WEEK 16 - Paint, Glitter and Stickles

SO...this should be another easy one for me.  The original post (which you can see  HERE) says...if you don't have a lot of these items, you can put them in a pretty container and you are done.

I have NO paint whatsoever.  I have a set of MS glitter that is kept in its original box - so is handy.  I do have a few other glitters, and they are just in one of those 12x12 iris boxes along with my embossing powders (because, as I mentioned before, I have very few of those too).  I have recently used some glitter on some layouts and really like the bling...so I may start using it more...I typically only thought about it for Christmas cards, hence why I don't have a lot.  

For Stickles - I also don't have a lot - some of them are in a small baby-slipper container that has a handle and zipper.  Others are upside down in a "stickle" container - which is like this photo - except I didn't get the box or the lid...and I'm not sure I like it because it takes up WAY more room than the stickles did in the 1st place. 

The original blog, as usual, has a bunch of links to storage ideas.  I did, however, find at the scraprack that they had a product that seems to be something that would be better suited to my situation....but since I have so few stickles...and I already wasted $ on that 1st idea, I think I'll hold off on getting this one.  I don't use stickles...I love how they look on people's projects, but when I use it, it always looks lame - is there a trick that everyone knows except me?

WEEK 15 - Inks, Ink pads and embossing supplies

Hmmm - didn't we do this one already - or rather...I already did this one...ha ha.  The original post is HERE.

HA HA HA - at the beginning of her post she says we are 1/2 way done cleaning our room - and we should take a step back and look at all the progress we made.  SO...I step back, trip over the piles and see that I haven't accomplished too much....boo hiss!  I guess I can access my paper, copics, ink and photos way easier - so visually, nothing is accomplished, but accessibility, there IS actually accomplishment - I'll hold onto that! ;)

She includes a lot of links for lots of ideas on how to store inks and ink pads.  I don't have a lot and the few that I have are cheap ones from Michael's and they are stored in a clear iris box 12x12 box.  I do, however, have some Stampin Up ink spots that I have put in a carrying box along with my Tim Holtz Distress ink pads and my cat eye spots (I think that's what they are called).  I like to have these kind of supplies in something that can be carried (its basically the larger sections of the bead-boxes that I'm using for my copics) because its easier if I need it for a crop (and easier to put away in this tiny space of mine).  This is one of the ink containers - the other one just has my Stampin Up spots in it and I didn't take a photo of it.

My embossing powders are also in clear iris 12x12 box - I don't have very many and they are, again, cheap from Michael's.  I don't use them hardly at all (like, never)...so its one area where I may have to purge...since its taking up space (as little space as its taking up, its still space).

Scrapbook Layout - 2009 Monster Mash

I went Halloween crazy for 2009 - not sure why...I guess I wanted to use the photo of GJA and I in our costumes and it didn't really go well with the photos from the Halloween party that PJ attended.  SEE the Gruesome Halloween Page for 2009 here.

As always, its a 2-page spread and has lots of photos - but, really, there are fewer photos than I normally have on a page.  I lived on the edge and used this bright paper - buts its very Halloween.  I look at it now and I kind of wish I had put something more between the photos and the paper (other than the matting of the photos)....oh well - one day I'll be a better scrapbooker. 

The fonts are from Happy Haunting - and maybe, it could just be a set phrase from that cartridge - silly me, I can't remember.

What I really wanted to do was make these little ghouls!  The skeleton is from PDDU and the other 3 are from Happy Hauntings!  They were fun to make.  I used glossy accents on the skeleton (which you can't see in the photo - but he's nice and glossy).  I used copics to give a bit of dimension to the mummy's white cloth (and popped-up one of his arms) and I embossed the witches dress with the swirl embossing folder.  Of course, none of this shows up in the photo - buts its there. OH...and I guess in the empty space here is for journaling...I guess I took the picture too soon - oops.

All of this was done with my stash.  I'm still working on trying to get more interesting layouts...one day, I'll get better...I hope.

Thanks for looking!

WEEK 14 - Crop Supplies

The original blogger talks about how to organize your scrap stuff when you attend a lot of crops - but she doesn't go into a lot of detail, although she does provide a few links.  The entire post is HERE.

She mentions that it would be a good idea that if you had a 'caddy' for your tools - that you could have it on your desk when at home an then just carry it out to your crop ... and all your tools are available in the same device.  This is great because you don't have to pack/unpack your tools...and end up at the crop without an important one (like I did once...I forgot my paper trimmer...which is odd, because I have THREE!).  If I ever get a proper scrapping room, I think I'll invest in one of those...but as it exists now, I don't have table top space for something like that.

Another key is to NOT bring your entire stash with you.  Plan what you are going to work on and only bring that.  I've been doing this awhile - I pre-plan/design pages to work on...then make all the cricut cuts I need, run small cuts through the xyron and place them all, with the relevant photos and papers I'd like to use and put them in a protective sleeve/tote.  I try to make more then I think I can get through, just in case some of the layouts aren't flowing well, then I'll still have something to work on.  

I think a LOT of people need this advice - it never fails that I see people (and I mean PEOPLE - not just 1 person) at crops with several HUGE storage bins of supplies and it truly looks like enough quantity that she would be able to have EVERYTHING that I have in my stash in those bins.  They maybe pull out  a couple of things out of each bin...and then have to haul it back to their vehicles.  I mean, really, do you need ALL your stamps, ALL your ink, ALL your paper, ALL your embellishments, ALL, ALL, ALL...?  If I'm cropping at a scrapbook store, sometimes I only bring my tools and photos...and purchase paper while I'm there!

Anyhow, I don't "GO" to a lot of crops myself ... anymore.  I used to go to crops every month or so (and they were DOOZIES - we'd start at 5pm and end at 5 am - after already being at work that day from 8am - 4:30pm), but now I'm lucky if I get to go 2 times a year.  It is a HUGE TREAT to get to attend a crop - time away from the crushing routine that is my life.   I mainly have my scrappy friends over to our house.  Having said that, I still "pack" for a crop.  The only time I work on my scrapbook is when I'm with my scrappy friends - so I really leave all my supplies in the bags that I haul down the stairs to our table (or to the car).  I guess, other than having pre-planned pages ready to work on, I'm ready to crop at a moment's notice (ha ha).

Week 13 - Stamps

Here's a big one for some people - I, again, don't have a lot of these since I'm not much of a stamper.  The original post on this...HERE.

I did/do have a few Stampin Up packages, but I've since unmounted all of them (well, maybe most of them, its been awhile) and have them stored in a 3" binder.  I do have a 2" binder that houses my peachy keen stamps, Pink Stamper Stamps and maybe another brand...can't remember...but the more recent on-line purchases.

She suggests to pull out ALL your stamps and see what you have - maybe some duplicates, maybe some that you now hate and can donate etc.  She lists a bunch of questions that you can answer that might lead you toward the storage method that will work best for your stamping personality.   All the questions seemed like they would help, but since my stamping personality is non-existent, I didn't bother with it.

She does talk about converting all your stamps to cling method - which is what I decided a couple of years ago.  I won't even buy a wood stamp any more.  She includes a TON of links to show storage ideas for each "type" of stamp (foam, wood, acrylic).  

What I do like is that she catelogues all her stamps so she knows what she has...I would LOVE to do this, but I worry that I would tire of the process and not complete it (kinda like I did with the unmounting stamp process).  One day, when I have my perfect (or at least larger) scrapbook area) I will do that!  I promise!

Wow - its been 3 years?

Brian Baldwin

July 1, 1964 - April 2, 2009
You are often thought of and missed by your friends and colleagues. Your humour, sarcasm, honesty, brilliance and passion are remembered often and still bring a smile to many. We share stories about you with people who never had the chance to meet you and they laugh with us.

You live on in our hearts, our memories and our lives. We miss you dearly, Brian.
Lovingly remembered by all your friends.

Published in The Saskatoon Star Phoenix on April 2, 2012

I can barely believe that its been 3 years since Brian died.  I've been getting irritable the last few days and when I realized it was April yesterday, I knew why.....because this anniversary was looming.  GJA wants to go to Saskatoon this summer for some camp reunion and thinks we should all go...well, I haven't been there since Brian's Celebration of Life and the only reason that I'd have ever wanted to go in the past was to see Brian, so since he's not there...I truly don't want to go.  

It hasn't been the happiest of years and I really could have used a good laugh/snicker or 2 with Brian.  Come to think of it, other than the silly things that PJ does, I don't laugh very much at all - hmmm - that makes me wonder.  Gee, I thought I was happier than that, I guess not.

I MISS YOU BRIAN.

See more posts about Brian HERE

Week 12 - Ribbon, Threads, & Fibers

Yet another topic I don't have a lot of...Ribbon, Thread, Fiber - the original post is HERE.

She suggests to remove the products from the original packages and put them on something so they are all the same size and thus, easier to store.  She mentions that you can organize by size or type or color.  I have most of my embellishments sorted by colors...and it includes these items.  They are all still in their original packages...but mainly because I don't have a lot - I would totally want them all wound on their own matching paper bobbin - but its not worth it for the tiny quantity that I have.

She has a T.O.N. of links for storage ideas....please take a look!

Week 11 - Non-Alpha stickers and rub-ons

I know, I know, I promised to do this organization thing today...and I am...see below.  I almost decided to not do it because PJ and I have both had the stomach flu for the past few days and I'm still not feeling well (he, on the other hand is jumping around just fine).

SO, this week is similar to the last one...hmmm.  Anyway...the original post is HERE.

She talks about purging some of your stickers/rub ons...so, if you find stickers from back when stickers first came out for scrapbooking (you know the ones...the Sandy Lion ones that seemed so amazing at the time...until Joelee's etal showed up) you probably won't ever use them (we all want the NEW thing...right)...so give them away or let your kids play with them...but get them OUT!

Organize them by type or manufacturer.  I only have a few stickers and they are all for kids and I have them all in 2 boxes...and they are both unused pizza boxes...so basically, I have nothing to do with this item either.  PHEW!