Black and White and Read all over! That’s the state of my library. I have lent out so many books, and received so many in return I cant keep track. That is~until now.
I decided I needed a way to track my books and remind my friends~in a pretty way~of who owns what. Every time I lend a book I make a book plate to put inside. It has my name on it with the date. When I return a book, I make a special “Thank You!” by tucking in a cute bookmark, like this one. Everyone remembers and I even get requests to borrow books because everyone wants a bookmark!
Here’s how to make this bookmark:
- White Bazzill Basics paper in the Cuttlebug with the A2 Floral Fantasy Emboss Folder
- Black Bazzill Basics paper in the Cricut Expression Machine using the Cindy Loo Cartridge
- Navajo Blue Bazzill Basics paper hand cut bird
- All pieces glued using tacky craft glue
- Ribbon strung through hand cut hole and fastened with white brad.
It’s that easy!
Happy Reading!
Whatever shape or form your inspiration boards take, they are essential for a creative life. Here are mine. They are a series of 9 that I sewed then stretched across 12×12 inch cork boards. I use them daily to plan and be inspired.
The one accessory I am rarely without is a flower for my hair~especially these hot summer days when I have to wear my hair up to stay cool. The twenty-some flower clips I own were a little hard to sift through quickly until I attached them all to bamboo skewers and put them in a vase. Not only is it the prettiest thing in my bathroom, I can pick a flower and run~I love efficiency!
I have been sewing a lot lately, and it is my tendency to trade up the colored thread on a minute-by-minute basis. You know~those of you out there who wonder about storing bobbins~that the more you handle bobbins the more tangled, lost and aggravating they become. Well, I have finally found a solution I want to share.
Keep Bobbins Neat and Organized On Bamboo Skewers:
Buy a bag of skewers at the supermarket and color a few (if you care to~I do!) from tip to tip with a permanent marker. I prefer about 5 bobbins per skewer.
Next you'll want to put a tape "stopper" to hold the bobbins toward the top of the skewer. Here I have my prescribed five bobbins on and tape stuck to mark where to begin.
Twirl the tape on until the mass is larger than the bobbin hole. This will stop the bobbins from sliding down to the bottom and falling off.
Once the bobbins are all on the skewers trim any loose threads. (Do this every time the threads get out of hand~it's that easy!)
Finally, put all the skewered bobbins in a narrow necked bottle and place on your sewing table. You'll be amazed how much simpler bobbin changing will be!
One last thing: I discovered I can take all my bobbins with me. Simply grab the whole shebang and lay them in your traveling case. A rubber band gently wound around the skewer tips can keep them from flying off. Happy sewing, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Until tomorrow~Sarah
Every time a magazine or website appeals to me, I clip out photos and ideas and pop them into a big binder. I keep it handy so it’s easy to file things and the clippings don’t pile up. It is, quite literally, my brain food. That, an a good cup of coffee, and I am ready to get creative.
Make your own Ideas Binder:
- Buy the largest binder (about 2″ will do) as well as clear pockets from your local office supply store.
- Use tabs to mark sections, like: Home, paper, embroidery, color combos, and others areas of interest.
- Start cutting images from all the magazines you receive in the mail, then move onto sites with good ideas.
In no time your biunder will be bulging with great references you can use!
Until tomorrow~Sarah
