Organizing workshops are going live!

Do you spend as much time LOOKING for your crafting supplies as you do CREATING?  Are you absolutely CERTAIN you have that perfect paper or embellishment, but you can't remember where you put it?  Have you ever purchased DUPLICATE supplies?  Do you struggle with ORGANIZING your crafting and paper supplies? 

Join me for a series of workshops that will help you get organized once and for all!

I'll help you sort your papers and embellishments and put them into a system that's personalized and easy to use.   I'll also provide the space and time you need to get it done! 

Workshops include:

• 3 hours of time to sort, purge, and organize your supplies. 
• A full 6-foot table on which to work
• Handouts to help you along your way
• Assistance, support, and encouragement as you work
• Snacks and drinks (of course!)

As you work, you'll become more organized so your crafting time can be spent actually crafting!   And when you're finished, you'll be able to find the things you're looking for and easily put supplies away when you're finished with them and/or when you buy new things. 

Each workshop costs just $15 and there is NO product purchase required.  I'll show you the products I use and like, but I also encourage you to use what you have. 

Workshops will run:

• Friday 7:00 - 10:00 pm
• Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Saturday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
• Crop Saturday 6:00 - Midnight

Attend one or more workshops for $15 each or attend all four for just $50. 

The first set of workshops will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 14 & 15, 2014.  To RSVP, comment or send me an email and then mail me a check to reserve your spot.  Spaces are available on a first-come, first-paid basis. 

I'm looking forward to sharing these workshops with you!

Frugal Christmas

Christmas on a budget requires some planning ahead. And it's never too late (or too early) to start. 

This time of year, the school supplies are still on sale.  When my kids were younger, I'd buy art supplies for them on sale now, and save them for Christmas presents.

Kmart and Sears are offering free layaway.  Walmart and Toys R Us are also doing layaway again, though they *may* have a fee.  We have a Christmas savings account, so we don't use layaway, but we did when the kids were little, and it helped a lot.

The stores are now selling Halloween stuff, by the gazillion.  Which reminds me of another great idea.  A few years ago, I showed up bright and early on November 1st and bought wigs and other fun things.  Tucked them away for Christmas for the girls' pretend play.  They *loved* it!

As I think of more, I'll let you know.

The after-Christmas sales have been a boon to my budget as well.  We're still using the red Saran Wrap I bought for half-price last year.  I also look for Ziploc bags, napkins, paper towels, and tissues.  Who cares what it looks like if it does the job?!  Oh!  And Sharpies and packing tape.  Half-price because the packaging was Christmas-y.  Cuz, you know, all of that stuff stops working on December 26th because it's the wrong color!  ROFL!  

A new home for my necklaces

So, I've been collecting fun jewelry for awhile and it's outgrown the two hooks in my closet. I'm not really even sure how I stumbled on the idea, but it all came to me in a rush, including the layout, which I excitedly passed on to DH while standing in the shower, gesturing over the door at him! (In retrospect, he didn't quite understand my gesturing and did what he thought I wanted, which wasn't quite the same thing as what was in my head. Next time, I'll be sure to draw it out a little better so we're on the same page).

There's a story behind these pretty drawer pulls.

When I was young, I needed a desk in my room. I'm sure my parents had visions of completed homework and hours of reading. The reality was much, MUCH messier. The desk came from a yard sale and it needed a bit of TLC. My dad sanded it, painted it, and even added a laminate top to it. Then he added these pretty drawer knobs that I picked out all by myself. I loved them. Obviously, I still do.

I still have that desk. It's now our computer desk, and a few years ago, at a yard sale or store closing sale, or something, I found a whole pile of those exact drawer pulls. And I bought the whole lot, much to DH's chagrin, as he had no idea what in the world we needed them for! We replaced the worn knobs on the desk, and the rest found their way to a dusty pile in the garage.

Until now!

My original intent was to buy some bead board or similar fancy, textured lumber and then paint it. But, as I wandered around the store, I couldn't find what I had in mind, and I really didn't want to buy an 8' x 4' sheet of wood for this little project. So, I went to the craft store, where I still didn't find quite the right thing. I did find a board with beveled edges, but, as I looked at the price tag, I remembered a shed full of plywood scraps and a husband who is handy with power tools, including a router.

Off we went! LOL!

DH did a great job on the wood, though I've since learned he'd like a new router, and then I painted it in this pretty spring green. DH drilled the holes for the knobs, using another one of his fancy tools, and then I attached the knobs. The last bit was buying belting at the fabric store and attaching it to the back with staples (yet another power tool)! We also had to buy a funny two-headed bolt thing, plus a molly (or anchor) to attach the knob to the wall for hanging, but all in all, I had most of the parts on hand. And I love it!


These are my shorter necklaces and they hang in a narrow space on the wall in my oddly shaped closet. The longer necklaces are all alone on the hooks that used to hold (or attempt to hold) all of this! So pleased with how it turned out!