Time for yourself

hmmm well. I have heard so many people say, and yes I am guilty of saying it myself, that they don't have time to read a good book, do a craft project they wanted to do, go out for a leisurely lunch etc etc.  We all know that is a bunch of bull.  If you are serious about reading that book, doing that craft project or going to that lunch then do it. Make the time.  You can't always be on the go or putting off the things you want to do.  Maybe you do so because kids are taking up all your time, or your pets are or you just have to have a reason to natter :) . We all need time for us.  Even if it is just a quick walk around the block to help clear your head.  So just do it.
  Now me I have several things on the go for Christmas gifts and I know I need to get to them but use the above excuse.  That and I spend to much time on the internet looking at quilling or card designs, talking to friends etc etc etc. So I have to get myself motivated to get to the things I enjoy. No one is going to make me do it.  It is up to me. Only me to make the time to do something for myself.
  So... after I go do my errands today I am coming home to complete a birthday card for a friend.  I have the card all ready, a special. fold card. Now I want to do a wee bit of quilling to decorate it. I told my friend in Colorado that I was getting into quilling and sent her some things to look at on the net to show her what it looks like. Now I want to make her card  with some on it. Then I have to decide which font to use for my sisters quilling art I want to do for her for Christmas. One for my other sister too. I have Christmas stockings (4) to make, cards , ornaments and the lists goes on. So I will make the time to do all this because I love to do crafts and it is relaxing and puts me in a more relaxing zone. That is good for anyone...............

Debt what a pain in the arse

In debt?  More than 84% of consumers have some kind of debt.  Car payment, mortgage, credit cards, something we are paying on , or something that has gotten away from us. Like those credit cards that they ask you if you want to increase your credit limit all the time. And... we , or some of us , always click YES.  Fools aren't we. I know I have done so , more than once. I say to myself I will get the increase but I won't use it. It will be there for my rainy day when I really need it. Yeah ok.  I have used it, more than once and now have a high debt with those damn cards.  Today I took a good look and realize it is time to get off my ass and make a payback plan and stick to it.
 I have watched a show on tv called Till Debt do us Part with Gail Vaz-Oxlade.  Now some may really dislike this woman and her show because she tells it like it is and gives people hell when she knows they need it. But really... she makes a lot of sense. And has given people a lot of help, when they chose to take it. So here is her website because today I spent time to read a lot of what she has on there and it is giving me my kickstart to paying off some of my debt and earlier than when I am in my late 60s (10 to 15 years from now).

http://gailvazoxlade.com/

Go to her Resources section where you can find some interactive worksheets that can help immensely. I did . The one where you list your debt and it tells you what you should pay a month to get them paid off in 12, 24 or 36 months. Wonderful tool. Now if you don't think you can do that within the 3 years just do a bit of math for yourself and figure out what you would have to pay for 48 or 60 months.( Sorry Gail I know you would rather we pay off our debt within three years :)  ).

  This is a great website to get started and keep going. Lots of tips, advice , worksheets to use etc.  If you don't use Gails website find another online . Just take that first step and keep with it. Tell yourself you want to get rid of your debt . Go for it.

Take care all. Have a good Sunday

Time flies doesn't it and Scammer warning

On Mondays I hope my four day (10 hour a day) work week would be over fast. This week seemed like it really did go fast. Friday was grocery day and that is about all I did, well except for taking my cats outside for walks. One runs free because she won't go to far away from me, the other two go on a leash.  Today is wash day and then I get the chance to catch up on what I miss online during the week as I seldom log on the first part of week.  I found a lot of free patterns for Iris Folding. Gave me several ideas for Christmas cards. I figure I have about 20 to send out so I better get my butt in gear. Also I got 12 packages of quilling strips and picked up the three canvases I need to make my sister her Christmas present this year. I know once I get that started I won't want to leave it. Long weekend coming so hopefully get a good start on that then. Oh yeah and got 4 large packages of 12 by 12 cardstock for making cards too so I am good to go.

Had a scammer call our house last night.... after midnight. Supposed to be with Microsoft and they try to get you to go on your computer. Tell you what buttons to click on and what screens will come up, They continue to do this , looking like they know what they are doing, and then they say for some amount of money they can fix your computer... even though you never knew there was anything wrong with it.  I had a friend attempt to stop that there and they had already froze her computer , by her clicking on what they told her too.  So if she had paid it she would of gotten the answer on how to fix her computer.... Most often these people who call are not English speaking , or hardly at all. Please be aware of them.  So many scams out there and unfortunately so many people fall for them.

 Anyway when the phone rang, I went to go answer it , in a panic , because you always think, that late at night , that someone is in some kind of trouble. I tripped over something and went ass over teacup. If I could of gotten to the other end of that phone grrrrr,   But all is well today... I think lol

I have a birthday card for a friend to get ready. I have most of it done except for doing some quilling on it . Will post it here when I get it done.  All for now

Videos of various papercraft tutorials

I became interested in making greeting cards several months ago . My niece in law is a Stampin Up demonstrator and I finally went to one of her wonderful seminars with another niece. We both got hooked on making cards. Since then I have joined Pinterest and created numerous boards with so very many techniques to use in making cards. Some are very easy , some are frustratingly fun. So I wanted to include on my blog some video links so others can see what I mean when I talk about.
First will be the technique I am really getting into.  Then others I want to eventually try too.

Quilling:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ICwEBsvZM

Iris Fold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIXY8AIW7dQ

Ornare or paper piercing. Pinterest page with many patterns
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=ornare

Incire or cut and fold papercraft on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=incire%20tutorial

Pergamano or Parchment craft
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfedwc_aB9E


If you are a card maker you know there are many many different folds to try when making a card. Besides the usual folded in half and decorated cards, which are in themselves quite lovely too.  Here are some links to websites that either have videos showing different folds or have diagrams for those folds. Yes I have tried quite a few of them and plan on making more .

http://beccysplace.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/z-of-folded-cards.html

http://www.toocoolstamping.com/toocoolstamping/fancy-fold-cards/
This one above has a lot of techniques to help make your cards too.

Ok I know in the future I will have a lot more links to share in my posts but this is a start. I am off to do some cooking now :)

Great day

Almost the end of my day. But I had a good one. Made 4 cards up at my nieces . They were all special folded cards like diamond fold,  gate fold and a tri shutter card. But I have not finished any of the 4 of them. One I want to wait and heat emboss as it is a Christmas card and yes I know it is nowhere near Christmas but as I want to make quite a few for other people I better get started ...now. Want to put some nice snowflakes on that one or Christmas ornaments. The other 3 cards I plan on quilling different flowers on. Just have to keep looking at tutorials I have found on the net or in the blogs I follow here (they are all listed).
Also today I ordered a lot of quilling strips because I have a project in mind for one of my sisters. Once I find just the right font to use for the words , and the strips come in , I can get started with that. And there is getting back to the project I started in the winter for another sister. A granny square crocheted throw for her sofa. She loves to fall asleep on that sofa and needs something to keep her warm. Then there is the felt Christmas stocking I want to get made for family members. Thank goodness they are all kits with plain worded instructions. ..... hmmmm looks like I have a lot to work on before December 25th eh!!
Good night all. Be safe

Beginning

Well it is Saturday morning and it is raining outside and seems this might be a all day thing. Good thing I have something else to keep me busy. Will be going to my nieces to make some greeting cards. Between us we have made 30 to 40 cards. Most of them have not decided if they are birthday or sympathy cards. Just made them up. We have done sponged cards (one of my favorite techniques),  different folds for cards,  made some marbleized cardstock ( will post a link to that technique soon).  Had a blast doing all of this. Some cards came together really looking great , others not so much. But it is all learning and first cards are usually a bit off.  LOL
  I plan on posting a lot of links for card techniques I have used myself. Lots of recipes. Pictures.  All kinds of things . So stay tuned. See ya later