|
Post by joblackford on Nov 9, 2023 0:35:51 GMT
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 9, 2023 0:34:49 GMT
One of my other hobbies is watching decluttering videos! As we are preparing to move, this is probably a good idea. Which ones do you like? I needed space for my alphas so I cleaned out a drawer that had a bunch of CDs. I do not know what to do with the CDs but I do not need them. If I need to listen to REM's Monster, I will find it online or apple play or whatever. Offer them on Buy Nothing if you belong to a group (you should! it's the best) or donate them? They might be OK for some Little Free Libraries too. Some people still listen to CDs in their cars. I watch Dana K White/A Slob Comes Clean (she has books and podcasts too but they all focus on the same simple no-mess strategies). She moved fairly recently, and had some good advice for how to pack for a move following her basic principles ( link 1, link 2). I like The Minimal Mom on YT for decluttering advice and thinking about things like regret. Cass from Clutterbug is fun for storage, organizing, and decorating and she also recently moved but she's also a bit all over the place and struggled through her move. Fun though. They all work together to run a course so they use each other's strategies and language a lot. Almost everything I say is something they've said
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 20:09:14 GMT
Wow! What an amazing job you did. Thank you! I know I complained a lot about it but I did really have fun making it. I don't think you complained a lot. You had a lot going on this month so I'm very impressed you got so much done so quickly!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 20:08:10 GMT
I'm sorry I wasn't around much for the thread. October was a very busy month at work. But thankfully I got my Halloween decorations put away and time to print all my journaling andu pics today. I got everything out and am ready to begin putting things together. ![](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231107/af503c8feba9288794710a1206b96372.jpg) That looks like an efficient process! I like the friend you have there for moral support. Skellie is not a Halloween decoration then?
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 19:50:30 GMT
So pretty grammadee! I love that aqua foil ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) and being able to use the positive and negative is a bonus.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 19:03:27 GMT
I meant to share that I used up the ColorPlay Hanukkah collection I bought last month I saw your cards on insta, they were lovely. Well done on using up the entire collection! Thank you! It's my favorite thing to do ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 19:01:28 GMT
You will maybe, possibly, years in the future have a moment someday where you think, "ugh, I had that thing I could've used but I got rid of it!!" but it will be OK. You'll figure out another way to do it. You'll use your creativity to find a solution. It will be at most a few days of frustration, more than likely only moments. You'll remember the money and space you got back, not to mention not having that mental load of asking "what should I do with those...?" every time you see them. That's a load off your mind. You are so smart. One of my other hobbies is watching decluttering videos!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 3:21:05 GMT
I meant to share that I used up the ColorPlay Hanukkah collection I bought last month ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) and almost no scraps once I cut some little flags to decorate inside the cards. I even managed to use most of the little sample print rectangle on the branding strips ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) Very satisfying!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 3:17:19 GMT
but that Santa is awesome! Thanks ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg) He was part of a 6x8 sheet that looked like a magazine cover with words across the top and down the left side. I didn't realize I could crop him down to card size and cover the remains of the words with a ho ho ho until I had already cut up the other sheet or I would've made two! I really like how he turned out too.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 8, 2023 3:13:18 GMT
I was the only early bird in a flock of night owls...when I was alone in the conference room where the event occurred, was I crafting alone because I was alone in the room or crafting with others because I was at an in-person crafting event for a group of people that included me?! Sounds like you were crafting with others to me! or you would've been if they'd gotten themselves out of bed. Glad you got a lot done ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 7, 2023 18:45:31 GMT
Here are some more random cards. The SS ephemera is really hard to use in comparison to Doodlebug, too fussy and detailed in relation to the papers, but I used some of them. Nov share by jo.blackford, on Flickr Nov share by jo.blackford, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 7, 2023 17:33:48 GMT
I’m always tempted to get more cardmaking supplies with bees, especially bumblebees, sunflowers, postage stamp details, poinsettias, happy sunshines and cute Doodlebug critters/inanimate objects with faces.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 7, 2023 17:27:45 GMT
Thank goodness you found it! I have a heat vent near my desk and when something flies wildly off onto the floor I’m always afraid it will fall down there. My only excitement this morning, besides reading an adventure/mystery, was a strange water running sound in the plumbing behind the shower which we were concerned was a valve leaking behind the walls. Thankfully it was just something weird going on with the shower head and my husband has chosen a fancy new one.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 7, 2023 17:17:19 GMT
I’m torn on this one still — lots of stamps and dies, many owls in varying degrees of cutesy, and I don’t mind the coloring. But what does one do with blank washi paper? And the envelope assortment is…interesting? The washi sticker paper can be stamped on (and colored, etc) to make your own semi-see through stickers. It looks like DT people have used it to make their own shaped washi tape seals/stickers for their envelopes, but you can also use it as a layer in mixed media style collage cards and projects like art journals. I think of it as something Vicki P would use in her mixed media cards and projects as a background layer. YT link
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 6, 2023 4:46:57 GMT
I'm a sucker for a postage stamp design but I'm marking myself safe from this kit. Some cute critters but I'm realizing that most HA stuff just isn't my style. Too fussy. Congrats on the IG repost/feature azcrafty! http://instagram.com/p/CzFVmSSr2QL
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 6, 2023 4:32:50 GMT
I die cut quite a lot of sentiments this evening, trying to stay awake after dark. I was so much happier with the dies compared to the ones I usually use - I was able to tip the cutting plate and have the dies fall right off with the paper left on the plate. A lot of my word die cuts get the paper stuck in them really badly, so frustrating. Does anyone know why that happens with some dies and not others? I know some of the tricks to fix it but I have some dies (good quality, not especially detailed) that always give me problems.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 5, 2023 20:41:46 GMT
Unfortunately I needed a sympathy card. I bought some faux alcohol ink patterned paper from Amazon. It's not too shabby. ![](https://i.postimg.cc/GH7BC7gc/IMG-0477.jpg) ![:(](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/mYSUyHtG9Jrcmm_ydVcK.jpg) Sorry for your loss. But the card is beautiful. I really like that use for faux alcohol ink paper.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 5, 2023 20:11:21 GMT
jjpeapea those are so cheerful! I like the relatively monochrome look of the backgrounds to keep the focus on your cute characters ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/5645536/images/MNrJDkDuSwqIMVw33MdD.jpg)
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 5, 2023 19:00:25 GMT
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 5, 2023 18:58:45 GMT
I don't use markers much but I have some mesh/plastic pouches that some kits come in to store my markers - I have double ended Tombows. They fit easily lying flat. I have them grouped loosely by color family. I can pull out each bag in turn and choose what I need and then leave the ones I'm currently using on my desk without getting mixed up. I just have them standing up in a deep drawer so they don't take up too much space but I can grab any color bag easily and the markers are stored flat. Since I only use them here and there it works fine for me and I wouldn't want to spend a lot on storage even if I had desk space for something. these pouches
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 5, 2023 18:47:32 GMT
In the NYT email this morning they mentioned that one of the earliest sundial systems just divided the daylight up evenly into 12 blocks, so in summer the "hours" were longer and in winter they were shorter. I don't know exactly where that was or the details but I could totally get behind spending 42 minutes doing something in winter and calling it an hour!
I have all my living room lamps on timers so today I have to go and adjust them all so they come on about 3pmPST instead of 6pmPDT. It's been really dark in the house the last couple of weeks!
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 22:48:41 GMT
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 22:45:01 GMT
The fall-back weekend is the worst! It gets so dark I just want to hibernate but I still have to get out of my chair to get dinner ready… Am I the only one who hates it? I hate the time change weekends at both ends - messes me up for a week or two each. FLorida voted to stay on summer time pre-pandemic but has to wait on 'permission' from the US Congress so...we're still changing twice a year. It's especially hard on DD17 - it'll be dark when she leaves in the morning AND when she gets home after school - she likes to shoot hoops to decompress after a long day but its hard in the dark. My husband spent years commuting in the dark. It's brutal, especially if you work in a place with no windows. I think we're also supposed to stay on summer time year round if it gets approved, but as nylene said, I'm not holding my breath. In Japan they don't change the clocks so the sun comes up around 4am in the summer. By 8am my apartment would be baking hot, but people lit fireworks on summer nights so they liked it to get dark earlier. Having the sun come up at 9am in winter isn't going to be popular though, if we do get our new time zone approved - we are further north than most people realize. People hate the change, but they're also going to hate not changing IMO.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 22:33:06 GMT
![](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20231104/df31ffdec818bddfe06724b876be5795.jpg) This was also for one of the funfold challenges. The one on the left has aqua (or turquoise) metallic paper but it photographed dark. So cool! I haven't tried any of the fun folds yet.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:50:16 GMT
After seeing the commentary here yesterday I opened mine up. Front cover speckled with dried lumpy glue (?) splatter. The dots picked off with my finger nail easily without any marks left behind. However, there’s also black smudges, most not too noticeable, but one is near the bookplate and fairly obvious imo. I sent a message with a photo. Response was 20% refund. I’m not super mad about this, but it does irk me. If I saw this album on the shelf of a craft store and it was priced at $30, marked down to $26, I’d leave it there. It’s just not worth the price. Citrus Twist albums, if deemed imperfect, are deeply discounted. And almost every time I can’t even find the imperfection. I’m really going to try to avoid Ali’s albums going forward (for all projects!) unless they do something to correct this quality control problem. This was kind of my thoughts as well. For the price these albums cost, the quality was not sufficient this year. My first album was bad enough that I sent pictures, and they sent me a replacement. The replacement was better than the first one by far, but not near as good of quality as my album from last year still. I just think it’s really strange that they don’t have some sort of quality control like most other businesses where they sell imperfect albums for a reduced price like you mentioned. I was happy with the customer service experience I had this year, but I really feel like they need to change something for next year. Especially with albums that are expensive to mail! How many replacement albums have they had to ship out to people this year? And how many people are not going to unwrap their albums until they start working on, or finish, their project? The lack of quality control on the most expensive element of the kit blows my mind. Until I remember it’s Inked we’re talking about.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:27:10 GMT
My husband was very excited that we had one kid who recited the whole “trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!” He says knocking on doors is part of the thrill, and a good rite of passage, although these days I don’t know. In some places and for some people it’s very scary. And the only people who knock on our door now are letting us know they’ll “be in the area tomorrow doing some extermination for your neighbor,” maybe we’re interested too? My husband interrupts them and repeatedly says “it’s a public street, you don’t need to tell us,” which discombobulates them.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:16:01 GMT
I was surprised by how many houses wanted the kids to go inside to get their treats. That seemed really weird to me. So weird. Here everyone stands outside. If you aren't out, the kids don't bother you. No one was knocking on doors even with the lights on. Oh no, that’s totally different here! You have to knock on the door but no one comes inside. No one waits outside for trick or treaters to my knowledge unless they’re hardcore. One of my neighbors years ago had music, scary sounds, fog, and was lurking outside in a costume, but that was very very out of the ordinary. For a couple of years my other neighbor did the pandemic candy chute which the kids loved. If you have decorations and lights on kids will knock, but I would only expect a kid to come inside if they didn’t understand not to.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:09:49 GMT
I don't think that is what it means. A lot of people are into fashion and make up. That can work for even males who use make up or make clothes. Also it can be used for Prom or getting ready for weddings or a party. Little girl playing dress up or even a little boy getting into mom's stuff. It can totally work for all those things, but that makes the product name “her” even more inaccurate and non-inclusive. ETA just saw your response to that effect! Agreed.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:08:23 GMT
Terrible naming! I would call it something like glam or fashion. Nothing wrong with liking those things if someone does - I have friends who would love the vintage mirror and dress form shapes - but the name makes it unappealing. I have never been that kind of girl.
|
|
|
Post by joblackford on Nov 4, 2023 16:05:08 GMT
I’ve been working on some donation Christmas cards with the new Sheetload sketch. It’s a pretty easy one to cut and arrange and uses 6x6 paper (or scraps) so that has been nice. I usually try to do something different over the weekend but I might do some die cutting so I have sentiments ready. I got a new holiday sentiment set from C&9th that I’m loving and cardmaking goes so much faster if you have a bunch of sentiments cut and ready.
I have a couple of books to read on a deadline - for book group, and before my library loan runs out. One is an audiobook so I need to either go for a walk (in the rain), sit down and crochet, or listen while I die cut. I think I need to listen for an hour a day to get through it.
We’re descending into the darkness. Washington state loses 100 minutes of daylight in October so it’s already getting very dim by 4pm on rainy days. The fall-back weekend is the worst! It gets so dark I just want to hibernate but I still have to get out of my chair to get dinner ready… Am I the only one who hates it? I’m watching videos by people who live even further north who are already in polar night darkness and I just can’t even imagine.
|
|