Saturday, January 31, 2009
Gift Closet
My Valentine set from Knapp Scraps Etsy is being showcased at the Gift Closet. So check it out and leave a comment for a chance to win either a V-Day Treat Topper or Card!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
OK, come on now people!
Copied from Nikki Painters blog found HERE:
I have joined in the cause with some other great etsy bloggers and am posting more info on the CPSIA for those who still don't know about it. Feb 10th is now considered Black Tuesday and it's a day that will certainly affect us all! Thanks for reading!
As parents and concerned citizens I'm sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.
Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.
The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.
How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:
To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.
To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That's okay though, there's always television. Our children don't need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322
To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won't be available next winter.
To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.
To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.
To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.
To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html
To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn't been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.
To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.
If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html
And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
Thanks Nikki for the info! I am going to go pick my jaw up off the floor now....
I have joined in the cause with some other great etsy bloggers and am posting more info on the CPSIA for those who still don't know about it. Feb 10th is now considered Black Tuesday and it's a day that will certainly affect us all! Thanks for reading!
As parents and concerned citizens I'm sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.
Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.
The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.
How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:
To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.
To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That's okay though, there's always television. Our children don't need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322
To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won't be available next winter.
To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.
To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.
To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.
To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html
To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn't been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.
To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.
If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html
And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.
Thanks Nikki for the info! I am going to go pick my jaw up off the floor now....
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I DID IT!!
OMG, I opened an ETSY site!!
I wanted to make a bunch of Valentine's Day stuff for the girls to take to daycare so I figured it was a perfect time for me to make my own stuff and get it out there.
Here's a little preview of my treat toppers and coordinating cards:
So go check me out!!
Knapp Scraps
I just love the colors so I also made a coordinating Desktop which you can download for free right here:
Click HERE for 1024x768 version
Click HERE for 1280x800 version
ENJOY!!
I wanted to make a bunch of Valentine's Day stuff for the girls to take to daycare so I figured it was a perfect time for me to make my own stuff and get it out there.
Here's a little preview of my treat toppers and coordinating cards:
So go check me out!!
Knapp Scraps
I just love the colors so I also made a coordinating Desktop which you can download for free right here:
Click HERE for 1024x768 version
Click HERE for 1280x800 version
ENJOY!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Mountains?
I am really wondering where the mountains have gone today?
Wasatch Mountains (East):
You can almost see them off to the left!
Oquirrh's (West):
Isn't the GROSS!
Here is what the DEQ says for the rest of this week too:
I think I will just stay inside and close the blinds.
Wasatch Mountains (East):
You can almost see them off to the left!
Oquirrh's (West):
Isn't the GROSS!
Here is what the DEQ says for the rest of this week too:
I think I will just stay inside and close the blinds.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Craft Project
I just LOVE how our latest craft project turned out. They were pretty easy to make, once we found a place to cut the vinyl. SO CUTE!! Thanks Sarah and A.I Paper for the lovely idea....
Monday, January 12, 2009
Today we didn't have time to work on any thing in the kitchen but the counter guys came and measured. I also had to call IKEA several times because 1) We are missing pieces from our order that we paid for. 2) Pieces we thought that were ordered and paid for ended up being Out Of Stock and never got ordered so we had to follow up on that. 3) The dishwasher panel is a bit off so we need to get it looked at.FUN times!
So while I was doing all this K was having a BLAST with her watercolor paints...
Yep, the Tinkerbell Fairy wanted to be all green! Luckily it was just watercolor paint so it washed right off. Little STINKER!!
So while I was doing all this K was having a BLAST with her watercolor paints...
Yep, the Tinkerbell Fairy wanted to be all green! Luckily it was just watercolor paint so it washed right off. Little STINKER!!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Day 18-19
WOW! Things are looking SO GOOD if I do say so myself =) We got so much done this weekend so now we can really see how everything is laid out. We finally have all the right tools too (air compressor, cordless drill, etc.) so putting together every thing went so smoothly.
We got everything assembled:
We hung up one of the rails and put up a few uppers. All of the IKEA stuff is really modular so it just slides on the rail so you can adjust things as needed. Its pretty neat!
We got all the bases in, leveled and the island in! I cant believe all the space we have. It is so amazing. I just love the tile more and more too.
We even got the corner cabinet in around all the plumbing. That was going to be our tricky spot and it went great! Jer did a great job cutting out the holes and then it slid/dropped right in.
We ended up going with a squared off corner cabinet and then we are doing a fancy corner sink. It was just going to be too crazy to move all the plumbing and it will work better with the island,. It should be really neat!
So tomorrow the guys come to make the template for the Granite countertops and then we'll have about 2 weeks to get everything done before they are installed. WOHOO!
We got everything assembled:
We hung up one of the rails and put up a few uppers. All of the IKEA stuff is really modular so it just slides on the rail so you can adjust things as needed. Its pretty neat!
We got all the bases in, leveled and the island in! I cant believe all the space we have. It is so amazing. I just love the tile more and more too.
We even got the corner cabinet in around all the plumbing. That was going to be our tricky spot and it went great! Jer did a great job cutting out the holes and then it slid/dropped right in.
We ended up going with a squared off corner cabinet and then we are doing a fancy corner sink. It was just going to be too crazy to move all the plumbing and it will work better with the island,. It should be really neat!
So tomorrow the guys come to make the template for the Granite countertops and then we'll have about 2 weeks to get everything done before they are installed. WOHOO!
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