Another Challenge Card and Some Helpful (?) Ideas.

I'll begin by posting my 4th challenge card for Santa's Slackers.  I used Very Merry Tags and an EK Success border punch.  It's pretty simple, but I  like the idea of the tag in the pocket (my rather far-fetched interpretation of the sketch!) and may explore some different ideas along those lines for more Christmas cards.

I really love to organize things - sometimes I organize more that I create!!  Well - I have 68 Cricut cartridges (it was scary to actually count them) and I can't always remember what's on them, especially those wonderful bonus cuts found on the function keys.  I do take the time to go through my handbooks, just to refresh my memory and find inspiration, but sometimes I just need a frame/mat and I can't remember which cartridge to use. 

So this is what I did:  I went through my handbooks with my Gypsy turned on and the 12x24 virtual mat selected.  When I found  frames/mats I knew I would use often, I selected them and placed them on the virtual mat.  I used a default size of 2.5 so that I could compare across the cartridges I chose.  I didn't include Mini Monograms because I'm very familiar with those shapes.  After I filled up my virtual mats (2 pages) with cuts that I had been looking for, I used my Expression to draw the shapes using my Cricut Pens.  That way, I'd have reference sheets with the cuts all together.  I also added the initials of the cartridge following each set of cuts.  It really didn't take that long and I love being able to look at my sheets to compare shapes and sizes and know which cartridge to use.   Now, you may not want to use 12x24 paper.  You could do the same thing on 12x12 or 8.5x11 and make smaller images.

                                          A Reference for Frames/Mats

I added the note "&frames" after the Storybook images to remind myself of that complete function key.

The other thing I've done to help me with cartridge images is to print the preview pages from the Cricut.com website.  If you go to "information" then "Cricut library" and click on the first column after each cartridge, you'll get a single sheet preview.  You can't see the images created with the function keys, so I'll write what the function keys do and also write any "words" or "phrases" that come with the cartridge directly below the image.  I keep all these pages in plastic sleeves and held together with binder rings.

Well, those are my brainstorms for today.  Hope you find them helpful.  Now, I must stop organizing and get the creative juices flowing!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Personalized Notecards/Crop Night Kits

My daughter is the assistant softball coach at Texas Tech University.  Every time I visit her I enjoy going to the local scrapbook stores where I can find wonderful Texas Tech papers and embellishments.  During my  visit in August, she asked me to make her some Texas Tech notecards.  So, after forcing myself to complete a pile of unfinished cards from my crop night kits (see below), I treated myself to the new papers and made a few cards for her.  I hope she enjoys using them. 

So, what's a crop night kit, you ask?  The first time I attended a Swarm, I took 2 days to pack everything I thought I needed to take and, of course, I took way too much.  The owner of my Local Scrapbook Store suggested I make crop night kits.  Each baggie (remember, I'm mostly a cardmaker) contains the paper, embellishments, stamps, ink, diecuts, etc. for  cards that I designed at home before the crop.  At my last Scrap-n-Yak, I had 8 different card designs with enough papers cut to assemble 6 of each design.  I came home with 48 Card Fairy and Cards for Soldiers cards completely assembled and ready to mail.  It does take some time before the crop, but I just keep baggies handy and when I have some extra cardmaking time, I put one or two kits together.  That way, on crop night I only have to take my tool kit and my baggies.  I did the same thing for album pages.  I put all the cuts and embellies in 12x12 plastic pockets, one for each page.  I came home with 6 completely assembled pages.  By having your crop night kits, you don't have to feel guilty about chatting (and eating!) the night away.  You'll still come home with completed projects!!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Organize, Organize, and Some Helpful Ideas

Okay, I promised a few tips and tricks.  I love to be organized and have the things I need handy.  Most of these are not my original ideas, but I have found them helpful when I'm creating so I thought I'd share.

1.  You know those darn glue strings that often are the result of using your Xyron?  Keep a wadded up piece of plastic wrap handy.  After you've adhered your cuts, just blot the strings with the plastic wrap!  They seem to come right up.

2.  Baby Wipes!  Can't craft without them.  They are terrific for cleaning stamps, both wooden and clear and also the acryllic block that I always seem to get ink all over - okay, my hands and work table as well.  I also use them to clean my Cricut cutting mats.  I can't believe how much additional life they add.  Even when you think your mat has lost all of its "sticky", a good rubdown with a baby wipe will often restore it.  Also, rotate your mats for extra life.  I've been using the same 4 for almost a year.  I treat myself to a new one (and a new blade) when I take a class or am working on a very special project.  IF you're starting with a new mat, pat your hands all over it to release some of the "sticky" so that your papers, especially if they're lighter weight, won't tear.  Oops, kinda got off the baby wipe topic, sorry.

3.  Bling storage - this is MY OWN idea:  I had a photo storage album I wasn't using so . . .

I keep my rhinestones and pearls stored by color - quick and easy to see what I have.

I also use the Cropper Hopper embellishment bags for loose embellies and the small sets of rhinestones that come with some of the acryllic stamps. They stay together with a binder ring.

4.  Clear stamp and punch storage.  Being a retired teacher, I have lots of binders, transparencies, and plastic sleeves so instead of buying the stamp storage albums, I just used what I had.  It's not fancy but it works for me.  The clear sets are placed on the transparency and then slipped into the plastic sleeve.  I keep separated binders for holidays and my Card Fairy sentiments and then two large ones for stamps in general.  My wooden block stamps are in single layers in plastic boxes which stack inside each other.  Note:  I use binders and plastic boxes because a lot of my storage is shelf space.

And finally,

my over-the-door shoe bag for storing border and large punches.  I had them piled in drawers and it was a nightmare finding the one I wanted.  I read about this idea and, problem solved!

I hope you find some helpful ideas.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn