My Crafty Life

Paper Crafting Tip #33: Limit Your Embellishments

When I first started scrapbooking, things were much simpler.  Choosing embellishments was pretty easy, because you had much less to choose from.  Now, there are so many embellishments on the market that it can be very difficult to choose what to use on your layouts.  Well, I have a very simple solution:  limit your embellishments to 3 or 4 different types of items.  For example, on this layout, I decided to use flowers, ribbon, and eyelets/brads.  Not only did that save me time, but it also forced me to be more creative with what I was using.  You do have to stick to your choices, though; because, if you second-guess yourself, that defeats the purpose of limiting your choices in the first place. 

Give it a try.  I think you'll be happy with the sense of freedom you will get when you make things so much easier on yourself.  See you next week.  Happy Crafting!

Paper Crafting Tip #32: Take a Break from the Message Boards

If you're like me, you belong to several message boards.  Although I visit only 3 of them daily (I'm a moderator and on the Design Team for one), there was a time - not so long ago - when they took up a lot of my time.  It's easy to get involved in the "drama," or try to keep up with every new gadget or paper collection that seems to appear almost daily.  However, I've come to several conclusions about these message boards, and I've realized that my time can be better spent working on my projects.

1.  Since the information I'll receive about what's new and hot in scrapbooking and stamping will be the same no matter which message board I visit, I can limit myself to 2 or 3 and still not miss out on all the info.

2.  I don't have time for all the drama.  I read the subject lines of the posts and can usually skip at least half of them because they are really not important.  Especially the ones that start," So, what are you doing today" or "Guess What?"  I don't want to guess, and I really don't need to know what everyone is doing.

3.  I don't have to download and print out every tutorial that is posted or watch every video that is made.  To be perfectly honest, although some of them are quite good and well-thought-out, many of them are thrown together just so that the people who have made them can say, "Look, I can make tutorials and videos."

4.  I don't waste my time uploading my layouts and cards to online galleries.  Scanning, stitching, and resizing my images so that they will fit within the confines of some online galleries takes a lot of time.  On many larger message boards, these posts remain for mere minutes before they are pushed off the first page in the gallery, only to be buried under everyone else's.  And I don't know about you; but after all the work I go through to scan, stitch, etc., not only would I like them to stay around for awhile, but a comment or 2 would be appreciated as well.  It still boggles my mind how over 200 people can view a layout or card, yet not even one person can take the time to post a simple comment.

5.  Avoid getting too personally involved on the forums.  I've made the mistake of feeling so comfortable on some message boards that I've actually given my honest opinions when people have asked for them.  Now, I don't mean that I've trashed someone's layout or post.  I would never, ever do that.  I can always find something nice to say about someone's hard work, and I don't "flame."  I mean the people who ask how you really feel about something they've said or done.  For example:  "Let me know if I hurt your feelings, or if you feel slighted, because that really isn't what I wanted to do."  They really don't want to know your honest opinions or feelings.  They just want you to alleviate their feelings of guilt or make them feel better about the decisions they've made.

6.  Finally, set a timer for the number of minutes you want to devote to message boards, and stick to it.

I know I might sound a little harsh, but I've heard so many crafters say that they have no time to scrapbook or stamp anymore.  Maybe it's because we are spending too much time on message boards and not enough time creating.  Message boards, like all things in life, have their place.  I've learned so much from other crafters on message boards, and I've had a lot of fun sometimes.  But I've also spent a lot of time and hard work on some forums, only to fall victim to favoritism and the terrible crime of "not being popular or famous."  Remember, too much of anything isn't good for you.  Now stop reading my blog, and go create something!  :)

Directions for Criss-Cross Cards from Yesterday's Post

Here are the cards again.

Supplies: 

Two 4 1/4" x 11" pieces of cardstock 

One or two 4" x 5" piece of patterned paper  (*If you are using double-sided patterned paper, you will need one piece.  If you are using single-sided paper, you will need two.)

One 3 3/4" x 5" piece of cardstock

One 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of cardstock

Ink

Stamps

Adhesive

Scraps of paper for embellishments (or ready-made embellishments)

Corner rounder

Directions for Holder Portion:

1.  Score both 4 1/4 x 11" pieces of cardstock at 5 1/2".

2.  Take one scored piece and cut it diagonally from center top to bottom left.

3.  Take the other piece of scored cardstock and cut it diagonally from the center top to the bottom right.

4.  Add adhesive to the rectangle part of the back of one cardstock piece.

5.  Tape both pieces together. Make sure both long edges of the diagonal sections are on the bottom.

6.  Fold the triangle flaps toward you to create the "criss-cross."

7.  Cut the patterned paper in half diagonally.  If you are using single-sided paper, have one patterned face up when you cut it and the other face down.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  If you are using double-sided paper, you don't have to worry about this.

8.  Align the triangles to the front flaps of the card, and adhere them to your card front.

9.  Add adhesive to the bottom of the middle panel and on the bottom of the triangle flap that will be the top flap. Tape the card base together.


Directions for Card Insert

1.  Take the 3 3/4 x 5" and 3 1/2 x 4 3/4" pieces of cardstock, and round the top corners.

2.  Layer and adhere them together.

3.  Stamp and embellish as desired.  I used embellishments from my "stash." 

Please Note:  Adding a tab on top of the insert makes it easier for the recipient to remove the card from the holder, but it is not necessary.  If you do add it, you will need to make a custom envelope, because it won't fit in an A2 (invitation size) envelope.  You can email me for a template.

Be warned:  These can become addictive!  Have fun, and don't say I didn't warn you!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.

Shocking, isn't it?  But, yes, lately I really have been thinking about how I spend my time. I've been re-evaluating my priorities, and I've come to the conclusion that I need to spend more time on things that I really enjoy, and that I "get something out of." I'm not talking about monetarily. I mean things that I find gratifying.  I've been spending too much time on forums that I no longer enjoy, or at least don't enjoy as much as I used to. Since I'm not a member of the in crowd, or a yes, you're so wonderful, I want to be just like you bunch, or famous, I really don't have much to offer at those places.  I'm going to be using that time to pursue the things I do enjoy.

Apart from my family (of course), one of those things is this blog.  I started it with the hopes of sharing paper crafting tips with my fellow stampers and scrapbookers.  While I've tried to keep that going,  sometimes I've let other things get in the way.  Well, not anymore!  Starting this week, I will be posting weekly crafting tips again, along with updates on how things are going with Repeat Impressions. Speaking of Repeat Impressions, www.repeatimpressions.com ; I just received my first batch of stamps to create with. Wow!  They are simply gorgeous!  I have lots of plans for them, and  I encourage you all to check out RI to see all the wonderful stamps and accessories Wendy has.  Working on the Design Team for Repeat Impressions is another priority that I plan to devote a lot of time to.

I've been doing a lot more scrapbooking and stamping, and I'll be sharing some of those projects with you as well.  Here are some of the cards that I've made lately.  My first new paper crafting tip will be how to make these cards, and I should be posting it this weekend.

Happy Crafting!
Jeanette

 

I've been accepted!

I have some exciting news!  I've been accepted onto the Design Team for Repeat Impressions Rubber Stamps, a wonderful stamp company with a variety of fabulous stamps and accessories!  Check them out here:  http://www.repeatimpressions.com.  The DT isn't posted there yet, but we will be soon.  I'm so excited!

Summer in the Sixties

This weekend I completed a layout that I had been thinking about for awhile.  It's about my favorite summer memories from childhood.  A few years ago, my mother gave me a whole bunch of photos from my childhood, and I've been wanting to scrapbook them ever since.  I don't remember where I read about this challenge, but the challenge was to scrapbook your favorite summer memory from childhood.  Well, here it is, in all its glory.  I worked a little differently with this one, writing the journaling first, and then moving on to the photos.  I hope you like reading and seeing it as much as I enjoyed creating it.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

If you'd like to find out how to get the .cut files for the flower border and large scalloped circle, just email me.

Fitting 9 photos on a 9 x 12 2-page layout

A few years ago, my husband bought me a Hallmark scrapbook for Mother's Day.  Since the theme of the cover is family, I decided to use it to scrapbook the different things we do as a family.  Really.  No kidding!  The size has proven to be a challenge, but I think this layout is proof that you CAN fit multiple photos on a smaller size layout. I think the most important principle to keep in mind is symmetry.  Make sure that your layout is balanced on both sides, and be sure to crop and arrange your photos so that they balance each other and are lined up as straight as possible.  Perfection isn't necessary, though, as life isn't perfect.  Right?

Happy scrappin' and Happy 4th of July!

 

Quick and Easy Teacher Gift

I know it's kind of late, but these sticky note holders are so quick and easy, you can whip up a whole bunch in no time.

The Materials:  1 piece double-sided cardstock, 1 small sticky note pad (about 3" x 3"), adhesive, Velcro or small magnetic closure, embellishments of choice

Step 1:  Cut your cardstock to 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.

Step 2:  Score 1 1/2" in from the left side.  Then score 1 7/8" in from the same side (3/8" from the first fold).

Step 3:  Score 3" in from the right side.  Then score 3 3/8" in from the same side (3/8" from the first fold.

Step 4:  Fold all of your score lines with a bone folder.

Step 5:  Adhere your sticky note pad to the center inside cover.

Step 6:  Use either your Velcro or magnetic closure to make a closure for the holder.

Step 7:  Embellish as desired.

Here is one of the holders that I made.  I used Brenda Walton's Neopolitan Scrap Pad to Go and dollar store flowers.  The flower Post-It note is from 3M, and I split it into 3 sections to use for 3 different  gifts.

And here are the gift bags that I made for them. 
 

 

A Day (Night) to Remember

As some of you may know, my son is a HUGE Yankees fan.  Wasn't he the luckiest kid ever when his Dad took him to the last Opening Day of the "old" Yankee Stadium?!!  And he got to go back the following night because the day game was rained out!  Of course the Yankees won, making this one of the most memorable experiences in his life.  Now, you know Mom just had to scrapbook this one! 

I know that sometimes we scrappers can get so overwhelmed with being "caught up" with our older photos that we tend to let the new ones sit in boxes or on CDs, not to mention the ones that are still floating around on our digital cameras somewhere.  (You know who you are.)  Do yourself and your family a big favor, and take some time in between all your catching up, and scrapbook the here and now.  Don't let these moments slip away without documenting them.  And remember to journal, journal, journal!  You'll be glad you did.

Happy crafting!

Well, things are on a definite upswing for me!

First I won the Fiskars Challenge.  Now I've made my first real business deal!  My cards are going to be sold in a handmade crafts gift shop!  I brought some samples in to the owner, and she really liked my designs.  I brought in 3 dozen gift enclosures yesterday, and we discussed future designs.  Here are some of the cards I made. Next to these are the cards we made at my June TAC Workshop.  We had a great time, and everyone's cards turned out great.  The new TAC catalog is due out next month.  Remember to contact me for your copy.  Happy Crafting!