tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89361763316337459232024-03-13T14:24:28.844-07:00 Instead of the Laundry...Yeah, these are totally the things I do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY (and the cooking, the vacuuming and housework in general)! I hope I can enable you to craft in lieu of cleaning too. After all, the world needs more pretty and a lot less water usage. So get comfortable, take a gander, get inspired, read, read, read, and get your crafty on INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-62046945381431526432014-05-27T17:50:00.001-07:002014-05-27T17:50:38.172-07:00Organizing Stencils for a Better WorldOkay so that might have totally been one of those lame attempts to shock people into reading my blog and I really do apologize (kind of), but if you are here because of it, you may thank me later. <br />
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When life gives me lemons, I grab the vodka and the sugar and get on the whole lemon drop thang (totally INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY of course) And after that, when chaos still ensues, I have to bring some kind of order back to my life. The easiest way for me to fix that is to ORGANIZE (see boys and girls, it is NOT a four letter word at all). Organizing gives my mind something to focus on instead of the negative (HA, you thought I was going to use yet another cheap ploy and put INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY didn't you??) I love to organize and think I do a pretty dang good job of it. My theory is "a place for everything and everything in its place." I am brave enough to chuck it if it doesn't have somewhere to go or a use (just ask my ex-husband!! BADA BING...it had to be said!). Craft supplies can be both easy and hard to organize. WOW!! Vague much? It can be difficult when crafters try to conform to the ways that others structure their mother load of supplies as opposed to the way that they craft. HUGE MISTAKE! BIG! All the candy stations and Ikea shelving units mean nothing if they aren't helping you get creative and crafty every single day. You have to think about your crafty style...are you color driven, theme obsessed, collection enthusiastic, in the holds of company products etc, etc, and that should drive how you on how to organize in a way that is meaningful and useful to YOU!!<br />
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That's it! Done. End of the blog post. Did it make your world better? Even though I am really kidding about the blog being done, remember we already settled the fact that I was using sensationalism to get you here. And you were okay with that and forgave me. And for that, I appreciate you :)<br />
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But seriously, I do have a suggestion for stencils that may (or may not) help you. And if it doesn't, no worries! If you don't craft like me and this doesn't work for you, I would love to hear how you organize your stencils.<br />
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Since life has thrown me some lemons as of late and I have indeed been doing some soul searching organization projects and creative therapy. Here is what I have come up with in regards to those aforementioned stencils:<br />
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These are all of my smallish stencils. By smallish, I mean less than 12x12. My 12x12s hang on a separate ring. I did punch holes in the corners of all the stencils that didn't already have an appropriate place to shove the binder ring through. I am totally okay with the extra hole in my stencil. If I am using spray inks and don't want that hole to get all inky, I just place a piece of always handy painter's tape over it. I know this is completely freaking some of you out because I have ripped these from their comfortable homes and haven't a clue as to who belongs to what and what companies to attribute to each one. Well, hold on just a second...</div>
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Because there is also THIS:</div>
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On another handy dandy little binder ring, there is an index of all of my stencils. And at the bottom of each is the title, the company they came from and, if it is a 12x12 I write that down too. This little gem is a winner winner chicken dinner because, not only does it keep track of the stencils I have (and can possibly fit into my purse should I need to take it to the store with me), but it also lets me know what they will look like once they are used with whatever creative yummy I put with it. With some stencils, I get all kinds of confused with the positive versus the negative and what will actually come out as the end result. </div>
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These handy dandy stencil holders and index all hang from an "arm" on my studio wall. Behind my main working desk I have a floor to ceiling peg board that is perfect for such items. I find myself using my stencils a ton more than when they were stuck flat in a drawer. So for me, being able to reach back, grab my stencils or my index and use them immediately without doing a lot of digging WORKS. This organizational tip is a keeper for me! Would it work for you?? Think about it before you rush out and do it. If it doesn't and you find something else that does, I would love to hear about it. In the meantime, I will totally be working on some mixed media canvases that include stenciling INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! Or if the lemons keep coming, I may have some more organizational tips to try INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY too! </div>
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As always, thanks for checking me out!!</div>
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<br />Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-63895343018054545752014-04-22T14:51:00.001-07:002014-04-22T14:51:56.954-07:00Art Journal Before and AfterIn my last blog post I left you anxiously awaiting what I was going to do to this art journal. My apologies for leaving you wanting, on the edge of your seats and thirsty for more (our landscaper has been busy all day flinging mulch, so I figure why not fling a little of my own).<br />
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I have to say I am not in a good creating place. I am currently wasting time, procrastinating in a way. Why? I am not sure. What am I avoiding? Not sure about that either. I need to start working on the May's retreat supplies. I promised my LSS I would get to work on possibly working on some classes in both gelli printing (be still my heart) and Pan Pastels (the devil I tell you). My daughter's big 13th birthday party is coming in July (an Instagram theme...where do I even begin) and I haven't even started to design the invitations. There are teacher appreciation gifts to get to work on and Mother's Day cards. <br />
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And all I can say is BLAAAAAHHHHH! I just want to color. And watch You Tube videos on how to make pretty things. And sleep. And play golf. And tennis. And lay in my hammock and read books about how to make pretty things. And ride Henrietta (that is the name of my vintage bike so get your minds out of the gutter). And drink fruity cocktails and eat seafood. The dungeon is a mess. The house is clean. BLAHHHHH! What the hell is wrong with me? <br />
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Part of me blames it on the pollen. Oh the pollen. If North Carolina's color wasn't already blue, it really should be yellow. And since they are thinking of changing our slogan from "First in Flight" to something else, they might as well include pollen in there somewhere. We have had to stop opening our windows because it literally forms drifts on the hardwood floors. We have very tall windows that I love opening to the breeze and the sunlight. NO CAN DO for fear of the pollen apocalypse. <br />
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It might be that I have a birthday coming up in less than a month. I will be 41. 40 sucked. Just saying. I lost my sweet dog I was very sick for most of it. I lost my uterus. My ex-husband has made life hell. <br />
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It might also be You Tube. I watch a lot of YT in the hopes of learning. However, I really watch so that I can feed my people watching desires without ever having to leave home. And a lot of times I watch these people wishing I could do what they do. All with the understanding that I should be out there doing (because that is what these women are doing) not wishing.<br />
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All of that to tell you (in the worst incomplete sentence-laden blog EVER) that I finished my art journal entry. Remember the one about all of the crafty things that are constantly running through my head? It looked like this:<br />
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And so, after adding all the crafty bits of things that run through my head on an hourly basis, this is what it now looks like:<br />
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I may like it better in the before than the after, but I really am not sure. I do know that I enjoy looking at this when I open my art journal. That is something that can't be said about all of my art journal entries. If it didn't teach me anything else, I did learn that I love the layered look and process of this kind of art journaling. Flat art journaling isn't for me (but for some reason, I continue to try and master the doodle). I also learned that I still have a lot to learn about listening to my inner artist (and not the critic....kind of like the angel and the devil on each shoulder except I have a little artist and a critic that resembles the big guy with glasses named Gene somebody that used to review movies long long ago). No matter what the outcome, you know I would rather be doing this INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY. In my long rant of all I wanted to do above, I never, not once, mentioned household chores. I will figure out this creative slump I hope. Any words of advice would be appreciated. I have thought maybe I needed to read "The Artist's Way" INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY because it seems to offers some insight into getting back your creative mojo. If you have read it, I would love to hear what you thought. And if not, maybe you could tackle it with me (totally INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY...cheap shots I know but a girl has got to do what a girl has to do for her little blog). Thanks ya'll!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-44137037085540924972014-04-14T18:54:00.000-07:002014-04-14T18:54:43.906-07:00How Crafting ADD Translates to My Art Journal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Crafting ADD, or as it is known in the DSM-IV, Craftophrenia, was the topic of my last blog post (and if you haven't yet read that stunning piece of informational and inspirational non-fiction, I strongly urge you to run not walk to that blog post). Did I find a cure? HA! What makes you think I want to?? No cure and no calming in the way my mind constantly drifts from one lovely art idea to another has yet evolved. However, I was inspired to SHOW you how I feel as opposed to telling you.<br />
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As we have discussed in so many of my blog posts (such a stretch I know, but it makes me sound really quite professional if you are just finding my blog right??), this is a JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE. So feel free to read this while eating a dozen Krispy Kremes (Dunkin' Doughnuts however are not acceptable and you will be judged for your lack of doughnut picking prowess) or while dressed in your favorite pair of ugly pink pig pajamas because you haven't yet showered; I won't judge and am hoping you won't either. Below you will see one of the pages from my art journal. I don't really share my art journal because I find it somewhat personal. It is where I go to play NOT perfect (and by perfect, I hope you totally know that I know that you know that I am no perfectionist) and where I tend to display my "quote whore" tendencies. It is also where I try out new techniques and supplies before finally putting them to use on a canvas or card or scrapbook page. It is also a place of no fear (huge topic of conversation over at a new to me Google + community called The Kraaft Shaak as pf late) because I am usually the only person who sees my journal.<br />
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DANG TANGENT (the proverbial squirrel rears its ugly nuts once again)! <br />
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As I was flipping through one of my beloved Somerset Studio magazines, I saw an article about Junelle Jacobsen that featured some of her art. I love her whimsical ways and recently took an idea of hers for a canvas and put my spin on it too. But when I saw her girl with the explosion of hair and wishes she had for herself all tangled in it, it translated into something else for me. Why not turn those wishes into all of the artsy and craftsy desires that are constantly running through my head (Craftophrenia members UNITE!) and put them where I can see them and maybe, just maybe, cross some things off my list and concentrate more on some of the ideas that really make my heart sing. So while you might be saying to yourself, "What the hell is she talking about? All I see is some chic with a blonde afro puff and lots of circles!" hold on because it is not done yet. It is a work in progress. Isn't it always a work in progress? Well, it is until it isn't. For now, this little self-portrait of my Crafty ADD self is what I am doing INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY. I have also been taking some golf clinics INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY but that is a whole other blog post (hell, that is a whole other blog titled THE THINGS I DO IN ORDER TO KICK MY HUSBAND"S BUTT At JUST ONE SPORT, ANY SPORT FOR PETE"S SAKE!). I will be back to show you how she ends up whether I (or you) like it or not. Can you figure out a way to translate your artsy fears into your art INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY? If so, tell me how. Or better yet, show me! <br />
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-15052197796498128122014-04-07T17:54:00.000-07:002014-04-07T18:58:32.291-07:00Crafting ADD means Pretty Mermaid ArtWithout a doubt I suffer from Crafting ADD. Some might call me Craftophrenic (kind of like Schizophrenic but instead of voices and personalities running through my head, I have tons and tons of crafting ideas). When people ask me what kind of crafter I am, I have a hard time answering that question. Depending on my mood, I love to try it all. Scrapbooking? Yes! Cardmaking? Yes (though I am not great at it!) Altered Art? Yes and Yes! Art Journaling? Yes! Painting? Yes! If I could, I would absolutely do it all!! <br />
However, it is the Craftophrenia that allows me to use up (and buy up) a lot of the sometimes neglected supplies in my studio. For the last few weeks, my scrapbook supplies have remained untouched, only to be replaced in my heart by my mixed media goodies. This area of crafting is somewhat dangerous because a lot of the supplies are pricier than your average scrapbook papers. There are just so many different areas of mixed media to explore and if you suffer from Craftophrenia, that's a dangerous thing. <br />
I recently visited my local scrapook store, Betty's Creative Studio, and bought the mermaid stamp from Prima. I love mermaids. I mean seriously love mermaids. If I ever got another tattoo, I think I would want it to be a mermaid. I love mermaids so much that I think I used to be one (or at least I thought that when I was a kid...because no way would I ever still really believe that I might have once been a mermaid). WOW, see how easily I get off track?? Ugggg, anyways, I wanted to do something different with this mermaid stamp. Almost all Prima doll stamps are paper pieced and I wanted to veer away from that for my beautiful mermaid. Since my Crafting ADD had already kicked in and I was steering away from paper anyways, it immediately struck me that I should use my Pans! Awwww Pan Pastels are one of the priciest but most prized crafty possessions. I have taken only 2 online classes from Donna Downey herself and don't exactly consider myself an expert. However, I do have enough knowledge to play with them with some success. They are freaking amazing and in some Wayne's World "I'm not worthy" way, I am always blown away with the results I get working with them. Once I have a general idea, my ball generally starts rolling....until it doesn't and then is so stuck I have to walk away for a day or two while it plagues me until I get unstuck again.<br />
So here is where my ball began so to speak:<br />
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Oh yeah, that is totally vintage book paper and I WENT THERE!! What more could you want in life?? Vintage paper, Pan Pastels, and a Prima mermaid!! Every bit of the shading (which I am not great at so please be nice) is done with Pans. Most of the crafty peeps I know do the same with Copics (totally have those too and they are also amazing). I think I could have left her there and been satisfied. </div>
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But I didn't (and that is also a problem I have...not knowing where and when to stop in my art). </div>
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Somewhere in there I skipped a photography step. I did add an underwater background with Pans and a TCW stencil, as well as some glitter to her body, modeling paste bubbles, and glass bead gel bubbles. I knew she needed a quote because I LOVE quotes!! LOVE LOVE LOVE Quotes. Pinterest is my go to for quotes and I found a few I loved (and had to make a new board dedicated to Mermaids). This one was short enough to fit on the canvas I had chosen so I went for it. What you see is just an example of the spacing because I knew I wasn't going to leave it white (I typed it and printed it from my computer). So she is coming along right??</div>
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I think this photo is one that has an Instagram filter on it so it may look a bit lighter than the rest. At any rate, this is my lovely mermaid after I finished with a few white highlights, shading in the quote with Pan Pastels, and inking the edges with coordinating Distress Inks. At this point I was stuck. My proverbial ball quit rolling and there was no moving it. I am quite happy with her but I do see things I wouldn't have added (like some of the white highlights) but there is only rolling forward; there is no rolling back. At this point, I did turn to the owner of the scrapbook store for help. She was having a customer yard sale that I volunteered to work (fabulous by the way!) and I bent her ear when we had a break. She is a genius and has taken classes from every big name in the business. If I ever needed a mentor, she would be it, but for now I just consider her kind of like my Jewish mother.</div>
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And this is what we came up with. The burlap canvas mimicked the natural color of the ocean so I used a TCW stencil that had an organic shape to it to run embossing paste (brilliant stuff...like the lightest frosting ever) mixed with Distress ink through in various spots. I also inked the sides with Prima ink (you know the little ones that are light blue and shaped to run along edges beautifully?). The mermaid needed grounding, so she got matted with a fuschia patterned paper and a thicker black frame. In an effort to also give her some depth, I popped the entire matting/framed print up on the canvas. Someone recently gave me some good advice: Let the art tell you when it is done. I think my mermaid is saying BE DONE!!! Take me to your scrapbook store as your latest design team project and leave me there. Start something new (as if she actually had to say that because my brain was already figuring out how to use a gelli plate to make something else with my mermaid). I love her and am very proud of this. It was one of the creating episodes where everything just seemed to go right (RARE!!). This is what I worked on for several days INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! This is what came of my Craftophrenia. And now I am ready for my Pans to go bye bye for awhile. I want to play with the Gelli Plate (but first I have to save up to get one...I make my own but they end up molding and never seem to be as smooth as the read ones) INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY. </div>
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How about you? Do you stay in your creative box or do you suffer from Crafty ADD as well? Do you stay in your crafty box because you want to or because you have that fear we talked about last week (and if you didn't read my blog post from last week, shame on you! But I forgive you because I know you are headed there now)? And if you are one of those rare crafters that manages to stick with the one thing, what else would you do if you could? Come on! Sky is the limit and money doesn't matter!! What other crafty goodness would you get your hands dirty with INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY??</div>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-53904606392936934682014-03-30T18:28:00.001-07:002014-03-30T18:28:46.190-07:00Creative is ___________Part 2I know you have been on pins and needles waiting to hear what the very first assignment was...<br />
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Sadly, it wasn't so much an assignment as it was a question. A question that I still am not sure I know the answer to. Don't judge me. It's not like a question you would find on Jeopardy (of which I am pretty darn good at by the way), but one of those psychological, mind busting, feel like your whole life hinges on your answer type questions. Now mind you, if you have already snagged the book (and if you didn't read my first blog post regarding the aforementioned book...shame on you!) <u>Creative is a Verb</u> by Patti Digh then you know you obviously need the book. So her first question of "who needs this book?" is pretty much null and void. Apparently the only people that don't need the book are children (hence the reason my husband won't be reading it :) ). <br />
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No, the mind blowingness, should I just toss a coin or play eenie meanie miney moe part of the question comes in figuring out WHO you are or WHERE exactly you fit in the niche of people who need the book. There are only 3 places for which you could fit (this to me is very disturbing as I always like to think I could be a hybrid of several categories...like one of those dogs we use to call mutts but now call cute names like Puggles and Shi-Poos and LabraDoodles). If the millions of people I imagine in my head really read this blog, I might post a poll and see if society could see where I fit. Since it would be a poll of maybe one (and my own vote really isn't supposed to count), I guess that wouldn't work too well. <br />
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So are you:<br />
a. not a creative bone in your body (but wish you were more creative)<br />
b. a dabbler (love to be a real artist but really you just play)<br />
c. an artist (love to be known and respected for your art as well as be able to support yourself with your artwork)<br />
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And here is where I would like to put in choice d--none of the above. I mean shouldn't there be something between a and b or even b and c????<br />
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Since I haven't come up with an answer yet, I have been afraid to turn the page. I feel like I have failed already and that maybe I should get some test prep and come back with either a cheat sheet or some definitive time spent pondering it all under my belt. <br />
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Which means instead of continuing this book and INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, I went shopping. Oh yeah!! The husband left for New Mexico today. It was nasty, rainy weather. My LSS, Betty's Creative Studio, was having a 20% off everything sale and a 50% off a massive section of the store sale. My kiddo was super excited to go see Betty's dog Charlotte and claimed if we went to the newly opened 5 Below (a crazy dollarish type store) she wouldn't rush me through Betty's. I was avoiding being at all creative because apparently I am not ready because I can't even answer a dumb question about being creative. There was a crap ton of laundry that needed to be done. Yeah, I ran like a fat kid chasing a cupcake! Got out of the house and went shopping!! Wanna see???<br />
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I know!! I did good! I shopped for pure love as opposed to necessity. I am totes digging the new TCW stencils and the Prima goodness goes without saying. There is some Graphic 45 back there too...the new By the Sea collection. Betty had a canvas at her store that someone had done with the paper and I will be totally scraplifting the idea for my next retreat auction item. Did this shopping trip help answer my question? Nope! But it was a hell of a lot more fun and something to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!!! And if you are done reading this, perhaps you are now stuck trying to fit yourself in one of those 3 awful categories too...let me know what you come up with and maybe we can be Labra-Poo-Shi-Terrier-Doodles together!!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-66013235617823180542014-03-27T11:09:00.000-07:002014-03-27T11:09:41.817-07:00Creative is a (fill in the blank).<br />
If you are a former language arts teacher like me, you said ADJECTIVE! Unfortunately in this case you would be wrong. The correct answer is VERB! What?? Yeah, it is the title of the new to me book I am reading called <u>Creative is a Verb</u> by Patti Digh. It is supposed to help you live your art and to "reclaim your creative spirit." Since I am only on the first chapter, all of those mysteries remain just that...mysteries. However, I have noticed that on every single page thus far there is an AH HA! moment. So much so that I needed to find a cute notebook (I know right? Any excuse for cute stationery!) to fill with my AH-HA moments. I guess the real proof would be that these moments were so profound that they initiated this blog post (now if that doesn't convince you how much this book speaks to me, nothing will!!).<br />
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I don't want to take anything away from Mrs. Digh and give away the whole book, but I do want to share something with you. I shared this on my Facebook page as well (sweet bellies) so if you want the short and sweet version, stop reading now and go LIKE my FB page (sneaky right :)???). One of the quotes that has stuck with me for both myself and for some of my crafty friends who constantly doubt themselves (you know who you are) is this: " To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong." And by wrong the author means not measuring up to others or own expectations or the expectations of an audience. She wrote it much more poetically than I just did but that is why she gets paid the big bucks right?? Anywho, it caused me to pause and for my heart to jump because there have been many many instances in which fear did stop me from doing something I thought I might enjoy creatively (really in a ton of life things in general but since this is a crafty blog, lets slow our roll) because I feel as if people expect things of me that might not be cohesive with what I really wanted to do.<br />
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THINK ABOUT IT!!! How many times have you stopped yourself from doing something creative in nature because you worried about failing yourself or having others criticize your efforts?? Let me give you an example of one of my own recent worrisome moments. Prime example right here:<br />
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Now I personally think this is cute. Is it my style? I don't think it is but something about it speaks to me. Do I have a point? Yeah I do. I painted this. It is a paint by numbers canvas by Mary Engelbreit. Even as I relaxed and forgot all of the stress in my life at the current moment while I painted it, that little gnawing voice in the back of my head kept wanting to interrupt. Those that know me would immediately say "BOOOOOO!" Or "This is NOT real art!" Or "Why would you waste your time on something like this?" Did this really happen? Nope but neither have I heard praises of awesomeness, except by my daughter who might be buttering me up for a pony or something. </div>
The fact that I put it both on Facebook and Instagram and now my blog is a good sign right? Like I am saying to the world, "Here it is and I don't give a damn what you think!" But the truth of the matter is, I do. I guess that means I need to keep reading chapter 1 to figure out what to do about it (meanwhile I have started a second paint by number canvas also by Mary Engelbreit and I am loving every minute of it). Yes, in this book there are moments of AH-HA but there are also moments of putting your money where your mouth is exercises that force you to practice what you preach (or blog or post or Instagram). I plan on showing you what results I have to show for doing the exercise because you know I plan on doing the exercise (or exercises because you know it may take a few of them to get creative groove on) INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!!! Stay tuned!! And while you might be looking for something to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, think about where your fears are when it comes to creating and let's see if we can all give a collective middle finger to the critics both inside and out!!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-66465859939559080192014-02-10T18:25:00.000-08:002014-02-10T18:25:30.699-08:00New Design Team Project for Betty's Creative Studio!<h3>
Creating with Graphic 45 Couture and Kaiser Craft!</h3>
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Woo Hoo! Back to the kind of crafty goodness that fuels my creativity!! When my favorite LSS, Betty's Creative Studio, put out a design team call it took me about two seconds to decide whether or not I wanted to go for it. I did have to consider some family responsibilities, going back to school and my Sweet Bellies workload too. In weighing all of that, I realized I needed an outlet that allowed me to create for pure creating sake. In my world, that doesn't happen often. More often than not, I am creating for work purposes. While that is still a wonderful thing and I am a lucky girl, it sometimes limits my creative mojo. I knew that Betty wouldn't put any limits on what I could do and would actually encourage the out of the box thinking that really tends to float my boat (she is cool like that :) ). I jumped on it, submitted my thousands of pictures (no, really) and waited patiently (or not) to hear. <br />
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As you can guess from the title, I made it!! Betty started me off BIG but I was ready. The DT has the responsibility of designing with products from the store in a variety of mediums and then returning what we created in approximately 2 weeks. It has taken me a little bit longer because of the size of the project and because of the weather (snow in North Carolina makes North Carolinians do crazy things and pretty much shuts the state down at the sight of a flake or two). I was lucky enough to get to work with Graphic 45's Couture collection and Kaiser Craft's Storage Cupboard. GORGEOUS!! Betty gave me a lot of the embellishments for Couture as well, but I am bringing most of them back to her. I ended up using a lot of the 12x12 paper pad and even more of my own treasures that I have collected from junkin'. Keep in mind that I decided to transform my storage cupboard into a jewelry box, so as you look at the pictures you may notice a shelf missing. I didn't put it in the top shelf in order to give necklaces room to hang from the "ceiling" of the cabinet. Your creative soul may think the cabinet has yet another purpose and that is totally fine. GO WITH IT!! It's suggested purposed does not have to be its final one. <br />
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I am putting a list below of the supplies I used as well as a few pics of the finished project. I wanted to film my process but I just got a new computer and I haven't (that really should say MY HUSBAND hasn't) had a chance to connect my camera to it (not to mention this thing is pretty high tech and I am pretty low tech...huge learning curve). Betty's is local for me but she is also online, so if you don't have an LSS as cool as mine, you can always look her up. She is one of the most knowledgeable peeps I know about anything in the crafting industry and can help with just about anything!! Her store is undergoing a name change, but you can find her online store here: <a href="http://bettysscrapbookroom.com/shopbetty/">http://bettysscrapbookroom.com/shopbetty/</a> and her Facebook page here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Stampingbetty">https://www.facebook.com/Stampingbetty</a><br />
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SUPPLIES:<br />
Graphic 45 Couture 12x12 paper pad Kaiser Craft storage cupboard<br />
Graphic 45 Couture 12x12 cardstock stickers Graphic 45 Couture cardstock banners<br />
Graphic 45 Couture cardstock flowers Antique white and black paint<br />
Gold metallic paint Folk Art Crackle Medium (any crackle will do)<br />
Scor Tape Wood glue (enforces the cabinet joints)<br />
Doily die cuts (choose a favorite from the Silhoutte store-I used doily scalloped lace--Design ID #<span content="mpn:40129" itemprop="identifier">40129</span> )<br />
Wrought iron card cut (Silhouette Design ID #<span content="mpn:13597" itemprop="identifier">13597</span> )<br />
Frame (grabbed from my stash of Michael's $1.00 spot frames)<br />
3 vintage spools (my stash again)<br />
Lamp shade finial (another stash item--from a yard sale!!)<br />
Junk jewelry (including earrings, pearl strands, pendants, necklaces, and cameos)<br />
Vintage button card (yep, stash)<br />
Various pieces of black ribbon (oh yeah, stash)<br />
Spray Mount (for adhering the doilies but I am sure you could use any liquid glue)<br />
1/2 inch cup hooks (Lowe's/Home Depot)(make sure you get hooks that are small enough in size so that when you are screwing them into the "roof" of the storage cupboard, they don't go all the way through)**These are only necessary if you want to turn your cupboard into a jewelry box like I did.<br />
Glue gun (for attaching the vintage stuff to the top of the cupboard)(Do NOT use a glue gun to put your cabinet together!!!<br />
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Ready to see the end result?? Yeah I know my photography skills still ROCK!! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkwP-nTYE54/UvmC4l5J9vI/AAAAAAAANqA/yb-tt-I92ng/s1600/20140209_161935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WkwP-nTYE54/UvmC4l5J9vI/AAAAAAAANqA/yb-tt-I92ng/s1600/20140209_161935.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>The right side</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0pFvM2VZOM/UvmC4SY7qtI/AAAAAAAANp4/zoJB_PiqpeM/s1600/20140209_161948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y0pFvM2VZOM/UvmC4SY7qtI/AAAAAAAANp4/zoJB_PiqpeM/s1600/20140209_161948.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a> The left side</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx8AUkdqK7M/UvmC5z9Xn3I/AAAAAAAANqQ/lBVyBPmK5Bw/s1600/20140209_162003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx8AUkdqK7M/UvmC5z9Xn3I/AAAAAAAANqQ/lBVyBPmK5Bw/s1600/20140209_162003.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>The top with all of my junkin' finds!!</div>
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IF you squint, you might be able to see the gold cup hooks hanging from the top. These provide a space for hanging necklaces and bracelets. There are 4 at the top and 2 underneath the second shelf. <br />
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It took quite awhile to put this pretty lady together...from the paint drying and crackle layering to the fussy cutting and trial and erroring (have fun with that spell check) of all of my junkin' finds, it was a labor of love that took a little over two weeks to complete. Had I been afforded the time to do nothing but work on it (you know INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY and the housework, and the homework, and the child-raising and husband-raising responsibilities), I would have had it done in a few days. But it was a great way to spend a few hours here and there, letting loose creatively while completely ignoring the toilets that needed scrubbing and, of course, INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! Sometimes it is about creating for just that reason that brings us the most inspiration. Try it and see what happens...if I am wrong, at least you spent a few hours getting down and artsy and discovering what makes YOU tick creatively. There are much worse things :). You may discover, like I did, that your authentic self needs/craves/demands/yearns for that peaceful time. What seems selfish actually becomes selfless because giving into that need to create makes you a better woman, mom, wife, daughter, teacher, Scout leader, astronaut...you get the picture. <br />
As always, thanks for checking out my blog. Now go do something totally creative INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! xoxoxoxoxox Heather K.Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-70643188400359859582013-11-03T16:26:00.002-08:002013-11-04T15:33:38.975-08:00A Paper Bakery Challenge and Layouts Using the PB Kit!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We shan't talk about it. Suffice it to say, I know and I am hanging my head in total shame. But all that really matters is that I am here now right? I am even more amazed and enamored by those amazing bloggers who have their proverbial "poo" so together that they can do this each and every day with such grace and talent. My hat is off and I am indeed trying to pull myself up from a very deep curtsy.<br />
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So in the words of Jack Nicholson in the very very scary movie "The Shining," Immmmmmm baacccccckkkk. No wait, he says "Here's Johnny!" In fact, I have no idea who in the world says "I'mmmmmmmm baaaaaccccckkkkk!" but you are indeed smelling what the Rock is cooking! Yeah I don't know what the heck I rambling about and perhaps should delete this paragraph, except that it might give someone out there a laugh so why not just leave it!<br />
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In my absence, I will say I have been very busy in the crafty realm. Between getting ready for retreats and doing some volunteer work in painting scenery for my daughter's school and it's drama performance of Don Quixote, I have been greatly enjoying both some traditional and some Project Life Like scrapping (yeah, Becks is still on her mine, mine, mine kick). I mean I have craved it, wanting to sneak down into the dungeon every chance I get to play. I have shown and told the story many times of how I am addicted to "of the month: clubs and that hasn't changed. What has changed is that I have switched a few of my kits to the traditional scrap kits as opposed to the pocket page kits. While I haven't made that official change yet with Paper Bakery, I probably will next month. This month I took the kit on a test drive and really liked that I have been able to create 5 traditional layouts with product left over to make even more. I think the amount of trendy product you get and the fact that they all coordinate so beautifully makes them such an awesome dealio! If you want to check out Paper Bakery's kits, head over to <a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/</a> and tell Sarah I say HI! She offers amazing customer service (so much so that I have started selling some of her products at the retreats) and her design team shows how to use the kits beautifully. Sarah designs so much that you will see...stamps and stencils, OH MY and I love to support smaller companies that show so much talent and love for our craft.<br />
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Before I show you the other layouts, I wanted to tell you that Paper Bakery is having a sketch challenge. Here is the sketch:<br />
<img alt="Sketch 16" height="400" src="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Sketch-16.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="376" />If you would like to participate in the sketch challenge, here is the link: <a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/blog-3/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/blog-3/</a><br />
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I had a bunch of scraps left over and not a lot of "whole" paper that I could use so I had to improvise. I will say that I rather like my improvisation though I wish I had more, more, more of the lovely paper that was included in the October kit. Here is my take on the sketch:<br />
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Yeah, you will notice that my photography skills have not gotten any better. I really need to get a mini easel to put my layouts on in order to photograph. Anywho, this is a great sketch to use some scraps and/or if you are just starting with sketches this is an easy one to follow.<br />
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The rest of the layouts you see below all come from October's Paper Bakery kit. Not to mention I SCRAPLIFTED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. Let me say that again so that we are clear...I SCRAPLIFTED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE LAYOUTS FROM THE TALENTED DESIGN TEAM AT PAPER BAKERY. Yeah, I will absolutely admit to not being so creative when it comes to layouts. I can alter alllll day long with no problem and never really need to borrow inspiration. Maybe because there aren't as many rules as there seem to be in scrapbooking. At any rate, I completely and totally went to October's Design Team Gallery and scored a few five finger discounts. Ok, ok, I added my own wee little touches here and there, but the praise goes to Paper Bakery's design team for their fabulous creativity and help with these layouts. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I totally loved this phone dial paper and found it painful to cut up. However, it does make a freaking adorable rlayout.,,especially when you notice that my sweet girl is sleeping with her cell phone stuck to her forehead,. I call those kinds of pics "dating blackmail" for later on in life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loved the layout Tegan Skwiat did (she is a personal fave) and had to copy it. My daughter and her bestie were the ball girls for the Duke Volleyball team and this was a great layout to capture just two of the many, many pictures I have taken of that honor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have an obsession with shadow selfies....me thinks it might be because you actually look somewhat skinnier in these photos. This is a very simple layout but I am totally digging just scrapping one pic per page for some reason.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My front door and a rather fall inspired layout. I love the colors and how well the picture seems to sink into the page (in a good way, a total good way).<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I hope this first blog back was somewhat inspiring. At the very least, head on over to Paper Bakery and participate in the challenge or check out the fab design team and their mind-blowing creativity. I know I am going to link up for the challenge because mommy likes the chance to win some freebies so that I can totally work on some more pages INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY. And you know, the challenge is only up for so long, so you have to hurry up and do a layout for it INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! Dirty underwear for one more day is sooooo worth the chance to win some Paper Bakery goodness. Heck, you can always tell your kids that it is fun to wear their bathing suits instead of undies so that you can get your layout done INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As always, thanks for stopping by! xoxoxoxoxxo Heather</span></div>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-90533865279339098682013-09-03T20:39:00.000-07:002013-09-03T20:58:11.884-07:00A Pocket Life Kit with a Little Twist...a Citrus Twist!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: x-large;">A Twisted Kit That is Always So Very Sweet...</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;">Citrus Twist Goodies for August</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"> </span> You like it when I do this. right? You like to be enabled so that you can blame someone else for the purchasing of lots and lots (and lots and lots) of scrapbook goodies, right? I know this because I, too, like to be enabled (okay we may have to switch the word to encouraged because enabling sounds way too harsh for this positive vibe kind of girl) and shown the path to all that is lovely and good in scrapbook nirvana (and so I can blame someone else when Big Papa gets THAT look on his face). </span></div>
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And because I always aim to please and I know you likey, I bring you a new (to me) kit of the month club. WHAT??? WHATCHU TALKIN' BOUT WILLIS?? Surely, I didn't go all kinds of crazy and join yet another one. OH YES! YES I DID!! And this is my thought process, so just hang with me for a second. I really debated whether or not to put another kit club on my blog. It somehow felt like cheating in a bad, dirty way on those that have come before. And yet, it is not all 50 Shades at all! In fact, it is quite the familial opposite. In my adorable little blonde head, adding another kit club to my lovely brood of 4 is like giving birth to another child (and this one is a WHOPPER, weighing in at big pounds, but with none of the proverbial labor pains or mommy guilt). I love of all of my 5 children (awwwww, I am one short of the Brady Bunch...yeah, NO!) equally and with all of my heart. They all come/came at different times and they are each so very different. Each time I look at them I get all giddy and proud. RIGHT?? RIGHT?? You can totally tell this explanation is soooo working for me (now if I can only get it to work for Big Papa).</div>
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So this? This is like a birth announcement; an introduction to the newest blessing. Welcome Citrus Twist to my kit of the month family! SQUEEEEEEEE!! I am one proud mama because not only have I found yet another club that offers superior value, but the customer service is amazing too. I will preface this whole intro thing by saying that I did in fact (kind of, sort of ) realize that the amount of Project Life Like cards I was getting each month from all of my (ahem) children was substantial and that I would basically need to live about 4 lives before I would ever be able to use them all. Because of that, I contacted Trina (me thinks she might be the real "Mama" behind CT) and asked her if I could switch my Pocket Life subscription to their Main Kit for September. Being so amazingly amazing with the customer service "thang" she let me do just that! From here on out, I will be getting the main kit each month (don't look at me like I switched kids in the nursery or something...the child reference is merely that and represents the kit in general). </div>
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Just in case you can barely control yourself and need a piece of the action just after seeing my drool worthy picture (the content and the amazing photography--said no one about my blog EVER!), here is the link to Citrus Twist. <span style="background-color: #ffd966;">OH OH AND OH....I forgot the best part!! If you sign up for a kit membership and refer a friend who does the same, you both get an embellishment grab bag. And as you will see soon enough, the embellie grab bag is FABULOUS! </span><span style="background-color: white;"> Tell Trina I said HOWDY!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"> <a href="http://www.citrustwistkits.com/">http://www.citrustwistkits.com/</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Granted this isn't ALL my Pocket Life kit; there are other goodies intermingled with my PL Kit. The thing is that some of these lovelies were FREE and sent because they were happy and appreciative that I became a member of their kit club. The smaller companies do such a wonderful job of showing that you are, in fact, a customer and a scrapper, not a number! And my kit bowl? I scraplifted the idea from some amazing women on YT who regularly do process videos (check out mercytiara and nicolejones911 if you haven't already). They put their current kits in bowls and trays on their scrap tables and work from them until there are only bits and pieces left. Giddyup!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Check out these embellishments....such coordinated goodness! And, I have to say, I love how the washi comes for two reasons: 1. I will never, ever, in my whole life use an entire roll of washi tape and this happens to be a perfect amount. 2. I can't wait to use that little spool in one of my altered projects when I am done with the beautiful washi. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> What can you possibly say? This left even me speechless!! Once again, a whole 6x6 paper pad just speaks volumes for the quantity AND the quality of this kit membership. Citrus Twist, I heart you!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I know this is such a shocker (she said sarcastically), but the photography doesn't even do the colors of these cards justice. They are really in the softest, most trendy off whites, blues, turquoises, reds and oranges. And if you do pocket scrapping like I do, that card in the upper left just makes you go "SQUEEEEEEE!" because it is more of a by the month trend as opposed to by the week (but could be used either way).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hmmmm mmmm, more slap yo mama goodness! And forgive my YT vid (I am saying it like this because I know you watched it. And here is where you nod and agree to make Heather happy...like Big Poppa does when he has only pretended to hear anything I just said) because I misnamed the company these pretties came from. They actually came from We R Memory Keepers and I went on and on calling them something different. It is called You Tube brain....all rational and intelligent thought seems to slide from my head as soon as I press RECORD. Kind of like how I magically gain 30 pounds as soon as someone snaps my photo (okay, not really...I just like to think I have way fewer chins than what I see in photos).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of customer appreciation...yeah, this is totally a sign of their appreciation. Just to say thanks, they sent an ENTIRE stamp set. And not only is it an ENTIRE stamp set, but it is a wonderful one that is soooo completely pocket scrapbooking oriented that I can't believe I haven't had it in my arsenal before now. Thank you CT!</span></td></tr>
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I really, really (really, really, really) have a hard time saying no to a stamp. Case in point, I added on both of these lovelies. The prices are so good and the stamps are so freakin' cute and appropriate for my style of scrapping that it really is hard to say "no" so I didn't. Sorry Nancy Reagan (another 80s reference...apologies to my young readers), but this girl just said YES!</div>
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I expressed a few blogs back (ahhhh, it is so nice to say a few blogs back and totally not mean a few months or years back) that I have started incorporating (and loving) 12x12 layouts into my pocket page scrapping. I love how CT puts together trending papers for me in a nice and neat coordinated way. Once again, the price is so good that I just had to add it on.</div>
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Remember the freebie that I mentioned for September (the "sign up for a kit membership and encourage a friend to sign up for kit membership too" freebie)? Well I was lucky enough to sign up in August (different freebie incentive) and get this LOAD of embellishments in a grab bag (anyone else LOVE a grab bag???) I was totally blown away by how current and hip these embellies are and am loving the fact that, once again, CT went out of their way to just say thank you. </div>
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Now go check out the September picks for Citrus Kits INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! Dirty clothes can wait; awesome kit memberships must be ooooogled now! And if you need one more thing to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, go check out my You Tube video which showcases the kit goodies even better. And once you get done watching....NO! I haven't finished the book which is why my blog still looks busted. Patience my little blog readers; I can't hit you with my fabulousness all at once....baby steps!! </div>
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You Tube Vid: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQhvv0KzZWg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQhvv0KzZWg</a></div>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-54047007234081769452013-08-28T05:58:00.000-07:002013-08-28T05:58:35.789-07:00A Project Life Like Kit That's Good Enough to Eat!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: x-large;"><i>WONDERFUL THINGS FROM THE PAPER BAKERY!</i></span></h3>
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I love getting happy mail. I love, love the anticipation of waiting for goodies I know are coming...it is the only time in my life I have patience. I love, love, love how on trend the supplies are; it makes my "job" so much easier. I really love to see the ingenuity of people like Sarah at The Paper Bakery who come up with these amazing kits each and every month. </div>
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Honestly, kits of the month dumbfound me (not hard right??). I feel like I know this industry fairly well, but the idea of putting together a kit of the month totally leaves me with that "stoooopid" look on my face and a completely empty head (BE NICE!). So each time I get a kit like this in the mail, I want to hug it and squeeze it and name it George! As soon as the package is in my hands, I lovingly pull out each item and give it what might be considered a pretty sick pat down. Yeah, I smell it (judgement free remember) and leave no piece of it untouched (dang, this blog just went all 50 Shades!!), all with a huge smile on my face. When I am done, I put it all back in the box, only to do it again when the hunger hits to touch paper (about an hour later :)) . I can only tell you this because if you are reading my blog, you too are a paper "HO"arder and lover of all that our paper needs to make it pretty. </div>
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I really, really, really, really want to join Sarah's Main Kit over at Paper Bakery too because I think her kits offer the most bang for the buck, but this girl is trying to budget and Big Poppa might lose his understanding, sweet nature if one more "of the month" anything gets delivered to this house. While I love doing Project Life Like, I have been having a blast doing some 12x12 layouts too. And 5 PLL kits a month might be a tad over the top (ya think??). Studio Calico may just have to go bye-bye so that I can do Sarah's Main Kit. In the grand scheme of things, SC's kits just don't have that attention to detail and they are seriously lacking in the customer service that Sarah offers without fail each and every month. I have heard a lot of the same rumblings among people who are also addicted to kit clubs. If you are on the fence about joining, I really encourage you to look at smaller kit businesses like The Paper Bakery. </div>
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Want to see why? I cannot be blamed for all the enabling that is about to happen up in here! If you are easily swayed and feeling weak, you may just want to stop reading right.......NOW. But just in case, here is the address of The Paper Bakery: <a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/</a> Tell Sarah I said HI!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bowl full of happiness! This is the unboxed kit...you know once it has been all fondled and petted. I keep this bowl out on my work table and work through it each month. You know you want to touch it! Go ahead....no one is watching.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fWrmNZq8Dtc/Uh3fo8kncRI/AAAAAAAAAow/UtZZPkJ70_o/s1600/PB+Kit+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fWrmNZq8Dtc/Uh3fo8kncRI/AAAAAAAAAow/UtZZPkJ70_o/s400/PB+Kit+3.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know right? Not pieces of a 6x6 but an entire, beautiful, newly released 6x6 paper pad! SQUEEEEEEE!! The colors are swoon worthy and my terrible photography doesn't even do this collection justice. 6x6 Paper pads are so perfect for Project Life Like (and HELLO affordable) and an absolute must for this scrap happy girl.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H19Y2XKfaSQ/Uh3fvgdGf7I/AAAAAAAAAo4/xtJ__yxG9tU/s1600/PB+Kit+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="378" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H19Y2XKfaSQ/Uh3fvgdGf7I/AAAAAAAAAo4/xtJ__yxG9tU/s400/PB+Kit+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do we ever have enough Alphas? NEVER I say, NEVER! The more the merrier in my humble opinion. And these? Sarah couldn't have done a better job of matching them up with the sweet paper pad. The awesomeness is that these ABCs are of the size that can be used for both PLL and for 12x12 scrapping too.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dl5aXJ-B8E0/Uh3fzmNQR3I/AAAAAAAAApY/B1ra18z2R9U/s1600/PB+kit+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dl5aXJ-B8E0/Uh3fzmNQR3I/AAAAAAAAApY/B1ra18z2R9U/s320/PB+kit+5.jpg" width="299" /></a><br /><br />OH yeah, worst photography ever seen on a blog! My apologies ya'll. I love my Samsung Note II but dang the camera is touchy. Anywho, these are a few of the sweet embellishments. I HEART enamel dots and flair too, especially for PLL. And how adorbs are those paper clips? I have never seen any quite so tiny but so completely bursting with CUTENESS. Once again, perfect match ups for the paper pad and PLL cards.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAZ4hPEYK9M/Uh3sBorPO8I/AAAAAAAAApw/SDaeu5Ew988/s1600/PB+Kit+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EAZ4hPEYK9M/Uh3sBorPO8I/AAAAAAAAApw/SDaeu5Ew988/s640/PB+Kit+7.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />This might be my favorite part of the kit (or I might just say that about every part of the kit). I am so excited and inspired by the colors but also by the blank canvas that the grid cards offer. While I love my PLL for being quick and easy, what I am really jonesing to do is create some of my own cards. This kit is perfect for that; the blanks and the 6x6 pad are just screaming. "PUT ME TOGETHER!!"<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3C6OLriIk0/Uh3fx1492EI/AAAAAAAAApE/qs2mrcMJx48/s1600/PB+Kit+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3C6OLriIk0/Uh3fx1492EI/AAAAAAAAApE/qs2mrcMJx48/s320/PB+Kit+6.jpg" width="213" /></a><br /><br />Did you notice anything else on this stamp set BUT the push pin? I know, me too! That stamp set could have said just about anything and I would not have cared as long as that adorable push pin was in my hot little hands. I do love the whole set and am thrilled for its versatility for PLL. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFhZf0MMges/Uh3fz0xW-OI/AAAAAAAAApU/2CYh9417VLg/s1600/PB+Kit+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oFhZf0MMges/Uh3fz0xW-OI/AAAAAAAAApU/2CYh9417VLg/s320/PB+Kit+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />Don't know if I have ever mentioned my penchant for hoarding stamps. They do make me get all fidgety and hyperventilate. For health reasons (bwhahahahahaha), I had to add this on to my kit this month. It was some crazy price (way under $5 I think) and that whole "what HAPPENED?" stamp is the story of my life! <br /><br />Do I even need to say it? Girl, you know what I will be doing INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! I have a bajillion pics to scrap and stuff to put away from my last retreat (oh and I have to get ready for my next retreat), but those blank cards are calling me. Creativity, for me, is like exercise: I must do it each day in order to be a happier, healthier person. The laundry? Not so much. <strike> I will be rolling around nekked </strike>I will be playing with my Paper Bakery kit today INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! And I hope to have some amazeballs PLL handmade cards to show you soon. What are you going to do today INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY? And the bathrooms or the bedrooms is not an answer!!<br /><br />Sarah has lots of kits, not just the Capture 365 one, so please go show her some love. She can also be found on Facebook and Instagram!<br /><a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Paper-Bakery/125167970901242">https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Paper-Bakery/125167970901242</a><br /><a href="http://instagram.com/paperbakery">http://instagram.com/paperbakery</a></td></tr>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-53043776491357946302013-08-20T17:52:00.000-07:002013-08-20T17:52:25.897-07:00Scrapbook Retreat and Back to School Mode...nuf said!<div style="text-align: center;">
A short, tiny, itty bitty little blog post is better than no blog post at all right?</div>
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Because in this house? We are in back to school craziness and scrapbook retreat overload and it is all I can do to just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.</div>
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Look!</div>
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This is my office. It has been taken over by a force to be reckoned with (AKA my sixth grader) who needed every school supply ever sold at of Target...ever! You see those pretties lining the counters? No, of course you don't because of the disaster. Have I mentioned yet that this kind of disorderly disaster drives me insane? It gives me hives and makes me itch. Have I mentioned that tomorrow is the first day of school? SQUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I mean, I will miss <strike>this mess </strike> my daughter terribly.</div>
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IT GETS WORSE....</div>
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AND REMEMBER! This is a judgement free zone my friends!</div>
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IF you have been following my blog (hehehheehehe, yeah right!), you might remember the pics I showed awhile ago. Remember that beautifully organized, clean, light filled room? This?!?!? This is not it. This too gives me hives and makes me itch. I don't work well in chaos Sam I Am. I need neat and tidy to make me happy and productive. This?!?!?!?!?!? This is not it. All the stuff you see EVERYWHERE are the supplies I am working on for my scrapbook retreat (yeah...if you are new, I am a vendor at NC Scrapbook Crops and Retreats. I have my own small, burgeoning business called "sweet 'bellies" in which I sell embellishments of the vintage and non-vintage variety). I am not even close to finishing and am in major panic mode. This mess gives me hives and makes me itch...just sayin'.</div>
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So while I usually try and provide you with what I have been doing INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, I can't even begin to think about laundry at this moment. I am drowning in a sea of scrapbook retreat goodies and school supplies. For most of you who read this, that might sound heavenly. For me? The only thing I am doing INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY right now is scratchin'!</div>
Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-45148983881560710192013-08-13T18:14:00.000-07:002013-08-13T18:14:31.455-07:00Another Project Life Like Time Waster!<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #f1c232;">Pic Monkey Photo Editor (FREE AND FABULOUS) for PLL or 12x12s</span></h2>
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First of all before you get all Miss Huffypants about me combining the PLL with the "Time Waster," take a breath, and read it again. Notice I DID NOT say waste of time! RIGHT? RIGHT? It is okay, I forgive you. This post is all about another thing I have added to the repertoire (what? I just spelled that without the help of the spell check...I am on tonight!) of my Project Life Like love and obsession thanks to a recently watched You Tube video that has me playing more and more with my photos (which means washing less and less of Big Papa's drawers...WINNER!) And YES! This fab finding will also work on those naughty (well, not like naughty rated R naughty, but like breaking the rules naughty) 12x12 layouts too. </div>
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And I realize I might be sooooo late to the parade that I am seeing the tail end of those elderly gentlemen in the funny hats driving the tiny cars, but I figure I am not the only person new to PLL. On the Facebook groups I belong to regarding PLL, people ask questions about this same topic almost daily. Therefor this is totally an after-school special, a public service announcement of sorts, on the ways of changing your photos from 4x6 pictures to photo collages of two 3x4s and ways to decorate your photos before they are ever processed! </div>
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Hmmmm, me thinks I should probably have mentioned that this video is about turning your 4x6 pictures to photo collages of two 3x4s and ways to decorate your photos before they are ever processed in the first sentence (why do that when I can just repeat it over and over??).</div>
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Okay, the video that led to my further demise into time waste management and also taught me how to turn my 4x6 pictures to photo collages of two 3x4s and ways to decorate my photos before they are ever processed (bwhahahahahaha! Yes, I am amused!) is based on the free photo editing site called Pic Monkey <a href="http://www.picmonkey.com/">http://www.picmonkey.com/</a> It is absolutely free (unless you want to upgrade which is totally not necessary to waste tons of time) and well worth every penny you don't spend. I can testify that I didn't upgrade and was still able to do everything I wanted to do. The BEST part of Pic Monkey is that you don't print your pics with them. You save your pictures to your computer and are therefor able to print from home or from Snapfish, or from your fave send out and pick up place (ANYWHERE PEEPS, YOU CAN PRINT OUT YOUR PICS ANYWHERE YOU CHOOSE BECAUSE YOU SAVE THE PICS THAT YOU HAVE EDITED TO YOUR COMPUTER...just sayin'). I will also say that you don't need any of the fancy Photoshops or other programs to do the Pic Monkey (sounds like a dance all them youngsters are doing now days).</div>
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Here is the link to the video that (heheheheheheheeh) taught me how to turn my 4x6 pictures into photo collages of two 3x4s and ways to decorate my photos before they are ever processed:</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=047wIcUWD9I&list=FLTsmH8I9Gc8CaSSCIuY6vzw&index=1">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=047wIcUWD9I&list=FLTsmH8I9Gc8CaSSCIuY6vzw&index=1</a> </div>
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There are a ton of Pic Monkey tutes out there but this is the only one I watched so I can't attest to how good or bad the othser are. BUT if you find some good ones, please hook a sister up! I know that if you follow her directions, you will be succcessful in editing and collaging (HA! You thought I was going to say "in turning your 4x6 pictures into photo collages of two 3x4s and decorating your photos before they are ever processed" but I DIDN'T!!)</div>
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So I have some edited 4x6 photos (and if Big Papa knew I was putting some of these up there, he would be looking for revenge all Real Househubs of Guilford County like) to show off first and then I will get to the 3x4 collages. I print out my photos at Walgreen's. I followed the directions on the YT vids to the letter and it worked like a charm. The only one that didn't work very well was altering a 4x6 to look like a Polaroid (which is an option Pic Monkey gives you). It could have been operator error because I am not very computer savvy (as can be seen by my lack of blog prettiness...I need some serious help with that!).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Poppa and I just went on a quick little vacay to New Bern, NC. We took a lesson in stand up paddleboarding because we hope to one day put paddleboards on our sailboat to use to get around when we sail. In the top picture you will notice NOTHING! Except of course my handsome hubs!! But in the bottom picture, at the bottom left I added a banner and, on top of the banner, the location and date of our trip! It was so easy and took no time...even for this dummy!<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SHHHHHHHHH! Don't tell because this is totally the one he will bust me for! The top picture is just a standard man photo...you know how they always manage to pull some random studly stance out just as you are about to snap the pic? This is the classic "2 Gun Salute." Pic Monkey let me add the 'stache, the hat and the caption. My daughter and I found it wildly hysterical to add little hats to Big Poppa's head. Him? Not so much.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8mrFQvXombE/UgrNfFrympI/AAAAAAAAAlE/Ne-armJBM2A/s1600/20130813_190315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8mrFQvXombE/UgrNfFrympI/AAAAAAAAAlE/Ne-armJBM2A/s400/20130813_190315.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />And this? This is where Pic Monkey comes in handy for my thighs (and does the whole 4x6 collagey thing allowing you to get two 3x4s). I look much skinnier when shrunk down to a little 3x4! I really SHOULD NOT mention that Pic Monkey also has a Weight Loss edit that it will apply to your photo. I tried it and saw no change which left me utterly depressed. I don't take photos for this reason...I like to imagine I look a lot different in my head and 4x6s disprove that whole theory. But 3x4s on the otherhand....<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tcUrCmM3oMk/UgrNnVCLMVI/AAAAAAAAAls/u2TN5XpD9EI/s1600/20130813_190735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tcUrCmM3oMk/UgrNnVCLMVI/AAAAAAAAAls/u2TN5XpD9EI/s400/20130813_190735.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />This one helps me to look less.like a lush because, much like my ass (pictured above), it shrunk down the size of my drinks. One good tip...rotate your picture when you are putting it in the collage until you like what you see. Some orientations look better once rotated. I like the way this orientation looked when placed the wrong way because it had that kind of artsy not alcoholic vibe. And I am sorry you are having to turn your face sideways...I swear I saved it the right way. It seems Blogger has other ideas.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">You know when you go somewhere and you get all picture happy just imagining what lovely layouts you will make? I got all kinds of pic goofy when I saw these painted bears that can be found all over New Bern. But really?? What the hell am I going to do with a bajillion 4x6 photos of bears? Nothing. Shrink them down to a smaller, more manageable 3x4s and what am I going to do with them? Well probably still nothing but I do much prefer these smaller sizes just in case!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAfMHKGeI8/UgrNjgXtbaI/AAAAAAAAAlc/JnGiPIeq6fQ/s1600/20130813_190520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ahAfMHKGeI8/UgrNjgXtbaI/AAAAAAAAAlc/JnGiPIeq6fQ/s400/20130813_190520.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />THAT'S a SMOOTHIE! Just in case you were forgetting our blog reading pact of this being a judgment free zone. The picture on the left was taken when my daughter and her bestie where sitting out of the pool because it was adult swim. The blurry edges aren't because YOU have been drinking (or me either) but yet another cool effect on Pic Monkey. I am telling you there are sooooooo many options to play with! The ummmm "smoothie" has an added arrow at the top left, a heart and a caption (soooo many fonts, so little time!)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">There are just so many things you can do with this photo editing site and lots of time you can spend on altering your photos INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! It doesn't replace my stamps and stickers (because if it did, Big Poppa would be ALLLLLL over it and forbid me to buy another embellishment EVER) because it doesn't feed my creative beast like they do. I wouldn't recommend editing or altering every photo either because your pictures do tell a story all on their own. BUT if you need something to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY or if you are trying to look all modern and hip AKA Shimelle Laine or Kerri Bradford, then by all means, give it a try! <br /><br />As always, thanks for reading my blog! And give a scrappy sister a holla if you find some amazing way of turning Project Life Like and scrapbooking into more of Time Waster than I already have! </span></td></tr>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-8398953652390688112013-08-07T05:29:00.004-07:002013-08-07T05:29:47.100-07:00The Cardinal Sin of Project Life (Like)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Don't even begin to think that I was slack on my Tue</i>s<i>day blog schedule. For your inf-0-mation, I did write this post on Tuesday. We entertained last night and I didn't get a chance to post it. However I did get up bright and early and, after my walk, I got right on my blog duties this rainy Wednesday morning. Not to mention, I did throw in an extra bloggy post this weekend (I am soooo trying to convince myself I wasn't a slacker yesterday...can you tell??), so THERE!</i></div>
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Call me the Lady Gaga, all dressed in her meat suit, of the Project Life Like (easy BH, I know the drill) phenomenon<br />
Consider me the Miley Cyrus, with her hair all cut off, looking like a Q-tip and her body tatted and pierced making her dad get Achy and Breaky all over again, of this pocket page style of scrapping.<br />
Watch me NOT CARE just like Martha as she walked out of prison in that gorgeous sweater she spent her days knitting instead of playin' in the "yard" like every one else.<br />
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Oh yeah, I am totally doing it (and thanks for not laughing at my somewhat dated pop references...I don't watch television or read the rag mags so I am kind of an old fart) and I don't care what peeps think. It may not be what she who shan't be named (AKA BH) or any of the Garden Girls might do, but dang it, I am a Project Life Like Rebel and I LOVE to color outside the lines!<br />
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What am I doing that is so daring and spontaneous and just plain bad ass (yeah not really, but what old fart wouldn't want to be called "bad ass" just once) that I dare to blog about it? Remember last week, we discussed our blog meetings being much like those in Weight Watchers...judgement free. <br />
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I am mixing it up! Oh yeah, I am going out of the box (literally, thanks to BH and her magical Plans A, B, C etc etc etc) and putting some 12x12 LAYOUTS up in here! BH is choking on an overpriced page divider right now (because I love myself enough to believe that EVERYONE reads my blog...bwhahahahahah). "Why, why, why!!!???" you cry dramatically. "Why not" is my emphatic reply. <br />
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Why must we have 2 separate albums taking up that much more space on our already overcrowded shelves? Why give in to the man and spend gobs of money on 2 separate albums (as if the page protectors you lovingly covet won't fit into both D ring albums)? Why separate the two types of story telling as if they don't both encompass your daily life? Granted I don't PL in the way that a lot do (meaning every day...kill me now...just sayin'). I tend to work it by the month or by the event. Still, why wouldn't your album flow just as nicely with a 12x12 of the special events thrown chronologically in the mix. Mine does (in my mind at least) and I like not having to show 2 different albums to my friends who come over for a visit and BEG to see my scrap albums (sarcasm is sooo my "thang.")<br />
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And I know. Your next argument is somewhat legit....the thickness of your specific PL album and wanting to only use possibly one album per year. I will concede that fact, but once again I am all about the "flow." and so my rebellion continues; it is Project Life Like pocket pages mixed with 12x12 layouts for this old fart. BECAUSE I CAN. BECAUSE I LIKEY. And maybe, just maybe, because I take really bad pictures that look better when shrunk to fit inside the 3x4 pockets all covered in sequins, journaling stickers and wood veneers (but I will never admit it--just like Martha won't admit that her cell mate knitted that damn sweater :))<br />
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I can't really show you my flow so to speak, but I can show you some of my pages, 12x12 and otherwise, (and those 12x12s don't come easy since I have not traditionally scrapped in over 10 years) And in the meantime, I will continue to obsess between working on those adorable pocket pages and downloading page sketches INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the beginning of the "cover:" pages for my album. It isn't your usual Project Life Like cover page, but I didn't want to start with typical. Prepare yourself because there is another 12x12 layout on the other side and then a traditional PLL cover page.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the other side of that first cover page. What better way to start an album that tells your story than to include a picture of your home?? And then the traditional PL intro spread is pictured to your right.. See, I still gots FLOW!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVTngKodCyI/UgI0jE0ITQI/AAAAAAAAAjk/VhVqkaCDC5E/s1600/20130806_165836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iVTngKodCyI/UgI0jE0ITQI/AAAAAAAAAjk/VhVqkaCDC5E/s400/20130806_165836.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Here is a typical "A" spread from PLL all kinds of mixed up in there. This shows a day spent at Donna Downey's studio. Once again, I am scrapping events and months and daily life stuff too. Generally the pictures dictate whether I am going to do a 12x12 or a PLL spread...the amount, the quality etc, etc.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-990ChPza7uU/UgI0mdDofZI/AAAAAAAAAjw/XVttW_B3PxQ/s1600/20130806_165855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-990ChPza7uU/UgI0mdDofZI/AAAAAAAAAjw/XVttW_B3PxQ/s400/20130806_165855.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Oh no she didn't!! Oh yes, yes I did. Not only did I throw some 12x12 in the mix but I also got all kinds of cray and threw in some 6x12 spreads too (page to your left). And, as you can see, I am not sticking to one PLL page protector plan. OH YEAH, total badassness. The pic below is just another example of a mix of pages. And you can also see the randomness of what I scrap...what is making me happy at the moment, what we consider our signs of summer, volleyball camps, and visits with puppies...REAL LIFE!!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PiiAuMZt_RM/UgI0n_nwqCI/AAAAAAAAAj4/DvlReYVkYrg/s1600/20130806_165954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PiiAuMZt_RM/UgI0n_nwqCI/AAAAAAAAAj4/DvlReYVkYrg/s320/20130806_165954.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This is one of the last 12x12s because I have lots to add in PLL from before this layout is included. It is another volleyball camp layout (what our life has consisted of for most of the summer), but these pics deserved better than just a PLL spread. It will be placed chronologically in with the rest of my album.<br /><br />Woo Hoo! Today is a rainy day which in my world means its a total excuse to craft. The kiddo has volleyball camp in the morning and I will head to get my microderm on while she is doing that (ugggg, having kids really wreaks havoc on every part of you), then home for school work AND THEN CRAFTING can ensue! And you know I will totally be scrapping INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! Won't you join me...it is a rainy day (here anyways....just sayin')?</td></tr>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-91989081927641089572013-08-03T17:53:00.000-07:002013-08-03T17:53:08.932-07:00The Paper Bakery Sketch ChallengeOh Lordy, has it been awhile!<br />
And working on scrapbook layouts IS NOT like riding a bike. A bike really doesn't change much over the years...not so much for scrapbooking. Project Life Like has been such a fun thing to start, so I decided why not try a 12x12 layout or two (and because I DO vendor at scrapbook retreats I had better appear legit!).<br />
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Since the scrapbook world has come so far since Mrs. Grossman's stickers and circle cut photographs, I decided I needed a sketch to help me out. What better place to find one than my favorite kit club, The Paper Bakery (<a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/</a>)? They are hosting a sketch challenge which can be found here: <a href="http://www.paperbakerykits.com/2013/07/sketch-challenge-9/">http://www.paperbakerykits.com/2013/07/sketch-challenge-9/</a> until August 9th. Here is a picture of the sketch I used:<br />
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Granted, I am a member of their fabulous Capture 365 kit club, but I did order an an add-on recently that included more things for actual scrapbook layouts (it was the June Scrapbook kit, Bayside High...loved it!). Hopefully you can see some of the items I used from the kit on my layout in all the goodies shown below.<br />
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I am new to using kits so I included a lot of other things (I really need to work on getting better at using these kits and have since dedicated my LIFE :) to watching You Tube videos with the hopes of doing just that...mercytiara--I heart her!). I think I am supposed to keep a list or something of all the things I used, but since I am sooooo super new to this whole idea of a kit, I am feigning ignorance and will pull my blonde card if need be. I have never done a challenge before either; look at me getting my feet all kinds of wet! I hope I did Sarah and the rest of the girls at The Paper Bakery justice. The good in it all is that I had a blast doing the layout. I loved getting my hands dirty with something other than altered items and "example" items of the classes I teach at the LSS. <br />
Yeah, I am totally rambling so that I prolong the inevitable...showing my layout. I haven't exactly built up my confidence yet so this feels somewhat like looking in the mirror while wearing a bikini that is 4 sizes too small after eating a huge pizza lunch complete with beer and dessert on a day when my body parts haven't seen the sun in months. You know, one of those moments in which you wish your contacts would fail or that the department store would somehow lose electricity. Okay, okay....be gentle (and squint...squinting helps!).<br />
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And yeah, I got all "gansta rap" on my child's layout, but I am okay with that. And guess what else? I totally did this layout INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! I am okay with that too :). Thanks for checking this out and go try the challenge at The Paper Bakery too...INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!</div>
Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-60893250172229904182013-07-30T17:06:00.000-07:002013-07-30T17:06:35.525-07:00Project Life Like (lack of) Organization(Keep in mind as you read this post that I am referring to my pocket page scrapping technique as "Project Life Like." The reasons are twofold: 1. "Pocket page scrapbooking technique" is just too damn long to repeat. 2. I have it from reliable sources that Becky H. is a pretty surly character. Since she has now trademarked the term "Project Life," I don't feel as if I can use it freely to sum up what I do because I don't exclusively use her product. It seems a sister is a force to be reckoned with when you start messing with where her bread is buttered and I have no intention of going against the Great and Powerful BH)<br />
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Okay, so as I have stated in past blogs (ehehhehehehhe, I can actually say "past blogs" and totally mean it!), I am on a Project Life Like kick/frenzy/shopping spiral that is spinning out of control. Because of that and my extreme CADD (Crafty Attention Deficit...squirrel!...Disorder :)), I have had to consider some organizational changes in my studio. BLEH! Just typing that sentence gets me all kinds of itchy and craving chocolate. However (she said while shoving a calamine lotion covered Snickers bar down her throat), because I kind of need to have all of the supplies handy while taking on the mammoth Project Life like project, I have run into a few snafus. I am generally NOT organizational challenged because if it ain't got a place, it gets gone (just ask my ex-husband). The problem, it seems, with my Project Life Like obsession is that I don't exactly know what I need (and YES, I have done a few layouts so don't even try to be all like "if you build it, it will come"), I have bought a lot of "shite (really?? There is no other word for it all)" for said project, and I want to do every technique known to the scrapping world when it comes to each and every pocket on each and every page (therefor I feel the need to also have every PL Like supply known to man at my disposal). <br />
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Another issue that gets me all in a tizzy is that I need to be portable. Well, I don't need to be portable but my Project Life Like supplies DO. As some of you know, I vendor at scrapbook retreats and attend day crops and scrapping girly weekends etc. When I go, I want to be able to grab a few large (HUGE) organized containers, my jammies and Big Poppa's credit card and be on my way. With my current set up, I am not so sure that can happen. <br />
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And it is not like I haven't done my homework...<br />
I am on three Project Life Like Facebook groups. I watch every (EVERY) You Tube video that contains the words Project, Life or a combination of the two. I stalk/follow/pester the hell out of many of the bloggers that are infamous for PL. I pin the bejeezus out of any board that has ever showcased a 4x6 or 3x4 journal card on Pinterest. <br />
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Wanna see? Not the above paragraph because that, even to my ears, seems a bit overboard. Wanna see my Project Life Like organization SKILLZ?? And then give me some feedback or Martha's phone number or Organized Jen's personal home address for help too? Remember, this (like Weight Watchers) is a judgmement free zone....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(sorry for the glare off of the shiny painted cement floor) Say HI to Alex! HI ALEX!! Alex holds a few PL Liket necessities but is not my main squeeze by any means. From top to botom Alex contains 1. inks 2. alphabet and number stamps 3. my Cameo and Silver Bullet necessities 4. a few 6x6 pads I have deemed PL Like worthy but not card worthy 5. page protectors 6. stencils</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of Alex are a few PL Like necessities. Over to the extreme left is my little bag that contains my tiny trimmer, corner chomper, journaling pens, adhesive etc...definitely portable but not sure it contains all the basics I need. The 3 drawers are getting a bit stuffed which makes me worry because I don't know what else to put the stuff in. From top to bottom: 1. tiny boxes with brads, sequins, wood veneers, and all the other little doo-dads that come with PL LIke buying. 2. flat stickers and labels...the only time in my scrapping life I have ever loved stickers! 3. stamps that are specific for PL Like. That dandy blue tray on the top is empty. I put little embellies in it when I am planning my layouts and pockets. The green basket catches pictures and memorabilia that I plan to include in my PL Like spreads.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtM_2A-yRx4/UfhLAJI7pnI/AAAAAAAAAgg/qA-MGXBYxrs/s1600/20130730_102937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtM_2A-yRx4/UfhLAJI7pnI/AAAAAAAAAgg/qA-MGXBYxrs/s400/20130730_102937.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't even begin to imagine where I got this little wire thingy (and that binder clip hanging so precariously uneven from it is driving me nuts as I type this). It holds legal file folders. In each folder, I have organized papers specific to PL Like. The front folder has cutouts and then they are arranged by color. In the back are PL Like collections (I just discovered these when they were on sale at Hobby Lobby and must say I like them very much). This bad boy is filling quickly however. And I know the answer peeps, so please no preaching....I know I should just stop buying and start using. But, if you are here it is probably because you have an addiction to paper too, so hopefully you get it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PcnOGFPYt1A/UfhLEG5CjoI/AAAAAAAAAg4/HfGL0IY6SiQ/s1600/20130730_102948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PcnOGFPYt1A/UfhLEG5CjoI/AAAAAAAAAg4/HfGL0IY6SiQ/s400/20130730_102948.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the biggest thorn in my side and I am hoping the CTMH organizer will help to contain this wild beast. These are all of the "kits" I have. As you can (kind of ) see, they are organized first by size and then by kit. So all my Honey BH PL core kit cards are together as are my various subscriptions etc. I find it very hard to dig through in finding things to coordinate because I don't like using the same collection. I like to mix it up and use my own artistic (heheheeh) eye to color coordinate my layouts. I have thought about rearranging them by color but that sends me into a complete panic because there is no going back once it is done. Not to mention, many of these cards are so colorful, it would be almost impossible to single out single colors to categorize them. I think these containers were meant to be used as ice cube bins in your freezer. At any rate, I got them in the kitchen organizing section of Target.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These 3 drawers from Wal-Mart roll under one of my tables. It is the table I primarily use for PL Like layouts so it is kind of easy to get to. The mother load of cards pictured above sit in the bottom drawer and anchor it (literally). I know I can load this into my Jeep, with the smaller 3 drawer organizer that sits on Alex and my little black basics bag and take them on a crop. I could also throw in the blue file container and a few things from the drawers of Alex.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYYQkk03efM/UfhLJmeIgaI/AAAAAAAAAhI/Xn0fxNXE4BM/s1600/20130730_103115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QYYQkk03efM/UfhLJmeIgaI/AAAAAAAAAhI/Xn0fxNXE4BM/s400/20130730_103115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The middle drawer houses my washi tape (that was once organized by color) and my alphabet stickers. I will say that the Thickers you see are NOT my full collection. I divvied them up and didn't allow for repeats so they would fit. The doubles and triples live in my storage room (along with A LOT of other "peats" and repeats")</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fP4-GJazLMU/UfhLI25UVyI/AAAAAAAAAhA/hGyMmfJo0i8/s1600/20130730_103133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fP4-GJazLMU/UfhLI25UVyI/AAAAAAAAAhA/hGyMmfJo0i8/s400/20130730_103133.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top drawer still has some room (be still my beating heart). There are several smaller containers that keep my flair, sewing goodies, printables and items from cut files, little paper odd and ends, and non-sticker embellishments. </td></tr>
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Enough to make you all itchy too right? Like is your heart totally racing now because you so want to dig into my stash and fix it?? Well COME ON!! I will make you a cup of coffee, bring you a fabulous cupcake from Maxie B's and watch you work INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! And YOU can organize until your hearts content instead of of doing your laundry too. But seriously, if you have suggestions, I would love, love, love to hear them. I am ordering a medium organizing plastic thingy from Close to My Heart from a friend which may help a wee little bit, but give me your awesome suggestions too!! As always, thanks for stopping by and reading my blog INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-58620293753323592512013-07-23T19:07:00.000-07:002013-07-23T19:07:31.740-07:00My New and Improved Studio Space! It will have to be short and sweet tonight (but aren't you just so proud of me for making it a solid month??)... My mom is in town to celebrate my sweet baby girl's (I still call her baby so that I can still call the weight I am carrying around baby weight) 12th birthday! We ate at the Melting Pot tonight. If you have ever eaten there you know that I am about 10 seconds away from a full fledged food coma so I must, I must, I must get this written before that happens.<br />
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As you know from my whiny post (about 3 posts ago), you know I just turned 40 and have been trying to bring some order to my sometimes chaotic world. One of the places that needed it the most was my studio. While I am the type that makes a mess while I am working on a project, I am learning that I need a clean studio to walk into or I don't end up walking in at all. A mess leaves me overwhelmed and under-inspired, so I am trying to clean up my act in my "she-cave" so that doesn't happen. I mean, really, I did have to arm wrestle Big Poppa in order to make our basement MINE and not some testosterone laiden place where ball-scratchin' and cigar smokin' are a given (sorry ladies, but I gots to tell it like it could have been).<br />
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I am soooooooo lucky to have this space considering I used to scrap from the wee corner of our homeschool room, which was the loft of a 1400 (barely) square feet townhouse. We have since moved into a home that is a bit bigger and I now have a walkout basement that includes a huge great room with a bar sink and counter, storage room (unfinished), guest room with a walk-in closet, full bathroom, and elevator shaft (awesome for storage of my tables and chairs that I pull out when I have a bunch of crafty ladies over). Please don't take this as bragging or trying to be all "in your face." All I am saying is that I know I am blessed beyond belief and that I only hope to be able to share my good fortune of being able to create in such an awesome space with my friends and family. I am also trying to explain that I now have NO reason not to be organized and neat since I have so many hidey holes to put a plethora of craft goodness.<br />
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The following pictures don't show everything because by the time I got home, it was too dark to take good ones (okay and let's face it...I am a horrible photographer AND the food coma was slowly settling in). I plan to do a studio tour on my You Tube channel (link above) when all is said and done. I have a lot more to do still, especially in the storage room. As I get more and more done I will post some more photos and let you know when the she cave goes live on YT. One thing I will say is that you learn a lot about your scrapping and crafting style and what you need the further you delve into this hobby. My organizing style and what and how I like to do things has progressed over the years and I finally think I have figured out what works best for ME. With that said, jumping head first into Project Life for the first time has brought on a whole new set of organizing dilemmas, but let's leave that for a blog post in which my Flaming Turtle Chocolate Fondue is not sitting, shell and all, in the pit of my stomach.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the famous Ikea Expedit. It seems to be the "go-to" for a lot of scrap happy organizers. This one is to the right of the fireplace. To the left is another one just as full. This one contains a lot of mediums and embellishments organized into those boxes. The one on the left is more geared towards paper. I love the white file boxes (from Ikea too) because they can hold 12x12 paper....always a thorn in the side for organizing it seems.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBR6oOlWsjQ/Ue8xmVxVU1I/AAAAAAAAAds/fs2se3-T4sU/s1600/20130711_130620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBR6oOlWsjQ/Ue8xmVxVU1I/AAAAAAAAAds/fs2se3-T4sU/s400/20130711_130620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, this isn't my scrap studio, not even close. In fact this Ikea store is about an hour and a half away from my house (Big Poppa is ecstatic because if it were closer, we would be there a lot more). It is an organizer's paradise UP IN THERE!! Something about all that cheap (the prices are very reasonable but that may lend itself to the fact that the quality isn't Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware like) organizing eye candy AND Swedish meatballs being all under one roof makes me HAPPY!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadly, this is the only other picture I have. This is a kind of sort of wing off of the main area. To give you a point of reference, I am standing a little in front of my main craft desk to take this photo. My main craft desk faces an L shape couch that is in front of the fireplace and Expedits pictured above. The bar counter and sink are to the right of my desk. The tables to the right and left can pull to the center so if my girls come over to get their art on, we can all sit together and work. The "Alex" as it is called (black 6 drawer unit to the right) and the white plastic 3 drawer units all hold my Project Life stuff as well as some supplies to use the various machines you see on top of the tables (Silver Bullet, sewing machine, typewriter and Cameo). What you can't see is that straight ahead under the table that holds my sewing machine and type writer is yet another long storage shelf unit. </td></tr>
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Once again, this set up works for ME. It may not work for you because of how you like to work or your chosen style of space. My theory for ME is that I don't need things to be pretty but I have to have them be functional. All the "candy stations" and pretty vintage milk glass in the world won't work for me because it isn't how I craft. While it is beautiful to look at and works for others, I need more utilitarian modes of organizing. So, I will continue to organize and search for the nirvana of studio space INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! And, if you have some YT video recommendations of some awesome studio spaces or if you have an awesome video of your own crafty she space, leave me a link below! I would love to watch some vids INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY too!!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-88277927162800506742013-07-16T18:08:00.001-07:002013-07-16T18:08:34.044-07:00Project Life Like <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I almost did it...<br />
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I almost made an excuse as to why I couldn't write this blog post even though it is firmly written in pen on my calendar.<br />
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And then I remembered my own terms, the ones I set forth when I decided to schedule my blog so that I would make sure I was getting it done (without stress).<br />
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When I decided to do this FOR REALS, I promised myself that a blog post doesn't have to be long and extensive to be a blog post. So instead of telling you that I had a doctor's appointment today (which I did) and explaining next week that I kind of had the wind knocked out of my sails (which I did) and I was too tired or too sad to write this week, I sat my fat caboose down and, in the words of NIKE, decided to JUST DO IT! <br />
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Another "thang" I have finally got off my arse to do is Project Life. I don't mean that I started shopping for PL because, let's face it, I have been doing that for quite some time! I mean that I took the images of fantastic pages that have been running through my head for a few weeks and I JUST DID IT! I went with my vision and some pictures (oh yeah, and ALL the STUFF I have been buying while heavily drugged with pain meds, antibiotics, and Ambien and have been regretting because my budget is blown for the next, oh I don't know, 27 months) and GOT "ER DONE!!<br />
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This is my latest obsession, the thing I want to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! It is a blast because, like altering, it is just doing what you want to do, the way you want to do it (ok within the parameters of certain pocket sizes, but you get it). I couldn't be more thrilled that I am finally at a place in my heart where I can document a life that I love!<br />
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OH!! And INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, sometimes I make crafty YouTube videos. I just uploaded one on some awesome wood veneers that I discovered from an amazing woman and her hardworking husband. Want to know more? Check out my vid at:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DtRTufJE1I">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DtRTufJE1I</a> and if you need something to do INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY, sit down and enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaBiI16K4pI/UeXotZMOWOI/AAAAAAAAAao/krYB2vZNAYo/s1600/1039720_10201445385994234_359366986_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PaBiI16K4pI/UeXotZMOWOI/AAAAAAAAAao/krYB2vZNAYo/s400/1039720_10201445385994234_359366986_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This is my cover page. I think I included any and every trend that was popular in 2011, 2012 and 2013. While it may be crazy busy, I love it and am thrilled every time I look at it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHv1nPdvalQ/UeXpZfgMaYI/AAAAAAAAAa0/PG0kpClNca0/s1600/1072232_10201543810014773_830343681_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHv1nPdvalQ/UeXpZfgMaYI/AAAAAAAAAa0/PG0kpClNca0/s400/1072232_10201543810014773_830343681_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />And this is IT!! My very first (but certainly not last) Project Life "like" layout. I include the word "like" because I have heard that Becky Higgins has laid claim to Project Life and that it can't just be randomly used anymore. This event took place in April and that is my plan for PL...events not weeks. Scrapping this way makes PL more manageable for me and takes away from my anxiety of not completing yet another thing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-69262596796322346362013-07-09T19:17:00.002-07:002013-07-09T19:17:25.651-07:00Don't Judge Me!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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(WOO WOO, I don't know about you but I am so super proud of myself for keeping our date...this Tuesday thing is working. And, yes, I know it is only the second week, but we have to congratulate ourselves for small victories. Therefore, I am raising my pretend crystal champagne glass filled with really expensive pretend bubbly to clink with you and your pretend stuff! Because if you are here for week 2, it means you are sticking with me-for now-and we both deserve a good stiff drink for that! And you will see a pic of the beloved planner below...although it was photographed at the beginning of the month so its not nearly as filled as normal, you can still get the gist of the fun. And this is just the month at a glance part; my fave portion (the week at a glance) had too much "personal" stuff (see whiny post from last week) to take pics of and include)<br />
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Okay, so you know when you have gained what feels like 8000 pounds (once again, see last week's whiny blog post) and you are trying your best to feel better but nothing seems to work? I can't work out (whiny post referral #3) yet and the heat is more intolerable than ever (I do have a serious need in life for Vitamin D so in the summer I like to be out in the sun aaaaallllll the time). So what do we crafty types do....<br />
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You know exactly what I have done because IT IS WHAT WE SCRAPPY PEEPS DO, whether we are feeling like poo or not. I shopped!! And I shopped! I shopped and shopped and shopped and shopped. I then shopped some more. I would like to say I am done with shopping but I can't. You see, I am not shopping for pants in one size bigger (I refuse, I refuse, I refuse and will continue to wear my yoga pants while in complete and utter denial that they are cutting off my circulation; since Big Poppa has had to do the laundry lately, I can completely blame him for turning the dryer on too high) or shirts to cover my DESPICABLE ME 1 and DESPICAPLE ME 2 (AKA my thighs).<br />
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I shop for paper because it always fits. I buy stamps because I never have to try them on. I buy embellishments because they don 't make my arms like dimpled sausages stuffed in fat girl casings. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EgQzoUbERTM/Udy1Q1-erAI/AAAAAAAAAYE/TZldu0EpFhU/s1600/20130709_171235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EgQzoUbERTM/Udy1Q1-erAI/AAAAAAAAAYE/TZldu0EpFhU/s400/20130709_171235.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummies from Mike's and Hobby Lobby...I think. They have all started to run together. What is not pictured are the 4 Project Life Kits I have also purchased. To save a little grace, I did divide them up and sell the partial kits on Project Life Swap and Shop. The sales totally made up for the costs of the kits and I still got as much of the kits as I wanted, so it was a WIN WIN!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Online haulage...2 Peas in a Bucket, Simon Says Stamp, and Bossy Joscie (the most well-prices fllair I have found EVER! I am bugging her to sell to me so that I can sell at retreats but she is currently traveling across country with her entire family as they MOVE from Hawaii to Alabama. Yeah, not thinking she will be in a hurry to get back to me about a big order! But I do love what she sent me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBV5JFvb4VA/Udy7aUpdv2I/AAAAAAAAAYo/b2psb2jYuPM/s1600/20130709_173027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qBV5JFvb4VA/Udy7aUpdv2I/AAAAAAAAAYo/b2psb2jYuPM/s400/20130709_173027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember when Mike's had their big clearance sale? Some of this is from there and one or two things are from Hobby Lobby (forgot to include them in the other pic and am trying to be Honest Abe here).</td></tr>
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I think even Big Poppa senses my need to feel better because he hasn't given me a hard time as all these packages are being delivered to the house. He even encouraged me to relax and take my time at the scrapbook store he totally insisted (wink wink nod nod) we go to when we went to the beach over the July 4th holiday. You can totally see that I did as Big Poppa ordered because they only give you the big freebie bags when you spend A LOT!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tilt your computer to your left because I am a blog stoopid and can't figure out how to fix this. It is RIGHT on my computer but for whatever reason, it won't upload correctly nor do I know how swirl it around once it is on Blogger. </td></tr>
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I can't really explain my love and addiction for the "Of the Month" Clubs (perhaps a future blog post??) But here are a few of the ones I belong to (and yes there are a few that haven't come in yet) and I honestly LOVE going to the mailbox and finding these gems. Perhaps they give me something to look forward to?? Must consult my college psych books on that one....or not!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8gY2gbgghY/Udy7b5WZweI/AAAAAAAAAY8/K77Aa_ZTILU/s1600/20130709_173155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f8gY2gbgghY/Udy7b5WZweI/AAAAAAAAAY8/K77Aa_ZTILU/s400/20130709_173155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ribbon of the Month Club...because really?? Can you ever have too much? And it is always so sweetly coordinated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q8NN6TZxe4/Udy7cmzZAOI/AAAAAAAAAZE/SOmLXEtq2_k/s1600/20130709_173524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q8NN6TZxe4/Udy7cmzZAOI/AAAAAAAAAZE/SOmLXEtq2_k/s400/20130709_173524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a new one for me since I canceled my Simon Says Stamp Card of the Month Club (Woo Woo, I actually canceled one). It is the Scraptastic Project Life Kit. I think it is a bit pricey for what you get, but I may give it another month or two. I haven't gotten my Studio Calico Project Life Kit or my Cocoa Daisy Stamp Kit yet, nor have I received my new (obsession) Julep kit (nail polish).</span> </td></tr>
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Stamps?? Did someone say stamps??? Another addiction!! However, I only picked up a few that were deeply, deeply discounted either online or at Mike's.</div>
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Anywho, I really need to stop shopping. I know this. Without turning this into WHINY BLOG POST #2, I know we have a ton of medical bills to pay, a child in private school, and a fledgling scrapbook/artsy craftsy business that I am trying to get off the ground. I know I have to stop looking for ways to feel better in the store and start looking within. I know, I know, I know! And yet....I STILL TOTALLY WANT TO SHOP INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! So, I am going to try the NO BUY JULY that I have heard many scrapsters adopting for the month. It is never too late to start, right? </div>
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Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-33348125610379714662013-07-02T20:15:00.004-07:002013-07-02T20:15:57.215-07:0040 and Fabulous? How About 40 and Trying To Be On Top of My Life?So as of late, my life has been a country song...<br />
I have lost my dog (rest in peace my sweet Coach). I have lost my mojo and my faith in some of my fellow man,and there has been a hitch in my giddyup. I also lost my uterus and a few grapefruit sized tumors that were strangling my other girlie parts. I lost a lot of time due to massive, major headaches, extreme fatigue, stomach issues, and a feeling as if my innards are falling (think Chicken Little here) out! I turned 40 at a time when I have never felt so unattractive and unappealing in my life (don't think it was my midlife crisis but just my health in general). And I wish I could say I lost weight too, but unfortunately the opposite is true and I packed on almost 15 pounds.<br />
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In the time since my surgery, I have had a lot, and I do mean A LOT of time in bed to think about how to get things right, how to manage what has, at times, seemed overwhelming and hopeless, and how to LIVE.<br />
I wish I could say I had an epiphany of the holy type but that would be a bold face lie. However, I did have some You Tube insight (you can learn to do anything on the good ole YT) that I thought might help in some aspects of my life (I will leave out the more personal details here...not that the discussion of my uterus and girlie parts wasn't already personal). <br />
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Have you seen these little beauties posted EVERYWHERE on YT? It is the newest craze to hit the paper crafting community in the name of ORGANIZATION. A Filofax is a way to put every aspect of your life in a cute color coded format, loaded with stickers and awesome colorful pens and washi tape in a REALLY expensive planner. I won't wax poetic over all of the things peeps do to personalize their planners, but if you are a You Tuber, you can find some vids without a problem. There are also Facebook groups designed just for the crazed Filofax obsessed.<br />
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None of these Filofaxes (plural of Filofax???) are mine because I refuse to spend that kind of money on a leather planner, but I do have a mini binder that I found at Wal-Mart complete with inserts from Avery that I have made my own. My point? My point is that I have decided to schedule A LOT of things to help ease my anxiety and need to have control over things I generally cannot. Things like what?? Well, this blog for example. Tuesday is my blog day. And because I now have it scheduled for once a week without having to always feel guilty for not doing it everyday (OK or EVER), I can breathe; I can check it off once it is done with satisfaction. If I happen to write more than that during the week, BONUS (hopefully you feel the same), but if not and I only get the one done, at least I did it. What may be a baby step and silly for some, is critical for me and my anxious nature. I plan to do the same for my You Tube vids (maybe less than once a week to start because I am still struggling with a lack of confidence in my appearance and a fear of the mirror and the camera), working out, and calling my mother (if you only knew!!). I also have had to come to realize that my blogs don't have to be 10 pages long in order for them to be good or done (and perhaps my readers would prefer they not be so long anyways).<br />
WOO HOO!! I am checking this off my list in my planner and feel relieved and happy and satisfied. Of course, if the day to do wash is also scheduled on Tuesday, I guess I will be writing my blog INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!!! <br />
And PS, for those of you who have stuck with me during my country music phase, THANK YOU! I continue to write this for you and for me and I promise to do better by us both. Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-38832271952718044242013-03-06T19:36:00.003-08:002013-03-06T19:36:48.082-08:00Working with Things That Aren't Your Fave...So this might be a touchy subject, but here goes!<br />
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How do you handle working with colors, themes, products, etc that aren't your usual aesthetic or that don't inspire your creativity? You know, like when you have to make a card for your manly uncle but your heart only loves pink, pink, and more pink. Or when you are asked to create something for someone using a paper company you don't ever buy (is there such a thing?). And then someone asks you to alter something without using lace (really, is there such a thing?). What do you do to get those creative juices flowing??<br />
Ya'll know that I design for Gina and she makes amazing custom chip pieces. So I must love chipboard right? RIGHT!! I do love chip!! No, I really do love chip, (Gina's chip not the yawn Mike's chip pieces) because it is versatile and because of how different Gina's designs are. I wish I could only work on the things that I like, but I can't. Because I vendor for scrapbook retreats, I really have to create with the scrapbook ladies in mind. AND?? What is the big deal right? The big deal is that <span style="font-size: xx-small;">I don't scrapbook! SHHSSHHHH!! I used to scrapbook when my daughter was born. I got divorced when she was barely a year old and life became too painful. We really struggled as our lives were thrown into a crazy tailspin and scrapping became a luxury that I couldn't afford and way too painful too. Ever since, even though our lives are rich and full now, I have had an aversion to scrapping that I haven't really gotten over. I am trying to start Project Life with the hopes that it will make we want to scrap again, but for now, working with paper to alter and create makes me very happy. <span style="font-size: small;">So now that you know my dirty little secret, it might explain why I struggle with creating layouts and mini albums using even the most amazing chipboard. My solution? I am trying to bring my completely 12x12 scrap ladies over to the dark side of altering...and slowly they are coming around! But until then, I still want to know what YOU do to work past the blocks of working with things that aren't your usual.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I recently was asked to create using a color I am not a fan of at all...purple. Ugggghhh, have we met? I am the girl that wears gray and black. The craziest colors you will ever find me wearing can be found on my nails and toes (and sometimes in a streak of my hair). If someone asks me my fave color I say white and maybe, just maybe, sun-faded beachy greens, blues and neutrals. But PURPLE???? The scream of "NOOOOO" could be heard around the world. The other part that had to be included was butterflies. While I am not anti-butterfly, I feel the theme is just played FOR ME. I like things that are different from every other crafter out there. It is the same reason I have a French bulldog, dislike the color pink and drive a big, huge, gas-guzzling Jeep Wrangler. They just don't fit the stereotype you see when you look at me or when you find out what I do for a living AND I LOVE THAT! I love being different. I love not being afraid of being unique (bc I really used to be). I love that I surprise a lot of people. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So then what do I do with purple and butterflies?? I can't say no (though I wanted to). I can't turn it into light blues and pin up girls (though once again I wanted to). I decided to throw a little me into it and PRAY!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started with a burlap canvas. Because I wanted a bit of a watercolor bleeding effect, I didn</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'t cover it with gesso first.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is purple...SCORE! But there are also some light greens which I like and which compliment the dreaded purples. I did use a stencil and heavy modeling paste to create the texture. After really watering down the acrylic paint, I started with the green (to get movement on your flat surface, use more than one shade of the same color and start at the top or bottom making it lighter or darker as you move in either direction) and then painted the flowers with different shades of purple. <br />There was some wicking but I was okay with it as that also adds movement to a painting (another way of achieving movement is to bounce the colors you are using all over your piece, not just where it is supposed to go). Just for the record, I could have stopped here and been perfectly happy with this piece. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there is more purple and perhaps even a butterfly.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />The next stage in the evolution was not too painful. I got to work with some of Gina's chip and use my brain to make it come off the page. The door is Gina's (a new collection and part of Nancy's Garden). I used shims to make it look as if the door is open. The metal hinges and decor are part of some happy mail my friend Mo sent me from her Zibbet store (she is Butterbee Scraps on YT and at her Zibbet store and she is freaking amazing). I like how it grounds the canvas a bit. The flowers are from Hobby Lobby and they are purple...nuf said. I did fussy cut some butterflies from a really old paper stack and added some Stickles to make it shiny (not a fan of the bling either...sorry ya'll). Once again I could have stopped here and been just fine. Maybe I should have stopped here...I am my own worst critic. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKN5hZyOFFc/UTgHEKieyUI/AAAAAAAAAQA/wO_MnUJ2qOo/s1600/20130306_201553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKN5hZyOFFc/UTgHEKieyUI/AAAAAAAAAQA/wO_MnUJ2qOo/s320/20130306_201553.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This might be where it got painful....</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this is where I lost my vision. I had to add a quote; partly because I LOVE quotes and partly because it was needed for this particular gift. The quote was cut apart, wadded up, and distressed with purple Distress Ink. I fussy cut, die cut, and punched a bazillion purple butterflies as well as using some of Gina's butterflies and some of Mo's metal butterflies. My original plan was to have the butterflies all going in the same direction (off to the right) and in somewhat of a cluster. I deviated from that and wish I hadn't. While I am confident it will be well-received, this is not one of my fave projects. Is it because of the purple? The butterflies? Or is it because it is just not as cohesive as I would like it to be. And is it the case that if you aren't feeling the love, then it will reflect in your work?? I will totally ponder these things INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Thanks for stopping by and please leave a girl some advice, critique, words of sympathy and understanding or WHATEVS!! Because you know you are totally reading blogs INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-21066914014534608812013-02-18T17:35:00.002-08:002013-02-18T17:36:58.392-08:00Shrinky Dink Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anyone who knows me knows I love some Shrinky Dinks! And it amazes me that people have never heard of them because I grew up making Shrinky Dinks for Christmas ornaments and on rainy days. Lately though, my Shrinky Dinks have gotten all grown up! I love to use them in my art, whether it be on tags or in dangling charms. The latest fave I have is using them to make charm bracelets.<br />
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Since digi images are so readily available for free online or for purchase in Etsy and Zibbet, it is really not hard to find themed pictures to copy on to Shrinky Dink paper. The true trick and art of it is determining the size that will shrink to charm perfection once it is baked in the oven. If this is all completely over your head have no fear as it just takes reading the directions that come with the package of Shrinky Dinks. And a word to the wise is to print something on both sides of your Inkjet (and you really can only use Shrinky Dink paper that is especially for Inkjet...there are other types of SD paper that will not work with your printer). It is too hard to match your images perfectly so I generally pick a piece of coordinating scrapbook paper to copy to the other side. I will try to show you a few before and afters below, but I realize now that I should have given you a size reference so you could see how big they started out and then the size they shrink to. They do start out as flimsy and thin but, once cooked, shrink and harden immensely.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So here are a few images that I bought from an Etsy seller of vintage children's books. I printed them all onto ONE sheet of SD paper and then cut them out. I use either a punch or my paper trimmer to cut them because I want them in the neatest shape before they cook (takes less maintenance once they are cooked). Yes. you must cook them either on parchment or on an opened paper bag because they will stick to your cookie sheet.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the finished bracelet...made for my niece who is in college to be a teacher and absolutely adores children's books. You can kind of see how the images shrink and get hard but you can also see their size based on the charms that are next to them. When they shrink, the colors also intensify so they recommend that you dull down your original before printing (it does save on ink)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is another example made from vintage images of Scrabble tiles for my SIL who is a Scrabble addict. I made the mistake of not copying something on the back of this paper before I cut it out and you can see the white backs of these charms. While I normally would disapprove of leaving them blank, I liked this because it went with the overall color scheme of the bracelet.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another example using vintage images and button cards. The difference with this bracelet is that I colored the sides with a black Sharpie in order to add to that vintage vibe. Sharpie or alcohol markers will work just fine to color the thick white sides if you choose.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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There are a bazillion other ways to make charms using the Inkjet SD paper; the ideas are only limited by your imagination! I have made charms from photographs too but the quality of your photo needs to be good and there needs to be a focal point that is fairly big. For example, a pic of you and your bestie clinking your champagne glasses while out at a girls night would be great, but the picture of your entire family at the yearly family reunion is just too busy and will shrink down to look more like a blob than your Uncle Ed.<br />
Shrinky Dink paper comes in other forms as well...clear, different colors, etc. Another of my favorite things to do is to run some of the paper through my Vagabond to create a shape and then stamp on it with Staz-On (you must use Staz-On as anything else will just wipe off) and shrink it down to add to a tag or a mini album. You can use your Copics or Sharpies to color in the image once it is stamped if your heart desires. The Tim Holtz Sewing Room die works wonderfully. The dressform shrinks perfectly and has lots of real estate for stamping too! It is definitely something you should try INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY! And it is also something you can <strike>distract </strike>share with your kids as they will love watching the images shrink in the oven. They make lots of fun little kits for children to color and shrink too. <br />
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<br />Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-86403712778487384842013-02-04T16:11:00.000-08:002013-02-04T16:11:24.793-08:00My Design Team Project for January!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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WOO WOO! I am official!! While I have been on the design team for Gina's Designs (www.ginasdesigns.net) for quite a few months, my projects are usually geared towards getting things ready for the retreats that I vendor for. Because of that, I generally create my projects based on the ladies at the retreats and what I know their style to be. This time, however, was different. When Gina sent me this perpetual calendar kit, I KNEW exactly what paper I wanted to use and I KNEW it was going to be my taste...MINE, MINE, MINE!!! <br />
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Gina's Perpetual Calendar kits come with everything you need to put together a lovely like this one (but in your style) except the paper. It takes the guess work out of finding letters and numbers to make the months, days and dates. And it is made of WOOD! Yep, not chip!! As you can tell, I beat the bejeezus out of mine and distressed it until even it's mama wouldn't recognize it (what a stress reliever that was ). I also painted it and antiqued it. <br />
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The paper I used is Graphic 45's Place in Time! I love this paper!! The images are fantastic. Now had I thought I might like my project to be "matchy matchy: I would NOT have used this line. This paper is anything but and yet I still HEART it so!!! It is vintage and lovely and ME!! <br />
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I also used one of Timmy's library drawer pulls and typed up a word on my TYPEWRITER (I FINALLY have a typewriter and couldn't be more thrilled). It is a word I must be reminded of daily...BREATHE! As with every G45 collection, there are postage stamps scattered throughout. I used them to make the box holding the calendar look even older...kind of like when you were young and used to stick stickers to everything?? I remember my mom yelling at me about that and me thinking at the time that I couldn't even imagine a day in which I wouldn't love the New Kids on the Block stickers I had stuck to (EVERYTHING) my bed. <br />
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Yes, mom won that argument too. But I did want this project to have that abandoned but at one time well loved kind of feel to it too. And what would a perpetual calendar be if it didn't have a spot to put birthdays! I had to include some space for the birthdays that I always manage to forget. The collection actually had a cut out that fit perfectly on my month pages so that is what I used. Of course I will have to write small but it is the thought right??<br />
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Gina offers this version as well as a bracket version of the calendar kit. I am working on that version as we speak using an Authentique line of paper. It coordinates much differently and instead of painting my exterior, I was able to cover it because Gina provided the cut files as well. As soon as I get that one done, I will do my best to post it. Of course I have a bazillion projects to get done before the retreat on Friday and plan on working my booty off on them INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!! Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-82681965044041603672013-01-31T06:24:00.002-08:002013-01-31T06:26:30.140-08:00It is Retreat TIME!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If there was a font that looked like a shaky, caffeine addicted, crazy hand had written it, I would totally be using it right now. IT IS RETREAT SEASON! That means my life, each month, gets a little more hectic and crazy. It doesn't sound much like a retreat right? Since I have started vendoring for these scrappy retreats, the word retreat has taken on a whole new meaning.<br />
Instead of planning what things I will take to alter, scrap, and eat I now have to figure out what lovely things from Gina's Designs these cropping crazy ladies will fall in love with. I need to make sure my grab bags are slammed full of yumminess. I have to ensure that I have the fun and vintage embellishments the ladies have grow to expect from me. And, because shopping is such a visual sport, I have to make sure I have all of the above mentioned things shown beautifully in examples and displays. WHEW!! All of that INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY of course!<br />
My next few posts (and hopefully they will be a lot more frequent than my previous posts) will be all about the samples I am making and the product from Gina's store I am using. I have to do 2 make and takes for the ladies (one free and one paid) and I already know exactly what I will be doing which is where the pics for this post came from. These pics are of the paid make and take and higlight some of my vintage goodies and stamps as well as some of the $2 paper from Mikes. <br />
Many of the ladies at the retreats often say. "I want you to teach me to do what you do." Hmmmmm, well is it possible to teach procrastination and craziness?? Oh that is probably not what they mean but that is what I feel sometimes (all the time). I thought the first fun idea would be to start teaching them to upcycle because they certainly seem enthralled with all that I alter. A lunch bag is generally the easiest thing I can think of to start with so that is what I did. I also want to teach them how to use patterns more so we will be playing with Valentine's Day paper layering as well.<br />
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Don't you just love mixing it up? I love the versatility that patterned paper brings. It seems the only time I reach for plain cardstock is to stamp or mat. There bags will be somewhat different and I will post a pic of those as soon as I can get it from my phone to my computer. I hope they like it as much as I do. For some reason, working with paper lunch bags is just so satisfying (and cheap)...especially when I am altering them INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-36434593853117514502013-01-07T17:39:00.001-08:002013-01-07T17:39:58.742-08:00Mojo or Pure Pressure??I don't know whether or not I was able to finish these because I posted one of my most favorite projects earlier today or if it was just a matter of pressure to finish Christmas (oh yes I said Christmas) presents for the family. Whatever it was, I was extremely thrilled to mark some things off my to do list (besides the millions of doctors appointments, errands, and chores that always seem to hover there) today. <br />
The recipe box is for my mother-in-law. She is the keeper of the family recipes and an avid cook. I found an old, ugly recipe box at the thrift store for a quarter and covered it in Martha goodies and paper. There is even some Gina goodness hidden in there too! While it isn't my style, I hope she will like it. She is always so sweet when it comes to my crafty goods and never seems to mind not getting something from the store for every holiday.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other side of the recipe box</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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She is also the best card sender I have ever known. It never fails to amaze me that she remembers to send all of her children a card for every major holiday. To help her organize all of those cards, I found a Christmas card organizer at The Christmas Tree Shops. It was only $1.00 and covered in really ugly green paper. The upside is that there is a heavy metal tag on the spine that can be taken on and off that says Christmas. It was well worth $1.00 and very easy to alter using some adorable October Afternoon paper (and of course a Gina doily too!!). The inside is a soft grey felt that has belly bands to hold cards on either side of the binder. October Afternoon is a new favorite of mine. I used to be such a Graphic 45 girl (okay I still am), but am trying to branch out and discover new companies. I like OA's use of the kitschy whimsy. It suits my own vintage love and style. <br />
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Last, and also maybe least, is the card I made to send as well. I did make them a Christmas card but thought I would be ahead of the game if I created a Valentine's Day card and sent it with the Christmas gifts too. I recently ordered a stamp from Simon Says Stamp because I THOUGHT it was a French bulldog (those who know me know that my Frenchie is one of the great loves of my life). When I saw this stamp, I really thought it was a French bulldog. However, after watching Kristina Werner make a card using the same stamp and commenting on how it is a BOSTON TERRIER that belongs to the owner of SSS, I was sad. In my eyes it looks way more like a Frenchie! Either way, it is a win win because my in-laws have a Boston Terrier. This card covers my booty either way and came out okay. I am still struggling with cards and am looking forward to getting some of my mojo back so that I can craft some beautiful cards for Valentine's Day.<br />
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Since my daughter is now attending school (remember she was homeschooled until Jan. 3) and I am getting my health issues in check finally, I am hoping to finish projects like these every day....INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY of course!!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936176331633745923.post-27701314940533268502013-01-07T06:24:00.001-08:002013-01-07T06:24:27.791-08:00A proud project from the past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since I haven't had my mojo in a few weeks BUT I wanted to keep up my resolve to continue with my blog, I am posting a project that brought such pride from the past. Of course, when I say past, I merely mean a few months back. It is still one that I return to when I need some inspiration so I am hoping that some mojo will return simply by putting it out there into the universe again.<br />
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I was given the mirror (which you can't see) that is the middle piece of this crazy puzzle by my local scrapbook store owner, Betty. She issued a few of these out to some of her crazier customers and challenged us to show our "style." OH YEAh!! I love this kind of challenge because there is complete artistic freedom and that means RUN WITH IT!! <br />
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The bottom piece is a 12x12 canvas that has been stenciled, modeling pasted, inked, stamped, etc. The mirror in the middle has been covered in G45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe Paper and the top tiny canvas has been stenciled, pasted, etc as well; I also stamped a fave saying and cut it apart in order to paste it on. And then I RAN! I fussy cut some things, dug through my stash of vintage game pieces, and found some die cuts of Gina's that worked amazingly well with it all. The top canvas is hinged so that when you open it, you see YOU staring back. My husband thought it looked like an "I Spy" challenge after all was said and done...and I am okay with that! How many times can you "spy" G45? How many of Gina's die cuts can you find? What games were used in the making of this art piece?<br />
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See?? It is a fun game you can play INSTEAD OF THE LAUNDRY!<br />
Peace, Love and Crafts...and send some crafty mojo my way please!<br />
PS Did I mention I entered this in a challenge put forth by eclectic Paperie? Keep your fingers crossed because the winner gets a gift certificate!!Heather K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11997081396149285010noreply@blogger.com1