Reconsidering Medium

In one form or another, I have been scrapbooking since I was a teenager. Probably even before that if you count all the paper and crayons I consumed as a child. Without a doubt, the need for me to create has always been a piece of the puzzle that makes me who I am.

This year, I started a journey to find.....me. I can never deny the creative part of me. To take it away would be taking away an integral part. The projects I have in my head will always be much more grandeur than anything I can create. But what I am learning, is I need to create for me in order to satisfy my creative spirit.

Throughout the years, I have expressed my creativity in many different forms. Scrapbooking. Sewing. Drawing. Writing. I think I have done it all. I have been successful enough with my scrapbooking endeavors to have been published in books and magazines. Creating objects and clothing out of a simple piece of fabric has brought me so much joy. Watching my children learn from my talents is the most satisfying feeling. Words have always brought me joy, either reading or writing. I tried my hand at writing a novel this year, but when my heart wasn't in it, I knew it was a creativity I wasn't ready to share, so it was best kept inside.

Since the kids are back in school, it is usually the time when I start scrapbooking again. Usually, September is the month where I walk in my studio, and the projects I have thought about over the summer months, get my attention again. This year is different. This is the year, I am realizing I need to create to satisfy my creative spirit, and I am finally confident enough to say I am reconsidering my medium.

I'll keep you posted.

Card using Cricut Mother's Day Bouquet Cartridge

In keeping with wanting to use a Cricut cartridge when I purchase it - in order to justify owning the cartridge - here is a card I made today using Mother's Day Bouquet. The papers are inked with Tim Holtz's Rusty Hinge. The flower was cut at 4".

New Supplies!

I finally went to Scrap Tales tonight to use a gift certificate I bought and decided to focus on adding more inks to my collection. I met Laura who helped me pick out some Tim Holtz inks and add a few new Stickles to my collection. I laughed, and told her that I would post a photo of the Stickles on my blog when I put them on my shelf - I only added two to the collection - NOT all the ones in the photo!!

So, Laura, this one is for you - it was nice talking to you today! I will certainly make sure you are working when I come into the store.

If you get a chance make sure to check out her blog - http://www.rememberinglifesmoments.blogspot.com/- she does some beautiful work.

I also added a few more stamps to the spinner, although the ones from Washington, DC are still my favorite.

Snow Days!

My favorite days during the school year are SNOW DAYS! It is always fun to see the kids wondering and anticipating if school is going to close, and when it does to see the excitement on their faces!

So imagine their excitement having two SNOW DAYS in a row! I have a few projects that I want to finish up today and hopefully the kids will join me in the studio this afternoon. Today is their morning to sleep in!!

Quest to Use Every Cartridge I Own! COMPLETED!

Well, still working on the clean out. Progressing nicely, but I wish it was just all gone! Funny thing was I found some old issues of Somerset Studios magazine - we are talking pre-Benjamin magazines! Dated 1998. I started to get rid of them and then, maybe the page fell open, maybe I was mindlessly looking at the pages, whatever happened, not sure, but I saw this really neat project to make mini-books using shrinky dink material. Next thing you know I am looking through this magazine and, yes, it was returned to the keep pile! Broke every rule of getting rid of stuff, didn't I? There are only two of them, but I do plan on looking at them and tearing out the projects I would like to try sometime.

Enough about the purging! On to update everyone about my "other" project involving Cricut! Cartridges have been for sale at ridiculously low prices! I have avoided going to the store, only because I suspect with my obsessive/compulsive behavior, I will end up with cartridges I don't want. I decided to do something a little extreme....

I went through all my cartridges and actually USED them! I decided before I buy any more cartridges, it was time to hit reality that I haven't used most of the cartridges I own. Hence, was born another project!

Armed with my scrap bin, I was determined to make one thing from each cartridge. Rules were to use only scraps - I broke that rule twice - I needed black paper as an outline for many cuts and double-sided paper for one cut. For each cartridge, I went through the book searching for the right cut to hit me. I avoided doing one-layer cuts, and I think there are only two in the bunch. I wrote the name of the cartridge on the flip side of each cut along with measurements for some.

I have 59 cartridges, and 9 on the gypsy only. Truth be told, I am expecting three more cartridges today, and it is my plan to use them right away to include them in my project.

Throughout the week, I plan on blogging about my experience. What cartridges I love, and what cartridges I thought, "Why did I ever buy this?" and what I learned throughout the experience.

It certainly became an obsession for me to complete the project - now I can officially say I have used all the cartridges I own!

What is Going on in the Cricut World?!?!

Something is, that is for sure. Clearing out the gypsys? Clearing out cartridges?

I haven't even used the new ones I received for Christmas!!

Happy New Year!

The new year is here and it is time to....clean out the old scrapbook supplies! I signed up to participate in the garage sale again this year at Scrap Tales, so I am motivated to purge the old! I have decided to get rid of most of the old scrapbook magazines taking up serious cupboard space in the studio - I haven't looked at any of them in years, so it is time for them to move on.

So what else is on the purge list?
Some stamps, wood mounted and acrylic
Punches
...and is it time to get rid of the decorative scissors?

Of course, I have the list of items that I would never get rid of:
Glitter, in any shape or form! (Including Stickles)
Martha Stewart or EK Success Punches
Cuttlebug supplies
RIBBON!
Cinch Tool
Anything Cricut
Copic Markers
Buttons

The boys made me some new shelves to hold more punches and that is working out great! It is so nice to be able to see the punches. I just recently purchased the Ranger spinner - it is kinda a vintage looking rubber stamp holder. The spy stamps the kids purchased in Washington, DC now have home to reside. Interestingly, when I did an on-line search on how to put it together, I saw a note someone wrote about a stand her husband built for her Stickles. She is going to look around for a photo of it - I see a project in the future!

Christmas Party Invitation

I was very happy with the way these turned out! Even better since I had a helper with texturizing all the pieces in the Cuttlebug! Thanks Madeline!

Supplies Used:
Jolly Holiday Cricut Lite Cartridge
Cuttlebug Folders - swiss dot, snowflakes and swirls
Martha Stewart White Flocking on hat
Doodlebug Fine Orange Glitter

Kimm and Rochelle - your invites are in the mail! :)

Simple Notebook for Teacher

I will be substitute teaching for 7th grade science tomorrow, and thought it would be nice to leave a small gift for the teacher. I made this simple notebook using scraps from the scrap bin, chipboard, ribbon and the Cinch. I get to do an experiment and hopefully wear goggles!! lol

New Carts for the Collection

I took time over the weekend to open all the carts that I have accumulated over the past few months and it was so exciting! Create-a-Critter is such a fun cart and believe it or not, Summer in Paris has an incredible 3-D Eifel Tower....and....YES....I did make one and it is sitting on my desk in the office. My sister brought some of her newest cartridges over for me to look at, and Give a Hoot is now on my wish list, although Paisley has moved lower on the list now that I looked through the actual book. She also has the In My Kitchen cart, and although it is a very specialized cart, I can see the appeal of it. I still will be spending some time exploring the carts and will share my thoughts and photos of my projects over the next few days.

Cricut Cartridges, Books and Overlays Organized!

As promised, here is my new organization for my cricut cartridges, boxes and overlays! They are divided into two IKEA boxes - A-L and M-Z. The boxes were too deep for the folders, so I bought 1" foam at Joann's, and cut a piece to fit the bottom of the box. It raised the bottom just enough so they files are not lost in the box. I like to keep my cartridges separate from the books and overlays, and I keep them in the plastic boxes I bought in the craft section at Walmart. Since I use Cricut Design Studio quite a bit, I usually don't need the book and over lay. The original Cricut boxes looked nice all lined up on my shelf, but for some reason they visually bothered me. Maybe it was because whenever anyone saw them lined up on the shelf, they usually commented on how many cartridges I own. Now that being said, I am grateful for all my cartridges, but it was usually just an awkward moment! I laugh because considering some of the people on the Cricut Message Board have WAY many more carts then I do, I find it funny!

I made a folder for each cartridge using a .cut file from Cindy McVey on her blog: http://crazy4crafting.blogspot.com/. I think this file was originally created to use in the Snapware method of storing carts. I'm not crazy about the clear boxes and couldn't stand the colors of the lids of the ones I did find in the store, so I didn't want to use Snapware. I will say, make sure if you are going to cut the files to use to store the books and overlays, you make SURE they fit in your box. This IKEA box is the only one that I could find that was wide enough, and since Cindy's file is so great, I didn't want to mess with it! Anyways, it took me quite awhile to cut and assemble files for all the books and overlays. I used double sided tape, white cardstock, and then being a little obsessive, I had to make labels for each. I decided to cut all the files, left and right only, and I figure when I add cartridges, I will make folders with the tab in the center. I cut all the files left and just flipped them over as I was assembling them to make them on the right. I am just so happy this project is done.

In case anyone is wondering, I am packing the original boxes away along with the original packing from the Cuttlebug folders. I know some people get rid of them, but since I have a box and the place in the closet, I may as well hang onto them!

Last but not least, I made a paperclip for my calendar today! Not a huge project, but it made me happy!

New Mailbox and Paper Clip

Made another mailbox and a cute paperclip to match! Used Martha Stewart heart punch, cuttlebug stamp folder and die, spellbinders small scalloped square, Martha Stewart heart lace border punch, sparkle heart brad from Target, pink mailbox from Target ribbon from Michaels and K and Co Lovely paper. The giant paperclip is from Staples, made with same paper and ribbons. Scallop circles are cut with spellbinders. This one is for my mom and dad!

Cricut Cart Boxes are Done!

Okay, it took forever, but they are done! Will post photos in the next few days. I can't wait for this project to be over......

Cuttlebug Folders are Organized!

I did it! I used a file created by Okie on the Cricut message board to organize all my Cuttlebug folders! Each folder has a file with the image embossed on the front of it - I also embossed another piece of paper to include in my binder. I did edit Okie's cut file to accomodate the smaller and border folders. It isn't the best cut file, but it worked for what I needed.

Tonight I am going to assemble all the folders for the Cricut overlays and books while I watch PROJECT RUNWAY!

Organization, Purging and Removing Cricut Pages

As I continue on my quest to organize the studio, I am also purging! I decided to send some of my stuff over to Scrap Tales to include in their garage sale at the end of the month. For everything you sell, you get the profits put on a Scrap Tale gift card! So, of course, my intentions are to get rid of stuff that I don't use, and.......buy more Copic markers!!

This afternoon was quite liberating! I actually REMOVED the foreign language pages from all my Cricut books. As silly as it is, I was worried about removing the pages, and altering the books from their original format. Wow! Was I wrong on this one. I can't believe how much smaller the books are and how much easier the pages turn in them. I plan on cutting out folders for each book and overlay and storing them all in one box. As cool as I think all the cartridge boxes look lined up on my IKEA Lack shelf, it is not the best system. I still plan on keeping all the cartridges in the small box I have them in separate from the overlays and books, but it will free up some visual space for me.

I have decided to keep all my Copics in one box and use a wood box that has been sitting on my kitchen counter to organize by color some markers and color pencils. I am also trying to come up with a better system for organizing my Cuttlebug folders.

I'll post some photos of all my progress later.

Birthday Mailbox, Organizng Punches and New Copics!

The target mailboxes are so versatile! I made this one for my best friend's birthday gift! This one is made with the pink mailbox and the new K&Co valentine papers. The flower punch on the flag is the Martha Stewart pop-up water lily punch. I was a little hestitant about this punch since it is so big and bulky, and since I use the Cricut to cut most shapes, I didn't want to add more supplies that may not get used. However, I do like the detail the punches offer for smaller shapes. I think this flower is multipurpose. It is perfect to cut poinsettas, any spring flower shape, and since it has some depth - I like it! The border punch on the mailbox is the Martha Stewart valentine lace border and the shiny plastic flowers on the ends are Blossom & Leaves from Creative Impressions. I made a small card to include in the mailbox using the Martha Stewart scoring board.

Last week, I was inspired to clean out my punch drawer and see what I really have. I put some in my "get rid of pile" and decided to organize the remaining scissors and punches. For each punch I cut the shape, for the scissors I cut the design, and adhered them to white cardstock . I am hoping that I will use more of the items I have, if I know what I have! I really try and resist the EK Success and Martha Stewart punches, but they are so wonderful! One area that is lacking in my punch word, it large circles and scalloped circles. I think I would use them all the time, but I try and remind myself that I can easily cut them with the Cricut, but sometimes it would be so easy to open the drawer! I did go to IKEA last week, and bought a picture frame ledge that I want to install above the countder top. I like to pull seasonal items out and display them - I seem to use the items then! So this shelf will be perfect. I am trying to figure out a solution to move the paper off my counter because it bothers me visually where it is at!

One highlight of the week for me were some items that I bought off a member of the Cricut message board! She is moving to Amsterdam and listed some items for sale! I was so excited to purchase some Copic markers, and a few cartridges from her. She was really nice and included a bunch of freebies with my package! I was so excited this morning to add the markers to my collection. Over the next few weeks, the studio is going to revamped! It functions fairly well, but I have some areas to improve, and I need to add some life to it! Happy Sunday!

Decorated Metal Valentine Mailbox from Target

I was so excited the other day when I saw these metal mailboxes at Target! Many very talented papercrafters have been decorating them since last year, and I thought I would give it a try. Very easy project! The paper is last year's valentine paper by K&Company. The stamp cut is from cuttlebug along with the embossed love image. The heart is cut from the new Cricut Love Struck, and the small heart in the middle is a Martha Stewart sticker. The paper around the edges is the new Martha Stewart heart doily punch. Someone has created a cut file, but I just cut the paper 4x12 inches to cover the box. The ends are covered with paper cut by tracing the ends.

SCAL or MTC

I love my cricut - eveyone knows that! One of the things I dislike about it is having to use cartridges for every design. It really limits creativity. I have know for awhile about SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) that you can use to cut virtually any file with your cricut. Now, someone has designed a new program - MTC (Make the Cut.) This morning, I uploaded the trial version and cut an All Time Low and Harry Potter logo. Since it is the trial version, a slash mark was cut through each logo, but WOW, am I impressed! I know Madeline and Andrew will be quite excited when they get home and see the potential! I know Madeline wants to make Mayday Parade t-shirts for a concert at the end of the month. I did the Whaler t-shirts in the fall using the freezer paper method, but for this project, I plan on ordering some iron on vinyl.

New Year's Eve

Just wanted to post a note to wish everyone Happy New Year! Looking forward to a new year, and taking time to learn something new - and share my ideas and thoughts with others. I am blessed to have my family!

Kids are Home!

Today is one of the best days! The kids are home from school and that makes me very happy! The kids are working on all different projects down in the scrapbook studio and I am assisting as needed. I have no expectation of getting anything done myself, but just being available to help them is the role I am playing today. I did pull out the New Year's scrapbook and maybe later this evening I will try and put pages together for last year. We always write letters to ourselves on New Year's Eve, and five years later we open the letter up. Everyone always looks forward to opening the letters and I am sure this year will be no different!

For Christmas, the kids gave me a Bind It All that I am really looking forward to learning how to use! But for now, I am just going to enjoy the greatest gift I have - the kids home for the holiday break!