In My World

How did you make out on Challenge #4? I just dumped my tool tote. New smaller totes . . . one for markers and the other for my basic tools. Extra tools are in the two green totes.  My stamps are in the wicker basket. One bin is for foam stamps and the other contains punches. I actually downsized my tool tote quite a bit.  I guess I just stuff everything in there even if I just use it once a year.  In fact, that is the secret to downsizing my readily-available-on-my-desk tote . . . everything that is only used once in a blue moon has been containerized.  While it is all still available, it is out of the way until I need it . . . which will be when there is another blue moon.  I was actually surprised at how few markers I threw out.   I'm ready for Challenge #5: Stickers, diecuts, and rub-ons are some of the hardest things to organize because the different sizes and shapes pose many challenges. Rub-ons present their own challenges be...

Mouse Wind-up Toy 2 x 3" $2.00 BUY May not be exactly as shown.  Each piecing is individually handmade.

I've finished Challenge #3. How about you?  I've done the photo challenge so many times over the years and developed a system that works well for me. I always upload my photos to my favourite photo processing site as I go along but I wait for a sale and then order them to be printed. As soon as I pick them up from the store I pop them right into page kits. All done. How did you decide to sort and store your photos? If you are ready, here is Challenge #4 . . . Tools & Adhesives Gather together all of your tools and adhesives into a box and let's start S.P.A.C.E.ing them! Sort : one by one, put each item into piles: FAVOURITES, TRASH, TO SELL, STORE, DONATE. Purge : For the SELL pile: bag up and assign a price and your initials to tools/adhesives that you don't love/use anymore and put them in your garage sale box. Throw out the TRASH pile. Arrange pick-up or drop-off of the DONATE pile. Assign : Store your most used items in a basket or box or other syste...

Dove with Olive Branch 3.25 x 3.25" $2.50 BUY May not be exactly as shown.  Each piecing is individually handmade.

Dog with Patches 4 x 4" $2.50 BUY May not be exactly as shown.  Each piecing is individually handmade.

Challenge #3 So, your paper is beautifully organized, your scraps carefully stashed or purged, and your desk is gleaming!   I've posted photos in our  Facebook group  but you are also welcome to post links to your challenge photos as a comment here. Scrap paper and extra cardstock I don't save any scraps smaller than 4 x 6" My patterned papers and cardstocks are the basis for my page kits.  Photos, ephemera, embellishments, sketch ideas are added to the page kits so when I get a chance to scrapbook I am ready to go. More page kits Even the photos are in the kits, ready to scrap. More page kits.  I haven't had a lot of time to scrapbook yet this summer. This is actually just one page kit.  We took a lovely tour up to Manitoulin Island in June and made many many many stops along the way and took a ridiculous number of photos.  It is a really beautiful part of the world. I need lots of Christmas and sports...

Before we move on to the second challenge I'd like to share a few before and after work space photos posted for challenge #1 . . .  Dawn's before photo Helen's before photo Teena's before photo Dawn's after photo Helen's after photo Teena's after photo How did you make out on the first challenge?  It's not too late to share your photos  Doesn't it feel great to start the new year with a clean work surface? Let's move on to the next challenge . . .  Challenge #2 Here is this week's challenge: Your challenge this week is to  S.P.A.C.E.  your paper - - and I mean ALL of your paper: cardstock, patterned paper, specialty papers, and all those SCRAPS! SORT : Bring all of your paper to one area. Sort it all into piles: KEEP, SELL, DONATE, TRASH PURGE : bag up, and assign a price to paper bundles that you want to SELL at a garage sale or online, and put the bags in the garage sale box....

Diaper Pins 1 x 2.5" $1.00 BUY May not be exactly as shown.  Each piecing is individually handmade.

I think my youngest son and his new wife like their wedding present.  I picked up the blocks a couple of years ago when Mary Maxim opened in London.  It took quite a while to make and I enjoyed every moment . . . except for an incident with some mixed media which meant they didn't get their wedding gift until a month after the Big Day. My sister sends me projects.  This particular project came as a BIG ziploc full of little blocks which I spent the past year piecing together.  Even my dear hubby got into the action by sandwiching and pinning the quilts, and tying them.  Apparently he quite enjoyed himself . . . calling the whole process relaxing.  Each member of my oldest son's family received one of the quilts.  I actually have enough left to make a lap quilt at some point in the future . . . or maybe pillows.

I'm just beginning to use pocket pages when I have a large number of photos.  The next few layouts and pocket pages use photos of my favourite place . . . Windswept Retreat House.