Creating an online journal using Word

One of the challenges with journaling in our scrapbooks is having access to the information.  You can create a simple online journal using a standard word processing program like Word.  Follow these easy steps and you'll be journaling in no time.

1. Open a new Word document.
2. Save it As Journal on your Desktop.
3. Start each entry with the date - consistency is key and details can be helpful, ie, instead of using just the numeric date, you may want to add a little more info: 12-16-2011, Friday, First day of Christmas Break...This of course isn't necessary for everyday, but if you think you may want to search by a particular piece of information it's good to include it in the dateline/title.
4. Whether you prefer to write whole sentences, or bullet points doesn't matter.
5. I always add the newest entries to the top of the first page. That way I don't have to scroll to the end to make an entry. 
6. If you use a SmartPhone, set up the document on your desktop to sync with the same document on your smart phone. That way if you want to note something while you're away from your computer the two documents will stay consistent.
7. Finally, when you download pictures onto your computer, you can put a note right into the journal or even cut and paste the file path into the journal. When you're ready to scrap, it will be easy to find the images that go with the journal entry.

Wow. That was easy!  Now, when you need to access journaling notes you can open your Journal, click on the "Find" icon (small binoculars), put in a date or keyword, and your computer will take your right where you need to go!  It's so simple. 

Keeping things Visible and Accessible

This whole experience has been so much fun. Especially sharing it with all of you.  I'm finally putting the details together and creating a space that really functions. 

This is the view from behind my desk. As I've mentioned in previous posts, my goal is to keep my desktop clear so I'll have lots of room to work without burying anything. To that end I've put lots of thought into making the space below the desk function efficiently.

Rolling Cart to the right

   The rolling cart which slides in to my right when I'm working is where I have all of my "every time" necessities. Things like; adhesives, scissors, basic chalks, etc. I haven't filled all the little baskets. Once I start scrapping I want to be able to have space available for things that I may have forgotten or possibly new things I'll discover at the next SB Show. (YIPEE!!!)

   I love having thing on wheels!  They offer the maximum in accessibility. I can roll the cart up close or push it easily under the desk if I don't need it. I used the baskets instead of just putting things into the cart itself. The baskets make it easy to move things around. Once I start using the desk to actually Scrap, I may want to rearrange the items. 

Hanging Baskets to my left. 

  This is another area where access to things I use all the time was the motivator. My blue CM personal photo trimmer is probably the most used tool in my collection. It's easy to get to and easy to put away. Even though I use it all the time, it doesn't have to sit on the desk top and take up space or get buried.
  The second tier of this hanging basket (IKEA) was the perfect place to put the photos I'll be using on my current project. Again, they are right at my fingertips, but they won't get buried under my "creative" mess.

  Putting the photos into the small purple basket makes it easy to grab them all at once.
  I was even able to hang my favorite pair of scissors through the grid on the basket - those won't get buried either! Ahhh...I'm rapidly approaching scrapper's heaven!
Thanks for following along.  I'm looking forward to reading your comments.
Happy Crafting!
Tif

Use your ScrapRack for Knitting and Crochet

Most crafters are what is affectionately referred to in the crafting industry as "Cross-Crafters."  No, industry professionals don't think you're an angry bunch, the term refers to crafty people who do multiple-crafts and use products from one category in another.  Recently I received the following information from a ScrapRack user who has turned her ScrapRack into a Multi-Craft Storage device by incorporating some of the components for her knitting and crochet.  Here's what she has to say:

Hi Tliffany,
Pictures don’t do it justice…

The BEST thing about The ScrapRack is its versatility! I can’t over emphasize that feature… So being an avid crocheter and knitter, it didn’t take me long to determine that I could transform it from a Scrapbooker’s dream to a yarn enthusiast’s one. The different available pages provided and the ability to use other commercially available page protectors have helped me create my own crochet/knitting workstation. A work in progress, I’ve already created one spinder for storing knitting needles, one spinder for crochet hooks (and darning needles, markers, cable makers, etc) and several spinders for sorting categories of patterns. As projects are completed, one spinder is to be used for keeping pictures, snippets of yarn used, yarn laundering instructions, etc.
  I have spend several days now collecting needles which were stored all over the house, consolidating patterns and working through the best ways (for me) to organize it all. The only “wish” I would have is that to utilize The ScrapRack for this type of organization the pages would be of the heavier type (like the side opening storage of 12” paper). The other “problem” I ran into was keeping the knitting needles from falling out when I turned the pages.
Now for an ah ha moment! Probably everyone else already knew…but it took me this endeavor to figure out that as I was organizing a spinder, if I took it and laid it on my table and opened it to add pages…other pages didn’t fall out! Never again will I suffer the opening of a spinder to add a page or two only to have have the pages slip off/out of the rings. I always thought I needed an extra hand. (it was the only complaint I ever had with this storage system!)
So…I’ve now taken my original ScrapRack Station and converted it away from Scrapbooking to holding my Card Making …with sections for card layout inspirations, technique directions, completed cards, and random stamped images. And..oh yes,, holding all my “bling”.
Perhaps I can figure out places to put a Scrap Rack to organize Recipes, jewelry, beading supplies (a new craft to start?), oh, the use of the ScrapRack is so vast!
Thanks so much for this flexible tool!
Lynn

As we working to develop our website you'll see lots of new additions to help you as a "Cross-Crafter" if you've got ideas about different ways to use our products we'd love to hear them.  Please email them to me at TSpaulding@TheScrapRack.com.
 
Thanks for checking in! 
Happy "Cross-Crafting",
 Tiffany