Flexing My Declutter Muscle

Are you on a spring cleaning kick lately like I am? I have only just begun, but it seems like one of the things I am constantly reevaluating are my creative supplies.

I love my supplies! I love having them. I love creating things from my stash. But there comes a time when the amount of things I have starts to overwhelm my creative process and I know I need to purge.

The problem is that as a creative person I can see the “potential” in everything, so I have a hard time letting go of items I haven’t had a chance to use, even if I have had it for several years. I am trying to be better at mixing older things with newer things, using newer items right away, and matching my rate of shopping for new things to the rate of my consumption.

I recently came across a series of three videos about decluttering and purging by the amazing Origami Twist on YouTube. Her thoughts about culling our collection really hit home for me, and I have been able to give myself a bit more “breathing room” in my space.

My favorite phrase she said in the first vidoe is that each time we use our declutter muscle it will get stronger.

I FEEL that! I purged several things a month ago, but I decided to go through my stash again … and it’s true! I can feel my declutter muscle getting stronger.

I am being more realistic about the things I will truly get around to using, and more willing to pass things on to someone who will give those items a loving “home” and allow their “purpose” to be fulfilled, as well.

I have included all three videos below, if you would like to see them. They really are incredible and I suggest investing the time into watching all three.

The third video about HOW to actually MOVE the stuff out after you have decided to purge was just as ground-breaking to me, as the two about WHAT to purge.

I think you will enjoy these as much as I did!

Have a great week! and Happy Spring Cleaning!

         

Scrapbook Room Tour Video

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing the Scrap Gals Facebook Group Page (If you’re not yet a member … come join us! It’s a great place to be!). They were discussing scrapbook rooms and my friend, Tracie Claiborne, asked me to link up some photos of my room.

I realized that it has been TWO YEARS since I have posted anything about my space, so I thought I would put together video tour for you.

First, here are a few still shots, so you can get an idea of the overall layout of my space. If you’d like to see my drawers and cupboards in more details, I go through them in the videos below.

If you have any questions about my space, let me know! I’d be happy to answer them for you!

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Thanks for coming by!

         

Organizing Tips at Noel Mignon and More MME

This week on the Noel Mignon Blog, everyone has been sharing their tips for organization and today is my turn. My room is in a constant state of reorganization as I figure out what works best for my creative process, and the constant flow of products in and out of my space. Some of the ideas, I have shared here before, and some I haven’t. If you’d like to take a tour through my space and see what bins and methods have worked for me (and might work for you), be sure to stop on over and say hello!

Scraproom photos are always annoyingly clean, right?! Just so you know that my space NEVER looks that clean, here is a little “behind-the-scenes” of all the stuff I had to move off my counters and floors and into the hallway to get my photos. Hehe! Just keepin’ it real! 🙂

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And since I don’t have a Noel Mignon project to share this week … how about I share another My Mind’s Eye CHA page? This one was created with the My Mind’s Eye Now & Then Mildred Collection.

OH HAPPY DAY

SUPPLIES

My Mind’s Eye Now & Then Mildred Collection: World paper, Shine paper, Framed paper, 6×6 paper pad, 12×12 chipboard, Enamel Shapes, Decorative Brads, Mixed Bag, Alpha/Tiny Word Stickers

I had fun layering a bunch of the chipboard elements together on this page. I love how the new collections have metallic elements mixed in. It was fun to add pops of bright color to the gold hearts with the enamel shapes.

Thanks for taking time today to read my blog! Wishing you a creative and relaxing weekend!

Creative Spaces Volume 2 Giveaway!

It’s that time of year where we pull down the holiday decorations and think to ourselves, “This place needs some organizing and decluttering!” I’m willing to bet that you’ve thought about cleaning out your scrap space, as well. I know I have! (Check out the bottom of this post to see my latest organization project.)

Creating Keepsakes magazine has read our minds again! Today marks the day that Creative Spaces Volume 2 is available! YAY! Now you will have all kinds of ideas at your fingertips to inspire you as you plan out your renewed space. Even better, Creating Keepsakes has allowed me the pleasure of giving away a copy to one of my readers! All you need to do is comment on this post by Sunday, January 13th, 2013. I will announce the randomly selected winner next Monday, January 14th. Or purchase your own copy NOW at the Creating Keepsakes website HERE. Take a SNEAK PEEK look at the issue by CLICKING HERE.

There are lots of opportunities to win this new issue. Be sure to check out the Creating Keepsakes Blog for more information.

Did you know that my scrapbook space was featured in Creative Spaces Volume 1? It was such an honor! If you want even more ideas, be sure to pick up Creative Spaces Volume 1 while you’re shopping for Volume 2!

Along with everyone else I have been doing a little bit of organizing in my own creative space. Here is a look at my latest organization project.

Over the years, I have acquired a growing collection of embossing folders. I LOVE them! I have them all organized alphabetically in boxes, but it is quite cumbersome to flip through them to remind myself what patterns I have. Soooo …. I decided to create a reference book for myself. I purchased baseball card sheet protectors and a standard binder.

Next, I used my computer to create 2.5″ x 3.5″ cards with the names of each of my folders on them. I included the company, folder name, and size of the folder. Then I embossed each of the cards with the corresponding folder.

I LOVE my book! Having each card in it’s own slot allows me to see the front AND back of the pattern easily. I can group similar patterns together for easy comparison, and I can pull out the sample cards and hold them up to my project to see which pattern will work best. It’s been a great system. I hope you’ll give it a try! Here is a peak at a few more pages of my book.

Happy Scrapping!