Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Kindermusik Time

Here's another one Kindermusik one.  Similar to the last one - I'm still amazed that he participated on the last few classes after being there every week from 6 months to 3 yr old! 

I managed to get a photo with PJ and his 3 little friends all sitting still and kind of looking the same way (they were listening to a story).  All of the embellishments are from Quarter Note.  They were done on black glitter paper (which really dulled my blade!!).  All of it was done with paper I had in my stash!

TFL!

Week 5 - Scrap paper

OK, so I'm behind.  I didn't even look at paper last week - too much to do getting ready for friends to come over for a crop.  Oh well...I'll try a bit this week....and since this week is about paper too, I can pretend I'm on track ;)

The post on the original blog is HERE

She starts by saying that if you keep the scraps but never EVER look at them or use them...then they need to be donated or tossed.  I was like that...I had hoards and hoards of scrap about 6 years ago...I went through it all and tossed the small bits and paper I would never use again and gave it all the old heave ho...don't let the door bite you on the way out!

Now, I DO use the scraps...and they have come in handy on many a cricut design when you just need a wee bit and instead of cutting into a 12x12 paper (that's what I buy), I dig into my scraps and I always find one that's perfect, or at least good enough, to use!

She mentions to only keep a certain size...and the smallest she keeps is 2x2.  I'm probably more like 3x3...although I DO keep long, narrow strips that I can easily use for matting (unless its some wacky color I would only use on the project it was used on)...so I'm not as strict with my 3x3 limit.

I have mine in those 12x12 Craft Keepers (plastic envelopes with a string/button closure (which isn't  closed...too many scraps).  I have them organized by color...but not organized within the color - so if the scrap is blue, its in the blue section (not the navy vs the light blue sections).  For reference - I only have TWO of these keepers with scraps...so really, not a ton.

I also don't keep ANY scraps of patterned paper.

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 1st day of school

Here's a layout done 100% with my stash of paper and supplies.  This is PJ's 1st day of preschool in Sept 2009.  The preschool teacher had visited all the kids at home the week prior and we also had a hour visit in the class room the day before school started.  I was SO surprised that he took the teacher's hand and walked in without complaint.  Several of the kids were upset and crying and then so were the Moms.  He normally has separation anxiety so I was surprised.  It was a short - 2 day school week.  Come the next week, he realized this wasn't a one-shot deal an then started to fuss about going in...but did go with just a wee bit of fuss...because he enjoyed it. 

I just love the title - which is from Locker Talk.  I used lots of pop-dots on the apple.

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Great Outdoors

I thought I better put in a project - the organizing is getting a little boring.  Here's a layout I did in November.

This is PJ playing out in the backyard in 2009.  He ended up thinking that the shed was the best toy ever!  HA HA, silly boy.

I used Elegant Edges for the postage stamp looking background. Pretty much everything else was from Campin Critters, except for the lawn mower, which I believe was from Pop-up Neighbourhood.  I used glossy accents on the mower (even though you can't see it in the photo).  I also inked (with copics) all the edges on the trees as well as used Swiss Dot embossing folder on the green trees.  Pop-dots were used on some of the trees and on the mower.

Thanks for looking

Week 4 - Paper

Most of my stash IS paper, so I've kind of been dealing with this already.  

The original post about it is HERE

In there are a TON of links for different types of products to use to store your paper in.  Choices are vertical or horizontal.  She states that you need more space is you are going vertical, however, I found that I need less space going vertical.  This is because the only way I can tolerate horizontal is if I have some form of shelving units like you would see in a LSS - which means I would need floor square footage to put these units on...and that is the part of my space that I don't have.  I guess, if I had a TON of paper like a lot of people do (some people have more paper than my LSS has), then I'd probably agree that vertical isn't the way to go.

She also goes into detail on how to store the paper - like by brands, color, or theme.  So, for me, I can't imagine doing anything other than color.  I typically only purchase patterned paper that is on sale, so chances of it being all in one "brand" is slim.  I also purchase matching card stock with the patterned paper and I try to keep them together in my jetmax hanging files.  This results in "some" organization by theme (orange and black with Halloween paper plus green and red with Christmas paper).

She also talks about paper stacks - I don't purchase a lot of these because typically I only like a handful of the patterns.  The 1st few that I did purchase, most of the paper is still here, unused...because they are in the stack and too far over to reach to be used.  Just recently, I have purchased a couple of stacks and I immediately (like in as soon as I got home) I split the paper out of the stack, organized by color and plopped it in its appropriate section in my jetmax cubes.  I have actually used some of them.  If there are any that I don't particularly like - it goes immediately into recycle.

So - challenge is:

1.  how to store paper - I choose Vertical

2.  how to organize - I choose by color

3.  do it!

Now, I've started because I have purchased some more 12x12 cropper hopper vertical holders.  I have to re-sort what I have and utilize these new holders...and see if I need more.  I still have some paper lying around that needs a home.

Week 3...Cont - Clean Slate

OK, so I didn't do too much this week...I was playing with my new i-pod touch!  YAY me!

I did, however, manage to find the 12x12 cropper hopper storage things at Urban Scrapbook in town...woo hoo.  One of the owners uses that system for her paper, so she carries them - PHEW!  I picked up 2 - they were only $12 each.  I went to put them in their spot...and where I wanted them to go...didn't fit by about 1/8 of an inch!  AARRGGGHH - they need to stand up and I don't want to cut the heavy plastic in case h@!! freezes over and I get a real scrapbook room...and then I"ll be mad I cut them.

SO, I put them with the other vertical holders and it'll work - the problem is that the far side of this particular area, I can't reach well...so I was hoping to leave stuff I don't need often way over there, rather than paper...so we shall see how it goes...its closer than it was before the big paper/photo shuffle, so I'll give it a chance.  I think there is room for 1 (maybe 2) more there.  I've put paper in them, but need to re-organize with what was already there..but at least some of the paper is off of the floor.

I still have more paper to go through and put up there...but some of it is currently on top of my jetmax hanging folder box...which TIP OVER if there isn't something heavy on it, so I might have to leave some paper there until I can figure out what to put on top.  ANNOYING!

I also purchased new bookends...but haven't had a chance to try them out.  I also got 4 more white photo boxes while they were still on sale for 2.50 each.

I have a box full of the discarded stamps and I have added some punches to it...they are heavy and I never use these particular ones.  This means this box is too heavy to mail (it would cost a fortune) so I'll have to use Kelly's idea and see if there's a charity that could use stamps/punches.  I have some ink pads that can go with it too.

Week 3 - Clean Slate

I just can't get it together and have these weekly tasks starting on the same day, can I?

This week is called Clean Slate and the original post is HERE

Basically, she wants you to get a ton of boxes and totally EMPTY out your room.  HA HA HA - If I had space to do that, I'd have SPACE to have a new scrapbook room!  So, I guess I'm not doing that.  She had an alternative, and that is to pick your most annoying, challenging problem area and all those items must be picked up and plopped into a box and take it out of the room.  Well, I'm not going to do that either because I have no where to put all these boxes of tax crappola - which is my MAIN PROBLEM AREA.  Anyway, once you've gone through your problem area, tossed what needs to be tossed and decided (and purchased) the storing solution...then, and only then can that item be brought back into the room (and be used...I think the point was that you can't touch the items in the box until you deal with it...hoping that it'll get you to deal with it).

Hmmm....so where does this leave me?  I'm not sure.

BUT, I have decided to put all my photos in white photo boxes.  I have 3 more to do.  I have already gone down 1 box in this process because I painstakingly went through each photo in 4 boxes and found that I had duplicate photos of about 1/4 of them (hence how I could eliminate a box).  Now the ones that I have completed are all matchy-matchy and labeled.  It looks so much better already.

I've decided I want more vertical 12x12 paper storage (cropper hopper)...but I don't know where I can find it.  I have the spot all ready for it.  One thing though, I purchased some bookends and put one in place...and the darn thing BENT...huh?  I thought it was a good thing that they were slip-proof...but that is SO annoying because you can't slide it under these heavy vertical paper things...what a pain.  I hope I can find some sturdier ones...that are NON-slip-proof.

I also purchased an accordion file thing that looks like a suitcase.  I'm going to put in all the memorabilia in it. It has 19 tabs, so should hold alot.  It looks like this...just a different color.

From one of my prior posts on this organization thing, I mentioned that I put supplies in these photo boxes (2-way glue, blades etc)...and today I put all (but 1) of my punches in one of these boxes too.  I LOVE it!  Now, instead of 4 baby-wipe boxes, I have ONE white box....I can't stand it...its so beautiful!  There are actually some punches in there that should go bye bye - so they are in the "where do I take these unwanted supplies" box.

Now, not only do I have several baby-wipe boxes to go bye bye...I also have mis-matched/faded photo boxes to find a home.

Week 2 cont..part 4 - Brainstorming

HA HA - so much for brainstorming!

Yesterday I re-arranged some stuff in the room.  I moved 6 of 8 boxes filled with photos and put them on the little bookshelf where my vertical paper was.  It makes so much more sense because I can stack boxes onto boxes, but you can't stack on top of the paper...duh!  The real reason I did it though was because I can reach the paper now that its where the photos were.  The ones I moved were the older photos (ones prior to PJ arriving) so I won't be getting to them for a very long time...why do they need to be in one of my most accessible areas?

The only issue I have is that the vertical paper won't stay vertical - so I had the last 2 photo boxes there to hold the paper upright (otherwise, those would be moved too).  SO, I need to find some basic book ends.  As much as I would love them to be decorative, I need the space for stuff rather than prettiness.

I also purchased 6 more photo boxes at Michael's and I have moved all the embellishments that were in 6 baby-wipe tubs into 3 photo boxes...YEAH ME!

So, right now I have NOTHING in the spot where the baby-wipe containers were (WOO HOO).  My plan is to get more vertical paper holders (if I can figure out where they are sold in town) and put them where I have extra supplies (adhesive and blades) in photo boxes (and move those photo boxes to where the baby wipe containers were.

I still have the problem of where to put memorabilia that's waiting to be scrapbooked.  I'm leaning toward an accordion file.

Spoiled

I was spoiled for my birthday this year. 

DH brought home a large bouquet of flowers (the house smells yummy) on Thursday.  Then there were other gifts - the next Desperate Housewives DVD, Birks diamond earrings to go with the necklace he gave me for our 10 yr anniversary (Cdns will know....Birks is like Tiffany's), and an i-pod touch!  Here's a photo of the earrings...

I guess he didn't want to give me want I really wanted...the basement cleaned out so I could have a scrapbooking area!  HA HA

OK...so give me ideas of some apps to get!!

ABC's of me

I was at Cool Beans and saw this post

 

A. age ::EEK - I don't want to say  48

B. bed size :: king

C.  chore you hate ::  cleaning

D. dogs :: no thank you, I'm a cat person

E. essential start to your day :: 2nd cup coffee

F. favorite color :: blue

G. gold or silver :: silver

H. height :: five foot two

I. instruments you play :: organ from grade 2 to 10 (then taught organ through high school); clarinet from grade 7 to 12, also took saxophone lessons.

J. job title :: SAHM (prior life, I was a senior accountant at an international engineering design firm)

K. kids :: Patrick

L. live :: Alberta

M. maiden name :: Mitchell

N. nicknames :: Mitch, Deeds, Deiter, Brock, Dee Dee

O. overnight hospital stays :: twice - one m/c and one baby birth

P. pet peeve ::conceit

Q. quote :: It is NOT a tumor

R. righty or lefty :: righty

S. siblings :: one younger brother

T. time you wake up :: clock rings at 6:20 but my body doesn't wake up until about 10 am 

S. University attended :: University of Alberta (BA in Econ and B COMM in accounting)

V. vegetables you dislike :: parsnips

W. what makes you run late :: TV, internet

X. x-rays you’ve had :: elbow & ankle - both after falling down stairs 

Y. yummy food :: chicken, guacamole nachos

Z. zoo animal favorite ::  lemurs

Be AFRAID - Its Friday the 13th AND.....

Yup, its back.  I have another birthday - crap.

Yes, its on Friday the 13th and I'm not expecting bad luck today...because, well, my birthday lands on a Friday occasionally - so I'm not superstitious about it.  My parents were married on the 13th (of October) and they're doing fine in their 50th year.

Anyway, back to birthdays - Can't say it was the best year - but it wasn't the worst.

Might be the 1st birthday that I can remember that it won't be -20C or worse, so that's nice.  I get to go to a hockey game tonight, which means I don't have to cook or eat leftovers, but it probably means cold pizza for supper.  I do, however, get to meet up with my 2 closest friends for a drink after the game!  That will be fun. We haven't gone out to celebrate (or acknowledge) my birthday since 2006 - and I was VERY pregnant at the time - but the food and company was fantastic.

Getting old sucks.

Week 2 cont ... part 3 - Brainstorming

I guess I'm not really brainstorming any more...I'm hunting through boxes and bags and seeing what's there and adjusting, if possible.

Yesterday, I got to the far corner that I can only reach from over top of the imagine OR from below the table that holds the imagine...so, basically, not a place for highly used stuff!  This is why I have 6 Iris storage boxes there.

 In these are lots of ink pads, all my embossing powders and the like.  Actually, I remembered that 1 of them was empty (the bottom one, of course).  Since I made room in my more accessible area (after pulling out the MM magnetic stamps) I decided I'd move my Tim Holt's distress ink pads and my Stampin Up Ink spots up to that space. This left enough room to combine 2 boxes of ink - so now I have TWO unused Iris boxes!  I even have space beside the original boxes to put another stacking of boxes.  I think that I may put in some of my card stock in these boxes (the piles of white paper I have for the imagine)...then they are out of the way, but not SO out of the way that I can't still get at it (that's the theory, anyway).

I also have a dilemma with what to do with received cards that I want to keep as ideas.  I found them all from the various places they were and they are now consolidated in one photo box - put where to put THAT box?  I only need to go in there for inspiration at Christmas (since that's the only handmade cards I seem to get).

Bye Bye Christmas

I got all the decorations from the main floor done and packed away plus the ornaments from the tree.  I just have to do the lights and the tree itself....which require DH to be around for since I can't reach either of these boxes (stuff on top of them is too heavy for me to move).

One thing about Christmas IS done now...I finally finished, just a few minutes ago, the last of my 1250 Christmas songs on my ipod.  Last year it took me until the end of April - so I'm pretty impressed that I'm done here in the middle of January.  I started in September (not a lot) and missed a bunch of time in December due to running around shopping and decorating and wrapping gifts etc.  BUT these first 2 weeks of January I've been focused on sorting through my scrapbook stuff and working on scrapbooking (planning) and it meant a lot of time with my ipod going with minimal interruption. 

It really shouldn't take that long to go through, there's only 2.7 days of music.

SO...I'll be back to 80's music...or maybe I'll get back to my Melrose Place marathon - who knows.

Week 2 cont..part 2 - Brainstorming

So, I did get more done than I thought I would today - at noon I started going through some 2010 photos to cull out ones that maybe aren't as nice as the rest and I'll continue to do that some more tonight.

I also managed to:

-  put some ribbon and fibers in a new container,

-  find space for 3+ dozen ATG refills (I had a couple of 1/2 used 12-pack boxes that I filled and put the rest in a cricut circle box.  

-  find the scrapcessory bottle caddy I ordered.  I put my stickles in it (of course, the larger bottles don't fit...arrgh).  I'm still not convinced its a good idea or use of space, so I may change my mind on that one.

-  organize a bunch of 2-way glues by taking all the packaging off and they all fit nicely into cricut circle box with my terrifically tacky tape - so that was fun. 

-  moved all my WeR Memory keepers crop-a-dile & corner chompers in the bottom of a box that had been empty - also fun!

SO...now I also have enough throw-out stuff to fill 1 blue recycle bag for tomorrow morning's pick-up - GO ME!. 

AND... did decide on some stuff that needs to go away.  Its not BIG stuff, just stuff that's been sitting there for 9ish years and obviously wasn't my style or I would have used them. Most of what I found today that needs to go were Making Memory Stamps.  They are in tins and are magnetic.  There are 2 fonts and 1 set of phrases.  There are also 2 tin boxes with the metal stamper (that you put the magnetic stamps onto to actually stamp).  They aren't huge, they don't take a lot of space, they are a tad heavy and well...I really don't think I have the patience to spell out words to stamp them (especially since they are all backwards).  Seemed like a cool idea that the time I purchased them, but they are not me and bye-bye they must go.

There was also a wooden stamp set of an alphabet, that also won't be used and needs to go.  OH and 2 boxes of alphabet charms (that's the best name I could give you for them...basically letters with a ring at the top for using brads or eyelets to adhere to projects).  I thought for sure I would use them and I think I did on 1 layout years ago (no idea where it is, but I remember doing it).  These have to go. They are kind of like the following photo (although I don't think its this font)....and there are a ton of them.

There are also rub-on alphabets that I thought I would use...NOPE, Nada, not going to happen...they need to go.  OH and one glass bottle of Prima multi-colored mini flowers - I seem to only do BOY pages - flowers are not going to happen...especially this many teeny tiny ones (like these in the photo - except the flowers are smaller).

So, the question is WHERE should all these discarded items go to?

Ideas?  Anyone? ?

Week 2 cont... - Brainstorming

Now, reality. 

Main problem area is the tax stuff taking up space.  If the scrapbook fairy came, she'd whisk these boxes out of here and things would be good.  OR, in my wildest dreams, she'd magically make a scrapbook area for me in the basement.  Since NEITHER of these options are going to happen (DH thinks the tax stuff needs to be upstairs in-case of a flood) and I can't get into the basement because DH is a hoarder and there's no room for me to walk...forget about a workspace or shelving or anything like that.  I think that having 2 more book shelves will be good...but really, that will only work IF the tax stuff will fit into one of them.

Boxes would be nice to store extra blades, adhesive, pop-dots..all that stuff that doesn't stack well.

SO - I took a hour and filled 1 empty photo box with photos which cleared up an area to put my cartridge container (since I only really need access to it when my friends are over once every couple of months).  I also found another empty photo box and filled it with blades & photo splits and vellum tape.

I also found an envelope filled with nestabilities!  Unbelievable - it arrived during PJ's birthday and just got brought in and left there and then buried with stuff.  Now they are up in the nasty zipper binder thing...but at least out of the way (since I never use them).  Now that I've moved these few things, I can see my jukebox...well...that needs a home somewhere out of the way because I shan't be using it (I hope).

There are nests of things all over the place - I'm going to go in and find some more.  Send a search party if you don't hear from me tomorrow. ;)

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 What's in Here

GJA was organizing the liquor cupboard and PJ came over to take a look too.  He doesn't normally snoop around to see what either of us are doing, so I whipped out my camera.  I sure hope that we don't have to get a padlock on the door when he's old enough to want to sneak a drink!

I used Nifty 50's font and martini glass.  The beer stein is from Everyday Pop-up cards and the pineapple drink is from Block Party.  I used copics and pop-dots to give some definition to the pineapple and beer glasses and the martini glass is out of vellum. 

Week 2 - Brainstorming

I know, I know, I only started week 1 on Thursday, so how can I start step 2 on Monday.  Well, I can't really, but having this start on a Monday rather than on a Thursday, makes more sense.

The 2nd step is to brainstorm what your fantasy room consists of.  So, for every problem area you determined in step one, now you need to find the storage solution of your dreams.

The original post for week 2 is HERE.

OK, the scrap fairy came and my space is fabulous!  Everything is in light maple (except the jet max cubes) and any storage boxes are blue and nicely labeled.  Doors with glass would be preferred - as long as the doors will still close with overstuffed 12x12 albums in them.

There are 2 large table work areas.  There's also a desk for the computer, imagine, and printer.  Above this are some shelves to display layouts, photos, a clock and an ipod docking station.  The walls have book shelves for albums (both those that are completed and those ready to be worked on).  There are boxes of organized photos all labeled by year.  There's also a row or 2 of card stock all nicely organized in cropper hopper folders.

There are a few jetmax cube drawers to put embellishments, adhesive, pop dots, copics and ink pads etc.  There are also jetmax cube hanging files for patterned paper and they magically don't tip over.

There's nice 80's music playing and there's fantastic lighting.

AHHHHH - so relaxing!

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Feel Better

We went to the park with some friends and PJ was having a great time bolting to the van and watching me run like a crazy woman to keep him away from the busy road.  On one of the many trips, he fell and ended up with his 1st skinned knee.  He didn't cry out but kept looking at it...but eventually he did show he was upset (he cried quietly to himself).  He wanted the scab to be gone, so it was long pants for awhile to let it heal (he wouldn't let me put a band-aid on it).

Cartridge used was Everyday Pop-up Cards.  This is a cool cartridge because it has designs to make pop-up cards and I believe this particular key would have made a pop-up of the band-aid (although I'm not 100% sure).  What I like about the cartridge is that the non-pop-up stuff is cute.

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Gruesome

I may order my scrapbook in chronological order, but I don't make the layouts chronological.  I hate putting my pages into the album before I'm done the layouts because it never fails...I need to put a 2-page layout at the 1/4 mark, or 1/2 through ... or any place other than the start or end - SO I typically hold off on filing them until I'm pretty sure I have the front 1/2 or last 1/2 done and THEN in they go.

Anyway, this is 2009 Halloween at our house.  GJA and I dressed up while PJ was having his nap.  We thought he'd be scared of GJA's mask, but he didn't seem to notice.  He didn't, however, want to wear HIS costume and as is the case every year, we have a crying fight and I can usually get it on him long enough for a few photos but that's it. 

The cartridge used is Happy Hauntings - its quite a nice cartridge - lots of phrases, images and 2 fonts!  I kind of which the font used for "Gruesome" and "Boo" were made into fonts (rather than just a few phrases) because its beautiful!

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Kindermusik Fun

PJ went to Kindermusik since he was about 6 months old in Sept 2006 and by June 2009, it was his last session.  BOO HOO....I loved Kindermusik - I got to sing, had an outing, it was great fun.  I had taken some photos at an earlier session when they were about 1 yr old (which I'm pretty sure there's a scrapbook page of, but I don't think I posted it...as it was done before I got this blog).  We went with the same 2 kids all this time (there were a few others that came off and on, but not consistently as the 3 amigos).

After all the time that we had gone to Kindermusik...it was just in this last couple of months that PJ actually participated and wasn't too scared of Kathleen (so got to ride upside down).  I posted this upside down photo on facebook and tagged Kathleen - she got a good laugh at the photo.  I'm so glad I had my camera that day!

The heading was made using Printing Press and the notes are from Quarter Note.  I have never used Printing Press before - but for some reason I liked that I could use un-matched letters (which is totally out of my comfort zone).

OH and I'm trying to just use my stash for projects until the end of March - so here's one that is done with what I had on hand - Yay me!

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Jumpy House

PJ really likes to jump.  He was invited to 2 b-day parties in the year that had jumpy houses so when a tiny one went on sale we got him one and boy did he really like it.  He wanted me to go in too, but it was only for kids (thankfully).

For his pages, I'm trying to use the odd bright paper, but I have a hard time because its just not my cup of tea and just takes over from the photos.  I hope I was able to hide a lot of the busy-ness without hiding all the brightness - if that makes any sense.

Cartridges used are Holiday Cakes for the font and Pooh and Friends for Tigger

Scrapbook layout - 2009 Your sunny face

I'm so lazy and boring - I re-use headings on subsequent layouts.

This is one of those layouts.  I often have thousands of photos and lots are cute, but don't really require its own layout...but I'd like to have the photo in an album some how.  SO, I started doing this in PJ's scrapbook.  I take all the funniest/smiliest photos and crop them small and put them on a page.  I do a similar thing with different clothing he wears that I like (since he grows out of them so fast, I only get to enjoy him wearing them a few times....unlike me...wearing the same stuff for years).

I broke out of tradition and added a smiling sun - its one of my favorite suns and its from Smiley Cards.  The title is welded and is from Cutting Up.

Week 1 - Space Audit Continued...

As the stomach turns....

So, as I was working on my scrapbook page to see how my space works for me, I reached for my copics!  I totally forgot that I had them and you know why, its because they are in baby wipe tubs underneath the computer desk.  They are easy to reach and I know they are there when I need to use them (just not when I'm taking photos or writing about scrapbooking supplies).  I'm not a big copics person, so this method is working.

Also, as I was trying to clean off my wee work-space, I found the cuttlebug folder I used for Christmas cards (because that pile on my workspace was from making Christmas cards/gifts).  So, I didn't include that on my original post.  My cuttlebug machine is also underneath the computer desk - very handy (more handy then its prior spot - way in the far corner of the room).  My folders (which there aren't that many of) are in a plastic box with a lid.  It works...except today, because I see that GJA has put some tax papers on it (stuff he was "cleaning" before guests arrived for Christmas)...hence why it didn't get remembered in yesterday's post.  I also have some fiskars texture plates that don't fit into THIS box - annoying - so they are elsewhere.  I wish they were all together because I think I'd like to use them too as they have some cute animal etc textures.  The other problem is the mats - they are on the floor and separated from the machine.  I have nowhere to put them that is easily accessible other than where they currently are...so there, they may have to stay.  I typically only use them for cards, which I only make at Christmas, so they don't need a prime spot - however, I am trying to use them more on my cricut cuts because I love the look of it when I see other people using them.  Things that make you go...hmmm.  OK...here's the box and there is a lit that fits nicely and has a flat-top handle.

And yet another thing is other embellishments.  As I was looking for my box to put back my embossing folder, I found my box of brads/eyelets.  I got a bunch of bead holders at Michael's for cheap and organized them all by color/item.  Then I have 7 of them inside the large portion of the "snap-rite ribbon holder" that I use the small portion for my cricut cartridges.  I like that they are nicely stored and out of the way...but they are so out of the way that I forget that I have them (even though they technically are right under my finger tips).  Hmmm - I guess I don't know how to use them or don't like them as much as I thought...things that make you go ... hmmm.  Here's these embellishments:

Now, another problem is photos - I have photos everywhere.  I easily develop over 3000 photos a year - digital cameras are evil!  I have them all organized by date in the boxes they arrive in from Walmart (or wherever had a sale).  They are all labeled - month/year so I know which box I need next.  I keep the current year that I'm working on in a Michael's photo box and have a tab-between each month so I know where I am.  That isn't a problem - the problem is finding space to store all these photos - I have some in photo boxes on the book shelf in this wee room.  The organized ones that are in the Walmart boxes are, well, in a few places - some are by the computer on the floor, some are in our bedroom on the floor.  I'm happy with the organization and ease to find...just that there's so many in so many places...that's the problem.  Maybe the solution is to scrapbook faster! ;)

Why send Christmas Cards?

Every year at this time (actually, usually by Dec 24) I think to myself...why did I go through all that trouble of writing/typing/fighting with making a Christmas letter and sending out cards (by the mailing deadline) to 50+ people when I get maybe 20 back?  I don't expect to get every one back...but come on...that's not even 50%.

NOW its even more annoying because I had made each and every one of those 50+ cards and they also get the Christmas letter (which was a pain this year because our stupid computer and mouse hate me).

I also keep painful track of who I sent cards to and who sent some back.  I like to get cards because its the only time I hear from a lot of these people.  I like when there's a photo and a letter...but if there's only one or the other, that's ok.  NOW I'm even ok with just the card because at least they thought about us enough to send a card.

So...there are some people on the list that I don't mind not getting a card from....like my 102 yr old Aunt or GJA's 85+ yr old Aunt or any other relative that I know appreciates the photo/letter but probably are too old or "male" and don't do cards...that's fine, I can deal with that.

HOWEVER, there are several young, able bodied friends that can certainly send a family photo or a note once a year to prove they are alive....but no, they don't.  I have dropped a few people over the years, but GJA keeps ADDING people to the list...and also saying...one more year, then you can drop them.  WELL...2012 might be that YEAR!

Don't get me wrong, I love making the cards and getting everything organized and sent - I get a sense of accomplishment and anticipation of receiving cards back...and every year I'm so hopeful and excited and every year, nada.

So - why do people not send cards?  I feel badly if I receive a card and haven't sent one...and I'm running to the mailbox to send one back.  Obviously, I'm in the minority because people are getting our cards yearly and sending squat.

Do you send cards?  Do you receive a large portion back?

Here's this year's card: