Today was such a great day.  I started the day by uploading my Make a Difference Day video.  The first few hours were bitter sweet…I had so many people say they were ready and willing to donate goods, but no one asking for anything.  I started to really feel badly, and then we got our first request, and then a second.  The first request wasn’t up very long before someone adopted them, and I was ecstatic.    I guess it doesn’t take a lot to make me happy, I just wanted someone to ask for something, anything.  So I put the word out to people who had said they had been in the hurricanes and asked them to say something about my video on social media.  I really hope that they do, because it’s been a slow first day.  This is going to sound kind of stupid, but for some reason I thought people were just waiting for that video to go live so that they could make their crafty requests.  I knew I had people waiting to make donations, but didn’t know how many requests would flood in…Flood, that’s a funny word as it relates to this initiative…It’s been a trickle so far.  I’m hoping the word does spread and that we find a lot of people that will want to ask and the same number that want to donate.  It’s going to be a stressful week for me since I’ve been literally thinking about and working on this video for almost two months.

I’ve got the whole week for word to reach people…Now all we need to do is have them comment.  I’ll be waiting with baited breath.  Ok, maybe I’ll just be waiting…I’m not sure if my breath will be baited or not….Does that mean like fish bait?  Gross…I’m definitely not waiting with baited breath…Just waiting….

If you have lost your craft tools in the recent hurricanes in Texas, the East Coast and Puerto Rico, please list in the comment section below your:
1. name (first name is fine)
2. email address
3. specific craft tools you would like to have replaced
4. zip code
5. If you are in Puerto Rico, please list in your comment that you are now receiving your mail, as these items will be sent to you and if you aren’t getting mail, the donator needs to know that.

Viewers looking to donate tools should comment on the posts that they want to help and the specific items they will be providing, and the person donating, will email the person who is asking for tools to get their address to mail them their crafty items.

The deadline for asking for crafty things is November 4th, 2017, and the deadline for fulfilling requests in the comments will be November 11th.

Please, only one request per family.

Please go to this link for eligibility to participate in receiving goods and alternative donation sites:
http://tinyurl.com/yam8anfn

I want to thank Lindsay the Frugal Crafter for her input and especially Rebecca Walton from Rubber Stamp Tapestry, the peg stamp people, for all of her help and generosity. Here is a link to her company. http://www.pegstamps.com/

My email address is saundralparker@yahoo.com

In order to ensure that people who request items on YouTube have been affected by the hurricanes and floods, I went to the US Postal Service website and researched zip codes that were in these horrific storms.  Here is the information related to zip codes as well as alternatives sites that are looking for donations in those areas.  I hope that this is helpful to you.

Below is the most current information I could find for zip codes affected by the recent hurricanes by the United States Postal Service.  I would definitely make sure that you are sending your package to one of the zip codes below, or that you feel comfortable with the alternate zip code that someone might give you.  I did my absolute best to not only find zip codes of affected areas, but also to find alternative sites that you can send monies to if you would prefer.  The alternate information is below all of the zip codes. 

Texas Zip Codes affected by the Hurricane Harvey from USPS.com

Houston Area

Rio Grande District  Hurricane Harvey, Texas

Hurricane Irma

FLORIDA: 
Effective Sept. 8, all Post Offices, Stations, Branches, and Finance Units within this 3-Digit ZIP Code range suspended retail and delivery operations until Tuesday, September 12, 2017:

• ZIP Codes beginning with 320, 322, 323, 326, and 344

Additionally, as of Sept. 8, all retail and delivery operations have been suspended at the following offices until Tuesday, September 12, 2017:

• CRYSTAL RIVER, 18 NE 4TH AVE, CRYSTAL RIVER FL 34429-9998
• HOMOSASSA,10780 W YULEE DR, HOMOSASSA FL 34487-9998
• HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, 4610 S SUNCOAST BLVD, HOMOSASSA FL 34446-1700
• ATLANTIC BEACH, 1001 MAYPORT RD, ATLANTIC BEACH FL 32233-9998
• BRONSON, 747 E HATHAWAY AVE, BRONSON FL 32621-9998
• CEDAR KEY, 518 2ND ST, CEDAR KEY FL 32625-9998
• CHIEFLAND, 222 W PARK AVE, CHIEFLAND FL 32626-9998
• FERNANDINA BEACH, 1997 SADLER RD, FERNANDINA BEACH FL 32034-9998
• GULF HAMMOCK, 5350 SE HIGHWAY 19, GULF HAMMOCK FL 32639-2100
• INGLIS, 70 N INGLIS AVE, INGLIS FL 34449-9998
• JACKSONVILLE BEACH, 1348 BEACH BLVD, JACKSONVILLE BEACH FL 32250-9998
• JACKSONVILLE BEACH ANNEX, 1324 BEACH BLVD, JACKSONVILLE BEACH FL 32250-3408
• MORRISTON, 3350 SE US HIGHWAY 41, MORRISTON FL 32668-9998
• OTTER CREEK, 210 SE US HIGHWAY 19, OTTER CREEK FL 32683-9700
• PONTE VEDRA BEACH, 130 CORRIDOR RD, PONTE VEDRA BEACH FL 32082-9998
• SAINT AUGUSTINE, 99 KING ST, SAINT AUGUSTINE FL 32084-9998
• SAINT AUGUSTINE ANNEX, 4 M L KING AVE, SAINT AUGUSTINE FL 32084-3308
• WILLISTON, 29 NW 1ST AVE, WILLISTON FL 32696-9998
• YANKEETOWN, 17 56TH ST, YANKEETOWN FL 34498-9998
• YULEE, 463063 STATE ROAD 200, YULEE FL 32097-9998

GEORGIA:
Effective Sept. 8, all Post Offices, Stations, Branches, and Finance Units within this 3-Digit ZIP Code range have suspended retail and delivery operations until Tuesday, September 12, 2017:

• ZIP Codes beginning with 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, and 398

Also effective September 8, delivery and retail operations are temporarily suspended at these offices until Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

• BRUNSWICK31520/31525, 805 GLOUCESTER ST, BRUNSWICK GA 31520-9998
• JEKYLL ISLAND(Finance Unit) 31527, 17 PIER RD UNIT B, JEKYLL ISLAND, GA 31527-9998
• SEA ISLAND(Finance Unit) 31522, 351 SEA ISLAND RD SUITE 104, ST SIMONS ISLAND GA, 31522-1477
• ST SIMON ISLAND31522, 260 EDWARDS PLAZA, ST SIMONS ISLAND GA, 31522-9998
• FOLKSTON, 3845 MAIN ST, FOLKSTON GA 31537-9998
• KINGSLAND, 310 S GROVE BLVD, KINGSLAND GA 31548-9998
• SAINT GEORGE, 12995 FLORIDA AVE STE A, SAINT GEORGE GA 31562-9998
• SAINT MARYS, 724 CHARLIE SMITH SR HWY, SAINT MARYS GA 31558-9998
• WAVERLY,24311 US HIGHWAY 17, WAVERLY GA 31565-9998
• WAYNESVILLE, 25380 HIGHWAY 82, WAYNESVILLE GA 31566-9997
• WHITE OAK,25 MCKINNON RD N, WHITE OAK GA 31568-9998
• WOODBINE, 202 BEDELL AVE, WOODBINE GA 31569-9998

Last updated Oct. 11, 2017, 5 p.m. ET

Oct. 10, 2017, 9:45 p.m. ET

Puerto Rico

All offices will be open for retail services in addition to mail pickup and delivery during their regular hours with the exception of those listed below:

• Arecibo, 00612, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Caguas, 00725, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Canovanas, 00729, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Carolina, 00983, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mows, 00936, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Plaza Las Americas, 00918, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Ponce, 00731, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Customers served by the following offices should pick up their mail at alternate pickup locations:  

• Aquada, 00602 — Alternate location: Rincon, 00677. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
• Areciblo Pueblo, 00612 — Alternate location: Arecibo MPO, 00613. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cotto, 00612 — Alternate location: Arecibo MPO, 00613. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Juncos, 00777 — Alternate location: Juncos Municipality Library, 00777. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Plaza Carolina, 00985 — Alternate location: Carolina MPO, 00983. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Punta Santiago, 00741 — Alternate location: Humaco, 00741. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Toa Alta, 00953 — Alternate location: Toa Baja Pueblo, 00951. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The following offices will be open for PO Box mail and delivery only:

• Aguadilla, 00603.
• Aguirre, 00704.
• Aibonito, 00705.
• Angeles, 00611.
• Arecibo, 00612.
• Arroyo, 00714.
• Atocha, 00733.
• Barranquitas, 00794.
• Barrio Obrero, 00915.
• Carolina Pueblo, 00985.
• Catano, 00962.
• Culebra, 00775.
• Dorado, 00646.

Florida, 00650.

I just finished the video for Make a Difference Day and am starting to fret.  Have I explained things clearly enough?  Do I sound pompous?  Am I asking too much of people?  Will anyone respond and will it be a total failure?  I hope I’ve prepared people enough for this video, and event, but you never know.  I can only hope that the people who need products will ask, and the people who have them will respond.  If we help a few people, it’s a few more people than were helped before…Right?  I guess time will tell.

Sometimes you just have to go on faith, and in this instance, I’m putting a lot of faith in viewers and people in general.  I’m really hoping that only people affected by the floods and hurricanes will ask for craft tools, but free goodies will attract a lot of people who are looking to get something for nothing, even when they are not entitled.  I tried to address it in the video and really hope that it works as I’d hate to have to delete comments from people who don’t qualify for things.

I’m sweating now, it’s too much to think about tonight, so I’ll wait to fret some more tomorrow….I’m the queen of fretting, in case you didn’t know.  I have the tiara to prove it…Ok, no tiara, but in my head, I have one.

It’s been a frustrating day, starting with getting the word that YouTube was taking down channels that did AliExpress hauls.  I wrote another blog post all about it, so you can check that out below.  I haven’t heard any more about it, so it might be limited to a very few YouTubers, and hopefully, my channel is safe.

I spent way too much time on that though, trying to find information from other YouTubers and by watching YouTube videos and reading their regulations about videos.  I’m not sure if I have violated any policies or not, but hope I haven’t.

As for the rest of the day, we prepared for Trick or Treat, which was tonight.  I know it’s kind of odd, having Trick or Treat on the Thursday before Halloween, but that’s how they’ve always done it where I live.  I don’t know if it’s because adults would rather go to adult functions on Halloween, but it’s been this way as long as I can remember.

Rich loves to dress up as a vampire and scare the kids.  Ok, he scares the kids the first year, then they know exactly what to expect and are really brave…Year one, not brave at all, running screaming back to their parents sometimes (even though he takes out his fangs for little ones.)  The experienced kids will put the little ones in front, just to see their reactions…It’s all in good fun and Rich always makes sure the little ones are happy when they leave.  Unfortunately though, for us, our neighborhood is aging.  So tonight we got (wait for it) SIX kids for Trick or Treat.  It was so pathetic.  Rich kept waiting for a big group of five kids to come to our house, only to remember they came here within the first five minutes of the event…..So that was that…One other straggler and he was done.  A big year for us would have been fifteen kids, but that was a few years ago.  Now we’re lucky if one of our friends will drive their grand kids over to see Rich, so we can hit double digits.  Rich likes to give the big candy bars too, so they’ll be sure to come back, and even that isn’t enough to get the masses.

Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday, that I found a really fun wreath at Aldi’s of all places..Aldi’s is a grocery store for those of you who are outside of the US.  I’m going to try to duplicate it, and if I can, I think it will be gorgeous.  It looks like a foam wreath, painted black for Halloween, and it has little cones of (I think) black paper, that have the ends tipped with orange glitter.  It’s hard to explain, but they look like roses and the whole thing is covered in them.  I was going to try to make one for Halloween, but think that ship has sailed, so am going to try for Christmas.  I’m not as crazy about Christmas colors though, and am going to think hard about making it before I do.  Maybe a red one tipped with a darker red?  Could be really cool.

I have a lot of finished videos, but wanted to wait to get all of the Halloween ones done before the others are uploaded.  I can’t wait to hear what people think about the waterfall albums I made.  I’m really proud of them and hope you enjoy watching the process.

I’ve never been someone who shopped around at different online craft companies.  I found their prices to be prohibitive and if I bought something, it was because I saw someone else use it, then never really shopped further.  I found Aliexpress and absolutely loved it.  I loved the dies, the stamps and especially, the prices.  I was oblivious to where a stamp or die design originated, and just bought things when I liked them.

This week I’ve learned that a lot of YouTube channels have been deleted for showing Aliexpress hauls.  I’m not sure if my channel was spared because I am not monetized (YouTube doesn’t pay me for my channel), and don’t make money for referring customers to Aliexpress, but am glad that my channel is still here.  I’ve taken most of my haul videos and made them private, so you can no longer see them.  I can’t take the chance that my channel will be taken down as I’ve put two years of my life into it, and don’t think I’ve done anything intentionally wrong.

On the other hand, when you have a small YouTube channel, you are not given anyone in the YouTube company that you can converse with, so I have no way to contact them or ask them any questions about this issue.  It’s just better to take my videos and make them private, rather than lose the channel over something I’m not clear about.

I’ve tried to contact another YouTuber who does Aliexpress haul videos to see if she has been contacted by anyone in the YouTube community, as she’s taken her hauls down as well…Maybe she’s doing what I am doing, trying to protect her channel, I’m not sure.  I wish I had someone in authority to ask.

Obviously, I couldn’t address this directly on YouTube at risk of losing my channel, but wanted you to know the situation and thank those of you who have told me about other channels being deleted and giving me the heads up about my videos that were stolen.  I feel really badly about this situation and don’t think I’ve done anything intentionally wrong, but will do whatever necessary to save my channel and rectify the situation.

If you want to discuss this further, you can either respond here or email me at saundralparker@yahoo.com.

I’ve been wanting to finish that crazy foam pumpkin that I covered with napkins, so today was the day.  When I do something like that, I feel like I’ve done something amazing, even though it was really nothing…But it was just hanging over my head for so long, and I couldn’t stand looking at it for another second.

I also had to remake the beginning of the video for the card I did yesterday.  That turned into a huge ordeal, where I made a really embellished second card…The worst part was that I used a smaller bat die and decided to use it again.  I couldn’t find it and had literally, used it two minutes ago.  So I started looking…A half an hour later I found it, attached to the front of my shirt.  I had almost given up the search when I heard a metallic noise and looked down, and there it was…Who would have thought?  Sometimes I think I might be going crazy, as I lose things like that all of the time.  It’s just unbelievable to me that I can do the things I do and still make it through the day.

I think I mentioned last week that Aggie wasn’t doing well and we were worried that we would have to put her to sleep…I think that’s the oddest term for euthanizing a dog, but I’m using it because it’s the acceptable term for it.  Since then, she’s decided that she really shouldn’t have to eat what other dogs do, and is only inclined to eat chicken and rice, a food combinations that vets always give when dogs won’t eat.  She’s doing so much better and I can’t believe how well.  Last week she couldn’t go up or down our two front outdoor steps, and now she hops up and down them.  She’s an 85 pound golden retriever, so that’s no easy feat.  She’s amazing, and at almost 16 years old, an unbelievable dog.  I’m so glad that we can put that decision off for another day.  Hopefully another day in the far far, distant future.

I made a really fun Halloween card and the video was acting strangely, but I just kept going.  The camera didn’t record that whole segment of the video…Darn….So now I’ll need to remake the beginning of the video, and the card.  I really hate it when things like that happen.

I cleaned my craft room for hours…I organized Halloween stamps and my ribbon drawer.  Rich walked into the room and said “I thought you were cleaning in here.”  I had to laugh, because it still looks like a mess, but I did make some progress…None you can see, but progress none the same.

I’ll be working on it again tomorrow and maybe by then you’ll be able to see some changes.  I’m starting to think I could clean that craft room every day and never see progress.  I’ve often wondered about crafters with these pristine white rooms.  When are they doing anything in there and how do they keep that room so spotless?  I’m thinking that they plan out one card, make it, put everything away, and they are done.  I also believe that if you are a Stampin’ Up rep and have a You Tube channel, you probably don’t accumulate stamp sets like normal people do, because Stampin’ Up reps seem to sell their retired merchandise.  That’s a great way to stay on top of hoarding…Unlike me, I just accumulate and never really get rid of anything.  I need to get serious about eliminating a lot of the things I have in my craft room.  I have so many things that I just don’t use…I’m hoping that during the Make A Difference Day video, a lot of people will be asking for the things I’d like to get rid of…That would truly make a difference for me, and the cleanliness (or lack thereof), of my craft room.

Today is our 35th wedding anniversary, and we celebrated by going out to dinner with our close friends.  It was a lovely day and Rich wrote a really beautiful tribute to us on his facebook page.  If I knew how to copy it here, I would, but I’m pretty sure I’ll screw it up.    Ok, here goes.  I’m so awed that he would take the time to write such a lovely story, and wanted to share it with you.  I realize that you probably are learning a lot more about us than you probably want to know, but I still wanted to share.

And now I’ll add my two cents to his story.  I got diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis two weeks after this photo was taken.  Rich and I both thought it was nothing…like a commercial on TV where two women are playing tennis and one woman rubs her hand and says her arthritis is acting up, and the other tells her to rub Ben Gay on it.  We should’ve known we were destined for more.  A lot more.  By the time I was twenty-seven, I’d put off having my knee replaced for longer than I should have, and had to bend at the waist when I walked to maintain my balance, as my knee was permanently bent at about 30 degrees.  It was the first replacement, shortly to be followed by my right knee at 29, my right hip at 31, my neck fused at 31, my right shoulder replaced at 33….well, you get the picture.  Rich was so good to me, and had to do so many things that a very young married man should ever have to do.  I remember going to our tenth college reunion, and Rich had to carry me up the stairs of the dorm we were all staying in for the weekend.  That had to be so difficult for him (and embarrassing).  He was 31 years old.  I am blessed to be married to not only the man whose always taken my breath away, and makes my heart beat faster whenever he is near, but most importantly, my very best friend…The first person I want to see in the morning and the last that I want to see at night.  I couldn’t have gone down this path without him and we were lucky to have found each other.  He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

My friend Elizabeth, sent me a lot of paper napkins and I wanted to show a variety of ideas of things to use them for.

This is such a simple abd easy project. I separate my napkins by putting washi tape on the back edge and pull the washi and the back of the napkin off. I’ve never found an easier way to separate the napkins and saw it on another YT channel, but don’t remember who it was, sorry.
To make one of these bags, simply separate the front of your napkin from the other layers, then put tape runner on your bag and make sure you fold down the bottom of the bag.  Lay your napkin over the bag and trim.  If you put washi tape on the edges of the bags, it really makes them cute. Pick your favorite scary decorations, glue them to the bag, and fold the top over and close with a clothespin.
To cover the clothespin, simply put tape runner on the clothespin, then lay a strip of decorated paper over it and trim with scissors or an Xacto or craft knife. I recommend you trim from the underside of the paper as it’s a better angle to cut from. When you get to the metal spring, bend your paper away from the clothespin for easy trimming.