9.08.2012


If you're well organized you'll be able to craft on the fly.
Keeping things organized makes it easy to create items on the fly!  Don’t miss out on an opportunity to craft because “it just takes too long to find your stuff.”  Get Organized and you’ll be able to create quickly and easily.  Join us for the FallGet Organized Challenge – Click here to sign up.
  I found this great idea for an old frame that was reused as a bathroom vanity tray.  I immediately thought – “Hey, I could fill that frame with just about anything and use it as a serving tray.”  That sent my mind racing.

  With the holiday season right around the corner there will be so many little “details” we need to take care of that our opportunity to create gets stifled by time constraints.  With your supplies organized and accessible, you’ll be able to take advantage of many more of these opportunities.
  One common occurrence during the holiday season is joining friends, family, coworkers, etc .,  at potluck style events. 
  Be ready to “wow” the others at the event with a tray that appears to be custom made.  Just find an old frame - or start with a new one – choose something that suits your style and personality; ornate and girly to sleek and hip, any type of frame will work.
  If it’s not the right color don’t worry about it.  One of the wonderful things I learned from my mother; who always had a beautiful home even though we had very little money, was that a can of spray paint can transform just about anything.  Spray the frame whatever color you need it to be.  The next time you need it, don’t be afraid to hit it with yet another color.  You can change the frame every time you use it.  My mother transformed a pair of 1960s chrome bubble lamps into everything from high tech hip to beachy  and beige using spray paint and a few other supplies she had in her craft closet.  I can remember at least 4 different transformations, each of them cooler than the last.  While I don’t have any examples of her actual lamps, this is exactly what she started with:

Tips for creating your “tray”.
 Secure the glass in the frame with silicone adhesive, so no water will be able to seep under the glass and destroy the layout you’ve created.
  Use hot glue to adhere small wooden feet to the back part of the frame.  Add a piece of felt to the bottom of each of the feet, this will keep the back of the frame from scraping the surface on which it is sitting as well as make it easier to lift.  You can also add cabinetry handles to frame if you choose.
  Create your layout – anything from “Happy Birthday” to “Thanks for inviting me”.  Each time you attend an event you’ll be able to change the layout in the frame so it’s specific to the occasion, but you’ll only have time to create if you’re supplies are organized and accessible.  So Get Organized, and Get Crafting!  Join us for the Fall Get Organized Challenge –click here to sign up today!
Thanks for stopping by,
Tif

8.16.2012

Practicing what I preach - How to plan, pack and scrap on vacation.

  This was really a wonderful learning experience.  In general, I thought I was really well prepared for being able to scrap while I was on vacation. 
  Other than the few things I forgot (mentioned in post 5) I had a good assortment of products.  The inks/chalks/pens, etc., that I brought offered plenty of choices.  I would have packed a bit more background paper.
  Returning everything to its proper place in my studio was really quite easy.  I actually left the products I had chosen, and the pictures I had printed, together in the Project Planner Pages so when I have time to finish up they're still together.  In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, I may just pull that Spinder off my ScrapRack, toss it into a TravelPack,  and take it with me down to Bend this weekend.  Maybe I'll be able to finish up when I'm there.
  Here are a few pictures from the trip.  We really had a wonderful time.  There were so many fun things to do and the scenery was BEAUTIFUL!
Yep, that's me repelling down the cliff side.

London on the Slickrock Trail

Max leading the way. It was early, but already quite warm.

There I am again, always at the end of the line.
The boys tell me my main purpose is "food and first aid."

All three of my boys sound asleep on the flight to Moab.

At the Colorado National Monument

Park, out climbing around.

London and Max  on the river.

  If I was going to do it over again, the only thing I would change is my expectation of what I thought I could get done. 
  Thanks so much for following along!!
Tif

8.10.2012

Practicing what I preach - Post 6

Well, I can't say that I was as successful as I would have liked to have been, but I can say I did get 8 pages complete (titles will be cut and added at home, journaling will be printed and attached to the back of the layouts at home too.)  I was also able to do the basic design for another 4 pages.  It should be pretty easy to finish those up when we get back.
What I can say is that I just re-packed all of my supplies and it was REALLY easy to put everything away. 
What I would recommend if you're planning on scrapping during vacation:
1. Rent a house or condo instead of staying in a hotel.  There are so many benefits; having a washer and dryer (I love going home with just clean clothes in my suitcase), a full kitchen is a huge plus, especially with teenage boys, they usually cost less than the same number of nights in a hotel, but from a Scrapper's perspective it's GREAT to have lots of extra space to Scrap.

2. Make sure you have plenty of color choices with paper.  I don't think I took enough.

3. Don't get frustrated if you can't get everything done.  Just being able to think about layouts as events are happening will make it easier to scrap them when you get home. I was able to the basic design work for the additional 4 pages, that means I'll be able to finish them up pretty quickly at home.

4. Check into a one hour photo printer before you leave.  If you're in a small town like Moab, you may not have access to printed photos.  It would be a bummer to pack all of your supplies and then not be able to Scrap while you're there.

5. Take some empty SuperSized Singles for storing your completed pages.  I had to put the completed pages in the back pocket of the Project Planner pages.  It worked find, but it would have been more fun to put them into the SuperSingles so I could lay them out and see all of them at once.

6.  Don't try to do too much.  If  you're like me, you can get so caught up in what you plan to get done, that you miss out on the "relaxing" part of being on vacation.

Thanks for following along.  I'll post more on Monday when I have a chance to actually "unpack" everything in the studio.


8.05.2012

Practicing What I Preach - Post 5

  Okay, I did forget a couple of things, my corner rounder and STICKY NOTES!!! How I forgot those is beyond me - sticky notes are almost as important in my life as coffee.
  I've created a couple of pages.  I need the Sticky Notes so I can write down the titles I have in my head and attach them to the layouts. I'll cut them with my Pazzles machine when I get home.
 These pages are pretty simple, but mostly done.  I'll do the jounaling blocks at home when I have access to a computer printer.
 I think the ladies at the pharmacy with the photo printer think I'm crazy. I've been in there everyday using (or trying to use) their Kodak machine.
It's a little more difficult than I thought it would be to scrap while I'm on vacation.  Mostly because I'm EXHAUSTED by the end of the day. 
The good news is it's nice and warm here in Moab!!
Thanks for checking in on my progress!
Tif

8.03.2012

Practicing What I Preach - Post 4

Okay, I'm here in Moab, Utah and I've come across one small problem.  There's only one place in town to print photos - YIKES!! Who would have thought.  Their machine is broken - YIKES!! Who would have thought?  Good news is it will be functional by the end of the day, so I'll keep you posted.
Tif

7.31.2012

Practicing What I Preach - How to Plan, Pack, and Scrap on vacation - Bl...



Happy Monday! Today I combined all the products I had, with all the products I purchased at the Lancaster Creating Keepsakes convention and packed them all up.

I used out new Project Planner Pages and combined products for a couple of different events/activities in each page.
I used 2 additional Project Planner Pages to pack up the "generic" products.


A quick flip through my Rainbow Section and I was able to pull a good selection of colored products out of my ScrapRack and fill up both sides of the new Cutting Cartridge and Embellishment Storage Page.





Finally, I loaded all of my pages into a TravelPack and then filled the tool pockets with all the "must have" tools, adhesives, and other "basics" I needed to scrap as I travel.


Now, I'm off to Moab.....I'll keep you posted as I progress!


7.23.2012

Who did we meet at the show? - Atlanta SB Expo


Hi All -
 This is a new segment I'll be adding to my blog after each of the shows or conventions we attend.  There are so many wonderful people we meet at the shows, often times they are in the booth next to us or just across the aisle.  I thought the idea of introducing you to our new friends and their products would be a lot of fun!
  So..... Who did we meet in Atlanta?
  We met a Millicent Carter of Class Creations and www.ScrapBasket.net .

 What did we love about Millicent besides her warm,welcoming smile and her genuine southern friendliness?  We fell in love with her GORGEOUS and I mean GORGEOUS page kits.  Check them out on her website: www.ScrapBasket.net.  Here are a couple of examples of her work.  You can purchase her kits individually or you can join her monthly kit club.



Two of my favorites:
Flying Monkies and It's All About the Shoes.

Thanks for stopping by to visit.  I hope you'll take a minute to check out Millicent's beautiful creations!
Tif