WOYWW #767

Good morning, crafty friends!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

We have sunshine this morning, the snow from Monday is nearly gone and Bob is home for this special day. I am making him butter brickle brownies in a heart pan later this morning and he is taking me out for all you can eat crab legs! He knows my passion lol

Here's my desk this morning:

I took a course a couple of weeks ago called 'Your Path Forward'. The concept is built on a game board strategy of choosing one project you want to accomplish, then breaking the big picture down into small steps that create a 'domino effect' - meaning you can't do this step until you do this step.... and so on. What steps need to be taken to get from Point A - The Beginning to Point B - The Finish? 

I created a game board on an 11 x 14 canvas using the game board from the workbook as a template. The inspirational sayings in each square are from the Tim Holtz set - Noteworthy. I simply typed them into my word program, sized to fit inside the game board squares then printed on clear sticker paper. 

I've put the steps I need (one for each square on the board) onto sticky notes and have them on my KanBan board. The game board is a colorful visual for my desk.

I'm uploading a video for this now and will be on my AUTHOR YouTube channel about noon CST US. 

If you have a project you can't seem to start, I highly recommend this course. You can use the concept over and over again so it isn't just a one and done kind of course. 

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.

 Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

 

WOYWW #766

 Good afternoon, crafty friends!

I'm way late coming in. I spent my morning at the dining room table with Bob playing cards and Yahtzee.

There really isn't much to tell on my desk but I did have to clear everything off after I took the picture so I could film my premiere video for Friday (2-9-24)

The pouch with the scissors inside holds scissors/ adhesives when I'm working anyplace other than the filming table on projects. Technically, I've not unpacked it since last month when I went on a self-imposed planner retreat.

The 3 pretty red pieces in the center are part of a candle pedestal I need to glue back together before packing away the hot cocoa bar. I'll try to remember to take a picture of that before I pack everything away. 

The item in the package is a face roller from $ Tree. I show one out of the package in my premiere video on Friday. and lastly, I FINALLY broke down and bought one of the finger xacto knives. Even found one in teal. 

If you'd like to have the opportunity to chat live or see what I got in a Spectrum Art Creations haul this week, I will be in a chat room alongside my YouTube video on Friday 9, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. EST. I think that time allows for at least some of my friends across the pond and in Canada to join in. Set your timer and come chat. I'm only there for a little over 15 minutes so don't be late! Otherwise, the video will always be available on replay. 

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.

 Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly 

MAKE IT - MAIL IT MONDAY - Sort of...

 Good morning, crafty friends!

Well, the card I'd hoped to show today didn't work out. I'd planned to use a card kit from Hunky Dory only to discover the 'kit' was only card bases... not all of the elements.

Of course, last weekend was Bob's first one home so I didn't do any crafting to have anything ready for today. 

Here is the card bases/ envelopes I ordered from Spectrum Art Creations, with the intention of pulling items from other papers. I guess I forgot that part. LOL

TWIN FOLD OUT

They are called 'Luxury Fold' card bases. Similar to a pop up card but everything is revealed as you open them 'out' and the bases are pre-cut/ scored so all you have to do is cover in pretty papers of your choice. 

Click HERE to see the wide variety of HunkyDory products. I ordered mine from Spectrum Art Creations. They bring products in from all over the world and offer the best prices you'll find anywhere! Also, if you don't see what you're looking for in their store either on-line or Etsy, just send them an email and they'll do their best to find it. If you love something, others probably will, too!

This is Bob's first full week home but I've talked to him about a working schedule for me so we'll see how that goes this week. No post tomorrow but I should be back Wednesday for WOYWW. I missed participating last week nor did I accomplish much in the way of tasks on the office. If I remember right now, I curled up with a book I needed to post a review on for my author channel. I hope to be more regular with postings from here on out. 

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

MAKE IT- MAIL IT MONDAY! Plus Bonus items!

 Hi everyone!

I finally got to spend all day yesterday creating! Felt good to play with stuff again.

I took part in the TEA CHALLENGE in the Spectrum Art Creations FB group. Did you know, January is National Tea Month?  

I chose mostly items from Stamperia to work with, predominately from their Alice line.

I rice paper sheet with four teapots from the Alice collection started it all... so I made 4 different items. Each piece enters me into a drawing for a $5 GC from the Spectrum Art Creations on-line store.

We were required to use a minimum of three items on each piece we made.

Since this is Make It - Mail It Monday, let's start with the card I made for a friend:

I used a Merry Merlot card base with a Very Vanilla mat (Stampin' Up!) then used one of the rice paper panels on top of the mat.  Aside from the rice paper, I used chip board elements from the Stamperia Alice collection and Stamperia lace.

Next item:

I've been making items during challenges and tucking them away for a future Alice journal.

This one used all Stamperia items (background paper, rice image, chipboard elements( plus I added a metal spoon I'd purchased from Spectrum Art Creations (SACs for short). The lace and ribbon were from my stash.

Next item:

I'll try to incorporate at least one memory dex card from each themed challenge, or at least one per month.

Thie background paper on here was from Ciao Bella. The rice paper and chip board items were Stamperia and the brown braid trim from the SACs on-line store. You will find the trim HERE in a wife variety of colors. I have most of them LOL

Next item:

For my final tag, I knew I wanted to incorporate a shaker element:

I used Stamperia paper for the background and the front rim of the shaker. I used trim and the metal spoon from Spectrum Art Creations. For the shaker part, I used snowball micro beads from Stampin' Up!  Guess you could say I made Bubble Tea ;-)

There's one more item not part of the Tea Challenge, but separate.

Madison owns Spectrum Art Creations. She is on the autism spectrum. Such a delight, very talented and smart. Wow, what a memory that girl has. Every once in awhile she will drop something in our shipping box for a 'Madison Challenge'. This time she gave us circles. I think there were five in the baggie.

At first I thought about a mixed media piece but then I remembered my craft Christmas tree. Most of the ornaments are from the Christmas Notebook ornament swap going back twenty years. I decided I wanted an ornament from Madison. She is sending me a copy of her handwriting. I will shrink tht and add it to one of the leaves of the ornament. Madison will always have a place of honor on my crafting tree.

That's it for me today. My left eye is giving me issues. May have gotten some cat dander in it. 

I'll be back Wednesday for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and show off my new cat.

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

WOYWW #764

Good morning, crafty friends!

Okay, so it's almost 6 p.m. for my buddies across the pond. I've been doing author work this morning so running a tad behind.  

Here's what I'm tackling today:

As you can see, I've not put some of the things away that were there last week and added to the collection. LOL 

The rub ons and the stencil were from last week. The red pile of rubble in the back is a candle pedestal I need to glue. Silly me tried moving the cart with the hot cocoa bar items and one of the pedestals hit the floor. No worries.

I've also added one of those finger cutting blades to my list of supplies. I see planner peeps using them and they appear quite handy.  The Stampin Up stamps in the back are possibly for a future project so I pulled them out while I could find them.

I hope to have more progress and pretties to show next week.

Before I go, I have a question. Do you tend to buy things you already have because you either can't find them or forget you have them?

If your answer is yes, I invite you to my premiere on my YouTube channel Friday the 26th at 11:30 a.m. EST US. I'll let you figure out all the conversions.  Friday's video is by request from one of my subscribers where I will be talking about how I know what's in my studio. Mind you, that wasn't always the case! LOL.  I will be in the chat while the video runs so if you have questions or comments I'll be there.

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly

 

TUESDAY - Getting Back on Track

 Good morning, crafty friends!

Okay, I know that's not the brightest title I've ever used, but it's true. I'm finally seeing myself back into a routine. 

I've discovered as I get older, that cold, gloomy days are not conducive to me accomplishing much. I even went back to bed for an hour yesterday morning before I attempted to accomplish anything. Something, that with the exception of a few minor household tasks, I failed miserably.

The studio is back to the UGLY stage again. No, I'm not going to show a picture. I'm still trying to figure out how I went from my beautiful empty sofa for Halloween to the UGLY chaos again.  But I'll get there.

This week is all about putting things away that are in front of me. I'm using Sarra Cannon's HB90 system to do two things. 

1 - Set tasks that will move me towards the goal of having a workable space again

2 - Use the Pomodoro timer method to work on each task. 

The Pomodoro method is doing things in 25-minute increments. Take a 5-minute break then dive back in for another 25. You can do this as many times as you want and they can be done on and off throughout the day. If you only have 25 minutes to work on something, so you only get that 1 task done. That's still progress.

That's my plan for today.  Seeing how many of those 25-minute sprints I can get done until there is less chaos.

I'll be back tomorrow to show you progress for WOYWW

Creative Blessings!

~Kelly

WOYWW 762

 Happy New Year, friends!

I've missed you all but I've just been really busy. 
I took November off from all things creative except to finish the draft of Book 2 in my series. Then December was all about decluttering the three main rooms of the house to surprise Bob when he came home on the 22nd. He was home for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in 2023. We will celebrate Christmas after the new year next time around as he will be working for Christmas. I really wanted our big tree with the family ornaments up but I just ran out of steam.

I'm back in the studio, which is my decluttering focus for the next 21 days as well as back to work on blog posts, FB and YouTube (I'll have my first premiere of 2024 this Friday at 11 a.m. EST).

I did do a little crafting in December and lots of things just landed on the filming table. Maybe I'll have the final pieces finished and can show you next week - that is, if you're not tired of Christmas. LOL

That's it for my desk (and story) this week. Who's Miss Julia and why am I here?  When you are done visiting me in the Ozarks, please hop on over to Stamping Ground for all the details. Miss Julia has a long list of other studios you can peek into. No standing on an up-turned milk pail to look in the window. We open the doors wide and welcome you.  Please leave your number and you'll be among the first on my list.

 

Creative Blessings!

~ Kelly