Another day, another set of garage sales.  It wasn’t a really good day for them, but I did see the sheer goodness in people today.  I’m on a mission to find the game Scrabble.  I want the wooden tray that you display your letters on.  Actually, I only need one of them.  My friend Linda thought it would be perfect to use for the recipe box that I am refinishing for my niece for her wedding shower.  She can rest the recipe card on it so she doesn’t damage the card when she’s using it.  Perfect plan.  Yesterday I was at an estate sale and asked them if they had a Scrabble game. The woman in charge asked me if I was a crafter and I said yes and she asked if I was looking for the tiles.  When I told her what I was looking for, she said she had some games at home that she used the tiles in her crafts and said she might have a tray.  I gave her my telephone number and last night, after a very long day for her at her parent’s estate sale, she called me.  She said she found two of them with no writing on them and if I wanted them, I could come back to the sale today.  I went and she was happy to see me.  I asked her how much she wanted for them and she said, “Oh nothing, I’m just glad to help.”  Isn’t it wonderful that there are people like that in the world.  People who just want to help.  Not, what’s in it for me?  It made my day.  It doesn’t take much to pay it forward.  If someone does a kindness for you, then you, in turn, should consider doing a kindness for someone else.  If we all tried to do this, we could make the world a much better place for everyone.  It doesn’t take much, let’s all start today.

I couldn’t sleep last night.  I’m not sure why, but at 3AM I decided I needed to organize my craft room.  Was it a smart idea?  I’m not really certain, but when I woke up in the morning, I felt great about it.  Tired?  Yes, almost exhausted, but happy.  It seems like my craft room is never very organized and always has more things in it than places to store them.  I really need to rethink buying anything else, but then I’ll go to a garage sale or rummage sale and find something that is a great deal and can’t pass it up.  Ok, so I know I shouldn’t buy anything, but let’s say you find overhead projector clear sheets.  You know you won’t find those just anywhere, and for 75 cents?  They will be perfect for shaker cards or window cards or anything you need a 8 1/2 x 11″ piece of plastic for.  I just couldn’t pass them up.  Or the lady that’s giving away envelopes just to get rid of them?  I had to have them.  You know I’ll be making a card that will fit in one of them.  I’m just saying.  Or how about a rolling ruler for 25 cents.  That should be really handy.  So apparently I’m a crafting hoarder.  Today I actually passed on a big box of assorted ribbon.  It was a really difficult decision but I told myself I just had to do it.  I HAD TO.  Obviously if the box had been full of some really spectacular ribbon, I probably would have purchased it because I’m just not that strong.  I’m only human.  Ok, my final admission.  I had a subscriber tell me I should buy a glue gun with a palm fed trigger.  I found one at Michaels for $30 before a coupon.  I didn’t really want to buy it if I couldn’t return it because I wasn’t sure I could use the palm fed trigger.  I found an older model at a rummage sale for $1 and bought it.  Did it have the long tip to help me avoid burning myself?  No.  But for $1, I’m happy that I am able to decide if I can use the palm fed trigger and will feel more confident in purchasing the $30 gun.  I’m looking at it as a means to an end.  Will I add yet another glue gun to my collection?  Sure, but I’ll also be doing a fact finding mission and that’s more important in my estimation.

I ‘m so excited because I finally found a use for the new set of shelves that I showed in the haul video from the stamp show/Dollar Tree.  The old Stampin’ Up wooden stamp sets fit perfectly into the slots, and although I have taken many off of the wood blocks, I still have a lot of sets that are intact on their blocks.  One of the things I have noticed about myself is this.  If I have put sets of stamps into binders, I forget about them.

I’m thinking of putting my acrylic stamps into cd cases but wonder if the traditional cd cases that came with cds will actually work.   I thought those cases have a clip for the cd to attach to the case.  If the clip can’t be removed, then I wonder if this is a practical solution.  These are the things that make my head spin.  If I have the binder out and am flipping through the pages, I find stamp sets that will work.  If I don’t have the binders out, I almost forget to look at them.  It’s a crazy Sandy thing and I always wonder if other crafters are like me or if I am alone in this nuttiness.  (I’m not sure that’s even a word, but we’re going with it.)

I haven’t really been a serious crafter for very long, but my stamp storage system seems to change with the seasons.  I just haven’t found the “one” that is perfect for me.  If you know me at all, you know I am always on a quest for the “one” in any arena.  I won’t stop until I find the “one.”  This results in me owning multiples of things and makes me totally frustrated when I fail.  Currently I feel like a failure with stamp set storage, die storage and a system that tells me what stamps I own.  I have a good system for knowing what punches, inks, embossing folders,  and markers I own.  Stamps and dies, absolutely no system.  Frankly, at this point, I’m too lazy to develop a system for either or both.  I have too many of both to document and the idea of attempting to make a system is almost more than I can consider.  So I think I’ll permanently back burner that idea.  Huh, I wonder where that saying, “back burner” came from.

Back burner

Posted by Bob on October 31, 2000

In Reply to: Meaning of a phrase posted by Shane Guy on October 31, 2000

: What is the meaning and origin of the phrase ‘Put on the back burner’?

From cooking. almost all stoves have front and back burners. The things you need to pay careful attention to (don’t stop stirring the risotto!) should be up front, under your nose. Things that can simmer away without immediate attention (soup stock, for example)can be pushed to the back burners where they can be looked into from time to time, but don’t need to be attended to just now. The metaphor has been extended to all kinds of activities: on your To Do list of life, some things need to be done Now (get out of the burning building) while less urgent things (should I write Bob a nice thank you note?) can be pushed to the back burner….

 

Makes total sense, and now we know.

My day has not started with a bang.  I made a video last night and gave Rich the memory card.  The video had to be reshot twice because I had so many problems with it.  With the video safely in the “bag,” I felt I could focus on cleaning my craft room today as it is a total train wreck.

Normally wherever I go, the three dogs follow. Rich was in the sun room, so we all made our way there.  We were not in the room one minute before the puppy had something in her mouth.  Something crunchy.  Something that wasn’t hers.  Something I would really be unhappy about.  Of course she ate the memory card that held the video I’d shot last night.  Naturally the card was ruined.  She maybe had that card in her mouth five seconds before we were prying her jaws apart, but she’s fast, and wily.  So back to the drawing board for my video.  Sometimes it’s tough having a puppy.  Today is one of those days.

I’m getting tired of worrying about the recipe box I’m making for our niece.  I’m worried she won’t like it or that it will fall apart or that it won’t be good enough.  These are the things I fret about.  I really worked on it last night and then realized what I thought was the top of the box, was actually the back of the box and it was upside down.  Ok, so I had already glued some pieces on (upside down, naturally),  and had to figure out a way to fix that mess.  I think sometimes I should stop while I am feeling fresh instead of continuing until I’m tired and making big mistakes.  I would really like to finish this box in the next century though, as her shower is in a month.  I know I have a lot of time to finish and to do it right, but somehow, I still feel time pressure and for no apparent reason.  It’s probably because I’m not making any videos because I’m spending my time working on the box instead.  I like to make 2-3 videos per week and try to do three whenever possible.  This box is sucking the creative juices out of me.  I just need to finish it and put the video up and hope for the best.  That’s my plan, hope for the best.

I was sent an email by a friend who attached a link to a YouTube video.  It was for a woman who has people make wishes on her comment section and other people may or may not fulfill her wishes.  In theory, I like this idea.  My concern is that the person who runs this channel makes her wishes first and freezes them there, so you will always find her wish first.  Isn’t that like having your own personal genie in a bottle?  If once a week I decide I want something and I put it out to the people on YouTube, isn’t that basically me using this channel to get the things I want?

Maybe her channel does a lot of good and maybe the people on it are fulfilling each others wishes and not hers, but I don’t think so.  I think they are giving her what she wants so they will hear their name on YouTube.  Wouldn’t it be great if people would do something like that on their channel and keep themselves out of it?  It would be so wonderful to help grant wishes for people and do it for the pure joy of seeing others get the things that they want.  Maybe my hope for the world is too big, maybe I should be glad that’s she doing anything at all.  Maybe.

I’m cleaning again today in my craft room and still working on eliminating the duplicates I’ve bought of things.  I’ve had people ask me about the list of things I’m selling on Splitcoast Stampers and so I thought it would be easier to just copy and paste it here.  A couple of people have emailed me saying they had a hard time figuring out how to use Splitcoast Stampers website and I had a hard time when I first used it maneuvering within the site.  So here’s the list, if it mentions a photograph, you can find the photos on the Splitcoast site.  If you have any questions, or interest in anything, please email me at saundralparker@yahoo.com.

Anna Griffin Gold Edition Cuttlebug machine (used maybe five times)
with all plates necessary including a long “C” plate. $35 Shipping costs to be paid by buyer, least expensive USPS method available.

Cuttlebug extra long plates new in package 6 x 13″ photo below all for $25 plus shipping. These work on the Big Shot as well.
Size A
Size B=2 plates
Size C

Used full size Stampin’ Up Classic Ink Pads, checked for inkiness. All in like new condition. $3.50 each plus shipping, or all 23 for $70 including shipping.
Creamy Caramel
So Saffron
Perfect Plum
Orchid Opulence
Mellow Moss
Brocade Blue
Cameo Coral
Pumpkin Pie
Really Rust
Handsome Hunter
Close to Cocoa
Summer Sun
Regal Rose
Bordering Blue
Only Orange
Ballet Blue
Chocolate Chip
Garden Green
Old Olive
Not Quite Navy
Apricot Appeal
Night of Navy–Staining on case asking $3 for this one.
Bravo Burgundy

New Stampin’ Up Classic Ink Pads $5 each plus shipping
Wisteria Wonder
Island Indigo
Crisp Cantaloupe–new ink pad style, still in shrink wrap but it bled in shipping into the wrapper, photo attached below.

Classic Reinkers $3 each plus shipping
Soft Sky
Pool Party
Wisteria Wonder

NEW full-size Stampin’ Up Craft Ink Pads/still in shrink-wrap.
$39.00 for entire lot of 13 pads. No Re-inkers. (Shipping included.)
Blush Blossom
Mint Melody
Gable Green
Bordering Blue
Bliss Blue
Mauve Mist
Pale Plum
Orchid Opulence
Marvelous Magenta
Forest Foliage
Taken with Teal
Barely Banana
Cameo Coral

USED full-size Stampin’ Up Craft Ink Pads/Re-inker included. Shipping not included.

$3.00 each with full re-inker without shipping
Tempting Turquoise –sold–
Green Galore
Chocolate Chip–sold–
Lovely Lilac

$2.50 each; with partial re-inker; slight staining on case, shipping extra.
Brilliant Blue
Real Red
Pink Passion

Used Craft SU Ink Pads, full size, $2 each plus shipping. Used, no re inkers. Full Size or all 20 for $35 plus shipping.

Pretty in Pink
Rose romance
Positively Pink
Lavender Lace
Eggplant Envy
Perfect Plum
Rose Red–sold–
Ruby Red
Baroque Burgundy
Yoyo Yellow
Summer Sun
More Mustard
Only Orange
Really Rust
Ballet Blue
Brocade Blue
Sage Shadow
Mellow Moss
Glorious Green
Not Quite Navy

Stampin’ Write Marker Real Red New $2

Distress Ink Mini Set #2 new in package Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves $5 plus shipping

Tim Holtz Distress Inks set of 32 full size, like new, checked for inkiness, $92 including postage within US.
Old Paper
Walnut Stain
Tumbled Glass
Wild Honey
Faded Jeans
Fired Brick
Brushed Corduroy
Aged Mahogany
Barn Door
Spun Sugar
Worn Lipstick
Mustard Seed
Pumice Stone
Antique Linen
Victorian Velvet
Bundled Sage
Squeezed Lemonade
Broken China
Chipped Sapphire
Rusty Hinge
Pine Needles
Scattered Straw
Dried Marigold
Tea Dye
Vintage Photo
Shabby Shutters
Milled Lavender
Weathered Wood
Peeled Paint
Spiced Marmalade
Tattered Rose
Stormy Sky

Paint Box Color Box Pigment Ink like new $5 plus shipping, photo below

Color Box Petal Point Provence, like new, $5 plus shipping, photo below

Distress Ink set new holiday edition Evergreen Bough, Iced Spruce, Festive Berries, full size, $12 plus shipping

Creative Memories Basic Round tip 4 pen set Black, red, green, blue (unused), see photo below $4 plus shipping

Creative Memories Precious Element Rainbow Point Tip set of four pens, Red and Green are used, Orange and blue, unused $3 plus shipping

Ranger Craft Spinner new in box $15 plus shipping, see photo below

Ala Mode Sprinkle Flocking Set of 18 colors new, retail $25 asking $12 plus shipping, see photo below. –pending–

Stampin’ Up new in package washi tape $5 each plus shipping, see photo below
Sweet Sadie
All is Calm
Color me Autumn

Art Bin Magnetic Die Storage Case new with 3 extra magnetic storage sheets for total of six sheets included $22 plus shipping, see photo below. –pending–

 

Every once in a while, I used to think about this.  If I could do anything with my life (or job) what would it be?  I never thought I would be doing a blog and making YouTube videos, but now that I am, I wonder what could be better?  I really enjoy making videos and learning so many new and different things.  I’m meeting new people, granted, via email, but isn’t that kind of the norm these days?  I’ve discovered a new world of ideas and people who are creative and funny and entertaining.

My job in banking was demanding but rarely inspiring.  I’m meeting new people who inspire me often, and that, in itself, is a really rare gift.  This experience has made me want to be a better person.  I want to try to make a difference, no matter how small, in the lives of the people who watch my videos because they have made such a difference in mine.  Life can throw so many things at us, and I’m so glad it has thrown this experience at me.  I am lucky and grateful for having this opportunity.