Thanks for the Patience May 1, 2008
Posted by admin in : Uncategorized , add a commentIt’s been a rough rode trying to get this blog switched over. Talking to technical people sure makes my head spin, but we’re nearly there. Prepare for some changes here and then we’re off to the races. Thanks again for all the patience while I get everything figured out over here!
That’s My Girl! April 23, 2008
Posted by Angela in : General crafts, Kid Crafts , add a commentOn a drive home recently, I noticed my kids were unusually quiet in the back seat. Figuring they were sleeping or something, I just kept driving. When we pulled into the driveway, this is what I saw in the backseat:
All I could think was “That’s my girl!” I took her out the next day and bought her first sewing craft kit. I’m so proud!! Of course, I’d be proud regardless of whether she crafted or not, but this was a big moment for me. I think it was lost on her, though!
Upcoming Scrapbooking Trends March 17, 2008
Posted by Angela in : Uncategorized , add a commentIt seems as though it is time for the Scrapbooking world to start showing their trends again. In what I have been reading and what I’ve heard in my scrapbooking circles, there are some definite trends that will take center stage this spring.
1. Eco-Friendly Scrapping. With the concept of “Going Green” basically being everywhere, it’s no surprise that it’s getting into the scrapbooking world. Using tree-free paper and recycling things you would otherwise throw away (the most creative example I have seen so far is using junk mail in your layouts) are all going to be very popular. Not to mention capturing the things that you are doing to make the earth a better place in your next album.
2. Less is more. Let’s face it. Scrapbooking can be expensive! But by doing scrap swaps and sharing your supplies with your closest crafting friends and having a good old fashioned swap of stuff will help everyone save money, time, and unnecessary hunting for that perfect paper that your best friend has no use for right now.
3. Introspective scrapping. Using scrapbooks as more than just records of family events and outings is going to be huge this year. I know I have a couple albums all planned out so far of how I’ve grown in the past couple of months and what it means to my children. Or how about that life changing event? I’m already planning on the layouts for my tremendous undertaking of the Breast Cancer 3 Day Walk in Cleveland I’m participating in this summer. The training, the fundraising, the doubts, the triumphs. Not to mention walking with my mom, Katie, who is a breast cancer survivor. It will all be documented and scrapped.
So my challenge to you is this: How can you incorporate any (or all) of these trends in your next project?
5 Ways to Celebrate National Craft Month March 6, 2008
Posted by Angela in : General crafts , add a comment
March is National Craft Month! Just in time for Spring, when all of us have the itch to make something new. We can all celebrate in our own ways no matter what our craft of choice is. Here are five ways to get excited about it and celebrate:
1. Get Organized. Clear out your stash and become another crafter’s best friend by giving away items that you no longer use or need to upgrade. Clear away the clutter and stock up on craft organizers from your favorite store. Warning: This may cause you to find new space for more stuff!
2. Finish a UFO. You know they’re there. Those projects that you start and put away because something else looks like more fun. Finish one and give it as a gift. Again, this frees up more space. Not to mention it gives you a sense of accomplishment and the desire to do more projects.
3. Learn a new technique / craft. Spring is all about stuff that’s new. So build your skills by hunting online to learn about more cool things you can do with your craft of choice or learn a whole new one. My personal goal? I would love to take a pottery class by the end of 2008.
4. Have a party. Invite some of your craftiest friends over to learn a new technique or share supplies and get some much needed work done on your building list of to-do’s that generally hangs out on your crafting table. Scrapbooking is generally the route I go with, but maybe I’ll invite some of my needle crazy friends over to work on some projects while we chat and catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives.
5. Go shopping! My new favorite store is Consumer Crafts, an online crafting supply store. They just launched their scrapbooking line of products. The prices are phenomenal and their shipping turnaround is also outstanding. I highly recommend it. I got some beads from them as gifts for friends and was amazed to receive them within 72 hours. They also have a lot of shipping deals, so be sure to take advantage of that!
I hope this gives you all some great ideas to celebrate this fantastic month of creativity. Leave a link to your crafting blog in the comments and I will check out what you’re working on as well!
A Current Project: Harley Davidson Cross Stitch March 2, 2008
Posted by Angela in : crafts as gifts, cross stitch , 7 commentsRight now, I am working on a gift for my father-in-law (I hope he’s not reading this. If you are, Duane, please close the window). He is an avid motorcycler and he owns a Harley Davidson Road King. I did some serious hunting online and found this pattern from Stitchtastic:
Yes, it’s a big project. And yes, it’s going to take me a while considering the fact that I have four blogs, a full time job, two toddlers, volunteer work, and the everyday business of managing a household. Doesn’t it sound like the line “partridge in a pear tree” should be in there somewhere? Anyway, since I’m sure you’re dying to know… here is what I have done so far:
I will keep posting pictures as I (hopefully) make progress. Maybe this post will keep me motivated!
Five Tools for Creative Inspiration February 20, 2008
Posted by Angela in : Inspiration , add a commentEver get stuck in a creative funk? It happens all the time. You know the feeling. You get all motivated to make… something. So, you dig through your stash, your pattern books, even your UFOs… but nothing “trips a trigger” so to speak. So, what do you do. We all know that when you get the “itch to stitch” or scrap-happy, it’s tough to shake. So, where can you go to get inspiration when none of your reliable stand-bys are working? Here are some ideas that have helped me:
1. Take your camera and do a “walking picture” session. Let me explain. There are times when I am feeling a bit restless in my creativity, so I grab my camera and just start snapping. I don’t focus the camera, I don’t line up my shots, I don’t plan a single image. I just start pushing the button. I stop periodically to see how much space I have left on my digital card, but for the most part, I just walk and snap. When I’m done, I load my pics onto my laptop and see what jumps out at me. Sometimes it gives me inspiration for a layout or for a new project. Even if I don’t get that “wow” moment, I at least feel good because I’ve gone out and done something.
2. Invite a friend over. The more the merrier when it comes to crafts. A lot of times just taking my mind off my work or current project allows me to open up and relax a bit to actually let the inspiration come in. Not so easy to do when I’m feeling pressured to get something created!
3. Try some creative writing exercises. I know what you’re thinking. I’m a quilter. What does writing have to do with it? The fact of the matter is that sometimes our brains are so wound up with everything that happened in the day or just cluttered with bits and pieces of everyday life that there is no room for inspiration to flow. Writing and getting the creative juices flow could jump start the whole process. It’s like how exercising releases endorphins. Personally, I like the exercises and thought provoking writing of the Artists’s Way.
4. Play. Another thing that the Artist’s Way taught me is that my “inner artist” needs to play. This could mean going to the movies by yourself, or an art museum, or even a junk yard. Whatever floats your boat. I once spent two hours antiquing (not something I’ve been known to do) and came out with at least 6 different project idea. Getting them done is a whole other story.
5. Imitate someone else. The point is to create anyway. Even when you don’t feel like it. Just picking up the needle or opening the paper stash box can work. But you never know unless you give it a try.
Hello Fellow Crafters! February 16, 2008
Posted by Angela in : General crafts , add a commentEver since I was a child, I’ve been a “creator” so to speak. I was constantly making up new stories, taking pictures, building forts out of books, spending hours in the art supply section of drug stores, and looking for ways to express my creative side. Now that I am an adult and I have children of my own, I am constantly looking at how I can better express that creative part of me that never seems satisfied. As soon as I have mastered one skill, I am hungry to learn another one. As soon as I learn one type of craft, I start exploring the others that are related to it. If I read a book about a craft or a woman who does a particular craft, suddenly I want to learn about that.
My motto in life is “create something beautiful today.” That can be a picture, a blanket, or even just a beautiful moment. Bringing a smile to someone’s face is beautiful and that is why I started my blogging journey with Unexpected Art, a Positive Blog. That evolved into A Fresh Perspective, a Positive PhotoBlog. Now, I present Craft Life. We all know that lives are made up of daily adventures and there is something about a Crafter’s Life journey that is exciting and invigorating, especially to others that share this passion.
So, thank you for starting this journey with me. I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do and I hope to see you in other virtual crafting communities as well as in real life. Please feel free to comment and share your own experiences, tell me about your crafting sites, and invite others to view your work! And be sure to create something beautiful today!
