NC Demo Blog Hop: Organization

I'm so glad that you are visiting my blog today for the NC Demo Blog Hop.  We are talking organization today.  You might have just come from Toni's blog or you might be starting here.  I suggest that you take the complete hop.  Organization is something we all need.  Well, most of us.  We are always looking for a better way to store our supplies or just make life easier.  We are a small group this month, but we have great ideas!

Today, I'm going to share THE NOTEBOOK.  I've shared this idea before, but I use it every day.  I credit THE NOTEBOOK with helping me use more of my stamp sets.  I would tend to use the same sets over and over.  Mostly, we just want to grab something quickly that will work.  So here it is.

It doesn't look like much, does it.  My little cover is old.  Do you remember that bird punch?  But, I like it, and the cover really doesn't matter.  It's the inside.

Why do I cherish THE NOTEBOOK so much.  It holds a picture of all of my stamp sets.  Let's look inside.

This is one of my pages.  When I get a new stamp set I take it to the copy machine, place it inside and run a black and white copy.  These pages are added to THE NOTEBOOK inside a page protector.  I do not worry about the order.  Usually, I'm an alphabetical type person.  I buy so many sets that ABC order would end up being a waste of time.  I would be reworking THE NOTEBOOK all the time.  I add as I buy them.  I actually know about where a page would be just by use.

I do place the pictures of the stamp sets so that they face the same way when opened all the way.

So why?  What does THE NOTEBOOK accomplish?  When making a card, you might want a certain kind of saying or picture, or that something you just don't know what it is.  Right?  You could look through the catalog, but you waste time looking at sets you don't own.  You need it now, not in a week.  You are not looking to make an order at that moment.  You might need inspiration.  When looking through THE NOTEBOOK I often find the perfect saying that I didn't even know I had.  Have you ever had someone in a class ask if you have a certain type of saying?  You can look quickly through THE NOTEBOOK and find it or not.  I find hidden treasures I didn't know I had just by flipping through THE NOTEBOOK.

THE NOTEBOOK is a great resource, but you have to be deligent in keeping it up to date.  I make my copies as soon as I empty my UPS brown box.  Note:  You must also go through your catalog and check off when you purchase something.  That way you won't order something you already have.  I just finished updating THE NOTEBOOK to get ready for the new catalog.  Retiring sets are pulled out.  If I decide to keep a retired set, I put those pics in the back of the book, again in page protectors.  Then I move up all of the carrying over pics to the front to fill in the spaces.  I end up with lots of empty page protectors.  Somehow they start filling up again?????

If you haven't tried this, you might want to consider it.  It helps me find the stamp set images, sentiments, and treasures that I need to use.  I bought them.  I should use them.  Let me know how it works out!

Thanks so much for joining our hop today.  The next person is Tracie.  Let's find out she keeps so organized.

May Blog Hoppers
Toni Campana -

Jo Anne Hewins -  You are here.

Tracie Evans Langley -

Sharon Maranich -

Frances Wagner -

Never Lose a Framelit or Thinlit Again!

Twila brought me a gift at class last week.  She was surprised I had not seen this, but I haven't.  I thought that if it was new to me, maybe you haven't seen it either.  Do you know the lovely tree framelit in the Santa's Sleigh bundle?  I just love that tree.  Mine has disappeared.  Gone.  It's been gone for over a month.  I'm afraid it might have gone out with the trash.  Wouldn't you think that I would lose one the teeny tiny framelits?  No.  So here is the answer.

This is a magnetic tray!  I think Twila picked it up at the Advance Auto Parts.  This one measures about 5 1/2 x 9 1/2.  It sits on two rubber magnetic feet.  As I work, I just put my framelits in there and they are going nowhere.  It's a strong magnet.  The box says that it is stainless steel construction, ideal for storing small parts,  magnetic base allows the tray to be used vertically and upside down.  The rubber coated magnetic base is scratch resistant.  Here is a picture of the box.

This is certainly an affordable alternative to replacing a framelit set for one piece!  It now has a special place on my work table.  It's great for anything metal!

Thank you Twila.  You are a life saver!  Maybe you need a magnetic tray in your craft area!  Thanks for looking at my blog today.  Hope you'll come back.

 

Color Coach Revisited

If you have been stamping a while you remember the Color Coach.  Did you have one?  Did you use it all the time?  The idea is to get help choosing colors that go together well.  Some of us are gifted at color choice and some of us are not.  Stampin' Up! retired the Color Coach several years ago.  I think it was Connie Stewart that did a blog post on her own Color Coach.  It's been a while ago, but the idea stuck in my sister Martha's mind.  This month for our Southern Belles swap, Martha made us our own Color Coach using Connie's blog post.

The Muslin Bags have retired.  They were stamped using the new in color Sweet Sugarplum.  Martha used the stamp sets Papillon Potpourri and Timeless Textures.  Inside the bag is the treasure!

Inside is a 2 1/2 inch circle of every color of card stock from all 4 of the color families, Regals, Subtles, Neutrals, and Brights, and both years of the in colors!  Each color also has its name on one side.  She printed them on address labels, peeled, and stuck them on the circle. You just shuffle the colors around and look for combinations that you like.  Here's one example of a combination that I found.

 

Night of Navy, Rich Razzleberry, and Sahara Sand look great together!  Here's another example.

 

Emerald Envy, Real Red, and Basic Gray would make a great card. I'm thinking a masculine card.  It's a great way to come up with combinations that are a little out of your box.

I challenge you to make a Color Coach of your own.  I warn you, it will probably take a lot of time, but I think it will be well worth it!  Did you know that you can purchase an assortment pack of the color families?  They come in a pack of 20 sheets, 2 of each color in the family.  The in color packs also have 20 sheets, 4 of each color.  It's a great way to get all of the colors and see which ones you like best.

Let me also add to Happy Birthday to Martha.  Have a wonderful day!  I love you.

 

Product List

Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[140517]

$20.00

Timeless Textures Wood-Mount Stamp Set

[140514]

$28.00

Papillon Potpourri Clear Stamp Set

[123759]

$15.00

Papillon Potpourri Wood Stamp Set

[132058]

$19.00

2016-2018 In Color 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[141413]

$8.00

2015-2017 In Color 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[138339]

$8.00

Regals 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131192]

$8.00

Neutrals 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131191]

$8.00

Brights 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131190]

$8.00

Subtles 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131193]

$8.00

Layering Circle Framelits Dies

[141705]

$35.00

A Little Organization, Please!

I wanted to share The Notebook with you today.  I've been stamping for a long time, and yes, I've acquired many stamp sets.  Do you ever need a certain type of saying or picture?  You think, now which set had that saying?  I know I have something!  But where?  Here is my solution to that problem.  I use The Notebook.

The notebook is a 2 inch binder.  I've had it awhile.  You can tell by the decoration on the front.  I love it!  Of course, it's green!  Whenever I get a new set, I immediately take it to the copier and make a copy of it.  The copy goes in a page protector and then into The Notebook.  I don't have the pictures in any certain order-just as I acquire the sets.

Here's another sample.

I do make all of the pictures face one way so they can be seen easily.  Now when I have a card class and someone asks to use a certain sentiment, I can flip through The Notebook and show them what I have.  If they want to change a card from birthday to hello, we can take care of that.  I even have a section for the retired sets that I just can't part with.

Now when we get a new catalog, The Notebook has to be tweaked a little.  I pull out the sheets of sets I do not want to keep.  Retired sets that I keep have their sheets moved to the back of the The Notebook.  Then I am ready for new stuff!

Now for this to work properly, you must be able to find your stamp sets once you know the one you want to find.  I do keep my sets in alphabetical order.  They are easy to find and Life if Good!  I hope this organizational tip will help you.  It certainly works for me!