January is National Organization Month!

Did you realize that this is National Organization Month?

It seems normal to re-organize during this month of renewal (also our gr8full theme on Instagram for the month)

We wanted to share with you some of our organizing tips and how we feel about the topic in general.

Here goes:

Laney from Sugar Plum Patchwork says...

My room is quite small - only about 9' x 9'. I have a large table that serves as my my sewing and cutting area. I have to make use of all the space so I keep rolling drawers beneath the table. I keep sewing notions, ribbons, trims and thread in the top drawer and have fabric scraps organized by warm and cool colors in the other drawers.

From Kelly Campbell Corso and her Bird in a Tree Creations

Organization: my friend and my enemy!

This seems to be a concept that I am constantly fighting to integrate into my life, for my studio and my house! I have come to accept that my brain doesn't totally work that way so I do what I can. I picked one thing in my studio that is the most organized and that is this shelf. It is great to keep all my glitters, liquid pearls and alcohol inks. Being a fiber/mixed media artist can be a bit overwhelming with the amount of supplies one can collect over time. I like this shelf because I can see everything that is available instead of searching. Hope this is a helpful hint for anyone out there in supply overload! 

P.S. I was going to crop the picture but didn't because you can see part of my inspiration board, which could be a whole other blog post!

From Lori Leissner of Leissnerart

My favorite organizing tools in the studio are these vintage crates. I have two soda crates and another wooden box. My paints, mediums, and all kinds of other arty things fit great and look so pretty (when I can actually get the stuff back in there).

Lori also has a great post about her word for the year, reclaim, and her closet.

Reclaiming and My Closet

 Michelle Reynolds from Shells in the Bush shares...

For me, Susan of Susan's Art Circus, my re-organization or new year renewal starts with every day spots in the house.

The rest of my kitchen re-organization post is here.

In my studio one of my most prized possessions for organizing is this tool caddy. It's almost as tall as I am and it holds my rubber stamp collection. Each drawer is labeled with a theme so I can find, most of the time, what I'm looking for.

How are you re-organizing for the new year? Do you continue to find spots that need some TLC through the month? What area is your priority?

Let us know over at our Facebook group or here in the comments!

Until next time!!

Stamp Carving: Easy as 1, 2, 3

I've followed a few artists who do amazing stamp carving. My favorite is Geninne Zlatkis.  Her carvings are detailed and alive and perfect.  I've searched at Blick's repeatedly for the materials she said she uses for her carving, and I've had various carving blocks in my cart more than once. But I'm keen to start small when I'm looking at new interests.   I have a fear of commitment, I think.

So in the interest of being cheap, I did my first stamp carving on pink school erasers.  You can get them in a pack of four or five for close to a buck at any discount store, maybe less if you catch them in a clearance pile after the back-to-school rush.

All you need to do this is a pencil, a pink eraser and a Speedball carving tool. They are super cheap, about $8 if I recall correctly, and come with five different carving tools that are conveniently stored in the handle.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1.  Draw an image on the eraser.  My drawings are not perfect like Geninne's, but I kind of like them that way.  If you mess up your image, you can, in fact, use an eraser to erase on an eraser....just so you know.  One thing to keep in mind, if you're writing words or letters, you need to draw them backwards so they'll print the right way.  I did an adorable "Love" stamp that just didn't work as well when all the letters are backwards.

2.  Start carving.  The tool is sharper than you think.  You can get really good lines.  Watch the curves, though, and don't make them corners.  Just keep cutting little strips of eraser off until you get a good clearance so there'll be no ink transfer from areas you don't want to leave a mark.

3.  Use your stamp.  If you need to trim any areas, trim 'em up.  It can be as rough or as smooth as you want.

I'll be sharing a fast, fun way to make good use of your stamps over on my blog this week on Wednesday. Please follow my blog so you don't miss it.
  If you carve any pink erasers, we'd love to see them.  Please join our Facebook group!  We'd love to get to know you.

Find me all over the internet by searching LeissnerArt....or click these links.

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Using our Arc Notebooks Cre8ively by Lori Leissner

Cindy Lantier gave us all an introduction to the Arc Customizable Notebook System from Staples last week and how she's using it as her planner.  Several of us in the Cre8ive Klatch have discovered the loveliness that is the Arc Notebook System, myself included.  I've written a longer post on my blog LeissnerArt.com about all the ways I'm using it.  But I thought I would share a snippet here about one little powerful page I've added to help me with Reclaiming myself.

As I was researching the Arc System as a planner, I found an image on Pinterest for using grid paper to easily and visually track weight loss.  Each outlined square is a pound you are working to get rid of.  As you shed the pounds, you color in the squares.  I thought it was a genius idea and wanted to replicate it for my planner.

I added a few other things I'd like to track for the year. Since I'm eating the Whole30 way, I'll only be weighing once a month.  I'll also be wearing my fitbit, so I want to track my steps for each month.  Finally, I'll measure my waist every month since it's not all about weight.  

In fact, for me, it's less about weight than about health and fitness of which weight is a small, but motivating component.  So, coloring in those little squares will be a fun way to keep moving in the right direction.

I know it's trite to start a program at the beginning of the year.  I'm cool with that.  Health is a life long endeavor.  I can start sometime in a random month like March or I can restart on January 1.  Either way, I'm ahead of everyone who isn't trying.

Check out more about how I'm using my Arc Customizable Notebook System here.  If you make a grid planner, please share in our group on FB at Cre8iveKlatch.  We'd love to see!

Please visit me on the web at:

My website:  LeissnerArt.com 
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My Twitter:  @LeissnerArt

A Different Tag Post by Lori Leissner

Tis the season for tags it seems.  I love making tags. It's a quick, easy and inexpensive way to be creative.  If you want to be creative this time of year, quick, easy and inexpensive is definitely the way to go.

This little project is even less expensive than the norm because we are reusing clothing tags.  I  have a confession: I sometimes purchase clothing based on the quality of their tags.  The shorts that came with this awesome tag were not necessarily better than the alternatives (in spite of all the stretchy talk). The tag made the sale.  It was a good size and especially sturdy.  After this post, you are totally going to be checking tags. Now's a good time, too!   Those jeans you got your kid for Christmas?  Go check the tags!!!!

This tag had a plastic coating on it, which is probably why it was so sturdy and why I liked it so much.  I'll save you the trouble of all the paint peeling off and tell you to give it a good sanding first to rough it up.

Now gesso!   Yours won't look this smooth though because this was before all the paint peeled off and I had to sand it.

Use a heat gun or blow dryer to make it even speedier if, for example, you need it for a gift tag for a party you will attend in an hour (and you still don't have any makeup on).

Grab some complementary colors.

 

Slap some paint on there. Literally, you do not have to be all neat and tidy. You don't even have to cover all the gesso. That's what's so fun about this!  You're going to sand it again, and you want some of the other layers to show through, so just get some paint on there however you want.  Make sure it's dry.  Then sand it off slightly so the gesso and the bottom original color shows through a little.

Then paint another color on top.  Also let that layer dry and sand it a little, especially the edges.

Now you can paint your image.  I chose a bouquet of roses in a vase.

 

Use a Sharpie pen (not a Sharpie marker...a Sharpie pen...they work so much better over paint) and a white Uniball Signo  pen (the only white pen I've found to work all the time) to add embellishments.  Then add some words.  I think all art is a little better with some words.

Finally, add some frilly yarn and ribbons and spritz with a little clear coat and let dry.  These make great gift tags. This one is so sturdy, it could even be a Christmas ornament.  I especially love them as book markers. For a super quick gift, print out an Amazon gift card and use washi tape to attach this cute tag to the envelope.

Catch up with me on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/LeissnerArt 

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Cre8ive Klatch

Peace and Calming Perfume Pots by Lori Leissner

This has been one of our most popular posts to date and well worth sharing again.

This is the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. 

Enjoy!

I have become highly sensitive to scents. It's gotten bad in the last few years.  The laundry aisle at the Walmart can send me into a headachy, nose leaky, sneezy, itchy mess. But I recently discovered therapeutic grade essential oils. I have scent back in my life! Now I'm having some fun with them.

I can't believe how fast and easy this project is!  I don't cook very much, so I'm skeptical of any project that requires a live flame.  This was done, start to finish, in 20 minutes (not including decorating the top of the container), so it's perfect for quick gifts for lots of occasions.  Or you can do what I did and add it to a fun giveaway on your blog (hint...click the link, leave a comment and you might win.)

You'll need:

• Beeswax--Not a giant hunk like this one.  You're only going to use a tablespoon or so.  I used four tablespoons to make three pots of perfume in these 2 inch containers.  I got a block because I tend to overbuy everything and who knows when I might need a pound of beeswax?  I didn't want to buy the kind from the craft store that had a warning label that said, "NOT FOR COSMETIC USE", so I got this at the health food store. There was no warning label. 
• Jojoba oil--Spend a little more and get organic.  If you are going to the trouble to make something, make it good.
• Essential Oil--I use Young Living, but you can use other kinds as well, I'm sure.  Just make sure to get all natural, therapeutic grade essential oils. You'll use less, and there'll be no yucky stuff in it.  This is one is called Peace & Calming and has a nice citrusy scent.  I need a lot of both peace and calming, so I thought it would be a good choice for my first attempt at a solid perfume.
• A container for your solid perfume--It can be any kind of small container that's not made of plastic. You could even reuse your mini Altoid tins.  I got these 2 inch tins from Hobby Lobby.
• A stir stick--You'll need something disposable you can use to mix the oils with the melted wax.
• A small glass jar--To melt the wax in.
• A small saucepan--To heat the water to melt the wax.
• A shot glass or similar--I discovered trying to drip the oil drop by drop into swiftly hardening wax was not going to work. Collect the drops in a separate small container to make adding them to the wax faster.

 Directions:

1.  Place water in the bottom of a shallow saucepan and place on medium heat.
2.  Chip off the equivalent of 1 Tablespoon of beeswax.  (I used 4 T to fill 3 two inch containers, so adjust as you wish).
3.  Add the wax to the small jar and place in the water. 
4. Add 1Tablespoon jojoba oil to the jar with the wax. (Or the same amount of beeswax you used if you used more.) 
5.  While wax is melting, drip 8-15 drops of essential oils into a shot glass or other small container. (Don't forget to add more if you used more than a tablespoon of wax/jojoba.)
6.  When wax and oil are fully melted together, remove from heat.  

7.  Pour essential oil into the wax mixture and stir well with stir stick.
8.  Pour your lovely smelling liquid wax into your perfume containers.
9.  Let stand until hardened.  It doesn't take very long.  You'll be tempted to poke the wax before it dries.
10. Don't poke it.

I didn't take any pictures while I was trying to cut a print of my artwork to fit in the top. Trying to get a perfect circle in the perfect size is not that easy.   You are probably better at math than I am, though.  It'll be a snap. So...

11.  Decorate the top of your lid. 

12.  Be blessed.

Follow this blog.  There are lots of talented ladies that are going to share fun and fast projects over the course of the Fall and Winter.  Don't miss them.

And join our FB group so you don't miss anything! Cre8iveKlatch

Have a great time, cre8ive friends!

<3 Lori

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