Apparently...I have crafting A.D.D.!!!

OK!  So I've been a slacker when it comes to actually doing any crafting lately.  I have actually only been in my craft room to clean it up and move stuff around in it.  I don't know why I am not in the mood to work on things I already have! 

I now find myself wanting to try to learn new things...one of them being metal stamping.  This is where you can personalize silmetal by using a hammer and letter stamps.  There's so many different things that can be done with it...it just looks like something that I could be creative with and sell quite a bit of.  Especially for Christmas!   

Here's a sample: 

And then there is crocheting.  I used to know how to do this...as my mother taught both my sister and I how to crochet when we were young.  But of course...it was not cool back then and so I've forgotten every little thing that I once knew!  I've actually had a lesson today on how to crochet...but was getting frustrated and had to put it down!
So anyway, I need to figure out why I have so many things I want to do...and then once I do them for a while, I want to move on to the next thing. 

I guess it wouldn't be so terribly bad to be this way...except when I start a new craft...I like to go all out and get everything I need...PLUS some!  It's getting a bit expensive! 

I may have said this before, but I've got supplies for beading, knitting, card making, clay art, stamping, embossing, scrapbooking, sewing and now crocheting in my craft room!

I just might need some professional help! 

Spring Fever

It's been BEAUTIFUL weather here in sunny Florida...so much so that I have not spent much time crafting.  I've been itching to be creative again though...so I spent some time in my craft room today. 

We like to purchase inexpensive souvenirs of the different places we've traveled to...and about 8 years ago, found the neatest thing!  It's a glass disc, with an imprint of the attraction that you've visited.  They cost anywhere from $4 - $10 depending on where you are...but they come in all different colors and are nice sun catchers to hang in a window. 

In our previous house, we had them hanging in the window of the computer room (they were simply hung with fishing line).  This was great because the windows were at the front of the house and they could get noticed...and we could enjoy them every day.

Well, we moved back in 2006 and the layout of our current house didn't allow us to hang them where we could enjoy them every day.  So they've been just sitting in a drawer, forgotten.  Out of sight, out of mind. 

On our last trip (to Virginia), while in the Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house) gift shop, we saw them again.  They brought a smile to our faces and we knew we had to get one!  But before we made the purchase, I had to promise myself that I would figure out a place to hang them in the house...and make them catch a person's eye.

So...back at the old homestead, a month after our vacation ended...I began the transformation of the souvenirs into decorative door hangings.  I decided beaded door hangers would be the way to go...

Monticello (Virginia), The U.S.S. Constitution (Boston), Mystic Aquarium (Connecticut) and Springfield Zoo (Missouri)

DOOR HANGINGS???!!!???  Everyone wonders...."Wouldn't that make those glass discs very likely to break if they were on a door that got used all of the time"??  Well, yes, yes it would!  However, in our living room, we have glass patio doors and only the center one opens!  So...the doors that I hung them on DON'T MOVE. 

As you can see, we have four of these discs now.  And as there are two empty spaces on these doors, we have some more traveling to do!

Valentine's Day has come and gone...and left me somewhat in it's dust!

Well...after making all of my V-Day cards this year...I only got to give 3 out and mail 2!  When I was ready to put the stamps on the envelopes (yes...I had already addressed them and everything!) - I found that I only had two stamps!  Not normally a problem...since I can simply go to the store and buy more stamps.  However, this was Friday night...about 10pm...and I was taking a break from my vacation packing.  We left for vacay the next morning (at 4:30 am!!)...so my buddies who did not get a card this year will find one in their mailbox next Valentine's Day.  Or...if I'm feeling quirky after vacation (yes...I'm blogging from a cabin in Virginia!!)...I'll send them out late! 

I WAS able to complete my candy pouches for my buddies and co-workers at the office, though.  Below, you'll find a photo instructional on how to make them!  I got this idea from several different places, but the blog that I follow called "Clearly Inspired" has an instructional video on how to make them.  Mine are 4 x 6 in size.

(Tape only on the two long sides and one short side)

(The crimper is used to make a more finished look)



The Craft Cubes Are Doing Their Job!

Husband got the cubes assembled on Wednesday.  When I took a look at them, they were HUGE and took up 1/4 of the floor in my craft room!  I was astonished because they didn't look that big when we were in IKEA.  But I was still excited about them...and he said it would take the two of us to hang them.  Just looking at them, I didn't see how in the world I was going to be able to lift and hold them...so I was a tad bit worried. 

Then...as fate would have it, our 21 year old nephew had a car problem and called Husband for some help.  He came over, got help with his car, we fed him dinner and he helped hang the cubes!  What a blesssing!  Don't get me wrong...I wanted to help...and I actually did...but there was no way that only two of us could have gotten those things hung by ourselves! 

Big Empty Wall

The assembled cubes looked HUGE sitting on the floor!

Husband and Nephew working to make me happy!

Finishing up hanging the second unit

Aaahhh...so pretty...and just screaming to be filled!

Love Love Love them!

I got up early this morning and started organizing the cubes.  It's amazing how much stuff I can put in there - and they are VERY solid!  Each unit can hold about 60 pounds...since the wall bolts that Husband used can hold 100 pounds and the units themselves are about 40 pounds.  I seriously doubt I'll ever come close to the 60 pounds...especially since I'm not going to be putting books in them.  I bought the white containers from IKEA at the same time that we bought the cubes. 

Now it's time to get started on my Valentine's Day projects!!  I'm inspired by my organization...AND by my now clean desk!




Craft Room Storage...a compromise that turned out fabulous!

 I have a huge empty wall in my craft room.  I finally narrowed down that I either wanted a flat screen TV there...or some kind of storage/organization unit.  Well, my friend Carol created some really really cool round storage containers. Husband, though, didn't like the idea and wanted something more "finished" looking.  Well, since he's the labor behind my ideas, I thought it best to work with him...thinking that whatever we would find would be WAY too expensive.  Plus, since we'd already looked around town and didn't find anything I liked, I figured it might be a way to get a trip to IKEA!! 

So we went to IKEA in Orlando yesterday and found an awesome 8 cube storage unit.  They showed it standing on the floor and also hanging on the wall.  They also had units with different numbers of cubes and different sized cubes.  We decided on the 8 cube storage unit...and had the box on our cart when I decided we'd better check to see if the hanging hardware came with it or if we needed to purchase it separately.  GOOD THING WE ASKED!!  We were told that the shelving units were only hung FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY...and that they did not recommend hanging at home.  UGH!!!  It was such a cool unit, too...

So...we decided to go ahead and get TWO of the 4 compartment cubes since those COULD be hung on the wall:

                                           

Also, I can stagger them if I want and also add in another shelf unit that I liked (but they didn't have in stock yesterday).  I'll be ordering it online soon!

The trip to IKEA was great...and it actually made me a little less sad that I wouldn't be getting the round tube storage project going.  It was a very creative idea and would have been perfect for my craft room!  But hey!!  There's still one more lonely wall over in the corner...maybe....one day...I'll sneak it in!! 





I'm really liking making cards

I forgot it was a friend at work's birthday today.  Instead of making a mad dash to my office and digging through my "just in case" drawer for a card that would "make do", I decided to just tell her I'd have a card for her tomorrow.  As soon as I got home, I started working on my design.  It's so much nicer to be able to make something personal for someone (when I have the time!).  At least for me it is.  I can't say how long this trend will last...but hopefully long enough for everyone to get a personalized creative card from me this year! 

Creativity means alot of different things!

So I've been thinking about my creative outlets in the past.  I realized that I have not always done crafty things, but used to write alot of poetry.  So I'm going to dig it out, dust it off and post some here.  Sure...some of it is the normal teenage type angsty stuff....but there might be something in there that is worthy of taking a look.  I'll work on finding it soon.  I thought I'd started typing it out and saving it on the computer a long time ago...so I'll start there. 

First Completed Knitting Project of the Year...

I loom knitted a scarf for my sister...

First Completed Card Project of the Year!

Here is my first completed card using my Christmas presents...Slice die cut machine, clear stamp sets and embellishments.  Designing is really the hardest part...but I'm hoping my designs will get more refined as I learn more techniques.

Getting Organized!

I've been working on getting my craft room organized today.  I realize that I have way too many crafting interests...but am not really interested in getting rid of my supplies!  I think it's because I get bored easily and like to go from one type of craft to another. 


In going through the closet, I have supplies for clay art, origami, paper making, stamp art, scrapbooking, knitting, frame mat cutting, sewing, beading and photography.  I've done all of them and enjoy each one. 

Is it bad that I don't want to get rid of the supplies that it's taken me over 20 years to collect? I might not use them each year...but since I have some place to keep them, I'm not going to get rid of them! 

Hmmmm...It's a new year...what to do...what to do....

So it's 2011 now and the time has come to start trying some new things.  So the first thing I'll try is keeping up with a blog.  I actually created this blog page last year, but have left it blank until now.  This is my very first post. Aren't you lucky!!??!!


I am planning on using this blog to share what I consider my creativity.  My plan is to post information and photos about the projects I'm working and other little things that pop into my head.  There is really no telling what you might find on here on any given day!


So welcome to my Korner...and welcome to my world!!!