So many projects; so little time!

I feel like I have been running on coffee lately since sleep is overrated anyhow. I have been running around getting caught up in life and some crafts. I whipped up some cards for some birthdays.....

Then one for Admin day :) 

A couple more for family and friends that I didn't get pictures of. I did attempt my first trifold card, took a little watching and learning but I see more in my future:

Other than cards I made some candy bar holders for the softball fundraiser and raised almost $100 for the team!

I am working on a little shelf for my cricut to sit over my printer so I can have access to both with just a little slide on the countertop, I found these little legs and brackets at Lowes and I need to paint them white. I will post a picture later of the finished project but for now here is a sneak peek :

I also made a little project for a retiree at work (the gig that pays te bills), such a fun little project that in the end will probably be enjoyed more by me making them, than he will enjoy seeing them...I guess when you love crafts that is what it is about, making for the joys in your heart! (Remember sleep is overrated, lol, this was almost 1am running on fumes and silliness knowing I need to get up for work in 4.5 hours :)

I feel like I am so behind as usual, but I took a wonderful vacation with the kids and drove almost 1500 miles in just less than a week, and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a personal challenge to do this without the hubby who had to work. We went all over and explored other states while visiting friends, until next time, keep crafting and stay motivated! 

Enjoy a couple pics of our fun :)

TN Smokies ball game, Mason got a foul ball! Yay Mason!

Diamond Caverns, KY

Photo bombing my kids :) Burgess Falls, TN, 4/2014

:) 

Got my groove back :)

 Last weekend I attended a crop as a customer to have fun and get a lot done:) I ended up with 38 pages and a card. I love the way I feel after getting so much done. I challenged myself to use a lot more pattern paper and less solids, I mean I bought it I should use it right?  :)~

I also used my scraprack at the crop for the first time, I loved it! I know I didn't use as much as I thought I would but every bit helps and I freed up some pages to organize more. 

The card I made was for my boss who will be retiring soon (boo!) from his team with a certificate inside, I will miss him and his jokes about my "crap booking", happy for him, but sad for us. 

As always my kids come first and I had to make a costume for a book report biography for Ty Cobb....how did I do?

I had one happy little boy :)

Well that is about all this week, now to get my stuff all put away from last weekend and finish a couple of my CTMH challenges!

One of my next tasks will be to work on photo organization! Oy! my biggest procrastination!!

Until next time, scrap happy and crop on!

If you get a chance, check out April CTMH sign ups, great incentives :)

Snow Slump...

   I have been in a slump lately. I did get some projects ready for a card class but since then I haven't been able to focus. I have been gathering lots if ideas and hoping this will end when the season changes, the snow is starting to get to me! I have a crop coming too following my birthday next week :) I am looking forward to time being creative and fulfilling to my soul. 

Work has been busy and I need a break from life and the day to day grind we all have come to know these days. I always look forward to revitalize my spirit with creativity. I hope this gets me back on track :) until then enjoy these creations for upcoming classes, more to come soon! Ivy Lane paper pack, so many ideas from just one paper kit :) I am really starting to fall in love with CTMH ideas books!

Candy Bar Pockets

Well I am in the process of going through so much of my stuff and I came across these stickers. I decided I won't use them in a scrapbook so I would use them on this project :) 

I am gearing up for a fundraiser crop and thought these would be nice to sell for Easter gifts.

7"x7" cut paper

Score at 2.75", 5.5" so that 2 sections are 2.75", the smaller end will fold to the inside about 1/2 way

I ran the glue gun (ATG) along bottom and the far end of the first 2.75" section

Fold the smaller side in first careful to line up the bottom edge square, then run glue down the back side of smaller flap, it will be right down the middle, then fold the larger side over this and press the middle and far end down. If you have a crimper, go ahead and crimp the bottom .5" of package. 

A cute idea for a simple Easter treat, or any holiday or occasion :)

Enjoy!!

Stamp Organization

I wanted to share my journey of stamp storage. I call it a journey because it was a looonggg trip!! I tried several ways to do this in previous years. I had put all my stamps in checkbook type holders, but of course ran out of wallets and then had to abandon that option. I threw them all in a box and never knew exactly what I had, and found it easier to just buy a card then make one with the tools I owned. It wasn't until I joined Tiffany's group about organization into the Scraprack that it clicked for me. 

It was all about cataloging when you had so many to keep up with. They didn't all have to fit in the same box but it was important to know what you have. That's began my journey:)

I started with white cardstock, some black ink, and cleaning supplies. I used an old album I wasn't crazy about to make my catalog (thus actually using it and not sitting on a shelf). 

I stamped each image on the cardstock and assigned a number:

Then I put the cling stamps on a cut down sheet of table cloth vinyl, it has a pretty good thickness and yet some movement for the cling to be peeled off easily:

Into a binder they go, I labelled each sheet, which was the reference number I gave it on the stamped image (cc=clear cling, rrs=red rubber stamp, gc=grey cling, w=wood, dccc=die cut clear cling):

Labeled the binders with the sheets included:

Find the right one, pull it out of the page protector:

Finding the stamp you want! Then putting back into the right binder and away. I think that was the biggest challenge before, keeping them all straight and putting them back. 

The same goes for wood block stamps:

I have plenty of room in this 12x12 slim iris paper holder for more blocks and since I don't need a bin for each subject, I just get a new one when this is full. I still label each stamp so it finds it's way back to the right bin once finished. 

I know this is a lot of work on the front end but so rewarding in the end. As time goes on I may seperate groups more and duplicate some into my scraprack but for now I can make a card and be on my way, saving time and money :) A win win for crafty girls!!!

Until next time, stay crafty!!

Thank You Gift

I was inspired by a member of my CTMH team, they made a cute pad of paper holder for a recent team meeting project. I decided to send to a customer something similar as a thank you for an order. I love that this kit was able to make 10 cards and still have leftovers for other projects. My eyes are opening to a whole new world of thinking and using up my scraps for little creations. This is very simple and holds a standard post it note pad. Enjoy making your own!

 I used the basics:

Score tool for fold

Card stock

Embellishment

Adhesive

Paper trimmer

Post it note pad

Stamp and ink

Scissors

(This was the Cloud 9 kit from CTMH, Jan 2014)

Off the radar

Well I wanted to get back to the blog and I think today is a good day to do it. I haven't posted much in the past couple months, nothing really personal anyhow as it has been a couple months of thinking. I lost my father 10/30/13 to a form of Leukemia and I pretty much wanted to avoid talking about it. I am dealing with my loss and I have stopped the guilty feelings from that week and the healing has begun. I have always found healing in my crafts and I think that is one reason I signed up with CTMH when I did. I was searching for a way to distract my life with the art of scrapbooking once again. About 11 years ago I dove into a friendship scrapbook in the waiting room of the hospital while my friend was in ICU, trying to battle her cancer. My faithful CM consultant delivered materials to the hospital for me to continue. I worked on it day and night and when the doctor came in he asked to see it. It was then when he told us she was passing from this world. I needed that book to distract me and help me see our happy days together. I realize I did that again to a certain point with CTMH and also this blog, when I learned of my fathers illness.  I tried to spent as much time with my father, snapping pictures and saving those moments even though they weren't always what I wanted to remember. What I will remember and share in a scrapbook someday of our hospital photo shoots will be the fight he gave to live, the desire to go home, and there is nothing like a home cooked meal and a movie with family even if we have to do them at the hospital.  When I look back at my scrapbooks I know it isn't just the who what where and when, it is the emotions, feeling love, remembering the happy, and healing my heart.  I am still very happy with the choice I made to join CTMH and now I am looking forward to building a business and taking it to the next level with a clear mind and a thankful spirit.

I did manage to get some crafts done that I have not shared but I will post them here now. Take a moment to think about your crafts and why you love them. Scrapbooking for me truly is therapy, it brings back my happy places that only exist in memories. 

Birthday card for my brother

Daycare teacher treat bags

Shadow box for funeral

Donations for NICU families at Christnas time

Homemade blankets for teachers 

Having fun making cards at a crop!

Until next time, craft until your heart sings and remember to take pictures of everything good or bad, happy or sad, this is your life, record it.