Quicky Organizing Tip

Why is it so easy to get behind and so very hard to "catch-up"? 

Did you ever notice when you start to clean one area - especially one as small as a closet, that the other areas suddenly are no longer clean?  It is quite amazing what you can find in a closet or drawer -- and how much actually fits in there.

Organizing tip #1

To prevent system overload and ensure you don't get buried in another room, start small. You don't want to overwhelm yourself, or you will probably want to quit, then you will be discouraged that you didn't finish.

Start with a drawer or cupboard or small closet.  Get some paper bags or boxes ahead of time.  Work for 15 minutes to 20 minutes at a time and then take a break and do something else.  Make sure you do go back to it though.  A timer is a great reminder to get back to work or when to take a break.

Now about those bags/boxes -- grab 3:

1. Trash -- toss, toss, toss (is it broken, non-usable, not likely to be used again or wanted by anyone else? then let it go rest in peace--recycle or trash it)

2. Pay it Forward -- If you haven't used it or will not be needing it, but it still has a lot of useful life, then consider gifting it to someone else.  Maybe a family member, friend or co-worker could use it - ask.  If not there is always FREECYCLE, it's an awesome way to give to the community and environment.  Gift your items to a person in need through this great community found locally in your area.  Type in FREECYCLE in your browser you will find information on them or check the Yahoo groups for a local FREECYCLE.  They have  a few rules (i.e. no selling, and a couple others), but by gifting to another you keep the item out of the landfills and you can help someone who may really need that item.

3. Belongs somewhere else -- if you find something that belongs in a different location, don't get sidetracked and take it there while you are in the middle of your cleaning spree, put all the items in one bag or box and then deliver them to the locations at the same time (maybe after your 15 minutes just before your break).

A set of shelves and a couple bins for the closet...will make finding those family games or toys oooh so much quicker and easier.
 
A finished clutter task is an elusive goal. You can't organize clutter, you have to send it packing. Good luck!

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!

Happy New Year my Friends!!!!

I am amazed at how quick 2009 seems to have gone now that we have celebrated the final days and moved on into 2010.

2009 was a year of 1sts in our family.  We boldly moved from Graduation into many a new territory.  I can't believe our only daughter received her driver's license, then a month later left home off to college before she even turned 18.  The first year of changing birthday celebrations, Christmas traditions and ending the year.  This year we will see some more firsts bringing hope and some bittersweet memories of family times of yesterday and yet to come.  Our family spent New Years Eve and the wee early hours of New Year's Day in New York City -- a first considering how close we actually live to New York.  We stayed in New Jersey and took the bus into the City.  What a lot of fun and then the subway to pick-up our waiting tickets for Dave & Busters where we spent a good portion of our New Years eve with other revelers.  We made a couple new friends when we met a dad and his daughter while we were waiting in line.  Dad is a pro bike rider and daughter is in 9th grade - a freshman in high school hooking up with a freshman in college. :)What a GREAT time.  Very busy, very crowded, but overall people were very nice and lots of them VERY helpful.  Yaay New Yorkers! :) Yes, as you have probably heard there were a couple of sour pusses (I don't think any of them were the New Yorkers, LOL) but over all it was AWESOME!

Still decorated for Christmas, the city looks pretty and ready for all the festivities yet to come on this New Year's Eve.

Even a bride and groom took advantage of the holiday sparkle!

If you look very carefully you can see the ball in the top peeking between the buildings as it is dropping with the countdown to the end of the 2009 year and into the 2010 year.

Wishing you a year filled with building relationships and courage!

Mojo Monday 119 -- CCS13 & Cute Card Thursday

Wow! 2009 sure went quick!!! I can't believe it's already down to the last 3 days of December. In honor of sending out the year with a bang...Today's Mojo Monday card is a New Year's celebration card. You can check out Mojo Monday HERE. And I recently came across A Fairy Creative site with some great challenges to get the creative mind gears moving -- this week's challenge was to use your favorite embellishments. Oh, I just LOVE embellishments, my favorites being anything sparkle, but I love embossing, and using my punches too, and even adding extra little dangling things...ooooh, too-too hard to pick just one favorite. So, this card uses a few of them. :) ...And Cute Card Thursday has a challenge for a New Year's Card. So...on to the card let's send 2009 off with lots of fireworks and bring in the creative 2010 :) (the links to all challenges are over on the left a little ways down)



As a crafter, I tend to save things I think I will be able to use at a later time...so that's where the champagne bubble flute comes it...I don't remember where I picked these up, but I had a few left. What better time to use one, than to "Cheer" in the new year! :) I also used some tinfoil to get some glitz going in the background as well as a small snowflake charm I had "hanging" around.

For today's card I used 2nd generation stamping and aging with a piece of paper towel on the multi-text area in the circle underneath the Glittered "Happy New Year".

The embossing was all done with the Cuttle bug using only 2 embossing folders, but then sponging the edges of the pieces for more texture.

I put my Cricut to use to make the scalloped edges layer and the circles layers.

Here is a close up detail of the snowflake charm...


...and a close-up detail of the tag (created from the CTMH stamp set)



Getting ready to run off to the next activity, so if I've forgotten something just request in the comment section and I'll post as soon as I get back. Thanks! ♥


Supplies
Cuttle Bug Embossing Folders Ice Crystals and Snowflakes
Close to My Heart Tulip CS (x5753)
Close to My Heart Moonstruck CS (1293)
Close to My Heart Grey Wool CS (5571)
Tin Foil
Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Outdoor Denim Stamp Pad (z2140)
Punch around the page Topiary (for the decorative frills above Champagne glass)
Heat & Stick Powder (Stampin' Up!)
Red Glitter
Snowflake charm
Silver stretch cording

The Last Christmas Card

I waited to post this card since it's the one I made for my daughter for Christmas day, then things were so busy I never had a chance to get on the computer, LOL. So, now it's late, sorry =( ...but maybe you can use the idea for another holiday or even for next year.

It's a square card with half circle flaps that fold in from all four sides. I created the shape using the Cricut Design Studio, but you could probably do the same by creating a square and then using a circle template on each of the four sides to create the half circles.

I ran two of the side flaps through the Cuttle Bug using the Snowflake embossing folder. I also used the Winter saying embossing folder for the inside on an iridescent Mylar.

The trees are from the Cricut Winter Collection using the layers and cutting off the top loop, then sprinkling with mica chips for snow effect.

The penguin is from Close to My Heart Winter Fun stamp set (C1330), which I used VersaMark ink and then embossed in black before using the water color pen to color the beak, feet, scarf and hat.

When I finished I mounted the whole card on a square piece of Colonial white to off-set all the blue when the card is in the closed position. The trees and the penguin are what make it so the card can stand on its own.

Here's a picture of the inside view; the Mylar looks really neat in person.


Here are a couple more views one from the side of the trees and one from the side of the penguin.



Hope you have fun making your own!

Sending the Advent Calendar on the Road - Final Day

We have reached the final day of sending cards off to my daughter for her to open each day in place of the Advent Calendar.

You may recognize the card, as I actually posted it a couple days ago for Mojo Monday Challenge; if you click on the card it will bring you to the Mojo Monday post with the Card Recipe aka Supplies and Directions.



I knew it would be a crazy busy morning with trying to get ready to run off to get her....so we will be on the road to Pennsylvania State University today. Her last final is at 2 and ends at 4:30 so to make sure we get her packed up and ready to leave as soon as the final is done we are heading up early so that we can get it all done before she heads off to that last final. What to do for the 2-plus hours while we wait...hmmmmm....could read...or hey it's Christmas -- shopping! LOL.

Hope you all have enjoyed following along and maybe even picked up a few ideas for a card of your own.

Have a great weekend!