Happy September 1st everyone!

Today is the first day of the last quarter of the year, so I thought it was time for me to review the crafting resolutions I had set out for myself to complete at the beginning of the summer here in this June post.

I'm definitely blogging lots more, playing along with blog hops and blog card challenges for sure.

2015 Crafting Resolutions - I'm in catch up mode when it comes to learning the latest trends in techniques, product uses and layout stylistic designs. The following are trends that I'm dying to try!

1. No Line Stamping using watercolors. 
2. Bokeh Technique. 
3. Use Gelatos. (Need to purchase from Michael's with a coupon.)
4. String Circular accent. 
5. Ombre stamping. 
6. Paper Piece Stamping.
7. Slanted / Askew bottom / top border. Done, but would like to try different versions. 
8. Speech bubble top border. (Need to purchase speech border die from Cat's Pajamas.) 
9. Create 5 different cards from SU From the Herd. (1 out of 5 done.) 
10. Create 5 different cards from SU Fifth Avenue.  (1 out of 5 done.)
11. Stacked nesting dies. Done.
12. Watercolor background. Done, but still need to keep practicing. 
13. Use sequins. Done.
14. Use same stamp for focal point with color and in subtle background.
15. Use sweet animals, in addition to recreating Far Cry (video game) themed elephant!
16. Watercolor medium for coloring in flowers/roses. Done.
17. Continue using up Swap Returns. 
18. Continue using up cardstock/patterned paper scraps. 
19. Create home made project kits to use up pre-owned embellishments/papers/stamps. 
20. Participate in at least one virtual stamping event at SCS. Done.

Looks like I've got half of them done and have another 10 to go.

I need to add one more resolution though, since I bought a new stamp set and need to resolve to make at least 5 cards with that.

    21.  Create 5 different cards with Tim Holtz Bird Crazy stamps and dies. (2 out of 5 done)

Can't believe Fall is upon us already.

Here are my previous blogging and crafting resolutions from January 2011.  I've gone back to edit that blog post with a status update for each targeted item as of June 2015.

And now for the remainder of 2015, here's what I'd like to aim for.

2015 Blogging Resolutions

1. Consistently blog at least 1x per week. Life will indeed interfere, so scheduling completed blog entries ahead of time is the only way to ensure I can consistently fulfill this resolution. I've currently relied on scheduling future drafts about 40% of the time, so I will need to increase this. 
2. Create a repetitive event, such as my Throwback Thursdays, for additional blogging topics. Going forward, I plan on doing CASEing features since I need creative mojo and it supports my resolution to craft more.  
3. Participate in 2-3 mfg sponsored blog hops so I can hopefully win free product! :) 
4. Participate in 2-3 blog challenge sites to meet/be inspired by other crafters and to draw visitors to my own blog. 

Karen Salmansohn

2015 Crafting Resolutions - I'm in catch up mode when it comes to learning the latest trends in techniques, product uses and layout stylistic designs. The following are trends that I'm dying to try!

1. No Line Stamping using watercolors. 
2. Bokeh Technique. 
3. Use Gelatos. (Need to purchase from Michael's with a coupon.)
4. String Circular accent. 
5. Ombre stamping. 
6. Paper Piece Stamping.
7. Slanted / Askew bottom / top border. Done, but would like to try different versions. 
8. Speech bubble top border. (Need to purchase speech border die from Cat's Pajamas.) 
9. Create 5 different cards from SU From the Herd.
10. Create 5 different cards from SU Fifth Avenue. 
11. Stacked nesting dies. Done.
12. Watercolor background. Done, but still need to keep practicing. 
13. Use sequins. Done.
14. Use same stamp for focal point with color and in subtle background.
15. Use sweet animals, in addition to recreating Far Cry (video game) themed elephant!
16. Watercolor medium for coloring in flowers/roses. Done.
17. Continue using up Swap Returns. 
18. Continue using up cardstock/patterned paper scraps. 
19. Create home made project kits to use up pre-owned embellishments/papers/stamps. 
20. Participate in at least one virtual stamping event at SCS. Done.

Now I can finally throw away my much scribbled upon post it note!

Tall order for the next 6 months, but what are resolutions if it doesn't light a fire under one's butt to get moving? I'll have to really plan ahead to dig out the supplies I know I have for my crafting resolutions.

Thanks for visiting!



 

Happy 1-1-11 Everyone!!

I've been skimming 2Peas lately and came across a thread about setting blogging resolutions in addition to scrapping ones which I thought was a fabulous topic!! Since I'm trying to return from a 1.5+ year hiatus, it's certainly good timing for me to make some specific goals to accomplish this coming year.

( See my responses in red bold for my June 2015 status update on each of the resolution items.)

2011 Blogging Resolutions

1) Simplify the look and organize the content of my blog (3 to 2 columns, less graphics to reduce busy look, utilize "Pages" feature, etc.). DONE!!  I've actually learned so much about blogger templates and html coding during many long frustrating nights due to attempting several graphic styles, blogger templates and gadget customization.  It's definitely been a super fun and personally satisfying relationship. I'm pretty satisfied with my current clean and modern look on my blog. 

2) Blog at least 1x per week - Eek! that means I need to actually create! lol One blog entry a week is still my goal.  Life will always happen but scheduling posts ahead of time is definitely the only way I can accomplish at least one blog entry a week consistently.  That means making sure to schedule crafting time frequently to ensure I do make time for it.

3) Learn how to create polished and professional video tutorials so I can showcase more technique and creative tutorials. This desire has waned since I don't have any new knowledge, tips, etc to share due to my 4 year crafting hiatus. Admittedly, I'm in major catch up mode by learning the current hot trends in techniques, styles and use of products right now.  Thus, I have no desire to dedicate time, space and monetary resources to set this up.  

4) Create a proper light box so that I can showcase my work beautifully instead of photographing in my office underneath florescent lights which is my current method.  I never was happy with my various lamp set ups at home, but found my best results photographing under my former office's flourescent lights after hours. Currently, I'm thankful that my old DSLR is still more than adequate as I now am staging my projects outside by the pool in the afternoons. So far, I'm pretty happy with my results. 

5) Schedule posts ahead of time on the weekends so I have time to take pics, photoshop them and draft/proof my posts.  DONE!!  See responses for #2 and #4 above. 

6) Feature a biweekly organizational topic because that'll get me moving in the direction I want with my scrap area organization project.  My crafting supplies, etc., is currently in storage.  I have, however, pulled out a small amount of basic supplies to play with in the meantime.  My intent is to rotate through my supplies every now and then when time permits for variety.   I'll return to this task in depth when I set up my scrap room in new housing.

Now that I'm no longer bound to DT deadlines, I really want to keep it simple so I can really enjoy my paper crafting hobby while maintaining a balance with my other interests, i.e. yoga, fooding, reading, movie going, spending time with friends and family, etc. in addition to more rest. As sacrilegious as it sounds, I'm not interested in living and breathing scrapping every moment of my free time.

2011 Scrapping Resolutions

1) Use as many of my stamps/stamp sets at least ONCE in 2011 or it gets purged by the end of the year. Remains a goal.  See my new Crafting Goals for 2015.

2) Use as many of dies/punches/tools at least ONCE in 2011. Specifically, pull out my Cricut bug and figure out how to use it. The carts seem easy enough, but I really want to begin using SCAL formatted files. Is this a good time to mention that I've had my cricut for 2+ years and I've never used it? Remains a goal.  See my new Crafting Goals for 2015.

3) Cut down in my existing patterned paper/cardstock stash. DONE! Have only used what papers I have, especially scraps. See my new Crafting Goals for 2015.

I'm really looking forward to making as many cards as possible which will be an enjoyable way to use up my existing supplies (and accomplish #1-3 of my Scrapping Resolutions) to donate to From Our Hearts for which I've become quite fond of supporting.  DONE! Have contributed 1726 cards thus far to From Our Hearts for our Troops using all of my SU Demo Swap Card Fronts, Swap returns, Class Kit Materials and existing cardstock/patterned paper scraps. I've since begun participating in a new Cause for Cards with the Ronald McDonald House collection effort. 

4) Finish at least ONE of the altered book projects I've accumulated from various conventions/CKU, etc. type of events. (I'm cringing about this one as I type this, so I can tell this one will indeed be a challenge. Thankfully, I have 364 days to attempt this.) I don't think I ever was a fan of altered projects, so I'm tabling this for now. My enthusiasm seems to be for cards at the moment, so I'm going to indulge what makes me happy for now. 

5) Continue with my NO BUY policy which isn't that hard since I have pretty much accomplished this the past 2 years. (I'm so well stocked even in adhesives, lol, so I need no caveats.) However, this may prove difficult this year since I've just discovered My Favorite Things. I'm absolutely in love with their Pure Innocence and A La Modes stamps and their Die-namtic dies. I'll admit that I fell off the bandwagon recently and got a few items with some ebay money during their Black Friday and End of Year Sales. I haven't loved so much from one company in a long time since discovering Stampin' Up! almost 10 years ago which really says alot about MFT. :)  My desire is to really start using all the tools I do have and I have finally begun to do so.  It just doesn't make sense to keep purging items that I never even got to enjoy! However, I'm currently in love with Reverse Confetti and possibly Lil Inker's.  I realize the rest of the crafting world has gone to electronic cutting, but I'm still a thin die addict! Since there's so much significantly less to purchase in the industry these days, I'm fine with adding a few dies to my collection now and then. But the difference has been that I'm actually using rather than just collecting. 

6) Participate in least 2 challenges per month as that'll get my mojo going as well as facilitate a return to interacting with existing and new friends in the scrapping community again. :)  DONE! When I am crafting, challenges are usually the first place I go to to get my mojo going.  It's also fun to see what others have done and to be inspired. 

Yep, it's definitely time to stop feeling overwhelmed and dealing with how much I have, i.e. purging, etc, and start actually ENJOYING my things by creating and playing again. :)

Coming from ground zero, and considering I'm a slow scrapper with a full time job where I work an average of 10+ hours per day with a 2.5-3 hour daily round trip commute, I think the above 12 resolutions will indeed be quite a challenge for me.

Hmm, 12 Resolutions for the next 12 months. Doable wouldn't you say?

I sure hope so!