I Don't Want To Do It say's the Crafty Lady

This post was originally started and saved in my draft folder.  I am finally finishing it.
JANUARY 2012
There are many things I hate doing and I think the worst thing is cleaning out my craft stuff. The problem is that I like my stuff. I don't want to get rid of it. It's mine! I have it because I wanted it. That's why I have stuff! If I didn't want it then it wouldn't be here waiting for me to get rid if it. I confess. I am a collector of...well...stuff. Mostly craft stuff...a bit of colored ribbon here and some glitter there, an old Christmas card with a pretty scene on it, and a big jar of buttons, all just waiting to be used in my next project. Also a box or two or three of ceramic bisque waiting to be painted and stained. Not to mention all the paper pieces, in every color, size and texture waiting to be used in that "special" project. Then there are all the sea shells that I dragged, I think illegally, home from our wonderful vacations in North Carolina. I have been saving those until I have just the right " I know what I can use" moment. There are the pieces of shale roofing, that came from a historic building in W town. Two of our very dear friends had that building demolished (with the cities blessings and gratitude) and re-purposed as much as they could in their beautiful new home they had built on the same site. I was lucky in that they allowed me to take as much of the old shale roofing as I wanted. Had I known at that time how easy it was to work with I would have taken a few more pieces. Anyway I made a pretty garden stone from one piece and presented it to them at a wedding shower. I smile each time we drop by and I see it in their beautiful garden. So do you see what I mean about my stuff? How can I get rid of stuff that has fun and happy memories for me? Grrrrr....I really do hate the thought of having to get rid of any of my stuff BUT it is on my to-do list for 2012. It must be done but I don't want to do it.
JANUARY 2013
It is now Jan. 2013 and I must say things have changed a bit for me.  I have gotten rid of SOME of my craft stuff.  I did up raffle prizes for a fundraiser.  I had some large and small vintage and reclaimed boxes and tins that I filled with craft stuff.  Paper, glue and scissors were added to each prize and I also added craft books that I had bought at a thrift shop.  I made labels for each prize to make sure everyone knew that there were recycled and new items in the prize packages.  The kids went crazy for those raffle prizes. I had parents telling me what a great idea it was.  Those kiddies that didn't win asked if I would be doing more this year.
Sadly, I think not.  The new executive has decided to go in a different direction this year.  That's OK.  I wish them nothing but success in their endeavors. As for the craft stuff I still need to thin out there are always nephews and nieces who love getting surprises from their Aunt Lois.  They all know I'm a crafty lady!

Something old new again.

I never got around to saying "Thank You" to the Bamboo Bunch for the lovely framed artwork and gift certificates that Hubby John and I were presented with last month at the Chinese New Year celebration. We have over the past five years helped out at this event. Every year HJ and I help with the serving of food, washing and clearing up of dishes and after all is done we help to take down the tables, chairs and decorations. We donate raffle prizes that I put together, with both new and previously enjoyed items, to help raise money. Tis year we donated about 30 raffle prizes.
The money raised is used for events for the children during the year and also for a foster child that the BB sponsors in China. HJ and I were called upon during this years event and presented with the gifts that were totally unexpected. We were so surprised. It was very kind of the board to remember us in this way. So THANK YOU to all those involved. Some of the raffle prizes had to do with a previous post in which I happened to mention that I had some beautiful, large, old calendars that I just couldn't throw away but I didn't know what to do with. You can read all that here. I meant to tell you that I thought of a great way to use those calendars. I got some peel and stick paper stock and covered the calendar date part with it. I used a stock that is called "Blockout" and nothing will show through once it is applied. Doing this made it easy for the pictures to still be viewed while the new owner of the calendar could use the covered part as a doodle pad, paint book or whatever. The calendars were put into the raffle prizes that I did up this year for the along with my usual jumble of this and that. I hope whomever won them were happy with them. Personally I thought my idea was a great way to recycle and make something old new again.

What a great way to start my day.

In all the excitement of Easter I forgot to tell you that I went Christmas shopping on Saturday. Yes it's true...I really did! Actually what I did was go to my first garage sale of the year where I bought Christmas stuff. I just nipped across the road and viola!...there it was. I bought a cute little silver tree hung with silver jingle bells, a new little glass Christmas tree plate, a brand new fuzzy red stocking with white trim and best of all eight napkin holders. I plan on trimming the napkin holders with tiny red bows and turning them into decorations. They were too pretty to just leave them there. I also bought a new book to read. I did show some restraint. I didn't buy the Santa that said...Ho..Ho..Ho.. and wiggled when you pushed a button. Although now that I think of it, it would have made a great re-gift. Rats!... LOL! I did feel a little bit guilty about going on a buying rampage but I don't think the $3.75 that I spent at the sale will break us too much. Anyway that was a fun half hour for me. I do love going thrifting and to garage sales. It makes me smile thinking I got new stuff for next to nothing. Sigh....... I was truly a happy camper. What a great way to start my day.

You'll be glad that you did.

I am not a good photographer so please be forewarned that these pictures do not come close to showing how wonderful this original artwork really looks like. I apologize to the artist for this.
I am finally getting around to bragging about my wonderful package of artwork that I won from Abbie at theodesigns back on November 16Th in 2008. I love her work and I am tickled pink that I am now the proud owner of some of her designs. Here are small tags, postcards and labels.
Very foreign looking.
So charming.
Her drawings are so delicate and whimsical.



This is an ad advertising a happening at the Green Beetle, which I think may be a club of some kind. The happening???? . Well let me see...Hmmm.... Maya, (I call the girl Maya because she reminds me of someone with that name) is holding an armful of shoes. Mary Jane's are a type of shoe for those of you who didn't know.
So I wonder if the happening is an all girl band or maybe a really big "shoe".... pun intended.





Abbie's work is great, don't you agree?

There are four cards that I can use for postcards,

pictures or maybe incorporate into a

greeting card of some sort.

Lots of ideas spring

to mind just

looking at them.

From a black and white

actual postcard

to a shades of blue robot

I'll have fun just deciding

what I am going to do with them.

A beautiful white and blue mask

with red in it to add mystery.

Maybe to spy upon or to be coquettish.

So many possibilities.

Just in time for Valentines day,

or birthdays or maybe

to be saved for

a very special something

during the year.

I'll see what happens.

For me the adventure is just beginning.
For you I suggest that you take a minute or five

or ten and slip over and visit Abbie.

I know you'll be glad that you did.

Have Fun & Enjoy!

This post was actually started in October. Then I cut and pasted it into another new blog in December and now I have done it again in January. This time I am posting it for sure!
Today (this was back in October) I was cruising my "Blogs That Make Me Go Ohhhhh...." and while I was reading one blog in blog land I checked out a blog that someone had on their blog and then went onto a blog that that person had on their blog and well the next thing I knew I had no idea where I was. I was enjoying myself thoroughly but you can loose track of time so easily in blog land can't you? Anyway four hours later I am back to reality. Since I put those words on a Post waiting to be published I have added to it.
INSERT..... cut and Paste...cut and paste....more blog reading and more cut and paste....HERE.
So finally after3 months here are a few blogs that I have visited. Some of them I have added or will be adding, to my side bar in "Blogs That Make Me Go Ohhhhh...." and also in "Save Your Gas...Let Your Fingers Do The Driving" so I can visit them again and again. Go ahead and try them...you know you want to....have fun and enjoy!

Free Religious based E-Cards. Add this to your favourites and use it to send e-cards for every occasion.
http://www.dayspring.com

Awesome card blog
Sweet Miss Daisy

Pictures of a Wedding in Canada. I stumbled upon this site somehow and I loved the pics taken.
I think they are taken at St.Louis Church in Waterloo.
http://artistiquephotography.blogspot.com/2008/10/fall-wedding-in-canada.html

Free Craft Templates For All Sorts of Things - A great site with lots of ideas
Paper Scarpz

Everything To Buy For Scrapping & Card Making
Scrap Hut

Great Craft Site For All Sorts of Stuff
The Artful Crafter

This is......My favourite fabric/craft supplies shop

Thanks to Sharon for a subject near and dear to my heart and hands! I don't have a favourite fabric/craft supply shop. That's probably because I haven't been in one yet that I didn't like. They are all my favourite. I use whichever one suits my purpose for whatever it is I am working on at the time. I use craft stores, dollar stores, thrift shops or whatever. I used to tend to go into more craft stores than fabric stores only because I don't sew. But a few weeks back I did wander into a fabric store and well, let's just say I will be visiting fabric stores much more often than in I did in years gone by. I was amazed at all the neat stuff they sell now days. The store I was in had this really cool sparkle trim that.......Oops! Sorry! I digress......now where was I? Oh yes, which stores are my favourite. As I was saying, I use whichever one suits my purpose at the time. I use the Dollar stores for a lot of my purchases because they're cheap and I'm cheap so we work quite well together. I tend to buy bits and pieces when I spy them regardless of what store I am in. Lesson learned over the years: If you see it and you want it, do not say to yourself, "I'll come back later and buy it later." Buy it right then and there or Murphy's Law will take effect and it will be gone or sold out when you come back! That said, and off what little mind I have left; I love to poke around in different craft stores whenever I can. It's always a treasure hunt because you never know what you will find. Pictured above are some of my purchases for the last few weeks. Mostly from dollar stores, some from thrift shops, one from a department store and one from a craft store. I have been busy......as you can see!