I Don't Like to Make Cards!!

Believe it or not- I really don't like to make cards. I LOVE to make all the stuff that goes on cards. But actually putting the cards together- committing to an end product is not fun for me. So the way I go about things is probably very different than most people.
First I decide what color(s) I want to work with. Then I just start and make a bunch of stuff. I keep the little pieces in muffin tins and I end up with baskets and paper plates and bowls full of flowers, shapes, squares, strips and misc.. I experiment with embossing, resist, chalk and whatever else strikes me at the moment. Sometimes I want to work with squares sometimes with circles. I keep everything handy but limit the colors.
Sometimes I run a bunch of 5 inch paper through the Xyron before I start, other times I put the cut outs through the Xyron. This set of cards were "thank yous" for my mom's funeral. I ended up making about 125 different cards. No two were the same. It was my small tribute to her. She was a paper-crafter long before anyone had heard of paper-crafting.
Once I have a bunch of stuff made, I make a deal with myself. I will decide that I have to finish 10 cards before I can "play". For some reason making the "stuff" seems like play and actually putting the cards together seems like work.
The cord on the side was tied around each card. We printed each thank you note in orange/gold, two to a page. Once the notes were cut and folded, we slipped them under the cord and attached the back sheet with a glue dot. My dad and I both appreciated being able to type rather than handwrite the notes.
Some of you practical types are wondering why I would spend time making stuff I wasn't sure I was going to use. The handy thing about working the way I do is nothing ever goes to waste. I keep all the leftovers and paper scraps in double shoeboxes. I have one box for each color.
When I was done working with yellow and orange, I put it all away in the bin. The next time I want to work with those colors I will have a head start.
The other nice thing is I can run downstairs and put a card together very quickly using leftovers. If I have forgotten an event or a celebration a handmade card is never more than a few leftovers away!!
Another time saver is to print the message on photo paper. I printed "Thank You" in several different fonts, colors and backgrounds. I usually put a border around making it easier to cut out. Then I ran the printed sheets through the Xyron before cutting.

Thanks for stopping by!!

COMING SOON!!
Valentines for kids- to make for them or with them!!

Toronto or Bust

We are headed back to Toronto for Valentine's Day. Larry got second row seats for the Jim Cuddy Band concert at Massey Hall. He sat at the computer, hand poised on the mouse watching the clock. He was able to connect 17 seconds after the tickets went on sale.

We don't have a hotel yet but I hope it is closer to the venue that the place we stayed for New Years!! That was quite the trek on a night when cabs were not stopping. Here is the famous Horseshoe Tavern. I was a bit surprised when we arrived. Doesn't look like a concert venue but the place has tons of history with pic on the walls to prove it!!

The Sadies,(below) the group we saw on New Years, are playing at the Bug Jar in Rochester on Feb. 21st. We thought it would be fun to get a bunch of people together to go. Not many people from the states know them but they are amazing if you like "rockabilly". So if you would like to join us.. Sue-Dr. Martin- Chris- Jim- and anyone else....

We met Candace and Johnny waiting in line. We ended up sitting together and had a great time. Candace in all her innocence said something like "you look like you are 29". Ok- I admit it. I could have kissed her but... considering it was New Year's Eve- everyone probably looked like they were 29. It was an amazing concert- 67 songs. It was also about 105 degrees inside and we were close to the stage so the lights made it hotter.

If two oldies and two youngsters can have a great time together - it must have been a great show!!

Larry is now on a mission to find CD's from The Goodbrothers. They are an older group- relatives of the Sadies, dad and uncles I think. The man is in the wrong business!!

Coming soon- Loads of Thank You cards in one color scheme.

Tags in Action

Are you wanting your gift to look different than the rest???
Tags in action.

Check out the previous post
"Tags Tags and more Tags" and the tag give away!!


*** Check out Big Lots and Dollar tree.
I paid a dollar or less for each skein of yarn.

Tags, Tags and More Tags

Martha Stewart's Christmas magazine had a picture of gift tags with the person's picture rather than their name. I loved the idea and my wheels started turning with ideas for gift tags. In December I took a package of tags to my dentist when I had to go in on a Saturday morning for an emergency. Monday she told me they are still on her dining room table- too pretty to use or put away.

***See "Tag Give Away" at end of blog.

I baked muffins for the neighbors and attached the above tags with lots of curly ribbon and buttons.

Dollar General has packs of precut scrapbooking scraps perfect for tags. One dollar for the package. Paper is in 5 intense colors. The gold above is one of the colors.

These are ready to decorate. I usually put the yarn on after the tag is finished but we had to travel on Sunday and I needed a project for the car.

The buttons give the tags a finished look.

When I give them as gifts I will include an idea sheet for using them on packages.

I love the design of this card because you can make it in any colorand it is appropriate for anyone. The dots on the black were made with the eraser on a new pencil and Versa Mark ink embossed in black. The dots on the white were made with a black Dotta-riffic marker.

Happy Creating!!

For more tag ideas click on "My Studio" or "Snow Day".
Scroll down on each page for tags.

***Tag Give Away- Two readers will win a set of 6 tags. Names will be picked randomly from entries. To enter, submit a comment using the word "tag" in a phrase or saying. Names to be picked Sunday, at half time of the Super Bowl.

You're What?? Packing your classroom??

Common conversation lately...
x- What's going on in your life s?
S- Well the main thing taking my time right now is packing my classroom to move by Feb. 13.
(Blank stare puzzled look) followed by
x- Oh- been to any good concerts?
or
x- Why would you do that?
or
x- Oh- well it was good to see you!

I guess only another teacher could understand the enormity of the task.Packing a classroom and moving in the summer is one thing, but teaching all day and then packing until ... and then doing it all again the next day is .... well... is hmmmm......

The most interesting thing is most of us will arrive back to our "moved"
classroom about 30 minutes before the kids arrive on Feb. 26th.

Sometimes the boxes are jumbled and so am I. Thank goodness Larry has come in to help several times. Today when I went to record spelling grades I realized I had packed my gradebook and kept out an empty notebook that looks like my gradebook. OOOppps. Report cards are due Monday. I will have to find that gradebook!

Our new classrooms are smaller than our old ones so I will need to weed out. It is easier for me to do that when I am in the new space.




It's going to be an interesting couple months. Maybe I'll just move to Australia! I'm sure Alexander will let me live at his house!! :)

(If you are wondering about that last comment- Google Judith Viorst)