• 3D printing - Blog - Creativity

    My style notebook

    February 12, 2024 - By 

    I am a prolific list maker and idea jotter. I am constantly grabbing a sheet of notebook paper to quickly write my ideas. It gets a bit chaotic with some many pages of half crossed lists laying about. I started thinking that if I could have a smallish notebook with me that I could keep everything in one place.

    This idea, like so many others, has been rattling around in my head for a while. Lately I was inspired by an image of a stack of small pamphlet stitched notebooks on Pinterest. That in combination with a Readers Digest Condensed book cover I had in my stash and thinking of the function of a travelers notebook I put the three together to create my own version to better suit my needs.

    As I said before, I constantly have papers to jot ideas or work things out visually. Such as this drawing on how I wanted the elastics to work in the spine. Originally I was going to have 3 signatures to my book but after drawing it out I realized that I’d need 4 to have the elastics at the same end of the book.

    I used my new book cradle to assist in the binding process. 

    Mr. G 3D printed and assembled this very sturdy tool for my bookmaking. In the past I’d used an old phonebook for this process with very mixed results.

    This book cradle makes it a breeze to accurately make holes in the spine with an awl. The results are perfect.

    I added a but of reinforcement to the spine of my gutted Readers Digest Condensed book.

    Then used eyelets to reinforce the holes for the elastic cording.

    A bit of lace covered the unsightly bits quite nicely. All that was left was assembly.  And the glamor shots.

    Anyone remember Glamor Shots at the mall circa 1990s? Oh yeah… I have some cringe worthy photos from that place. Faux fur stole and white gloves…geesh. Sorry…ADHD squirrel moment!

    The glamor shots…

  • Blog

    January Journal embellishments

    January 16, 2024 - By 

    Since the cold weather finally found Minnesota, I’ve been doing a bit of lap crafting. It’s too cold in my basement craft space to spend any length of time. I had yesterday off for Martin Luther King Jr day so I spent a bit of afternoon time by the fireplace re-watching a series. Re-watching something lets me craft while still getting a bit of entertainment value simultaneously.

    I’ve definitely been more inspired by junk journaling lately. I watched a YouTube video the other day that talked about using those 6×6 paper pads for an easy and practical embellishment. A full page pocket.

    They were super simple yet slightly boring on their own. I decided to add clusters to them to jazz things up a bit.

    As you can see they are kind of like chips…can’t have just one.

    Here I grabbed an ATC to show the pocket part. When the pocket get glued to the journal page it will be adhered only on three sides creating another pocket behind.

    After embellishing the pockets with clusters I decided that my stash of clusters needed a bit more interest. I grabbed a container of paper flowers and set to work.

    I had so much fun working with this limited palette of flowers.

    As you can see I went a bit crazy, but I used up the whole container of flowers from my stash. I’ve been think a lot about all the stuff I have for crafting and how meaningless it is to have around if I’m not using it. I made a pledge to myself to use things. Even if I don’t have a specific plan at the moment. Moving forward with creating. Not everything has to a a plan. I’m being BRAVE and using the stuff. Creating without an end goal in mind per say.

    While I crafted, my buddy Marvin kept me company. He’s sweet like that.

    This is a poor picture taken as the sun was setting but look at the blossoms! This plant has never bloomed for me. I’m so pleased that it finally did!

    Over the long weekend I had plans to have Bloody Mary’s with the neighbors but they came down with a cold. I wasn’t too sad since it was so frigid outside. I didn’t relish the idea of walking across the street. Instead we all had our own and shared a photo in our group chat. 🙂 I suppose we could have done a zoom call but that really would have been overkill.

    It was back to reality for me today. The end of semester is Friday so suddenly all the kiddos want to get some work done! Imagine that! Keeps me busy and makes the day go by really fast.

    Linking up with Elizabeth and friends for T Tuesday where we share a beverage and whatever else comes to mind.

    T stands for Tuesday
  • Blog

    December in review

    January 8, 2024 - By 

    My creative actively during December was limited to my sewing room. Not purposefully but it just worked out that way.

    I made a bunch of fabric clusters from scraps like these.

    As well as adding a handful more scrappy blocks to my ever growing stack.

    This past December was very un-December-like for Minnesota. Warm temps, barely any snow…definitely not the norm.  But having the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights helped make it a bit more festive.

    Marvin is always a fan of the tree…and bows. Bows are his favorite.

    My mother-in-law gave me her Dicken’s Village collection. I chose a few favorites to set up on top of my lawyers bookcase. The photo is really poor but you get the idea.  I was very sparse in my decorating this year to be honest. Without Mini-me home for Thanksgiving to help and get me in the spirit, I took a more minimalist approach.

    She did return home on one of our worst weather days…and as you can see, it wasn’t an uneventful trip. She went off the interstate into the median. Thankfully the safety cables caught her from heading into oncoming traffic. She was able to put the Jeep in 4 wheel drive and get out on her own. After accessing the damage, she drove the additional hour or so home. Mr. G was able to fix it up with new and used parts. I did a little spray painting…it’s good enough for the kids we hang out with.

    J surprised me at the high school holiday concert. He didn’t think he’d get out of work in time but was able to get there just a bit late. At the end of every holiday concert, all the choirs combine to sing Sussex Carol. The alumni attending are invited to come on stage and sing. J and a friend were two of many that went up to sing. It brought me so much joy!!!

    My second batch of lefse for the season was made just before my winter break. I had shared with some co-workers with the previous batch and was asked if I’d sell some for Christmas. My mom used to do that every year but I had never even considered it…until now.

    I had to document this…grilling steak on Christmas Eve is absolutely crazy to me. What a treat to have in the middle of winter!

    I bought myself a little gift at a local craft fair. I have no skill or patience with needlework. I love the look but I’m never going to do it so when I saw this, I had to have it.

    We are in our second week back to school. I keep my favorite water bottle with me throughout my day. I usually end up drinking 2 of these 32oz bottles. I definitely drink more water at school than when I am home.

    Linking up with my friend Elizabeth for T Tuesday once again.

    T stands for Tuesday