December 27th - What I did on my Christmas Vacation

Merry Christmas to all!  I have had 3.5 days of Christmas vacation. Starting with a half day on Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday. :) Oh yeah! That means a lot of time in the scrap room. Weeks ago I had started a list of all the things I wanted to "fix" in my studio. It had become quite messy, and although I can work within it. The clutter at times clutters my brain and frustrates me. If bags are piled up on the floor and you have to move three of them to get to your paper - that is NOT good.

So I was determined to take this time and get things ready to go for the new year. Last year I cleaned out the scrap closet... this year I hit the room.  With the hubby out and singing almost 24/7 for Christmas eve and Christmas day and not celebrating with my family until the 28th. I had  entire days to work on things.

So this is what happened...

Here is the over view of the room:

Starting on the far left next to the two drawer file cabinet we have a white three tier shelf on the floor with a bag. My craft table is crowded with crafty crap, and you can see the messed up ribbon wall cascading with colors. (Almost looks like Niagara falls) Bags piled next to the cabinet. And there is even stuff hiding on the floor just behind the small rolling stand in the fore ground.

The table with a 3x3 working space right in front. Do I really need all of that?? On the table? I was cutting on top of stuff.

Desktop... full of more clutter.

Close up of the ribbon mess.

Bags and projects on the floor.  I know.. doesn't look TOO bad. But you can't get to the 12x12 paper if the bags are there.

Always room for improvement. :)

So I moved all of my photo cases out from under my desk and put them on the top shelf of my closet. Works great. I just hope the rack doesn't collapse from the weight.  So far, so good.

Then bagged and tagged all my "pending" projects. Stuff like a book I'm working on for my mom, Creative Escape project, my MGIC album, Italy, etc.  With it tagged, I can just grab a bag and take out cropping with me. When I come home, instead of dropping it at the front door, it goes back right in it's place. And don't worry about using too many tags... I'll just cut more on the silhouette.

Nice? I like it.  Notice that the desk top is now cleaned off too.

I removed a mismatched "Scrap" sign, pens stored up there and chalks -  and replaced it with a project , a beautiful angel.. and pictures of all my "angel friends".

I reworked the top shelf, adding completed projects, placing albums together... putting all my pattern paper away. Paper is in the vertical paper holders on the bottom. Christmas stuff is stacked in its on own cube. (Bottom left side.)

Next was one of my biggest challenges...
The ribbon wall.
From this....

To this...

And you HAVE to love the ribbon ring.  Complete with a new hanger that holds ALL the color rings.
Thank you Bed, Bath and Beyond. :)

Each ring is separated by color.  And it's SO easy to see all the ribbons and they stay nice and straight. No ironing required.

Now there is nothing on the floor... except a make up/travel case that use to be my grandmothers that she kept her pictures in.

Yes, that is more/extra ribbon stacked in the plastic cases, separated by color or type.

Everything is labeled and organized. Every photo put away, every piece of paper from shopping expeditions from Utah and Arizona. Everything is in it's home including all the letter stickers sheets (which had to be cut apart and organized by color.) Embellishments are hung on the "tree". I know what I have and where it is. 

Between this weekend and knowing what I have, and having my "sil" (my shilhouette cameo) I'm in excellent shape for the new year to start.  And I can't wait.  With the "sil" my cards will have yet another new look. And I'll never run out of lettering. I can't wait to get started. 

So come on by. I have plenty of supplies to share and would love to do a page or two with you.

And we won't have to climb over anything.

December 8th - Christmas is coming

Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa is on his way.  Bringing lots of things for good little boys and girls - like me! :)  OK, so I had to help Santa a long... by buying the carrying case for my Silhouette. Had too! Can't go to a crop with a Silhouette in a box!

Then I subscribed to the silhouette design selection. Instead of paying 99cents a piece for $19/mo you get 150. I'm thinking that is substantial savings and will cover every and all needs.  Talk about making custom cards - it's all at my finger tips now! :) And for pennies. What could be better!!! It's a very Merry Christmas. And if it's the Santa in the red suit or the brown Santa in the UPS truck. Doesn't matter to me - all gifts are accepted here.

Nov 25th Cards and Killers

What  a way to spend a day off.. with cards and killers. While playing with my Cameo and making cards I was watching Dexter. One episode after another. 5 in all. (I had to get the DVD back to the libary or pay a $1/day fine. - Oh no. Not me. I'm not paying.) So I spent my morning in my studio and was so very happy.

Like the title on the card? I cut it out on my Cameo! :)

Nov 25th - Such a Scrap-a-holic

Black Friday. Coupons. Sales. Why don't they just tell a drug addict that there is free drugs on every corner. How can you resit? How can you not go. You can't. So I went. Yep. Out to Michael's last night after a very wonderful Thanksgiving dinner prepared entirely by the Hubby! They say, after you eat you should go out for a walk. Does that including walking with a shopping cart? I think it does. So off I went... at 6:30pm on Thanksgiving. With the 30% off coupon in my hand and a smile on my face.

I will confess, owning the silhouette makes your selections a little different.  I didn't buy any pattern paper. Because I'm not sure how the cuts will look on pattern. I did buy 100 sheets of black card stock which I use ALL the time, on just about every page. I bought white card stock, cause I'll be using that with the silhouette especially once I learn how to print and cut. I bought 4 bottle of glue, I was down to my last one. And, here comes the addiction... ribbon. OMG. It was 60% off, and then you got another 30% off of the 60% price. The wall was lined with colors and patterns, like a candy counter with zero calories! I could not pass it up. 5 spools later I was done.
The rush was great! The hangover to put it away... always a challenge. 

I did pick up a couple of sticker sheets. An incentive to learn how to do the print / cut feature on my new friend- "Miss Silhouette Cameo".
I'll see if I can scan them in. Copy them over, print them out and cut them. Sounds complicated, but I hear it's easy.

What I didn't do yesterday was work on my projects as much as I had hoped. I finished one. But then ended up cleaning, napping, Watching  three episodes of "Dexter", eating, workout and shopping. I guess that is a full day too.

And today I have off. Another day to live in the crayon box of a scraproom and create. I won't have to worry about cooking, since I'm never eating again.

It has ARRIVED - November 22, 2011

It's here! It has arrived!  (And the angels sang... "ahhhhhhhh") Oh yes, the glorious Silhouette Cameo is here. And I lost no time in getting it out of the box and setting it up.  It's beautiful. Like a new car! It's all nice and shiney and everything is new and all the pieces are there. Love it.

Monday and Tuesday I spent reading the entire manual.  I don't think I've ever read a manual cover to cover before. Fifty two pages, and I thought the manual was "light" on instruction.  We need a "Silhouette for Dummies" book.  I'm thinking I'll be getting my education off of U-tube. 

Last night I cut for the very first time. Yes - a virgin cut! I cut a reindeer, a snowflake and a happy birthday title - all on the same page using different papers for each cut.  Yeah - my first cut was "fancy". And I went for the "real thing" to use. To hell with "research and development", just jump right in with the real thing - it will work. (OK. I would have made a really bad scientist.)

It worked like a charm. This machine lines up the image on the computer screen exactly as it will on the cutting mat. (The old one didn't do that.) This one has a 12x12 cutting mat, the old one was 81/2 x 11 - you had to trim your paper every time and you kind of had to guess where the cut would start. This machine is a lot quieter, although the grindy cutting noise is always a little disturbing. But that is what it does.

I also practiced grouping and ungrouping images last night. Seeing how they move on the page and how you control the images.
Tonight, I'll make a turkey. NO - not the in the oven kind, the paper kind. That and apple pie.. that's all I need for Thanksgiving.

I'm already thinking about the ways that I can use this. Cards are a given.  But I can cut snowflakes and decorate the house. (Tony's idea.) I can download my digitial images (like Heidi Swapp Soiree line) and set them up as a print and cut feature. (Which I have to-sort learn to use, but will.) Instant die cuts forever. Sort my images by categories for easy access. And on "Black Friday" I'll be shopping for images in the on-line shop.  I have finally found a use for all of the paper I have collected over the last 12 years of scrapbooking. I can't wait to see what I can make.

I can't wait to learn more about what this can do.  (I should call in sick. Day before the holiday. They know I have a new toy. Probably not a good idea.)

November 21st - Today is THE day!

Oh yes! Today is THE day. THE day in which the new Silhouette Cameo will arrive. How do I know. I've tracked the package for over a week. At least once a day (if not more) I would go on the UPS website and see where my Cameo is.  Seeing when it was shipped from the company and picked up and taken to Mesa, AZ. Where it was in transit. When it arrived in central Illinois. When it arrived in Palatine on Friday. (Palatine - I could have walked there to pick it up!!!)

Like a kid awaiting Santa's arrival, I too anxiously waited. Had we had tracking when I was a kid, Christmas would have been a bigger pain in the butt for my mom. Instead of the 18 thousand times a day asking when is Santa coming - I would have been on the Internet tracking Santa's progress, keeping it in some kind of note book and reporting back to my mom - 18 thousand times a day.

Will this new toy be a life time scrapping shift in how I do things? I've been  skimming through u-tubes and tutorials. I'm thinking I'll be able to learn a lot. But I didn't want to watch all of the demo's since I couldn't play along.

I almost took today off in "preparation" of receipt of the machine. Clean my scraproom, make a place for it. Make dinner for it. I want it to likes it's new home. And I think I'll call is "Cam".
I'm thinking this might be better then a dog. LOL!! However, it won't be any cheaper by the time I start buying things for it; totes, dies, blades, mats, - vet bills or scrapping supplies; I'm thinking they are about the same. :)

I'll let you know when it arrives!!! Whoooo Hoooo! Yeah baby!! It's a good day!!!

Preparing for 2012 - November 18, 2011

So here is what I'm thinking. I'm preparing for 2012. By purchasing items NOW, I won't have to buy as much in the new year. I don't think I'll need to buy anything but "hard goods" - you know.. adhesive, page protectors, ink, black card stock. Things that you use every time and run out of.

I got my Cameo coming. :) To be delivered on Monday. I even changed a dentist appointment so that if UPS is running late, I'll be there for the delivery. AND, I just ordered a new Cinch. Now I can make all my own albums and bind them with either wire "c"s or spiral bound. That means... I don't even have to buy albums any more. I can pretty much make my own from chipboard. And heck - I can get free chipboard from the back of legal pads! 


So I'm thinking, 2012 may be the year of "minimizing".  I'm really going to try hard. Try really, really hard to not buy new supplies. The Cameo should provide all my lettering needs.. plus other die cuts (snowflakes, balloons, titles, etec. ) The Cinch should provide almost all of my album needs... I have enough paper. (Although I've used every piece of Teresa Collins paper I have - she is my new fav.!).
If I work through all my pages to be journaled, projects to finish, and classes I've signed up for and have yet to complete... I'm thinking that will take me through 2012... and into 2020!! LOL!!! Let's just say I am not at a loss for scrapping projects or card making. There is always something.  Wait until you see the calendars I make with my Cinch!

My ribbon addiction and flower passion need to be used. But I must say that with the card making, I've learned to manipulate a lot more of what I have and use it in different ways. :) I like that. I love using the stuff I bought. So I'm getting ready for the new year. :) I'm going to try again. Heck way not. Even falling on your face is forward motion. And you'll never know unless you try.

I'm Back!

Can you believe it! It's been over a year since I started this blog. August of 2010. Wow! That seems like a long time ago. A life time ago. Life got fast, and busy and unexpected turns took place. But I never stopped scrapping. And certainly never stopped spending. :) Oh the addiction.  And finding justifications. Oh yeah - for instance, I'm not getting my nails done anymore (my manicurist retired and the new was was so terrible. She destroyed my nails. I decided not to go back. I've grown them out and have saved $60/month.) Stocking up on paper. Who can't use bazzill card stock at $20/pizza box.  Stamps. Oh my stamps the clear ones.. since they are so easy to stack and store - that means you can buy a lot of them! And they can be SO cheap at times! It's wonderful!!! Invigorating. Creatively simulating.

So if I'm having such a good time, why I'm I back? I'm back because I just bought the latest and greatest of die cut machines. The new Silhouette - Cameo.  A machine that can cut every font I have stored, in any size. This new machine has a 12x12 bed - no more cutting paper to fit it, and it is easier to use, has a print function, can cut out images that I've saved, etc. It is the BMW of machines. And since the card business is doing so well. I've used saved funds from that adventure to purchase this.

All well and good.. but why back at the blog. Didn't this "experiment" fail? No. The failure comes from never trying at all. To never try is to fail. I tried. Took some turns. But I'm ready to try again. Weight Watchers does this ALL the time. Why can't I? I believe the draw back was to not spend anything - total denial. Maybe I need a budget. Points - like weight watchers.

With the new Silhouette on it's way. Ordered on Friday, should be here in a week. I'm going to rethink what it is that I really need to buy. And what I can clear out and use on my cards. After 11 years of scrapping I kind of know my "technique" and should try to stay true to it.  I've also found a friend who is a silhouette expert! Oh yes! I've seen her work hanging in Archivers and it is outstanding. She can make that machine "sing"! and I'm willing to meet with her and pay her for lessons. Why not? People takes lessons to learn to play pianos, guitars. Cooking classes. Why not take a class where I can make this machine do what I want, and in doing so, use up my supplies. 

 

I'm excited! Between the silhouette and my laptop/printer I should be able to create exactly what I want with what I have. The ribbon is abundant. The stamps in volumes. Pattern paper in every color of the rainbow. 

What I will need to get over is the "perfection". The "Is this the PERFECT color to go with picture? The perfect shade of ribbon? The perfect hue of flower?" Get over it. Do NOT over think it. Now one else will. They will look at the picture and page for about 3 seconds. Really. I've watched someone look at books. This year, as I move forward. It will be on getting the picture down, the store told and not worrying about perfection - but about the story.

Most people would wait until January 1 to start this. A new year. A new beginning. Not me! If you know me, you know I have very little patience.I hate waiting. So - Happy New Year! Here we go. And if you want to read along, I welcome you. Enjoy this blog. For it keeps me honest and aware of what is going on. And isn't that what we want in life... to be aware.. and enjoy it!

Day 244 - Back to Reality... the amount of paper

It's been a long time since I posted 24 days - almost a month. Where have a been? Running with the running club again. Card making. And shopping. Just small shopping. $10 here. $20 there. With happy on clearance, on sale items. But they make me happy and I use them right away.
I now have a "bucket" that I put my new things in so I can see them and use them right away. This system is working well. Especially with cards. It gives me fresh ideas.

This past weekend I took Friday off and reorganized my room. I wanted to re-do the wall because I had run out of room for my 12x12 albums. I have a stack of pages (about 20 inches high) that need to go into their albums. Unfortunately, the line of albums currently on the shelf take up the ENTIRE shelf. Not including the 4 12 x12 albums in the living room.

Tony and I talked and we were going to try to jam yet one more book case in the corner of the dining room next to the piano. We are already tight for space there. With odds and ends stacked on the dining room table and the piano. And two boxes of miscellaneous items from his parents house. More stuff in that area would just make the entire floor collapses downstairs on the neighbors.

I thought if I could clear the top of my paper wall and get rid of the paper racks, I'd have room in the room where they belong. This stuff has to remain harassed, or it will "grow" in every room of the house. I've seen it. And yes, including bathrooms.

Thursday night from 7-10 I worked on it. I took before pictures.

I started to put like items together. Stamps with stamps. Flowers with flowers. Going through page kit after page kit and either keeping it, or in post cases breaking down the paper, stickers, brads and putting them where they belong. This process is long. The stack of projects is high and you think you will never make it through the stack. But I just focused on one packet at a time. Don't worry about the stack, just grab the next packet in your hand and put things away. Then the next one. Then the next.

With the garbage can over flowing from plastic containers, bits of scrap paper, and a couple of page layouts too ugly to even donated, I called it a night.

Friday morning, 5am, with coffee brewed and steaming hot I headed in for the day. This was THE day that I devoted to the project. No weekend chores, no where to go. So I started with my pattern paper wall.  3 racks, 20 sections each. One section at a time.
I'd go through each paper. Do I like it? Does it make me happy? Would I be happy to work with it. If the answer was yes - it was a keep and it went into the "vertical Cropper Hoppers" each having a designated color. If "no", it went into the donate box.

It took me 8 vertical cropper hoppers, (each holds 400 sheets of paper), plus multiple plastic paper holds to house what I'm estimating to be, approximately 4000 sheets of pattern paper. I had 4 of the cropper hoppers. I had to run to Joann Fabrics to get 4 more. And wouldn't you know it, this was the week the organizers WERE NOT on sale. Didn't care I wanted, and needed them to complete this project.

With all my cardstock now housed in one two drawer file cabinet; sorted by color, scraps first, then 8.5 x 11 paper directly behind it.
12 x 12 sorted by color in the second drawer.

All pattern paper is in vertical organizers and they slide out like record albums use to you. (You remember those... big plastic disks with music on them that didn't require a computer to play the music.) And room for my card paper ( 8x8 or smaller), and plenty of room for albums. I ordered up more white cubes from Target (free delivery) to put the rest of my 12 x12s in. I do have room to grow.
The new cubes will go on the top of the unit.. up to the little shelf. (It will hide the cords.)

And my rolling cart... that has all the supplies for my cards I'm always reaching for...black cardstock. Large sheets of punch out items.. brackets, swirls, tabs, file tabs, flowers, etc. All little items to be used on cards. Plus I an store card projects in there.

I worked on the room from 5am until 9pm. That was a full day! And well worth it. I feel the room is more "open" and certainly cleaner and more organized.

Which this process again reminds me of how much stuff I have!!! OMG! Amazing. I need a rider to our insurance policy in case of a fire!
When I did go to Michaels this week to use by 40% coupon and checked out their amazing clearance section - I looked at the pattern paper. And turned and walked away from it. No more "stacks" for me. (Which I tore them all apart and organized by color.) If I buy
any more pattern paper... which there won't be much.... it's one sheet at a time. No more 40 plus packs. In fact, with my stamps, I'm more interested in "designing" my own pattern paper. I'm trying that on a cruise layout tonight.

I did love the hours I spent in my studio. I'm so grateful to have the space and the time to enjoy it. It was like being on vacation.
To me... it's one of the happiest place on Earth. :)  Full of color and memories.

Day 217 - Can't Stop

OK. I can't do this. I can't not shop. I can't pass up a bargin. And I can't walk into a scrapbook store without buying something.
I just can't. "To thyn own self be true." Isn't that what they say. Well, I know myself now. I know, that if I step foot into a store, money will come flying out of my wallet. It's going to happen. I KNOW that now. 

So you would think... then just don't go. But I can't. I HAVE to go.  At a minimum of need glue. And you've seen me struggle with that. Going in and just getting glue.  Order on-line, I could, but the shipping would probably cost me more then what I would spend if I went into the store. 

Then there is all the justification as to why it's ok for me to shop...

I don't spend that much. My average purchase is around $20. It's not like a have a hobby collecting diamonds or gold! That I have a "problem" and every time I walk into "Jareds" I buy a diamond ring.  I'm totally into stickers! (And let me tell you.. my husband is happy about that one.) So is it so bad?

I use what I buy.  I swear I do. Some people just collect scrapbooking supplies and never use it for whatever reasons. One being it's their "favorite" and they don't want to use it. (Been there, done that.). But what good is ribbon tucked away in a box. Wouldn't you rather see it on your favorite page, coupled with a favorite photo. I would. But I scrapbook and think that way.

Plus - I use all these stuff on my cards. Which is getting busier and I LOVE that. And I think the cards have taught me to let go of a lot of product... and I love that - causes I have to make more room.  Although I have bought more stamps. Which take up more room. It's a vicious cycle.

When I shop - my creativity flows. Really. Walking up and down the aisle and looking at the paper, ribbon, buttons, etc, gets me "in the mood" to doing pages and cards. And I'm not looking at layout ideas. Just looking at the product gets me thinking. And it's not like magazines.  It's touching the stuff, walking in it, passing through it - that makes it happen. It's the physical that makes the mental work.

And I'm not putting us in the "poor house" because of it. Lots of people spend $20 just in coffee. And what can they show for that? A lot of trips to the bathroom.  Me - I can show you album after album, page after page of what my money has purchased.  But it is showable. In fact, a little too much... I'm running out of shelf space for my albums.  (I really do need that other condo for scrapping.)

And so... I just love it so much... and shouldn't that what life be about. The things you love. How blessed I am to be able to enjoy all those things - so why deny it. Why surpress it. Just go for it!!!! 

So... should I change this into the "Latest and Greatest" blog and share my purchases and cards created... I'll have to think about that.
So am I throwing in the towel... don't know yet... get to think about that too. Wait... I'll go shop and think about it. LOL... just joking. ;)

Day 207 - I Was Naughty

I was SO bad. So, very, very bad. 

Did you know Michael's is clearing out their entire line of "Recollections" (that's their brand) in addition to other items. They are totally reworking their scrapbook dept and clearing out walls of items. Clearance. Clearance and scrapbooking.. I just about wet my pants with excitement. What could be better? A chocolate cake shake with no calories. Since the shake isn't happening - I went for the items.

 It was bad. Well, it was good -because prices were unbelievable low. I mean unbelievable. A $10 Martha Stewart punch for $1.50. Bling for 49 cents. Sticker sheets, in which I could make 6 cards from $1.
Paper for 14 cents a sheet and bottled flowers for $2.99 (Regularly $7.99) and glitter chipboard letters that were normally $8 were 99 cents! 99 cents! Less then a dollar. Even the Dollar Store can't beat this price.

Come on! I HAD to! I SO had to. I couldn't pass up these prices!!! No way. I don't care about the promise, the blog, anything. I threw it all a side and got some great stamp sets for making cards... 4 different one. I got 2 bottles of flowers, 10 sheets of paper, 4 jolee "shoes" to use for cards - the shoes are satin with "diamonds" on them.  4 rolls of dollar ribbon. I would have picked up some paper packs, but I didn't have a cart or basket and by this time, every time I would reach to look at another item, I'd start to drop everything in my hands.
So the bending down and picking things up wasn't worth the reaching up and looking. (You would have thought I'd just go get a basket. No - cause then I would only buy more.)

Smokin' deals!!! So I'm sorry.  I apologize. But the saver in me, beat out the don't shopper in me and I couldn't pass it up. And I KNOW I will be using all of this.  Cheap scrapbooking supplies - I was in scrapbook heaven. Shopping nirvana!

Bottom line... the no shopping isn't going to well these days. I'm doing better then I use to.... but at those prices... is there justification?

Day 204 - It seems like it day 2004

This has got to be one of the hardest challenges that I've done. No. Loosing weight would probably be harder and that's why I'm not doing that!

What I am starting to learn from the little exercise of no shopping, (well almost no shopping. I've had a couple of issues along the way) is what I really like to use for scrapping and what I don't. What I'm drawn to and what can go back on the shelf.

First - it's the ribbon. I love the ribbon! I love the colors, the little tiny spools, the polk-a-dot, the lace. I thought my friend Robin was a ribbon fanatic - I think I got it to. It must have been contagious. When I pass the rack of ribbon, it's like candy. With NO calories.  It's so "yummy" and makes me happy. I like to look at it, touch it. It's so cute.

Bling: What's a girl without bling? It's the icing on the cake. Just that little bit of "pop" that completes the out fit. Same with scrapping.  It's the gems, the pearls, the swirls. The girls gots to have the bling. And if there is sale bling - OMG. Got to have it.
The pinks, the purples, the crystal clear.  Every color. Any color. Never enough. In practicality, because it's being used. Want it - always.

Stamps: I'm being a stamp-a-holic. Yep. More stamps. Never enough stamps. A bucket full of stamps and a 6" binder full of them. Some "real stampers" wouldn't think I have a lot. But for me - I have a lot. And I don't use them as often as I should. But when I see them and some of them are only $1 - heck if I use it once it's worth it. It's not like a sticker, but never "goes away" and you can use it over and over and over again.   The stamp is versatile and ever lasting. So why not even more... 'cause I should be stamping more with all the stamps I have and I don't. I still reach for the easy fix; the sticker or rub on.

The urge to shop is still there. Despite the 200 days having passed by. Because it's emotional. It makes me happy. It really does. To stand there, look at all the colors, think about all the projects and layouts I could do with this and that. It really stimulates my brain. It activates it. And isn't healthy brain activity important?
You bet! So I need to shop. 
(Yeah... I probably could stimulate my brain by reading a book or doing a crossword puzzle.  But it's not nearly as much fun! And those activities don't involve ribbon.)

Day 198 - Sometime I Just Have To Much Going On

Sometimes I just have too much going on. Too many hobbies. To much work. To many things to do at home. But the reality is I bring on all these things on  myself. I want to do them, (read, design, run) and I love the people I have met by doing them (you all know who you are). And some days I don't even know how I get it all done.

This week I've been crazy busy at work, hip hopped, ran, biked, on staff with running club (which I got up in front of every one to do our "affirmations"- very scary for me. Don't like speaking in front of people.) made cards, put layouts together, shopped for running shoes, visited a friend in the hospital, volunteered, saw my parents, drove two days back and forth to Milwaukee.  And then I wonder why I feel "rushed" and tired. I need to "slow down" and be specific in my projects.

I've just signed up for a 8 weeks scrapbook course (yeah - I know. I complain I'm busy and sign up for yet another class.) This one is finding you authentic scrapbooking voice. What makes your pages you. What products are you drawn to, what is your style, how do you design. And the base of this class is a make a layout every day for 30 days being March 1st.
OMG- can I do this?  I know I CAN. Can I make the time to do this? I can if I drop something else. But what, I'm not sure yet.
First answer would be work... but we need that one. There's reality.

Cards, they are selling so well right now, there is no stopping. Exercise - nope. That's a big no. I'm liking how things are going right now.

So I'll get up early and go long with the day. Despite the fact they are busy. I'll make it work with pre-planned kits. Focusing on getting things done. Working out at lunch time. Making to do lists, etc.

I know there are people out there with MUCH busier schedules then mine. And they may thrive on it - but not me. Right now, a little bit of down time would be nice.

Day 191 - I Just Can't Help Myself

It was Saturday, which means running club. And that was great! Immediately following was a card class at Archivers. Learned some really cool new water color techniques with stamps. The cards look like they were painted by some Japaneses artist. 
And we painted the ribbon. Yep - white cotten ribbon, misted with water and painted (any color you'd like) with ink. You know what that means.... have to have the ribbon. Well they were out of it. So I bought it in purple! I've got 10 wedding cards to do and the brides colors are purple! No inking required on that one.

Then I went to Hobby Lobby. Stickers were 50% off.  Yes. I confess. I was going there with a purpose to buy. I needed a sheet of baby stickers ($1) and wedding stickers ($1) and got wedding border stickers. Couple sheets of raspberry card stock. Some bling - pearl and clear for the wedding cards. Some lace.  $9 total.

Then I went to Joanns. Yes. I confess. I was going there with a purpose to buy.  (Sounds familiar.) K and Company had the cutest fabric flowers. Got some last week and used every single one (6 of them) already on cards and layouts. Had to get more and they were 40% off. And 12x12 paper was 25 cents a sheet. That's really cheap! Got some watermelon color, chocolate brown, a sheet of baby paper, and one wedding glitter paper. 8 sheets - $2 Total out of store was $9. 

So, on a Saturday, in three stores, I spent $20. Not bad - but when you aren't suppose to be spending it's not good.

Maybe when I become a designer.... and I get free product.... I'll do better.

I have noticed I'm a little more "controlled" and I'm only buying things that I know for sure that I'll be using. That's a lot better then having things on hand "in case" I'll need them. I could have bought a lot more paper and stickers. A LOT more. But I didn't.  (There's justification! LOL!!!)

Day 186 - I Need To Stay Out of the Stores

OK. It's just that simple. If I'm not going to spend. I just need to keep my fanny out of the stores. Because if my big butt is the stores - then I'm buying. Once I'm in there - I just can not help it! I swear! It's like a drug! The colors, the ribbon, the stickers, the ideas! I see an item and I know exactly what I want to do with it. How I'll use it. And I do! I use all my stuff. But I still have a lot of old stuff that I'm trying to work through. And I'm using that too.  I've scrapped about 16 pages so far this year. (Yes -that is a lot.) And I've been using all my stuff.
And I can't even count the number of cards I've done - and used by stuff.
I just have a lot of stuff.  But I want new stuff too.  When I buy. I love what I buy. I'm not a collector. I'm actually using it. Which is good.

Went to Joanns this past weekend to use a coupon - 50% off. So I got really cute ribbon to tie up my cards with. They look SO cute in the box. BUT... all the scrapbooking stuff was 40%.  Need adhesive - always. But the clearance aisle.  Scrapbooking at rock bottom prices! OMG I just can't resist.  So I get a stamp sets with 9 sayings, (get well, congratulations, happy birthday, have a nice day, buy me you need me- ok, it really didn't say the last one) for $4.97 - Five dollars!!! That I can use over and over and over again in multiple colors. I just HAD to. And I've already used it on cards!

 $20 later I'm finally walking out of the store.

I just need to stay out. Coupons aren't saving me here.. I'm spending more.
It's such an addiction. I guess it beats smoking or drinking. There's two things that cost a lot and have nothing to show in the end except really bad breath, or lots of wasted calories in the drinks.
At least I have a library full of books. (Which I need another condo to put them in ... I'm running out of room.)

DAy 175 - Night out with a girlfirend - Priceless

On Wed, I'm up in Milwaukee... doing the regular kind of thing... working, lunch, Hip Hop Hustle. (Oh that would be a whole other blog about my "dancing ability" - needless to say I did buy dance sneakers. )  And after work my girlfriend Connie and I head out to "The Scrap Store"(I know, nice original name) in Greenfield.

With Christmas gift certificates in hand, we both began our shopping. I love this little store. They have the cutest darn displays. Using jewelry boxes and cakes plates and mirrors, the product and samples look adorable - and make you want to buy - because they look adorable.  A paper clip sitting in a little crystal dish is so much more attractive. "Oh - look at this paper clip!!! I have to have it!!"

The new spring lines were coming out. (Yes scrapping follows fashion) and I picked up some beautiful Easter patterns in a 6x6 tablet. Some papers,  letter stickers, couple birthday items, etc and I finished at 23.85. Which, was darn close to the $25 gift certificate I had. The remainder is a store credit. That's good. 'Cause I know I'll be back. There is a page layout contest calling me.

Connie managed to hit her gift certificates within 5 cents; $44.95. She should be on "The Price is Right".

We needed to energize before we continued shopping so a quick trip to Noodles and Co for a fairly healthy dinner and we were on to Joann's.

EVERYTHING - was 40% off! Their scrapbook department had been picked over pretty well, but that didn't stop me! 40% off - I had to buy.  Got some scripture stamps which will be used over and over again. 40% off - If I sell two cards with them, I've made my money back. Two stamps out of the dollar bin. Wedding items - $1. Blue chipboard letters - $1. I was in dollar heaven!

And the $1 items - that is like penny candy to me. No calories!!! The price is perfect, the items are good, and there is so much of it I can use on cards. So I bought.  Some little 3-d tags, a roll of cupcake ribbon, etc. the "rush" of the buy is was SO fun. And I got some basics; black cardstock - 50 sheets for $2.50.  It doesn't get any cheaper. Maybe I should have called this blog the "Frugal Scrapbooker" Anyway.. I spent $28.69

I had such a good time shopping and dinner with Connie. We laughed! Checked out other people in the restaurant; why the man sitting alone, should meet the women sitting alone and maybe they wouldn't have to eat alone. Shopped. Explained scrapbook projects that we are working on to each other. Shopped.  Would try to convince or debate why a scrapbook item we had picked up would be needed. Shopped. It was  a great night out with a girlfriend.

So if I spent $28.60 then so be it! It was worth it! Do you know how many people drink $28 worth at a bar and have nothing to show for it except feeling bloaty the next morning. At least my bloat is in the form of scrapbook stuff.
And thanks Connie - I had a great time.

Day 168 - Back Sliding

It's only day 168 - 168! That's all? OMG it truly seems forever!!!  And I swear, it has not gotten any easier. Well, maybe a little easier. I'm more conscious if nothing else.  And, as pointed out by a wonderful friend, "you've been back sliding".

This is like dieting. One chip. Two chips. Three chips. The bag!

Doesn't everyone. Isn't this the same thing as putting on 10 pounds from Christmas holiday cookies?  It's the New Year's resolution to exercise EVERY day, and by week three you are thinking, "who am I kidding. I'm not retired and don't have all day to work out! I can't find time to go to the bathroom let alone, stretch, workout for an hour, stretch, shower, make up, hair. What is that - an entire morning?!

And so, we back slide, cut corners, just give in a little. And we will always find a justification for it.
Like yesterday.

I'm working and a friend e-mails me. "HSN has scrapbooking day today."  You would have thought that the gun went off at the start of the race.  I quickly turned on my tv to channel 3; HSN. Facial Cream. They are showing Facial Cream. Do I have the wrong channel? In a panic I log on to a second computer, pull up HSN and there spread across the screen in glorious  18 inches is "Today's Special Value". An Anna Griffin card making kit.

Ohhhh Anaa..... your stuff is so Victorian, so ageless, so formal.
Known for her "Grand Adhesions" (yeah-they are stickers) they are always beautiful and always 3 dimensional. Anna does a good product.l How do I know. She's been around ever since I've been scrapbooking. (Yeah - that's 11 years now.) And the price... to make 30 cards is only $26.  It was an all occasion kit and I KNOW I will use every bit of the kit in my cards. If I use her design, or modify it, (which I usually end up doing) I know that this product will be opened and used upon arrive. (There's justification - at least if I use it, I can buy it.)
Come on U.P.S. - my "brown Santa" - everyone thinks Santa wears red ; no way, he wears brown.)

For $26 dollars I can double my money and it's not as if this kit will just lay around. I'll use it. (I promise.)

So with a quick sign on, a password and three clicks of a button, it was done. I had purchased.

Buying, it can be emotional. When 16,000 other people have purchased the same item - you want it to. If they think it's a good deal, it has to be. Right?

In order to help in my backsliding capacity I went to the library and have stared reading "I'm Not Buying It"; a couples journey of not buying anything except necessities for an entire year. Maybe it will help. When I sat down to read it last night, (I probably should have started reading yesterday morning to avoid the purchase today).  Really, when you think about it.  How much stuff do we buy that keeps at least 4 different stations on cable, selling stuff 24/7. And one is exclusively jewelry. There has to be enough interest, or they would not be on the air.  And we won't even get into info-mercials.  Our national hobby seems to be shopping.

So I'm back. Back on track. The train may have jumped the rails for a little bit, but we have to get things in line again.
What is the saving grace here is my gift certificates.  I have some left (I know hard to believe when it's January 21st already.)  And I will use those funds to be selective.

What really seems to drive the no shopping home to me is when I have to put my "toys" away. Last night I was emptying packages from layouts completed. (That is a task that is NO fun, but so has to be done regularly or the piles become unbelievable!) When I have to put it away from using it.... I think, holy cow! I've used all this stuff to make layouts, cards, etc... and it doesn't look like I touched any of my supplies.  I find things I didn't know I had, and makes me want to use them.  You have to "get into" to your stuff, and LOOK to see what you have. And once you do, you come to realize - I have it all. :) And I'm so grateful.
(Although.. I still believe, never enough flowers or ribbons- right?)

Day 163 HAD TO purchases

I had to.  I had to go to Michaels yesterday. I had to get a Valentine's Day stamp. The one "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp that I did own has gone missing. It's not on the vinyl sheet... or in the binder... or in the bucket of vinyl stamps. And I didn't have any wooden block stamps. And I didn't want to spell out "Happy Valentines Day" with stamp letters - because I wouldn't have a block long enough and not enough As, Es and Ns to spell everything out. So I had to get one. And I found the cutest little "Happy Valentine's Day" and it was in the dollar stamp bin. So I had to. But it was the only stamp I got.  I swear.

Then I had a 50% off coupon. 50% !- so I had to get the "Tiny Attacher" (not a stapler) that I wanted for Christmas. 50% off!! I had to. Brought it down to $7.  Seven Dollars!!!!

So then I walked through the dollars aisle. 'Cause I had to see what they have. They were having a sale - 80% off select items.
They had  chip board books - complete with metal rings and 5 tabbed pages - 20 cents. I had to have it. Had to.  20 cents! You can't buy tabs for 20 cents. Let alone the cardboard or the metal rings. Had to.

And I got glue- 'cause I had to. I made forty cards in two days and used a bucket of glue. Had to. (BUT, I did walk out of the store first, using my 50% off coupon for the stapler. Put the bags in the car, and went back and used a 40% off coupon for the glue. I'm so damn cheap!)

That was it. I didn't get any more cute adorable Valentine's Day stuff. And I didn't get any extra stamps even though they were on clearance. And I didn't get any paper.

After 163 days, it still takes a conscious effort and inner voice telling me "put it back and step away from the paper".

Day 161 - This Week it's all about the Cards

This week has been really busy. With cards. Lots of cards. I was going to Milwaukee so I made cards. The Chicago team was going to Milwaukee. So I made cards. I made cards FOR the Chicago team but sold them in Milwaukee the day before their arrival.  So I made more cards. I received an invitation on Wed for a party on Saturday night, hosted by one of my card customers. So I've made more cards. 
I did 12 cards on Wed night. I've made 25 cards today. I can't even remember how many I made on Monday. And I haven't even gotten to a lot of Valentines yet.
And the funny thing is... there isn't a dent in my supplies. :)
Tomorrow morning, I'll be making more cards.

DAy 156 - Some Goes Out. Some Come In

Today was donation day. I dropped off donations at the women's shelter. (Clothes, shoes, purses, toiletries.) A chair at the Salvation Army, and scrapbook stuff at Memories and Beyond for a scrapbooking club at a local school.
I had two bags of scrapbook stuff go out. Cutters I hadn't used in years. Albums that in the last 10 years I haven't used, I don't think I'll be using now. And other miscellaneous items I've collected in the 10 years I've been at this hobby.  They had all come from the closet project at Christmas time.

As I was walking out of the store, I happened to walk into their stamping section.  (Should have just kept walking!) Oh, I'll just look to see what they have. I was looking for a tip to my glitter glue which I had lost. (I think I lost it when I dumped my entire tool kit just outside the door at Archivers. about a week ago.  But that was ok too! Made me re-organize the entire thing.)
So I was looking for the tips, and the tips only for the glue.

And low and behold are these beautiful card samples! Cards! I'm always looking for ideas. (You should have kept walking. You just bought a card idea book with your gift card on Friday night. A "non-count" purchase. ) There was one card, that had theses beautiful bracketed accents to a cupcake on a stand. (And I already have a cupcake stamp AND a stand stamp.) I had to have it!!! I could do so much with it and my cards.

Then I moved into the next section. (I should have moved out the door.)  There they were. A sheet of sympathy letter stickers that read "with sympathy". I can't have enough of those these days. So I picked up one in silver and one in gold.  (Should have just used the "with sympathy" stamp set you have at home. )  And right next to it was some Hero Art lace.  After having just been in a class where we actually dyed the ribbon in the ink pad, this lace would be perfect. AND, it's hard to find lace - you usually see just ribbon. (And you should be using all the ribbon you have.)
And some green bling.  I started a running album on Friday night and the accent to the black/red/white book are green gems to match my green running shirt. HAD to  have them; Archivers was out of green. (Oh yeah - it's Christmas, everyone is working with green and red.  No green in the store would make sense. But is there green bling at home? Should have probably checked the inventory first.)

So $21 dollars later and I'm working out of the scrapbook store and this was only in three small stamping sections. I didn't even look at the "normal" scrapbook stuff. Could you imaging how much damage I would have done in there??

I just can't help myself.

Day 155 - I'm Scrapping

I'm working on a on-line scrapbooking class called "Decorate Life".  It's a class that runs 30 days, with daily emails and in the end you have 14 completed layouts. 14!!! That is more then some people do in the entire year - and I'll have it done in a month. The teacher (Darci) has you pull all the embellishments first, along with some pictures; but the embellishments and the photos you pick that day don't necessarily go together. THEN every other day she has you pull the embellishment AND pictures and gives you a layout sketch to follow - LOVE it!!! The layouts are simple and cute and you can always add to it if you want.

And I have plenty to add. The reason I like this class so much is that I use what I have.  She always calls for a lot of flowers and buttons and I have no shortage of those. ALTHOUGH, I was eyeing some new crocheted flowers at Archivers. That, and I was also thinking about buying a kit so that you can do 12 months of pages - like a year in review / shorten 365 project. (Shortened - no kidding - from 365 photos to 4 per month!!!  I like THAT!)
I'm starting to look... starting to think about what I want to buy... starting to untie the purse strings.... it could be scary.

But, there may not be any stores to shop at! June (in Utah) was telling me that there are two more stores closing. Two more! There isn't going to be anything left except Michaels, Joanns and Hobby Lobby - not THAT is sad. We didn't know how good we had it 10 years ago when, in Utah there were approximately 30 scrapbook stores in a 10 mile radios. Ahhhh the good old days. When i first was using fancy scissors, paper and stickers.  No ribbon, no brads, no flowers, no inks, no paints. And a "hybrid" was a fruit or flower, not a 'digital with physical elements scrapbook page'.

Day 153 - Now That I Got It

Holidays are over - finally. It seemed as if there was so much to do with so little time and I didn't even have that much to do!

And my friends got me the perfect gift - the one that fits - gift cards to my scrapbook stores! Thank you all!!! :) And if  they didn't get a gift card,  they got me scrap stuff and that is just as good - love that too.

So now... after the tree is dark, and the new years resolutions made I've got "cash" to go shopping. Remember when this started -gifts don't count as purchases.  But I don't know what to buy.  I don't want to "waste" it and go into a store and just buy anything.  I'm waiting for the one item that totally screams at me "Take me home!! I'm so stinkin' cute you can't live without me! Buy me now!!!"

And with all the scrap projects I'm currently working on... ("One Little Word", "Decorate Life", "365 Project",  Picture Winter, ) I really haven't had time to shop.  I seem to be ok with what I have.

So I guess I'll keep it in my "saving account" - and just hold on to the gift cards.
Why rush - I still have 7 more months to go!!! OMG!!!!!