Playing With Paper!!

I can't believe this is my desk!

I am a bit of a neat freak.  Now, when I am scrapbooking or making a card-my desk is often a disaster but I clean up when I am finished.  It's just the way I am.  However today my desk is just a mess:

And although this is unusual for me, I don't really mind it.  I am working on thank you cards for a friend.  She has a baking business and wants some cards for her clients.  I am having a blast working on the cards & I have a million card ideas in my head.  I didn't think I could work with so much disorganization but I am feeling very inspired.  Here is one of my cards:

I used sketch number 33 from Fresh Made Sketches as my inspiration.  I really liked how the patterned paper is the star of this card.  So cute don't you think?

Not perfect but it will do for now

Several post back I shared this picture:

These are all my embellshments that my Clip-It-Up use to hold.  I been trying to come up with a new storage solution.  A big problem for me was transporting my Clip-It-Up.  I am want to attend  more crops this year and the idea of lugging my CIP everytime I want to go crop was getting daunting.  So, this is my solution (for now):

I found this "box" at HomeGoods.  I liked it because I knew it could hold 12x12 products.  To keep all my supplies seperate, I used 12x12 plastic pockets - labeling  each in pocket so I can grab it out of the box with no hassle.

I am happy with this so far.  It is really easy to move and carry.  I love to organize and re-organize so this was a fun challenge.  I am hoping to get my new storage rack for my punches soon so I will share that when it arrives.

So, are you re-organizing anything in your scrappy world???

 

 

The week that will never end!

This always happens to me - I had a wonderful, relaxing weekend and then it's back to reality!  This week is dragging - ugh.  I have been busy working on some reorganization projects in my scrap room.  The biggy is reorganizing my embellishments.  For the past several years, I have had all my embellishments organized with my Clip-It-Up.  I have love my Clip-It-Up but mine got broken a while back and I am ready for a change.  This is what my embellishments look like at the moment:

I know it looks like a mess but I am determinted to get it organized.  My first priority was to clean out all my old embellishments.  I gave my girls all the stuff I have had forever so they can use them in their Smash books.  I have also been searching the internet for the past few days looking for an easy way to get all this under control.   I'll let you know if I come up with anything good-keep your fingers crossed for me!!

Would you like to see another layout I created over the weekend?  Well, here you go:

These pictures are of my daughter and her baby cousin (she adores him & can't get enough time with him).  I used patterned paper from October Afternoon as well as embellishments from them as well.  I love the color combination - the yellow & grey - different from my normal color palette but I love it!  I was inspired by a layout I found in PageMaps 2 when I created this layout - I just can't remember the page number (sorry).  Don't you just love a good sketch book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinda a weird day...

My kids had to go back to school today but my husband & I are both off.  Strange being in the house with just the two of us - but nice.  We finished taking down Christmas, did a huge cleaning in the basement, took a nap and watched some Glee (Season 2).  My husband asked when we could take a day off together again?  This is huge - my husband never takes a day off.  We took a picture of the 2 of us after lunch and I am going to use that for my day 2 picture of Project Life:

Not our greatest picture but it real life so it is going in my album.  Not sure if my husband is completely on board with Project Life but I think when he sees the album coming together, he'll get it.

I was looking back on some of my old post and I don't know if I ever shared my final stamping storage solution.  So here:

All of my acrylic stamps are now in stamping cases I ordered from SU!.  I am very pleased with how my new storage system worked out.  I organized all my sets by following how SU! categorizes stamps in the catalog (Greetings, Growing Up, Etc.).  I also created a binder that list all of my stamps so I can just pull it off of the shelf when I need to find a stamp.

I just listed all my SU! stamps because they all have a title and I pretty much know what each set is by title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my acrylic's, I stamped each image on a sheet for the binder and also for the case each set is housed in.

I am finding this system works really well for me.  I can find what I am looking for in no time and I feel like all my stamps are safe.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a big project to re-organize all my stamps but I am so glad I did it!!

 

I'm keeping the cards coming...it's what I have been up to!

When I started working on this card-I had no direction.  I started just playing with my stamps and was waiting to see where the ink would take me. 

 
And I must say I am very pleased with the outcome.  Very simple card but pretty.  All supplies are from SU!.  The stamp set is Pretty Peony - had it buried under a bunch of stamps and since I am in the process of re-organizing all my stamps I found it!  I forgot how much I liked this set and am thrilled I rediscovered it!!

And about re-organizing my stamps - WOW- way bigger project than I could have imagined.  I am making progress but still working on it.  I am hoping by the end of next week to be able to share the finished project.  The time is worth the end effect.  I think I am going to like my new system (and maybe I won't have to re-due it for the hundredth time!).

Wishing you an amazing weekend and thanks for stopping by!!

Happy Labor Day!

Are you doing anything exciting?  We are just hanging out so I am playing a bit.  Still working on my new organization project - I think it is going to take some time but I am ok with that.  I just realized I never posted the pictures from the finished project I made for my sister so here you go:
 
I think it came out pretty cute.  Some of the flowers have batting and some don't.  I used buttons on all of the flowers to hold their shape together.  I adhered them with pins so they can be removed or moved around as desired.  I just ordered 10 new Sizzix dies from www.sizzix.come - they are having a nice clearance sale right now.  I only paid $30.00 with the shipping!!  Can't wait to play with them.

I wan't to make some things for my office using my Big Shot-I just got the fabric I ordered.  Maybe this afternoon...

Don't you love Saturday? I am loving this Saturday!

So far it has been a pretty great day!  I finished the back to school shopping - all the kids got new shoes for under $50.00 bucks!   Coupons, clearance and bogo's are the way to shop!!  I went to Michaels and bought two albums and FINALLY put some layouts in albums.  What a sense of accomplishment!  I still need to put a few layouts away but I need to get some more page protectors.  But I am glad I got some layouts tucked away in there new home.  And now I am working on my new organization binder.  A few weeks back I stumbled onto this post from this blog: www.kathleendriggers.com - she has inventory sheets for scrapbookers that are an organizational scrapper nerds dream.  So that is what I am currently putting together but I do have a layout to share:

 

These pictures are from Easter last year.  The patterned paper and card stock are from SU!.  The flowers are K and Co.  Talk about a simple layout but I really like it.  I think I am so clever (although I have seen it done before) the way I added the flowers to the paper-loving it!  Hope you are enjoying this Saturday as much as me!!

Wow! It's Wednesday already...this week is flying by.

Yesterday I had the urge to clean my office so I started with the closet (re-organized and got rid of a bunch of stuff), dusted every surface, cleaned the floor and it felt great!  Then I got to play in a clean space and make a mess again!  I may have mentioned once or twice that I just got the Big Shot from Sizzix and I may have mentioned how much I love it - so much fun.  But I only have the one die Top Note (which I also love!).  My neighbor Jamie has several dies so last night I borrowed some - I just have to say it again: I love my Big Shot!  This is what I came up with last night:

 
The pictures are of out visit with Brendan last spring - the kids had a wonderful time playing with their cousin.  The patterned paper is from SU!; the paper ribbon is by Bazzill as well as the card stock and the flowers were cut with the Big Shot.  So stinkin cute...makes me want to stay home and play all day!!

Hmmm...I think it's time-

To do some re-organizing (insert my sister's laughter here because I am sure she will laugh when she reads this).  I am always re-organizing but I think I want to make some big changes.  I am thinking about how I can re-organize my acrylic stamps and punches.  I've got loads of ideas rolling around my head - if you have any good ideas, please feel free to share.

This is a layout I finished last week:
 
Last month, my son was asked to speak at a Board of Education meeting about a new reading program introduced to his class.  He was so cute...this little 7 year old, speech in hand, presenting to a room full of adults.  I couldn't wait to scrap the pictures!!  I used patterned paper from October Afternoon, cardstock from Bazzill and I was inspired by a layout from www.sketchesbysuzy.com. 

I hope you have a wonderful day.  I am off to browse blogs for some organizational inspiration!!

Such a happy Tuesday!

Things have been a bit rough around my house lately.  My husband has been working a ton & not around as much to help with the kids and life.  It is baseball season - both my boys play so I spend a lot of time at baseball fields.  I love that they love to play but sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming driving from one field to another and then back and then back!  Last week I was a bit over everything and my husband asked me what I REALLY wanted for Mother's Day - and I said a trip to Ikea.   I will admit we are not always the best at follow through so I didn't expect much.  But Saturday afternoon (after 2 baseball games & a very late night the evening before) I found myself in Ikea with 2 new pieces of furniture for my office!  We got it all home and my children and I put it all together.  Here's a very brief play-by-play:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what my office looked like after my kids removed everything from my old bookcase.

 

 

These are my boys helping me open boxes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are my girls while helping me put together the book shelf.   And this is my office put back together:

 

 

 

 

 
This is the view from the door.

 
This is one of my new shelves - I love it.  I can see everything and nothing can get lost or hidden.  And I hung that Making Memories shelf I purchased at Michael's a few weeks ago above.  I love that I was able to move my inks and Clip it Up away from a window on the other side of my office because I thought all the direct sun was not good for them.

This is my new bookcase:

 
I love this bookcase!  It isn't much wider than my old one but it is taller & much sturdier.  I have so much more storage room and I can see everything!   I have been walking around with a big, happy grin on my face for the past 2 days.  My husband is amazed that all it took were 2 shelving units to make me so happy.  Who needs diamonds and flowers when you can have a well organized scrap space (although diamonds and flowers are always welcome too!).