Organizer

Necessity is the mother of invention so they say. I have been recently accumulating quite a few packages of rub-ons, stickers and bling that needed a home. They had outgrown the little drawer I was storing them in.

I've had my eyes on and on my wish list for a loooooong time a commercially made one of these organizers (normally on a carousel type thingy). The price deterred me as it will cost you close to $100++ (that's one hundred) to get into a base model (the base, extender and clips and more if you want xtra's). I like to have all of my stuff visible where I can see it. I don't know about you but I would rather spend my $ on more stamps or paper or ribbon than an item to STORE all of the above.

I started looking around with the items I already "have" that could be repurposed for this same function. I also had bought a pkg of the clips at JoAnne's a while back for $2.99 similar to the ones used with this in mind, I just hadn't thought of an idea yet. At first, I thought I might afix a dowel rod underneath my cabinet area but didn't have enough room because then the pkg.'s would be hanging in front of all of my other stuff. I dropped that idea because that was the only place for it. Then I remembered the FREE wood crates I snagged at Costco a while back. They were empty wine bottle crates and I got them for FREE. I just keep my eyes open in the wine department everytime I go to Costco. I've picked up three so far.

That was when my lightbulb went off. I could drill a hole in each side, slide a dowel rod through the top and hang my clips. The FREE box and 3 bags of $3.00 clips later for approx $10.00 total give or take a few pennies, I have a functional organizer that does the same thing as the commercially made one for a fraction of the cost. I also like mine better because I can use the top for a shelf and the round carousel model you cannot do that. Yay I saved $90++ and in this economy I can use every penny I can get. How about you? EDITED TO ADD: Maybe I can even purchase a camera with the money I saved .

FRONT VIEW
(I am going to reinforce the dowel with a hook so it doesn't sag in the center)

WINE BOX LOGO
(Pretty cool design !SCORE!)

CLOSEUP OF THE DOWEL END
(I am going to affix a wood ball on the end to finish it off)

BAG OF CLIPS
($2.99 JoAnne's Jewery Dept.)

CLOSEUP OF THE ROD AND CLIPS

MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY
(The top can be used as an extra shelf.
Plus room to grow.
If I run out of space the price is right
I'll just go find another FREE box. hehe)

GENIUS I TELL YA BUT I AM SURE SOMEONE ELSE HAS ALREADY THOUGHT OF IT!!

Well Best Laid Plans

I was gonna take pictures of my new invention to show everyone but my camera is finally broke. It's been on its way out for at least a year now. It's finally broke for real now time for a new one. Ya'll just have to wait until I can take a photo.

What's Great about my Life Right Now?

Still designing my best year ever and I was completing another of the exercises. I am supposed to answer the following question. It's a great question and is built on the premise that before you can focus on designing your best life ever you have to come from a place of GRATITUDE. Yay because that fits right in with the word I've chosen for the year. Anyways... after giving it some thought here is what is great about my life right now...

There is so much great about my life right now I don't know where to begin? My family is all together and and healthy We love, support each other no matter what and keep things "rolling" always. I have a great job of which I am exceedingly happy and grateful for. I have finally achieved a modicum of simplicity in my life and surroundings (still a work in progress but I have made progress, it's hard downsizing after 30 years of accumulating). I highly recommend space clearing activities, purging etc. It is very cathartic peeps!!!! I can't wait to do more myself and continue with the space clearing projects. I have really great and fun friends both IRL and virtual. I have fur friends that are a constant source of joy and love. I have finally figured out how to be positive (well sort of ...hater that I am winkwink). My daughters are great peeps succeeding at their careers of choice carving out lives for themselves in this big bad world. Ok I better quit while I'm ahead because it's starting to head downhill (hear that tone of sarcasm creeping in).

Just wanted to multitask and list my things to be grateful for for the day and complete my assignment too.

More crafting later once I get home. Oh and I had a huge aha moment that will save me approximately $110 plus and I will share it with all of you. HINT: Its a repurposed item that will be used for organizing. I was so excited when I thought of it this morning I am going to stop and get supplies on my way home from work today. Cost of materials is going to be approximately $4.oo vs $100 if I would have bought a commercially made system. WHOA that's big. I was so excited I couldn't believe I thought of it. Well I am sure I am not the first to think of it but it was a new idea for me. I am going to try it. I'll take pictures and show you soon...

My new Coffee Table from West Elm

Not sure if I like it? It is a stand with a tray. I needed something kind of small to fit the space and not get in the way of the recliner ends on my sectional couch. I could have gotten the hammered metal tray but thought it might be too modern for my style. Then I got this home and set it up ($90 very reasonable as coffee tables go). I thought the wood tray would go with more in my house but then I noticed the knobs on my entertainment piece were the brushed silver. I think I might want to go back and get the hammered metal tray instead.

IN A ROOM

WOOD/BASKET - ONE I GOT


METAL/I MIGHT LIKE THIS ONE BETTER

My First EVER Shaker Card

Me likes...=D Using more of the NEW A Muse stamps the "Gumball" machine. How cute is that? I used the glaze pens to color in some of the gumballs. See the A Muse creative candy peaking out the dispenser? OMG so much fun.

This was quite the technique challenge as it used several from masking, paper piecing, to shaker assembly. I man-handled it a bit more than I would have liked to but I think I will make another one and improve on the neatness. I was so excited to get it put together I got a little hasty. If someone knows how to use liquid pearls without getting the little "peaks" on the pearl dot.... lemmeno....

How do you like?

FULL IMAGE

CROPPED TO SHOW SOME DETAIL

It's No Secret

You know who owns a yellow VDub don't you? Scroll down on this POST. Well when A Muse came out with this stamper...I knew I had to have it! Of course it had to be yellow in this first card. Techniques of note? I used a pop dot and raised the VDub. I used A Muse creative candy hearts II for the VDub heart decals. I used those special gel pens to make the paint look glossy. Using a scrap of plastic cardstock I freehanded and cutout my OWN cloud stencil because I needed little clouds. The only cloud stencil I owned was for bigger clouds I guess and the scale was wrong so I improvised and made my own. I used liquid pearls for the exhaust dots. Isn't it cute? I like how this turned out. I may have been a little messy but my next one will be cleaner.

I'm so Happy and Grateful

now that.... I have zero balances on all of my credit cards. ZERO. Zero is such a loverly number that you'll ever know. zerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozerozero.
Red licorice
Pr!ssy things
Valentines
Order

Wow. It's a banner day. With all of the horror stories regarding debt these days. I feel the need to brag a bit. I feel like an exception not the rule...I admit we didn't have a lot of debt to begin with (comparatively speaking, compared with the the rest of society APPARENTLY) ...we have less than $5,000 on only 3 cards. But as of TODAY we paid ALL of our balances off and we owe ZERO ZIP NADA on our credit cards. I don't know I'm just so happy and please as punch I felt the need to brag a bit. With the exception of a couple of personal loans to family members... we owe nothing to anyone. We have no mortgage. We own our cars, so no car payment. We fix what we have and believe me it can get pricey. With the exception of our minimum monthly expenses housing, utilities, food, cable, internet, cell phones that is all we owe. WOW. It feels so good to say that. That is it. So freeing.... now onto savings accounts... need to start saving more for sure. I guess all of this focus on simplification is working and now I am very grateful.

Ok enough about me and my braggart self. Thanks for letting me gloat.

Still Celebrating the Newness of the New Year...

...it is after all less than a week into the New Year. As I am still drafting (it's ok I don't have to have them done, I'm working on it) my New Year intentions, promises whatever you will call them. I've dusted off my "Simple Abundance" books in an effort to find additional inspiration. They are classics and I just get inspired every time I read them. If you've never read them you should really pick them up. I have them all (Simple Abundance Daybook of Comfort and Joy & the Companion, Simple Abundance Journal (blank book), Illustrated Discovery Journal (A cross between a personal vision board and scrapbook, great, still using mine it's a work in process), Something More, Moving On your House of Belonging, and Romancing the Ordinary. I also decided to wander on over the the website (hence where I found the freebie). Sarah Ban Breathnach is such a great author she also shared a free vintage image with us. I found this over at the "Simple Abundance" website.

...And January is the perfect companion and co-conspirator for our reflections and renewed commitment to personal contentment and self-nurturance...

--Sarah Ban Breathnach.

What a perfect way to put it... January is a perfect companion and co-conspirator to renew our commitments to ourselves.

I had to laugh because the six principles of "Simple Abundance" are Gratitude, Simplicity, Order, Harmony, Beauty and Joy. Simplicity is second and comes after Gratitude. Looks like I went out of order. hehe. Anyway, here is a portion of what Sarah Ban Breathnach says about Simplicity my One Word for the last several years:

Yes, you already have everything you need… It’s time to simplify. On the Simple Abundance path, simplicity does not mean making do with less, but appreciating the important things more. Embracing choice as a spiritual gift (wow love that line). Making deliberate decisions that will inspire, comfort, soothe and serve you, whether it’s weeding out curios (renting an 18 foot dumpster), paring down commitments or creating a front hall to enthrall every time you cross the threshold. Simplicity requires not only honesty and courage but gentleness and more patience than you ever believed you possess...

--Sarah Ban Breathnach

Considering simplifying has been my "One Word" for the past few years no truer words can be spoken re: the patience part. I am glad that I am now enjoying a more simpler life and home. I'm not 100% there yet but close enough to move on to a new "One Word" for the year which leads me to "Gratitude". Here are some excerpts from the same website...

Well, when was the last time you counted your blessings? Now let’s live it. Together. Find something new to be thankful for today. Many of Life’s most sublime moments sneak up on us and then just as quickly vanish. The smaller the moment noticed, appreciated and savored, the deeper its connection to your sense of peace and plenty… A bottle of milk when you need it most, pie for breakfast, a fortune cookie with just the right message, a compliment from a stranger, not caring (or keeping track!) of who says ‘sorry’ first, and the sound of your own laughter are potent reminders of the bounty of every day’s overlooked bounty.

--Sarah Ban Breathnach

Here's wishing we all have more happiness than cares this year...

--M!ssPr!ssy

Love Shack's Where it's at_at!!

More fun with A Muse new releases I used "Love birds" and "Love Shack". I cut the door so it opens and have one of the little "Love birds" strutting his stuff coming out of the "Love Shack".

Door open, see the little birdie

Other side (door closed)

Door Open

I'm so Happy and Grateful for...

• Unexpected visits from friend/co-workers who stopped by just to chat and not because they needed something. So nice
• Fresh warm toasty comfy cozies clothing ready right when I needed it and straight from the drier to put on at the end of the day
• Neck rubs
• Genuine feelings of gratitude
• Red slippers
• Postscript.... I almost forgot I'm really really grateful for colonel sanders or else I might have chewed off my leg instead. Gosh I was hungry when I left work tonight. I had to make a pit stop. A little snacker hit the spot.
  

I'm off to a great start noticing and expressing gratitude.

Night night, sleep tight, and don't let the bedbugs bite =D

A Muse Love Birds

I'm getting a jump on my Valentines Day cards. It's no secret my love affair with all things A Muse. I was able to snag some of the new release stamps early at my LSS. OMG lerve. Check it out here's how they inspired me to create... I used the scalloped heart Nestability die. Then I used my paper punch to make holes all around the outside of the scalloped heart to thread the ribbon. It turned out so cute.

LOVE BIRDS

See the inside

SPECIAL DELIVERY CARD

Next I masked the presents off of the "Mail Truck" stamp and then using the heart "exhaust" from the A Muse "Skywriter" stamp I made it look like the "Special Delivery" was "Hearts". Also I used the brown kitchen notes to paper piece the truck. Doesn't it look like Mr. Brown. HELLO...genius I tell ya'.

Remember the Inchie Swap?

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to tie up loose ends and organize. It's just all of the "Year in Review" activities. And I guess I wasn't a very good hostess because I did not get around to posting about my August Inchie swap until now. Remember this post? What I'm only four months behind? NO. I've been meaning to post pictures of everyone's submissions. I finally got around to photographing all of them. I took pics of each one individually and some group photos. They really turned out cute and if I have a link to each one I will provide it. Thanks again everyone for the great work and participating in my A-Z Inchie Swap.

A-Z Inchies (All)

A-Z Inchies (All, top view)

"A" Tracy Durcan

B" Tracy Durcan

"C" Little Sea Otter

"D" Linda - lkrhodes


"E" Kim H Running on Ink


"F" Littleseaotter


"G" MissPrissy


"H" Allison


"I" Maria Kitchen Sink Stamps


"J" Helen Craftyprayer


"K" Linda - lkrhodes

"L" Helen Craftprayer

"M" Miss Prissy


"N" Maria Kitchen Sink Stamps


"O" Michelle G ~Out On a Limb Blogspot


"P" Michelle G ~Out On a Limb Blogspot


Q. Nubin craftinginohio.blogspot.com


"R" Nubin craftinginohio.blogspot.com


"S" Kim H Running on Ink


"T" Allison A (SCS Gallery)


"U" Allison A (SCS Gallery)


"V" Beth ~astampingoodtime


"W" Damaris


"X" Damaris


"Y" grammysammy437 (SCS)


"Z" grammysammy437 (SCS)

A-Z and Now I need to go get somes ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs ~Enjoy

Gratitude

I've decided on what my one word is going to be... it came to me, it came to me, insert jump up and down. As my daughter always says... first thought best thought.... so here goes.... my word to live by for 2009

Gratitude

As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget
that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words,
but to live by them.

~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Yes, not very original or new but this is the word I was first thinking of using and I decided to stay with my first thought. After all... all things should begin with a thankful heart. Yes, I have kept a gratitude journal for the past couple of years so like the word simplify its not a new concept. Just one I need to keep uppermost in my life.

I am supremely grateful for my mind and spirit. By God's Grace my Faith is strong. I'm also grateful for a sharp mind which is ever sharp right? I think? (others I am sure would beg to differ, ha!) also I am most grateful for my family. (my extended family, my mother, my sissies, my cousins everyone you know who you are (sorry I don't have any pics) and these guys....

Can you believe how fantastic they are????? These are my two babies. Wowser. Pinch me now. That's where my body went? my youth... my get up and go.... that explains IT. Give it back... you hear me I want it back now.

of course everyone knows how much I LERVE this guy....

Love that look on his face when I drive up

Ha I bet you thought I was going to post a pic of DH right then didn't you. Oh ok him too...He's the tall guy on the left holding the umbrella. And friends

Prissy Pals - HI Allison and don't be mad I LIKE this picture of you all professional and schtuff

(sorry I don't have more Prissy Pal pics but hi to you too).

Did you see the newest PrissyPal, Tina over at SassyCraftyLady, not only that she has a photography blog too with her friend Stephanie. They called it Stephinaphotagraphy? My daughter has some pictures. I hope Tina doesn't mind but I grabbed one to show. Isn't she a great photographer?

I'm grateful I live around this beauty... the midnight sun

Just another day in paradise...

Thanks to all of my fellow art therapy students aka fellow virtual and real friends (Hi Michelle) who I've met via blogoland who visit here and share their art throughout the year with me and provide such great unending inspiration and eye candy. This papercraft world REALLY REALLY has been a Godsend for me and at this point is not cheaper than therapy but that was last years excuse. hahahahaha

Here's a special shout out to SOME of my favs.

Amuse - need I say more?
Helle - Sweetest person on the planet EVER - BFF
Gina K - Home girl
Sweet Miss Daisy - Wow
Durcandesigns - Lerve
Flea Market Studio - Pretty
Julie over at Lostluggagereviews - Plethora of information - Home girl - Virtual Best Friend Forever (VBFF) hehehehe
Mary Rose - Saltbox Studio - Sweet
MishMash - Wowser
My Happy Little Life - Keepin' it Real
Michelle G over at Out on a Limb BUT ANYMORE I THINK SHE'S OUT ON ANOTHER PLANET HELLO ANYONE OUT THERE??? BFF
Paper Hugs - Kim Hughes - CHF - Angel
PaperTales - Latest Pusher er BFF
Vicki - Sweetest person on the planet EVER - BFF

SERIOUSLY THIS IS THE LONGEST POST KNOWN TO MAN. I COULD HAVE ADDED AT LEAST 20 MORE onto this list. For now. Just know. I read a lot of blogs and lover them all.

Here's to another great year. Try to choose your own intentions this year and stick with them. Now I am off to create some visual reminders and maybe some thank you note sets to give as gifts. Maybe I will specialize in thank you notes this year. How appropriate.

A Year in Review

Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

ralph waldo emerson

Well how exciting... its that time of year again and I get to pick my word for the year. I have to admit I have a bit of of a problem with this. Last year I waffled between the word "Focus" and back to "Simplify". Ironic because I didn't keep my first choice "Focus" because I couldn't stay focused on that word to save my life. I found out about doing this "one little word" exercise over here. Anyway, I went back to and kept the my word "Simplify" which I had been using for seven years. I really liked that word and it was fitting for the changes that I was going through in my life at the time. I had pulled up stakes and made a major move out to where I live now.... California and unintentionally had a lot of baggage to go a long with this move both literally and figuratively. It has taken me a good several years to go through said baggage and simplify IT. Good golly what a mess. But what a ride it has been too. I am happy to report I feel that I have scratched the surface and at least attained a modicum of simplicity (thanks to my family who helped (threw stuff out when I wasn't looking) me sort through most of my crap).

Good golly I still haven't settled on my word for this year yet EITHER. Here are the contenders

• Gratitude
• Fitness
• Grace
• Faith
• Optimism
• Allowing
• Do It (but that's two words and that would bug me all year and I would probably switch back)
• Believe
• Imagination
  

Every year about this time I embark on a whole new set of intentions for the upcoming year. I don't call them resolutions anymore because we all know we never keep any of those past the first two weeks of the New Year. At least I haven't. Intention is just a more fitting word... it seems to me... I downloaded yet another eBook to try regarding a formula for achieving BIG goals. The first exercise it suggests we try, is to review our previous year. Grrrrr. Already hating the exercise. But I'm a good sport so I push on. After all I am trying to set a good intention. Not so great starting off with my hateful attitude as usual. ROFL. Anyway, so I adjust my bad attitude and push through all of my major resistance. So I start here's the short list:

10 great happenings from last year...

I didn't get run over by a yellow bus
That tree didn't fall from the sky and hit me

OH I'm quite sure that's not what the guy meant and no matter how hard I willed death it didn't ever happen. Only the good die young... God must not be finished punishing me yet. Snap out of it

Ok rose colored glasses have been affixed. Pollyanna has arrived

lemme see, licking the tip of my pencil, lets try this AGAIN

Seriously I'd rather have a root canal than figure this list out. But it's supposed to help me FOCUS on great things to come. There's that word I was totally unable to do last year too.

Back to the assignment

10 great happenings

1. My faith
2. Simplicity
3. Designer Pottery Barn bedroom furniture (hey it was big for me since it was my first ever bedroom set that wasn't a hand me down or shabby chic cast off from someone else)
4. I had hot and cold running water
5. A roof over my head
6. I ate 3 square meals a day
7. I discovered a new papercrafting store
8. We all had our health
9. Great jobs
10. I live in paradise (hello)

I think its a lot that we take for granted and when you spell it out they are GREAT things.

Next part of the assignment..

List 5 lessons learned:

Stay tuned I am still working on my "year in review" grrr this stuff is so hard for me.

Then you move on to your intentions and alas those are also in the drafting stage.

I'm getting there

do it do it do it....