Crafting
Cricut Joy Xtra Review: Months of Real Use in My Craft Room
After months of cutting vinyl, cardstock, and stickers at my kitchen-table craft station, here is what I honestly think of the Cricut Joy Xtra.
Six months with the Cricut Joy Xtra on a folding table in a spare bedroom: what it changed, what it did not, and who should buy one.
After months of cutting vinyl, cardstock, and stickers at my kitchen-table craft station, here is what I honestly think of the Cricut Joy Xtra.
Marlene put both machines through a season of real projects. Here is what worked, what did not, and who each one actually suits.
Marlene Pike spent a year with the Cricut Joy Xtra in her spare-room craft corner. Here is what earned it a permanent spot on the table, and who should probably skip it.
Six months with the Cricut Joy Xtra on a folding table in a spare bedroom: what it changed, what it did not, and who should buy one.
Marlene walks through her full process for cutting, weeding, and applying vinyl wall signs with the Cricut Joy Xtra, including the mistakes that cost her a whole afternoon.
Seven months of vinyl, cardstock, iron-on, and stickers. The good, the bad, and who should skip it.
Months of real use in my craft room: what the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun does well, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Marlene compares the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun with a full-size glue gun on real wreaths, signs, and one stubborn bench cushion.
Marlene tested the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun for a year of wreaths, signs, and bazaar projects. Here are 10 reasons it earns its spot, plus who should skip it.
Marlene Pike's honest account of trading a drippy full-size glue gun for the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun, and what it did for her craft table.
Marlene shares the exact steps she used to turn a plain foam wreath form, fabric scraps, and a Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun into a fall wreath that has held up through three months on her front door.
Marlene used the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun through a full season of wreaths, ornaments, and repairs. Here is what worked, what did not, and who should buy it.
Eight months, more than thirty candles, and one honest verdict from my craft room.
Marlene spent a month pouring with the SoftOwl kit and with her own stash of supplies. Here is the honest comparison, row by row.
Marlene Pike spent an afternoon with the SoftOwl Candle Making Kit and came away with six finished candles and ten honest reasons this craft belongs at your table.
Marlene Pike tried the SoftOwl Candle Making Kit in her craft room. Here is what worked, what did not, and who it suits.
Marlene pours her first batch of soy candles with the SoftOwl kit and walks you through every step, including the ones she got wrong.
What the listing photos don't tell you about making your first candles with the SoftOwl kit, from a woman who has made a mess of plenty of craft projects.
After months of spraying furniture, frames, and one very stubborn bookshelf, here's what I'd tell a friend about Rust-Oleum Chalked Spray Paint.
The spray can is fast, the brush is controlled. Marlene used both on real furniture projects and breaks down which one you should buy.
One coat, 30 minutes to dry, soap and water to clean up. Marlene shares the ten reasons chalk spray paint stays on her craft room shelf, and the projects she would skip.
Marlene Pike on the afternoon a thrift store stool finally got painted, what surprised her about the Rust-Oleum Chalked Spray Paint, and what she would tell you over coffee.
Marlene walks through the five steps that took a twelve-dollar garage-sale nightstand from peeling veneer to a smooth matte finish, including the two mistakes she made so you do not have to.
Marlene spent months painting furniture and decor with Rust-Oleum Chalked Spray Paint. Here is what worked, what did not, and who should buy it.
After months of using the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit in my craft room, here is what I learned about the cord, the manual, and who should buy it.
Marlene compares the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit with buying cord separately, so you can tell which one belongs on your craft table.
What a 220-yard roll of cotton cord taught this kitchen-table crafter about macrame.
Marlene Pike opened the 152pc Macrame Kit from ZXCDINO expecting another box of odds and ends. Here is how it changed her craft table, what she made, and who she thinks it suits.
Marlene walks through the five steps she used to turn the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit into a finished wall hanging, plus the small things she wishes she had known before she started.
I spent a month with the ZXCDINO 152pc macrame kit. Here is what I loved, what I would change, and who I think should buy it.
After months of cutting vinyl, cardstock, and stickers at my kitchen-table craft station, here is what I honestly think of the Cricut Joy Xtra.
Seven months of vinyl, cardstock, iron-on, and stickers. The good, the bad, and who should skip it.
Months of real use in my craft room: what the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun does well, where it falls short, and who should buy it.
Marlene used the Gorilla Mini Hot Glue Gun through a full season of wreaths, ornaments, and repairs. Here is what worked, what did not, and who should buy it.
Eight months, more than thirty candles, and one honest verdict from my craft room.
What the listing photos don't tell you about making your first candles with the SoftOwl kit, from a woman who has made a mess of plenty of craft projects.
After months of spraying furniture, frames, and one very stubborn bookshelf, here's what I'd tell a friend about Rust-Oleum Chalked Spray Paint.
Marlene spent months painting furniture and decor with Rust-Oleum Chalked Spray Paint. Here is what worked, what did not, and who should buy it.
After months of using the ZXCDINO 152pc Macrame Kit in my craft room, here is what I learned about the cord, the manual, and who should buy it.
I spent a month with the ZXCDINO 152pc macrame kit. Here is what I loved, what I would change, and who I think should buy it.