A subject near and dear to our heart: shopping. :) We LOVE to shop for all kinds of items. We are especially drawn to crafty items, but we also buy clothes, (see post entitled "The Incredible Shrinking Pants" and jewelry from K. Jackson & Co.
Just this weekend, at Micheggy Card Camp part 2, we couldn't resist a walk around the store to see all the goodies. With the 30% off sale, we definitely took our time to really see what we might...ahem...need. One of our favorite things to do is actually buy jewelry together. At K. Jackson & Co., most of the jewelry is offered in sets of earrings and a necklace. Michelle likes the earrings, and Peggy likes the necklaces, so it works out really well! We each just got a funky new piece to add to our accessory wardrobe for under $10 each!
When we are craft supply shopping, we usually take our time and inspect lots of items. On the list of favorites are generic embellies like flowers and brads and bling...oh my!, pretty patterned papers, tools we can't live without, and of course, Quick Quotes inks! (Together we have all the colors, and most of them 2-3 times.) :) We also check out the unusual areas of the store as there are often some items just waiting to be altered into something cute. Peggy keeps a reasonably deep stash of these items in her "Emergency Supply Closet." It includes things like lunchboxes, giant clothespins, photo cubes, frames, buckets, and more alterable treasures.
What do you look for when shopping? What are you drawn to, either to purchase or pick up and ponder its possibilities? What is it that you...ahem...need?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Time...Time... Here Time!
When I owned my scrapbook store you don't know how many times I heard, "I would love to do all this crafting, but I just don't have time." After, I don't know, the first 50 times I started replying, "It is just like anything else. If you want to do it, you have to make the time." Isn't that true for any hobby? If you want to bake, quilt, or even exercise you have to carve out some time in your day, week or month to do it. It takes discipline and determination, but it can be done.
Every year I would have moms of high school seniors who needed to get their child's entire life in an album and they had two weeks until the big graduation party. They would come in as much as they could and use my tools and work and work. Most of them got it done. I was very proud of them. But, had they worked on the album regularly over the years they would have been done in plenty of time and less stressed. Not many of us are wired to do this. And I am one of these people. I am the worst procrastinator ever. But, I am getting better. I am not scrapbooking every day by any means, but I do get something done every week or two. And, for me that is good.
I have started taking some online digital classes (I will got into that in a different post) but they have helped me actually sit down and finish a page. Plus I am learning something new and I love that.
So, here is your homework. Take out your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to sit and craft or do whatever it is you like to do. Give yourself at least an hour or two. You will be glad you did. Then, just like going to the salon, make your next appointment while you are still crafting. Then you be more likely to keep with it. For those of you who are members of The Craft Spot, Project Night can be your appointment each month. You will get 6 hours to work. If you do not have a place to go like that, then set up a crafting night or day or weekend with some of your crafting friends. You will all have a great time.
I would love to see some of your pages, cards, quilts or whatever you get done. You can email me at mishi464@gmail.com with photos!
Happy crafting!
Every year I would have moms of high school seniors who needed to get their child's entire life in an album and they had two weeks until the big graduation party. They would come in as much as they could and use my tools and work and work. Most of them got it done. I was very proud of them. But, had they worked on the album regularly over the years they would have been done in plenty of time and less stressed. Not many of us are wired to do this. And I am one of these people. I am the worst procrastinator ever. But, I am getting better. I am not scrapbooking every day by any means, but I do get something done every week or two. And, for me that is good.
I have started taking some online digital classes (I will got into that in a different post) but they have helped me actually sit down and finish a page. Plus I am learning something new and I love that.
So, here is your homework. Take out your calendar and make an appointment with yourself to sit and craft or do whatever it is you like to do. Give yourself at least an hour or two. You will be glad you did. Then, just like going to the salon, make your next appointment while you are still crafting. Then you be more likely to keep with it. For those of you who are members of The Craft Spot, Project Night can be your appointment each month. You will get 6 hours to work. If you do not have a place to go like that, then set up a crafting night or day or weekend with some of your crafting friends. You will all have a great time.
I would love to see some of your pages, cards, quilts or whatever you get done. You can email me at mishi464@gmail.com with photos!
Happy crafting!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Bank of Peggy!
I can't believe I am going to admit this to ALL nine followers of our blog...but I am a terrible saver of money. I don't know what is wrong with me but I can tell you that my dad is the same way. So it must be genetic and I have inherited this terrible trait. I don't think my brother or sister have it so I am the lucky one. But for as long as I can remember, I just can't do it. So, I have trusted my money to the institution I call my "Peggy Bank". Genius right? Whenever I get a little extra (which doesn't happen very often) I give it to Peggy and she keeps it safe.
Right now I am saving for Adobe Creative Suite (CS5) Design Premium. It is very expensive. So, I told Peggy this is what I want so I need to save for it. She takes this very seriously and told me that if I want this program I need to have a class to learn it as well so I couldn't have the money until I had enough for both. I agreed!
Well, one of my favorite Digital Scrapbooking websites, jessicasprague.com is having a sale and the Adobe Illustrator class in 20% off. I was pretty excited but did not know if I should go ahead and purchase the class and let it sit on my computer until I have the program or wait and hopefully it will go on sale again later. Which it usually does. Anyway, I emailed Peggy, forwarded her the website and said, "What do you think? Should I purchase this class while it is on sale?" Here is the response I received back.
Dear Ms James,
Iam writing to you in regards to your savings account (account #0001) at Peggy Bank. We recently received a request for withdrawal for an item that was not specified as your item you were saving for when you opened the account.
You chose to bank with Peggy Bank because of our strict rules and guidelines for accessing your money. We do not believe in penalizing our customers, but we do take the job of protecting your savings very seriously. The item you specified you were saving for was Creative Suite. You are well on your way to having enough to purchase that item.
For that reason, we are offically denying your request for withdrawal for purchase of the online class, Adobe Illustrator.
Right now I am saving for Adobe Creative Suite (CS5) Design Premium. It is very expensive. So, I told Peggy this is what I want so I need to save for it. She takes this very seriously and told me that if I want this program I need to have a class to learn it as well so I couldn't have the money until I had enough for both. I agreed!
Well, one of my favorite Digital Scrapbooking websites, jessicasprague.com is having a sale and the Adobe Illustrator class in 20% off. I was pretty excited but did not know if I should go ahead and purchase the class and let it sit on my computer until I have the program or wait and hopefully it will go on sale again later. Which it usually does. Anyway, I emailed Peggy, forwarded her the website and said, "What do you think? Should I purchase this class while it is on sale?" Here is the response I received back.
Dear Ms James,
Iam writing to you in regards to your savings account (account #0001) at Peggy Bank. We recently received a request for withdrawal for an item that was not specified as your item you were saving for when you opened the account.
You chose to bank with Peggy Bank because of our strict rules and guidelines for accessing your money. We do not believe in penalizing our customers, but we do take the job of protecting your savings very seriously. The item you specified you were saving for was Creative Suite. You are well on your way to having enough to purchase that item.
For that reason, we are offically denying your request for withdrawal for purchase of the online class, Adobe Illustrator.
Kindest regards,
Peggy
Bank President
What a great friend. I was laughing the first time I read it and am still laughing now as I post it on the blog. I asked about interest and apparently Peggy Bank doesn't give interest. But, as the president told me, they don't penalize either. So there you have it! I guess I am still on course for Adobe Illustrator CS5 and since I won't be able to purchase it without a class, I will, someday be learning new design techniques to pass onto you. Won't that be great? Until then, we will continue learning Photoshop Elements. I love it as well.
I am not sure how many customers Peggy Bank wants, but if you have a genetic disorder like me, call one of your friends to help you out. I am sure they would be more than happy to ablige.
Michelle
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
What's That In Yer Sleeve?
Ha ha!!
As usual, when Micheggy starts talking, some new plan is developed, from concept to construction, and in this case...action! We must just hit each other at the right time, in the right mood, to take on new and exciting endeavors. This one was Michelle's idea. Wait...I shouldn't say that. If we become millionaires in the future, she might sue me for my half. Nah... :)
Here's what went down...
Michelle called Peggy, and while whining about the crummy weather, inserted a seed of an idea that Peggy thought was fantastic! Michelle was out the door, coming to Peggy's house, (after stopping at Fareway to get groceries for dinner that night) so they could discuss it. Believe it or not, both of us brought out a bottle of opened wine, to "finish off" while we devised our plan. :)
Anyway...
We can't give you ALL the details of our plan, but we can tell you this. You are about to see many more posts on our Micheggy blog. We are going to work at publishing regular posts for our readers, focusing on scrapbooking, cardmaking, papercrafting, and the fun between friends.
What we want as a result at this point is quite simple. We want to interact with our followers. We want you to comment, and we want to comment back. :) We want to gather even MORE readers, so please recommend us to your scrappy friends.
To start off our project, what kind of things do you most like reading about on a scrappy type blog? Friendship stories? Techniques? Project ideas? Contests? New products? What draws you to read a blog post? Which blogs do you follow and why?
Use this as your chance to help us develop the scrapbooking powerhouse that IS... Micheggy. Then get ready....because the fun is about to begin!! (Insert maniacal laugh here.)
As usual, when Micheggy starts talking, some new plan is developed, from concept to construction, and in this case...action! We must just hit each other at the right time, in the right mood, to take on new and exciting endeavors. This one was Michelle's idea. Wait...I shouldn't say that. If we become millionaires in the future, she might sue me for my half. Nah... :)
Here's what went down...
Michelle called Peggy, and while whining about the crummy weather, inserted a seed of an idea that Peggy thought was fantastic! Michelle was out the door, coming to Peggy's house, (after stopping at Fareway to get groceries for dinner that night) so they could discuss it. Believe it or not, both of us brought out a bottle of opened wine, to "finish off" while we devised our plan. :)
Anyway...
We can't give you ALL the details of our plan, but we can tell you this. You are about to see many more posts on our Micheggy blog. We are going to work at publishing regular posts for our readers, focusing on scrapbooking, cardmaking, papercrafting, and the fun between friends.
What we want as a result at this point is quite simple. We want to interact with our followers. We want you to comment, and we want to comment back. :) We want to gather even MORE readers, so please recommend us to your scrappy friends.
To start off our project, what kind of things do you most like reading about on a scrappy type blog? Friendship stories? Techniques? Project ideas? Contests? New products? What draws you to read a blog post? Which blogs do you follow and why?
Use this as your chance to help us develop the scrapbooking powerhouse that IS... Micheggy. Then get ready....because the fun is about to begin!! (Insert maniacal laugh here.)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Folding Technique Class from Micheggy Card Camp
I hope you have been following the other two blogs and have seen all of the pictures of the wonderful techniques that Peggy and I will be teaching at Micheggy Card Camp on June 18 or June 25 at The Craft Spot in Emmetsburg. If not, here are the links so you can check them out. Plus you will want to keep on checking because we are posting more cards every so often up to the event.
Everyday Life
This uses four folded circles and ties together to make a really fun display. You could insert pictures for a special touch. It is shown folded in the last picture.
This card has three areas for stamping, personal notes, picture or a gift card or three! Who wouldn't love that? I mean really.
Michelle
Everyday Life
Flourish Scrapbooker
But, for this blog post I am posting the pictures of my Folding Technique. Two of these cards can be used for a gift or a gift card holder. They are really fun. I hope you like them.
But, for this blog post I am posting the pictures of my Folding Technique. Two of these cards can be used for a gift or a gift card holder. They are really fun. I hope you like them.
This uses four folded circles and ties together to make a really fun display. You could insert pictures for a special touch. It is shown folded in the last picture. This card has three areas for stamping, personal notes, picture or a gift card or three! Who wouldn't love that? I mean really.This one is just really fun! It would be adorable as a Christmas card and uses half of a circle.
You can learn these folding techniques by signing up for the Micheggy Card Camp. The camp will be offered on Sat., June 18th OR Sat., June 25 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The cost is $45 for members and $50 for non-members. Lunch will be from noon - 1:00 (on your own).
We have decided to offer each individual techinque as a class by itself if you cannot make the entire day. But the entire day is a great deal. This one is offered from 8:00 - 9:00 am on Sat. June 18 or Sat. June 25. Each hour-long technique will be $10. All of the techniques offered will be as follows:
We have decided to offer each individual techinque as a class by itself if you cannot make the entire day. But the entire day is a great deal. This one is offered from 8:00 - 9:00 am on Sat. June 18 or Sat. June 25. Each hour-long technique will be $10. All of the techniques offered will be as follows:
8 - 9 am- Folding Techniques (Michelle)
9-10am- Flower Techniques (Peggy)
10-11am Ribbon Techniques (Michelle)
11-noon Glimmer Misting Techniques (Peggy)
Noon-1pm Lunch (on your own)
1-2pm Digital Card Techniques (Michelle)
2-3pm Punching Techniques (Peggy)
3-4pm Flocking Techniques (Michelle)
4-5pm Texture Techniques (Peggy)
So you can choose the techniques you want to learn or come to all. We are really excited and want to have a lot of people there learning. So, stop by K. Jackson & Co where The Craft Spot is located and drop off a check or mail it to 2117 Main Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536.
So you can choose the techniques you want to learn or come to all. We are really excited and want to have a lot of people there learning. So, stop by K. Jackson & Co where The Craft Spot is located and drop off a check or mail it to 2117 Main Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536.
If you have questions, please call Michelle at 712-480-2320 or Peggy at 712-298-0105.
We want to hear from you. Please leave a comment! Don't forget that you can fine The Craft Spot on Facebook too. Please "like" us!
Thanks everyone!
Michelle
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