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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 19:30:06 GMT
Ok ladies, I had to go back to Joann’s for something. I took a look at the papers again that were thinner. I found three. Paper 24 from Blooming Wild, the butterfly paper/blue dots paper from Vicki Boutin, and a green plaid/darker green leaf paper from crate Paper Gingham Garden. This is totally just a guess but maybe those are the papers from their respective collections that sold well, sold out of the regular weight, and are going to be permanently carried as thin open stock papers in the future. I wonder if anyone has those same papers bought from a Designer Destinations earlier or in a different region that are still the thicker paper. I’m way too invested in this mystery, lol.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 18:09:42 GMT
Ryann you could trim the scraps to 3x4” and use the extra 0.5” strip to decorate inside the card. There’s a sheetload with two 3x4 panels placed askew from each other that is one of my easy favorites - April 2020. I’m back to watching the organizing summit today and planning to glue down some of those cards I’ve drafted.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 18:05:01 GMT
Also - how does everyone store sequins? The little baggies they come in are fine until they are opened and then they are a mess. I loved the bloom flower container Laura shared on her video but I need something more compact - hopefully that'll fit in an Alex drawer. I don't have a ton but I would like them better contained. I use tiny jam jars that I (force my family to) bring home from hotel stays- these exact ones: www.bonnemaman.us/made-for-you.htmlThey are the perfect size and fit beautifully in a top Alex drawer. I keep them inside a box so I can pull all of them out at once if needed. The lid of the jar makes a perfect tray to work from as well… Plus the jam is divine! If they’re the same tiny jam jars I’m thinking of Linda you could get a Bonne Maman jam advent calendar and be set with room to grow! I got one from Amazon a couple of years back and then gave away all 24 tiny jars in January. They have just enough jam inside for a couple of English muffins.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 2:06:32 GMT
I spent another day working through my Doodlebug scraps while listening to organizing summit videos. I should’ve taken a proper before photo but I have seriously emptied out the container! I didn’t have the energy to commit to gluing everything down today but I used some scraps where I had a lot (relatively) of one pattern and cut them with a quilt die. I was able to make 3 little patchwork star cards that turned out pretty well. Bonus points for using a die I’ve been neglecting. I think I have at least a dozen more cards that need a little trimming and gluing and then some kind of focal point to finish them off. Some of these scraps were so small (but so cute!) and went back to 2017-18!! Basically since I started using Dbug. I’m making a dent in my old die cuts too and hope to get even more on to these cards by the time they’re done. I aspire to be as productive as you are with scraps. I love making my own envelopes using patterned paper, but it has dramatically increased the amount of scraps I have. Each leftover piece is 3.5x12, so I have to mat it a couple times to get the 3.5" piece wide enough to fit across a card front. When I do the 2peas card swaps, I end up with 25ish pieces of leftover envelope paper. It adds up so quickly. Way faster than I can use them. Ugh, that’s an annoying size of scrap! We’ll have to find you some card sketches that use 3.5” pieces.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 2:03:05 GMT
Thank you joblackford - I think I have somewhere in the 10-15 range ...I'll have a look for bead storage. It looks like Amazon has a lot of options 🙄 of course. That’s where Jennifer McGuire’s blog sent me. But your local craft shop might have better options that don’t have 40 little containers inside!
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 1:30:03 GMT
Also - how does everyone store sequins? The little baggies they come in are fine until they are opened and then they are a mess. I loved the bloom flower container Laura shared on her video but I need something more compact - hopefully that'll fit in an Alex drawer. I don't have a ton but I would like them better contained. I most often see people using little rectangular containers that may come in a bigger container - I think they’re possibly bead storage containers. Hopefully someone can link to something good. If you only keep a dozen or so varieties this one might work www.scrapbook.com/store/sbc-storage-3849.html although the circle inside square design is a bit of a waste of space.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 1:19:20 GMT
Someone up thread mentioned color coding dies. What was that tip? Ardyth uses a marker to draw a strip of color along the tops of her dies (along the cardstock backer sheet) to label them as sentiments, Xmas/nativity, floral, etc. I think she has 6 categories and some image sets don’t have any category. She stores by manufacturer so she can go to her Honey Bee section and look for the red for Xmas or the grey for sentiment sets. I’ll link a video she did a few years back if I can find it. stamp and die storage at 6:24
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Post by joblackford on Apr 21, 2024 1:15:23 GMT
I spent another day working through my Doodlebug scraps while listening to organizing summit videos. I should’ve taken a proper before photo but I have seriously emptied out the container!
I didn’t have the energy to commit to gluing everything down today but I used some scraps where I had a lot (relatively) of one pattern and cut them with a quilt die. I was able to make 3 little patchwork star cards that turned out pretty well. Bonus points for using a die I’ve been neglecting. I think I have at least a dozen more cards that need a little trimming and gluing and then some kind of focal point to finish them off.
Some of these scraps were so small (but so cute!) and went back to 2017-18!! Basically since I started using Dbug. I’m making a dent in my old die cuts too and hope to get even more on to these cards by the time they’re done.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 23:15:47 GMT
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 16:14:35 GMT
I watched one of the scrap room owners videos. She was making great progress cleaning up her desk and organizing stuff. She said she subscribed to Felicity Jane from 2015/16? And then also club scrap and one other kit club. It really made me think of when I subscribed to Felicity Jane. I think I did 2 years and it kept coming and I couldn’t use it quick enough. I cancelled years ago and still have so much stuff to use. And it’s starting to become the items I don’t go to as often. I should try to make an effort to use it up. I am a minimalist (not in scrapbooking but I try) and I can still see how in my case it became overwhelming to get a kit each month. I did a year of Club Scrap in 2001ish and still have some papers and alpha stickers in my stash I did 4 Echo Park kits when they first started (2019ish) and I'm still working on two of them (a spring and a summer) - I did finally finish up the fall and Christmas ones. Kits aren't for me - too much stuff and I don't tend to scrap multiple layouts in a row with one (except Christmas) kit or collection so...they take for ever to use. Lol - watching one of the videos as we speak Saw the first one last night - couldn’t believe the FJ boxes. I have never subscribed to a monthly kit, but I can imagine they would come more than I can/could scrap, which would explain some of the surplus of items But good on her for getting it sorted with outside help I think kits can work really well for people who don't have a big stash and really don't buy anything else. I have seen a couple of crafters who used them because they didn't have much access to scrappy stuff in their countries and who crafted pretty intensively. But if the kit doesn't perfectly suit your style or you don't enjoy using it as your main stash for the month it seems really easy for it to just pile up in a corner. And it seems like you need a really good process for leftovers, and a certain immunity to FOMO so you can quit when you realize it's too much.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 16:04:19 GMT
Yup, I noticed that too. Looked like her kid’s mat lived behind the plant too. I think she also mentioned that she has a lot of stuff in storage until she has a proper craft space. And she owns a shop, so obvs she has easy access to new things and can probably “store things at the store” more than most of us affordably can. But working with kits and being ruthless about “finishing” kits/collections and purging the leftovers is a good tip. Not to mention having a dedicated “donate” bin in the space all the time. Ah, this makes sense. I was kind of half watching and then saw the big mat and was like, "no way!" and didn't finish the video. There's something that just drives me batty when someone says they organize for a small space and then it turns out to be that they have waaaayyy more storage than that lol. I probably shouldn't have smack talked her right away, lol. Very good idea about a permanent donate bin! I know what you mean... I only gave half my attention to the video after a little while because of course a shop owner and designer doesn't need to hold onto things - they're assured of a steady restock of new and interesting items. And I didn't really connect with her vibe. I'm about to start on day 2. There are a couple of people I like who I'm looking forward to. I'm unreasonably bothered that Justine has an obvious typo in her own presentation title (as in every email she sends out). I'm making some progress on drafting cards with my stash of Dbug scraps so I'll keep doing that this afternoon use it or lose it!!
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 2:12:35 GMT
Well, I watched the first couple videos, (bumped that speed up to 1.25 for one of them lol) and I am sorry, but I don't believe the one crafter with her tiny little cupboard. She tells us that is her whole crafting space, (in what appears to be a large, well appointed home) and then produces a big pink mat for her dining room table. Well, you didn't store that in the cupboard! I think she has a craft closet of shame somewhere in that house lol. Edited to add context, commenting on the get organized summit. papercraftersgetorganized.com/schedule-page/I'm watching this one now. She actually does say that she stores the big pink mat between the back of the cupboard and the wall.... Yup, I noticed that too. Looked like her kid’s mat lived behind the plant too. I think she also mentioned that she has a lot of stuff in storage until she has a proper craft space. And she owns a shop, so obvs she has easy access to new things and can probably “store things at the store” more than most of us affordably can. But working with kits and being ruthless about “finishing” kits/collections and purging the leftovers is a good tip. Not to mention having a dedicated “donate” bin in the space all the time.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 0:19:32 GMT
I can totally appreciate all of the work these presenters put into these presentations. Maybe I just watch a lot of organizational videos (and these specific crafters), so I didn't see more than a handful of new ideas. Color coding the top of dies for easier access was new to me. Also one presenter put her ephemera in a packet like holder that was interesting, but would probably take me a year to make enough for my stash. I did find 30- 5 x 7 clear boxes at the second hand craft store to help with some ephemera storage. They were $1 for all 30. I found 30 4 x 6 ones last year. I hope I find some more ideas in tomorrow's videos. Knowing how well you have your space organized and that you've been a crafter for some time, I wouldn't expect there will be too many new ideas you haven't heard in this summit. You could probably teach some of the presenters a thing or two!
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Post by joblackford on Apr 20, 2024 0:13:16 GMT
Plus she had her die cutting machine on a turntable, I saw it in one other video today too. Why has this never occurred to me or why haven’t I noticed that in a video before?!?! That's one of Ardyth's smartest ideas. She also has grip mats on turntables so she can turn the cards and stencils she's working with as she ink blends to keep them facing the best way for her dominant hand. She has some pretty good ideas and her videos are to the point and informative. She has a craftroom tours/hacks playlist hereI don't usually bother with the lives. They're available forever on the channel so no hurry to watch.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 21:29:13 GMT
Somebody figured out how to limit Mim Jenkinson's caffeine or maybe got her a speaking coach. There are a few folks teaching or advertising in every summit who need vocal coaching, less (or more!) caffeine, ADHD meds, a stable desk, a class in editing... but I figure I can't complain since I usually need most or all of that help too 😬 But it does make me appreciate certain other videomakers who are very good at what they do.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 21:22:18 GMT
While I watched Natasha's video and Ardyth's then most of the others (meh) I tackled a couple of overdue tasks. First I cut up a red rubber cling stamp (US flag) that I want to use for mass production but which is a pain to mask and stamp in two colors. It's going to be a LOT easier to use now that the stars and the stripes are two separate pieces. Then I pulled out my Doodlebug scraps container and sorted the pieces into matching patterns/colorways and started figuring out if I could use them to actually make anything. I'm committing to trashing all the small pieces that don't make it into or onto a card after this. I have some cards drafted that I will glue together when my desk isn't covered in piles of tiny papers. Keeping all the different collections' scraps together was a mess. I've shifted to keeping small pieces with the die cuts and cut-aparts I have for that collection, if I'm going to keep them at all (in my die cut binder). Ideally I use up the whole paper pad and scraps go into or onto cards or into the bin immediately. The petite prints are another story, they can mix and match with multiple collections since Dbug sticks so closely to their limited palette. But most of the busy motifs/patterns aren't very useful as small scraps. If they weren't so cute I would've declared scrap bankruptcy already and tossed them!
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 15:56:56 GMT
Really loved Natasha Foote's video! OH GOOD! That's the one I'm going to watch first
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 15:56:27 GMT
But part of me thinks I should at least try both techniques with one of the two sets that are here now. I could potentially decide neither technique is for me after all. I think this is a wise choice. Not only might the techniques not be your cup of tea, you're motivated now, and might be in a different headspace by the time new supplies arrive. And yeah, like the others say, just pass on the ugly one. Life's too short to craft with stuff you hate.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 15:54:24 GMT
Well, I watched the first couple videos, (bumped that speed up to 1.25 for one of them lol) and I am sorry, but I don't believe the one crafter with her tiny little cupboard. She tells us that is her whole crafting space, (in what appears to be a large, well appointed home) and then produces a big pink mat for her dining room table. Well, you didn't store that in the cupboard! I think she has a craft closet of shame somewhere in that house lol. Edited to add context, commenting on the get organized summit. papercraftersgetorganized.com/schedule-page/haha! I'm about to go watch. Maybe she stores it under the bed? Or it might do double duty for a sewing hobby that has its own space. I would love to see some Monica closets that people are hiding Bumping people to 1.25x is necessary even for channels you like a lot... My brain can't handle the slow talkers. If I watch Crafty Al on normal speed it feels like molasses and the theme song sounds all wrong - I've been known to put her on 1.5x when my brain is particularly spicy. OK! I've got my coffee. Off to watch the summit! and then I'll be back with critiques
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Post by joblackford on Apr 19, 2024 15:46:01 GMT
Good morning, Team! I just heard from the company I am most excited about! They are very excited about me, too! They are arranging an hour video interview with the hiring manager for next week!! Seems like emotional whiplash after how low I felt yesterday.... Off to a networking meeting this morning and then nothing to do this afternoon but putter and vibe -- a a combo my kid calls "haunting". It will probably be too late to actively craft, though I have a kit with only two cards left, so maybe. But I should definitely be able to work on further recovering the craft room and coming up with a PP project to do at a Monday evening Paper Pumpkin group at my local SU demo's house. OMG I love that. Haunting might be my superpower... Great news on the job front Sounds like that's giving you lots of good energy going into the day which can't hurt at the networking thing too. If you haunt your craftroom while organizing or listening to the summit videos you could rack up some points.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 18, 2024 17:26:42 GMT
My understanding is that crochet and knitting are about the best crafts for while you're watching something else (but I wouldn't know, not doing either). I'm not one of those people who can hook by feel but I find that a lot of crafty stuff doesn't require much actual looking at the screen. I can listen along and look up as needed. I am easily distracted so it helps to have my hands and brain busy with two different things, especially if the thing I'm watching is stressful or not very good quality, like most TV and some YT videos! It does sound like you might've dodged a bullet with that guy. And I would think that if someone starts an interview that way, talking about your job history, I think they've probably already made their mind up before even giving you a chance. Which sucks. Interviews are very rough on the psyche/ego... even if you have very good reasons for job changes (which so many people do, especially these days!) or have just had a run of bad luck. I hope you hear good news soon!
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Post by joblackford on Apr 18, 2024 17:16:07 GMT
So, I feel like I'm making some progress. I started back into paper crafting after a decade+ long hiatus a couple years ago. For about the first year, I would buy any old thing that tickled my fancy without much sense of what my style was, which techniques I enjoyed the most, or how these things could be used and/or used together. For about the second year, I signed up for just about any virtual event -- I learned a LOT about my personal style, various techniques, and how to use different products together. I have been selling things on FB in brand-specific B/S/T threads pretty successfully (and mostly remembering that I am there to sell, not buy). I will openly admit that having sold a bunch of stuff I bought at a Spellbinders clearance sale and never used (for about what I paid, actually), I didn't really guilty (much) for then going to the current Spellbinders clearance sale and buying (just two) things I think I really will use this time. That sounds like a really smart way to figure out what you like. Well done.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 18, 2024 15:42:01 GMT
Shakti , yes we are doing it ourselves with some help with plumbing and electricity. Can't wait already until it is done. oh boy, I bet! Bathroom remodels are hard. I hope you get off to a good start Good morning, Team! Happy Friday Eve! I have a quiet weekend planned, a little crafting, a little adulting, and some relaxing. How about you? I have the house to myself most of the weekend. I signed up last minute for the free organizing summit so I'll watch a few of those videos. I will probably do some crafting while I watch, either cards or crochet. We have warm weather coming so I should do a little gardening too, and I've been trying to spend more time reading on Sundays. Lots of time... but I'm not always able to focus my energy towards the things I most want or need to do.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 19:25:48 GMT
And I KNEW this would happen when I signed up. Just thought somehow I had developed a Patience or Skill gene since my last go-round, I think LOL. haha, I know the feeling. Any minute now I'm going to be transformed into a careful patient watercolor painter... or so I think every time I watch someone paint.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 15:08:40 GMT
grammadee I need to go and take a closer look at your "fussy cussing" die assembly pieces (no, I can't think of a good die cutting version of the phrase) but it looks like Spellbinders? Their clubs always look like so much fun but then I remember how many little pieces their dies seem to have and I think I'd be wanting to die after putting them together.
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 15:05:18 GMT
So glad to see you found a fun way to use lots of flowers grammadee - those cards look delightful! AussieMeg I love seeing the pages together. So many photos, but all the different layers and textures keep it fresh and light. The little film strip elements are great for all those extra photos that give a sense of the place but aren't the focus. Really love that for a travel album! You're inspiring me to make my own
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 0:18:58 GMT
These aren’t a finished project, just trying out a new supply + building up a stash of sentiments + using up cs scraps. Good use of my crafty time the last couple of days. I’m trying to remember to use colors that make me smile. The die set is from MFT. It snuck into my cart when I bought the Converse sentiments. Crafty time by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 0:11:00 GMT
Yes! I posted about this a while back, I signed up as a beta user of Dall-E. Which I guess is the tech that Bing uses now?! I really like your CA montage, that's what I was trying to do with it too, like make things more niche. I haven't played with it in a bit, so going to see if I can get some better results. I like the idea of the sticker too! I've also been trying to look into AI sorting/storing to manage stash inventory, but haven't found anything right just yet. Awesome! Do you have any prompt tricks to share? I'm trying really hard to get it to omit words. Like, for example, many of my California images the tech is actually putting the word "California" on the image. Only, it can't spell it right, so it looks ridiculous but I'm not having any luck just getting it to not use words. I understand why it can’t get fingers and legs and the like right, I think, but I’m perplexed by how it’s spelling California wrong if it’s getting that from the prompt. Is it like the fingers - it keeps duplicating letters? Perplexing… I really don’t understand much about AI…
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Post by joblackford on Apr 17, 2024 0:04:12 GMT
If people pay you through PayPal you can easily print discounted labels through ShipStation. Probably very similar prices to PirateShip - I think USPS offers the same commercial/discount prices to most of the different platforms. I always use ShipStation because I had it set up after taking PayPal payments for some things. I just use my digital kitchen scale to weigh things. Finally figured out that if the box is bigger and covering the read-out area I can put something like a mug on the scale and zero it, then put the box on top to get the weight. Flat rate boxes and envelopes are great for some things, especially heavy stuff like magnet sheets with dies, but check out all the free shipping supplies the USPS offers - you can get different shapes and sizes delivered to your house for nothing, although you pay in the end because they’re only for Priority. I have a stash of reusable boxes and envelopes for mailing all the things (I’m selling random stuff for some relatives, not crafty stuff).
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Post by joblackford on Apr 16, 2024 0:51:45 GMT
We talked about it a little in the crafty organizing thread too. Mira has been in a decluttering journey for several months, working through some hoarding issues stemming from major depression, grief, and other health issues. Bonnie, who is actually just a YTer who loves cleaning and helps people for free, worked with Mira in her kitchen last year. I haven’t watched the newest videos yet but was very happy to see that Mira was working on getting back to having a crafty space she could enjoy. Organizing a scrap room is HARD, even without having other issues.
I also thought people here would be goggle eyed at all the FJ boxes.
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