Vintage Ribbon and Fabric Storage, and a Fabric Giveaway!

One of my favorite columns to write at work is “Stash It.” Or, as we like to call it around the office, Must Stash It...get it? Mustache It? LOL Good times!

Anyway, this column appears in every Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks special issue, and it’s all about scrapbook organization. The current issue, Scrapbooking Tips & Tricks: Texture, was extra fun to write, because it’s about organizing your textured treats (ribbon, fabric, floss, etc.). These are some of my favorite scrapbooking supplies, both to use and to organize. 

One of the ideas featured in my column was using vintage textile spools to organize your trims. I’ve picked these classic pieces up here and there at consignment and antique shops. They’re surprisingly easy to find. You can even search online at Esty.com and/or eBay.com and find several results. 

Take your trim stash from this...

To this!

Image used with prior consent from Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Simply wrap the trim around the spool and use a small straight pin to hold it in place. Once the spool is full, put it on display to enjoy. 

When it comes to how you approach your spool storage, you have options.

1. Wrap a bunch of various trims on one spool 
2. Wrap your spools by trim type, keeping like types together 
3. Wrap and divide the spools by trim color 

You can also take your fabric scraps from this...

To this, using the same method!

Image used with prior consent from Creating Keepsakes magazine.

For more on organizing your textured stash, including a cool fabric-covered suitcase, I hope you’ll tune into Studio 5 this morning at 11:00 on channel 5 (if you’re in Utah). For those of you out of state, I’ll post a link to the segment soon.

Also, I have a complete step-by-step tutorial for creating the train case on the Creating Keepsakes blog today. Check it out and, while you’re there, enter to win some stunning new Anna Griffin fabric! “Yum” is the best word I can find to describe the awesome assortment we’re giving away. 

I’ll leave you with a question. How do you organize and contain your fabric? I’m getting more and more into this beautiful crafting supply, and I’m always looking for storage solutions. Any ideas you have to share would be much appreciated. :)

Cheers!

Hungry for prizes? Let's talk winner winners!

Someone grab the napkins. I'm serving up a tasty chicken dinner-dinner to two winner-winners!

First, Congrats to my Bravissimo winner, Savannah. Or perhaps bravo is the more appropriate sentiment for this occasion. Savannah, your sweet comment has randomly been selected. Please expect the following brand spankin' new Making Memories goodies soon. :)

Next, in the spirit of giving, I thought I'd send out another Follower Freebie. This box o' creative happiness is going to Ashley.

Cute Ashley, please e-mail me with your full name and mailing address with "Follower Freebie" in the subject line, and I'll get your box sent out. Thanks so much!

Always fun to give a few thing away. Without much more to say today, I'll leave you with this tidbit:

Find joy in the little things today, my friends. Happiness is all around us, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to see it. Thanks for being part of my daily happiness.

Cheers!

The Twenties-Countdown Clock

Let the countdown begin. In one week I will officially be in my thirties. Eep! There are SO many things I thought I’d have done by age 30. And I’m proud to say that I’ve done many of those things. I’m married to the love of my life. I own a lovely (albeit dirty) home. I’ve established a career that I enjoy. I’ve traveled to many amazing places. I have a college degree... and the list goes on. 

BUT...

Yes, there’s naturally a but. There are things I haven’t accomplished.

While I started working on my Masters degree at age 24, a full-time job, a wedding I had to plan (my own), and a severe case of mono all got in the way of me ever finishing it. I had the best intentions that I’d go back to school after I was married. Has that happened? Nope. Can’t help but feel like a failure in this area.

More importantly, I always thought I’d be a mama by age thirty. As you may know, it almost happened (by accident) earlier this year, but that ended sadly last May. 

Now I’m left wondering if my priorities were out of whack. Instead of investing all of that time and energy into my career, a career I love, should I have put more into this goal. It’s one of those things. You know, the “there’s time for that someday” kinds of things. Well, someday is here and I’m left feeling incomplete. Inadequate. Unfulfilled.

Please don’t get me wrong. I KNOW I’M NOT OLD. I know there’s still time to be a mom. And I’m proud of where I am in life. I treasure my life with Cory. I think it’s really fun that I get to see my name published on a monthly basis. I get a kick out of the silly TV segments I do. I value my family and friends SO much. And I think I do an alright job dealing with the frustrations of having narcolepsy (somedays are better than others, of course). 

So, why is it that I still feel like I’ve done something wrong? There’s only one of me, after all. I can’t be all things to all people. Heck, I can’t even be all things to all me. I’ve done what I can with the life that I have. And I’m happy with the life that I have. Is it because I put these pre-established expectations on myself YEARS ago, before I was even old enough to know what life really is that these thoughts haunt me now? Perhaps. I just wish I could get past the self-set timeline and admire who I am as an almost-thirty-year-old woman without those “but you should have also done...” in the background. 

I know, this is a little on the deep side for my usually crafty blog. These are just the things bouncing around in my head as the clock continues to tick, and I thought sharing might help me sort them out. We’ll see if it works. In the meantime... 

Tick tock. Tick tock. Someone please silence that twenties countdown clock!

Cheers! 

Medallions and a Making Memories Giveaway! Mmmmm!

This is my 200th blog post! And it's Valentine's Day ta boot. Sounds like two very good reasons to host a giveaway to me. Do you agree? Good! Because I have an assortment of the brand new (and awesome) Bravissimo products from Making Memories to give to one lucky winner. Woot!

This giveaway is part of the Studio 5 segment I did today, which was all about medallions.

Like that? You can watch more of my segments on the Creating Keepsakes website. Thanks for your interest and support!

Now, here's how to make your own medallion base (the fluffy back part).

1. Cut a strip of flexible material (paper, fabric, crepe paper, burlap, felt, etc.) into a 1" x 12" strip.

2. Knot the end of a string several times, and run a basting strip along the bottom edge of the material.

3. Pull the fabric tight along the string to form the medallion shape.

4. With the medallion shape formed, stitch the two ends together and snip any excess thread. With that, you have your medallion base. Now it's just a matter of adding a delightful center.

Here are a few things you can make from a medallion base:

A medallion card

A medallion banner

A medallion gift bag.

A medallion gift bag (would also look cute on an Easter basket).

A medallion wreath, good for Valentine's Day or any other day of the year!

Medallion treats, made using my new cotton candy machine. Yum!

I hope these ideas get you in the medallion mood. For a chance to win the Bravissimo line from Making Memories, please leave a comment between now and this Friday, Sat 19. I'll randomly select a winner from the comments received.

Cheers!
Megan

A special card-making poem by my own dear mama!

I seriously have the cutest mom around. Not only is she my biggest fan, attending all of my local boutiques and classes (even when they’re repeats), but she’s also a talented poet. Last Valentine’s Day she sent me a handmade Valentine with this poem included. It’s the best poem I’ve ever read, and I've been waiting a year to share it with you. If this doesn’t get you in the mood to create love notes, I don’t know what will. Enjoy! :)

Dear Megan,

I’ve used my Stampin’ Write Markers, 

And squeezed my squeezin’ punch.

I employed fussy cuttin’,

And used brads by the bunch.

I peeled and adhered 3D foam squares, 

Pulled out “Click-n-Sticks” for a mile,

And sorted out perfect cardstock,

From a multi-colored pile. 

I spared no painstaking effort, 

Applying rub-ons and my stick of glue.

All of my supplies were “archival safe,”

And, of course, “acid free” too!

My stamps of hearts and flowers, 

Adorned with colors, rare. 

From clever, fold-up ink pads,

That I used with a great deal of care. 

Pretty ribbons and lovely self-adhesives,

Took their special place, 

So each had an eye-catching style,

Of flow, and flair, and grace. 

I was extremely proud and happy,

When my Valentine production was through.

I’d used techniques learned from an expert,

At the classes I took from you!

Love, 

Mom

Isn't she amazing? I sure think so! Love you, Schmom! 

Cheers!