Look What Came Last Night!

Apparently, I've just recently decided that there is no such thing as too much DIY!

In all seriousness, there is, I just haven't reached my limit yet I suppose.

For a couple years, I've been lusting after a Gocco printer. Alas, Riso, the company that produces the tabletop screen printers in Japan, closed it's doors in December of 2008. That means the Gocco printer I could potentially fight over on eBay for and spend upwards of $300 on is now obsolete. The lucky group of Gocco owners now have to cage battle over the remaining, ever-shrinking, pool of supplies. Since I've never been good in a cage match, I started looking for alternatives.

Enter the Yudu - the new personal screen printing device by the makers of Cricut. Pros: It has a massive print area when compared to even the largest Gocco - 11 x 14 inches. Cons: High-res screens haven't been released yet, and this thing could potentially go the way of the dodo in a year and I'm in the same boat as the Gocco kids fighting over a paddle.

Still - we're giving it a shot. That's right, WE - when I showed this to FI, his head started spinning with all the practical applications. You can print on anything, as long as it is flat. Clothes, belts, paper, wood - anything! Plus, we saved $120 by getting one on eBay (brand new in the shipping & retail packages from the manufacturer - can't beat that!).

We aren't quite sure what our first project will be. Originally, we purchased it to finish our wedding invitations, but I scrapped that idea for something easier and less time-consuming. I think we may make some t-shirts for our yearly family trip - and I'm also thinking of printing up custom canvas bags for our out of town guests, featuring a pop-art Boston landscape.

Will this DIY monster finally put me over the edge? Will I end up a babbling, drooling idiot who can't stop talking about the right shade of orange? Stay tuned!