I'm back after a bit of a blog break but I don't have much to show I'm afraid.
Both Christmas and New Year have been an up and down time for me - lots of fun with several pantomimes, shows and social events, but also two funerals, a really bad chesty virus thingy and then last Wednesday my little Guinea Pig Archie died after a lot of intensive looking after. I've been a bit all over the place and apologise for being a lax blogger!
I have however taken a leaf out of Shaz's book (Silverwolf Cards) and purchased a selection of plastic wallets and re-organised my shoe box of die-cuts. Whenever I use a die I always put it through the machine a couple of extra times for spares and they had become a huge tangled mess, so thanks to Shaz and her wonderful organisational skills I am feeling very smug with how neat and tidy I am! Shaz's blog post is here.
I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW.
Had the virus too so you have my sympathy with that, so sorry about the two funerals - I've two on consecutive days next week, sadly seems to be the time of year for it. So sad to read you lost little Archie too, I love the cute noises GP's make and always missed ours too.
ReplyDeleteQuite understand why you might feel a little "down" but hope you found sorting those embellishments therapeutic, certainly looks like you've cracked the storage
Happy WOYWW
Kathyk
#11
Lovely to see you back in woyww.....sorry to hear you have been unwell and very sad to hear about the loss of Archie. My DD still grieves for her little Daisy that passed away 5 years ago. If I ever mention the possibility of getting another GP she always says "it's too soon" :( Loving the storage system and I think I might have to take that on as well. Hope you are better soon.
ReplyDeletesandra de @19
Hi Diana, so happy the idea worked for you, and I love how you've used them for die cuts. I shall be copying this from you,as I always forget what I have! Out of sight, out of mind in a storage box. Like this so much more. I know exactly what you mean about a tangled mess- I die cut a whole batch of flourishes a while back- to 'save me time next time'. What a hopeless idea that was, it takes me three times as long just to gently untangle them, then I never have exactly the right colour. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #5 XxX
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, thinking I must do that as I often cut extras but don't really organise them very well. I am so sorry to hear about Archie. I used to keep Guinea pigs and they are such a sweet little animal but don't have a very long life span. I'm sure he was very happy whilst he was here. Thanks for the visit to mine and have a good woyww, Angela x 9
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear it was up and down over the holidays. Glad you're feeling better. Good job on all that organising - looks so colourful and neat.
ReplyDeleteHave a great WOYWW
Sharon K #37
Sorry to hear about Archie! What a great way to store the diecuts. Very organised. Sez X #42
ReplyDeleteoh my that looks very organised, I have cut pieces in cd wallets but I always for get to look in the pouches, maybe I need to move them near the scraps??? Sorry you had the cough thats been going about and glad you are better now
ReplyDeleteOh bless you - what a time you've had. Doesn't it always seem to happen that way? I'm sorry to hear about Archie too and the blooming virus seems to have been laying swathes through the country. I really hope you're feeling a bit better now.
ReplyDeleteI do love a nice bit of sorting and your storage system looks pretty fine to me! Shaz is an Organizer par excellence, she did all my ribbons and tapes for me when staying with us a couple of Crops ago! I did really well keeping them in order until comparatively recently. They've been packed away now but that's something to do in the new Jancave!
I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up but you have an open invitation to come and stay...just ask don't wait to eb invited, ok?!
Hugs, LLJ 17 xxx
I'm so sorry about Archie, it's so sad to lose a beloved pet. Your organizing of your die cuts looks very well done - you should be able to find anything now! Thanks for sharing, Lindart #47
ReplyDeleteoh look at you all organised with your fabulous die cuts.... I had a funeral this week too; I guess it's the time of year! take care, and sorry about Archie. Helen #2
ReplyDeleteGreat workspace. TFS xx Jan 52
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that you've had a really rough time.. funerals and the passing of a beloved furry is always so hard. I hope you are feeling better from he flu though.
ReplyDeleteI always think about running extra die cuts too... but the thought of storage always stops me.
Have a lovely week x
Erika (#6)
Hello, sorry about Archie - we have two grand piggies - they belong to our granddaughters and they have named then Chloe and Grace :-) they will be brokenhearted when anything happens to them - they are both nearly three years old - the piggies not our granddaughters. Sorry you've had the bug. Hope you are fully recovered now. Anne x #18
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way to organize your die-cuts and have them ready when you need them. I'm soooo sorry to hear about Archie! I'm truly saddened by this. He was such a cutie. We can get so attached to our little animals - they're like part of the family. Sending you a big cyber hug. Thank you for visiting earlier and nice to have you back on WOYWW! zsuzsa #14
ReplyDeleteOh mega organised, I LIKE loads. I have mine in little packets in a box! The flowers have a whole ferrero Rocher box to themselves. I guess you noticed I am still in awe of your ATC to me last WOYWW anniversary as my tag and journal page and even my scrapbook page are influenced by it. Sorry to hear of all your ups and downs, I'm still battling the hormones, living in hope still....... I changed the background colour to have a change and yellows really brighten the mood in these overcast days don't you think. Have a thing for turquoise at the moment too. Ed Sheeran is a genius as LLJ said in her reply. Thanks for the visit. BJ#34
ReplyDeleteWow, your organized die cuts are a site to behold! I love organizing things, it's very satisfying. Sorry to hear you were sick over the holidays, I was as well, so frustrating. And so sorry to hear about your guinea pig, I love them, used to have one myself, and losing a pet is always so hard. And funerals at Christmastime - what more can be said about that, just wrong. I've been on quite a blog break as well, hoping to start spending a little time in my studio now that the Christmas overflow explosion has finally been cleared out.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is such a clever idea!! I should take a leaf out of your book, my diecuts are all over the place (as is a lot of the rest of my stuff)...
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your guinea pig :( I hope you will feel better soon, would love to see how you will use some of these die cuts!
Happy new year Diana and I hope it's a good one for you. I'm really sorry to hear about Archie, I know how you feel, pets are our family and a big part of our daily lives. So I'm sending you a big hug.
ReplyDeleteShaz's storage idea was a top tip, it's worked really well.
Very little crafting going on here recently but lots of faffing haha
Lynn xxx
Golly - you're right to feel smug (or shall we just call it satisfied with a job well done?) - what a great idea from Silverwolf. I usually just cut as I go, but I'm starting to think I should get ahead of the game like this too.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the downs in your up and down festive season - how sad to lose Archie. Condolences on that and your other losses. I hope that you are finally feeling better. I'm still shaking off the last dregs of a chesty cough too - they do like to hang around, don't they?
Alison x
I'm so sorry to hear about Archie, and the funerals you had to attend, and also that you've been so poorly - this winter's virus seems to have been a particularly horrible one and it's taking people ages to get over it! I hope you are feeling better now. I love the idea for organising your die-cuts - I use those ATC pages for my Zentangle designs - they are very useful! I usually cut more pieces than I need when using my Cougar machine, too, and perhaps I should take a leaf out of your book (sorry for the pun!) and do the same thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated WOYWW,
Shoshi #40
I certainly understand what you are going through, seems to have been a rough winter for me thus far and I am feeling the need to take a break too! So sorry about your sweet critter. Love your idea for organizing your dies. I seem to put mine in little sandwich bags and stack them in a drawer, but yes they tangle! Hang in there and here's to a lovely 2017!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your return visit, Diana, and for your concern about my tooth - it's much better now and I haven't taken any pain killers for several days, which is good. I can see that I am going to have to press on with my mini-books in view of the great feedback I've had about them - I can't keep people in suspense till I finish all my UFOs or you'd all be here till doomsday... I am like you with embroidery - I tend to stick to a limited number of stitches (shi-sha, chain stitch, endless French knots lol!) but recently I've been looking up new ones on the Internet and having some fun experimenting. I don't think I got those stitches very evenly spaced at all and intend to do better next time!
ReplyDeleteI finished my baking, and today, having 8 egg yolks hanging around after making a pavlova for a shared lunch on Sat. as well as the macaroons yesterday, I tried my hand at custard tarts and they've come out quite well!
I do hope your year improves. Not good so far, which is such a shame. Thinking of you!
Shoshi x
Fabulous idea for those beautiful die cuts - I've not thought to cut more than I need, though looking back I do find the scrap box handy, so will be changing my game plan. Condolences on your losses and recent illness - those bugs can be very insistent, no? Glad to hear you are feeling better, and like Astrid, I look forward to seeing what lovelies emerge from this fabulous stash! xxx Lynn
ReplyDeleteOh Im so sorry about Archie, poor little soldier Guinea. That and not being well is enough to make you all tearful and soft, understandable or sure! Good thing that Shaz showed you hat can be done to distract yourself. You should be feeling very smug!
ReplyDeleteHi there. Finally made it to peek at your desk this week. What fun you are having organising everything. Enjoy. Sorry you have had such a mixed few weeks. Trust things start to settle.
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #1
I am sorry to hear youv'e had such a difficult time of late and losing Archie too. fabulous organisng and sneaky peak at some great dies too. I hope you have a good weekend take care crafty hugs Andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this and the Shaz post info. I'm in need of help !
ReplyDelete