Bachelors Degree Earned

I did it.  I am so excited.  Close to my Heart offers its consultants a Training Academy where we can take courses and earn a Bachelors Degree, and then a Masters Degree, and finally a PHD in scrapbooking and stamping. 

Well I finally told myself I am going to take these courses.  I started last night and completed my Bachelors degree today.  Yeah I graduated.

I am now working toward my Masters.  I will keep you posted.

Along with that today, I finished 81 cards.  I feel good.  I am still feeling a little overwhelmed with all I have to do or rather all I want to do and finish but I have decided to set smaller goals the night before and work the next day on accomplishing them.  It seems to be working.  I felt good at the end of the day because I got some things done.

Well I am off to work on some other projects.

What to Bring to a Workshop or Crop

I have some basic tools that always come with me when I go to a card workshop, scrapbooking workshop, or a crop.

Here they are.
  • Tape runner (adhesive)
  • Glue pen
  • Scissors
  • Corner Rounder
  • Eyelet tool set
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Piercing Tool
  • A Few Sponges
  • Stamp Cleaner
  • Spray Bottle of Water
  • Sand Paper

8 Really Good Scrapbooking and Card Making Tips

I was cleaning out my office - getting ready for a garage sale.  As I was going through my reference books I was glancing at a few and there were some that had great organizing tips that I use for the most part but there were a few that I had forgotten.  I thought I would share 8 with you.  These are really good tips if you are feeling overwhelmed with your to do pile or if you are just starting out.

1.  Get Organized
     This is a big one and easier for some people than others.  For me I have a permanent work
     space so I stay pretty organized.  But for scrapbookers this means to have your photos
     organized before hand.  For card makers this means to have your stamps organized and clean.

2.  Set aside Time
     This is still a tough one for me.  But if you set aside time for you to scrapbook and for card
     making you will be more productive.  I am trying this year to actually put time on the
     calendar for me to work on my projects.  I am hoping it will just come second nature eventually
     and my family will get use to this is the time I work on scrapbooking and card making.
     So whether it's late at night after the kids are to bed or a weekend evening sent cropping,
     make sure you schedule time.  GET OUT THAT CALENDAR NOW AND SCHEDULE
     YOUR TIME.

3.  Do your Paperwork
     This one I try to do as much as possible.  I use it both in my scrapbooking and card making
     Mostly with my card making.  First I want to state that I very seldom make just one card, I
     usually make 5 to 10 cards of the same.  Do your paperwork, just means to break your card
     making and scrapbooking into smaller tasks to do at opportune times.  Like if you know you have a
     specific page or card that you are going to be making that is going to need you to punch out
     some embellishments - then set your punch and the paper for it out, but save it to do while you
     are waiting for your daughter to get done with Dance, or your son to get done with ball practice.
     If you have stamped images you have to cut out save them and cut them out while waiting like
     mentioned above or while you are watching TV.  This will free up time to perhaps design
     another card or page.

4.  Have a Goal for each Page or Card
     Think about the main point of the page or card.  What message are you trying to convey?  This
     will help you in picking out colors of paper, embellishments, stamp sets, etc.

5.  Copy Pages you Like
     Don't always feel like you have to rethink the wheel.  Whether it's an original sketch or an idea
     from a book or magazine, use these layouts and cards as models for you.  You can always add 
     your own touch to the project to make it your own.  Also if you are making a scrapbook for you
     and one of the same for a family member than do the pages the same and do them at the same  
     time.  Most importantly have fun with it.

6.  Repeat, repeat, repeat
     This is a hard one for me.  But when you think about it does make sense.  If you find a layout
     that you like, repeat it on another scrapbook page later in your album using different colors and
     embellishments.  If possible, make the pages during one sitting for efficiency.

7.  Shop with photos in hand
     Select photos, put them in an envelope, and take them with you when shopping at the scrapbook
     store.  Pick out papers and embellishments to coordinate with the photos, asking for assistance
     from the store staff if needed.  This is a very good tip - one I tend to not do enough and what
     happens to me a lot when I am shopping is I buy things I don't really need, or I buy things I
     already have.  So this is an excellent way to help save on the pocket book too. 
     NOTE - if you are just starting out - if you know you are going to be doing a lot of the same type
     of pages (for instance I do a lot of hunting, and fishing) then think of things that may be expensive
     at first but perhaps in the long run cheaper.  What I mean is I recently purchased the Cricut
     Expressions which was a big cost but it has paid for it self because I have bought some
     cartridges that are themed toward camping or hunting so I can make my own embellishments.

8.  Make a theme album or do cards with a theme in mind
     By picking a theme for an album you can choose the same color scheme and embellishments for
     an entire album to create continuity in the albums' look and feel.  This works well for many types
     of themes, such as baby and wedding.  It also saves time selecting items for each page.  This is so
     true and you can really get albums done more quickly by doing this.  I do this on some of my
     albums but the albums for my daughter is different although the theme is HER each page is
     different because it is a different event.  You can use this concept with card making too.  Every
     January - I make a bunch of different Birthday Cards so that I have a selection of Birthday cards
     because you can bring out all of your supplies that fit that theme then they are all out in front of
     you.

Well I hope this helps some of you.  I know it was a good refresher for me and will help me get back on track with budgeting my time and hopefully getting some projects done this year.

Happy Scrapping and Stamping!