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!

New Room, Returned Time

It took from Thursday evening (the breakdown and emptying of the craft room) until the following Tuesday afternoon to recreate the room.  I'd forgotten how hard real work can be :)  But it's done for better or worse, and I probably like the results.  Thing is, since I haven't had the chance to work on a project, there's no way of know how truly efficient the changes.  Tomorrow it's back to play time... and planning which area of the house to hit next, without the urgency of this past weekend.  At this point I can't even imagine organizing anything beyond my thoughts.  As much as I earnestly enjoy the process, I've been processed out for a day or two.

I posted the first set of pictures at my other blog.  Maybe I'll split the series between the two sites.

_______________________________________________

I managed to make a run to TM while in Fayetteville earlier this week.  The question posited in a earlier post about a binder system is answered.  I had wondered whether the Zutter or Cinch systems to go with.  The decision was made for me!  On the shelf sat a Zutter (Bind it All) for less than $40. No more comparisons beyond that.  Like everything else acquired over the past week, it sits waiting to be opened.  There's not a real need to play with it yet, three other projects based on rings precede the necessity, so it may sit for some time before pulling it out.  That just seems so wrong, but for the price, well...  Did I mention we picked up the UTEE?  Again, this whole timing thing.


_______________________________________________


Ah, heck, why not do some more before and after pics now?

Prepped for furniture (the photographer took a slanted photo... the wall is fine!)

A very narrow bookcase.  Decidedly bare.





 

99% complete.  Still not sure what to put in the middle area; thinking something decorative.  Amazing that it holds all the card stock purchased thus far!

Zutter v Cinch

It's time.  

I've purposefully avoided looking into buying a book binding system for the past year; for one, that whole real estate thing, and second, all the focus centered upon creating LOs, not books.

Between the two brands, I know practically nothing other than the Zutter punches rectangles and the Cinch round holes.  The Zutter takes less table/shelf space than the competitor.  I also know the Cinch offers a wide variety of punched pattern capabilities; a variable not known for Zutter.

So back and forth until either a sign happens in the heavens, or I collect enough information to make an educated decision. 

_____________________________________


It would be wonderful to say the shelving unit my husband put up the other day proves a real improvement to crafting.  Alas, no.  The punch issue was immediately ruled out.  I've collected a whole bunch of items largely misfiled, and filled up seven of the eight shelves.  It's a very pretty arrangement... lots of bright colours and sparklies.  However, while it must appear visually pleasing, it also must improve everyday function.  That it does not... yet.  There's also a real danger in moving tools around.  Everything has its place, and when moved to a new location can put me into a search frenzy.
 ____________________________________


While digging through the closet last night, searching for a torn notebook binder, I found a large box filled with electronic cables under several layers of crafting materials.  Martin leapt for joy; he'd looked for the box for over a year, thinking it in the garage.  I gained 3 cubic feet of shelf space! 

_______________________________________


Tomorrow's sale includes 75% of embellishments.  That covers a whole lot of ground.  Fun, fun, fun! 


*** I've changed to a much larger font to save my poor eyeballs for the micro-print.