A CLOSER LOOK

 Here's my desk blotter and most-used items surrounding it.  I recently came up with a way to maximize the stamping area with a very simple product by Crayola.  It's a sheet of thick frosted plastic I got at Hobby Lobby and cut to fit the blotter.  (Sorry, I forget what it's called.)  Underneath, I placed a sheet of SU grid paper which I use to line up my stamping or to center something on a card front.  What a help that is!  As you can see, I keep my Cuttlebug handy on the right since I use it often.

One of my most annoying problems was having to waste time looking for things that got buried under scraps, etc.  Clear acrylic handles were the items "lost" most often.  I used to store all my embossing folders and dies in the top drawer underneath the Cuttlebug; but I moved them elsewhere.  In the front of the drawer, a plastic container holds all my adhesives so that I can put them back as I use them--no more hunting for them on the table!  I just keep that drawer open whenever I'm working.  On the right side of the drawer is a container for my acrylic handles, which you can hardly see--proof of just how easy it is for one of them to "hide" on the table.  Behind those containers is a shallow one to hold incoming cards that need to be answered.

 Having a small space forces me to be more efficient and to purge my supplies often, so bigger is not always better!

DE TOWER DECLUTTERED!

 Compared to previous post, notice the absence of clutter on desk and table tops.  No more piles on the floor, either.  Plus I got all the work done in time to meet Jackie for lunch at Wegman's...

Hope this inspires YOU to start off the New Year with a more orderly creative space!

DECLUTTER DE TOWER!

 Was I busy this Christmas or what????

It's time to put the tower back together, but first I thought I'd give you a tour of the "before."  The first photo was taken from my desk chair toward the closet and Jenny's (my cat) chair.  In the foreground is the edge of my table with a pile of papers on the end.  Next is my desk with the monitor and keyboard.  The waste basket is pulled out from underneath the desk.  In front of it is a stack of 2 plastic containers filled with Christmas stamps, with even more on top.  Behind the waste basket is a box on the floor with a duplicate order that came in on Christmas Eve that I have to return -- like I needed the extra work!  To the right of that on the floor is a pack of printer paper, which belongs in the white cabinet currently blocked by two tote bags.  Behind the chair is the closet, which remained fairly neat, probably because everything I needed is pulled out!  This part of the room shouldn't take long to get back together.  The real challenge is my stamping table area.

The second photo shows my Cuttlebug still open from the last use.  Paper piles in several spots have to be sorted and put away, as well as some punches, stamps and inks.

But first, I need to go downstairs and have my coffee.  See you back here later for the "after" photos!

MODERN CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

I saw a video on YOUtube for making these Christmas Crackers with the Envelope Punch Board, and they couldn't have been easier!  Since our house is a contemporary, I decided to keep the ends pushed in instead of tying ribbons around the narrow parts as is usually done.   They each hold two Lindt truffles and will also serve as place cards for the table setting.  I thought I'd try the less traditional look for a change.

There were lots of versions of these on YOUtube, some large enough to use as small gift boxes.  (Just do a search for Envelope Punch Board.)

BIRTHDAY DEER

Click on the photo to see the glitter on the snow.  I used Star Dust Stickles, and it really glistens the way snow is supposed to!

The birch trees are from a new set I just got in the mail last week from Sweet 'n Sassy.  First I cut down the stamp so that I could use them separately or all together for whatever effect I'm after.  This one is the left 2/3 of the whole stamp.  The deer are from a Memory Box die, which also has another deer with antlers; but I thought these two were a better balance.  In fact, they show up a lot in the headlights around here ;)

The birthday greeting is from a Simon Says Stamp set, and I used Versafine Smokey Grey ink to keep it softer than it would be in black or dark brown.  The twine also came last week, and I love the silver thread running through it.  It's also a bit heavier than bakers twine.

Although it could be a nice Christmas card, this card will go to my son for his birthday on Jan. 8th.

WARMTH AND WONDER

I just love this Hostess Set from SU because it has everything you need for a card, including the inside and outside greetings.  I've already made several cards in different variations and colors, some with emphasis on the tree, some with the deer, and even a background panel with white snow flakes on kraft.

This card started out with sponging the background in Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress inks.  Next I inked up the tree in Versafine Olympia Green and stamped off before stamping the main tree on the card.  Then without reinking, I stamped the tree a second and third time (very faint here.)  The snowflake was inked with Broken China and stamped off before adding to the card.  The tree ornaments were stamped with Encore Champagne Metallic ink.

The reindeer was stamped in dark brown twice:  once on the card base and once on a scrap of white.  After adding the light green overlay, I cut the deer out (minus the antlers) and mounted it over the first one with a piece of  foam tape.  After applying Tombow Mono glue to the greeting , I was able to slide it in place underneath the deer legs to finish the card.

The inside greeting from the same set is stamped in the dark brown.  This set made it soooo easy!

TIP:  Since this is a wood mounted set, I came up with a way to center the ornaments perfectly on the tree.  I turned the ornament stamp upside down on the tree and marked on the side of the wood mount with a pencil line exactly where the tree trunk is.  Now I can line up the dots every time!