Organization Day

I am spending most of the day today trying to re-organize my scraproom. It needs it badly as it is a mess. First of all, I tend to be a messy scrapper/crafter. I guess I do my best work in an aura of total confusion. No, not really. A lot of this chaos was created along with last minute Christmas crafts. Another inspiration for straightening up is that I received several nice tools and supplies for Christmas.

My DH gave me a new Cricut Expression, the Cricut Jukebox, Your Story thermal binding system and a Crop-a-dile Big Bite. I also got some other supplies, such as ribbon, brads, etc. I need to find space for those new tools. That is a challenge since my scraproom is actually a spare bedroom. I have a storage building in the backyard that has been used as my craft studio in the past and it is much bigger than what I am using now. This next year, 2009 will be the year that we turn that back into my studio. But until then I need to make do with what I have now.

Mostly what I have done today is re-organize to some degree my paper stash. I also have made some cardboard bobbins for some of my ribbons. In the last few months I have been on somewhat of a spending spree as far as paper craft supplies are concerned. Today I took advantage of a clearance sale on the SEI website. So that means that more supplies will be arriving soon. I must admit I am somewhat of a hoarder and paper addict. However, I have found out from my friends at the QVC forum that I am not alone in that. Feels good to know I am not the only one LOL.

Yesterday I went shopping. I checked out Tuesday Morning, Hobby Lobby and Michaels. And yes, I bought a few things at each one. The best thing I found at Tuesday Morning was a sign basically saying that a new store was going to be coming to the town where I work. Yayyyyy, only about a mile from my office so will be able to go there on my lunch break. If you have not checked out Tuesday Morning for scrapbook supplies, then you should. Some great discounts. I was really tempted today to go to JoAnn’s but decided I really shouldn’t. I have a trip to San Antonio planned in the very near future and will be checking out some of the LSS there. My son gave me a TomTom navigational system for Christmas so I will give that a work-out finding those stores.
Ok, guess I better get back to organizing so that tomorrow I will not feel so guilty just playing and creating. Let me know what great crafting stuff you got for Christmas

Liz's Journal

I have made several of these journals for my co-worker's and family. This one is for my Secret Santa, Liz. She is a nurse at the clinic where I work.

I started with a "composition book" that can be purchased at Target or WalMart for anywhere from 50 cents and up. When I find them around the 50 cents mark I usually buy all they have on display.

This one I covered with printed cardstock from the Out and About Short Stack with Glitter from My Mind's Eye. The red cardstock used for the binding is Core'dinations. I also used it for the inside front and back. The front binding is matted with gold foil cardstock. The flowers are from a bag of flowers that I ordered from ABC Distributors. I attached them with black mini brads and added just a small amount of Crystal Stickles on the petals. The ribbon was put on prior to gluing the inside front cover on. The bow was made from the same ribbon and attached.

Unfortunately the camera did not do a great job of catching the sparkle of the glitter paper. But then I do not claim to be a photographer :)

Virtual Christmas Tree

One thing that you will find out about me if you visit this blog or if you know me in person is I love gadgets or in the case of a blog, widgets. I love all the "bells and whistles". See the little Christmas tree to the right? You should be able to add an ornament to it every time you visit my page. Hopefully this will actually work. I had a widget that was supposed to count down the days until Christmas however it stopped working. Ok, now off to my scrapbook room for a little cut and paste.

Another New Favorite Store

Yesterday I went to Austin to JoAnn's. This was my first time to visit a JoAnn's in many years and this is one of the big ones. I love, love, love that store. So much for the paper crafter. And of course, being the paper addict/hoarder that I am I bought some paper. A few single sheets and also a DCWV Ultimate Christmas Stack. After choosing those, I thought to my guilty self---"you can not leave this store with just paper LOL". Which of course I had no intention of doing. I found a few embellishments for $1.00 each and a neat item, a Button Bank, it is a cannister with sections that holds about 6 different buttons with a top that has an opening to get the buttons out. I love buttons for embellishing. The real find for me however was the Storage Solutions Craft Carts. Using my 50% off coupons, I came home with 2 of the ones that hold the iris storage boxes (included) and one that has pull out drawers in small and large. Some of these are divided to hold embellishments and the others hold paper. I have already started putting items in there. I have been using the clear 12x12 iris boxes for some time now and was in need of some more.

After we left JoAnn's, we went to Cedar Park to Archivers. This is an awesome store and anyone who is fortunate enough to have one nearby knows that. This is where the paper lover in me is in heaven. I bought several sheets, mostly Christmas themed as that is my favorite to work with. I also bought a ribbon iron and have already used it. I made sure I bought enough to get the tote bag they offered for $5.00 with a $50.00 purchase. No not really, but my bill did happen to come to over $50 so why not?

Today I am hoping to get a day in just scrapping. I am working on a project for Christmas and that day is getting here quick.

The above card was made using a kit I recently bought from PaperWishes. I love their kits and the results. The only thing that I added to this one is the "snow" on the branches of the tree. I did that using Stickles Crystal. I just thought it added a much needed touch. The sentiment on the front of the cardreads "The scent of pine, the crunch of snow..." and the inside reads "May the warmth & peace of the season surround you this Christmas". Below you will see another card I made using my own supplies but following the basic design of the one above.


For the above card I chose Candy Cane Lane/Polar Pinstripes by Imaginisce. I used the Swirls Clears Stamps, Great Big Brad and Rub-on (Happy Holidays) as well as the Christmas Words Stamps (Merry Christmas) all from PaperWishes. Real gross grain ribbon was used for this one. The image of the bear on the rocking horse was the front of a gift card that I bought at DollarTree (5 in a pkg). For the inside the Christmas Ornament image is from a package of gift tags that I got at Michaels.

Welcome To My World

This is my first effort at blogging. I hope to make this site very appealing to those who visit. I will be posting pictures of the things I love most, in particular my scrap creations. You may also see pictures of my pets, my family and perhaps the flowers in my yard. Basically it will be a place for me to express my thoughts in words and pictures of the things I love. Hope you will visit often.