Organization Tips........

for spring cleaning your crafting supplies. 

Spring is on its way, at least the calendar says so.

So I thought I would share some tips and ideas for organizing your craft supplies.

I have an update on my Distress Ink/Foam Blending Pad Storage. I took the laminated sheet out of the plastic envelope and punched 3 holes along one edge. I now store it in a small 3-ring binder.

The benefit of this change is the top of my hand doesn't get covered in ink when removing a foam pad. I also have a sheet for Archival Ink foam pads.

I have also created boxes for my Distress Ink pads using photo boxes.

I loved how well they worked so I made them for all my rectangular ink pads.

My collection of Copic markers has been growing and I needed more storage space. I created this storage box after several found on Pinterest.

It is an Iris brand card storage box with the dividers removed. I cut a piece of ceiling light tile to fit inside it. It can hold 180 markers. 

Here is what I am currently using. 

I used an Art Bin Super Satchel Double Deep with the dividers. For 7 of the sections, I created an insert from mat board to divide it in half. This made spaces for each color group and 1 larger section. In the large section is an acrylic block and stamps perfect for coloring. One section also has stamp pads and color swatches. I like that it makes it convenient to take to crops or when traveling, just add paper. The lid does remove if needed when working in a small space.

Thanks to Pinterest and a recent trip to Ikea, I was able to organize many of my paper punches. 

I used the Bygel bars attached to a piece of plywood hung on the wall. For the larger punches, I had to add a plywood block under the bracket (as you can see I still need to paint them). Now I can find them easier. I still have punches in wire baskets.

 

These are the paper sorters at Cafe Crop.

My favorite way to store my paper is in paper storage containers. I have plain cardstock sorted by color families. Patterned paper I sort by theme (holidays, sports, baby, wedding...). 


 

March Classes at Cafe Crop

Are you getting cabin fever, need to get out? 

Cafe Crop's March class schedule is out. 

Take a look at what is being offered.

Make-N-Take Mondays
Each Monday we have a Make-N-Take available all day. You choose the time that works best for you. We'll highlight different tools, products, papers, die cuts and techniques. Create a fun quick project each week. A $1 donation is requested. All donations go to a local charity.


Once Upon a Time Mini Album
Tuesday, March 4th 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

 
This is a fun mini album for your own story or for someone else - a friend or a children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews, a one in a life time trip or just plain fun times with friends. Click here for more information.

Thoughtful Thursday  Give-N-Take
Thursday, March 6th All day
Thursday, March 20th All day
This is your chance to make a card to GIVE and one to TAKE = GIVE-N-TAKE!
The GIVE card will go to Operation Write Home.  Operation Write Home provides handmade cards to our troops overseas to send home to their families! This is your chance to give back.
The TAKE card is yours to keep!  
Click here for more information.

Friday Night Crop
Friday, March 7th 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Come to Cafe Crop and work on your projects – scrapbooks, cards, painting, etc.  Six (6) hours of crafting, snacks, dinner, beverages, and socializing with friends.  Bring your friends or come and meet new friends.  Sign up today!  5 PM – 11 PM.  Call or stop in to reserve your seat!  Feel free to come before 5 PM. Click here for more information.

Scrap-It-Quick Make-N-Take
Saturday, March 8th 10:00 am-1:00pm

Stop in anytime between 10 am and 1 pm to make 1 12" x 12" pocket layout. Project can take 30-45 minutes to complete.

Bring your photos, 4" x 6" and 3" x 4",  any related memorabilia, tape runner, and your favorite pen for journaling to complete a vertical or horizontal layout.

Zentangle 101
Saturday, March 8th 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being. Zentangle is enjoyed by a wide range of skills and ages and is used in many fields of interest.





Story Time 2 page Layout
Tuesday, March 11th 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, March 12th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Did you have favorite nursery rhymes or bedtime stories? Maybe they are the ones you read or sing to your children or grandchildren.  Here is a great way to remember them. The alphabet title is for the sample only. The mat with the shown title will be available for you to use as you wish. Click here for more information.


Christmas Card Club
Saturday, March 15th 10:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Thursday, March 20th 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
 
Do you make your own Christmas cards? 
Or maybe you want to start making your own Christmas cards? This is the place for you!
We will design one Christmas Card each month. You will have 2 opportunities each month to come in and make multiples of that month's card. If you participate each month you will have a nice variety to send out to friends and family in December.


Can't make it to class? Order a KIT! Kits will include instructions and all the pieces you will need to create the card.
Click here for more information.



Journal Card Mini Album
Tuesday, March 18th 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, March 19th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

 

This is a fast and fun album to make! You will use a variety of journal cards in 4x6 and 2x3 and add lots of additional blank pages.  There are may places to add pictures and journal about the occasion. 
This is a sample of what your mini album could look like.  You will have a large variety of journal cards to choose from to personalize your album. Click here for more information.
 

Friday Night Crop
Friday, March 21st 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Come to Cafe Crop and work on your projects – scrapbooks, cards, painting, etc.  Six (6) hours of crafting, snacks, dinner, beverages, and socializing with friends.  Bring your friends or come and meet new friends.  Sign up today!  5 PM – 11 PM.  Call or stop in to reserve your seat!  Feel free to come before 5 PM. Click here for more information.

All Day Saturday Crop 
Saturday, March 22nd 1:00 am - 11:00 pm
Come to Cafe Crop and work on your projects – scrapbooks, cards, painting, etc.  Over twelve (12) hours of crafting, snacks, dinner, beverages, and socializing with friends.  Bring your friends or come and meet new friends.  Sign up today!  10 AM – 11 PM.  Call or stop in to reserve your seat! Click here for more information.

All Occasion Cards
Tuesday, March 25th 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday, March 26th 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Needing a masculine birthday card, a get well card, a sympathy card, or a just thinking about you card.  This is the class for you. We will be making 7 cards in 5 styles. You will be able to select the occasion for each card. Click here for more information.


Zentangle Found Poetry
Friday, March 28th 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

What do you create when you take a page from a book and Tangle on it? 
You create - Found Poetry. Sign up to create your own Found Poetry.















Call or stop by Cafe Crop to register for classes.

Paper Makes a Difference...

The type of paper you use for a project really does make a difference.

Recently, I have been playing with the Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper. This is a matte coated paper.

Here are some differences I discovered.

 

 This first card I used just basic white cardstock to stamp the center image. I colored the flower stamp with Distress Markers (Worn Lipstick, Barn Door and Peeled Paint) and stamped. I repeated the process for each stamp. Then I stamped the sentiment with Ranger's Archival Ink. The last step was to ink the background with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink using the foam blending tool.  This blended and muted the flowers, but i really liked the flowers before I inked the background.

For the second card, I started with the Specialty Stamping Paper.  I stamped the same images. After stamping the images, I dried them with a heat tool. Then I inked the background. This time the flowers are brighter and crisper. The background is a little lighter and smoother because of the coating. I really liked how this turned out.

I created a few more cards using both the basic white cardstock and the Specialty Stamping Paper.

These two cards have basic white cardstock for the bases and the centers are Specialty Stamp Paper. The images on the cardstock are more muted, while the images on the Stamping Paper are more vibrant.

 

 For the next two cards I used the white cardstock bases and Stamping Paper for the center, but I only colored the image one time. After stamping the image, I sprayed it with a little water and stamped it again. I like how the image turned out. It created a softer look, but the image is still crisp.

Christmas Card Club

 Have you heard? 

Cafe Crop is offering a Christmas Card Club.

If you are like me, I plan on making my Christmas cards, 

but I usually run out of time. 

This year Cafe Crop is offering a way to have your Christmas cards done in time to send by December.

We will design one Christmas Card each month. You will have 2 opportunities each month to come in and make multiples of that month's card. If you participate each month you will have a nice variety of cards to send out to friends and family.

Here is the card for February.

Classes are this Saturday, February 15 at 10:00 am

 or 

Thursday, February 20th at 11:00am.

The cost is $10 for 5 cards or $18 for 10 cards.

Click here for more information.

You do not have to sign up for the whole year, 

but we do ask that you register at least 48 hours in advance. 

This way a kit can be prepared for you. 

Additional kits maybe available for purchase, contact us for details.

Not sure you need that many cards. 

You can create a gift pack of cards for a relative, friend, neighbor 

that would love to send homemade cards but are unable to make their own. 

Extra cards could be donated to a senior center, Meals-on-Wheels,

 Operation Write Home or similar organizations.

We will design one Christmas Card each month. You will have 2 opportunities each month to come in and make multiples of that month's card. If you participate each month you will have a nice variety to send out to friends and family in December. - See more at: http://www.cafecrop.com/event/christmas-card-club/?eID=6790#sthash.S2zGIKuZ.dpuf

CHA 2014 and Craft Matt's Adventures

Yesterday was a long day of presentations from vendors. Matt was a good listener, so if you want to find out what is new, just ask him.

Today has been a little more exciting. He is becoming somewhat of an international celebrity. He meet Yumi from Japan. Then he met Monica from Spain. 

Our first class was with Sizzix. We worked on 6 different projects. The first we made a treat box with a cut-out on the side.

Then we played with making a dimensional flower, a strawberry basket with strawberries, a window card, a card in the style of Andy Warhol,

and an easel card with Stephanie Barnard. Last we made a card using Tim Holtz's new framework die and embossing folder.






Tonight's class was with Faber-Castell. We made a 3D canvas using their new Whipped Spackling and Chalkboard paint. The Gelatos were fun to use.

California and CHA here we come!

After a stressful weekend wondering if we would make it out of Chicago, we finally made it. Our flight was an hour late due to the fact that the pilots had a difficult time getting to the airport from downtown. Then we had a crazy ride from the airport to the hotel. We went to areas I wouldn't go by myself. 

It feels like a heat wave here. When we left it was -12°, the temperature here is balmy 65°. The bad part of that is most of the week will be spent inside at the trade show, the good part is we will have classes and new products to share with you. 

What would you like to see? What should Craft Matt be on the look out for?
 

Can you guess where Craft Matt is?

Merry Christmas

My 12 Tags of 2013 for December.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.