Wednesday, December 31, 2008

It's New Years Eve - do you know where your goals are?

Happy Pre-New Year, everyone!

I know, I know - New Years' resolution time! How many times do we fall off the wagon with this one - lose weight, get organized, blah, blah, blah.

Well, 2009 has to be different. I would like to challenge everyone to list 12 goals (one per month) and keep each other accountable throughout the year. Support is what helps us get through hurdles in our lives.

Here are my Top 12 Goals for 2009:

1. File my piles - I am a pile guru - and it creates clutter and chaos. The first step in the road to recovery is to file my piles. By the time the end of Jan. roles around, I should be in the habit & maybe not have any more piles to file.
2. 'Green' scrapbooking - continue to source ways to reduce, reuse & recycle in my scrapbooking and products that I am selling. Keep checking the blog for my tips.
3. Organization - once my piles are filed, I have to continue to find ways to organize my products and 'stuff'. Right now I can honestly say that I really don't know what the heck I have or don't have! Pretty scary!
4. Re-do the room - my hubby and I share a work space, so we are going to have a craft/office makeover in 2009! Stay tuned for that one.
5. Clean up as I go - this is another hard one for me & dates back to when I was a child. I think I am missing that gene from my family pool of organization.
6. Finish! - I have a few projects that aren't done - need to complete them and get them where they need to go.
7. Learn to sew - Hubby bought me a great sewing machine for my b-day and the poor thing is collecting dust. I will learn how to sew this year & how to incorporate it into my scrapping.
8. Monthly get togethers - I am phasing out my monthly crops as they weren't making me money nor was I accomplishing any of my projects, etc. Instead, I will host a monthly scrapbooking crop at my house for my friends. Wine, cheese, laughs & accomplishments are in order!
9. Continue heritage scrapping - I am making albums for my siblings & want to get my hands on the family photos to preserve them for the next generation.
10. Simple scrapping - everything doesn't have to be a work of art. Make some easy pages that are quick.
11. Monthly cards - on the first of each month, I want to make the birthday cards that correspond to birthdays & holidays of that month.
12. Holiday gifts - start working on those each month leading up to December so I'm not stressed out during December.

Wow - 12 goals - and you better bet I'm going to do it. But, I need your help! Stay with me and make some comments below. I want to know what your 12 scrapping resolutions are and help each other through them.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Scrapbook/Craft Room Challenge, Pt II



As the new year quickly approaches, it's time to clean up and organize the craft room. As my new business is about to unfold, I have a LOT of stuff to get into order.

I'm saving pasta sauce jars, soaking the labels off of them & using them for my flowers. I consolidated the pink flowers into the big pasta jar & used the smaller jar that held some pink flowers for my white flowers.

It's an easy & earth-friendly use for a glass jar. Plus it looks pretty!

Ok, so how many more colors of flowers do I have to sort through? How many more bowls of pasta do Tom & I have to eat?

What creative uses do you have for leftover jars?

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas

I know we are all busy opening gifts, visiting family & friends and eating, but I wanted to take a moment & wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

I'll be back tomorrow with lists of how to organize those holiday photos and how to start scrapping them, along with ideas on what to do with your holiday cards!

Enjoy your day, everyone!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Happy Christmas Eve

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"and to all a good-night."

by Clement Clarke Mooreor Henry Livingston

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Scrapbook/Craft Room Challenge

As I enter the next phase of my business, my husband looked around our shared office space & decided it needed a makeover. Here is my side of the room:


Yikes! How do I get anything accomplished or run a successful business. His side of the room is in better shape, but we are both organizationally challenged, to say the least. Stay with me over the next few months as we have an office makeover.
How's your scrapbook room? Any before and after pictures you would like to share? Send me a post so we can all learn from each other!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

New Hairdo!


So, what's been new with me? It's been a while since I've blogged (10 days- yikes!) but I have been busily working on holiday projects which I can't share until after the holidays are over!


In the meantime, I've cut my hair!! This pic was taken via camera phone (gotta love technology) in my sis's car by my niece. What do you think? I love the freedom and ease at which I can take care of my hair now.
Hmmm, which leads me to another question: what other freedoms have I put into place? More on that - tomorrow!


Sunday, December 7, 2008

Baby Girl Word Book - buy it before it's gone!


I have a great new product in the store - and you know you want one!!!!!

Let's face it - we all know someone who is pregnant, and statistically, there are more girls than boys born!

I created this unique, one of a kind mini album for that special Mom. This chipboard word book spells Baby & is done up in a traditional feminine style - pinks, purples and frills!




So what do you do with it? Simply add photos and/or journal about those cutsie, fun things that your baby girl is doing - her first smile, a giggle, eating solid food - whatever it is, you will photograph it, and you need to preserve those photos as well.

Each page is handcrafted and designed by me. The great feature of a Word Book is customization. Would you prefer to have her name spelled out? Would you prefer a different word? No problem! I can do that too! Looking for a specific color theme? Do you not like the 'bling' and would prefer pearls and lace? I can do that too! It's your book, your word and your way! Click on to http://www.rwctc.com/ and click on Shop Now to purchase this or a custom book. Satisfaction guaranteed!














Saturday, December 6, 2008



I've been bad about putting my daily To Do up here. Let's start fresh again!

1. It's Saturday - I need to help DH decorate the outside with our lights today.

2. Finish 'Baby' word book, take photos & put on Etsy & Ebay

I'm not going to kill myself today with a ton of things to do. I'm happy getting one big thing or a few small things done each day. Finishing this book and getting it out there for the public to see & buy is a big accomplishment on a day when I'm suppose to decorate the house!

Goodies from a Thrift Store

As I change my business over from selling 'stuff', a.k.a. supplies to creating meaningful memory pieces, I am also embracing using recycled or gently used items in my creations. I think one way to not only save money while supporting my business (or habit) but to also save our planet is to thrift store shop, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
I visit the Hospice thrift store quite regularly as I have found some really great treasures in there before. The other day I stumbled upon packages of these little goodies:



I found an unopened package of these royal blue, puffy, material hearts and 2 packages of these acrylic stars, for the whopping price of 25 cents per bag! The original Wal-Mart stickers were on each of the packages and were priced .83 and .57 respectively.

As long as these items don't touch my photos, there is no reason why I can't use them on my layouts or other projects. Pretty cool, huh? What goodies have you found lately?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Why it's important to buy handmade

Well, it's the holiday shopping season, and this year, I am making a conscience effort to not visit the malls and stores & purchase 'stuff' for my family. Instead, it's all handmade this year.

Why? Several reasons. First, visit the Story of Stuff (http://www.storyofstuff.com/) & you'll understand about consumerism and what it is doing to our planet. That should be reason enough. Secondly, I am moving away from selling 'scrapbooking stuff' and moving into the gift business. I need to market my items, and what better way than to give my creations as gifts. Lastly, by supporting a local business person, you are helping to build a sustainable economy in your own backyard.

Stay tuned to my blog as each day I will post a new creation - whether it's a new line of cards, a new word book or a picture bouquet - I'm sure you will find something unique for one of your loved ones this year!

Helping You Create Meaningful Memories