of the students.  The classes are so varied and the choices are phenomenal - whatever you want to do, cook, bake, stitch, quilt, papercraft, knit, or even woodworking, Craftsy has a class to offer.  The calibre of the instructors and production is top-notch and I think they have just continued to invest in the best there is available.  I really love all the classes I've taken - especially the quilting ones - and have learned so much from the wonderful teachers.

Anyway, (I get a little excited when I write about Craftsy! haha!), to celebrate their 5-Million Member mark, Craftsy is having a FLASH SALE for up to 50% off classes.  That's a great deal and one I'm always happy to share.  They have added so many great new classes EVEN I cannot keep up!  Here are the details:

Don't miss Craftsy's 5 Million Member Flash Sale happening now! Get up to 50% off select online classes for a limited time only! Hurry, this offer expires on October 13th, 2014 at 11:59 PM MT. Shop Craftsy's 5 Million Member Flash Sale now and save!

You can use the safe link above or to the right of this post to go directly to Craftsy and get the classes you want - on sale!!!