Friday, January 4, 2008

To resolve not to resolve. Sorta. And Blog Candy, too.

Well, as in my life (and has been for much of my adult life), I am a few days late of the resolution "deadline".

So, as I'm sure many of you do, I don't actually "do the resolution thing". Well, sorta. A few years ago, I decided to give up on the ones that we all make because they just made me feel bad when I failed at them. Rather, I decided to make things that will make me feel GREAT if I succeed and not feel poorly if I fail. Some might call them "goals". I still like resolutions better.

I don't like the color red that much. Never have. I'm a cool jewel tone person... sapphire, emerald, etc. Oh, and I love purple - like you didn't know. But the regal purple. Anyway, rubies and garnets aren't on my list. Diamonds, however, are. WHO doesn't like diamonds? One year, I "resolved" to wear more red. The first step, however, was to acquire red. This resolution started out alright. I acquired red and actually forced myself to wear it...something like twice. That resolution failed but I didn't feel badly about it. I tried and then it was done.

Last year (for 2007), I came up with 2 very simple resolutions:
1) Resolution: To actually send out cards to people.
I make them. I should send them. It always brightens my day to receive one. So, I should do that to someone else.
Actual Outcome: I did really well at this but the key was in January 2007, I spent time making address labels for those people that I send to most often. I also kept a birthday list next to the address labels, stamps, etc. I organized that whole thing so that it's easy to do (I got a table top clear, acrylic file folder from the Container Store to sit on my desk - it has a folder for stamps, return address labels, address lists, pre-printed mailing labels, bills, etc.) I figured out that the reason I never sent stuff was that I was "too lazy" to figure out the address, and do all that busy work to get it in the mail. So, I had to come up with something that would make the job easier!

2) Resolution: To make a card EVERY DAY.
So, no, I didn't mean make 1 card each day, I just meant that I should create and do it as often as possible. By now, you may know that I don't make one card at any one time. I make lots at a time. Usually 12 or more. Well, 12 in one sitting counts for 12 days. See? The point here was to make myself create more.
Actual Outcome: I made well over 365 cards last year. But even more that that, is I crafted way more than the year before because of this resolution. It was in my head and it made me create more. That made me happier. And I watched less of the brain-sucking device!

Other crafting things that I am proud that happened:
A) I started this blog. This blog makes me create more of my own stuff and less CASEd work because I didn't want to put up stuff that I copied from others. THAT in of itself is my first and foremost reason for keeping up with it (and all of you, of course ;))!
B) I started the bumper card society with my Stampin' Up! customers/friends. Basically, it's a once-a-month send-a-card to someone on the list program. I had no idea that it would continue through the year and that so many would like it. I have to give thanks to all of you that participated. In August, I took bumper cards to the blog world but playing a game of tag. It was fun to see bumper cards go all over the globe. In September, Bumper Cards hit the A Muse Addicts yahoo group. What fun! I am honored and humbled that this is so successful. It warms my heart.
C) With the help of my friends, Michelle Clark, Jennie Moczan, and Rhonda Maynard, we started a little group of A Muse Addicts on yahoo of maybe 10 people (including us!) and we now have over 200 members and are still growing. I have found some wonderful friends there that share my love for A Muse and also for Starbucks ;)!

Good golly, are you still reading this? Wowza... supposed to be a resolution list not ramblings!

So, on to 2008.... I'm going to keep my 2 from last year:

1) Resolution: To actually send out cards to people.
2) Resolution: To make a card EVERY DAY.
3) Resolution: To do more Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) - I have a plan. Stay tuned.
4) Resolution: To create earlier than later and try to work better without pressure! LOL!

I'm going to start with these. Yes, these are all craft related. The non-crafting ones are a given, aren't they? To be healthier, to spend more time with my kids (although I don't think that's possible!), to be a better wife, friend, daughter, sister, mother, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, and LISTENER. Basically, to ENJOY LIFE.

I think it's important to have crafting resolutions. So, in order to get you to make them... guess what? I'm offering up yet another Stampin' Up! retired stamp set from my collection. I will let the winner pick from a list of stamps. Leave a comment here with YOUR REALISTIC CRAFTING RESOLUTIONS - i.e. ones that you promise to try to do. Do this by Monday, January 7th, noon Central Time. I'll pick a winner randomly. Please leave your email address so I can contact you.

34 comments:

Jan Scholl said...

I am gonna arrange and tag all my paper bins and ribbons etc neatly-I am halfway done only because I started last june.

Annelies said...

I have 2 crafting resolutions this year. First of all I want to be more productive, so at least create 1 layout and 1 card each week (which means I've have to get in action this weekend). My second one is to use my new supplies before I allow myself to buy newer stuff. Hopefully this will support my first resolution.

Cathy M said...

Great goals. One of my craft goals is to try some of the challenges on blogs and SCS this year.
Thanks for a chance a this sweet SU candy and Happy New Year.
cmeyers@hughes.net

stamp and scrape said...

My resolution is achievable. I have been following the Deck of Me art journey challenges with Emily Falconbridge, but have got a bit behind, fulfilling only 45 of the 52 cards. So, I want to finish them as soon as possible.
Thanks for the offer. I like the idea of sending more cards out - something I should also do apart from birthday cards.
Ros

stamp and scrape said...

PS I forgot to mention that my email address is on my blog - I prefer not to leave it here.
Ros

Elaine said...

My crafting resolultion is to not buy more new stuff until I've used x amount of the old stuff first....I swear there are bags from last year with receipts in them that have never been opened...how sad!! I just did not have the time to scrap this year, but would find myself near the local scrapbook store at the end of my day, and stop there on the way home to help avoid sitting in traffic!! AGH!!! Time for a new job! LOL

Anonymous said...

Weekly I will make and send a card to someone that I do not know--on message boards, there are requests to send cards to someone who needs a little boost.
Linda Peterson

Anonymous said...

Geeta,
What a great idea!
My crafting resolution is definitely to enjoy my crafting more. After all, I do it for me as a way to relax. So, when I need to make 50 cards, I resolve to choose a more simple design that won't end up stressing me out!

tyrymom29 said...

Great GOALS !!!!! My resolution is to make at few cards a week ,,,And make a 2008 baby !!!! Ill work on these first and if I accomplish these we will work on something else !!!!!

nettystamps said...

To organize (and STAY that way) my craft room. This is a BIG step for me! If I can do this I will be EXTREMELY pleased with myself. And I think if I did this I would actually create in there more to my hope (NOT RESOLUTION) to get more done may come around itself! Yay for me! I am hopeful! Thanks for the encouragement and chance to win some great candy!

Angel said...

MY stamping resolutions would be to stay on top of sending out my birthday/anniversary cards on time and try to get published. That is more of a dream than a goal. LOL

Alison said...

My creative resolution this year is to scrapbook for myself more often... not just for my SU! business. jostamper@nycap.rr.com

MelissaS said...

My crafting resolution is to USE what I have. I keep buying and buying goodies and have too much stuff!

Thanks for sharing :)

Scott Franson Photography said...

I plan on using a lot of what I have on hand, including my huge collection of floral papers (I'm an addict).
Claudia
scfranson@charter.net

Anonymous said...

Mine are to get published sometime this year (this is my big goal) make cards for my family member's birthdays!

Thanks for sharing blog candy with us! I bet we can all make our goals a reality! -Samantha

Pat S. said...

Hi Geeta!
Yes, I read the whole thing :)

Thank you for offering another fantastic give-away!

My 1st crafting resolution is to "use first the stuff that I already have". Not that I won't buy more stuff, but I will make a serious effort to find out what I actually have accumulated and start using it :)

My 2nd resolution is to sell or give away the stuff that I'm obviously not going to use...just like if it's been hanging the closet for a year and you haven't worn it, then get rid of it!

NicoleL said...

Since I am new to stamping and cardmaking my goal this year is to get good at it and send cards to everyone!!! :) Thanks for the chance to win stamps, woohoo!
n.lindsey@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I have already succeeded in one crafty resolution in that I have reorganized my supplies. Like so many others, I had unopened bags of new stuff plus "planned projects" with all the needed stuff in bags ready to go. My biggest resolution is to use what I have, especially all the "planned projects" just to get those bags out of the way! Thanks for offering some neat blog candy. Donna G.

Cheryl KVD said...

I would love a retired stamp set!! My goals are to submit my work for publication and try to join a design team. I'll do my part, but it's up to the magazines and companies to decide if they want me or not!!
Thanks!
Cheryl KVD
Engineered Expressions
www.cakvd2.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

My goal is to get a card published. I had a layout published last year so at least one of my resolutions I was able to keep.
A retired stamp set sound great thanks for a chance to win.

Jackie said...

Mine are to send out more cards, too, and not just for special occasions, and also to comment on blogs more. I have a bad habit of "lurking" too much and since I have started my own blog I realize the work involved in creating and posting things and that feedback is very nice to hear. I see so many lovely creations and I will stop and take the time to say so!

Rosella said...

My crafting resolutions are:
1.- To creat something regularly
2.- To send bday cards to everybody whos bday I know. And for other occasions too.
3.- To keep my crafting area more organized.
4.- To use the things I have and not always let myself buy more stuff if I have something I can use (spend less)

Suzy said...

My crafting resolution is to use warmer colors that I tend to shy away from, and to get organized! HUGE job.

Anonymous said...

My crafting resolution is to complete one scrapbook page per day, on average. I guess I should have a stamping resolution as well. I resolve to make more than one card in a sitting (something Geeta has been preaching to me forever!).

CreativeJanine said...

One goal is to find a place/audience to teach digital scrapbooking. A second goal is to use the multitude of "saved" cards on my computer and to CASE them and then actually SEND them!

Jennifer Moore said...

1) I am going to create more also. I would like to aim to sit down once a week and make something.
2) I would like to get my crafting stuff more organized, which one would make resolution 1 more achievable.

Lori Mueller said...

I need to get my crafting area organized. I work out of a closet and about 1/6 of a small spare bedroom. I also want to make more things, but try to make them my own thoughtful creations instead of relying so much on 'copying' and revising other people's work (but they have such KEWEL and pretty creations!).

Anonymous said...

I'm going to use all of my stamp sets at least once this year. There are some I've had for years and still haven't used yet.

Anonymous said...

I too plan on sending out more cards. I already make a few cards each day. I just need to share more. I also want to do more of the challenges on SCS. Happy New Year.
Mary Campbell
jjjcamp@hotmail.com

Kelly said...

My realistic New Years resolution is to seriously get into better shape so that I don't hurt all the time. I have a bad back and it is better when I work out!

Hey Hey Paula said...

My crafting resolutions...

to use what I have before I buy more!
to try more challenges on SCS.

Thanks for the chance to win some yummy blog candy. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

I am committed to keeping my craft area CLEAN so that I can actually CREATE. I am committed to USING what I have and ACQUIRING less - until it's all gone of course! *wink*

Momsnack said...

REALISTIC is the key word here!
Better organization, use product I have on hand, volunteer to help the Children's Librarian more on her craft projects with kids.
NancyS (momsnack)

Anonymous said...

my biggest craft resolution is to actually send out the cards I make. I have fallen so far behind on that in years past. so here's to 2008! :)

jenscull@yahoo.com