As I lay here (in bed unable to sleep), I’m thinking hard about the fact that I am four subscribers away from 5,000.  I never thought I would see 1,000, let alone 5,000.  It is absolutely amazing and surreal.  Seriously, what were the odds that people would be interested in watching me say and  do really quirky things.  And yet they are, and growing by the day.  To say I am honored is not even close to what I am feeling.  Rich and I are so proud of the channel and of its future.  As it continues to grow, I am more and more energized by it, and ultimately what it can do for people like myself and others.  A lot of people don’t know that my channel isn’t monetized.  That means I don’t make money from it.  I won’t change that in the future either, as I want everyone to know that if I like a product, it’s because I like it, not because someone else is paying me to say so.  I don’t want anyone to wonder why I would recommend something, and hope that if they do, they will ask.

I hate watching advertisements on other sites and know you must as well, so (and I don’t think it happens), you shouldn’t see any ads on my channel.  I love thinking I control that, and can stop any advertising from popping up, but really, I’m not sure if YouTube can just put ads on my videos or not.  I’m just not really up on those topics, sorry, maybe I’ll figure that one out somehow.   YouTube doesn’t have a place where I can call or email them with questions..They reserve that right to the big YouTubers, people with probably 6,000 subscribers.  Seriously,  I think it might be in the hundreds of thousands before they give you a contact number, so there’s a good chance I won’t ever have a key to Emerald City for answers.  I never really watched The Wizard of Oz the whole way through (too scared of the monkeys), so I’m not even sure if my reference made sense.  That, and it’s after 1AM and I’m still typing.

So I’m going to go to bed and wonder if tomorrow when I wake up, will the channel have over 5,000 subscribers.  It will be a big day for us if it is, so we’ll probably go crazy and buy a new home with a craft room the size of my current home, or maybe instead, I’ll go to the doctor and get the stitches out of my head from a little surgery I had.  No, not to try and push more brains in there, but wouldn’t that be cool…

For those of you who have been with me for almost two years, bless you.  And for anyone new to the channel, hang around, you never know what I have in store for you, but whatever it is, I hope we have fun.

I finally took the time to write my idea for the Make a Difference Day help for the hurricane victims on facebook.  I should have written it out before, but don’t know why I didn’t.  It’s out there now and I’m wide open for ideas.

So that’s the one thing I accomplished today, oh, and I de-fairy dusted my sun room.  If you haven’t read yesterday’s blog, my cousin Shelli, her friend Linda and I made fairy gardens.  We made quite the glittery, mossy fairy mess, and it was so much fun.  I wouldn’t have two great videos from it and a great idea for the beginning of the video if not for Shelli and Linda.  Shelli asked Rich when he was videotaping the three of us for the opening of each video,  if he could possibly insert Farrah Fawcett circa 1970’s over her face and body.  At that point in the day, I was so hot and sweaty, that I’m sure I look like a lunatic, but maybe I might be Jacyln Smith or Kate (sorry forgot the last Angel’s name) Jackson.  I had to look it up as that was just not right that I forgot her name.  So I envision the opening segment of the video with us in that infamous pose where one is pointing her fingers like a gun to the left and another pointing their gun fingers to the right and one pointing gun fingers directly ahead.  I thought that was THE photo of them.  So I looked it up online and this is what I found…https://www.pinterest.com/pin/13018286398593096/

What the heck is that?  I don’t remember them actually praying, do you?  It blew my mind.  So I kept searching and never found a picture of the three of them doing “The Pose” as I’ll call it.  And why is Jaclyn Smith wearing a bikini while the other two are fully dressed?  That’s one odd photo and such a disappointment.  Now there’s no way Shelli, Linda and I can be superimposed with the original angels because we’d have to fight to see who would be the one willing to be the bikini angel…hey, after the age of fifty, that bikini idea is off the table.  (Ok, I’ve never actually worn a bikini, but I’m not going to be superimposed with one now.) haha….And now you know what I think about when I’m supposed to be doing my part to upload videos.   Practicing my gun finger pose, no, but thinking about it.

I watched a video by Little Hot Tamale and it inspired me to create my own matchbook notepads. Here’s her video in case you’d like to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBtwvfDYVnQ

I keep track of videos I watch in a journal and will link that video to the end. For some reason, I thought this video was older, but didn’t realize it’s a pretty recent video.

I used my own measurements and changed things to accomodate the papers I bought at Joanns. They were on sale for 10 for $2 and every sheet had several pieces you could cut to create the front of your matchbook. Many of you know I’m a huge Halloween fan and am trying to help others with fun ideas for classrooms for Halloween. A friend is doing a fundraiser and I wanted to donate some things, and these are fast and easy to make.

I used ten pieces of typing paper cut to 7 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ wide and fold them in half. If once you fold them in half, you have any edges that stick out, trim them with your paper scissors.

For the outside, you will cut it 8 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ then score it on the 8 3/4″ side score at 3/4″ and 5″ but be careful scoring trying to make sure you don’t push so hard that you crack your paper. Fold the 3/4″ score up and the 5″ score down, so it looks like a matchbook. I used an electric stapler (as I don’t have the strength to staple without it through this depth of paper.) Use your bone folder on the typing paper and really press that fold as thin as possible. Use the bone folder on both sides (flip it over), so you make that stack as thin as possible near the top so you can staple through them.

I used an Infoguard electric stapler that I think I bought at Walmart for my stapling.

Put your folded papers into the bottom where the 3/4″ fold is, and center the 10 folded papers with the fold edge down into the bottom and use your stapler and staple on the bottom with two staples. I didn’t like the way the backs of my staples stuck up, and worried people would catch the staple on their clothes, so I used pliers and squeezed the staples so they were flat on the back.
I cut the papers from Joanns down so they would fit on the front of my matchbook, but not so it’s sentiment might be lost under the bottom flap. I used tape runner and wet glue to apply my image, then used a brayer to ensure it was well adhered. I liked the idea of adding washi tape to the flap on the bottom so it would cover the staples and look like the thing you strike a match on. I used two layers on front and back to make sure the staples would be able to be well covered.

Please make some of these and share them on my facebook page, crafting for almost everyone, as I’d love to see what others are making.

I have to say that today was a really great crafting day.  My cousin Shelly, and her girlfriend Linda, came and we made fairy gardens.  It was so funny, because I kept calling it the wrong thing, probably at least ten times, and Shelly kept saying fairy garden, and then I immediately called it something else again.  Rich has so much editing to do because I just couldn’t get the name straight and we had to repeat and repeat….in the end, Shelly and Linda both made fantastic fairy gardens (geez, now I’m wondering if I’m calling it the wrong thing again–I’m crazy, or at least a little bit certifiable.)  Let’s go with fairy garden until you hear otherwise.

I decided to make a wreath with fairy components and it definitely wasn’t as cute as the other two, but in the end, we had three complete fairy projects to share….But, that wasn’t enough craftiness, so I talked them into doing Christmas wreaths and we think we will be putting them on family graves.  So Shelly (who just lost her step father this year) made one for his grave and I made mine for my parents.  I know it’s not something you get really excited about, but it’s a fact of life, and honoring the family that have passed before us is important, so we did our best.

Poor Linda was such a great sport during the wreath making, because Shelly and I wanted bigger bows on our wreaths than my bow jig would make, so we convinced, coerced, volunteered, whatever you want to call it, Linda, into being a human bow jig.  I did record Linda and her bow jig skills which where impressive, but was disappointed that I couldn’t capture the amount of glitter that ended up covering her from head to toe after her bow jiggery….Yes, that is a new term and I’m sticking with it, so don’t try and change my mind.

I keep saying I’m going to make a complete dictionary of terms that I use and often make up, but I’d have to re-watch almost (or maybe more than) 300 videos, to compile my dictionary, and I just don’t have it in me.   I do think it’s funny that people like the words I use, and now I’m starting to see more of my vocabulary come up in comments.  There is no greater honor than having your crazy words repeated back to you. Of course this in my opinion, and as for this commentary, since I’m the only one typing, my opinion is all that matters.

So as the day comes to a close, I’ve got two terrific videos in the bag, had a great time, got to know a new and lovely woman, and spent time with a great friend/relative.  Oh, even Aggie and Honey got in the videos as Aggie was laying beside Shelly’s wreath, completely oblivious to what was going on, and Honey was on the other side of the dog gate, looking completely forlorn, as she was just a little bit too distracting to be allowed in the craft area.  Bella was in our living room, on our dog-proofed couch, laying upside down, sound asleep…no need to say more, a great day was had by all, ok, except Honey.

 

 

Today was a big day for me.  Rich pulled all of his things out of the closet in my craft room so now I shouldn’t have any more excuses as to why I’m so disorganized.  While he was doing that, I was going through a ton of things in our basement, trying to organize the things I want to donate to the hurricane victims, as well as prepare for my cousin’s visit tomorrow.

I’m really excited as Shelly and I had so much fun last time we crafted together, and this time she’s bringing a friend with her, Linda.  Shelly has ideas she’d like to tackle and I don’t think her project will take very long.  After hers though, I want to surprise them both by making Christmas wreaths.  I bought several and have tons of embellishments for them.  They can make them for their homes, their families, or for cemeteries, and we will probably have a mix of all three.  I plan on making mine for my parent’s graves, as I’ve never put anything on them for Christmas and think it’s about time I did.  Shelly just lost her step-father this year, so she might want to make one for that grave as well.  We probably won’t talk about what we’re doing with the wreaths when we are on camera, as I don’t want this to be a downer for anyone, but it is a fact of life, and eventually, we all come to the stage where we do these kinds of things…

Shelly wants to play with the Tableau of Terror stamp that I used last Halloween as she really liked it.  I promised her we could make cards with it and I’m a woman of my word.

She also has a secret project that she wants to surprise Linda with, and I’m looking forward to helping her create this, as I think it’s something a lot of my viewers have made, or may want to make in the future, so it should be a fun video.  I always love crafting with someone else and it’s especially fun with family and friends.  I’m hoping we have three videos to show for our afternoon’s efforts and that everyone gets something new out of them.  I know I’ll be learning a new craft tomorrow and am really looking forward to it.

I spent the day today finishing interviews at the college Rich and I attended.  It’s something that I always really look forward to doing, and the accounting students get their jobs for Spring 2018, in the next few weeks, so this is really crunch time for them.  I love seeing their determination and ambition, and am really proud of the college we attended, so Rich and I do as much as we can to support them.  After all, we wouldn’t have each other if we hadn’t met, and if Rich hadn’t been failing accounting, then he wouldn’t have had me for a tutor, and the rest as they say, is history.  The head of the accounting and business department, always takes credit for our marriage and it’s success, as he’s the one that let me pick who I wanted to tutor.  Of course, I wasn’t any dummy, I chose all good looking guys….Ok, I chose a couple good looking guys, but had my heart set on one after spending a lot of time studying with him.

Our school was pretty small, but it was a close knit community of people, and Rich and I are still in contact with our college friends.  We’re having dinner with at least four of Rich’s friends this week and my friends get together as often as possible, and take trips together every few years.  It doesn’t seem like 36 years since we’ve been together–it feels almost like yesterday (until I look at our gray hair), and realize we might not be 19 anymore…(darn it.)

 

I’m feeling very optimistic about the initial feedback that I’m getting from people and their desire to help the people affected by the storms in the South. I don’t really know what to expect for participation, but I know that my viewers will come through for people and I’m very happy about it.

I have to clean my craft room as Rich is tearing everything out of the closet so I can expand into that space.  I guess it’s not too bad, only taking up an additional closet after two years, but I do feel kind of guilty about it.

My cousin Shelly and one of her friends, Linda, are coming over to craft with me on Saturday and I’m really looking forward to it.  That means between now and then, my craft room has to be at least passable.  It can’t be it’s normal freak show of organization, so I have roughly two days to get things in order.  I don’t know what that means to others, but for me it means that I can walk through the room and there’s nothing stopping me.  That sounds so horrible, but it’s because of my lack of available space and once the closet is mine, that problem will be solved as well.  Hopefully on Saturday, they won’t run screaming out of the room, although I’m not saying it’s not a possibility.

Tomorrow is my last day for interviewing the college seniors in accounting from the college Rich and I attended.  I have six interviews which isn’t a lot, but enough to really be exhausting.  I’ll definitely be ready to come home when the last one is finished.  In the mean time, I need to stop procrastinating and get into my craft room and clean.  No more excuses.

My haul from Aliexpress has some fun things in it and I thought I’d share a card and my thoughts on the hurricanes and floods that have affected different parts of the country and that I would like help.

Below are the links to the dies I bought:

Christmas tree dies https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3Pcs-Christmas-Tree-Metal-Cutting-Dies-for-DIY-Scrapbooking-Photo-Album-Stamping-Decorative-Paper-Card-Die/32798790646.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.St8DxZ

Tree Set that I make the card with : https://www.aliexpress.com/item/110-140mm-Tree-Cutting-Dies-Scrapbooking-Metal-Cutting-and-Pressing-Dies-DIY-Decorations-Embossing-Art-Cake/32813481837.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.St8DxZ

Star Christmas tree https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Star-Tree-Metal-Cutting-Dies-Scrapbooking-Embossing-Dies-Cut-Stencils-Xmas-DIY-Cards/32825366410.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.Cs2IbS

7 pc flower set https://www.aliexpress.com/item/7Pcs-Set-Flower-Circles-Metal-Cutting-Dies-Stencils-For-DIY-Scrapbook-Decorative-Embossing-Craft-High-Quality/32795777568.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.Cs2IbS

4 pc snowflakes https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4pcs-Christmas-Snowflake-Cutting-Dies-Stencils-for-DIY-Scrapbooking-photo-album-Decorative-Embossing-Hand-Craft-Cutting/32745450710.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.nQjZ95

2 pc flower die set https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Metal-Cutting-Dies-Stencil-DIY-Scrapbooking-Embossing-Album-Paper-Card-Craft-hot-sales-cuts-craft/32815220116.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.nQjZ95

Sun die no longer available from the vendor I bought it from.

Daisy bookmark die https://www.aliexpress.com/item/48-106mm-Daisy-Flower-Frame-New-Metal-Cutting-Dies-Embossing-Scrapbooking-Stencil-Craft-Cut-Dies-For/32825734630.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.dzjMPN

Big Frame Die https://www.aliexpress.com/item/ZLDECOR-Cute-Frame-Metal-Cutting-Dies-Stencils-for-DIY-Scrapbooking-photo-album-Decorative-Embossing-DIY-Paper/32824485821.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.dzjMPN

Lined die https://www.aliexpress.com/item/102-133mm-cross-stripe-Scrapbooking-DIY-Metal-steel-cutting-dies-Stencil-Book-photo-album-card-Embossing/32821639142.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.dzjMPN

I wanted everyone to know that I am serious about trying to help people affected by the recent storms and am working with others toward that end. I don’t have any specific plans right now, as we are working through the logistics of such an undertaking, but will be getting more information out to everyone as soon as I do. Pleasek keep our friends in Texas and Florida and up the coast, in your thoughts and prayers as I will. I know we can make a difference, it’s just a matter of figuring out how.

Today, Rich built a shelf for me to put all of my paper trimmers, MISTI and Stamp Perfect on.  I love it.  It makes me so happy to have something small, but so stress relieving checked off of my to do list (ok, Rich’s, but it was something I really wanted.)

I put up a haul video from Aliexpress and at the same time, decided it was time to talk about the hurricane and my plans to help.  Of course my plans right now are fairly vague, but I’ve started enlisting help, including Lindsay and Rebecca Walton of Rubber Stamp Tapestry.  The problem is logistics.  How do we determine what is needed and how to get it to the right people?  I’ve thought it through and Lindsay came up with an idea that I think might work.  We are still so far away from rolling anything out, but I have a date as my implementation date.  The last Saturday in October is Make a Difference Day in the USA.  Normally that’s a day where people volunteer to help others sweep leaves, paint, do garbage cleanup.  I think it’s also the perfect day for us to roll out how crafters can make a difference.  All we need to do is try.  We might not help a million people, but every person that is helped on their way to a crafty recovery, will be one less that is not.  I don’t have the answers, lots of questions, but not a lot of answers.  I’m starting to contact craft companies to see if they might want to help or participate.  It’s very new to all of us, and I for one, can’t sit back and let this opportunity to help others pass me by.  It takes each of us to make a difference, no matter how big or how small, and from my experience on YouTube, I know my audience will be there to help as they are the most kind, generous, caring people I’ve ever encountered.

So if you have an idea or suggestion, or you just want to vent, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere until we have a plan and it is implemented.

Today was one of those days that you feel sad, but can’t really put your finger on why until you look at the date.  We all remember 9/11 and no matter how many years go by, we still take pause on this date.  With the hurricane, now a tropical storm looming, it’s given us one more thing to fret about today.

I spent the day practicing interviewing with the accounting majors of the college Rich and I attended.  I love volunteering there and hearing when the students get their jobs. It gives me real pride that I have a small role in their success.  I was really exhausted when I got home and didn’t even watch the weather, and I’ve been glued to the weather channel for days (as most of America has been.)    Instead, Rich uploaded one of my videos and I was able to add my commentary and make it live.  A day well spent.