This video is a first in a series called Totally Terrific Tags and Trimmings and is the first “trimming” video.  We couldn’t find a word that sounded good with ornaments and I will be doing some projects for this series that aren’t ornaments, thus the name.

A tongue-in-cheek look at updating a boring wreath.  I had a great time making this video because I didn’t want it to be like all of the other “makeover” wreaths.  I thought the title was so quirky, people might just watch.  We’ll see if they do.  (Cross your fingers!)

We hit our first milestone for the You Tube channel with 100 followers!  You have no idea how thrilling it is to know that 100 people think your videos have value in nine days.  I am by nature, not a patient person.  I worry that I’m not doing enough to spread the word about our You Tube channel or this blog, but ultimately, I think it will be word of mouth that will grow the viewership.  I need to remember something I always told the people in sales that I worked with and that is this.  “If you do the process, the results will come.”  What I meant by that is that if you stare at your sales numbers every day and fret about them, you’ll never grow them.  If you do the steps necessary to makes sales, those numbers will grow.  Today the same is true.  If I stare at how many viewers we have, it won’t make a difference.  But if I work on more and better videos with Rich leading the way with technology, word of mouth will change the number of subscribers.  And I am completely committed to that.

We made three videos yesterday and one of them was pretty scary.  I did a Christmas ornament that I had a vision of, but had never made before.  Throughout the video, you’ll probably laugh at my doubts.  I really wasn’t sure if it would fail, but if it did, I still would have aired that video.  After I was done, I was thrilled that it looked great, but realized that I really didn’t care if it looked bad because the point of these videos isn’t to create the best and brightest, it’s to show people that you should TRY.  I want everyone to see my successes and failures because that will be the nature of crafting for me and others like me.  I know that the crafters that have 100,000 viewers have fails, but I would bet they never let anyone see them.  At least I have never seen a complete fail.  That’s not entirely true.  The frugal crafter showed a fail or two.  I admire her even more because she did.  I’ll take the bad, because if I do, it shows I tried, and that’s really all that matters to me.

So today I am full of crafting ideas and want to get a couple new videos up and running.  I want to do a product recommendation about punches because although I’ve used them and talked a second about them on the tour video, my reasons for my suggestions are pretty sound.  There’s a product you can buy for the “button style” punches that I rarely use, called a “Punch Buddy.” My #1 fan, Linda, remembered seeing it and asked if I knew about it.  Since I use most of my punches upside down, it’s not a product that would work for me, but might work for others so I’ll make sure I add it to the video.

I watched videos of some Christmas ornaments that people made from paper and their ideas were great, but too labor intensive for me.  I did think of ways to streamline the ornaments to make them easier to do and perfect for our channel.  So maybe we’ll change our Christmas tag series to tags and ornaments.  Still no catchy name for them though.  “Tagament” sounds like something you take for an upset stomach.  How about “Tag, You’re It!?  I have absolutely no ideas that are quirky and I like quirky titles.

So I’m off to Joann’s as it’s the only craft store in 50 miles and I need to pick up a couple things for my first ornament, and I may even make a Dollar Tree run…I have a serious problem with the Dollar Tree and someone needs to make it STOP!  I do love that store though!

It’s going to be a craftastic day..who said that, that’s a good name.

Rich and I don’t send Christmas cards and with the cost of postage, a lot of people don’t send them anymore either.  In doing the You Tube channel, I thought about making Christmas cards and I might make one or two, but I’m thinking more about what kinds of gifts can I make.  I definitely want to do a series of Christmas tags because everyone will use them and they are quick to make.  I really love to watercolor with pencils and I’ll be able to do lots of tags with pencils.  I’m also thinking about making a Christmas album for a friend.  I think she’ll really like it.  I’m also making a memo pad holder for on a couple of friends’ desks at work.  I have lots of ideas and I already feel like the clock is ticking.  I want to make the tags memorable because I love it when a package is pretty.     I’ve never been big on decorating but really love making my packages look beautiful.  My love for ribbon actually started with Christmas ribbon and making huge ornate bows to go on my packages.  I love shiny giftwrap as well because the lights on the tree reflect off of the packages and makes the floor under the tree glow.  In the upcoming days we’ll start on our tag project.  I’ve been trying to think of a cute name for the series like “Falalalalalalalatag.”  I know it’s bad, it’s a work in process.  I’m open to suggestions, so please email them to me at saundralparker@yahoo.com.  I’ll be waiting, “Tag ’em, Dano.”  Still thinking….

I was happy to finally get an organizational video up.  I know we’ve only been live a little over a week, but I have so many ideas I want to share.  My videographer, editor, producer and manager isn’t thrilled with all the work I’ve created for him, but he’s dealing with it.  We bought a new camera that hasn’t been delivered that should make his job a lot easier and in turn, mine.  Rich did rig this really great overhead tripod for me so all of the videos (except the room tour) have been done with the contraption he made.  If you saw it, you’d laugh.   It involves a Parker family stable–duct tape.  I’m amazed at how well it has worked, but we can’t use any of Rich’s  “good” cameras on it because of their weight.  I think the new camera is even lighter, YAY!

This process has really been great for me and Rich.  We’ve been so encouraged by the great responses we’ve gotten and the people who have been excited to find an outlet for their crafting because of the You Tube channel’s videos.  I watched a video of a woman from England who was shutting down her channel because of the time and expense and  the fact that she wasn’t generating the income she thought she would from it.  I’m sure her life is busy, but I think she went into it thinking it would make her independently wealthy, and I can’t imagine many people on You Tube ever get to that level of income.  We really talked long and hard before doing it, but not for any of her reasons.  Since Rich and I are retired, we don’t have many time constraints and we definitely are not doing it to increase our income.  We just want to fill the void out there for people like me who have limitations and need the product information and tips and tricks we offer.  The only reason we held back was because of the mean comments we have seen posted on other You Tube sites.  The appearance of my hands is fodder for mean-spirited people and Rich wanted to protect me from that.  He saw the need for the site, but was mainly worried about my reaction to negative remarks.  I’ve heard things for thirty years and felt that I could handle it.  So far, people have been wonderful.  I know it’s coming and I think I’m ready for whatever comes my way.  I just wanted to take a moment to thank those people for holding back, and more importantly, to thank the people who have been truly wonderful with their words of praise and encouragement.  The Splitcoast Stamping community have been great and have given me tremendous tips.  Linda, the Card-i-ologist, put me in her blog this week and gave me tips before I started, and my #1 fan, Linda (uncballfan), continues to be a great support.  Rich keeps all the balls in the air and I couldn’t do this without him–I’m only the face in front of the camera, he’s everything else.  So one week in and we already have 95 subscribers.  I’m over the moon!  Thanks everyone, for coming along for the ride–it’s going to be a great one!

The one thing you don’t want to have happen is your reinkers end up on their side and accidentally, spill.  Nightmare!  So I made these little trays to help avoid tipping and they work really well.  One plastic shoe box will hold 50+ so it’s a great storage solution.  I also dab some of the ink on the top and keep colors together so it’s easier to find them in the box.

This card looks great and is really so simple.  Even if you don’t own any punches (and I know I referred to them as stamps several times), you should consider making this card.  Use your paper trimmer and cut pieces out in squares and it works the same way.  If you have one tree stamp, make a row of trees, some lower and some higher to get a similar look.  It’s a really great card.

So Cathy really needed three more sympathy cards in her stash I sent her so I made this card for her on video.  If I had watercolored it without being on video, it would have been quick.  But I was really nervous because I didn’t want it to look bad or be something she would be ashamed to mail.  Sympathy cards, I think, are really personal.  What you say in them is important because if it’s for a friend’s parent, it’s a different card than if it’s an acquaintance.  I had to make these generic enough to use for almost anyone.  What can I say, 25 minutes of video.  People will surely want to speed through it since it’s so long.

Added a video of a card my sister requested.  She called and said she needed three sympathy cards and although I tried to get out of it, she was persistent.  I’m not sure that she realizes (or cares) that it took me nearly six hours to make three cards.  At least I was able to make the video and have people see my watercoloring technique.  I know it’s not pretty but who said I was able to look good while I do crafts?

I did have a really great thing happen today.  Linda Bauwin, my Stampin Up friend, put me in her blog and she got several really nice comments about me and I was thrilled Linda shared them with me.  Thanks again Linda, you’re such a great support to me!

I’m hoping as time goes on that I’ll be able to understand more of the media things I need to do to increase viewership.  I did a haul video because I’ve been told that people really love those.  I’m not sure why other than if they want to purchase the exact same things.

I also was able to determine that the removable handle that I did the product review on does stay put if wet.  I wet it the day I did the video for it and it’s still suctioned there as of today.  I used it and it stayed on so I’m saying that this could work for people who need a hand hold and not just a knob.  I personally think for me the Tim Holtz knobs work best but still liked the removable handle.

We also uploaded a product review video for a set of acrylic blocks with a removable handle.  I really like this and think it would have great benefits to a newer stamper who has no blocks or maybe one block.  I really liked the little 1″ by 1″ block.  The handle was as big as the block and it’s really cute.  My only concern is if someone else purchased this set and their handle was extremely tight, then we’d have a problem.