Crafting Organization

I'm back from my fun and totally relaxing vacation to Disneyland and San Diego.  What a fabulous time we had!  Here are a couple of my favorite pictures.

It's a GIRL!!!  I'm one happy Gram Gram to be!  

Now that I've recuperated a bit, it's time to get back to some organization.  I didn't have a ton of energy today, but I wanted to start on something, so I decided to clean off my desk in my crafting nook and make it look nice and organized.  I hung a couple pictures and moved some things around so I had more desk space available to scrapbook, plan, and just create.  I bought some storage containers at Michaels and put one of the smaller desktop ones on my desk and I love it!

I'm hoping to finish cleaning out my craft closet downstairs, behind my crafting desk, and also the guest room/craft storage closet upstairs.  :)  Fingers crossed that I can get it finished by the weekend. Wish me luck!

Have a great week!
Tammi

New Focus for the Blog

Hello, everyone!  I wanted to let you know that I will be changing the look of my blog a bit.  I am no longer pursuing Stampin' Up! as a business, so I will be canceling my DBWS and also deleting my Stampin' Up! links on the sides.  I loved being a demonstrator, but I'm just interested in different things right now and so I feel it is time to say goodbye for a while.  In case you haven't heard, I'm going to be a grandma in December!  We are so excited for this new addition to our life!!

I am still busy crafting!  I am currently working at a local scrapbook store, so I have access to a ton of beautiful new paper and things.  If collecting craft items was an official hobby, it would be my favorite.  :)  I've been busy decluttering my house, so I'm hoping to take inventory of all my craft items and only keep my favorites.  There are so many pictures in boxes, on my computer, or on my phone that need a place in a scrapbook!  I'm hoping that by decluttering my life, I can focus on getting those memories down on paper.  (Especially before the grandbaby comes!!)

I am still an avid planner, so I will be posting pictures of my Carpe Diem, Webster's Pages, and my bullet journal.  Here is a picture of my organizing plan for my whole house!  It's kind of taken over my life right now...

Here is what has been completed since June 13th.  I was hoping to get it all finished by July 31st, but I think it will probably be the middle of August instead.

I find it is so helpful to write things down, especially in a list or checklist format!  It is so nice to be able to see what has been accomplished in a day, week, month, or year.  Summer has proven to be a bit distracting for me.  I haven't gone to the gym since the beginning of June or written in my Healthy Life Planner since then.  My yearly planner was over beginning July 1st and I haven't used my Carpe Diem planner since Dylan ended his online schooling in May...  Let's see what I can get going again before the beginning of August.  :)

Well, I'm off to clean up my blog and maybe get some planning completed.  I'm taking a couple weeks off from my decluttering project.  I will jump back in July 25th starting with my bedroom!  My closet and the master bath are already finished, so I just have to focus on all the bins and boxes that are still there from our move a year ago.  I'll post some pictures soon.  Don't judge me too much!  ;)

Enjoy your week!
Tammi

Still around...

Hello!

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still around.  :)  I've had a lot going on and my brain has been a bit overwhelmed with life.  I have some plans for my blog, so stay tuned and we will see what happens.

Have a blessed day!!

Tammi

One more month to get Half Off your brand new Paper Pumpkin Subscription!!

If you are interested in trying something quick and easy with all the necessary materials to make cute projects, then you have to try Paper Pumpkin!  I love these kits!!  They all come with clear instructions to help you make their wonderful projects.  You can follow these exactly as they say or you can get a bit creative and do some of your own thing with the items.  I usually start by creating a couple items like instructed, but then I try to change things just a little to make them more my own. You can also use the stamp sets that are included with your other crafting supplies to continue to make things after the kit materials are gone.  (You can also buy kit refills by going to my website www.verbarendse.stampinup.net and clicking on Paper Pumpkin.)

Here are my samples from the April kit.  I changed one into a birthday card for my son's 14th birthday later this month and I used the stamp set to create an anniversary card for my parents.

Look at all these supplies!!

I usually punch anything out and then get ready to create.

Here are some steps to show you how to make these cute paper bows.
You can create similar bows with the Bow Builder punch in the Annual
Catalog.  (Item #137414 - $18)

And they are done!  I saved one card 'kit' to use on my #listersgottalist challenge.

Here's Dylan's birthday card!  I used the Remembering Your Birthday stamp set
and decided he could probably do without the bow... although he is a huge Dr. Who
fan, so maybe he would have appreciated it.

I made my parent's anniversary card using this kit and decided
to create some swap cards with it for convention.

Items used:  April Paper Pumpkin Stamp Set, Real Red cardstock
and ink pad, Memento Black ink pad, Everyday Chic designer series
paper and washi tape, Rhinestone Basics
(I created 3x4 pieces to show that you could replicate this card using
3x4 cards from any of our Project Life kits.) 

Hope you enjoyed this fun cards!  Don't forget to type in HALFOFF in the code box when you sign up as a new Paper Pumpkin subscriber to get your first two months at half off!!  The rest are only $19.95 + tax.  Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to leave a comment below.  Have a great week!

Tammi

Half Off Paper Pumpkin For New Subscribers!!

Don't miss out on this great deal!!  I saw a sneak peek of the August and September kits and they are amazing!!  I can't wait to get the August one this month because it might be my favorite so far!!  I can't tell you too much, but let's just say it is just my style and color.  If you want to be surprised by this beautiful kit, you have to sign up today!!  August 10th really is the last day to sign up to get the August kit. You can still get half off, if you sign up by September 10th, but your first kit will be the September kit.  To get half off your first two months, go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com and type HALFOFF in the code box.  Don't forget to choose me, Tammi Verbarendse as your demonstrator when it asks at the end.

Here's a look at what came in the July kit.  It was called Thanks A Latte, so I knew it would be awesome!!

Look at all these supplies!!  TWO ink spots and three different cup cutouts.

Here are my cards!  I only used the items in the kit, but I changed some of
the card designs a little.  Can't wait to use these!  The paperclip bows are
so cute!!

I really encourage you to try Paper Pumpkin.  If you LOVE it like I do, then it will be $19.95 + tax (shipping is already included) each month after your two month half off trial.  If not, then you just login to your account and cancel at any time.  It really is that easy!

Happy crafting!
Tammi

Day 3 Convention Highlights

I still can't believe that convention is over!  I am so excited to play with the Holiday Mini items and my past Paper Pumpkin kits.  I will be showing you the July Paper Pumpkin kit tomorrow and tell you how you can save 50% off your first two kits!  (We got a sneak peek at those, too and they are so cool!!!  I really can't wait to get the August kit!!)

I love these cards!  We used our FREE holiday mini stamp set we were given in our
bags at the start of convention.  It is a Christmas themed set called Your Presents, but
they showed us how to use it to create fun Birthday cards, too.  We created the lines on the
presents by doing the Kissing Technique with a lined stamp.  We turned it to create
the plaid look on the second card.  We used the new Basic Black Archival pad and it is
awesome!  No more smearing on Whisper White cardstock!!  Did you see that 3/8" White
Glitter ribbon and the Garden Green 1/8" striped ribbon?

Ready for our last General Session at Convention.  I think I'm
looking a bit tired now...

I won a Prize Patrol!  Woo hoo for Mint Macaron!  Here's a peek at
the new Acorny Thank You stamp set.  I love the name!  And I got
some Crumb Cake 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon!

I had to get a picture of Stacy clapping because she won a
Prize Patrol, too.  She ended up winning the stamp set that
she picked out for us all to win last night.  Too funny!

I see A Little Something in her customers future...

AND to end our fun weekend, we had one more All Attending prize... a pack of Season of Cheer Designer Series Paper!  This is another dsp that has been handpainted and then printed.  It showcases ornaments, lights, mistletoe, and more!  These papers really are beautiful!  I'll try to create something next week to show you some of the images.

Happy crafting!
Tammi