Getting Organized is a Messy Business!

 Well, today was not such a great day for us Steeler fans.  Our football season is over.  We played Denver today (think, Tim Tebow praying) for the wildcard playoff game and lost in overtime.  The Steelers really didn't deserve to win considering the way they played today.  I really didn't think we'd go very far in the playoffs this season but was sure hoping we'd get at least one more game.  So, I have packed up all my Steeler gear until next year.  Now I will have to cheer on another team I suppose.

I guess now I will have more time to clean out my stamp room instead of watching football.  I started yesterday and it is so over-whelming, I find myself standing in the room and scratching my head!  Sonny keeps poking his head in and laughing at me.  He has offered to get his shovel for me so I can shovel a path (or maybe shovel some stuff in the garbage!)  I have filled up 2 garbage bags though!  It's hard to tell but I have made a little progress.  But I have a long way to go!  I can't even see my desk it is so covered with stuff.  Here are a few pictures I took tonight.  Hopefully, next week this time, I can post some pictures that look much better!

This is my desk!

I even have things stacked in the hall!

I can barely get to my chair much less find the tv controller!

I do have a card to share with you that I did last week before I started the reorganizing!  It uses goodies from the Occasions Mini Catalog - the stamp, Take It to Heart, pleated satin ribbon, some Twitterpated DSP and the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (pg 7).

I stamped the heart with White ink and embossed it.  I love this stamp!

Hope your week is a good one!

Snow Days

We had a snow day today!  The snow started sometime during the night and when I woke up this morning, every where you looked was white and beautiful.  I remember how excited I was as a kid to have snow days and to go out and play in it all day .... making snowmen, having snowball fights, eating snow cream.  Good memories.  My kids were just the same although living in Texas, they didn't get the big snow storms like we had today.  But, what we did get, they made the best of.  We didn't have a sled but they would use cookie sheets for their sledding and pack the snow in a bucket to make their snowmen.   I don't know if kids have this kind of fun anymore.  It seems like they would rather stay indoors playing video games than exerting themselves running and playing outside these days.  Sonny and I took a walk around the neighborhood after lunch and didn't see one kid out playing or even a snowman to show that kids had been playing outside.

So I felt it only appropriate tonight to make this snowman card:

I found this paper tonight while cleaning and thought it would make a great background for my snow couple!

I started this weekend re-organizing my stamp room so today was great to have the snow day to finish it up.  I moved furniture around and everything!  I still have a little bit more to do but I made a good start on getting things in order.

These are my  Stampin' Up stamps organized A through R. 
I still have a couple of shelves (bottom ones) to organize.  Hopefully, I'll tackle that tomorrow.



These are the rest of my SU stamps organized S - W.  I got tired of bending down all the time to get to stamps on lower shelves!  On the top, I have my ribbon in empty plastic jars that used to hold nuts.



This is my cutting station. 

My desk still needs a little work but it looks a lot better than it did about noon today!!  It was covered with stuff.

These are my non-Stampin' Up stamps that are on a shelf in my closet.  I stamped all of them on copy paper by categories - floral, animals, snow, holidays, masculine, etc. and put them in plastic boxes.  The white basket toward the bottom are all my clear stamps stored in CD cases and categorized in a separate notebook.

Greeting Card Kid

I had a late night last night .... biting my fingernails to the quick watching the Steelers play in another nail biter game!  They pulled the win out but almost blew a 20 point lead at halftime.  Tonight we went to the Checkers hockey game after a nice dinner at Black Finn downtown Charlotte.  It was a fun evening even if the hockey game was a bit boring.  The only fight that occurred was before we even got in our seats!  We were only ten minutes late and missed a fight and two scores by the opposing team.   Oh well, it was a nice night out with friends.

Today I worked on a Christmas card using the In Colors (Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzaz) and the little girl from Greeting Card Kids.  I stamped a few of them from Margaret's stamp set - I think she is going to have to stamp a few more for me!

I got the idea for this card from Sandi MacIver's Countdown to Christmas newsletters.

I got a SU shipment today for my club ladies.  I had ordered some more ribbon organizers.  They are great and hold a bunch of ribbon!  See for yourself:  These are three of them (they come 2 to a package).  I have 4 medium and 2 large ones and they all hook together on the sides.

Summer On A Tropical Island

This is part of my organization this week.  I know a person or two who will roll their eyes (yes, you Marianne!) but  they  make sponging so much easier!  The pieces of sponge I had been using were just a guess as to what color they were.  So, there were times I was getting purple in my pink sponging and black in my navy.  I've been wanting to make these sponges for several months.  I just took the round sponge and cut it into 6 pieces.  Then punch a tab out of colored cardstock and staple it to the sponge piece.  I store them in a plastic container that used to hold my DMC yard when I did cross-stitch.

Here's my daubers.   I  need to get some clean daubers and keep them uncontaminated too.  I bought this plastic holder last year at CKC.

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So, here is the picture I did today using my nice clean sponges!  It's a CASE from Michelle Zindorf - but sponging instead of brayering.  The recipe is below the card.

Cardstock:  Whisper White, More Mustard, Basic Black, Taken With Teal

Ink:  Tempting Turq., Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue for sky and water / More Mustard & Creamy Caramel for sand

I stamped the tree and palm leaves (from the Summer Mini) in Basic Black.  I made the island using the corner of my black pad.  I stamped "summer" (from an old wheel that I had cut apart) on half of a Top Note die.

Don't you wish you were in that blue water or on that island in some exotic locale???  We can dream can't we!  One of my stamp club gals came to my house yesterday straight from a trip to Hawaii!  Lucky Dog!  She flew in at 8:30 a.m. and came to my house about 1 pm after no sleep.  That is dedication!!

My Baggie of Water plus a Monday Mailer

My re-organization is coming together!  I did the craziest thing though!  I have a wooden dowel that Sonny made for me that fits onto an old wrought iron paper towel holder and it holds some ribbon.  Well, I had pulled it about halfway out so I could get a roll of ribbon that was in the middle (isn't that always the case?)  when a fly landed on my arm.  I slapped at the fly and my hand came down snapping the dowel in two.  BUT ... I got the fly!!  Guess I'm going to have to put a baggie of water over my craft room door.  Don't laugh!  I'm one of those people who believe that a baggie of water over your outside door will keep the flies from entering your house.  I have hung those water baggies in our Texas house, our Washington house and my home here in NC and I don't have flies in my house (except the one yesterday - I do believe he came through the upstairs screen window!)  When I was at Ashley's house last month, I hung the water baggie over her back door.  She just rolled her eyes at me.  When I was first told about this, I did the eye rolling too, but I have come to be a believer.  The girl that told me about it said that when they went camping, they would hang the baggies in the trees around the perimeter of their campsite.  Don't know about that, but it works for me here at home.  I've always believed that it's something about their eyes reflecting in the water.  But you can decide for yourself and read this article HERE.

I tackled some shelves today in my organizing that I really didn't want to ... I was afraid of what I would find!  But now I have 2 baskets of finished goodies, a basket of kits I have bought & not even opened yet and another basket of kits I have started at various events but never finished.  So, that is what I will start working on - see how many I can get done!  My Newcomer's group is having a hand-made bazaar in the fall and letting those of us who make things sell our items at a coffee.  I hope to make a little Christmas money by selling a few things. 

Wednesday my stamp club is meeting and they want to make some fabric flowers.  I spent about an hour tonight cutting out some different sizes of flowers with the Big Shot.  I will give them a chance to cut their own if they want, but thought it would help move things along if I did some of the cutting.  I can't wait to see the flowers they make!  I'm also going to be teaching the Garden Club to make the flowers in August - we just have to find a location. 

Here is my Monday Mailer for this week.  I mailed it today to Tina.  Hope she likes it!

I used the Tropical DSP from the Summer Mini and the retiring Owl Together stamp.  I haven't used this stamp set enough!  But, it's one I will hang on to - I like owls.  I used my bow maker to tie the orange bow!  I think this qualifies for a masculine card.  What say you?

A Place for Everything & Everything in It's Place!

I've been in another organization mood ... well, I have to since my SU stamps have outgrown their shelves! I am moving them over to another set of shelves that have a bunch of stuff on them already. So, I'm finding new homes for the stuff on those shelves. I'm going slow - just doing a little bit a day because it's been so hot. Right now, I can barely walk through my room for the mess. I hope by the end of the weekend I'll find a place for everything and put everything in that place. But I did find a little room on my desk this evening to make this card!

Here's the "deets" on the creation:  I used my Nesties to cut out a white circle and a Marina Mist (love this color!) circle.  I made a mask with the hydranga stamp and stamped the French Script background in Crumb Cake on the white circle (I have a retired French Script but there is also one in the catty on pg 134).  Then I inked the hydranga (from a Sneak Peek stamp, Because I Care) with Marina Mist and Old Olive and stamped it on the circle.  I sponged Crumb Cake (loving this color too!) on the circle.  I stamped "because I care" in Crumb Cake on white & punched it out with the oval punch & backed it with an oval of Marina Mist.  I sponged a little Crumb Cake on the oval before I coated it with Diamond Glaze.  I used an oval from my Hodgepodge Hardware - cut in half! - and using Diamond Glaze as glue, I adhered it to the back of the oval.  I tied a little bit of hemp on either side & frayed it.  Looking at the card now, I think I will add a little glitter to the centers of the flowers - just a tiny bit!

You may also have noticed the changes on my blog design.  I'm still playing around.  Yesterday I downloaded a design from another website & it didn't work out.  In fact, it made a mess of my blog and I spent a couple of hours trying to restore some things.  This design is from Blogger.  They have recently updated their templates so they are more up to date.  This one is pretty plain but I will be playing around with it again tomorrow since I canceled the class I was supposed to do at Stampers Alley. 

We went out on the boat this afternoon. I think today was the 6th straight 90 degree day. I hate to think what July and August are going to be like!! I ended up in the water most of the time - just too hot to lay on the boat and read like I usually do. Looking at the forecast, it is going to stay in the 90s for next week too.  At least it cools down at night - unlike Texas!  I've about decided I'm getting too old to take this much heat. 

STAY COOL!

A clean desk and deployment info

I had a fairly productive day today.  While waiting to hear news from Ashley about her deployment, I cleaned my desk and some of my drawers!   You just can’t believe how many glue sticks, tape runners, etc. I had in my drawer just all jumbled up.  Now, let’s hope I can keep them somewhat organized!  Look at this desk -

I can’t remember when my desk was that clean!!  I even got all the bits and pieces of ribbon that I had laying around in their correct jars.

Of course, that’s not all the ribbon I have!

That’s still not all of it … what can I say?  I like pretty ribbon!

So all this cleaning inspired me to create a few cards!

This baby card is for Julie and Jim, friends of Ashley’s from med school.  Julie had a baby a couple of weeks ago (Charlie!).  She wasn’t due until mid February but because the baby was so large, they induced her.  I think he ended up weighing over 9 pounds!!  And he was early!!

This card is one I made and sent to my Monday Mailer partner.  Aren’t those little raccoons just darling??  They are in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.  Remember, you can order them either in the clear mount or traditional SU hard rubber.

So, it looks like Ashley will be going to Haiti and possible pretty soon – maybe even next week.  It just depends on how fast the Army can work.   Her name has been submitted to the person who is putting together the team.  She would be the MED AUG [medical augmentation] with the 86th Combat Support Hospital -- basically a tent hospital.  Hopefully, she will know more tomorrow so she can begin to get all her affairs in order.

Holiday Entertainment Booklet .... Home Made Simple

I want to share some tips and inspirational ideas that I have received in a Holiday Entertaining Booklet, complete with time checkpoints and checklists. This is complements of Home Made Simple, a monthly newsletter I subscribe to.  You can print the pages out and fold it into a small booklet.  Anything to keep us organized and happy at this time of year.   Enjoy!!

Another great Michael's find!

I went to Michael's yesterday and bought a craft table/organizer that I had seen last week.  I had written down the measurements but kept forgetting to see if it would fit in my room so decided to go ahead and get it and take my chances!  What a steal!!  It was marked Clearance $50 and they let me use my 40% coupon so I got it for just $30!  It weighed about 100 pounds!  I had to get someone to lift it into my car and Sonny used his dolly to get it upstairs.  Since he didn't offer to put it together for me, I decided to tackle it.  So, that is what I did most of the night last night while watching the hockey game (Pittsburgh WON!!). 

Here is the finished masterpiece table:

I haven't decided yet what I will put in the drawers (one of the drawers is a ribbon drawer and has a rod inside for ribbon) but the main thing I wanted it for is to put my cutters on the top.  I have a big Carl Cutter and the SU Tabletop Cutter.  I love both of them.  Right now, I have my Carl Cutter on a TV tray in the corner and my SU cutter on my table but it seems to travel around the room.  Now, they'll both have a home and I won't have to bend over the TV table to use them.

Now tomorrow I'll be rearranging my room to make everything fit!

My Stampin' Space

Sunday .... before the big snow hit, Sonny and I took a drive into Charlotte to the new IKEA.  What a great way to burn a few hours!  I didn't purchase much - a rail for my punches, CD boxes, long shoehorn for Sonny & Mom (for $1!!) and the most delicious cookies!!!  I don't know how many were in the box - a lot - but we've eaten them all in 3 days!  When we got home Sunday, neither of us felt like eating any dinner because we'd eaten so many cookies!  (My daughter will have a laugh over that.)  They had chocolate in the middle of thin, really crispy oatmeal type cookies.  Yummm!!

On Monday, while looking out the window at the snow, I set about putting up my new punch rails.  I had bought a magnetic knife rack last year at IKEA for my punches and really liked it, so I wanted more.  I ended up buying a round rail (in the kitchen section - I think it's for holding towels) and I like it even better.  Now, I just need to go back and buy another one. 

The bulletin board beside it holds a few brass stencils, some patterns, my calendar, and other "essential" items! 

This is my stamp holder that sits on my desk with my jars of ribbon on top.  I have a tag on each one so I can sort the bits of ribbon by color.  Sonny made my stamp and refill ink holder several years ago and I love it!

This wicker shelf unit was used many years ago in a bathroom.  Never throw things away.  You never know when you can use them in the future!!  I used to have it right next to my desk, but I preferred the punches to hang there, so I moved the shelf across the room.  I have my buttons; glitter, embossing powder, Pretties kit, SU craft spots, and other stuff on it.

And here are my stamp sets.  On the white shelf are my SU stamps in loose alpha order (A-D on top shelf, etc.) and by box size with background stamps on top.  Next to it on my Target wire cubes are my clear stamps on the top shelf in the CD boxes.  On the next two shelves are my wooden stamps that are non-SU.  They are in clear plastic boxes that are numbered.  I have a notebook that I have stamped everything in so I can find which box they are in when I need them. The fourth shelf holds my letter sets - both SU & non.  Then the basket on the bottom has loose stamps, rubber bands, etc.

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I Love A Bargain!

Don't you just love a bargain .... or at least thinking you've gotten a bargain?  I think I got a couple of bargains today!  I taught my class this morning.  I had a full class of 8 ladies and it went a lot smoother than my Thursday night class - they're the guinea pigs!!  After class, Judy and I went to lunch which proved not to be an easy task.  We were trying to come up with something a little different so we decided on Chinese food.  Well, after going to 2 different Chinese restaurants in Mooresville and neither being open, we opted for the Sport Page and had burgers!  After lunch, my Michael's coupons were burning a hole in my pocket, so we headed over there.  Right in the front door, I found the bargains!!  I bought this for $3!  It had been $24.99!  The handle on one of the drawers was not attached, but when I got home, Sonny fixed it for me with pop-rivets.

Then .... I found this for $4.  It had also been about $25.  The middle handle is on upside down (who cares?) and it is a little warped, but for storage purposes, you can't beat $4!!

I'm not sure yet what I'll keep in the top one.  Right now, I have a catalog in the top part and some cards I'm making for a couple of swaps in the lower containers.

But, the 3 drawer container, I have all my Sizzix and Cuttlebug "stuff"  in.  Here's a closer look.