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Post by joblackford on Jan 9, 2024 18:28:53 GMT
Not kits, but a couple of things from C&9th's new release caught my eye. I like generic love products rather than gushy romantic love. There are some dies that I will probably end up getting but I'm trying not to look right now. I like the free heart/circle die Catherine Pooler is giving away to their Stamp Nation members but not sure that the other products are very usable for me. www.catherinepooler.com/blog/
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Post by joblackford on Jan 9, 2024 18:21:45 GMT
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Post by joblackford on Jan 9, 2024 2:32:26 GMT
What is your strategy for this? I don't have a problem getting rid of a font I no longer care for but it's really hard to ditch something I like, even if there aren't many letters left. I always feel like I might be able to make a word out of it. I think I am going to try Dana K. White's container concept. I have two bins. I start putting the ones I love the most, and then the ones I just like. When I run out of room the rest get given away or thrown away (or I have to take out another set to make room.) That's in theory anyway. YES! good plan. You can keep anything you want, you jusy can't keep everything ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Q_m8lDOvc_3Le3r1GKdf.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 21:54:15 GMT
And the birthday cards: ![](https://i.postimg.cc/bstVWkyp/IMG-1121.jpg) Not sure I love them, but I sort of don't worry too much about that with Cards for Cubs. It sort of cracks me up that they insist on handmade cards, but you can download their full-color card fronts and/or sentiments, print them on card stock, and donate them. I figure that if that counts as a handmade card, mine of just fine, even if a little odd. They're better than fine, they're lovely ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Kids really just enjoy pretty colorful things and foster kids will be happy that anyone remembered them... The more color and stickers the better for the younger kids. I think I can understand why they want them to be handmade even though the bar is very, very low for what handmade looks like. I suspect they'd get a bunch of low quality generic notecards or charity giveaway cards if they opened it up to "store bought" cards. I've chopped up store bought cards and charity junk to glue onto a card base many a time to donate! I figure if I use a stitched die it feels more special. But I felt kind of icky putting extra bought cards into my last BSTS box, even though they said they wanted them. Offering downloads drives traffic to their site and is a gateway to the cardmaking addiction... hehe
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 21:45:04 GMT
Also on the chopping block are some of my Thickers and alphabet stickers. What is your strategy for this? I don't have a problem getting rid of a font I no longer care for but it's really hard to ditch something I like, even if there aren't many letters left. I always feel like I might be able to make a word out of it. One time I made a bunch of words on sticker release paper from what was left and then tried to assess whether I would ever actually use those words on a project. I kept some for a while and used a few. Some of them ended up in my sticker/ephemera journal so I still get to enjoy the font but there's none of that frustration when I go to use it on a project and there's really nothing that works. Sometimes I can use random words on silly cards. At a certain point I feel like trashing it and moving on is OK to do. I can just tell myself there were only useless Qs and Zs left anyway, no possible words left. (a lot easier in theory than in practice)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 21:36:43 GMT
Thanks for posting all those challenges, folks ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) We should have a printable list and/or spreadsheet to reference in a day or two. I still need to set up my little tracking sheet in my planner too. I have a post it note by my craft desk for crafty hours, another by my recliner for crochet hours, and I set up a planner page to write down my projects - how many cards, what size, and if I shared. I just go through the printable list at the end of each month with my projects and Flickr photos up and read the challenge list to check off which ones I did. I find that easier than checking the challenge list with each card project. (I don’t look at the challenges before I create!) Is it just me or are the boards pretty quiet? The boards do seem pretty quiet... maybe everyone resolved not to use social media for their resolution this year. I have had a lot of time to be scrappy in the last week (I made 5 or 6 pages) but the entire post winter break schedule goes back into full swing this week so it will be seen if I can keep up the pace or not... lots of time in the car driving kids everywhere is good for listening to audiobooks, but not so great for scrapbooking... haha, maybe so! Good luck getting back into the swing of being the taxi service. Hope that audiobook is good! Maybe your scrappy momentum will help you carve out a little creative time somehow.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 1:16:58 GMT
Thanks for posting all those challenges, folks ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) We should have a printable list and/or spreadsheet to reference in a day or two. I still need to set up my little tracking sheet in my planner too. I have a post it note by my craft desk for crafty hours, another by my recliner for crochet hours, and I set up a planner page to write down my projects - how many cards, what size, and if I shared. I just go through the printable list at the end of each month with my projects and Flickr photos up and read the challenge list to check off which ones I did. I find that easier than checking the challenge list with each card project. (I don’t look at the challenges before I create!) Is it just me or are the boards pretty quiet?
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 0:56:37 GMT
‘Tis the season for organizing, decluttering, minimizing, and all that! I’m ignoring all of the emails from scrapbook dot com about organizing products. I need to pass on a few of my older stamps and dies or rotate out some seasonal ones into secondary storage space but I am determined not to buy any new stuff to hold my stuff.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 8, 2024 0:51:01 GMT
I think it's more that I now have all the paper together on the left (including brands with 12x12 in the cupboard on the bottom) so that I can actually SEE how much there it.... I sort of had no idea. That’s why methods like KonMari get you to pull everything of the same category together from all the places it’s stashed! It can be pretty shocking to see it all together. But the good news is that paper is pretty easy to use up (or recycle if it’s truly super ugly). Durable tools like stamps/dies/folders take up the same amount of space no matter how productive you are. That’s the problem I’m having. Your new storage piece looks great. Not sure if you are looking for advice about using it up but I’ll drop my 2 cents here anyway ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/Q_m8lDOvc_3Le3r1GKdf.jpg) Besides making a sheetload of sheetloads I like using single sided 12x12s to make envelopes with the white side facing out, especially for less pretty papers.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 7, 2024 15:39:11 GMT
I couldn’t think of any favorites at first but looking back at my Flickr account -Concord & 9th Noel die set -Sheetload of Cards sketches -using up a paper pad and die cuts and then starting a new project
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2024 21:19:31 GMT
Wow, you all jumped right into the new year! Or carried on from the last... I'm still emerging from zombie mode but it's great to see so many cool pages and cards here already. I'm working on a photobook which is always difficult to share. So far it's proving difficult in every way! I want to get the bones of it laid out and then I can start working on the details. Here's one page I managed to design with some actual scrapbooky elements. It's 5x8" - sorry you can't really see the edges. (They were mostly good movies, btw. Weird was great! recommend The Lost King too.) movies on planes by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2024 21:06:21 GMT
Another one?! ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) Having bought several of these in 2023 I finally decided I had enough colors. Certainly not the entire collection but am satisfied with the ones I have. That was my reaction too.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2024 21:03:32 GMT
I’m going to say yes, if you made the layouts this quarter you can claim the points for any challenges you’ve set and met since then. Thanks for adding more challenges for us all to check off ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Great! Will go back and add more. I haven't looked at challenges in forever due to all the various points they were. Now with them being q each, it will be less math and less time to add. Yes, it's much easier now! Either you did it and you can check it off for that month, or not ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2024 16:30:18 GMT
Okay, I posted 7 challenges. Am I able to go back and add more points to the 2 layouts I have created and go through the challenges? I’m going to say yes, if you made the layouts this quarter you can claim the points for any challenges you’ve set and met since then. Thanks for adding more challenges for us all to check off ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 6, 2024 4:33:38 GMT
A little nudge from me and grammadee to make sure everyone has had a chance to post a few challenges on the Q1 challenge thread. The more we have, the more points we can earn. If you need any help please let us know, but hopefully the examples already posted will give you some ideas. The challneges don’t have to be complicated or unique! Tagging you all even though I know someone of you have posted already, sorry! pantsonfire , boymom5 , Chinagirl828 , kitbop , natscraps , angel97701 , joyfulnana , julie5 , breetheflea , peasapie , kokomo37 , mich5481 , kkrenn The challenge thread is here 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/143316/post-1-challenges
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Post by joblackford on Jan 5, 2024 23:57:08 GMT
I have replaced my BigShot plates more often than the people above but not often. They mark up horribly quickly but I would say you only need to keep one set in reserve in case of accidental breakage. I usually toss the cut-into plate when it cracks and use the old top plate for my new cut-into plate so a pair of replacement plates is plenty of backup.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 5, 2024 23:49:39 GMT
reported the spam bot
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Post by joblackford on Jan 5, 2024 16:37:01 GMT
Update: My group seems to be falling apart already. We did exchange "hello" cards. Not sure how many cards our first birthday girl in September got; I know I sent one. There are five of us. I believe I got three holiday cards, but maybe only two. I've received one birthday card from this group so far (my birthday's Saturday). I was thinking about shopping for at least one TE product for Valentine's Day, but I'm going to hold off a little longer. Happy birthday for tomorrow!
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Post by joblackford on Jan 5, 2024 2:39:07 GMT
January plans include: finishing my year end blurb book now that we're back from our holidays and doing a trade book for Journal Your Christmas.
Cardmaking - start some birthday and encouragement cards for Cards for Cubs.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 5, 2024 2:27:47 GMT
I've been watching the Penny Black and Jill Foster YT channel over Christmas and got tempted by their Posted stamps and die. www.pennyblackinc.com/products.html?q=posted I'm a sucker for postage related things but so far haven't bought any. I think the Waffle Flower ones are my favorite but I don't want to jump in while they're still releasing new products.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 22:09:47 GMT
Using 6x6 paper for the smaller pieces on the sketch I didn't see any value to cutting them at the full 3x4.25 size if the little horizontal strip is covering the gap. By cutting a 2" strip off the bottom and cutting the remaining piece into two 3x4 pieces you can get 2 sets for the PP B and C pieces from each 6x6 paper and the waste piece is a much more usable (to me) 2x6" size. Does that make sense? (there may also be a way to use the waste piece to make more of the small pieces but I haven't gotten that far yet and I think that's where you end up with uneven numbers, may not be worth the bother). SLOC mod by jo.blackford, on Flickr I may use a 12x12 sheet for the background pieces. I can get 6 from one sheet, and the waste pieces can be used inside or put 3 on a card base and add a sentiment in the gap for a super simple card. Something like these, although I think the strips on this paper were narrower because I trimmed them to highlight the full face cats: June share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 21:35:04 GMT
Hello team! It's always weird crossing the date line from ANZ to the USA, I remember flying into San Francisco and landing half an hour after we left the airport in Melbourne. I hope you had a wonderful trip back to NZ. It was fun showing my SIL BIL and nibling around the places I grew up, even though everything has changed so much it's barely recognizable to me. They found it interesting to see what it was like compared to Washington State and Hawaii, different to both, but also a little bit the same. I envied them getting off the plane in Honolulu on the morning of the 31st, able to live that day over again from breakfast-time instead of having to spend the rest of it flying like we did. But you really feel what a tiny speck in the ocean the islands are when flying the Pacific. Halfway between HNL and AKL and you're only just flying over Apia, Samoa. We used to do the long flight to LAX or SFO but it was just too long, and then the short flight to SEA in cattle class would be so wretched - no food, no screens, and so many ornery Americans on a domestic flight. UGh! Breaking the trip in HNL on Hawaiian Airlines is highly, highly recommended. Do you have any fun goals or plans for 2024?
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 21:18:24 GMT
That is trippy! I'm hoping to step out of my box and be more openly creative. I realize I tend to do the same sort of stuff and I'm wanting to do/learn more. I love that goal ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) I hope you find some great inspiration for new projects and techniques. We're so lucky to have so many free ideas and tutorials available on YouTube and other sites. Have you ever done a project like The 100 Day Project? That can be a fun way to try new things or commit to practicing a new skill.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 21:14:00 GMT
Hey Team! joblackford that is trippy lol, I can't imagine the jet lag! but what a gorgeous photo! I hope you had a great trip to NZ. I'm always excited about a new year of crafting. There's something about a fresh year and clean slate of potential. I had a mostly mojoless 2023 and want to take advantage of my excitement to craft again. I also want to finish up a couple of classes I've bought and not finished. Looking forward to being a member thanks for leading joblackford . Thank you ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) The jet lag wasn't as bad as it could've been. The time difference is only 3-5 hours, and we were getting up at 5:30 in NZ to stay closer to our body clocks. But our travel partners were on a different schedule and the trip was equal parts fun, exhausting, and shut up and let me think a moment! I wish you all the crafty mojo for 2024! Maybe that's the greeting we should put on holiday cards for Pea friends ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 21:11:08 GMT
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024 to the PRETTY PAPER PARTY PEOPLE: joblackford (team LEADER, that’s ME!), welcoming grammadee , pantsonfire , boymom5 , Chinagirl828 , kitbop , natscraps , angel97701 , joyfulnana , julie5 , breetheflea , peasapie , kokomo37 , mich5481 , kkrenn to the party. Feel free to come hang out and chat here about life, crafty or not. I’m going to post this now and come back with edits and updates because I am a total zombie this morning. I’ll post about why below… ETA: Post your 2024 goals! (Or plans! Or intentions!) Are you excited for a new year of crafting? Maybe some new projects? Also, don’t forget to add some challenges on the challenge thread, especially ones you know you will achieve or intend to do. Challenges don’t have to be especially challenging either. Last time one of my challenges was to use English (or whatever your mother tongue is) on a project. Lol ETA Challenges for Q1 are here 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/143316/post-1-challengesOk I’m new to this challenge thing so bear with me. But I have several projects I haven’t started and hope to this year. So here’s my goal sheet; *no buying new supplies *start and finish my dd 23 *start my puppy album (haven’t even scrapped about him yet) *start and finish my 2023 music concert album *finish my 2023 cruise album *start and finish my 2024 cruise album *do an October album. *finish my 2023 October album I have so many pictures. I started sorting and printing a few months ago which has helped me to organize projects into boxes with supplies. Basically I need to catch back up with my scrapping! Wow! That sounds like a big list of goals! But I remember from way back that when you're in the swing of things you can be very productive so hopefully you get a lot done ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) but take it slow. Every little bit counts. I'm not sure if you've had a look at the challenge list yet: 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/143316/post-1-challenges but the basic idea is that we get one point per month for each challenge we meet, with a bonus based on how many you've checked off. So based on your list you might want to post some challenges like 'start an album' or 'finish an album' (or both) or use a dog or concert theme on a page or scrap a photo of the ocean. You also get points for setting challenges and you'll see a lot of people have posted quite a few, but even if you wanted to add a couple that you're pretty sure you'll do you can earn a few points ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) We have until Sat I think to post challenges on that thread. Then grammadee will compile the list for us to work from for the quarter ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 5:18:00 GMT
Techniques: Black and white stamping, no color needed Direct to paper with ink Blend some ink Paper piece or use a layered die cut or cut file Use a bone folder to emboss some lines or a border Use an embossing folder White (or light distress oxide) ink on a dark background
Themes: Encouraging words Craft about crafting Galentine/Valentine’s Day
Words: Happy Birthday! I believe in you
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 2:44:25 GMT
Thanks for the tag but I'm going to pass for now.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 2:25:26 GMT
We’re back from our Kiwi Christmas trip. Looked like you had a great trip! We did, thanks. I just went through the photos and tried to narrow down which ones I want to use. I'm using the monthly view of my Get to Work Book to make notes on what we did each day to get an overview of the season. I barely started my album before we left so there's a lot to do but since it's digital it doesn't bother me to do it slowly.
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Post by joblackford on Jan 4, 2024 2:13:49 GMT
Here link is the patterned paper/her Etsy shop and Facebook link. I thought I'd found her blog at some point, but I don't seen it now...maybe linked on the FB but I didn't take the time to find it before copying and pasting? Thanks. Searching for Etsy shops sucks if you don't know the shop name. Here's the blog everydayexp.com/
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Post by joblackford on Jan 3, 2024 0:32:00 GMT
I tried a similar scheme, joblackford . I forget where it fell down, but it did. I hope you can figure it out where I couldn't.... I finished my set -- I did encouragement cards for Cards for Cubs, although they seem only a little youthful. I guess they say all ages. Anyway, by the time they were done, I had kind of lost the light. Maybe I'll post anyway and replace the photo tomorrow if it looks as bad as I fear it will. Eh, I'll try again tomorrow, but you sort of get the idea. They look great!
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