Does Your Craft Bag Have a Personality? Mine Does!

Hello Wonderful World of Creative People... Today for my second Susan Weckesser design team post for January, where our theme for the month is TAGS, I want to share with you these sweet little luggage tags I created for my crafting tool bag.  

I got the idea from these wonderful, self-laminating luggage tags I found in my LDS (Local Dollar Store) and I am going to use them on all my portable scrapping and crafting bags and totes.

I filled in the card provided with all my contact information and then stamped and colored a business card-sized piece of white cardstock for the front... That's it!  The Sky is the limit... Anything Goes and what sweet little pops of color they create!

But while I am modelling my Tote why don't spend some time sharing this AWESOME piece of luggage with you!  It is the Original Tote-ally Cool Tote and they do not make this model any more... so if you see a used one for sale, GRAB IT! 

This is What it looks like when it is empty and NEW

I LOVE my Crafting Tool Bag and I use it like my "Creative Purse".  I fill it full of personal stuff so that it reflects who I am as both a woman and an Artist.  I decorate it with whatever appeals to me and since I have been using this bag for about 10 years now, I feel lost trying to anything without it!  

The people who designed this model thought of absolutely everything - it has zippered pockets, open pockets, wide bands of elastic to hold things in place right where you need them.  It has a large net pocket so you can see right through it to what is in that space, and it even has a zippered drawer below to hold all those little bitty items that always get lost at the bottom of the bag.  There are special spots for all your favorite pens and spaces for just about everything else.  There is even a detachable clip for your keys and a closed pocket for things like money and your Ipod.  The entire bag sits on a metal lazy-susan carousel that attaches magnetically to the bottom so I can place it on the table beside me and I just give it a wee push to spin it around and find what I want, but then the carousel detaches easily and fits into the bag for those times I don't want my bag to move.  

There  is a large centre area that fits my both my 12" trimmer and my Creative Memories gilloutine trimmer without removing the handle, BUT the top of the sturdy cloth handle unclasps to fit an even longer trimmer or any other large items.  I usually carry a rolled up craft matt in this space as well as all  my rulers and metal paper rippers.  The entire thing fits perfectly into my carry on suitcase, which I unzip to make it wider and of course it then goes as checked luggage.  And, like I mentioned, I have been using this bag for about 10 years, and although it weighs about 20lbs fully loaded, it has held up beautifully.  I really appreciate that there are no plastic pockets to rip or break down and that everything is made with heavy duty canvas and double stitched.  I did have to ramp up my drawer with duct tape as it did get a wee bit squashed after having 20lbs of stuff flattening it for 10 years but that's it! 

Since I use this tool bag in my studio it is always packed and ready to go without me having to do a lot of work, and because of that I almost always have everything I want or need where ever I am, to create whatever I am working on, whether it's a card, a scrapbook page, a mixed media project, stamping or painting (all mediums).  Of course my Ipod, my ear buds and my corkscrew are ALWAYS on board.... Grin. (Did you see my I LOVE WINE key chain?)

So that's my share for today!  As always thank you for stopping by to see what I am up to and please do let me know what YOUR favorite Tote product is.
Scrapbook Lynne Mizera
for the Susan Weckesser Design Team

Products used on this Project:
Susan Weckesser/Unity Stamps:
"Create Your Day"
"Journal Doodles with a Heart"
Susan Weckesser at Studio 12/Polka Doodle Stamps:
"I Am More Intelligent"
Mini Ranger Distress Inks
Ranger Archival Ink - Black
Sakura Gelly Roll Gel Pens
Ribbon
desk-Tech Self-Laminating Luggage Tags

 

And Edna Says: "T" is for Technique

Hello all you amazing People who come by to Visit! It's almost the end of January, 2016 and this is yet another of my pre-scheduled posts as I should be frantically unpacking 150 or so boxes into my new studio space right about now... grin.  Today the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers is launching Challenge #51 (and our last one for the 2015 Season) as Edna says: "T" is for Technique, share a technique or try a new one... 

Here is the card I am sharing showcasing one of my favorite easy techniques using free digital black and white images off the internet and an inexpensive pallette of watercolor paints...

Yup, I just print the images off on heavy card stock (90 lbs or more) not even watercolor paper, and then paint away ... since these images are free I will usually try to get four images printed onto one page, because I find that many images take away all the pressure to "get it right" the first time.

And after my painted images have dried I always accent with Ranger Stickles, Liquid Pearls and
Close To My Heart Liquid Glass, all of which help to disguise any little mistakes.  So if you love to color and paint as much as I do, there is no need to buy expensive adult coloring books when there are so many free images on the internet, just create you own.

So why not consider giving my technique a try or share one of you own and create a project to link up to this Challenge #51.  Or just pop on over to the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers to see what everyone has created to share. If you want to join in you have until February 5th to ink up one of your projects and be eligible to be selected as Queen or Princess of Snark and maybe even offered the position of Guest Designer for one of our Challenges!

Thanks for Popping by today... I hope to see you again sooon..

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers

Some Inspiring Words All Wrapped Up In A Mini Album Of Tags...

Hello Sweet Friends and Guess What? It's already halfway through January in 2016 and if all has gone as planned I am now in my new "old house" in Creston, British Columbia, Canada having moved 550 kms (342 miles) over Christmas and I am probably trying to find stuff in one of the 150 boxes that contain all my Arty, Crafty goodies... Grin!  This is a pre-scheduled post as I won't have a working studio for a while and today is my first post for the month of January for the Susan K. Weckesser design team.  This month our theme over at the My Sweet Earth blog is Tags of Love... and Susan shared this quote with us by Susan Polis Schutz: (which I think describes me Perfectly!! Smile)

"Let us dance in the sun wearing wild flowers in our hair."

 

So with that in mind, with a heart overflowing with gratitude and joy for all that is happening in my life these days I decided to create these tags featuring some of my favorite photos of ME over the past 16 years along with quotes that express some of my personal philosophy of living - and then I tied it all together with a velvet ribbon, Swoon!  

Oh, and one more thing... I decided to keep this project simple only using paper, pens, ink and fussy cutting. This entire Album features Susan K. Weckesser's "Live in Color" paper line, Ranger Stickles and Liquid Pearl for accenting and embellishing.  I also used a range of inspirational quote stamps from Ranger by Tim Holtz and Dyan Reaveley.  So Enjoy these photos of me over the past 16 years and don't forget to leave me a comment to tell me what you think of it all!

I decided to use this photo as my cover because I LOVE to laugh... and here I am laughing because I am on a boat and the wind caught my hat and I am actually stangling, but my daughter snapped this photo before she realized I was choking... Grin

This Quote above expresses PERFECTLY how I strive to live my life every day...

Grandsons... Swoon... Need I say more?

The LOVE of my Life... and yup... We're in Mexico and we're RED

 

 Oh how I LOVE the Ocean, Surf, Waves... Grin

 I am Crazy Afraid of Heights and I am Para Sailing!! Gulp "Feel the Fear and do it ANYWAY!"

I remember when I thought I Looked Horrible in this photo, now I would LOVE to look this good!  So that's the secret ladies, let them take your picture but don't look at it for at least five years! (or 15)

 Standing beside our creek on our 7 acre piece of land on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scortia on the OTHER Side of Canada - 5,555 Kms Away... Just saying "our creek" gives me shivers...ONE DAY BABY!

Have I mentioned how much I love FOOD in all it's forms? Giggle I had to cook him before I ate him and it wasn't hard at all... Laughing here

My first Cruise and my first all female scrapbooking Vacation... me and 71 other women... they are still recovering, Grin

Real Women have CURVES... and I am embracing those curves... yeah Baby!  Live OUT LOUD!

Thanks for popping in to see what I am up to today... leave me some blog loving in the form of a comment!

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

for the Susan K. Weckesser Design Team

And The Sisterhood Says: "O" is for OLD!

Hello and happy Saturday oh Awesome Blog Followers!  Today is my day for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers and it's Challenge #50 where Edna says: "O" is for OLD!

I cannot believe that we are already done our 2nd year at the "Sisterhood" and almost ready to begin our third.  You just know you are in a good relationship when the time flies by this fast and all you can remember are good times and LOTS of laughter!

So here is my contribution to this, our 50th challenge, done up using the most basic of my supplies as I wait to get into our new home, surrounded by piles of boxes packed full of my studio stuff. And doesn't it say just perfectly how I feel about both Age and Wine! Big GIANT Smile.

So why not consider whipping up something that talks about getting older, the more snarky and sarcastic the better, and linking it up to our blog over at the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers to be considered for the title of Queen or Princess of Snarky and to maybe be a guest designer right along side of all of us!  You have until 11:59pm on January 22nd and some Serious NEW Blog Candy is to be had! 

 

Thanks for popping in to see what I am up to these days, and please do hop on over to the "Sisterhood" to see what my Sistaaaahs have created this week to make us laugh.

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera

for the Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers 

Products Used on this project:

Mini Distress Inks, Fire Brick & Aged Mahogany

Unity Stamps "Drink & Cuss" & "Marlow Itty Bitty"

Background Stamp Hero Arts Manuscript Background

Close to My Heart Liquid Glass

It's a NEW Day...

Today I am sharing with you my Intentions for 2016. I was introduced to this word "Intentions" last year through Lifebook 2015 - the idea being that Unmet Resolutions are demoralizing and depressing, so instead why not list your "Intentions" for the year and check in every now and then to see how you are doing.  I LOVE this concept which I have paired up with the "One Little Word" concept from Ali Edwards, (Find her blog HERE) another concept that resonates with me and that has been a powerful force for change in my life these past four years.  And because I use these words all  year long I decided that I need more than one word, so this year I have chosen Four...Grin.

I use these words like they are printed on clear plastic sheets which I can place over any situation or decision I have to make where I am unsure of the direction to go or the action to take.  I have found that my direction  becomes blindingly clear and my decision seems so obvious when I use My Words in this way.

I have also found that sharing these words "keeps me honest" as I progress through the months and the new year becomes older - so this is ME SHARING - Smile. My intentions this year are two-fold: 1) to learn how to Yield and to stop fighting against the Universe so much; to go with the flow more easily, and 2) to Cleanse, Reclaim and Renew myself, my talent and my life going forward.

Because after five long years of doing the Hard Emotional Work and of experiencing the intense emotions, all the fears and joys that healing and soul restoration can bring, I am READY to take the next step to Cleanse, Reclaim and Renew ME...

There is no right or wrong way to find  your words or to "do" your words.  This year I chose to make 4x6-inch index sized cards to place where I can see them and to remind myself exactly what each word means. I used waterproof ink pens, my water color paints and my gel pens to make them pretty.

I wrote out the word first and added the color and images later letting my intuition be my guide and not worrying about, "right or wrong" or "good or bad" but just doing it.  And I used a lot of the techniques I am learning from Joanne Sharpe's Book, "The Art of Whimsical Lettering"...

So thanks for popping in today, I hope you enjoyed my little bit of personal sharing and please do leave me a comment and let me know if YOU have "a word" or something else that you do for yourself at the beginning of every year...

Scrapbook Lynne Mizera