Boing, Boing, Busy

That whole stamping category process continues.  The first day I knocked out about 100 stamps, since then only a few packs at a time.  Slowly, but surely.  This will curb my appetite for large random stamp purchases.  (Boy, oh boy, what a meager set with such limited range, or so I know now going through the process!)

Today's focus was working with the Miss on a Father's Day card.  Her ability grows.

I've virtually copied and completed two different types of mini albums, step-by-step. It's a long-standing threat, but it's time to break away from the masters at YouTube and develop my own style.  And, in my fashion, design not one, but three, all at the same time.  

Graphic 45's Playtimes Past is a charming collection.  I don't mind cutting the paper any longer, but I only had a 12x12 inch pad.  Not so much room for error.  I found another 12x12 during one of the more recent excursions for only $7.00.  Mine! Now there's back up, not so much nail biting.  There's no getting around the fact that G45 fashions its lines with women in mind.  They do publish more masculine lines - and do a marvelous job - but even then many of the details scream feminine.  The Playtimes Past is a very fair mixture for both sexes.  I want the more masculine pages used for a carefully selected collection of my boys childhood pictures.  That leaves about 1/2 of the paper unused.  However!!  When I begin making pages for them, I can begin designing the feminine pages for my sister's girls; using the same page styles, but frilly it up a bit, more ribbon and sparkles, etc.  So two MA's for the work of one.  Not a bad idea.


The third will be a no-frills summer camp mini.  I've selected a Tim Holtz Retro Grunge paper pad for the project.  A little dark, perhaps, for a girl's summer album, but I'm sure this will fit her to a Tee.  I think to pattern this after the wallet-style just completed for this coming Christmas photos, with major modifications since we're only looking at less than 25 shots.

First though, I must pull together a couple (four or five) regular 12x12 layouts.  There's a very gratifying feeling when completing projects.  LO's only take a day or so and therefore seems as if I'm accomplishing much more than when compiling a single mini.  Perspective. 


In less than 10 minutes I pulled together the first LO.  Add paper and embellishments, and it's a done deal.

Our only snow 2012

Stamp Organization System

Way, way back in March I described a system that helps keep track of the all the punches I own.  The system is working out wonderfully; no more guessing about ownership of a particular punch, and knowing exactly what's a hand in an instant.

Keeping an active scrapbooking room organized is the singularly most difficult part of the hobby.  Too many times," out of sight, out of mind" applies and various items become under-used.  This proves especially true when it comes to stamps.

I don't have a mega-collection of wood, acrylic, and rubber mounted stamps; there's probably about 200 individual stamps in all.  How to best keep the inventory in mind?  And because of the nature of stamps, they tend to end up in various places around the room: baskets, shelves, boxes, etc.

While trying to remember whether I had an appropriate stamp for a project being worked on today, and spending over 15 minutes looking about the room for one, I came to a breaking point.  Something had to be done, and done now!

Solution:  I pulled out a box of extra large index cards and begin stamping images by category.  Some fell into more than one, so those were stamped in whatever other category they could be assigned.

Indexed Images

 In little over three hours I grew a index card collection about 1/2 inch thick.  Unfortunately, this also meant cleaning, drying, and repackaging each stamp.  I'm stopping today at the halfway point... or so I hope, though I'm still working on repackaging/drying the first batch.

What a mess I created!

Just as in the case of the punch system, stamps will on longer come into the house without assigning a category with the stamped image. I've yet to determine the binding system since the collection will continue to grow over the months and years to follow, but notebook closure rings or ribbons come quickly to mind.

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It's really a "nothing" deal, but I've been asked to come in and work with a group to teach the basics of card making.  I'm flattered to no end.  It will be enough to know I've helped people of all ages discover a new creative outlet.

Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound

I knocked out a mini this weekend!  The construction was heavily guided by professional construction techniques, but that I was able to quickly follow the instructions and pull it together is nothing short of miracle material!  There's hope yet.  

The album still lacks tags/photo mats.  Tags are proving to be a creative millstone.  Since the event for which the album was designed hasn't taken place yet, how is one to know how many to make and at what sizes?  Intuitively, one would think to design for the standard 4x6 photo; yet, not many of the photos I work with end up without a bit of cropping.  Further, does the album serve to showcase the photos, or do the photos work to fill out the album?  Two of the minis in the planning stages at present are being constructed with all the photos I want to exhibit, so say I need to create six 3.5x3.5 mats and four 3x5's.  This knowledge makes it more, or less, of a challenge depending on perspective.  I'm planning on making one mini as a Christmas present for someone this year and until I can figure out how to solve this puzzle, it's going to create all sorts of anxiety.

I spent over an hour looking for a product made by a company based in the U.K.  Magnetic clasps, of all things.  I love the way these closures look on the videos; so classy and professional.  The first problem was not knowing the product's description.  Then on to find a company selling this style of magnets in the U.S.  And finally, to find it reasonably priced.  Described, found, and bought... all only a few mouse clicks away.

Something solid clicked in this marginally functioning brain.  I'm suddenly able to see not only how the paper will look on the page, but able to visualize the background work needed before mounting the page to maximize function; setting eyelets, brads, stitching, ribbons, pockets, etc.  Best yet, this is happening before it's too late... that's kind of key to the point.  Before this, I would realize "something" needed to happen, but not the when and where, and quite frequently slap myself upside the head realizing the task one step too late, forcing less than impressive corrections.  I get so excited upon discovery of another hurdle successfully jumped.


I've come to believe the more page construction techniques available to assembling mini-albums, the better and quicker the project goes.  I'm currently creating a library of different page design templates.  I had an "ah ha!" moment a few days ago, when thinking about a page style not seen before.  It was based on the memo boards constructed with latticed ribbon.  Of all the scores upon scores of YouTube videos watched, I'd never seen one.  Then last night I happened upon the exact design I had pictured.  At least I now know it's perfectly feasible.  I digress, back to page design resources.  The more the better, but I wonder at this point if there might be a magic formula to how certain designs work with others.  Beyond that, I suspect a repetition of a few patterns within a project would present far better than a random selection; perhaps too chaotic and showing off.  It's easy getting the impression I'm re-inventing the wheel when it comes to many of the technique and design issues as they arise.  No doubt.


Another hard-earned tip to share.  The Fiskars personal trimmer began putting out very unreliable cuts.  Were the guidelines somehow knocked askew?  But then, not having any idea why, it would randomly put out perfect cuts.  I finally concluded the inconsistency had to do with the angle the blade was being pushed down the wire.  Sitting down, working from the right or left created a slight pull to the guide wire when cutting.  Standing up straight (or at least paying attention to hand placement) over the top of the cutter made a precision cut.  And to think I was ready to toss the tool in the trash due to sheer frustration.

So much detail never explained to the novice... as if the novice could take all the vast body of knowledge in over a couple of settings.  Maybe there's a book in here somewhere.

New Type of Haul

Oh, my!  I've gone way over the top this time.  I took the drive down to the Annex this afternoon.  While the sales today weren't the same as the first trip, the trip was worth the while.  I've got more paper than any person could possibly use, but keep an eye out for unique finds.  There was a box, labeled 2 for 5c, where I unearthed a black, tan and white round, scalloped safari animal page.  Also inside was a transparency page with a built-in frame and light script writing on the edge.  Yes, hard to describe.  Another few steps to the left and I found small bins of interesting stencils in various shapes: palm and ancient oak trees, star and shellfish, a dove, many, many framed shapes, including watches, and more!  No prices indicated, but I picked out a few of those liked best.  Flowing out from the stencils was a vast array of Tattered Angels Glitter Glams and Glazes: 5 for $10.00.  (A real steal!)  I've made a personal commitment to incorporate flowers into layouts and minis.  AH!  There they were!  A sign said fill the bag with as many as can fit (it need not shut) for $2.00.  Find out that applied to the stencils, as well.  Scoot back to the right and grab several handfuls.  And since I am solidly into making mini albums, I broke down and bought several 12x12 canvas printed designs (one clocks in black and white, the other brightly coloured butterflies) to use as covering for a yet unidentified album, or two.  Not so much damage to the budget for all that.

I met a lady who bowled me over; I mean, God ran me smack into this gift.  She's well known in certain circles, completely understandable given her charisma that mists anyone within 20 feet of her presence.  I was totally in awe.  She invited me to lunch this coming Monday.  Hopefully I can keep my mouth from dropping down and some of the things she says.  Wow, wow, wow!  God surely is good to answer prayers not only at the degree in which we ask, but full measure, pressed down, and running over.  The deals found at the store were great, but nothing in comparison to the treasure of this woman. Should I never meet up with her again (NO way I pass up on that chance) I'd feel forever blessed by this one single conversation.  And get this... she doesn't even scrap.  Thank you, Lord, for this gift.

Ah, heck, I try to keep this journal on the singular subject of scrapbooking, but this sitting requires some personal commentary.  This tiny sliver of America called NWA is just about the most inhospitable and unfriendly area I've ever lived.  The people are friendly, but carry this impenetrable shield.  No one wants to commit to friendship; too much coming and going for anyone to ever feel settled enough to grow roots, as temporary as those roots might be.  I hear from virtually everyone how lonely they are.  Well, hello.  To fear making friends which may, and probably will, move away, and suffer loneliness in silence is about as stupid as stupid gets.  After a great deal of prayer, the solution to my isolation became obvious:  go out and make friends, align myself with people starving for contact.  Once I made the decision - and acted in faith and with action - people are virtually coming out of the walls to be heard.  I would never try to limit what God can do with me, that's for Him to decide, but to the best of my knowledge my primary gift is listening.  Once people figure out someone is actually hearing them speak, doors blow open.  Life is much too short to keep everyone shut out until "a better time and place" comes their way.

Finally, I hit the usual round of stores looking for deals, found a few.  The best buy of the day has to be our new house.  A bat house.  Really!  A box designed to house and shelter bats.  If we still had a dog, I would have never picked it up due to bats often suffer from rabies infection.  But I outweighed the slimmest risk of the most unlikely nighttime exposure to infected bats against the dramatic drop in insects we'd see if a few bats do settle in.  What did I read one time?  Each bat eats several pounds of insects each night?  Don't exactly remember, but whatever it is, it's a whole bunch of lots..  The box goes up this weekend.... we'll see.

Persistence

Persistence pays, but oh boy at what a cost!! 

I've decided mini-albums fit our lifestyle better than the 12x12 inch layouts.  Everything has a place and purpose, so I'll never totally abandon the larger version; perhaps the "best of the very best" annual album, or something along those lines.  From now on, most of my creative energy will go into the mini's.

With that thought in mind, I've come to the solid conviction made-from-scratch mini's are probably best left to professionals. I hate, (scorn, despise, revolt, etc) putting out inferior products.  There are allowances for skills not yet mastered, but not by much.  There has to be an exponential learning curve to scrapbooking skills, but more rational people would try to master one before going on to the next.  Not I, heavens no!  I want to master it all in one horse pill sized, gagging swallow.  


If there's a mistake to be made, almost corrected, and the same mistake made again, I'll do it every time; hands down.  Subsequently, a weekend project for most will take the weekend and the following week - and that's if I'm lucky.  It can be so very discouraging.  Fortunately, persistence runs in my DNA or this hobby would have been abandoned months ago.


At present I'm learning everything possible about book binding.  There are as many techniques as skilled crafters out there, but a couple of methods keep popping up as the most reasonable and flexible.  Maybe, if I can calm my butt down, I'll get reasonable skilled at this.  But not today.  Oh, no, not when this skill was critical to the project.  In common fashion, I'll have to put the project aside for a few days and practice this new skill until proficient.  That's why the weekend project takes ten or more days to complete.  Every project taken on has a whole new area of discovery, and learning.


On a more positive note, I've mastered a few skills; which makes a significant advancement for timely project completion.  (Down from three weeks to ten days.)


I've discussed adhesives before.  It comes as a surprise to learn there's more to learn.  When using the highest quality adhesives, there are tricks to make a tighter bond.  Burnishing goes a very long with with tape adhesives, and the brayer does a great job with wet glues.  The demands on adhesives are taken to new heights with all the moving and swing parts of the mini.  This was yet another hard learned lesson.


It's no secret I'm totally smitten with Graphic 45 papers.  I kept running into BoBunny projects and couldn't resist picking up a pack at one of my last hauls.  The colours are very soothing and even the brighter packs have a subtle tinting.  I simply can't wait to tear into this first package!  Someone special on my list will receive a very, very nice Christmas present this year.


It's possible I forget to post the adapted shoe organizer photo.

Most stamps & some punches

Just for kicks I decided to begin hanging some of my favourite embellishments on the 6x2 cork board running along the desks back panel.  I've only just started, but it's way too cute not to share.

Embellishments!

Take a Breath

There's been such a flurry of activity lately is seems almost impossible to sit down and get anything done.  Not true, I've finished four 12x12 layouts, got the new organizer in place and well stocked, and have accomplished quite a series of hauls.  

Most everything revolves around an incredible discovery at TM.  They had retail packs (24 each) of almost then entire "A Proper Gentleman" collection.  Martin actually stumbled across this treasure, bought two packs, and made the mistake of telling me they had stacks of other G45 retail packs in different designs.  At the end of the quest I have twelve full 12x12 pads of this collection, minus two pages... for less than what a single pad would have cost.  Profit time!!!  We were also able to pick up almost half the "On the Boardwalk" collection in retail packs.  I think we've exhausted the bonanza.  There were arm fulls of book board, but I stopped at six sets.   They had Tim Holtz Grunge Paper sets, retailed at $40; I paid $8.  Finally, a 5 inch Xyron.  A couple of adorable embellishments and the run ended there.

I decided to hit JoAnn's because we were in town it's rare we make it that far south. Phew!  Almost all paper crafting supplies are 50% off this week, plus a coupon in the paper allows an extra 10% off from the total purchase.  60% savings?!  Heck, yeah!!  I managed some control and walked out of the store with only two large bags.  A wider variety of adhesives, the first alcohol inks, specialty paper, and yes a Crop-A-Dile II (Big Bite).

The stamps, ink, paper, embellishments, etc never quit coming in; however, it's hard to imagine any other tool needed to carry on this business.  Maybe a Zutter Cutter for the extra weight chipboard?  Maybe, but not a necessity. 

I'm attempting to design my first, original mini-album.  It's sketched out, roughly, but I'm finding it hard to cut that first page; there seems to be so little room for error, which, in itself, is an error.  How, besides looking amateurish, can a person go wrong with G45?  For sure it won't be the best album I'll ever create, and will quickly prove true, but it's all part of this glorious process called creative expression.

Pop In

Just popping in to post a down and dirty picture of the newest LO, finished today.  It bears noting the design was inspired by a great artist at scrapbooking.com.

My mother, c. 1953

Hoping for a better photo with better lighting and space