Okay, my plans for making kits didn't work out last night. I had a few jewelry orders to get started on and then there was the AI finale to watch. I'm so glad that Jordin won, I have my reasons, but I won't waste my time expounding on them.
I'm really starting to worry about my scrapbooking. It used to be that I would move planets and stars to clear up time for scrapping. Now, if I run out of time, I just don't scrap. That little priority bug is screwing things up for me big time!
I don't think that I have a block because I have ideas flowing freely from my mind. I think I am having issues with keeping my scrapping thoughts in the positive light (gee..I wonder how THAT could've happened!). I need something to kick start my interest level again.
I wonder how people juggle numerous crafting skills without neglecting any particular one? I would love to be able to effectively sew, scrapbook and make jewelry without leaving either hobby in the dust. Oh well...
I'm seriously considering taking a week off of any hobbying so that I can get my house in order. School is out in a couple of weeks and that means that my son will be home...all day...most likely eating and creating chaos. I have this silly notion that if I go through and do another spring cleaning he will feel the urge to pick up after himself to preserve that state of cleanliness. I have that notion every summer, but I won't give up hope... yet.
On a good note, I made $81 yesterday! A lady at work wanted to see my jewelry creations and promptly pounced on an earring, bracelet, and necklace set that I made. She then called her friends to look at the other bracelets that I'd made and I sold a few of them as well! Now I'm being commissioned to make 12 different bracelets and to dismantle an antique necklace to create 3 bracelets for a lady I work with and her daughters. I am so happy that my creative ability is being validated, but I can't help but wonder if I am following the right path. It's not like I love jewelry or anything...I don't wear the stuff hardly. Is there a name for someone who can be proficient in a craft without truly developing an appreciation for the output? Lame, perhaps. At the end of the day, I guess all that matters is whether or not I am happy. The answer is yes...and I guess I'll leave it at that.
TFR
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Purty Papers ... The Nonsensical Side of My Hoarding
I too a trip through my stash last night. I was looking for papers to toss into the pot for a swap that I am participating in and I figured that I could stand to let some of my embellies loose on Ebay as well. All was going well until I came to 'the drawer'. "The Drawer" is a place in one of my organizers that is reserved for my unscrappable papers. By unscrappable, I'm not talking about paper that is ugly enough to make your eyes bleed. I'm talking about my out of sight and mind hidey hole for papers that I adore entirely too much. Thy drawer runneth over.
So I got to thinking...something that I try not to do with any regularity...Why was I still holding on to this paper? Why not use it before it loses it's appeal? The answer escaped me, much the same way it did when I asked myself the same question 6 months ago. It really doesn't make much sense to not use what I have in that drawer.
Yes, I do still like it, and I KNOW without a doubt that once I use it, it will be gone forever (some of it is a year old!)but I really don't see a reason to 'have' a piece of paper sitting in a drawer.
Nothing but air and opportunity. That's what my husband would say. All that stood between me and turning that paper into something fabulously creative was my desire to have it forever. Now I just want it purged. I don't want to hold onto my stash anymore. I'm not ready to give up scrapbooking, but I am ready to break the chains that my hoarding habits have used to bind my creativity.
There is something to be said about having less, that's for sure! Less means that you have to rely heavily on your own creative spirit. Having less means that you grow and master your craft. Having all of this excess has stifled my creativity to the point where just starting to scrap is painful. Having a special section reserved for 'special' stash no longer works for me. I need to be released!
So...tonight, I'm going to take my own advice and start assembling more kits. This time the kits will be for my 'thouper thspecial' papers and embellies. Tonight I will regain control over my stash! I haven't scrapped in a great long while and I think it's high time that I took this bull by the horns.
Tonight is kit night and my goal is to make up at least 12 of them. If anyone wants to join me in my fight against the hoard, feel free to post how many kits you're making up.
I can do this...I know I can...though I may have to call in a dorkfish for some moral support. I'm just rambling here. Sorry for the nonsense post, but I had to put my intentions in writing, lest I chicken out again.
TFR
So I got to thinking...something that I try not to do with any regularity...Why was I still holding on to this paper? Why not use it before it loses it's appeal? The answer escaped me, much the same way it did when I asked myself the same question 6 months ago. It really doesn't make much sense to not use what I have in that drawer.
Yes, I do still like it, and I KNOW without a doubt that once I use it, it will be gone forever (some of it is a year old!)but I really don't see a reason to 'have' a piece of paper sitting in a drawer.
Nothing but air and opportunity. That's what my husband would say. All that stood between me and turning that paper into something fabulously creative was my desire to have it forever. Now I just want it purged. I don't want to hold onto my stash anymore. I'm not ready to give up scrapbooking, but I am ready to break the chains that my hoarding habits have used to bind my creativity.
There is something to be said about having less, that's for sure! Less means that you have to rely heavily on your own creative spirit. Having less means that you grow and master your craft. Having all of this excess has stifled my creativity to the point where just starting to scrap is painful. Having a special section reserved for 'special' stash no longer works for me. I need to be released!
So...tonight, I'm going to take my own advice and start assembling more kits. This time the kits will be for my 'thouper thspecial' papers and embellies. Tonight I will regain control over my stash! I haven't scrapped in a great long while and I think it's high time that I took this bull by the horns.
Tonight is kit night and my goal is to make up at least 12 of them. If anyone wants to join me in my fight against the hoard, feel free to post how many kits you're making up.
I can do this...I know I can...though I may have to call in a dorkfish for some moral support. I'm just rambling here. Sorry for the nonsense post, but I had to put my intentions in writing, lest I chicken out again.
TFR
Monday, May 21, 2007
Scrapping Shop Block... Could this be the end?
Last week I went to a local store that sells cameras and Scrapbooking supplies. I'm on a self imposed spending hiatus, but I have had a gift certificate for this store for over a year now and I figured, since I had time to burn, that I'd just go check out what is "new". This sudden interest was spurred by a flier that I received in the mail that offered a $10 off $30 purchase coupon...I figured I could find SOMETHING to use the silly GC on so that it could stop looking pitifully neglected in my wallet.
The entire time that I was driving to the store, I was trying to think of SOMETHING that I needed to buy. I swear I gave myself a headache trying to conjure up a mental picture of my needing anything scrapbooking related. I finally resigned myself to just 'go with the flow' and to let the mood move me when I got there. "Good strategy," I thought..."I'll buy the first thing that pops out at me and call it a day", I surmised.
Well, if I had decided to wait for the 'mood' to move me, I will still have my stagnating butt sitting in the store.
The last time I visited the store, about a year ago, I remember getting giddy over some Maya Roads chipboard or something of that sort. This time I walked in and I was drawn to the door that I'd just walked through. I walked around that blasted store for 15 minutes of my life and as the seconds melted away, I felt as if I were wasting precious bits of my life force. I felt nothing.
Nothing at all.
I looked at some of the clearanced Bazzill, nothing. Just last year those crates of cardstock would've have me needing a bib to keep my salivatory droppings from destroying the beautiful papers.
I looked at the new rubons...nada. I do remember thinking, "cute" when I looked at the Making Memories Rubon booklets with the colorful phrase transfers...but I didn't even touch the package. Did I ever tell you how I have 52 packages of MM Rubon Alphas? There used to be time that I would fantasize about having the world's rubon supply at my disposal.
Not a single, solitary idea book or magazine called out to me. Well, I'm sure they were, but I lacked the ability to understand what they were saying.
I was a little unnerved by this experience, truth be told. I have been pretty much avoiding any targeted scrapbooking shopping expeditions for over 6 months because I was concerned that I might lapse back into my spendy ways. I guess I have nothing to worry about since I couldn't even bring myself to by a sheet of patterned paper that was clearanced down to a quarter.
I wonder if this means that Scrapbooking is coming to an end for me. Could it be that I have killed off the craving for 'stuff'? I keep telling myself that I've simply trained myself to see the value in what I purchase and not to purchase anything that doesn't add value to my hobby. Hopefully, when I run out of something, my shopping trips will be a bit more productive.
Till then...I still have that annoying gift certificate...
The entire time that I was driving to the store, I was trying to think of SOMETHING that I needed to buy. I swear I gave myself a headache trying to conjure up a mental picture of my needing anything scrapbooking related. I finally resigned myself to just 'go with the flow' and to let the mood move me when I got there. "Good strategy," I thought..."I'll buy the first thing that pops out at me and call it a day", I surmised.
Well, if I had decided to wait for the 'mood' to move me, I will still have my stagnating butt sitting in the store.
The last time I visited the store, about a year ago, I remember getting giddy over some Maya Roads chipboard or something of that sort. This time I walked in and I was drawn to the door that I'd just walked through. I walked around that blasted store for 15 minutes of my life and as the seconds melted away, I felt as if I were wasting precious bits of my life force. I felt nothing.
Nothing at all.
I looked at some of the clearanced Bazzill, nothing. Just last year those crates of cardstock would've have me needing a bib to keep my salivatory droppings from destroying the beautiful papers.
I looked at the new rubons...nada. I do remember thinking, "cute" when I looked at the Making Memories Rubon booklets with the colorful phrase transfers...but I didn't even touch the package. Did I ever tell you how I have 52 packages of MM Rubon Alphas? There used to be time that I would fantasize about having the world's rubon supply at my disposal.
Not a single, solitary idea book or magazine called out to me. Well, I'm sure they were, but I lacked the ability to understand what they were saying.
I was a little unnerved by this experience, truth be told. I have been pretty much avoiding any targeted scrapbooking shopping expeditions for over 6 months because I was concerned that I might lapse back into my spendy ways. I guess I have nothing to worry about since I couldn't even bring myself to by a sheet of patterned paper that was clearanced down to a quarter.
I wonder if this means that Scrapbooking is coming to an end for me. Could it be that I have killed off the craving for 'stuff'? I keep telling myself that I've simply trained myself to see the value in what I purchase and not to purchase anything that doesn't add value to my hobby. Hopefully, when I run out of something, my shopping trips will be a bit more productive.
Till then...I still have that annoying gift certificate...
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