kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 12, 2019 0:42:31 GMT
You guys are a motivating bunch! I am picking away at my 2016 DD and want to complete it then start this year's Christmas cards. Because I only make ~40, I'm not panicking yet. The other thing I'm working on is pre-December prep. I've never done this before, but grammadee made me realize that I should freeze some baking ahead of time, so that I'm not so stressed when the month arrives. I just wish I knew which of my cookies/goodies froze best! Oh well, we'll learn I guess! I'm also planning to make/freeze some meals for December, so that I can enjoy family/seasonal time rather than feeling stretched thin. I'm thinking: soups; mac and cheese; cannelloni; chili; chicken pot pie; shepherds pie. What else freezes well for a large family? |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 13, 2019 0:01:34 GMT
I just sent 50 Christmas cards to the caring hearts drive. So I need to get started replacing them for our card exchange, oh and for my friends and family  |
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Post by joblackford on Nov 13, 2019 1:22:55 GMT
I just sent 50 Christmas cards to the caring hearts drive. So I need to get started replacing them for our card exchange, oh and for my friends and family Wait, we're supposed to send cards to people we know and love as well, not just random strangers?! lol. I always find myself scrambling to send my own cards halfway through December. |
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Post by boymom5 on Nov 13, 2019 2:31:58 GMT
I thought I had replied to this thread towards the beginning of the month, but it must not have posted!
I have the goal of finishing my vacation album for this year, organize pictures from 2007-today, and get at least one page per my kids' albums completed.
But up to this point I have only completed 2 pages for our vacation album. I have been working on organizing the pictures, but I feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of them.
I think I took on too much this month! 2 photography classes at the same time, one of my kids big competitions, trying to declutter and organize the whole house before hosting Thanksgiving. And to top it off I had three sick kids right after each other.
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Post by grammadee on Nov 13, 2019 4:04:07 GMT
Hope your kids are all done being sick, boymom5, and that they did not share too many of their germs with YOU! I am always amazed that you busy moms get any scrapping done at all! I was really drawn toward Christmas card production today, but I persevered in my goal to finish Halloween pages first! Got two double pagers done today and have another set started on my counter. Hoping to get those finished tomorrow and maybe do a little more baking... unless those Christmas pretties lead me astray... kitbop, the best cookies to freeze are the rolled or shaped kinds. The fluffy ones seem to dry out a bit, but the more dense ones survive quite well. I also add a little liqueur to some of my doughs, and that seems to keep them fresher longer--like the old time fruit cakes! |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 13, 2019 7:26:13 GMT
I just sent 50 Christmas cards to the caring hearts drive. So I need to get started replacing them for our card exchange, oh and for my friends and family Wait, we're supposed to send cards to people we know and love as well, not just random strangers?! lol. I always find myself scrambling to send my own cards halfway through December. I’m very lucky, when it comes to our friends and family list, dh signs and mails all of them for me  |
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 13, 2019 14:29:58 GMT
I’m very lucky, when it comes to our friends and family list, dh signs and mails all of them for me This is my DHs complete and utter failure in life! His penmanship is so awful, and his ability to actually write an appropriate "greeting" in the card is so lacking, that I have to do all the interiors. I've become good at forging my kids "signatures" so that they don't all have to sign...ha ha!!! Major time saver. And then I force DH to address all the envelopes. Really should get our address book onto the computer and do labels, but since both our laptops died we are waiting for black friday to get a new laptop. |
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 14, 2019 21:51:25 GMT
Anyone else in the mid-month slump? I had to work 8 days in row, and that really made Nov. 14 rush and get here, but I'm definitely finding I'm in a slump. Playing with new Christmas stamps - colouring mainly - hoping to get some card designs going. I think I might put up some twinkle lights this weekend and start feeling more festive to boost my mojo. My DH is going to hate this...he's a "no decorating before Dec. 1" type guy...but I'll try to go slow  |
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Post by grammadee on Nov 14, 2019 23:06:35 GMT
Not sure if I am in a slump. Getting some stuff done, but it feels like I am treading deep water. I have been muddling along, finishing up my Halloween pages, beginning to feel the panic about all things Christmas. I give each of the kids' families a 12x12 calendar with a copy of a scrapbooked page for each month and one for the cover. I have learned to create each page as I go, but always end up in November with the title page and the November page to do. Nothing happens in November (in Canada, Thanksgiving was SOOO last month), so I struggle figuring out what photos to include. And I am always trying to be "fair" and make sure that all the grandkids are represented in the whole calendar, and there are always a couple who get short shrift. (Little guys are so much more available for Gramma's picture taking, and so much fun to photograph). AND I always hate the end of projects when my options narrow to next to nothing... I managed to finish the cover page yesterday, and have decided who will be the November calendar stars, but am now waiting for photos from a couple of dgk's. Hoping to get them this evening so I can print them tomorrow. Had hoped to continue Christmas baking this week, but that didn't happen and I am gone all day tomorrow. Maybe Saturday? My Christmas list is often almost all checked off by now, but this year I have not made much of a dent in it. Going to a craft fair tomorrow, so hoping that will help me check off some more of those names... I include the dreaded family Christmas letter in cards to friends and family and I usually have it ready to print at the same time as my calendars, but have not started mine yet. I tried to stop it one year, but people complained, so it is back by popular demand. Another "should" on my list... Started making Christmas cards today, working from a LSS card kit. Am finding it fairly smooth going, but essentially I am fussy cutting a few things and gluing different precut layers together so it SHOULD be easy. Good news is, with this kit so far and with the one I finished off on the weekend, I have 24 cards finished. Not sure how many I need, but with on line card exchanges and friends & family, I need just over 100, I think. I really want to try out a couple of new dies and embossing folders this year and maybe do some stenciling and foiling, but have not done any of that yet. justjac and my niece will be here on Sunday for a card making bee. Maybe I will break out the dies and embossing folders and glitter and glitz then... |
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 15, 2019 12:31:52 GMT
justjac and my niece will be here on Sunday for a card making bee. Jealous! I am colouring wreaths which I *hope* to use on my cards. But they are WAY more tiny and detailed that I observed in the store - so fun, but super time consuming. I think I'll probably have to use these for maybe 10 of my cards but come up with a quicker card for the majority. |
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Post by dasmith2 on Nov 15, 2019 14:20:41 GMT
I’ve done a few more pages I just haven’t uploaded yet. Came to the challenge board this morning to give pages a “like”, I totally thought it was a new month (or close) and I hadn’t liked anyone’s pages or uploaded any this month. Mega brain fart there- geez 😔
I have a couple quilt projects I really need to finish but I’m really enjoying my scrapping. It’s been easier for me to scrap than quilt.
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Post by grammadee on Nov 15, 2019 15:06:32 GMT
Ha ha, dasmith2. I think that happens to everyone, especially this time of year. I think, "I don't have to worry about that cuz that's next week", and then I realize that is IS next week, but it's on Monday and today is Friday... Don't know where the first half of this month has slipped away to. Glad you are enjoying your scrapping again. I have loved seeing the pages you DID share. Hope you get to share the others. Are the quilts for Christmas gifts? Or are they ongoing projects? I have never quilted b/c I recognize my inability to sew a straight line. |
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Post by cristelina on Nov 15, 2019 15:32:02 GMT
grammadee , you are so productive. I don't bake cookies because I always burn them. Plus, if they aren't burnt, I eat them ALL.   kitbop , lasagna freezes well too. I had a friend that got 10 lbs of ground beef split it into batches and cooked/seasoned it for tacos/spaghetti sauce/sloppy joes/ etc.
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Post by joblackford on Nov 16, 2019 1:27:44 GMT
My phone reminder to check my notes from last year's Christmas Journal has popped up. I try to write myself a bunch of advice at the end of the DD season. Reminders about what I need to get done, what I want to get done, what I want to avoid.
I've printed out the first couple of photo calendars which is the main gift I give my family/overseas friend. My family has gotten used to me sending very little - shipping costs are ridiculous and we all have everything we need, except that we're so darn far away from each other. I also send them a year in review book after New Years. My husband's family has different expectations but I try to focus on memory keeping gifts for them too. I've already taken care of SIL's mid-Dec birthday gift - she's definitely a person who expects generosity (and gives overly generously) and I wanted to be able to take her gift at Thanksgiving so I don't have to rush-ship it.
I'm still waiting on SIL to share the photos of my nephew for his blurb book and their calendar, but I also need to go through my own photos of him and choose/edit the ones I will include. I might have to do hers over Thanksgiving. She's got a lot on her plate right now.
I'm on a major tidying/decluttering kick at the moment. Not achieving much, mostly just getting frustrated, and I'm not even working on tidying my crafty stuff (which would at least get me points here). Yesterday instead of making things I spent most of the day dealing with horrid stuff - figuring out health, dental, and vision insurance, trying to get an appointment for new glasses, calling a new hair salon for an appointment, getting a cheaper cable internet package... Lots of things I'd been procrastinating.
But I also got a paper pad that goes with some cut aparts I've been storing for too too long, and I have a couple of card sketches I want to try, so tomorrow when the sun comes up again I'm hoping to bust out a big pile of cards. I was extra happy because the Joann clerk rang me up with much better coupons than the one I actually had - my 20% off total purchase became 40% off one item and 60% off the other more expensive item! So kind of her.
Is anyone else hoping for a crafty weekend? (grammadee and justjac obviously!)
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 17, 2019 8:02:20 GMT
I was supposed to go to a dog show today. But overslept and couldn’t get motivated so I stayed home and got six more cards done. I plan on doing more tomorrow too  |
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Post by joblackford on Nov 18, 2019 0:51:11 GMT
I have the decluttering/organizing bug really bad right now, but I really don't want to buy a bunch of plastic stuff to organize my supplies. All of the videos I watch are in big rooms full of stash - not necessarily a bad thing - I just don't need "stash" for the crafts I do - I'm a use it or lose it crafter. So I don't need complicated systems for organizing all my beach or birthday supplies in one place, I just need a way to hold and keep track of things while I have them. So I came to the conclusion that the best way I can declutter and organize right now is to tear through a bunch of supplies and turn it into cards! I've made 36 using the cut aparts and paper pad I mentioned the other day I have one more week to do crafty things and to clean and organize before we head out of town for Thanksgiving, so I'm trying to be focused. I have so many things I want to do but I'm trying to focus on one project at a time. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 18, 2019 3:34:38 GMT
I have the decluttering/organizing bug really bad right now, but I really don't want to buy a bunch of plastic stuff to organize my supplies. All of the videos I watch are in big rooms full of stash - not necessarily a bad thing - I just don't need "stash" for the crafts I do - I'm a use it or lose it crafter. So I don't need complicated systems for organizing all my beach or birthday supplies in one place, I just need a way to hold and keep track of things while I have them. So I came to the conclusion that the best way I can declutter and organize right now is to tear through a bunch of supplies and turn it into cards! I've made 36 using the cut aparts and paper pad I mentioned the other day I have one more week to do crafty things and to clean and organize before we head out of town for Thanksgiving, so I'm trying to be focused. I have so many things I want to do but I'm trying to focus on one project at a time. Great job! Both are identifying your style, your needs and get so many cards completed! |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 19, 2019 6:26:00 GMT
Today I worked on cards as therapy. We had to put our 14 yr old Samoyed to sleep today. So I headed to my room and made 13 Christmas cards. Here is our dd and Koda, our dd is now 20.  |
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gramma
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Post by gramma on Nov 19, 2019 6:49:49 GMT
gmcwife1 I'm so sorry about your pup. It hurts so darned bad!
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 19, 2019 12:28:27 GMT
gmcwife1, I'm so very sorry, hugs to you and all the family. joblackford, I've done a bit of re-org/declutter this week as well - it just happened because I wanted to be able to store my copics on their side as some pea suggested... and I seriously didn't have room to turn the copics storage case from vertical to sideways. I have a large stash and a small corner I like having everything within my reach anyways. My current "problem" is large organizer on my desk (in prime space) that is filled with items I no longer use frequently. I want to rehome them and choose new supplies for the organizer. HOWEVER, I know exactly where all these supplies are now, and if I move/resort, I'll never find them!
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Post by grammadee on Nov 19, 2019 17:04:30 GMT
((((Hugs))))) gmcwife1. So sad to lose a well loved furry family member. I need to share a bunch more of my weekend cards sometime today. So far have shared 12 of the 30. But off to the kitchen now to put together another batch of Christmas treats. Have just three family favorites yet to do: two no-bake (one of which I will do today) and one baked layered cookie that takes 3 different steps a few hours apart. Might be tempted to leave that one out, but it is gluten free and coffee flavoured, so one of dd's favourites that she can actually eat, so I will need to get to that. Tomorrow we need to drive to a city 3 hours away for a dr appointment for dh on Thursday (when we will be driving home), and then on Friday we have a Seniors' Christmas Dinner at dh's club. So no more crafting of baking for me until at least Saturday. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 19, 2019 18:05:04 GMT
Thank you everyone Back to work today but feeling a bit better knowing we did the right thing for Koda. I have puppy class tonight so no crafting but it will be nice to have the distraction |
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Post by joblackford on Nov 20, 2019 4:22:00 GMT
Sorry to hear about your old pup gmcwife1 Hard to say goodbye, even if it is the right time. I hope you had a good puppy class. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 20, 2019 5:47:18 GMT
Sorry to hear about your old pup gmcwife1 Hard to say goodbye, even if it is the right time. I hope you had a good puppy class. Thank you Crafting yesterday and class tonight were good distractions I’m looking forward to the weekend off to craft. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 24, 2019 2:23:27 GMT
Wooohooo, got two cards completed yesterday and eight more done today!
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kitbop
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Post by kitbop on Nov 24, 2019 13:05:07 GMT
I haven't even got a final version of my card decided upon! Argh!
Yesteray I went to the One of a Kind show in Toronto. Not really a craft fair because the vendors are all very professional, and it's a business/living for them, not a hobby. It is massive, 360,000 sq. feet (yes, big big) of vendors. Hand produced/designed items and artists, it's things you'd find in boutiques. It's really hard to describe! But definitely worth the drive in to the city and the cost of admission.
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Post by boymom5 on Nov 25, 2019 3:44:03 GMT
This month has ended up being more busy than I had anticipated! I knew we had a lot going on, but I haven't had as much time to craft as I had hoped. I did get time to myself today and started with organizing some of my supplies. I hoping to make a bunch of little kits out of my stash so its easier to pull together pages and get things done!
After a bit, I pulled out some of my old Scrapbook Generation kits which have just been sitting on my shelf. I'm glad I did since it got me inspired to put some pictures on the pages and I finished up 10 pages (5 double spreads). These were all older pictures I had in my piles that I have been uninspired to do in years, so yay!
Now to get my room and stash organized to hopefully get more done before the end of the month. I'm also still debating whether I do DD again this year. Last year was my first attempt and well, it still lays unfinished. I'm not sure if I can do it again, but I am working on a 365 photography project, so I will definitely have pictures to do it.
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azcrafty
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Post by azcrafty on Nov 25, 2019 5:57:42 GMT
((((Hugs))))) gmcwife1. So sad to lose a well loved furry family member. I need to share a bunch more of my weekend cards sometime today. So far have shared 12 of the 30. But off to the kitchen now to put together another batch of Christmas treats. Have just three family favorites yet to do: two no-bake (one of which I will do today) and one baked layered cookie that takes 3 different steps a few hours apart. Might be tempted to leave that one out, but it is gluten free and coffee flavoured, so one of dd's favourites that she can actually eat, so I will need to get to that. Tomorrow we need to drive to a city 3 hours away for a dr appointment for dh on Thursday (when we will be driving home), and then on Friday we have a Seniors' Christmas Dinner at dh's club. So no more crafting of baking for me until at least Saturday. That gluten free coffee flavored cookie sounds good. Yum!! Have a good trip and be safe! |
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Post by joblackford on Nov 25, 2019 6:39:32 GMT
We're headed out of town tomorrow so I've been scrambling around trying to get things finished, or setting up/starting things so that I will be excited to jump back in when we get back. I always find I have a bit of vacation hangover and it's hard to find the creative groove again after a week living someone else's life (we stay with family who live very differently than we do). I'm taking my laptop and I'll be working on digi-scrap projects while we're away. I have everything sorted for Pea swap cards but as usual I didn't put enough energy into cards for my own family and friends and I underestimated how many I have to do (I was thinking 20ish, but it's actually 40ish!). I found a great cut file to use, but I think I need to make a few adjustments to make it work more efficiently, so I don't need 40 sheets of paper. I don't like the score line that the ScanNCut makes so I think I'll remove that and do it manually, or I might cut the front panel separately and mount it to a base. I'm not very experienced with using cut files but I really like the card I chose. I can't believe it will already be a few days into December when we get back! I think I'm going to take some gifts for overseas family to the post office tomorrow, as well as the Pea cards. I considered getting all my holiday decorations up but I think I'll leave that until we get back. Have a happy Thanksgiving week, American friends |
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Post by grammadee on Nov 30, 2019 1:15:55 GMT
How is everyone doing? I am thinking there are some turkey hangovers and Black Friday shopping fatigue south of the 49th. Do you still have visitors in your home, or are you away from home this weekend? I have been putting together a bunch of really quick cards, and almost done with my on line exchange card signing and addressing. About four more to go. Did my Christmas letter this week. Need to get it copied so I can start on cards for family and friends. Haven't done a page in ages... Starting to get gifts organized for wrapping. One more shopping trip tomorrow to a Christmas Craft Fair. Have been keeping track of points on a piece of scrap paper. Need to get them into the calculation thread and get them added up. Can't believe that tomorrow is the last day of November! Need to get that total into kitbop. |
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