Getting Your Stuff Organized

Garry and friend at the grill

Whether your off having the summer bar-b-que or you're  on vacation, we all have to get some things organized to really enjoy our time. Right?

I came across several tips from an article written for Creative Keepsake Magazine/March/ 2009 issue. The article had "31 Tips For Organizing" and getting your crafting stuff organized. Among the most effective tips for me was the idea start somewhere! It doesn't make much difference where you begin, if it is a box or a drawer, just start there. Take small steps so you're not overwhelmed in the beginning.  I think this is a tip we all can use, whether we are card makers and stamper or into crafts or not, we begin to reduce stress when we start with small steps and keep moving forward. We will eventually make progress.

I noticed with our Card Makin' Cuties, we have to make a new spaces for all the card making tools. One of the tips addressing this was getting your organizing style established. Are you a visiual organized person? If so, then put all your stuff where you can see it in clear boxes and bags. Maybe you'll want your things out of sight? If so invest some cabnet or closet space for this purpose and buy baskets or decorative boxes. 

                    Another tip was label everything. Label, label, label. ( I must admit, I'm don't do very well at this and I put things away where they don't belong.) The article drew attention to labeling once a "home" or place could be established for like items or tools. Get all your things in order.   Especially, 

begin by having the things you use most frequently close at hand. When these items are placed where they are easily accessible we tend to spend less time running around        trying to find them. (A waste of a crafter's time.)

Where do you go for inspiration and creativity? 

I was on-line looking, when  I found most manufactures want to inspire us with ideas about their new products so go on their websites for a card gallery of ideas. A tip from our article was, " make a date to go to your magazines or on-line and view new ideas."

For our new assignment with Operation Write Home, www.operationwritehome.org (click this web link for summer deadlines and new ideas, too), we are starting our fall designs and a few Christmas ideas. OWH has a some ideas for their fall cards and do take note about their advice for Halloween cards. Look over this information and their instructions on their blog.

         Our July group took another field trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, to a small shop called Stamping Day and Night, www.stampingdayandnight.com, just connect to Sarah's link and see the wonderful card samples we were treated too. (We wanted to say thanks so much for the wonderful day with you and Lana.) Sarah Kimber is the owner of SDN. She shared some new coloring techniques with colored pencils that were fabulous! We are so grateful for the "show and tell" with you Sarah. 

She pointed out that everyone can use help along the way, how to use the tools in our tool kits or help learning a new skill or art form. We can all use help in staying organized and inspired to create the new images in our stamps. 

I personally think stampers and card crafters are the nicest, most hospitable people I've ever met in all my years of crafting. You guys are great!!!

Well, until later, I'll be organizing my label's labels.

Gloria J.

Sending Out Encouragement Cards

We found sending cards of encouragement help others so much. I must admit I only think of doing so when I hear someone is ill or in some type of distress. Just recently, I was reminded  there are many people in the service- related industry that would love to have some type of tangible encouraging message, like a card,saying-- " well done," "continue your good work" or even, "You make my day!"  Cards of encouragement are great.

       Just recently I was introduced to a wonderful group who were helping any one with children of Autism. The struggle the family goes through is a "journey" all unto itself and they need our encouragement.

Hands in Autism is one resource center  available in our local area who are part of a whole resource agency-- IRAC located at www. iidc.indiana.edu/irca . This website can answer many questions about autism and it can get you started in the right direction if you think your child has this neurological disorder.

    Soooo--------Why am I talking about this our blog site? Well, it is directly related to military families and our card making for OWH .
Did you know there are approximately 8,800 children of retired military families who are not currently covered under TRICARE, which is the Department of Defense's health care program? Congressmen John Larson and Walter Jones have introduced a bipartisan legislation which is aimed at resolving this issue for children of retired militarywho have children with Autism/  Asperger'sSyndrome.
   The bill was introduced on June 22,2011 by these congressmen as the Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act. You can read more about this legislation by clicking onto:  www.autism-society.org.
I am passing this information along to you not only as awareness in their resources, but also as a way for you to encourage people you know in service-related areas. ( Autism Society/ 4340 East-West Hwy, Suite 350/Bethseda, Maryland, 20814).
     Let me pass along this sketch. Isn't it perfect for  a card of encouragement?... I think it is too.

 I'm looking forward to  other designs and sketches too. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter to Paper Crafter newsletter. It is a great way to look at new products, give-aways and designs.
It's been great to chat with you all.Last, let me say be an encourager to others,  you have all been an encouragement to me,.... so until later.  Enjoy the summer. Leave a comment.

      

You wanted Web sites for July 4th Info

Ha---ha---or should I say ...Opps! I wrote my Fourth of July Blog late last night, and that is not the best time for me to write.  I left out some things, especially the website for our friends and some information about an up coming stamping craft cruise.
So here is what I omitted.Please read the Relax, It's Summer article first and then, come back to this blog for the other details. You will understand why-- read the blog first and come back.
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The cruise was offered in Paper Creation's ad, go on line at www.PaperCraftConnection.com ---the ad for the cruise is on-line.
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Also Cindy and Wayne Hawry at Paper Trix  has a web site and you can see their shop and look at their event schedule from there.  Go to:
 www.papertrix.com  click onto their link for more classes in the southern Indiana area.
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Remember Copic pens has a new Color Book out . It is $14.95 but it is worth it if you are a beginner in this media art for cards.
That's my corrections to the July 4th blog. I hope that helps the "dazed and confused" (and that would be me!) Thanks for reading on--the blog is worth it.

Relax, It's Summer Fun!

I know this summer is going by so quickly. Here we are celebrating the Fourth of July weekend. Yes! 

Our group of card makers is on a summer break- a fun break. We are gathering some new resources, doing some shop watching, sharing some new tools and new techniques.  We've managed to plan a few outings, maybe take in a class or two later this summer and  plan  a summer salad luncheon.

While looking for things we might do, several web sites are offering great cruises at great prices. Several of the magazines (like Card Maker) have details about the cruises and what opportunities they are offering. Check them out. 

 

Gloria and Ellen ready to travel.

By the way, we were looking Card Maker Mag. for ideas and we ran across an article about a little shop in Nashville, Indiana, called PaperTrix, owned and operated by Cindy and Wayne Hawry. We got the car gassed up and took off for southern Indiana and this little shop called Paper Trix. It was wonderful. The article explained the shop was little but mighty. Cindy was such a gracious hostess and informed us about several classes they will host for the summer months. Wayne couldn't wait to share his secrets on ink and blending. Like I said, they were so gracious, we had only met them and yet, stamping and card making brought us together as friends. We finally left the little shop and it deserves the name Paper Trix...my Oh! my, the small shop was crammed floor to ceiling with wonders and magic...real specialty items, you can't get at the box stores.

Judy made us another birthday card! We can't stop her,  she's on a roll with several paper tricks of her own.  This one was showing off a new punch design. 

While her card looks very difficult, she said its the punch that makes the card look difficult.

She added a few paper stickers, with paper flower...that's when  the WOW factor happened. Way to go, Judy.

The Cuties send everyone our greatest sentiments for a glorious holiday celebration. We hope you have a restful summer, a fun filled summer and some great fun with friends making cards. Let us know of your finds by leaving us your comments.

The Big Bang--is a Birthday Card!

It all started just six months ago. That is, our group of fabulous women, Card Makin' Cuties,  has grown every month. So we are celebrating! And why not celebrate with a new card;  we have some new punches,other new tools and, even, new graphic paper along with some new ideas. Let's go girls--- we've set our goal for OWH.

We are learning more and more about the vast variety of card makers out there. Who are you all? I've been connected with "Handmade by Julie" www.handmade byjulie.com who has been so helpful. She was part of the recent Memorial Day Blog Hop hosted by Operation Write Home. They are lots of fun. When you go onto one of the cardmakers sites, they not only give you inspiration but help with some ideas and then send you on to another site. This was my first time to blog hop with the group and I loved it. I can't wait to do it again.

This little sign wasanother way of inviting us to look  for inspiration through Penny Black and their Saturday Challenge. This is a lot of fun, especially if you think you have a dry spell and think there is nothing new to do.

OH MY! After a challenge, you feel like you can't stop making cards and more and more ideas flow. On the Penny Black site was a download on a new stamp pictured below.

Isn't that a cute little bear, sitting in a field and loving this fluttery butterfly. Now, can you put this idea to work on a design pattern for example (#68) from OWH.

 

www.operationwritehome.com. The ideas just keep coming and inspiration fills the air. 

Well, I want to thank Judy for loaning us her card design. It was the big bang we all needed to start us off with new ideas for  another 6 months.

This is so wonderful. We have found a second purpose with OWH and so have our card making skills. We are just  little pebbles in this sea of cardmakers...but Oh boy! are we enjoying the boat ride.

Check out some of these resources and stop by other websites for more ideas. If you have been inspired yourself to try something, good!...Let us be the first to encourage you to continue the good work forward. Some times, the most exciting part of the trip is the journey just getting there.  Until later, Gloria J.

God Bless America

First, God has blessed this country with a force of men and women who feel a love and sense of duty to preserve this nation and our way of life. I am so grateful for their commitment.

Second, in case you missed it, Operation Write Home has reached a goal of 1 million cards!  www.operationwritehome.org We just wanted to give a shout out to all the people involved in making cards for

Do you like the card designed above? The card above was completely made by two of our Card Makin' Cuties for  the Fourth of July. They did an excellent job on the design and colors for the up-coming deadline for Fourth of July cards...but  I also think its perfect for other celebrations too. Do you need a cute design for a Fourth of July invitation-- well, here you go and thank Judy and Ellen for their idea.
  "You guys did a great job! Thanks Judy and Ellen!

The next holiday coming up is Father's Day. Here is an example we really liked by our group of card makers.

This card design was just one design we used for "Father's Day." The design uses several different scrap cuts and new paper punches. One of the reasons I like the design is it has a lot of built-in forgiveness. By that I mean, if you mess up the stamp on the "light house" you can remove it and stamp another circle. The over all card is 4.25" X 5.50" as OWH has asked us to make---a good size.

Any part of the card can be repositioned, squared up or replaced before the final card design is finished. Our group, Card Makin' Cuties, likes this style of card very much.
Using the various hues of blue for effect,  light blue, sky blue, medium blue, and a navy chalk pad for edging--- with  gray, as the neutral it impressed us with its look of simplicity. Look closely, the pop comes from the tiny bit of red in the stripe gross-grain ribbon in the design.  Hope you try one of these designs and give us some feed back.
Well, happy card making.  We are  still novice at this, but we love making cards.
Gloria J.

Color choice makes a difference!

Hello! We have deadline coming up for OWH. One deadline is for more masculine cards for Dad--- cards that can be used for birthdays and other celebrations for men. We also will be making Fourth of July cards for celebration.  The design below is one we wouldn't think to use for a Fourth of July card, even though it has a flag in the design. Look again.

 

The print design used above has much cooler colors in it. You can see the gray in the design is very strong and this color may indicate a cool background such as blue or blue gray to off-set the total card design.

Embellishments (like punched-out stars) might be brushed on the edged with a blue gray chalk ink color before we adhere them to the card front design. This might be used as a card for remembrance or for Memorial Day. 

When we design cards, we are expressing something of ourselves within the card. This is one reason hand made cards are so personal.  

I usually sit in my studio experimenting with colors before a whole design is finished, just ready for the next card. I love to look outside watch the birds and the trees now green. Its all the little creatures and their activities that make life so enjoyable.  We, like all God's creatures, make our own homes warm and inviting for friends and family. Likewise, we make our cards with the same spirit of hospitality, for the pure pleasure of enjoying the "free gifts" of life and liberty of expression. 

Operation Write Home is a wonderful way to give our cards away to soldiers in deployed areas who want to reach out to loved ones back home. The soldier can find a card they like that expresses what they want to say and mail these cards back home to family members for a birthday, anniversary, get well, or a special occasion. 

Its with this same spirit of hospitality when I sit in my studio watching the neighbors struggle with their garden, mowing grass, or digging in their yard, I look for subjects of life and colors; earth tones, neutrals and  natural sources of color and simplicity. I work and forget myself, leave my situation behind me and think of the one who might select one of these cards. I realize what motivated our Lord with the passage: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." I serve out of God's love. My only regret is I can't express this feeling to everyone I meet. 

In order to have a ready made selection on hand, I have a little box of  2"X3" of scraps in different colors cut just for this designing purpose. I try several combinations with my print papers before I make a final choice of colors and patterns for the design. Then, by adding on embellishments our design is completed.

A card is a special way to communicate who you are and share how you feel. Always choose to make a card a blessing to someone; one that communicates your freedom for life and your liberty to create a work of beauty.  

I hope you all have a great day making cards for someone you love and care about. 

Gloria J.