Wow it did turn out great! Sorry that it gave you so many challenges. I can understand never wanting to make one for someone else ... how about for yourself, child or grandchild?
I'm looking forward to making one for my grandson but using the technique shown at crookednickel.com ... watch the Memories to a T video ... it promises to be fast and easy ... sounds good to me. I already bought the fusible grid, just have to bite the bullet. You can find a Crooked Nickel video on YouTube also.
Have you seen this technique?