Tags for a Mission

Each summer my sweet Sistah Felecia Foster goes on a mission trip.  This summer she is traveling to Ghana West Africa.  Felecia is going to several schools so I made 100 tags for the children so they can have a little inspiration for their books.  I managed my paper scraps by pulling out those pads that were almost empty.  What made it exciting was using scriptures and words of inspiration decorating the front and an additional scripture on the back.  I pulled out die cuts, ribbon, lace, chipboard, punches, embellishments, ink and stamps.

Close ups

Close ups.  I made over 25 of the one in the middle for the boys with burlap.

Just imagine the difference we can make with a Boys and Girls club, Vacation Bible School or camp right in our own city.  Are you considering using your crafty ideas to help a group this summer?

It's Summer Time!  Let's share our talent and creativity.
Princess

Organization works when you're in a hurry!

I came across this pastel paper pad by K&Company and all I had left were a few stickers and die cuts.  The patterned paper on the front and back cover of this mini is from the cover page of the paper pad.  I used it's entirety!  I used all the die cuts on each page.  What helped me with the rest is that all my embellishments were organized by color so I went straight to each bag and pulled it all together.  

I'm working on some organization tips.  Before I go to another project I clean my area.  When I've just about used all my embellishments, I may have a few left.  Instead of putting it in the package I color code everything.  It makes it easy to find and put together especially when I'm making mini albums.

 The purple rosette lace was already cut and fit just nicely on the page.

Look at all the tags for photos and journaling.  I even added a strip to make a border...No paper left behind.

 Look at the pink fiber...My last from my Webster Pages stash.  It fit perfect on the flap.

 The pink rattles are so old I can't begin to tell you how long it's been, but it found a place on the pages.

 And my last stash of lavender lace fiber by Recollections.  Let it go and use it up!

Do you have a system or organization tip you practice when you need to create a project in a hurry?  I would love to hear it, because I have several impromptu request and could use the advice.

Come on and help a Sistah out!

Managing the Unmanageable

As we reminiscence about the past year in our crafting,  we remember some of our successful and some not so successful (that was our thought) projects. Now as we contemplate the new year, we will probably continue to make some affirmations about what we want to do for the new year to come. Will we continue to craft the same way? Will we venture down different roads in our crafting?  Needless to say, for myself, there is still an area in my crafty life that will still demand some attention.  That is the management of my piles of paper scraps.

I am resolved to continue to get this under my control. So I will also continue to search for more ways to achieve this goal.  In line with that, my project for this month involves using up come of those scraps.  I was inspired by another crafter to use these scraps on a scrapbook layout.  The layout resembles a quilt so I guess you can call it Scrap-Quilt. I used strips of paper scraps and layered them on a solid piece of cardstock.  Then I added my picture and embellishments. I think the layout turned out great!  

I love the effect. What do you think?

Here are some other suggestions on managing those scraps:

1. Purge your piles of scraps by donating to a local schools' art department

2. Eliminate scraps that are smaller than a certain size( for example smaller than 2 in.)

3. Set aside a day when you can  create die-cuts with the scraps that you will use later on your projects

If you have any suggestions for managing scraps, please share them with us.  Happy scrapping!