Browsing Category Random musings

I love scrapbooking, card making basically the whole paper crafts industry, sometimes I have few thoughts to share on the topic. This where my occasional musings will land.

UGH! Reorganizing…

October 22, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

I have been in the middle of re-organizing my tiny space for a while now, I finally figured out why it is hard, I don’t like the space. I had to downsize so our third little bundle of joy and surprises could have a room. But I have to say after having that space for over 10 years set up exactly as I wanted, with tons of space, it is hard to not want it back. I am still trying to convince my middle son to share a room with the three-year-old. He isn’t going for it.

So I am now in a space half the size I once had in the middle of a reorganization. My husband is helping me with it..read appreciation with laughter….the downside is he now knows the full extent of my, shall we say “collection”. While he is supportive he is very eager to see new scrapbook pages and projects finished once we get everything put back. To help matters along I shopped this past week ! I couldn’t help it the new Graphic 45 Cafe Parisian was in stock at my local store. I have had my eye on it, my family loves all kinds of desserts so this is perfect.

I do have a ton projects I want to finish but I need to get this room finished so I can use my things. Given the size of my new room, I decided to go with the Scraprack, which why it is taking so long. I keep having to order more bases and sleeves supplies Grrrr….

However I will say I like her system and hopefully, I will be able to thin out my stash quickly once I am fully up and running. if you are interested, her website is totally-tiffany.com She has a lot of other organizing products including the amazing project binder. I love the two I have purchased, better than Iris cases for my interactive albums.

Check out the new graphic 45 it’s beautiful and no I am not paid to say that, just love their products.

Thank you for stopping by, I love to hear from you.

Until next time,

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6 Tips on Purchasing Warehouse Mystery Boxes

June 25, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

When I found out about these manufacturer mystery boxes for the first time I thought I had stumbled upon an insider secret. Boxes chock full of all kinds of brand new product direct from the manufacturer warehouse. Depending on the manufacturer, a crafter can get a box loaded with product valued from $80 -$150 retail for $35-$50 per box. Year after year I watched amazing boxes along with a few duds be unboxed. But always a little worried of getting that one dud of a box. When I finally decided to take the plunge I came up with some rules/ tips that have served me well and thought I would share them.

Keep in mind the product in these boxes will be at minimum a year old.
Start with your “go to” companies, ones you are familiar enough to know past collections/products and if you liked them.
Try not to have any expectations of what or how much you will receive of a particular collection.
Check out YouTube for past unboxing videos of that particular manufacturer or company.
Ask yourself after watching the videos: Did you like the mix of products (brads, flair, stamps, paper etc) included in the box ? Did the box seem like it was worth it? Was there a ton of duplicates?
How much information has the company given about the box and how comfortable are you with it? For example: Simple Stories let buyers know which collections to expect product. While other companies might just say product from the past two years with a dollar amount.

These boxes can be so much fun and with a little research it can be calculated risk that pays off in great product.

To get you started on a little research for next spring’s warehouse offerings here is my Simple Stories Warehouse Box Reveal.

Until next time……

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Loving My New Silhouette Cameo Die Cutter

April 14, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Good Morning,

I just wanted to do a short post about my Silhouette Cameo. It has been waiting for a place in the house since Christmas. It finally has one in our new office space and has been set up for almost two weeks. I giggle everytime I use it. I can’t help it. I love it when I can easily find what I need and it works at the click of a button.

For the last week I think I have expereinced the easiest electronic die cutting I have ever had since buying a “green bug” in 2007. I am so glad to have made the switch to Silhouette. I feel like my whole creative world has not only gotten easier but has opened up immensely.

Latest Silhouette Machine with covered cutting mat. (mat is clear)

I have been grouping, ungrouping, resizing, duplicating, welding, making shadows and cutting for the last week. My eyes still glaze over while in the Silhouette store. I LOVE being able to buy one image as I need it with the knowledge that it is mine to keep. It is not contingent on buying a plan. This is reasonable! This is a win-win for both company and customer. I can find designs from some of my favorite scrapbook manufacutrers like Echo Park, Carta Bella and Simple Stories. I no longer have to wory about using up a certain sticker or die cut in an ephermera pack as a lot of it is in the Silhouette store.

a splat that has been ungrouped, resized and cut indiviually.

I can cut chipboard, prep layouts with mats and full size border cuts, I can do 3d images as well. I am having so much fun with this I am going to be starting on a new home decor piece for my son’s room. I can see how helpful it will be for making more interactive albums.

Anyway, I can go on but I said short and I was just bursting at the seams with joy I had to share. I know many of ou have a mchine but if you are thinking about getting one and have some questions please feel free to ask.

Until next time……

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The Creative Side vs. The Mechanical Side

February 20, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

Have you ever found yourself so excited to start a project, maybe an album, a page or even a home improvement project, that its hard to contain yourself? I spend hours researching so when I have the final picture in mind, I dive in. I might even …..maybe on occasion….have a little tunnel vision. Perhaps a tendency to tune out suggestions about bothersome “fine” mechanical details. I mean,seriously, can’t you paint the walls after I have hung everything up?

So yes, my exuberance to bring the mental picture to life has hindered me in all facets of my creative life. The funny thing is, I have a mechanical mind but I have to be calm and patient to access it. Difficult to do when I have an inner Tasmanian Devil-esque creative side in charge.

Which is why I was so excited today when the mechanical side came out strong. Its a small step, not much to write home about, just some album prepping but it was a welcome change. It means my skills are growing both in crafting and personally. I think this aspect of crafting is often overlooked. Its fun, its doesn’t seem like a math class or a critical thinking class but it is, just taught in a way that the creative mind understands.

My craft uses paper, scissors and glue but, I am also using critical thinking, math, geometry, language arts to create. I am just realizing that the more I recognize these aspects in myself the more my creative process flows. I don’t have to choose one over the other more the lesson is about how to make them work together.

Until next time………

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Scraproom realizations and challenges….

February 19, 2016 · by The Morning Scrapper

I am finally getting the energy up to clean up my scrap space after the whirlwind of Valentine projects, school projects, and some new purchases. As I start to put things away, I see stacks of all the beautiful product I have set aside for a number of project ideas. I realize that it is far to easy to let life get in the way. While some of the ideas I have can be overwhelming it is becoming more overwhelming not to start. I have the makings for a few mini albums that were suppose to be a gifts……for christmas……two years ago. EEK!

With that in mind, I am setting a personal challenge for myself, to finish one of my projects by the end of this month. I know its half way through the month and a short one at that, but I am optimistic. I will share my project choice along with some pictures in my next post, my progress there after, resulting in a share video at the end.

Does anyone else have an uncompleted project that has been sitting around? Come join me in this personal crafting challenge. Leave me a comment telling me about your crafty project.

Until our next scrappy morning………

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