Serving up Organization

What was your New Year’s resolution?  I am really not a person to make resolutions because I feel like I would not follow through and then feel as though I let myself down.  I did however this year make a goal to get my kitchen organized. 

I sometimes find that I do a lot of “stuffing” to get things into cupboards.  I also find I am using the same spices over and over and would like them in one place.  So, I started out by centralizing my go to kitchen items.  Walnut Hollow has made organization easy.  I created a kitchen décor item that is functional.  Using the Serving Tray I organized my cutting boards, spices, olive oil and tea pot.  Watch below as I transform Walnut Hollow’s raw wood Serving Tray using a little paint and their Creative Versa Tool. 

Visit Walnut Hollow for more organizational ideas with their high quality wood products.  

Day 2: December Daily

I am really loving the Project Life App along with Over app for my December Daily this year.  I am able to quickly document the special moment from that day and move on.  I plan on the weekends to be traditional pages along with special Christmas crafty elements added throughout the album.

Here is my Day 2-

This 1st picture of Elfie, Bean's Elf On The Shelf, will be printed out as 4x6 and will stand alone without a page protector.  I might slip it into a 4x6 pocket and then hole punch it to add to the album.

Here is today's Advent page.  It is complete with a QR code.  To add QR codes to your albums, simple upload your video to an UNLISTED YouTube account.  Always add your videos as PRIVATE or UNLISTED.  This way even a "search" could not bring up your video.  I have a separate YouTube account just for my PL.  I then use the URL in the www.goqr.me  This site allows you to customize the color of your QR code.  Then you can match it up to your LO.  If you have questions, let me know.  The star over the QR code is for privacy.  The star is not part of my LO.  

This last LO was a bit of fun with the tree and Bean.  I was just messing around with a couple of different camera app settings.  Love the way all of these turned out!  Can't wait to hit mid point at day 12 to send 1/2 of the December Daily pages to print!  

Thanks so much for stopping by.  If you are doing December Daily, I hope your story is magical today!  If you didn't see my 1st post for the making of my Album cover and my 1st day, please click here.

I am not paid to endorse any content in this post.  It does NOT contain affiliate links.  This post is my opinion only.

December Daily Album Cover

Hello friends!  I cannot believe it is DECEMBER!  I mean it is already the 2nd!!  Where did this year go??

Here is a little update of my happenings:  I got the Christmas decorations up and glowing!  5 trees!  Yes 5!!  This happened all before Thanksgiving.  On Monday, November 23rd my little Bean had surgery to take out his tonsils.  WOW what a trooper.  Ate on the day of surgery and continued trucking along.  Never went downhill like the doctors predicted.  On Monday he had an extreme swollen tongue.  Tuesday he made it to school for a half day and again today he will do a half day.  So proud of how well he did.  I mean after a year of 11 boughs with strep, we (HE) was ready to be done with being sick.

With December here I have started my December Daily Album.  I have the covered designed with a strip of Really Reasonable Ribbon to add a pop of Christmas Red to a kraft and gold  cover.  I have used the Canvas Color Band Ribbon in Red.  I am entering this into the Really Reasonable Ribbon's December Challenge:  Silver or Gold with Ribbon or Trim!

Here is my Tell All Video of how I took a plain kraft colored 6x8 album and turned it into my December Daily!  Sit back grab a hot cocoa and enjoy the Christmas music!

Here are the digital pages that I will have printed out.  This year I am combining digital and physical pocket style pages for my December Daily album.  

I used the Camera+ app for iPhone to get the Bokeh effect of my colored light Christmas Tree.  I love the way it turned out!  If you are doing December Daily you might want to try it.  It is only $2.99 and worth every penny!

Every year since Bean was born I have done an Advent for him.  This year was TUFF to find items that he would still like.  I love him so much and adore that no matter what he get he is so grateful.  

Elfie showed up too!  Bean was so excited!  

Thank you so much for looking today.  If you are doing December Daily, I hope you enjoy creating your album.  Have a fantastic week!

Pallet Turned Photo Frame: Tell All Video

Welcome to all my friends and followers.  I am super excited to show you what I have been working on these past couple of weeks.  Ok, it didn't take that long!  It has been hard to keep my lips sealed on my creation.  I am proud to say I have been working with Walnut Hollow.  They have been established for over 40 years... that is a long time.  I am very proud that Walnut Hollow has allowed me to show what I can do with one of their crafty Rustic Scallop signboards.

I have used the Walnut Hollow Rustic Scallop Signboard and transformed it into a photo gift.  I have detailed photos and steps over on the Walnut Hollow blog.  Check out my step by step Tell All Video on how I made my photo gift.  In a little over two minutes you can get all you need to know to Turn A Pallet Into A Photo Frame.  With the Holidays approaching fast, this is the perfect time 

My ribbon swag on the corner of the Rustic Scallop Signboard was made with ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  I used the Travel Print Cotton Blend Ribbon, Bakers Twine Gold Metallic and Hemp Cord.  I attached the bow to a long piece of raffia and then attached the swag to the Rustic Scallop Signboard.

Don't forget to CLICK HERE and pop on over to the Walnut Hollow Craft and DIY Blog for more Rustic Scallop Signboard pictures and Steps.

Don't Be A Push-Off! Let Your Voice Be Heard

I look back on the last 5+ years I have been in the blogging/crafting world and I can say “when I first started out, I did indeed sell my soul for product to whatever crafting company would have me.”  I worked my fingers to the bone on projects that I didn't particularly like with products that were not at all my style.  As I continued on, I was picked up by crafting companies that I really enjoyed working with and I did “like” their products, but I was slaving away to keep up the schedule they demanded.  

A little over a year and a half ago I was picked up by the "ultimate crafting company" (in my eyes).  I was excited and thrilled they wanted me.  I couldn’t believe I was good enough for them.  But there was something off.  It took me a year to see they really didn't have any care for me what so ever.  In fact, they were willing to use the DT as a push off for themselves and would literally "harass" us into advertising for them.  At points we were verbally assaulted by their “so called” social media person for not sharing their sale or featured items immediately.  It was truly sad.  My heart hurt and there was definitely a voice deep inside that told me to quit but I didn’t listen.  I liked their products so much and honestly I think the owner was probably a nice person but (I am hopeful) totally clueless to how we were all being treated.  My final straw was when we were told the owner wanted to gain a celebrity status among the crafting community.  This was presented to the DT in a “we (you) need to give her more exposure on your blogs and social media sites”.   I stepped back and took a look at their company blog, and realized that they were not even sharing our projects that were demanded to be turned in "on time". They were not using our names in Facebook post that included our projects, that's right the proper credit was not even being afforded to us.  It was selective, so some DT members would have the honor of having their name next to their projects, others were not. And they wanted us to share more??  We were working like dogs to meet deadlines and for nothing...product???  I mean how much of one company’s products can you have? And to be treated like a grunt laborer??  

So you ask, “Why did you stay?”  Well, for one, the DT coordinator was extremely nice.  I would even go as far as calling her a friend.  Two, I wanted to stay for the commitment I agreed upon. Three (and the most important), I thought I would be "nothing" without having a design team.  I thought my followers would leave me and I would not be able to have my creative voice heard.  My heart truly hurt from the inner struggle and I was having trouble deciding on the one thing I didn’t know would be the best I could do for myself and my blog… being free of commitment!

    

So, after a year and a half, I had ENOUGH!  I QUIT!  I AM FINISHED!  And I DON'T CARE!  Oh WOW, that was the greatest feeling to not be a part of a team, not have an obligation.  Now, this didn't mean I quit them all.  I stayed part of one team because the owner is involved, kind, understanding and BEYON GENEROUS!  She doesn't expect that we stop our personal lives to be part of her company and I can truly say that her team is like a little family.  She has shared feeling about the crafting industry and is TRULY my friend regardless if I am on her team or not. 

Believe this, I have not had any contact from the other team.  So I can say that all of my speculation were proven correct.  They were in it for themselves.  They were selling their souls to be bigger and better, but at what cost?  It will catch up to them.  You eventually miss your footing and fall.  Karma is always there waiting. 

My beginning has just started.  I am free from underneath the thumb of the crafting industry.  I am joining an elite group of others that have figured out that being a part of any company that doesn’t allow you to have a voice is not what craft blogging is about.  This subject can expand into other industries I am sure, but I personally only have the experience of being in this industry and I want my voice heard.   I want to be able to go on summer vacation without having to work night and day to make up 20 plus projects that are due during the time I am gone (and to have them never be seen by the public eye).  I want to be able to take 2 months off from blogging without feeling guilty and worrying that I am going to lose followers.  In fact since I quit the “unnamed” designed team, I have gained over 300 followers between all my crafty social media sites.  I think I will be fine….don’t you? 

I have to say a HUGE Thank you to Sally from sallylynnmacdonald.com/.  Her recent article Titled: “Selling Your Soul for Things” was the trigger to me wanting to have my story heard.  Please take a moment and stop by her amazing blog and read her article.  If you are in the crafting industry, it might open your eyes. 

Thanks for reading.   

Pop Open Purse Card Video Tutorial

Hi crafty friends.  Today I have a fun tutorial featuring products from Crafter's Companion and Really Reasonable Ribbon.  This fun 3D greeting is in the shape of a purse and has a hidden message for your recipient inside.

It uses one piece of 12x12 paper plus the handle.  Please follow along below and I will show you how to use the newest product from Crafter's Companion-The Big Score, to create this fun gift.

Here is the surprise on the inside, a Die'sire die cut butterfly and sentiment from Crafter's Companion.  Join me for my video tutorial below and I will give you a list of all the other products I used to create my Pop Open Purse Card.

Don't forget to give me a thumbs up on YouTube if you like my video!!!

Thanks for joining me.  Hope you enjoyed my tutorial.

Berry Cool Tag

Hello, thanks so much for joining me here at Jax Bean Stalks.  Hope everyone is as excited as I am for the weekend.  I am ready to get crafty this Saturday.  What are all of your plans?  

Today, I have made a tag using three different RRR's.  My 1st bow layer consists of Faux Canvas in Salmon.  OMG, you haven't see anything till you see this ribbon.  Faux canvas is a sturdy yet flexible ribbon.  It is super easy to tie and holds a bow perfectly!  My second layer is a fabulous lace.  It is called Chloe Natural Crochet Lace.  I just tied it into a simple bow a bit bigger than my last layer.  The final layer is Stitched Satin in Aqua.  I topped off my layered bow with a few buttons and it made the perfect topper for my tag.

I am using a new die from Sheena Douglass called Brambles.  You can find it at Crafter's Companion USA  It was released earlier this month and I just love the little razz-berry looking berries.  They are called Brambles and are just adorable.  This picture doesn't do any justice as they are embossed too!  I colored them with the brand new Spectrum Aqua markers.  I used Peach, Chocolate, Leaf Green, Moss, Black, Orchid and Burgundy.  

I love all the texture on this tag.  There are several layers of different shaped dies that make up this project.  I think it would be adorable on a teenager's package.  What do you think?

You can really get the efferct of how these new Spectrum Aqua Markers.  They are so much like true watercolors that you can layer color upon color and get a beautiful outcome!

Thanks so much for stopping in today!  Have a wonderful weekend

Just for you...In 3D!

Hello!  Happy Hump Day!  So glad we are half way through the week.  Are you all ready for Valentine's Day?  I know most people say it is a holiday made up by Halmark.  But honestly it is so much fun making all the cards and the crafting companies really out-do themselves with some really cool images!

Today I have a really cool project featuring a new item from Crafter's Companion.  If you love score boards and have always wanted one that is big enough to hold a 16" piece of paper....Well it's here!  The Big Score will be available soon...

I have made this 5 sided chest using The Big Score.  It was fun and I have some great tips on how to make 3D items easier to construct.  Just hit play on my YouTube video and I will show you how!

Thanks for watching!  Don't forget to give me a thumbs up if you like my video!

Pattern Mix Up

Hey everyone!  So excited for the Christmas season to begin!  I am almost done with my cards but thought I would make a Mixed Media Tag and use a little BeBunnie Rudolph Christmas image, some Really Reasonable Ribbon and show off Spectrum Noir Markers!

My BeBunnie is colored with the following Spectrum Noir markers:  GG2, GG3, TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4, TN6, TN7, DR5, JG1 EB4, PP2, Blender.

The Ribbon I used from RRR is Sheer Box Pleats in White, Plaid Ribbon-Christmas Red and Green, and Chevron Striped Twill in Red.  Thought it really popped with the mix of patterns of ribbon.  What do you think?  Do you like to mix patterns, or is it scary???  :)

Thanks so much for popping in today.  Hope you have a lovely weekend and do something crafty!

World's Spookiest Halloween...

Hello Jax Bean Stalks friends and followers!  It is hop time again with Really Reasonable Ribbon!  So excited to showcase beautiful September Ribbon Club!!!
If you are hopping with us today, you should have arrived from Cherry's Blog.

Check out the September Ribbon Club ribbons.  I am a huge fan of Halloween.  At my house we always have a party and Trick-O-Treat as a group while it is still light...you know for the littler ones.  This year might be the transition year where my little kid is bigger....booooooo!!!!

This fun tag is not only for RRR, but it is also for Spectrum Noir.  I have used a alcohol ink watercoloring technique featuring the OR colors.  The shading from dark to light is OR3, OR2, OR1.  It is a super fun technique that I will be videoing and and posting sometime next week.  So keep an eye out for this technique here on my blog and also on the SN blog too!

Thank so much for stopping in today.  Enjoy the rest of the hop!  You are now off to your next stop, the 

Lindsey's Blog .

Supplies:

Really Reasonable Ribbon-September Ribbon Club Assortment

Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko Stazon Ink

Big Day

Good morning to all my friends and followers.  Today I have a fun door hanger and a tutorial on how to paint with your alcohol markers.  My door hanger is featuring Big Day Tobie Clear Stamp Set from Some Odd Girl.

Thank you so much for visiting.  For a list of all the products I used to make this door hanger, please visit my YouTube channel.  

Linked to:

Paper Issues-Color By Number