OrganizedHome member CariA has taken her version of the Household Notebook to a whole new creative level. For style, beauty, and function, we give this project an A+

Cari's Corner

Cari's Household Notebook

Creating a calendar can be a rewarding experience with a bit of planning. Time is always a factor in our busy lives but large projects become more manageable when broken down into smaller doable tasks. For August the goal of the Calendar Creations group was to complete layouts for the months of January, February, March, and April. For January I selected a simple layout in shades of blue and white. This is the January paper available from www.orientaltrading.com in their monthly paper bundle. Add a white lacey punched border, shades of blue paper strips, silver-white snowflake stickers, and a snowflake button to create a simple yet eye catching layout.

Click the read more link below to read more about Calendar Creations.

Paper crafts have evolved over the last few years and scrapbooking is not just about making pages any more. There are a variety of techniques that lend themselves to other canvases. One of the most popular of these is altering containers to use for a variety of purposes. Empty paint cans are available at local home improvement stores and also in most craft stores. Here’s a website that has a variety of cans available: http://www.cansareus.com
Local scrapbook stores frequently host classes on different projects and techniques. Donna O’Neal owner of Scrapbook Nook in Warrenton, Missouri recently hosted just such a class. During it, participants were able to make an altered paint can, using any style of paper available in the store. Completed with ribbon and beads the cans make awesome containers for gifts.

To read more about creating altered paint cans please click the READ MORE link below.

Calendars are highly popular gifts, as one can tell from the kiosks in the malls at Christmas. Everyone looks forward to the crisp new pages of a calendar to welcome in the New Year.

At organizedscrapbooks.com, in the coming months, we will be working to create a unique 2008 calendar that can be used as a gift or treasured as your very own. While creating a calendar may seem a simple task, it is essential to layout and plan your calendar ahead of time. Preplanning, while not always fun, allows you to create the calendar that you envision without too many detours along the way. First ask yourself a few questions.

What kind of calendar do you want? Wall? Desk? What size?
Who are you creating the calendar for?
What are their likes and dislikes? Favorite colors?

Click the Read More link below to read more about creating a calendar.

That feeling in my chest is there. My mind is racing. The palms are sweating. What is happening to me? Scraparalysis!

Now what do I do? I know! I will go to my local scrapbook store for inspiration. Fifty dollars gone and a bag full of goodies. I sit down and stare at them. Is that panic I feel? The state of overwhelm is growing.

Hmmmm. OK, a new idea book or magazine. That will cure this condition. I just need a few more ideas. Oh, look at page 52. What a cute layout. I can scrap lift that one. Nah, I don’t have pictures that are good enough. I am missing a stamp they used. Can’t do that one.

I could go on but I suspect by now some of you are nodding in agreement. How many times does the perfectionist monster take over when we sit down to create or even when we are just thinking about it. We believe more thinking, more studying and more waiting will cure our creative paralysis.

Click the "read more" link below to find a cure for scraparalysis.