The Evolution of Big Cats!



                                              OPENING DAY 2013

 

Thanks to my good friend and artist "extraordinaire" John Rios(john@grafixjam.com), my Big Cat Glasses have a fresh new look!  One the Free Press, Channel 8 in Grand Rapids (http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/se_mich/tigers-opener-diversion-for-detroit  and most important, Tiger fans noticed in a BIG way! 

First introduced three years ago, Big Cats were orange clown glasses with black stripes.  The second year, laminated lenses with tigers - but you could not see thru them.  The third year, computer generated decals and painted-on player names and slogans.   Although the design constantly evolved, the slogan - "Rock the Big Cats" - resonated and still remains.

This year an oversized sunglasses mirror hangs nearby for fans to check themselves out wearing or "rocking" the new Big Cats!  A fun and creative souvenir!

     

Select your favorite!

Tiger Eyes Tiger Print Detroit

One of my memorable highlights from 2012 was Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers...

http://vimeo.com/40905447

A Calendar you can play!

I like to bring in products I think are inventive for  the  entrepreneur class I teach three days a week.  My most recent find was this calendar you can actually play!  It includes a backboard, hoop and net.  My students loved it!  The calendar does not come with an actual basketball therefore no chance of any real damage being done.  The intent is to use balled up sheets of paper with perhaps a wastebasket underneath.  It makes for a fun and useful gift for any basketball enthusiast.  I intend to share more creative products in the upcoming new year so...stay tuned!

Cardboard Oven Kit is New and Improved!

Remember this?  It's me with Martha Stewart demonstrating my cardboard oven craft kit back in '09!  I can't believe it's been almost four years?!? The kit now comes standard in white with a pre-cut window, pre-punched holes, an attached handle and slots for both racks and range! It's still cute as ever but oh so easy to put together!  Plain old fashioned fun in a box! An ideal project for adult and child interaction and a wonderful toy for you and your child to build together and play with.

The kit still comes with a coloring pad and light that turns the oven on and off with a flap (technology at it's simplest!)

But best of all, you can order it below !:-)

Crafty Buffet Oven

Complete Kit $29.95 USD Box Only $19.95 USD

A Timely Craft For The Upcoming Holidays

Would you believe this turkey was made from lunch bags and scrapbook paper?  Me neither.  I got the idea from a magazine, however after seeing theirs I immediately HAD to make my own version with added wings (what's a turkey without wings?!?) and greenery. I plan to add more colorful condiments too but just HAD to share! It fits perfectly in my Crafty Buffet Oven and makes a fantastic craft for kids of all ages!  I hope to get the local media to invite me on to share this very cute and timely craft for the upcoming  holiday season.  Keep your fingers crossed! :-)   

 

 

Got Championship Pets?

WE DO.  WORLD SERIES TIGER PETS IN THE D. 

With our Detroit Tigers in the 2012 World Series Championship it's only fitting we celebrate with balloons.  But not just any balloon will do. These helium filled pet balloons come with an attached leash and weighted "paws."  Cute and refillable, you can bring one home for $10 or two for $15 at the corner of Woodward & Fischer Freeway at Tiger home games. 

Pet Balloons come in a variety of pets and are available for birthday parties and other events.  For additonal information contact Cheryl Robinson of Kids Crafts at (313) 282-6407 or via email at crobinson@thecraftybuffet.com.

 

If you can't CATCH one...MAKE one!

As a stationary vendor at Comerica Park I often witness thousands of youngsters carrying gloves in hopes of catching a ball hit in their direction. Unfortunately most return empty handed with their gloves and no ball.  For the past three years I've been invited to provide an activity (craft) at the annual Hometown Baseball Event sponsored for youth by The Detroit Tigers.  I came up with an original idea which turned into a HUGE success with both players and parents! I hope to someday get my idea INSIDE the ball park.  Allowing all those little hands to "make & take" their very own baseball home when they aren't lucky enough to catch one!  Stay tuned...!

A recommendation with EYEPOPPING results!

My 2nd and 3rd grade students did a great job on these visors I picked up from Michaels.  They were told to color them anyway they liked, meaning not necessarily "true to life."  The monkey did not  have to be brown and the elephant did not have to be grey and so on. The students commenced to completing their projects.  Ms. Henning, the students art & science teacher was busy working after hours (as she often is) in the classroom with us.  It is in her classroom where I am assigned and I could not ask for a better room or teacher!  I am amazed at the students art achievements under Ms. Henning's direction.  She exposes them to a number of techniques and mediums.  In fact it was her recommendation today that made these visors literally POP with color!  Prior to leaving for the evening, Ms. Henning pulled me aside.  She had an idea?  She suggested I use a fixative normally used for chalk to keep the markers from bleeding.   Although uncertain as to how it would work on foam, she "graciously" left the can for me to try.  It worked F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S-L-Y!  "They look so real"  said one of the students!  "Mrs. Robinson...can you do mine?" the other students asked excitedly!  One by one I sprayed the visors in Ms. Hennings storage closet while the students anxiously waited in the classroom.  What was to be an average project (at best) turned out to be a prized possession!  Thank you Ms. Henning!

Like my new face? It's my new Mary Kay that's got me looking so fresh. I attended a conference locally and was BLOWN AWAY! What an awesome, powerful group of women and what fabulous products they promote.

This is my third time (three times the charm...right?) signing up as a Beauty Consultant?!?! Don't know why I ever stopped using it. It is by far the BEST skin care products on the market. I look better than I did when I was in my twenties!!!!

Visit my website at www.maiahsmom@marykay.com to see all the "fresh" products. My first customer (my mom) just started using her skin care regimen and she looks fabulous! Hoping she'll let me post a before and after pic (keep your fingers and toes crossed on that one!) Well...it's time to do my most favorite thing...wash my face! Stay tuned...!

A Review of The Coloring Book Oven

http://the-beautyofitall.com/2012/03/06/the-coloring-book-oven-review-and-giveaway/

When was the last time you made something with your child(ren)?

The Cardboard Oven Mix Kit is so EASY to complete! Just like a boxed cake mix it has instructions on back and ingredients inside to make a toy oven that has knobs that turn, removeable racks and a light that turns on and off. Now newly improved with no cutting, hot gluing or painting required - it is the perfect project to make with your child.

The Crafty Buffet Oven Mix Kit has been entered into Walmarts "Get On The Shelf Contest." Vote for us starting March 7th at:

http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/4193/The-Crafty-Buffet-Oven-K. Voting begins March 7, 2012.

In the meantime, order yours today at www.thecraftybuffet.com.

"I like that. Sign one of those for me." Martha Stewart referring to The Crafty Buffet Coloring Book.

In February '09 I appeared on The Martha Stewart Show for creating a cardboard oven kit that included a coloring book. After the taping Martha asked for a signed copy of the book. She said, "I like that. Sign one of those for me." Apparently Martha's viewers shared her sentiment as numerous online orders for it alone poured in after the show. Subsequent to that my husband and I were dining out. While awaiting our meals and tinkering with my placemat an "ah ha" moment arrived. Why not make the coloring book into an oven? So I did. I took that paper placemat to my box company and "ta da" The Coloring Book Oven was born!

MORE THAN A BOOK

The Coloring Book Oven is more than a book. It is an eco-friendly stove shaped easel with a coloring activity pad. Pages placed into the window appear to "bake" when displayed using the oven's fold-out easel! Most coloring pages remain hidden inside their respective books. But the Coloring Book Oven allows children to display their coloring prowess. Made from corrugated cardboard and approximately 12.5 by 15.5, The Coloring Book Oven is a "spin-off" from the Crafty Buffet Oven Kit seen on Martha Stewart (FEB '09).

The Coloring Book Oven will delight youngsters of all ages! For added fun, additional coloring activity pads will soon be available. The Coloring Book Oven has a retail value of $12.95 and is available on the website www.thecraftybuffet.com for an introductory price of only $10.

Back In The Studio

Well I'm back cooking again! Not in the "real" sense as in cooking food. But in cooking up commericals to promote my cardboard box oven kits. My sweetheart of a hubby was the camera man and I was the Host. The Set was my kitchen with a "self-made" island made from foam board. The props are actual ovens I made, one straight out of the box, 1 pink zebra/tiger print, one Black and one "BLING Bling!" It was done in one take as we have yet to figure out how to EDIT?!?! The photo is of Maiah using it as a "floorside" vanity!I am looking to enter it into an upcoming contest and hoping YOU will vote for me - stay tuned!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAyuIghEaG0

Anything for Him?

Heartfelt lyrics express willingness and desire to seek and do God's plan. Produced by "the love of my life, Cliff Robinson." Written and performed by his good friends, George Chenault and Bobby Dixon, respectively. Anything for You is from the musical, Quintessence.

Enjoy the demo below...

https://maiahsmom.opendrive.com/files?OF8zNjI0NTlfRkxFQzc

Quintessence...the Musical!

Want to be a part of something destined to be a classic for generations to come!

Quintessence...the Musical is a modern day Wizard of Oz with spiritual overtones and a delightful cast of characters! Can you imagine meeting Talent & Creativity in person? How about "I AM THOUGHT" and a "The Keeper" of memories? Amusing and thought-provoking, this creative masterpiece is the brainchild of my hubby, Cliff Robinson who just launched with kickstarter.com. Please help us obtain the funding necessary to allow Quintessence...the Musical to reach the heights it is capable of achieving. Pledge anywhere from a $1 to over $500 by clicking on the link below.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/440697514/quintessencethe-musical-a-spiritual-adventure?ref=city

"More or Less"

I was inspired by the wording on a plaque purchased from T.J. MAXX. It was untitled but I named it, More or Less.

To honor MLK Day I wanted my students to work on something together. As such I provided each grade (1st thru 6th) with sentence strips and assigned them either a MORE or a LESS. Each student used their creativity to recreate the original piece. I mounted each class on foam board and took pictures give to each student along with their "individual" strip from the board.

The lesson plan was, "working together."

The project reflects individuality and unity.

I think they both came together nicely...!

Sticky Note Burgers To Go?

Well my Sticky Note Burgers are official...they have a logo! What do you think? Designed it myself. They can be ordered pre-made or as a kit from my website

www.thecraftybuffet.com . I'm working on offering them as workshops for Teacher Professional Development Days, Office Luncheons, Staff Meetings, Parent Involvement Activities, Team Building Exercises and more!

A unique & useful desktop accessory

that's fun and easy to make! Wish me luck! Better yet - schedule a workshop or order a burger or two to go! :-)

Crafty Buffet "Sticky Note Burgers" to appear in B.L.A.C. Magazine December Holiday Issue

I received a call this week from an editor for B.L.A.C. (Black Life Arts & Culture Detroit) Magazine who was looking for something unique to include in their December Holiday Issue. Apparently she had ran across my Sticky Note Burgers (formerly Hamburger Notebooks) on my website -


http://www.thecraftybuffet.com/ . Wow! A Magazine publication wanted to advertise a product of mine? For free???? How cool is that?
You just never know where or when the seeds you plant are going to sprout. The Sticky Note Burgers, much like the cardboard box oven that got me on Martha Stewart, were created years ago. They re-surfaced in 2009 when a writer from The Detroit News saw them (loved them!) and wanted to feature them in her column. Here I was working (2011) on marketing The Coloring Book Ovens and seeking to re-designed the cardboard stove kit?!?!?

Sticky Note Burgers are (just as their name implies) burgers that hold post-it notes. A delightful desktop accessory and whimsical conversation piece that I plan to offer as a Workshop to inspire creativity and teamwork in the workplace.

Sticky Note Burgers are offered as a single kit at http://www.thecraftybuffet.com/ . The website will be updated to include Pre-Made (in case you don't want to make it!),Workshops and Wholesale Group Kits. Stay tuned...and don't forget to look for "Sticky Note Burgers" in the December Issue of B.L.A.C. Detroit!

"In The Midst of A Storm..."

On February 5 we awoke to water flowing from the bathroom into our bedrooms downward from the ceiling into the kitchen, living, dining rooms and basement soaking everything in sight! Needless to say I have not been creating since! Moving would be the more appropriate "word" after the insurance company deemed it necessary for us to re-locate until our home could be repaired (which by the way, could take anywhere from 6-8 weeks!) That week alone we moved on four different ocassions before finally finding suitable permanent housing 2 weeks ago.

But in the midst of the storm...

I had an upcoming presentation on creativity to give at a K-8 school. While exhausted and feeling displaced, the thought of cancelling was not an option even though it had graciously been extended. That morning I mustered up a few crafts, put on my oven costume and hoped for the best. The program ran non-stop from 9-3 with droves of classes coming to hear what I had to say. At the end of the day both students and teachers appeared to have enjoyed the presentation! I was relieved and elated. It had been a pleasant end to a stressful week. But the "true" highlight of the day appeared in my inbox later that evening from a 2nd grader who had attended the presentation. It read as follows...

Hello Mrs Robinson,

I am Box Man. I listened to you and used my imagination.

Thank you for coming to our school.

John Webster
2nd Grade, 2A

Born from the imagination of a 2nd grader who listened! I can see "Box Man" as a cartoon on cereal boxes or in The Adventures of Box Man, an animated series. Afterall, Mickey Mouse was born from imagination?????

Random Acts of Creativity

I am often asked, "where do you come up with your ideas?" I always look above. God gifted me with a creativie mind and everything that comes from it belongs to Him. One day, Maiah referred to one of my "spurts" of creativity as being "totally random." Wow! That's so true! I don't get up and decide to make anything in particular...it just happens! Like when the box in my basement "started to look like an oven to me," it just comes." But when it does, I act on it!"

These "cardboard meals" are one of my "random acts of creativity." Enjoy!