Gyspy Owners Needing Organization

If you are yearning for a little organization but don't want to drag out your books each and everytime you want to design something, then you need to check this out! This is my little book that I refer to if I can't recall or am stumped for a piece of art. I keep a page of every cart I have in this handy binder.

All I do is print a copy of the cart image page from the Cricut Message Board Library. Then I insert in a page cover and place in my book. My book is in alphabetical order as that is how my Gypsy is organized. I love this as I can read the words easier and see art that I sometimes miss while scrolling through My Gypsy Woman. I like how on the newer carts you can see the color breakdowns of the image and it makes it easier for me to create.

Now honestly, can you remember all the art work on your carts? I didn't think so. And that means you need a little book like this too!

All I do is flip through the pages, everything is at my fingertips. And the cost was almost nothing. I had the binder in the house from some old project all I had to do was buy more page protectors and I was good to go.

My cover was done on my computer on MS Word and a few pieces of art from the MB. You know what amazes me is the art work I forgot was even on some of my carts. I will be refering more and more to this book, especially if I can't think of anything to create as it gets those ideas going immediately.

I hope todays little shortcut helps you in organizing your craft area and making it easier to create the things you love.
This Post Was Featured on 3/11/2011

Making Cards On The Run With Scraps!!!

This has been a rough and WONDERFUL week at work. We have been soooo busy selling cars here at Edwards Chevrolet in beautiful downtown Birmingham that I have worked late each and every night. Unable to join my friends, Darlene, Freita and Debbie at lunch I ate ate my desk at odd hours. It seemed like I was always with cutomers during the lunch hour. But thats ok, we are selling cars and thats what counts!!!! One day I decided that I would close the door and make a card or two with the scraps from my Birmingham Zoo birds page.  I always keep my bag stocked and ready to scrap on the run so this will be a great test.

This time I thought I'd share with you what you can complete in 20 minutes as long as you are prepared.

So I reached in my bag and pulled out the 3 of the scraps as you see below. All were leftovers from the Birmingham Zoo Birds page including the flowers. Note the red piece I embossed with the paisley folder knowing it would be the perfect size for a card and then placed it in the bag with the other scraps. I trimmed my papers and of course cut the card wrong so my fold is at the top of this card that fits in a standard A2 envelope.

I have always kept an inexpensive trimmer in my desk drawer so I pulled it out and trimmed away my jagged edges on the patterned pater. Then I attatched to the red and the two on the card.

Playing around with my leftover flower from the bird page, the only reasonable place to position was in top left corner, so I attached with medium glue dots.

I added my ribbon and decided that I needed to stamp a message on this card.... Yes I have a few standard acrylic stamps in my bag and chose Friends becasue this card is going to a special lady.

I positioned on my block so it wouldn't touch the bow. And got out my little stamp pad that is just the perfect size for my messenger bag.

I stamped a few time to make sure it was inked properly and to decide how hard to push to get the right look as I hadn't used this stamp yet.

After testing I applied it to the card. But it still needed something.... so I checked the bag and yup stickles.... works every time. I saw the perfect dragon fly in the bag that matched the card.... but he was bigger than the birds so I put that red dragonfly back, pouting the whole time. So stickled the tips of the flower.

By then I had spend 15 minutes of time working so I thought I better start cleaning up so I would be ready for the next customer. I used the hand sanitizer to clean both the block and the stamps along with some paper towels. I always keep these both at my desk and in my purse as you never know when you will need to use a hand sanitizer - or for what purpose.

Make sure you are generous with the sanitizer and keep rubbing and reapplying until you get all ink off. Be sure to blot on the paper as a double check.

See how nice it works!

And look how great the flower looks now. I used red and diamonds.

Hope you like how todays project turned out.... only 20 minutes and that included cleanup time, mistakes, adjustments and taking photos so you could see. Note this is my one hour challenge scrap from the Cricut MB, I just couldn't upload photos or post this on my blog at from work. So know the hubby thinks he should post a photo of my blog on his face so I would pay more attention to him. LOL

Ladies my handsome hubby is wonderful and would laugh at that comment.

Thanks for being with me today, I love hearing from you. I am encouraged by your comments.

Positioning Papers On Layout With Ease

You will love this nifty little shortcut!!! This is one of Jen's little tricks of the trade she shared with me that I pass along to you. I use it all the time. All you need is some drywall joint tape. Only $4.79 at Walmart and I can't even imagine how long it will last as Jen gave me 2 -11" strips that I have been using now for 3 months. One is starting to look a little tacky, I think thats only because I used a lot of glitter on this last project.

The joint tape is tacky on one side and perfect for positioning letters or small pieces on your layouts or cards. Just keep a strip cut to the size you would normally use for your projects. I store mine right where Jen put it, on that clear protective sheet on my cricut mat.

All you do is place your letters, cuts or pieces of art where ever you want them and then gently (so you don't move the little pieces) place your strip of joint tape on them. Press so the tape adheres to your work. Above I was preparing to go to a crop so after positioning my letters and placing the tape on it I just placed it on the plastic bag that carried all my cuts. So I was ready to hit the table running.

I would like to say this can be a real life saver. On this same project I cut my letters incorrectly. I had kerned, and positioned them just perfectly on my screen overlapping them just so, but I forgot to weld them together. So my letters were cut wrong and I didn't have another sheet of glitter paper to re-cut. I positioned each letter perfectly so my LO would still look nice. If I hadn't had the tape you would have seen excess glue all over on my page just from attempting to position properly before the glue dried.

With the tape positoned on my letters all I had to do is flip over apply my glue, then turn over and position on my page where I wanted it, and gently lift the tape off using my little spatula to make sure I didn't lift the letters. See, you never knew I had a potential disaster!

The tape is also great when working with children, as they can positon their work where they want it. I am here to attest they are opinionated as to where their work sits on the page, just ask Justin if you don't believe me! Then once again gently add the tape, lift, flip over, apply glue and place on the page. How easy is that? Even a seven year old can work this trick!

Thank You Justin!

Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them and you always encourage me with them.