Good Tuesday to all…I am in my last week in Mississippi and I will do a post one day with pictures of how I was able to keep my blog going and share with you my work space. In a nut shell…you just make it work with what you have! Naturally I could not bring everything but I did bring the essentials for making clean and simple cards!
Part of being able to be away for this long is to make things simple…and here are some tips that help keep me organized and things that I simply would not be without in my work zone! Crafting is so much fun and I think that it is safe to say that we all see things differently and we try things that work for other only to find out that that is not the best solution to your needs….guess what – THAT IS OK as we need to use what works for our own needs!
Here you go….4 more tips that make my life a bit easier! Please feel free to share with me a tip and I will be happy to share ot on my blog one Tuesday…there are so many fabulous ideas ~ BRING THEM ON….and I will be happy to share! (I am doing this today)
1 – Command Central ~ This is my best friend in my work area. I have it with me here as how in the world would I be able to store all of the essentials without going bonkers! I tried and tried to google to find something like this but I did not find anything ( you know me and computers if you can find something similiar….please share it in the comments with the link) or email me and I will share!
I purchased this eons ago from Pampered Chef and YES….I did look there and did not see it (It honestly must have been 15+ years ago) I never used it in my kitchen like it was meant to be but one day I saw it still in the original box and I swooped it up and have never looked back!
It spins around and it holds a TON…It would be crazy for me to list out all that is in there…but I think that you can see – it is a keeper! I find if the products are easy to reach for and easy to put back in place ~ it’s a keeper! – THIS IS SO IMPORTANT as then you can keep your area organized.
2. –Â Goo Gone – I think that we all can agree…there is nothing more frustrating than having “sticky’s” where you do not want them. A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY so treat it like you do your GREEN GLUE…You can find tiny bottles sometimes at check outs at Bed Bath & Beyond and also Lowes….I call it my travel size!
When my scissors or mat that I work on gets icky…I squirt a small amount onto a paper towel and rub it back and forth until it is gone! PRESTO – works like a charm!
3. Quickstik ( in 2 different ways!) ~ Does picking up small tiny things make you frustrated? Well…this TIP is for you – there is a product that you can purchase or you can make a DIY version and they are both great! This is in my COMMAND CENTRAL as I do go for it….OFTEN!
You can find this on Amazon and usually at the big craft stores but you can also make it on your own! Last week I had an email from Sharon Gibbons with this tip that she uses…..BRILLIANT 🙂 and oh so easy!
In the second picture you will see that Sharon uses a toothpick and some “green glue” kinda dried up….a big blob and it works like a charm!!!! THANK YOU for your email and please, please send me your tips! (Thank you Sharon)!
4 – HIT THAT EASY BUTTON! – I find that this is a fabulous tip that save soooo much time and you will be so happy that you did this! The other thing that is great about this idea as this is the PERFECT time of the year to stock up on the basics, like card stock and take advantage of a FREEBIE with Sale-a-bration!
What the heck am I talking about????? Take a bunch of card stock to a store like Office Max, Staples, Kinkos, etc….and they will cut your paper for you! Most of these stores will charge you $2.00 a cut and trust me, if you use the Whisper White and Very Vanilla a bunch….stock up on it, take it in and have it cut in both ways….for vertical cards as well as horizontal cards….they you are ready to rumble when you sit down to work!
This is a game changer as it makes things so sooooo fast! I would suggest calling around and seeing – it is well worth the effort as they can cut MANY packs of paper at one time for such a SMALL PRICE TO PAY…..Love it!
That’s it my friends! I hope that you have found this post helpful. I just think that we all have a wealth of tips and trick that work for us! Please feel free to share with me an unique tip that works for you….I would love to share it with you!
Yesterday was a truly fulfilling day….Mondays are quiet days at the barn but we all chipped in and gave the guys a day off and went to the barn…did all of the stalls (26) of them….rotated the horses to get turned out….groomed them…and it was a fun time having all of the owners there working and having fun!
Milo and I hit the road to bring some joy to others! He is simply the best….(well Eddie is the best – that’s for you Caleb) but we brought smiles to people in a nursing home. He is a gift that was brought to me and I have been in touch with Earlene to share with her the “happenings” with our little man! Each and everyday I think – how in the world could anyone give up this special dog!
Ok – ENOUGH ABOUT ME….let’s get to the weekly deals!!!!! YIPPEE-SKIPPEE…..thanks you stampin’ up! for offering fun deals for all of us to enjoy each week.
Enjoy the day…make some memories….and make someone smile! Until tomorrow!!!!
Your item in #1 is the wonderful Tool Turnabout from the P. Chef and YES, they still have them! I too use one for my crafting and it is great! LOVE all of your tips. Thanks so much!
YEAH….I am so glad that you found that it is still current…..I am going to look it up (again) and go back and add a link for others!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
I love tip #1; I have been using this tool for a long time. It is great. Can be found at many yard sales too. My question is this: what size do you tell them to cut your cardstock. I have tons of 12″ x 12″ that I am not using because it needs cut up.
YEAH….I am so glad that you found that it is still current…..I am going to look it up (again) and go back and add a link for others!!!! Thank you for your help!!!
OOPS…I hit the wrong button when I left the comment!
I will do another post with specifics on it as this is a HUGE GAME CHANGER for many, especially if you have a ton of paper! You have many options….you could go ahead and have it cut at 4 1/4″ X 11″ for vertical cards or you could have it cut at 8 1/2″ X 5 1/2″ for a good old A-2 Card size….
If you do a bunch of square cards you might also consider having paper cut for you favorite size. Remember to ask exactly what they charge and remember it is usually a set price (per cut) – this is why taking a bunch of paper in is most effective. I have found that most place can easily cut up to 100 sheets – Hope that this helps!
Caleb has been wondering how you can be gone from Eddie so long, and he was excited to hear you mention him this morning! I always enjoy your tips. I purchased the Quickstik a few years ago but I always forget to use it. 🙂 Sharon’s idea is great also. Have a wonderful day today!
Thanks for the tips! I will keep my eyes pealed for a caddy like that in tip #1. I have a quickstick and I like it, but it took me a little while to figure out some of the best ways to make it work for me.
I hope your final week is really super!
Hope to catch you on the flip side!
Cyberhugs!
Pampered Chef still makes that container. I have an older one and it is black. I have often thought of purchasing another one for my tools to use when stamping.
I love your Tip Tuesdays and always find something helpful. I also use Goo Gone and have a small bottle in the craft room upstairs and the laundry room downstairs. It’s always handy for removing labels, etc. I’ll have to put the quickstik on my wish list. Glad things are going well in MS and the weather is great for you and Milo.
I had a small bottle of the Goo Gone – the other member of the household borrowed it and never returned it. OF course now I can’t find where he stashed it. I have a little sticky stuff on my trimmer I need to get off. I wonder if that would be good on Ted’s drool that dries on the furniture?
On a different note, I received my first birthday card and she used the new #IAMBRINGINGBACKBIRTHDAYS (or whatever it says) on the back of the envelope. One of my neighbors works at the post office and she asked me about it. She actually was filling in for our mailman and saw it. I told her about it and she was going to tell the other postal people about it. I guess in a way we are saving their jobs or making more for them to work with anyway! She thought it was a fun idea. She now wants me to make her a birthday card and some others for the other employees. Who knows, maybe I can make her into a new stamping buddy! Now, do I need to splurge and buy that stamp? It looked so fun on the envelope.
Oh, and continued thoughts, prayers and well wishes for Mary Ann H with her surgery today. Wishing a speedy recovery too.
I like several of the people that have responded to your post today started out with they liked something or use something I started laughing the minute I read the words pampered chef because for years sitting on my desk is the same turnaround except mine is black. I know making memories does makes one but it doesn’t have as many compartments as the pampered chef one.
I also use the same QuickCraft tool you notice that the cylinder with the putty in it unscrews like it’s replaceable but I’ve never found anywhere that sell just the filled top.
As for the GooGone I prefer to travel with (and often give as a tiny gift in a card to craft friends,) alcohol prep packets it’s like paper towel and alcohol all in one I can clean scissors or glue off my mat more compact and lightweight.
The one item I would add to your list would be the packet of stampin up clear envelopes (50 what a bargain) you can keep any part or parts of your project in one keeps them clean organize and not lost ! The reseal over and over again plus you can Mail in them!!!!!
I always enjoy your posts thanks for the visit
Millie
In Virginia
Susan thanks for the helpful hints, I need all I can get. I was so excitied yesterday when I picked up my mail …..my box from you was in there.i love ,love it .i have printed off instructions and have my stamps ready…can,t wait to start. Be sure to put my name on the list for next time,I will get your check in the mail.Enjoy all the animals and have a safe trip home.
I see others already set you straight that the Pampered Chef tool turnabout is still available. I suspect it is the crafters that keep that thing rolling over from one catalog to the next.
I just moved so everything is in boxes and piles and piles and boxes and boxes and boxes. I suspect that I’ll still be putting it together in 6 months or so. I enjoyed the tips but what I need right now is someone to just make it all happen. Where is that organization fairy when you need her?!
Susan, I enjoy your “Tips and Tricks”. Thank you.