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Post by joblackford on May 11, 2024 20:55:25 GMT
Edmonton got jinxed by that sign! the council should’ve known better, lol.
It’s a really hot one here today. Normal would be 60ish and cloudy, but it’s mid 80s and completely clear today. My neighbors just told me they saw the northern lights out their front windows last night despite the massive light pollution from having a Naval shipyard and base 2 blocks away!! I was asleep.
I am inside trying to stay cool after a morning in the garden. I built a half-assed raised bed out of salvaged lumber and pruned and pulled a bunch of yard waste to pile in there in an approximation of hugelkultur - filling the base of the raised bed with wood and sticks and then green yard waste layered with soil, mulch, and compost to save money on buying soil and to add nutrients, etc. It’s also a scheme to get rid of some rotting cedar boards and bits of a woodshed that we demolished without inconveniencing my husband.
I just need to figure out which plants go where tomorrow. I thought I would out dahlias there but now I think it will be a tomato and basil garden. So where should the dahlias go? Multi-step long range planning is not my strong suit… but gardens are always a WIP anyway, and if you mess up you just hide your mistakes in the compost! When something dies I tell myself I’m building the soil.
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Post by joblackford on May 11, 2024 20:36:14 GMT
I chose every other month but at times it might be a couple of purchases in a month and other times I might go several months, I think.
I decided to look up my scrapbook dot com account and see if I was being honest with myself… It went Jan, Feb, May, July, Aug, Oct for the past couple of years, but then I noticed an entire year from one May to another without a purchase 2022-23!! I guess I was using up things I had bought.
I think I tend to buy for specific card drive projects. I do buy a few things here and there from a couple of other companies but probably not more than twice a year each, and I probably buy cardstock from Joann on a similar schedule.
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Post by joblackford on May 11, 2024 20:25:54 GMT
I’m sorry for your frustrations. This cements my feeling that I’m not missing out by ignoring these classes and events. I can totally see the fun of it, of course, but in the long run I would be really struggling with having so much extra stuff that I didn’t choose. I don’t have the space or the brain to manage much more than what I have. My vent is a small one - most of the black cardstock I have is too thin. When I tried out my new sentiment dies today the cardstock got all bent up as I was trying to get the pieces out. Why don’t I remember that to buy and use the good stuff? I bought some thin black cardstock, too. It's really flimsy. Did you try gluing/taping two sheets together and die-cutting with that? I'm using mine mainly to frame the card front. Just a little black edge around it and it doesn't make it bulky, adds a lot of depth. I used a rectangular die to cut a lot of them at one time, and have them in a stack on my desk. It’s the perfect weight for a layer behind a card panel. I just need to remember that and stop trying to die cut with it! At least for sentiments. I’m sure I have thicker stuff that I think is too nice to actually use, lol. And I know I have black scraps from old notebook covers that are a great weight. Just have to remember to use them!
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Post by joblackford on May 11, 2024 4:24:53 GMT
I’m sorry for your frustrations. This cements my feeling that I’m not missing out by ignoring these classes and events. I can totally see the fun of it, of course, but in the long run I would be really struggling with having so much extra stuff that I didn’t choose. I don’t have the space or the brain to manage much more than what I have.
My vent is a small one - most of the black cardstock I have is too thin. When I tried out my new sentiment dies today the cardstock got all bent up as I was trying to get the pieces out. Why don’t I remember that to buy and use the good stuff?
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Post by joblackford on May 10, 2024 14:23:22 GMT
kitbop I think we all underestimate just how disruptive moving is, even an in-town move. I hope things settle soon! We have two randomly hot days today and tomorrow. I’m so enjoying the sunshine but not sure I’m ready for the heat. Haha, what am I saying?! 82 is delightful as long as you’re not working in the sun (like my husband will be doing tomorrow). I found some paper that I’d kind of forgotten I had and started a bunch of cards using the Sheetload sketch yesterday. I think the focal point with just be a big sentiment but I’m still stewing on that. I think I have a new sentiment die set in the package being delivered today. Exciting! Happy Friday, all.
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Post by joblackford on May 10, 2024 4:04:57 GMT
Just a small thing but I found a way to put my printed sketch(es) up where I can see them and out of my way! I used a magnetic planner clip that holds easily to my metal Canvas lamp. Magnetic clip! by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 9, 2024 15:48:08 GMT
I thought you might be interested: link It's a little different, especially compared to a SLoC or a typical cut a sheet up and divide the matted pieced among 4 cards sort of sketches. It would be better for donations to places that don't specify blank or nearly blank insides with plenty of room to write. I still have not crafted today. I ended up back down the rabbit hole of creating myself a little cheat sheet of SLoCs by paper requirements and yields. I like it! I don't always want to write a long message anyway. And I've also seen JMcG add cards like this onto a folding card base to make it work as a "normal" card. I'll have to have a good look through my paper and see if I have some that would work well. I quickly checked out some of their other videos too, got some ideas. I love that you're building a Sheetload cheat sheet. I sense a pattern here... I started working on the current Sheetload sketch in the official manner, found some paper that I'd been uncertain how to use that is turning out well. 6x8 paper is good for the background piece - no 2" scraps to deal like using 6x6 paper. I kept looking out the window, waiting for my scrapbook dot com order to arrive yesterday. Turned out it was still traveling and won't be here until tomorrow I got excited when they (usps) overpromised, but I originally wasn't expecting it until the end of the week so I will survive. I might go out today and enjoy the sunshine and 70s before it actually gets properly hot 80s tomorrow. I should be weeding...
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Post by joblackford on May 9, 2024 0:27:00 GMT
Lately I used up - a small box full of small Doodlebug scraps (hoarded over a period of several years, ugh! turned out to be enough to make 21 cards!) It's almost completely empty now April share by jo.blackford, on Flickr - the last 2 sheets of an old Pebbles collection (cut aparts) - most of a wood grain 6x6 paper pack with no new scraps created - a random kraft card base and envelope that were not quite A2
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 18:26:13 GMT
Is that kind of like asking how many jackets is too many? (as a fellow PNWer you probably know what I mean!) They all serve very specific purposes and although, yes, maybe you could make do with one you would be limited in what you could do or how well you could do it. And you already have these ones that are working for you, and probably wouldn't gain much by selling any of them.
Could the new color printer also print photos? Maybe. But would it make sense to get rid of the photo printer you have and like? I'm guessing probably not.
I'm with Linda ^ ^
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 18:16:20 GMT
I posted these cards in a couple of cardmaking threads but here they are all together. I used 2 cut apart sheets from a Pebbles collection and all the remaining sheets of wood grain paper from a Simple Stories pack, plus a couple of remaining sheets from HS Wolf Pack and another Pebbles pad. Brown is not really my thing but I really liked the style of the seed packets. This is a modification of the fractured card Sheetload for May, more paper efficient with 6x6. May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 18:12:13 GMT
Here are the remaining 10 cards I finished yesterday using the same method. I used up all of the rest of the woodgrain 6x6, just a handful of usable scraps left! And I used up both of the cut apart sheets, which is the final end of this collection that I kept buying 'just a little more' of to use what was leftover... you know that shopping hamster wheel! May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 18:08:05 GMT
Hate when that happens. The having to pop into the craft store thing. Nice that you got the pages together! I haven't actually crafted a thing. Went down a rabbit hole of looking for 6x6 pp sketches. Found a video of someone's top five SLoCs for using scraps and of course thought of you, joblackford . I have little doubt you know the exact video. I printed four of the recommended sketches: Nov 20, Nov 21, Feb 22, and Apr 22. April 22 I've had open in a browser tab for months and months, but hadn't gotten as far as printing. Of course, now I'm looking at these and wondering about using up older single-sided 6x6s, since SU sketches are more likely to require double-sided than others. Back to the craft room! The video does sound familiar... Oh, probably Mint Twist Cards! She makes a heck of a lot of cards using scraps. I enjoy her videos but she always cuts them off without showing a lingering look at the finished cards. I suggested on one of her first videos that it would be nice to add that at the end - I know they're at the beginning and the thumbnail, but especially when I'm listening more than watching I love to see all the cards at the end! Can you share that double sided paper sketch you mentioned? I'm always happy to have another idea for blowing through a paper pad.
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 4:33:41 GMT
I don’t think they’ll get ruined, especially if you can keep them fairly tightly packed together. If you band them keep them in a tight bundle, or leave them in their wrappers if they’re mostly full, or use a bookend or something to minimize slumping they should be fine. Hopefully they won’t be stored in any position for years and years because you’ll be using them
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 4:27:16 GMT
Linda Love that you used a SCRAPBOOK SUPERSTAR element on your NSD page because you are!! grammadee you had a productive morning! You get some fun photos to scrap and never seem to run out of new and fun ways to highlight them on your pages. joyfulnana your spoiled cat is adorable! Sitting in that drawer… !! Hope your mojo is returning.
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 1:04:48 GMT
Bumping this thread to see if anyone is still watching Justine and what your thoughts are on her evolution? I find myself watching because I am short of crafters to watch who create short, snappy videos, but I see now she is selling her own products, so perhaps her focus has changed again? Interested in your thoughts/ I haven't watched her much lately. She started with her own products around the same time she got heavily into the summits, but also when she had her baby, so I think her focus is very split. Her haphazardness was already starting to bug me before then, and I started to feel like she wasn't offering much that inspired me. It's usually not one thing that puts me off a creator but a constellation of small things, and if she's been sharing videos lately I don't think I've been paying attention. It looks like she's found some kind of balance between her baby, job, running the summits, and designing, and I imagine crafters in Europe appreciate being able to order her stuff more easily. I still hope she does well but I'm not much of a fan these days.
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 0:58:11 GMT
I don't watch Justine anymore. She's found another way to make $$ in this industry and I say good luck and go for it But, in order to stay sane in this market, I try and only buy 4-5 brands and only watch their stuff and their influencer stuff. That keeps me plenty busy. Maybe this is what I should do. I feel overwhelmed by all the new things out there. I really wish that the cardmaking companies would only release new products bimonthly or quarterly. I want to see ppl use the same stuff more than once.
I still watch Justine H. Yes! I really like cardmakers who use the same supplies over and over. I follow a few people who go make multiple videos using their favorite supplies over a period of months or years, and it's so fun to see all the different ways they think of to use the same thing. (Unfortunately the person who springs to mind first is Prairie Paper & Ink who can be a bit abrasive, and mostly uses SSS products, a brand I rarely shop). I'm so slow at making decisions that I usually haven't bought last month's thing before this month's comes out. It saves me a lot of money because I get distracted and only end up going back if the supply is really good. Often I realize it's OK but not really special. I would enjoy seeing people use supplies in creative ways but they just don't have time to do that with the constant hamster wheel of releases.
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 0:38:26 GMT
Finally took a good look and yes, I like it! I like that they've included some parade/festival elements, the kind of small town gathering elements. I feel like those could be useful for people scrapping gatherings and events for Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, as well as July 4th. There are some papers I'd love to use.
I won't buy the pinwheels I def want to make some for the cards I'm going to craft. Such a fun motif with double sided paper and it has a good nonspecific summertime celebration vibe.
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Post by joblackford on May 8, 2024 0:28:32 GMT
Were you out doing fun things over the weekend, visiting? or just sports/errands? Crossing my fingers you get some crafty basement time today! Hope you have something fun to work on It was for fun, went to a wedding reception 3 hours away so we made a weekend out of it. Ooh, lovely!
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 19:18:27 GMT
I'll copy the photo of the structure here just in case anyone else wants to try it. I cut my 6x6 into 1" strips, cut 2 of them in half at 3" and trimmed the other four to a little over 4" - my measurements weren't super precise because my paper wasn't perfectly 6x6, that's my excuse!). I laid them down in the spiral on the card base and used scraps, in this case 3 of the offcuts from the long pieces) to build up the bit behind the focal panel, which was cut apart. One piece of 6x6 = 2 cards, or start with a 3x6" scrap for one. The example I saw on YT created a patterned paper panel to inset into the middle with a stamped image/sentiment but I specifically wanted to use my 3x4ish cut aparts. youtu.be/8UOIB1wgy4o?si=NdwWXT6hxRSvCiP7May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 19:09:56 GMT
I would have a hard time getting by without my guillotine trimmer. I guess if I had scissors I would manage, but it would slow me down a lot! I can't cut straight to save my life, no matter what I do. My trimmer cuts (and subsequent gluing of the pieces) aren't perfect either but at least the cut line is straight I could make do with a small trimmer, scissors, some decent glue or tape runner, and 6x6 paper + white cardstock, but I sure do appreciate having a bone folder and score board, a stamping tool and die cutting machine. I guess if I had to only choose one tool I could use my die cutter (+ dies) to cut all my pieces for cards, as long as my card bases were pre-cut!
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 19:02:22 GMT
I haven't had a good look at it yet but already entered to win it. I get to make a bunch of red white and blue postcards for a charity every year so it's fun to have something cheerful to play with. I can't use anything with 4th of July sentiments because the cards are actually for a 9/11 day of service thing, but I'm sure Bring Smiles to Seniors can use any extra patriotic cards I make
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 18:59:27 GMT
No scrapping today, unless I can sneak down to the basement later. We were gone all weekend so no time for doing anything. Were you out doing fun things over the weekend, visiting? or just sports/errands? Crossing my fingers you get some crafty basement time today! Hope you have something fun to work on
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 17:01:12 GMT
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 16:59:50 GMT
I made a set of cards inspired by the latest Sheetload design, but I didn't use the cutting dimensions or method AT ALL so I don't know if they really count as Sheetload cards. I wanted to use some old cut aparts that I had, but they were 3x4 and wouldn't leave much of the background showing, especially if I added skinny strips to frame them. It seemed a waste of paper to have a solid background, and I would've had a ton of 2" scraps using 6x6, which is all I had to coordinate with these. So I looked up other "fractured" card tutorials and realized I could cut a 6x6 paper into 2 sets of frames and use up a woodgrain pad with minimal waste. Especially so after I realized that 3 off cuts could be used to level out the dip under the focal panel, like so: May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr I've finished 14 so far. Sharing these now because they were part of the double stuff weekend for team play. I have 10 more to finish. May share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 16:51:32 GMT
melanell I love all the extra stuff inside the card you made - so fun! And unexpected. I find it very satisfying to add a LOT of die cuts to a card. leeny I am a big fan of making a stash of sentiment strips and banners ready to add to cards. It saves so much time and energy, and I think it makes it easier to design a card if you can audition a few options for sentiments. It looks like you had a lot of fun and got a ton of beautiful cards made on your retreat The big floral hello cards are so eye-catching.
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Post by joblackford on May 7, 2024 16:38:12 GMT
I’m home alone too. I have one quick appointment this morning, getting the last of those plant pots out of here, and then I’m free.
I have 14 cards to share that I finished for double points weekend. I should be able to finish the rest this afternoon. I was using up 2 sheets of cut apart cards so I guess I have ten more to finish.
My scrapbook dot com order will be here tomorrow so I can make some proper Sheetload cards.
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Post by joblackford on May 6, 2024 14:56:03 GMT
I’m doing a lot of guesstimating my crafty hours because I’m not finishing many things, so I’m not earning points. The photo book is drafted but no page is actually finished, and probably won’t be until closer to November. So I’ll take a bunch of points then but for now it’s just time served. On Saturday when I was constantly being interrupted it was impossible to track a few minutes here and there I managed to get done. But tracking crafty time really helps me commit to sitting down and working for an hour or two in the afternoon. The sun is out today! Hurrah! I’m not sure if it’s safe to hang laundry though - I see some dark clouds - so I might put that off until the high pressure builds tomorrow. Laundry day is usually a good crafting day, broken into one hour chunks punctuated by a little time outside. Anyway, today I’ll try to commit and finish the cards I started Sat. Good luck with the interviews Shakti!
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Post by joblackford on May 6, 2024 14:40:45 GMT
I really think that in many cases it will be more a situation of me using up everything I'm willing to use as opposed to actually finishing. Many things in my stash were given to me, so they may primarily not be my style, but I can use some of them. And even things I chose myself I may have chosen for parts rather than the whole, kwim? For instance today I was using a paper pad from Michael's--one of those Recollections 6z6 pads that aren't even cardstock but rather actual lightweight patterned paper. Those work well for projects with mod podge, I find, but I don't love using them for scrapbooking. Plus the colors & style of the one I've been trying to use are not all for me at all. So I did start a few pages in my yearly album with them and I made a card with them today. Then, I like to keep scrap paper in my desk, because I'm forever looking for scrap paper for this or that. And i was out, so I got that pad, and took out every sheet that I absolutely knew I didn't like enough to ever use on anything, cut them all in half, and filled the scrap paper basket in my desk drawer with them. And I still have so much of that pad left! It was an 180 page pad! That's a lot of paper if you love the patterns, and it's way too much when you don't. So I think my next step will be to pull out the few remaining pages that I like, and maybe make a few little "mini kits" with them---enough for a page or a few cards, and then I think I'll start filling a gallon sized ziploc bag with scrap stuff I don't want, with this pad being the first item; and when it's full, I'll donate it/give it away, and for me that will be "finished". I used up a bunch of those lightweight paper pad pages by making envelopes with the printed side on the inside. If you have an envelope punch board it’s one easy way to use up more sheets of the so-so designs. Especially if you also made some cards from one sheet and have 1-3 more sheets left. but the ones that are just fugly are soul-sapping IMO and I’m happy to give those away.
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Post by joblackford on May 5, 2024 23:23:39 GMT
Lovely colors Shakti Did you make a jig for centering the middle piece?
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Post by joblackford on May 5, 2024 23:17:46 GMT
I worked on my 2024 photo book for a couple of hours It's the first work I've done on it so far, but luckily I have been flagging the photos I want to include each month.
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