INCOMING...OUTGOING

It seems that sending and receiving HAPPY MAIL is the new"right now". What used to be called just  "RAKS"(random acts of kindness) is now happily referred to as either "incoming" or "outgoing" - mail that is.  While doing my usual perusing for creative inspiration, I found a tutorial for a happy mail holder. It resembles a brochure-type folder that can hold all your creative goodies.  I think it puts a creative and interesting twist on sending out goodies to others.  Once you see how versatile this project is, you will never send out happy mail the same again.  Here's how I created my holder:

1. Cut 2 pieces of cardstock to an 81/2 x 11 size( of course you can create you own personal size)

                                       

2. Place the pieces of card stock together and fold in a brochure-type fashion by folding one side into the other. Use a bone folder to make a crisp fold and to make sure the pieces fit snugly together.

ETA:  Choose a solid card stock for the inside and a patterned piece for the outside.

3. Next, take the inside piece( the solid piece) and make cuts for pockets to hold your goodies. You can make these cuts according to the sizes of the items you will include in the holder.

The cuts are marked with the small clips.  Again, you can make your cuts to your own choosing.

4. Now, adhere the inside piece to the outer piece using adhesive of your choice.  Remember not to glue the cuts or pockets together.  You are finished with the construction, so now you can decorate your holder as you wish.  Your happy mail is ready to be sent on its way.

For added appeal and to hold everything together, why not create a belly band.

(JanetteLane.blogspot.com has the original tutorial)

*HAPPY MAILING*

Planners, Planners, Planners

Since I have become a planner addict, I am putting my craft tools to good use.  I have been using both my Silhouette and Cricut Explore to create sticker images to go in my planners. I am working in two planners right now.  This one:
                                   

I found this one at Target. It is a weekly/monthly Mead planner.  I love the design of it but the construction is not the best.  Some of the pages are tearing apart at the binding.  I think they put too many pages in it.  Nonetheless, I'm going to work with it.  The other planner is this one:

                                           

I got this planner at Walmart.  I like the size and also the format of this one.  

Now as I was saying, I'm putting to good use my cutting machines to help decorate my planners.  

I guess you can call me a planner addict for right now.   I'm really loving being in the planner world.

2015 Monthly Photo Journal

A while back I created a book that I never got to use.  Since I am quite proud of this creation, I decided to use it as a photo journal for 2015.  I constructed it using heavy brown cardstock and binded it using white wires.  Here are the first few pages of the journal and the cover:

I also used a variety of pockets and other embellishments.  I love the way this turned out.  

New Year...New Beginnings

So, it's 2015 already.  What have I been up to?  Well, craftiness as usual.  Last night I fell in love with my Silhouette (print and cut) again.  I printed gobs of images for my planner.  Yes, that's right I said planner.  I have been bitten by the planner bug and it is AWESOME.  So here is a look at what I did: (you can also follow me on Instagram for posts)

Next, I got busy in my planner and Midori notebook.  I think journaling is going to be my new 2015 go-to craft.  I use to hate to journal but now that you can be more creative and personal with journaling, the art form has taken on a new interest for me.  So follow with me to see if I can keep this up.  And by all means, FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM!

Planner Review

There is a saying that if you Fail to Plan, you Plan to fail.  Well, I don't plan to fail but I do want to plan.  So I decided to join in the planner frenzy.  After watching quite a few planner videos and following some awesome crafters on Instagram,  I just had to give it  at least a fighting chance. ( Me and planners don't really get along)But since I have kept up with the Hobinichi journal as well as the documented life planner, I may be able to pull this off.  We will see.  At any event, I saw a review for the Target sugar paper planners so I took a trip to Target.  After I saw them in person, I was not impressed by these planners. Don't get me wrong, they are very fancy but not what I wanted.  Then I saw a Mead planner and I really like the layout of this.  As I was browsing, I saw a journal that had an impressive cover.  My planner however was too large to fit it.  But I purchased the journal anyway in hopes that I would sew my own cover following that pattern.  Well, this weekend I took a trip to my sister's and while we were out browsing around, I found another cover and guess what????????  It was similar to the one I purchased to mimic and it fit my planner.  So, of course, I snatched it up and plan to take the other one back.  Now here is my 2015 planner and a few pages that are already prepped and ready to go.

I put my trusted Cricut Explore to work and used the print then cut feature to create most of the images.

Soup's On

It is cold and rainy here in South Carolina. So I decided to make a big pot of soup. Here are my ingredients:

1 can of rushed or diced tomatoes
1 can of tomato soup
1 can of tomato paste
2 cans of tomato sauce
1 can is mixed vegetables
1 rotisserie chicken

  Add all the ingredients plus some water and seasoning. Tear pieces of your chicken and add to the mixture. I let mine cook in a crock pot until ready. Don't use leftover chicken parts like I did because I ended up picking out tiny bones. LOL

Since I had way to much for my daughter and me, I decided to share with family and friends.

I recycled some jars that once held spaghetti sauces.  I decided to dress them up a bit by creating some labels.

I even went a step further and packaged them all up neat and tidy.

I hope the recipients like it.

Pocket full of memories

Recently I found an awesome crafter while  surfing my Facebook news feed.  I was then directed to her Instagram page and OMG, she is awesome when it comes to pocket scrapbooking.  Granted, I tried the Project Life route when it first became "the thing" in scrapbooking.  But for some reason I lost interest in that.  So when I found this inspiration, my interest was renewed.  So one of my new year resolutions is to rethink this art form.  I  had already purchased some of the WeR memory keepers albums made easy systems so I have all I need to get started.  For my post this month, I completed two pocket pages showcasing my summer vacation in Wisconsin.  I plan to share more on my blog starting in January so be on the look out.  Thank you Shelley Chavous for the inspiration.