Jennifer Cardwell

Twelve in Thirteen - Tools

What kind of crafter's would we be without tools? 

Most of the time, while we are crafting, they are buried underneath the mountains of paper and embellishments.  Some tools we have multiples of, because we lost one and or forgot that we had it.  Some tools we got because they were really cool and we thought we would use it, but in fact we may have touched it no more than half a dozen times. 

Whatever the tool (stamps, punches, die-cutting, binding, etc), let's sort through and purge these.  Make sure you are really harsh with yourself about whether you are really going to use it and need it.  I do think that tools are the hardest things to do this with.  Many times these are the most expensive items, and we hate having "wasted" that money.  It really is better to donate or sell those items so that someone gets some use out of them than to have them take up your space, collecting dust, and robbing you of some of your clutter free sanity.  Believe me.  Someone wants and will use your tools.  There are plenty crafters out there. 

Naturally, we want to clean up/service all the supplies we want to keep, especially as we have them out at this point while purging.  Sharpen scissors and punches.  Wipe off containers and tools.  Wash up anything used with paints, mists, or inks.  Complete any other maintenance they might need.  They don't have to be spotless, but we do want to preserve their life for as long as possible and keep them functioning properly. 

If you need, use often, and have to keep it, make sure you have somewhere to put it.  You spent a lot of money on those tools.  Let's keep them safe, clean, and functioning properly, not just "accessible".  There are many ways to store them when not in use.  Most companies now sell storage containers for their tools.  You might have a basket that has no use that could hold your tools and make them easy to move to use.  If it is an item that remains out on your surface, see if you can find some kind of cover or make one to keep it dust free.  Dust really can mess up some of your tools, as I have learned firsthand. 

Punches

Not pretty but working - Fabric, Cross Stitch, Cartridges, Etc.

Larger stamps

Reference for stamps and punches

Something extra - Reference for Mists & Inks

Again, determine what works for your space and process.  Does it need to be accessible, or mobile?  Is it used often or only occasionally?

In short:

- quickly sort through and purge

-find a new home for purged items - don't leave them lying around somewhere

-clean up remaining stash

-organize or reorganize remaining stash

I do hope you will share some of your tips, tricks, suggestions, or photos on the message board and in the gallery.  I will do likewise.  Let's knock this out this week!

Jennifer

Happy Father's Day

I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!  My kids have their gifts, homemade and bought, to give to their father after we get back from church today.  They are excited and have already wished him a Happy Father's Day multiple times. 

We aren't doing much.  We are walking to church, enjoying the day, giving gifts, and enjoying eachother's company.  Hopefully, my kids will remember that Daddy would just be happy to not have to get fussy at any of them.  I know I would like that too, but really what day wouldn't either of us?

Hopefully, you all are spending some time with the men in your lives. 

Again, Happy Father's Day!

Jennifer

Twelve in Thirteen - Embellishments

Embellishments?  Let's face it.  We have a ton of them.  We have everything from inks and ribbon, to buttons and stickers, and everything in between.  They easily take up whatever surface that the paper has missed, but we couldn't craft without them.  So, let's dive in and see what we come up with.

I used to collect stickers and never used them.  I just couldn't figure out how to use it in a way that I liked so I hung on to them.  So, it is no surprise that my sticker storage is bursting at the seams.  Never fear, I do use them now, and I still love them just as much as before.  I have also begun to amass quite a variety of other embellishments along the way. 

Washi Tape on Thread Holder

Brads, buttons, etc, by color

Chipboard Alphabets

Ribbons & Alterable Albums

Yarns

Sewing Notions

We need to do as before.  We need to quickly sort through and purge as many as possible.  I have seen partially used sheets of stickers for sale and donated.  The same can be said with brads and bling (and really any embellishments).  You don't have to feel guilty about offering someone a partially used embellishment item.  There are many times that they may just want the few things that you didn't.  It can work out in both of your favors. 

I very rarely throw any of these partially used items away.  For me, it has to be really not worth keeping the one or two things on it to be worth tossing.  I don't keep many of these embellishments for my kids though.  It really depends on the type of embellishment.  All of my kids (5, ages 1-9) are very young, so I don't want any mishaps with certain types of embellishments (if you know what I mean).  However, I have begun holding onto a couple of "special" items for my oldest two (ages 8 & 9), because they can be responsible for getting it cleaned up away from the littler ones.  They like to have these special items, and I am going to find a way to have these separate from my products but accessible to them.

There are many ways to store your many embellishments.  I don't even think that I could do it any justice trying to list out some of them.  And, it all depends on your space and your process. 

In short:

- quickly sort through and purge

-find a new home for purged items - don't leave them lying around somewhere

-organize or reorganize remaining stash

I will try to put a few photos in the gallery for some ideas, but I would also like to see some of yours.  Please share.  Let's see how much we can accomplish this week!

Jennifer

After I posted, I thought of something that I should have added. So here we go.

Also, I would like to challenge you this month to not purchase any supplies this month. What do I mean? Don't purchase paper, stickers, scissors, or anything else that would need organizing, this month. I know there are some that get monthly kits. I am not talking about those. You would have had to tell them no last month. I am talking anything in addition to that. The idea is that we are cleaning out and organizing. So, this month (unless you run out of adhesive and need to get some more) try using strictly what you have in your stash for any crafting that you do. It will help to purge your supplies as we go through our stuff this month.

In short:

-Use your stash.

Jennifer

Twelve in Thirteen - Paper

Paper is one of the most used products by us scrapbookers.  We use it, we collect it, & we love it.  It also has a tendency to make a huge mess in our stash, on our surfaces, and on our floors. 

I know that I, personally, have way more paper than I use on a regular basis.  I tend to purchase it in large quantities and in multiples, because I use so much of it, but I know that I really have too much.  I will eventually use it all, I am sure, but the first thing that I need to do is curb my spending on more paper.  Maybe treat myself to more paper once a month to once every other month, instead of every week.  That will certainly help keep my paper organized. 

Another thing that I can do is go through my papers quickly, and I do mean quickly to avoid serious thought, and determine if there are any that can go away.  Unlike some people, I don't need to sell, donate, or otherwise any of my papers, because in a sense I do that with my children. 

My kids have, or will have as I finish setting it up, a specific section in my craft space that they can pull papers and things for their own crafting.  They won't have to ask permission to use these, as they will be in their own designated drawers or baskets.  This works for me, because kids are not so picky about what they use to create.  And, I don't feel like I have wasted any money purchasing it, because it is getting used.  I do need to move their stuff out of my stuff to avoid having my kids make a mess of my stuff trying to find what they can use.  I have started this, but haven't finished.  I also realize that this doesn't work for everyone, for different reasons. 

I have seen several things done with papers that people were purging.  I have seen them sold (craigslist, garage sales, special crafting "swaps", etc.).  I have seen them donated (retirement centers, schools, kids' clubs, etc).  I have also seen them used as drawings or prizes or even sold via a person's blog.  You have many options with which to purge your supplies that just don't make the cut. 

The other thing that you need to do is find a storage system that works for you.  I had my paper in bags for the longest time, because we were always moving and I had no space so it had to be transportable.  It would drive me crazy trying to pull something out.  Not only would it make a mess of the whole bag, but it would usually have a corner (or sometimes more) of the paper that was wrinkled and messed up.  That only worked if I wanted the page to be distressed, which isn't always. 

I have recently purchased some of those modular drawers with hanging file folders that fit my 12x12 paper.  I love those.  I have my solids and my patterns separate, but they are both sorted by color.  I also have recently started using this plastic drawer system to hold all my scraps.  I have a drawer for each color, and it doesn't matter whether it is patterned or not.  I was able to use sooooo many scraps this National Scrapbook Day, because I could find what I had.  I loved it. 

Some people use the same filing drawers for their scraps as their whole sheets.  Some people use those plastic 12x12 containers to hold their papers.  I have even seen some that use a magazine holder or a homemade magazine holder (out of shipping boxes) to hold their paper.  And, I have seen some that just uses a mobile cart of some sort (bag, cart, etc) because of their space constraints.  Again, there are many options.  Give your space and your process some thought and come up with what works best for you. 

In short:

-quickly sort through and purge

-find a new home for purged items - don't leave them lying around somewhere

-organize or reorganize remaining stash

You and I have all week to get this finished.  Let's see what we can get done.  Feel free to share your tips, ideas, and even photos (I will too-check the gallery). 

Jennifer

New Addition

So, surprise!

We went to the store today and left with an addition to our family.  For the first time that I am aware of, the Military Base Exchange had rescue animals needing a home.  I haven't had a pet in almost 10 years.  Although I had considered getting a pet eventually, I hadn't considered getting one now.

This little guy spoke to me, though.

 

I just couldn't pass him up, even though I did try to convince myself too.  He looked so lost, and I'll admit adorable too.  He is only 7 weeks old.  He has already been nuetered.  He will just need a couple more shots before the year is through. 

This isn't the most opportune time for my family to be adding to it.  We are still looking for a new job and trying to get by in the mean time.  Something about this little one just felt right.  He has already taken to me. 

 

After running around my main floor, getting a feel for it, he decided to crawl onto my shoulder for a nap.  I have had cats before, but none of them ever slept on my shoulder that I recall.  I think it is adorable. 

I am still thinking up a name for him, so I am open to suggestions.  If you got any, let me know. 

Jennifer

P.S. My parents are really not happy that I have him.  Oh, well!  They never see us anyway. 

Twelve in Thirteen-June 1st

If you recall, I mentioned that I would be "hosting" the month of June in the class Twelve in Thirteen at Big Picture Classes.  So, I will be posting at least once a week on here as well as on the message boards for the class.  Hopefully you will find it enlightening or at the very least helpful. 

June 1st

This month we are going to refocus our organization in our craft spaces.  We do crafting, we leave things out, we put them away "sort of", we "straighten" from time to time, and we get to points where we can't find anything or at least take forever to get one thing done because we were looking for something.  I have found that if I reorganize my space every 6 months and purge items, I have a better time in crafting all around.  I thought that I would share this with you this month as we all enjoy our crafting, and want to keep it that way. 

If you are one of those people that can keep things organized, neat, spotless, locatable, accessible, etc, frankly I want to know how you do it.  Please share!  If you are like the 99.9% of us crafters that take time to straighten things from time to time and only occasionally clean things up, then I challenge you to join me in reorganizing your space this month. 

Now, I will not go into the exact thought process or psychology of organization.  I won't even pretend to know it all.  There is plenty of research out there, and I am still looking into it myself.  I will give you a few challenges.  I will make a few suggestions that are working for me, and a few that I know that are working for others, but ultimately it has to work for you.  Only you know how you craft and function.  It really is one huge guessing game in getting it done, until you figure out what works for you and what doesn't.  I have tried many things.  Some have worked and others have not.  I may even share a few photos of what I am trying, if you promise not to be too judgmental about how messy my space is, because like I said I am doing this myself this month. 

I do hope you decide to join me starting this next week in getting our spaces reorganized, de-cluttered, and hopefully working better for us.  This can work no matter the size of our spaces.  Until next week!

Jennifer

Big Reveal!

So, I have been working on this huge surprise in my girls' room.  I have been painting this massive mural, and ordered furniture, and was going to get this whole room organized and everything.  Was being the operative word. 

I have spent a several hundred hours working on the mural.  I finally finished it, only by staying up all night (I might add).  I love how it turned out, and I love that I did it.  I just did not expect the month that it took me.  I had figured a little over a week.  Nope.  It took close to a month and a half to completely paint the whole room.  Here are some photos:

No she wasn't in trouble.  She was helping to "dust" the door. 

I used the One Stroke Painting technique, founded by Donna Dewberry.  I painted every single wall.  I realize that most of what I painted may be slightly covered up and peeking out of the nooks and crannies of the furniture, but I wanted to make sure that what did peek out looked good and made sense.  Afterall, the girls wanted to feel like they were in a princess' garden. 

So, what happened to the big reveal?  Well, it just didn't happen.  The big surprise for them was the furniture.  Obviously, they knew that I was painting, but they didn't know that my husband and I had managed to order some bedroom furniture for them.  They were really needing a better bed arrangement, and their room isn't overly large.  We were trying to fit 3 young girls into one space and all their clothes and general "stuff" that goes along with them.  By the time that the painting got finished the furniture had arrived and we were running out of time getting it delivered before it went "back on the shelf". 

So, I had to forgo having all the special curtains, tags, baskets, shelves, etc that I had planned on making and putting together to make their room "done".  Those will have to be completed at a later date.  They got to see their room without it.  I am a little bummed that I couldn't do this whole big reveal for them, but they still love it.  And, that makes me happy!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Jennifer

Why Can't They Stay That Way?

As with most chores in my house, I have to beg, plead, bribe, and slightly coerce to get some help from my kids.  What mother doesn't?

Well, it was looking like that again.  I had asked for help straightening up the living room and dining room before bed, not only because it needed it and I wanted it vacuumed, but I always ask them every night.  This night wasn't any more unusual with the grumbling, complaining, and whining of really not wanting too, and how mean I was for suggesting such a thing.  My husband and I were doing most of it, again not unusual. 

We looked over at my littlest guy to find that he was actually trying to help.  He had pushed the vacuum over by the table and was trying to vacuum up the bits of food that was on the floor, even without the vacuum being on. 

It was so adorable.  My husband decided to actually turn the vacuum on and supervise him actually sucking up the food.  My little guy thought it was the greatest thing. 

I thought how sweet that at his age he wants to help.  Then I thought, why can't they stay that way?  Why can't kids stay wanting to help?  Why can't they show their independence without going back on helping as they had in the beginning?  Unfortunately, that is not how kids grow and learn.

Sadly, all kids have to grow up.  I will definitely cherish the time that I have with them now, and be grateful for the times they are like this.  I know it doesn't last forever, but I know they at least are learning now, and that is what is important.

Jennifer

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day!  Although, my husband is calling his mother, & I will briefly see my mother (as my sister is calling home from her mission and I want to say hi to her as well), we have plans to spend time together as a family. 

My family knows that for me that is the best gift in the world.  I want nothing more for the holidays or my birthday than to spend time having fun with them.  Granted every now and then I would also like a few minutes to myself.  I still prefer being with my family.  They are what makes me happy, even though they can drive me crazy. 

All women deserve to be honored on this day.  You are all Mothers, whether to your own, or by mentoring someone else's, or by being a future Mother (for you ladies planning on future families).  As a Mother, you do wonderful and important work. 

I would also like to take the opportunity to say thank you to my mother and my mother in law, who both try to help me and my family as often as they can (even if we don't always agree).  I really love the both of them!

Well, the day is just beginning and I do need to get off to church before going to see my mom and talk to my sister, so I will wish you all a Happy Mother's Day! 

Jennifer