a new issue of "ready, set, create" is just days away

Just a little sneaky peek into the next issue of Ready, Set, Create ezine. The paper team was challenged to create three projects from this supply of fun frills. With all this goodness, how's a girl to choose?

So many lovely trims

I will let you in one one of my choices...

I <3 my trusty Heidi iron!

Somehow the cute pink & white polka dot fabric above didn't end up in the photo of all the goodies, but as you can see it's adorable. I pulled out my trusty Heidi Swapp iron and pressed it into perfect pleats for a lovely "love" card. (That damask bag in the background was from the dollar bins at Michael's a couple of years ago and the perfect tote for my mini iron.)

The creative team had some fun challenges for the new issue of Ready, Set, Create. Be sure to check it out -- it will debut on February 1st.

stash challenge

 One of the assignments for the "Ready, Set, Create" creative team for the next ezine is a stash challenge. All the team members chose one (or two) stash items to create with. It was tempting to pick an item I already am using a lot and go from there, but I stopped myself and thought why not actually challenge myself. As I looked at the list, I realized that "rubons" were the perfect choice for me because at one time they were my absolute favorite embellishment. I loved them so much that I built up quite a stockpile that now sits neglected.

I have more than a few rubons

So after signing up for them, I hauled out my stash. This is most of what I have in that department (except for the odd sheet tucked away in a kit or packed with my rolling crop bag). That box in the back of the pic above holds my alphabet rubons and it's about 18" wide, 15" tall & deep. That's a whole LOTTA alphas, my friends!

The other two accordian files are maybe 15" in length (or width, I guess), about 12" tall and 4" or 5" deep when full expanded. One holds shapes & designs and the other holds words & sayings.

Funny thing about rubons is that when I bought my first few packages, I wouldn't use them. My very illogical reasoning was that if I used them then I wouldn't have them any more because they'd be used up. How dumb is that, right? (I've done this with other products too, sadly.) I thought got over that at some point and went to town with rubons, but somewhere along the line I just sorta stopped using them. Not absolutely, but mostly. (Maybe I never really did get over my issue with not wanting to use them up?) Anyway, whatever the issue it's a shame really because (not only do I have a ton but) when I finally use them, they look GREAT! And they're easy to use and so versatile too. That's why I fell in love with them to begin with.

You can use them on silk flowers, or ribbon/twill. They look great used directly on photos (I especially like to use white rubons on dark areas of photos) and on acrylic or acetate. I can't wait to use them on my RSC projects and hopefully inspire some of our readers to try them if they haven't before. Or, if they're like me and have neglected them, they can pull them out and re-discover them.

So what are you hoarding in your stash that you need to challenge yourself to use?

get your craft on!

In case you don't already know it, March is National Craft Month. That means it's a great time to...

• discover and explore a new craft (or re-discover an old craft)
• expand your crafty horizons by trying a new technique
• add your handmade flair to something that is otherwise ordinary (the link will take you to a blog with LOTS of ideas, if you are up to the challenge)

For me, March has been very crafty. In fact, so far all of 2011 has been one big crafty event. First, there was the Craft & Hobby Association Winter Trade Show aka "CHA" (what? you're saying I haven't posted my pics? eeek! I better take care of that, right?). Then, no sooner was I back from CHA and dove straight into designing/prepping some cards for my monthly crop group using some of the new techniques I'd picked up at the show.

After the crop was history we squeezed in a weekend trip to Disney (not crafty, but very inspirational I'd say). We had a great time and less than a week later I was back in Anaheim for Scrapbook Expo.

That was just about two weeks ago, and since returning I've been deep in crafty-land getting my projects done for the next edition of Ready, Set, Create. I've been in a lovely glittery, inky mess of delight since then.

I will leave you with this sneaky peek at some of my RSC projects, and be sure to look for the new issue when it debuts the first of April (no fooling!)

super productive day

Some of the buttons from today's discovery

I got so much done today ... now, why can't every day be so fruitful?

First I did my 30 minute walk. I've been trying for daily on this but haven't managed more than three successive days. Gonna keep at it though. It's gotten easier, that's for sure. I'm walking faster and working my legs more so there's a plus. Next my morning bible reading, which I'm doing better at consistency-wise. I think I've missed two days this month (but made up the reading so that I stay on schedule). So, yay me.

From there it was on to garage/patio cleanup & organization. Just made a wee dent in all that there is to do, but any start is a good one. I was able to find a clothes rack in the garage that I'd promised to loan to my mom and in the process get some of the storage boxes labelled and tidied. The patio had created its own little project for me - a box had tipped over (the cat may have had a paw in this!) The contents had spilled out blocking the path to my scrapbook storage area, so it had to be dealt with.

On the plus side here, I found a treasure trove of buttons to put into my stash. They were those extra buttons that come with new clothes and I'd saved them for 30 years or so. I used to keep them in my old dresser but I guess when I got the new one, they got packed up and forgotten. Still not sure how they ended up in the particular box they were found in, but oh well.

With access to my storage restored, I went about putting away supplies from the Just Us Girls event last month. They've been hanging around my living room for a few weeks too many since I've been super busy with creating for the upcoming issue of Ready, Set, Create magazine. The new issue will hit the streets in less than two weeks (yahoo!)

I also had some new goodies to put into inventory as a result of some recent shopping binges (insert red-faced, eyes downcast smiley here). Actually, truth told I'm not really embarrassed or regretful of my purchases because I was able to snag some awesome deals on unique items that will make great additions to future classes. Yay!

In the late afternoon, I tackled some unruly plants that needed to be tamed. I trimmed an old lantana that has been left unattended for far too long and has gotten very leggy and woody. I didn't have the energy to prune it into complete submission, but it does look better than when it started. I also took the Mexican sage down with a good, serious sheer leaving only a handful of very tender new growth. I also have a perennial salvia that was looking very tired, so took that down to the ground and noticed that it is already sending up some new growth. These are all beautiful plants and I can't wait for them to come back around.

Now, I'm all about preparing my PaperCraft Princess retail sales tax return so I can focus on getting ready for CHA!  It will all come together... it always does.

yummy stuff

Look for these projects in Feb/Mar issue

I've had a busy week creating projects for the Feb/Mar edition of Ready, Set, Create ezine. We have some awesome sponsors for this issue (as always). This is a sneak of just a few of the things I've created.

I'm also very excited about a special feature that I'm doing for this issue, "Scrapbooking Off the Page" -- with some great ideas and samples of projects for displaying your special memories.

Everyone on the creative team has been super busy creating lots of exciting projects to inspire and motivate the RSC readers. Be sure to look for the new issue on February 1st!