Sunday, November 14, 2010
Easel idea for your handmade cards
This comes from Card Creations by Lorraine. It's a neat and inexpensive way to display your handmade cards, whether for a craft show, or when you want to photograph one for your blog. Check it >>>here<<<.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Shipping Charges List
The Stamping Place has been added to the shipping charges list. I placed an order with them, and they reduced my postage being it was lighter in weight than expected. I'd say that deserves a trip back there soon. :)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Bits & Tips #7
When I want faux stitching, I use my Scor-Pal and score from the back side of the project. Then turn it over and use the Scor-Bug on the front side, or a paper piercing grid and a paper-piercer and pierce on the scored line. (From Cindy H.)
Bits & Tips #6
I sharpen my blades on my Fiskar paper cutter by cutting through an aluminum pie pan 3-4 times. (From Pat)
Bits & Tips #5
How to Make H2Os...
I mix 2 drops of reinker, 4 drops of distilled water, and 1 drop of irridescent medium for watercolors (which I got at Hobby Lobby, but think you probably can get from Michaels or one of the other chain stores. I mix all of this together and put it in small jars like those embossing powders come in. You can let them dry out or you can keep them moist. You can reactivate them with a drop or two of water or if you want to blend the colors, you can take a bit out and put it on a plastic lid with a little more water for a lighter color.
I have kept mine going for over a year and they work just great. (From Pat)
I mix 2 drops of reinker, 4 drops of distilled water, and 1 drop of irridescent medium for watercolors (which I got at Hobby Lobby, but think you probably can get from Michaels or one of the other chain stores. I mix all of this together and put it in small jars like those embossing powders come in. You can let them dry out or you can keep them moist. You can reactivate them with a drop or two of water or if you want to blend the colors, you can take a bit out and put it on a plastic lid with a little more water for a lighter color.
I have kept mine going for over a year and they work just great. (From Pat)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Organizing Tip of the Month: 8 Ways to Tame the Maintenance Monster
This is from the Jeri Dansky monthly organizing newsletter. It's something I want to keep for reference. Maybe it will inspire you...
A reader asks: I've done some de-cluttering and it has felt great.
My problem (and I'm sure that of many others) is how to maintain the practice. I'm very quickly back to piles and stashes whenever life's challenges arise. Then I have to start all over again. I know that one doesn't clean once and that's it, but how do I get inspired to maintain and enjoy the new space?
We all wish we could wave a magic wand and the toys would be put away, the papers filed, and so on. But since we don't have the magic-wand option, here are some thoughts to consider.
1. We all have things get out of control sometimes. But if we have good systems in place, it's easier to get back into control. Make sure there's a place for everything, so you can put things back in their places!
2. Make sure your systems are as simple as feasible, so it's EASY to put things away. That means storing often-used items close to where they are used, making sure the containers aren't so full that
it's hard to put things away, etc.
If a particular area or type of item is always a challenge, look for ways to tweak what you're doing to make things simpler.
3. Minimize what comes in, so there are fewer piles to accumulate. Get off junk mail lists, for example.
4. If you have a family, getting everyone to participate in the organizing can sure help. Kids can do their part, too. And when there are multiple people involved, heed the words of organizer
Lorie Marrero: "Ownership of maintenance tasks is often the missing link in successful organizing systems." Make sure you know who is going to do what.
5. Make the maintenance as pleasant as possible. For example, some people like to put on inspiring music. Another part of this is having tools that work well, and please you: a shredder, a stapler, file folders, laundry bins, etc.
6. Some people find it works well to do the maintenance in small chunks of time: 10-15 minutes here and there. Other people schedule larger chunks of time in their calendars. Experiment, and see what kind of scheduling approach works for you.
7. If it's in your budget, consider getting some help. If you can have someone else do cleaning or laundry, for example, you'll have more time for other types of maintenance. And of course a professional organizer is always an option!
8. Think of the maintenance as a gift you give yourself. I have a greeting card by Allison Strine that I use as inspiration; it says "She finally decided she was worth it." You're worth it, too.
A reader asks: I've done some de-cluttering and it has felt great.
My problem (and I'm sure that of many others) is how to maintain the practice. I'm very quickly back to piles and stashes whenever life's challenges arise. Then I have to start all over again. I know that one doesn't clean once and that's it, but how do I get inspired to maintain and enjoy the new space?
We all wish we could wave a magic wand and the toys would be put away, the papers filed, and so on. But since we don't have the magic-wand option, here are some thoughts to consider.
1. We all have things get out of control sometimes. But if we have good systems in place, it's easier to get back into control. Make sure there's a place for everything, so you can put things back in their places!
2. Make sure your systems are as simple as feasible, so it's EASY to put things away. That means storing often-used items close to where they are used, making sure the containers aren't so full that
it's hard to put things away, etc.
If a particular area or type of item is always a challenge, look for ways to tweak what you're doing to make things simpler.
3. Minimize what comes in, so there are fewer piles to accumulate. Get off junk mail lists, for example.
4. If you have a family, getting everyone to participate in the organizing can sure help. Kids can do their part, too. And when there are multiple people involved, heed the words of organizer
Lorie Marrero: "Ownership of maintenance tasks is often the missing link in successful organizing systems." Make sure you know who is going to do what.
5. Make the maintenance as pleasant as possible. For example, some people like to put on inspiring music. Another part of this is having tools that work well, and please you: a shredder, a stapler, file folders, laundry bins, etc.
6. Some people find it works well to do the maintenance in small chunks of time: 10-15 minutes here and there. Other people schedule larger chunks of time in their calendars. Experiment, and see what kind of scheduling approach works for you.
7. If it's in your budget, consider getting some help. If you can have someone else do cleaning or laundry, for example, you'll have more time for other types of maintenance. And of course a professional organizer is always an option!
8. Think of the maintenance as a gift you give yourself. I have a greeting card by Allison Strine that I use as inspiration; it says "She finally decided she was worth it." You're worth it, too.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Shipping Charges List
I added River City Rubber Works to the Shipping Charges List. They offer low shipping beginning at $3; with free shipping on cling mounted and/or unmounted individual stamps.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Uses for Coffee Filters
Coffee filters .... Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for almost nothing even the large ones.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers."
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18. Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies.. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book..
25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
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