This is something that my grandmother says and it still holds true. Place a receptacle or basket near your work space that you can use it easily for holding your scraps. This small container can also serve as a place of color inspiration if you get stuck. Or better yet, to remind you of ready-cut stuff that you can easily transfer and use in your project. Go one step further and collect smaller bits to recycle.
Back to School Again August 26, 2009
It’s true. Even if you are kagillions of years out of going “back to school,” aren’t you always reminded of how you felt when it was time to go back to school? For me the best part was getting new school supplies. I get gleefully cheery when I think of new binders, new pens, folders, paper, pencil cases, and all of those other things that you needed. Each year the list got longer and longer and longer. But, I loved it. Even after I had graduated I took great happiness in buying stuff for my younger brother. (Definitely not his thing.)
Now that I’ve always got an eye out for what I can use in my papercrafting, I always peruse the school supply aisles for what would be useful. And now that you can find some super sweet deals, I challenge you to do the same and stock up. For example, if you are looking for storage and organziation ideas, look at the stuff geared towards teens going to college. For another take on it, stock up on journals or other types of composition-style books and alter them for cool birthday gifts or for the upcoming holidays. Grab a set of new acrylic paints. Buy a nice compass to help you create perfect circles. Organize all those magazine articles you’ve been meaning to read: pull them out, hole punch them, and add them to binders like I’ve done here.
If that doesn’t float your boat, study the trends–graphics, prints, colors…the list is endless. Find inspiration in the design and embellishment. You’ll often see echos of these trends in recently released stamp sets and paper families.
If nothing else, revel in the fact things are, as with the start of every season, starting anew. With what will you challenge yourself? What new, wonderful thing will you discover about your crafting? Will you adopt (or adapt) a new style or technique? Find your new-ness, if that is even a word. Remember, you can always start again.
Buy a new 49¢ notebook. Turn the page. Write another story. Spin another tale. Discover yourself. You are the beginning and the end. Find yourself in what you create. Craft yourself something new.
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