craftcycler.com

10 Free Craft Tools

cc_lorboy — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:01:48 +0000

There are so many items which we throw away every day that can be used in your crafting endeavors. The “trash to treasure” genre highlights how to create items using found objects, but you can recycle and re-purpose items into tools to use in your crafting. The ideal items require little to no modification and are easily found, if not already in your house.

Here are the first ten of my favorites, in no particular order:

The little plastic cups from Crystal Lite (or similar) make great wells for small amounts of paint or glue. They are also terrific for holding sequins or beads while working on your projects.
An old tile of just about any type is terrific for a hot plate. Use it to rest your hot glue gun or mini-iron or wood burner on to protect your counter or table.
An old metal storm window makes a great work surface. I use one to cover my work table in my shop. It works great as a cutting board and just about anything you spill or drip on it can simply be scraped off. Glue some rubber rug liner to the corners to keep it from sliding.
The good old coffee can is always great for holding pens, pencils, markers, paint brushes, etc. I particularly like the red plastic ones from Folgers.
Dryer sheets work very well as stabilizer/interfacing for embroidery or embellishing.
Changing your shower curtain liner? Save the old one to use as a drop cloth. If it’s a little bit grungy, simply throw it in the washer with a load of towels and let drip dry.
Empty cereal boxes will hold scrap booking papers very nicely. Cover with self adhesive shelf paper or Contact Paper to make them a little more sturdy and stack them on top of each other to keep everything organized & protected.
Whenever you get one of those fake credit cards in the mail, save it to use as a scraper or squeegee. Save your out of date cards, too. Unlike an actual scraper or putty knife, credit cards can be cut to whatever size or angle you might need.
Old CLEAN cotton socks work great as a painting mitt for hard to reach spots. Put on a rubber glove, sprinkle a little corn starch or baby powder on it and slip the sock over it. Dip your hand in the paint & you are ready to get those spots like the back of the radiator or the spindles on the deck.
Glue a piece of sandpaper to a popsicle stick to save you fingers when sanding small items or edges. (An emery board works great, too.)

So before you start buying up everything at your local craft store, check out stuff you have laying around and before you throw something away, take a second to see if you can find another use for it.

Stay tuned for the next batch of 10!

The Night Stalker

cc_lorboy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:15:21 +0000

I can remember being around 10 years old and watching Kolchak: The Night Stalker on television with my brother on Friday nights. For those of you who are either too young to have ever seen it or just don’t remember it,this was a television show starring Darren McGavin that aired for just one season in 1974. McGavin played a fictional reporter named Carl Kolchak who investigated strange and spooky happenings.

Two episodes left a particular impression on me – one about Jack the Ripper and another about werewolves. I must confess that I do not remember the particular details or plot of either episode, but I do remember the feeling. I can still call up that heart pounding terror I experienced sitting wide eyed on our harvest gold couch in the living room as Kolchak struggled to get the silver bullet into a gun and fire it off just in the nick of time. I remember pulling the covers over my head in bed that night in an effort to stave off the dark and scary things.

Now I know that not everyone will remember television in the 1970′s, but scary television then does not even compare to scary television now. The blood and guts that regularly appear on our television screens in 2010 would never have gotten past the censors in 1974. Images and story lines that would seem very quaint and tame were terrifying to 10 year old me.

But, times change and society changes and I, most certainly, have changed.

I know now that the things that you really need to be frightened of are not the things that go bump in the night. They don’t have fangs or claws or swords. They don’t transform under a full moon and they can’t be vanquished with a silver bullet or a wooden stake.

Terrifying is not a supernatural creature in a dark alley.

I have learned that there are much darker things.

Terrifying is knowing that your teenager is going to be driving soon.

Terrifying is holding the hand of your 12 year old while they wheel her down the hall to take an x-ray of her spine.

Terrifying is knowing that your oldest child wants to go to college hundreds of miles away.

Terrifying is watching your parents get older and more frail.

Terrifying is walking into a room and finding your husband unconscious and not breathing.

Terrifying is the chief of police driving to your house to tell you that the brother that you watched Kolchak with decided to end his own life that day.

Terrifying is the cold, hard rock in the pit of your stomach that won’t go away until you hear the results of the latest round of tests that the doctor ordered.

Terrifying is worrying about a loved one’s health or safety and knowing that it is, for the most part, beyond your control.

Terrifying is realizing that, for as much as the medical establishment knows about disease and treatments, the amount that they don’t know still out weighs it by a huge margin.

As I write this piece, I am waiting to hear from my oldest brother. He is in a hospital room, on a morphine drip, waiting to find out when he will be heading into surgery.

The doctors decided yesterday that the fast growing tumor in his lymph nodes can’t wait until he goes through the prescribed rounds of radiation and chemotherapy. It needs to be removed right away. Now. Today.

That is terrifying.

As I get older, I realize that I still can’t see the most terrifying things in the world. They are still silent and insidious. They are still lurking around, waiting to pop out and get me. They still worm their way into my soul and gnaw at me. They still stalk me in the middle of the night. and they still make me want to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head.

Kolchak’s creatures and spooky music and brushes with the supernatural were the scariest things that I could imagine in 1974, but they can’t hold a candle to the things that scare me now.

Uselesss Information

cc_lorboy — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:04:09 +0000

I have a secret. No, I haven’t killed anyone or

masterminded a giant Ponzi scheme.

It’s more along the lines of a guilty pleasure.

OK, here it is:

I am ADDICTED to useless information.

There, I said it. I am one of those annoying people who can spout off a completely inane and useless bit of information in just about any given situation.

Invite me to lunch and I can tell you that there are over 2,000 different varieties of cheese in the world or that “tips” is actually an acronym “to insure prompt service”. Perhaps over dessert I will impart the fact that coffee is actually part of the cherry family or that honey is bee vomit.

Well, why don’t we move on to the kids? Begin chatting about babies and I can inform you that the average baby is made up of about 75% water. Or that human birth control pills work on gorillas. Or that while it is commonly known that babies skulls are not a solid bone as in adults, they are also born without kneecaps. Did you know that at one year old, a baby’s foot is exactly half the size it will be when they are an adult?

How about chatting about your newest hobby? Well, first off, I have to tell you that the claim that the word “golf” is an acronym for the “Gentlemen Only – Ladies Forbidden” signs that were placed at the entrances of the original clubs in Scotland is completely untrue. It is more likely that the word is derived from the Olde Scottish word “gouff” which means to hit. Going for a bike ride? Did you know that a 14 year old kid in England rode an eight mile wheelie on his bicycle? Planning on indulging your creative streak? I can tell you that paint was first used by the Egyptians in ancient times.

Since one in every three households in the United States is home to at least one dog, my cache of useless pet facts comes in terribly handy. They are, after all, the very first domesticated animal (even if they do kill an average of 15 people per year in the U.S.) You’d better check your budget before you get a dog, though, because it costs around $9,000 to care for your medium-sized dog for 10 years.

Speaking of dogs, it’s pretty hot out, huh? Ancient Romans believed that additional heat was given off from July 3^rd to August 11^th by the “Dog Star”, Sirius (yes – just like the satellite radio company with the dog in it’s logo). Seems we still have a few more weeks of those “Dog Days of Summer”. Of course, these hot, humid days often lead to thunderstorms. Don’t worry, though, your chance of being struck by lightning is a mere one in three million, even though lightning strikes somewhere on Earth 100 times every second.

Are all of those thunder storms sending you off to the movies? Well, you should have enough to chose from – about 600 movies are released in the U.S. per year. You should know, though, that the average price of a movie ticket has gone up considerably: the average cost of a movie ticket in the U.S. is around $10.00. A night at the movies now costs a family of four more than the average DVD player costs for less than two hours of entertainment. But Hollywood needs to rake in a bunch of money. Did you realize that it cost around $200 million to make the movie Titanic, but the actual ship only cost around $7.5 million to build?

Speaking of cruises, did you know that almost one half of all cruises in the entire world leave from Florida? Of course, with nearly 20% of Florida residents being over 65 years old, they do have more time for travel. About 12 years, actually, since the average life expectancy is around 77 there.

Being so close to Disney World must keep all of those seniors young at heart, though. The most magical place on Earth delights around 25 million visitors every year. However, none of them can claim to have seen the cryogenically frozen body of Walt Disney (who was afraid of mice, ironically enough). Walt was cremated and buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale CA., which is the very first “chain cemetery” in the world.

I’d better go now. I need to go defrost the chicken we are having for dinner, one of over 23 million who has given his life in the United Sates today alone.

Originally published on the front page of Fortitude – Get paid to write!

Start Planning Your Garden Now

cc_lorboy — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:09:41 +0000

It may seem like wishful thinking to start thinking about your garden in late January, but right now is the perfect time to start planning for your spring planting. A little time invested in research and thought now can pay off big time down the road.

If you are starting annuals (including vegetables) from seeds they need to be started about six weeks before the last frost. This date will vary according to what zone you live in, but if you order your seeds in the beginning of March, you should be in good shape when planting time comes. Supplies and seed and plant catalogs or newsletters can be ordered now.

If your soil is not too frozen, take advantage of this time to have your soil tested. Sending a
soil sample to your local agricultural extension can be done now, before the spring rush. Many universities do soil analysis. Do a web search for soil sample analysis in your city or county.

Having your soil tested is a good idea, both economically and environmentally. The economic benefit is that you will know not to purchase plants that will not thrive in your location and you will not waste money adding nutrients that you do not need.. It is environmentally sound for the same reason. Improper or unnecessary application of nutrients such as nitrates or phosphates can cause ground water contamination from run-off or leaching. Amending your soil in ways that are unneeded can cause greater problems down the line and harm plants that are already established in your garden.

You can begin researching plants that are indigenous to your area. Many people choose plants that are just not suited to their location. While you can certainly grow something successfully that is not native to your area, you will generally have a greater chance of success if it is.

Research the size of the plants that you like. Knowing how big the plants that you choose are going to be can help you plan how many plants you are going to need for your space. If you are choosing perennials, you should know how much they spread and how quickly. Some perrennials are slow to spread and others will spread so rapidly that they will choke out plants that are near them by their second season.

Researching the needs of the plants you are considering can save money and aggravation.
Some plants will require more water or nutrients than others and this should be considered when you are planning your garden. Many anuuals requre large amounts of water during the hottest portions of the summer, while some others will become moldy or even rot with too much water.

You should also consider how labor intensive a plant is. Some plants require more care than
others and this may be a factor for you. Are you only able to devote a limited amount of time to your garden? Or are you looking forward to having a summer filled with gardening related tasks?

Finally, if you enjoy gardening and look forward to it, planning now gives you a connection to it.
Paging through catalogs or web pages filled with plants that I want to add to my garden always lifts my spirits. Even in January.

Think Vintage This Holiday Gift Giving Season

cc_lorboy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:12:09 +0000

Vintage Elf Knee Hugger

Having a hard time thinking of Christmas presents for some of the people on your list?

You’re not alone.

Most people confess to having trouble buying for at least one person on their list.

My solution is vintage.

The internet has provided a wonderful smorgasbord of vintage items for our shopping pleasure. Items that would have required a great deal of effor to find just 20 years ago, are now just a Google search away.

What Exactly is Vintage?

By most standards, vintage is anything which is 20 to 100 years old. By the standard rules, anything 100 years old or older is safely considered an antique. That line is beginning to move in some circles, however. Many dealers and collectors will consider items which are 75 or even 50 years old to be antiques.

This shift is certainly justified in categories like electronics or appliances. The complicated gadgets and gizmos of the 1930′, 40′s and 50′s for instance, are a perfect example of this. What was often considered the cutting edge of technology at the time seem quaint and amusing now and are certainly “antique” compared to the electronics of today.

How Can Vintage Fit Into Your Holiday Gift Giving?

Vintage is much easier to fit into your holiday gift giving than you might think. You can find a vintage gift for almost everybody on your list.

Newlyweds? How about a vintage picture frame for their wedding photo?

Your hostess for the day? Vintage serving ware, crystal and china can all be found at surprisingly low prices.

Sports fan? How about some vintage sports memorabilia? The trading cards, autographed pictures and other collectibles have dropped considerably in price over the past 20 years.

1989 Baseball Card Wax Packs

Brainstorming For Vintage Gift Ideas

Try just doing a web search using the word vintage and something the person you are buying for is interested in.

For example, “vintage kitchen” in Google Shopping brings up over 4,000 results under $20 and can be used for the avid cook, the new home owner, the foodie and many others in your life.

The keyword can be anything – a sports team, band, cartoon, hobby, place, favorite book or movie. Think of something that person loves and I am sure there will be thousands of options for you to choose from.

Try searching by year. An item that either displays the year a person was born or came from that year is always a neat idea.

Vintage J.R.R. Tolkein Prints Calendar

Where To Shop For Vintage Gifts

The internet, of course, will provide the most plentiful options for your holiday vintage gift shopping. Many people still rely on eBay, but literally thousands of other sites have popped up to rival the auction giant in recent years. Many smaller sellers are venturing out and making a go of it away from eBay.

Try doing a a search under any of the major search engines using the shopping option to find quality sellers in every niche. While many people shy away from samll individual sellers, you are generally less likely to be scammed from an individual website than from some of the larger sites. Setting up an ecommerce website requires a lot of time and effort and most sellers work hard to maintain their businesses.

Local flea markets provide an excellent opportunity to find vintage items. Christmas time is the largest selling season for retailers in every area of business, including flea markets. If you have the time, bundle up one weekend morning and browse the aisles of your local selling venue for that perfect gift.

Another option is your local thrift store or consignment shop. Incredible bargains can be found in either place. Collectibles often abound and are frequently extremely undervalued in such a setting.

The Advantages of Vintage Gifts

Giving a vintage gift can make you the instant hero this holiday season. It’s a pretty safe bet that if you buy your fashion conscious sister a funky vintage brooch, it won’t be a duplicate.

Finding your loved one a one of a kind gift is extremely rewarding for both of you. An item that elicits “where did you get that?” is always a winner, for both the giver and the recipient.

Another advantage is that you can frequently get more bang for your buck. Often, impressive items can be found for pennies on the dollar in either new or nearly new condition.

So, if you are racking your brain for that one person on your list who is impossible to buy for, take a stroll down memory lane – you just may come back with the perfect present.

Can You Provide a Loving and Stable Home for These Pink Elephants?

cc_lorboy — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:06:33 +0000

Some people rescue animals. Some people rescue other people. Some people rescue buildings.

All noble endeavors.

I rescue vintage.

What kind of vintage? Any kind. I can’t help myself.

My house has become an ode to mid-century America. There’s the 1950′s dining room set. And the doll bunk beds that my grandfather gave me in 1969. And the formica and aluminum kitchen set. And the matching 1951 hope chests (two different estates, 10 years apart & now I have a pair!). Then there’s the stack of old suitcases that fill the corner of my living room. Or the flip top serving bar. Or 1976 lithograph of Operation Sail. Or the Baldwin piano. And, then there’s the . . . well, you get the idea.

The problem is, I can’t help myself. The big stuff is bad enough, but luckily it gets to the point that you just can’ t take any more furniture. I have reached that point – in order for anything else to come in, something has to go out.

No, it’s not the big things that get me – it’s the little ones. It’s the Vintage 1950′s Pink Elephant Tin Tip Trays. They don’t take up any room – they’re just 4″ X 6″ and not even an inch high. Then there’s the Wade Whimsey on Why Church. That’s really tiny – of course, I do have the whole village. Or how about the 2 Section Autumn Leaves Drip Glaze Candy Dish? All very cool things that I had to rescue from impending trips to the landfill. Things I love and enjoy seeing. Things I love to receive compliments on. Things I hate to part with.

I am becoming the crazy cat lady of vintage housewares.

Unfortunately, as much as I love cool vintage things, I hate clutter and I hate dusting. As much as I love these items and all of their relatives that have found their way into my life, I can’t keep them. Their care and feeding are just more than I can handle.

So, please, if you can spare a moment, visit My Rescue Center and see if you can possibly provide a home for any of my orphans. Wouldn’t a beautiful little Nippon Celery Dish bring joy to your home?

The Top 5 Amazing Skills That Only I Possess

cc_lorboy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:08:43 +0000

I do not know how it is in anybody else’s house, but in my house I apparently possess mad skills that my husband and daughters do not have.

I never realized how difficult these skills must be to master; (they always seemed rather simple to me), but apparently I am a genius.

1. The Ability to Make Ice.

I do use my mother’s secret recipe, which was handed down to her by her mother. I have tried to hand the recipe down to my daughters, but so far they do not seem all that interested. And my husband doesn’t cook.

(OK, I know most people have an automatic ice maker. Actually, we do, too. It has just been living in a box in the cabinet since about 2005, when my husband declared that it was not functioning properly and that he would need to remove and repair it. I guess the repair has proven to be trickier than he had originally anticipated.)

2. The Ability To Find Things

I am the Supreme Locator. TomTom has nothing on me. I had never realized that finding things in the refrigerator or dryer could prove to be so tricky for others, they are after all small spaces, but only I can locate the mayonnaise, cheer socks, horseradish, etc.

3. The Ability To Throw Things Away

Paper plates, gum wrappers, empty cookie boxes, cereal boxes, napkins. I possess the amazing skill of being able to walk to the garbage can and throw these items into it.

4. The Ability To Take Out the Garbage

I am able to lift the bag out the the can and bring it outside of the house. I can even put a new bag in the can. Beyond this amazing skill, I can recognize when the can is actually full and do this, rather than continuing to stuff things into it with a level of precision and patience that would serve well in building a house of cards.

5. The Ability To Recognize When the Dog Needs To Go Out

Only I am able to spot the oh so subtle clues of my 175 pound Newfoundland: the whining, the scratching at the door, the dancing in circles, the actual barking. These tiny nuances in his behavior are only caught by me.

Well, I could actually go on; there are many more skills that only I possess, but I don’t want to seem as though I am bragging.

Something To Cheer About

cc_lorboy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:44:19 +0000

We’ve all seen how America reacts to tragedy.

Some of our finest moments as a nation are in the face of extreme adversity.

Emergency response workers and union members respond in droves over and over to help total strangers when tragedies strike.

People show up to help after national disasters. School children collect canned goods and clothes and hold fundraisers to help out.

Americans from all walks of life donate money to help ease the suffering of their fellow countrymen.

The media covers these things, but those of us who are sitting in our houses all over America are not surprised; we know where our hearts lie.

This post is not about that.

This is about one of the other things that make America what it is.

Yesterday, my daughter’s cheer-leading team went to what is officially called the “Pop Warner Eastern Region Central Cheer Qualifier” and is kind of our half the state championships.

They took first place.

That’s not what this post is about either.

It’s about the way that Americans respond to good things that happen.

It happens at the national level – world championships, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, stuff like that.

But it happens all the time in small towns everywhere.

Like a lot of other places, our Pop Warner league covers two towns in order to have enough kids.

Last night, after finding out that our girls had won, the cell phone calls started. We all immediately dialed family and friends to share the good news. Our excitement and pride jammed the airways. One of those phone calls sparked the spontaneous show of support that our two little towns showed for 28 girls that most of them probably don’t even know personally.

After hugging and screaming and jumping up and down it is hard to just go home and relax, so one of the coaches said, “Everybody meet at the high school and we’re all going to go beeping.”

A silly little exercise to blow off some steam and share some of our excitement. We all drove the 80 something miles back home with the intention of meeting up and having an impromptu little ragtag parade.

But, when we got to the high school, eight firetrucks, a police car and an ambulance were waiting for us.

In the hour and a half or so that it had taken us to drive home, around 30 or so of our amazing volunteer response workers had left their warm houses and televisions and Sunday football to drive our 28 little girls around in an amazing show of love and support.

They waited patiently while we all straggled in. They loaded our little girls into the trucks and they drove them around our two towns, lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Total strangers came out and waved, even though I am quite certain that most of them didn’t even know what was going on.

All that they knew was that something good had happened to some of their own.

This is a ritual that gets repeated all over America all the time.

It happens after football games and opening day of little league.

It happens after soccer games and hockey championships and band competitions.

Silly?

To some.

Annoying?

Probably to lots of people.

Important?

Without a doubt.

It creates memories that will be carried with the honorees for their whole lives.

It connects us and lets us know that even when we think that we are alone, we belong to a community.

It reminds us that the good things matter as much as the bad things and it shows our children that hopes and dreams and achievements sometimes belong to everybody that wants to embrace them.

So thank you, to all of the amazing volunteers from Keyport and Union Beach who showed up last night and made 28 eleven and twelve years olds feel like Super Bowl Champions.

It meant way more than you know.

Is Anybody Else Terrified of Cheerleaders?

cc_lorboy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:08:01 +0000

There is a group of 28 ‘tweens that scares me to death.

Who are they?

My daughter’s Pop Warner Cheerleading team.

Why am I so afraid of them?

Because they are good enough to make it to the National Championships again this year.

By way of explanation, the Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Competition is in Disney World December 7 to December 11 this year. Threee weeks before Christmas.

Considering our current economy, Christmas is a scary enough thought this year. As the price of everything continues to rise, everybody is feeling the crunch. Most of us are wondering how we are going to put food on the table and still fit in Christmas presents.

Many of us involved in Pop Warner are wondering how we are going to afford Christmas presents and a trip to Florida three weeks before Christmas.

This past weekend was the beginning of the Pop Warner Cheerleading competition season. Most conferences across the country held the first round of competitions this Saturday and Sunday. We found out which teams will be moving on to their state level events.

We all hauled ourselves out of bed around four am yesterday morning. We met the bus by six and kissed our daughters good-bye and good luck. We raced to Trenton and descended on the arena like vultures in order to get the best seats. We waved like lunatics when our girls took their seats to wait for their mat time. We sat on the edge of our seats and held our breath for two and a half minutes while they performed an absolutely awesome routine. And we cheered wildly when they were done.

For those of you that have never been there, I know it’s hard to understand. I remember my daughter’s first year. The weeks leading up to competition were a flurry of activity and mounting tension. I was amazed at how into it all of the parents seemed to be. Two of my daughter’s best friends joined the same year as she did and the other two mothers and I all joked about how we seemed to have landed in a cult.

By the time we got to the first competition the next year, we realized that we were part of the cult.

We were planning everything around what dates competition would be. We were packing bags filled with noise makers and pom-poms and signs. We were searching the vendor tables for new cheer gear and thinking “I like this, but I wish it came in red!”

We were full-fledged cult members.

After missing out on going to the Nationals by a heart breaking .025 points that first year, our girls made it to Nationals last year.

It was an absolutely incredible experience! All of the running and pressure and inconvenience melted away the second those girls came running out onto the mats in Disney World.

That’s where the problem lies.

As every other cheer mom understands, you want very badly for your daughter’s team to do well. The feelings of pride and awe in their accomplishments are overwhelming. You watched them go from your average bunch of young girls to a well-oiled machine in ten short weeks. You watched them come out on to the floor in a large arena in front of thousands of people and perform with extreme grace under pressure.

You can’t wait to see them do it again.

The only problem is, every time they do it again, you get one step closer to a forced vacation three weeks before Christmas.

It’s the proverbial double-edged sword.

Well, my daughter’s team took first place in their conference yesterday.

I laughed and cried and screamed and jumped up and down and shook my cow bell wildly. I have no voice left today from all of the screaming I did.

Then I came home and thought, “Oh god – how are we going to pay for this again!”

Well, I guess we’ll figure it out.

I have to get going now, though, I need to go personalize my cow bell.

My Daughter, My Heart & My Wallet Go To Cheerleading

cc_lorboy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:06:15 +0000

(Originally published on Hub Pages July 28, 2008)

Well, it’s that time of year again -

Pop Warner starts Friday, August 1st.

This will be my daughter’s third year and I must admit that when we signed the registration papers that first year, I had no idea what we were in for! If you are just starting out for the first time, this article will help you to know what to expect. I wish I had known then what I know now.

This is a BIG Commitment

Make no mistake, whether you realize it or not, you have just made a big commitment. You have committed your time, money and emotions. It is a roller-coaster ride for both you and your daughter.

And if you thought that this was about your daughter standing on the sidelines looking cute in her uniform for a few Sundays, cheering on the football tea, you are seriously mistaken.

This is about competition.

The goal of every team is to do well in competition and make it to Florida. Everything that these teams do is with an eye on that prize. It is the topic of all meetings, every conversation and most of the practices.

My first year, I remember thinking, “Oh, what are the odds?” whenever somebody started talking about making it to Nationals. It seemed very far-fetched and unlikely.

Well, I found out last year that it happens. For the first time ever, my daughter’s team went to the National Cheer and Dance competition in Disney World. Three weeks before Christmas. Great timing!

Even if it seems incredibly unlikely, don’t discount the notion! Always keep the idea in the back of your mind, that you might be going.

Your First Commitment – Time

Like any other sport that your children are involved in, this is time-consuming. Beginning August 1st, teams are allowed to practice 10 hours per week. Our team chooses to practice Monday through Friday from 6pm to 8pm.Right in the middle of dinner. Prepare to adjust your schedule.

Once school starts, practice is allowed for six hours per week. Again, ours runs from 6pm to 8pm. Practices continue until your team either fails to advance to the next level of competition or until they compete in Florida.

Additional demands on your time are football games, parents meetings, fund raising and group actvities for the children in the programs. Depending on how large the league is that your team is a part of, travel time can also be an issue. Our furthest games are about 40 miles away, but some leagues cover a much larger area, geographically. Also, try to find out where your competitions will be held. Ours are about and hour and a half away, but by the time we get to the Regional competition, some teams are traveling several states to get there.

Competition itself will pretty much take up a whole day. Most of it is spent waiting. Waiting for the bus to come. Waiting for your team to perform. Waiting for the scores to be tallied. Waiting for the winners to be announced.

Most organizations also require that all parents contribute volunteer time. This can be in the concession stand, field maintenance or any other area where they need help. Try to find out ahead of time what kind of obligation you will need to meet.

Your Second Commitment – Money

I remember paying the registration fee the first year and thinking I was done. Boy, was I naive!

Additional expenses can include “Cheer Gear”, which is anything that is part of the uniform but is not provided. My daughter is required to have specific sneakers, a turtle-neck crop top, bloomers, socks, a warm-up suit, and cheer bag. Try to find out what items your team requires and the approximate cost. I remember being told that my daughter needed to go to her first uniform fitting, thinking she was going to try on a uniform and shelling out $200.00, totally unexpectedly.

Some teams have club houses, but others practice in rented or borrowed gyms. Our team has at least a certain number of practices in rented facilities. We spend around $80.00 per year on gym fess.

Another expense which I was totally ignorant of the first year was bows and cheer curls. My daughter has a practice bow, a game bow and a competition bow. Bows run about $25.00 to $30.00 per season. Cheer curls are around $10.00 to $20.00.

Fund raising is seemingly endless, especially if your team makes it to Nationals. Every team has their own fund raising strategies and many have minimum amounts that you must meet. Again, ask what type of fund raising you will be responsible for..

Other expenses can include gymnastics classes or dance lessons. While coaches cannot technically require these, many set up group classes that everyone is more or less expected to attend. Our team does not do this, but I do know of some that do.

Expect to buy some t-shirts. Our team has practice t-shirts, competition t-shirts and sponsor t-shirts. T-shirts are also not just for the team. Competitions are wall to wall with parents who are also wearing the competition t-shirts. Again, not required but pretty much standard.

Competitions themselves are costly. Not only do tickets run from $10.00 to $20.00 per person per competition, but each competition is a virtual shopping mall of cheerleader paraphernalia. Be prepared to to be inundated with “PLEEEEASE?”. You will be confronted with cheerleading pants, shirts, jackets, hats, pocketbooks and on and on.

Your Final Commitment – Your Emotions

Be prepared to get on an emotional roller-coaster that doesn’t stop for months. You will endure a daughter who is cranky from long, hot practices. Who is frustrated from learning something new that doesn’t always go as smoothly as it should. Who is learning, often for the first time, that some things can’t be accomplished except as a team. And that not everybody in the group is going to be all that near and dear to their heart.

Add to all of these things the fact that every day they get closer to competition brings more stress and anxiety. They will be performing in front of literally thousands of people, most times in very large arenas. They are under pressure to perform perfectly and are scared and worried that they will be the one that messes up. The dream of Florida hangs in front of them like a carrot.

If they do well at competition, they are on a high that has them bouncing off the walls. If they do not do well, they are crushed. Your emotions on this will be mixed, also. While nobody wants their child to not do well, every time they advance brings a whole new round of stress and running.

The whole time you are swimming through all of this, you are fund raising like crazy because if they do make it to Nationals, the whole trip needs to be paid for within days of qualifying. So, you are fund raising like a maniac for something that may not happen.

The last thing I can tell you is that all of the running and all of the stress and all of the money melted away the second they came running out onto the mat in the Milk House at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.

Everything we had endured for four and a half months was paid back ten-fold in two and a half minutes.