ATC Swapping Preparations and Pretty Holiday Nails (these things are not related)

The thing about making a ton of holiday gifts is that my craft table becomes overrun with scraps of paper, material and all the little tiny things that get trimmed off a project. I usually have scads of these little things all over the frakking place which means the usable space on my craft table keeps shrinking and shrinking as I work.

Factoid about me: I hate throwing things away that I know can be useful. Also, if you recall I have a tight budget when it comes to crafting (my husband says it's not a necessity, go figure?).

Paper and fabric scraps get chucked into containers, and boxes and baggies and, you get the point. One of my destash projects is making ATC's (I like to swap them on swap-bot.com). As with many of my projects I tend to start and stop because of the myriad of interruptions that can happen at any given moment around here. So I prep the actual cards in bunches, clear up all my scraps and then keep those handy for when I have a spare moment to whip some up.

Here's how I prep and destash for ATC's:

1. Cut my base cards from heavy card stock, standard ATC card size is 3.5 x 2.5
2. Cut all my larger scraps of paper into backgrounds, same size
3. Gather a bunch of strips and squares to make collaged backgrounds.

4. Adhere backgrounds to bases with a gluestick and make a few backgrounds with the strips.

5. Turn over and trim all the edges so they are the correct size

TIP: ATC traders and collectors are pretty particular about sizing! Make sure that if you are making ATC's for trade that you get them to exactly 3.5 x 2.5 or as close as possible. Most collectors use trading card sheet protectors to store their trades, you want to make sure that your cards will fit into their collection.

6. I like to sew up the edges of my collaged bases to ensure the pieces stay put. If you choose to collage and NOT sew, make sure you are using a tough glue that will really hold on tight!
7. Now I have a stash of bases I can use to create ATC's whenever the mood strikes me and they take up 1/2 the room the scraps did, giving me more work space.

For more information on ATC's check out THIS, for more info on trading ATC's check out THIS.

PS: My nails are super freaking cute right now! I love the new Salon Effects for Christmas! I got mine at Rite Aid, but I think you can pick them up at WalMart too...

Operation: Get Organized // Time for a reward

Now that I have things in order (somewhat, I still have Back to School to get through), it's time to take a break and do something FUN!

I found the most amazing blog with the cutest couple EVER yesterday: Crowley Party.
If you have never visited their little corner of the blogosphere, please click the photo below for their main blog or the link in my sidebar (to see their link up page) and give them a visit. Read their 'about us and the blog' post. They are the sweetest people ever. Their motto "Life should be a PARTY" is so fun, and inspiring, because it SHOULD be a party!

Maybe not all the time, but if you never take the time to enjoy what you have, live what is right in front of you and just BE in your moments, WHAT IS THE POINT?

So, after everything was organized,
I went to meetings,
I talked to a counselor about quitting smoking,
I joined a gym,
I called the registrar at college to see what needs to happen for me to get my degree, finally,
I set up doctors appointments for the kids,
I filled out registration forms,
I went to job interviews,
I applied for more jobs,
I did laundry, dishes, vacuuming and other housework.

Then I STOPPED, doing all those things.

I made a fun project with the kids (Guest Post and Tutorial HERE)

I colored with chalk on the driveway

I made plans for a BBQ with some good friends

I went to see the last Harry Potter with my 12 Year Old

I let every moment with my family sink in, and ENJOYED THE PARTY.

What are you doing to enjoy the last vestiges of summer? Did you get all the organizing done you wanted to?

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Remember to stop by all day Friday for the Four Heart Friday Link Party!

Support and Share the Awkward, grab a button HERE

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Operation: Get Organized // Calendars, Planners and Schedules Oh My!

I have a serious highlighter fetish.

(I think we have effectively established over the last few days how geeky I am when it comes to office supplies)
I have 3 calendars/planners. A large desk calendar, a personal planner and an online calendar. I love to color code my calendar entries by person:
Hubbs - Blue
Me - Green (my all time fave color)
Autumn - Pink or Orange
Lili - Purple or Orange
*Orange is for Doctors/Dentists visits, stuff we CAN NOT MISS.

My online home for all things organization is Cozi. Free (always a plus) and easy.

There is a place for everything I need to keep track of (as if I need more lists), also the calendar has a built in feature so it can send me texts to remind me of my appointments. I can set it up with as many numbers as I want and it will remind whoever needs it. So, if I am taking 1 kid to dance class and the Hubbs is taking another to the doctor, it can send us both separate texts of the events we need to see, and not the others.

There are of course iPhone and iTouch apps that can make it easy to take your Journal and Lists with you if you like.

Sidenote:

Personally I like to write my journal.

In a book.

With pages, and a pen. No typing. I don't know why, but there is something about writing furiously, and getting hand cramps that makes me get all smooshy about my journal.

Less confusion, my brain can only hold so much info at once.

What do you use to keep track of all the millions of Mommy/Daddy things that need to get done?

Remember to Link up on the Projects and Goals pages through September!

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Remember to stop by all day Friday for the Four Heart Friday Link Party!

Support and Share the Awkward, grab a button HERE

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Operation: Get Organized // Meal Planning

Have I ever mentioned how BAD a cook I am?
I must have, I can't imagine I would have left out that juicy tid-bit of information.
I have successfully cooked MANY boxes of mac and cheese and any other 1/2 packaged food. I am the MASTER of exactly 2 meals Chili and Lasagna (both of which my kids hate by the way). Thankfully I married a man who knows his stuff. I never really had it in me to learn, not for lack of trying on my Aunt and Mother's part (they are great cooks too).

Meal planning and grocery shopping has always alluded me, mostly because I get stuck for ideas after 2 days on the calendar. I actually used to take the old school lunch calendars and rework them for dinners (I know, SHAMEFUL).

So, along with making a meal plan, and corresponding grocery lists I have made a deal with the kids to try 1 NEW meal each week for the next 2 months. I promised to FOLLOW a recipe and actually cook, and they promised to try a minimum of 2 bites.

These are some hefty promises, I assure you, neither will be easy.

I have a 2 part plan, I found this awesome FREE printable meal planner via 733blog. Kim is a genius, and I figured why mess with that? Visit her HERE and give props for this beauty. You can click on the link on her blog to download and print this for yourself (there is also a matching recipe book).

The second part of my plan is BigOven.com (also they have an iPhone, iTouch and iPad app).

This site is AMAZING. If you have a device that supports the app, I HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you can use it in your grocery store. I unfortunately do not have an 'i' device so I use it from home, but it is just as effective. Search, or let the kids, for a recipe you like and it AUTOMATICALLY starts your shopping list for everything you need to make it! You simply uncheck the items you already have and presto, shopping list done. You can plan entire weeks worth of meals, sort them, create the shopping list and then print it out (or if you are using the app, you can check them off as you put them in your cart).
Genius.

Operation: Get Organized // Mom Binder

(remember to link up HERE)

I'm not out to re-invent the wheel.
I might be trying to re-invent myself a little though. Throughout my life I have always had an organizer, a planner and lists. When Autumn was a little girl I started a Mom Binder to keep EVERYTHING in. After looking at this mess:

I realized it was time to re-embrace the mom binder.

I bought a few supplies, for a grand total of $7.00, I had the makings of a Mom Binder.
- 3 ring binder
- zipper pouch (with a window)
- sheet protectors
- index cards
- dividers
I also grabbed an ATC sheet protector and an Avery pocket from my office supply stash.
(yes, I have an office supply stash, doesn't everyone?)

Now I have this:

1 bag to carry (above),
- Mom Binder
- Planner
- Coffee Sleeves
- Notebook
- Magazine

1 car bag (above),
- change of clothes/underwear/Pull-Ups for 3 YO
- selection of toys
- first aid kit
- blanket
- Plastic baggies
- long sleeve shirts for everyone

My Mom Binder:

Everyone has different things that are important for their family, my sections may not be best for everyone. This design is one I used when Autumn was about 6... I got lazy and slacked off about it in recent years and stopped using one all together.

It's not fancy, it's a little ghetto, but that's how I roll.

Here are some other cool things I found:

- Mommy Tracked - Pre-made organizational binder with cute matching calendars.
- The Stir - Closet organization for kids
- Lucky Mom - baskets, containers and labels, oh my!
- Sun and Candlelight - OMG, this lady has some SERIOUS files

Do you have a Mom Binder? How do you keep things organized on the go (and remember everywhere you have to go)? Link up your stories, ideas, tips and tricks HERE or leave a comment!

Four Heart Friday: Getting Organized Edition

In preparation for Operation: Get Organized Mom! (happening all next week peeps!) this week I {heart} all things organized, neat and of course handmade. I don't know if you know this, but I have a bit of an addiction to the internet (just go ask the Hubbs if you have any doubt). I spend a lot of time window shopping Etsy, because I LOVE handmade goodness, and vintage, and I can't really afford to buy either (hence the WINDOW shopping).

So, today is officially 'Get Organized Edition', but it's also 'what lovely things would be in my house RIGHT NOW if I had a million dollars tax free Edition' (that would make a mess of the title I though).

Corinne of SoMommaSew is a hard working momma of 2 boys, and the creator of this totally cute crayon organizer. I have BINS of crayons, SCADS of crayons, almost a SEA of crayons. They could never be corralled in one small organizer like this one, but in my million dollar dream I have a beautifully sharpened, unbroken set of crayons carefully rolled up and tucked away on Lili's playdesk.

DROOL... How beautiful is this jewelry holder by Claudine? I wish I had a shabby chic distressed dressing table to put it on, ahhhhh. I love my imagination sometimes. Claudine and her 8 year old son run ClaudinesLimited on Etsy and she has 4 other stores there too (2 vintage and one decal shop). This little beauty may actually make it of the WINDOW shopping list and into my cart sometime soon.

Ok, Lee Ann of ladesigns2 is ONE BUSY LADY. Not only does she create these beautiful fabric storage bins, she is also a mom of 2 and a preschool teacher. My new hero, seriously. There are a ton of fabrics to choose from, I could definately see these in the bathroom holding magazines, bedroom to corrall loose socks, and kitchen for the mittens in winter (what would you use yours for?)

Jane and Jen of SewnNatural are a mother daughter team, a seriously talented team. Check out the absolutely rad car seat organizer. I NEED this (there is a fine line between want and need, this item is right on the edge, seriously). I can't tell you how many times I dig toys, books, crayons, clothes, sippy cups etc. out from under my seat after the 3 year old terror has been in the car. Also, it's pretty. I like pretty things.

What are you hearting this week my friends?

Rules to Link By:
- Link to a specific post, not your main blog address
- Add the 4HF button to your post, sidebar or Link page so your friends can play!
- Visit someone else and share the love, we all love comments :)



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Operation: GET ORGANIZED MOM!

Here's the sitch: Since becoming unemployed, I have become VERY disorganized. I don't really know how to be a SAHM, I have always been a working mom. An ORGANIZED working mom. It actually seemed like the more I had on my plate, the easier it was to juggle it. Now that I have that 9 hours of 'work time' back, I feel like I have no idea what to do with myself.

I have always been the organizer of our family.
I write the lists, I do the calendars, I sign the forms, I do the budget. I went to work, juggled our schedules to get kids to school, daycare, dance class... you get the point. Now, I don't want this to sound like I am supermom, I am totally not. I have always had help. The Hubbs trucks kids to appointments and classes too, Mema always finds time to help out when she can. I have a fantastic support system, and I am grateful everyday for having family close by.

That said, lately I feel like things are OUT OF CONTROL.

Exhibit A:

YES, this is the crap I have been hoarding and hauling around everywhere I go for the past 2 weeks. It is getting bigger, pretty soon I may need to start buckling it up so it wont spill onto the floor of my car.

Exhibit B:

This is BAG #1, papers, planner, cell phone, feminine products, allergy medicine, notepads etc... looks a bit empty due to the removal of my camera and coffee mug which can also be found in there on a regular basis.

Exhibit C:

This is BAG #2, WHO CARRIES 2 BAGS?! Who brings with them this much crap? In here I have about 20 old receipts (I actually found one with a $10.00 off coupon that expired in JANUARY), purse, more notebooks, cup wraps (for take out coffee), pens and apparently some Sweet and Sour Sauce. BTW - I have NO plans to EVER use that sauce.

I've been doing some research (which is about my 3rd favorite thing to do, I know I'm a geek) and I think I may have found a solution. YAY! I'm off to the dollar store to get some supplies, I'll let you in on the full project details ASAP.

While we're add it shall we add a WHOLE BUNCH of Organizing? I know I have a lot to do, I bet you do to. Lets do it next week, sound good to you? I'll get some tips, tricks, buttons and linky's ready :) Maybe we will have a giveaway too.
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Remember to stop by all day Friday for the Four Heart Friday Link Party!

Support and Share the Awkward, grab a button HERE

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