Prelude to the Impending Chaos

My thoughts, plans, and process about my scrap space reorg will start tomorrow with the new year. However, I just wanted to share a couple of things before I get started just to give you all some background.

A while back I discovered a book called Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. She has some other time-management and other types of books, and I intend to read them at some time since I've been happy with this book so far. The book basically helps you to not be overwhelmed by the organization process, to understand the underlying reasons for clutter and/or disorganization, and lays out a step by step plan for organizing things, whether it's a single drawer, a closet, or your complete kitchen.

If you do read this book and want to try out her stuff, I suggest starting small. A couple months ago I used the process on our master bathroom and it was fabulous. I dumped so much stuff I no longer needed, and although I want to change some of the organizational containers I use, I've been very happy with the results, and more importantly, the room is staying organized!

I'll be applying the processes from her book to my scrap space reorg, so you can get a feel for what she's all about.

On a related note, I took a "before" pic of my scrap space yesterday. I knew it was bad, but jeesh, I'm almost tempted not to post it tomorrow. But I will, so you can all see what sort of pit I'm starting from!

*sigh*

My creative mojo for the last year or so has been fairly non-existent. In 2007 I was a member of two scrapbooking design teams, and I was also trying to submit to a lot of publication calls, so I think I really got burned out on creating things that were not purely for me or using my own ideas or choices of product. As a result in 2008, I didn't do much creating at all. The two SBO retreats in the spring and fall did help me a lot, but I haven't really kept up much of a momentum.

One of the issues that I have is that I have a GREAT space for scrapbooking, but not much at all of a system for organization and storage. Plus, I have way too much crap...things I don't use, half finished projects I really have no intention of finishing, half finished projects I want to finish but got overwhelmed, and so on.

I don't like making resolutions, there's something about the word "resolution" that carries too much weight and expectation with it. Since I've done a lot of project management for work, I've decided to create three "projects" for myself for 2009. One is a personal project, where I'll be improving my overall health in several ways. The second project is for my business, where I'll be working to "book myself solid". Finally, the last project is for my creative side. I am planning to reorganize my scrap space, purge my product stash, and set down some processes to help facilitate my creative work.

Since this blog focuses on my creative side, I'm going to use this space to document the progress of my third project. Starting on January 1, I'll be posting some info about where I'm starting from, including pictures of my current scrap space and the chaos that is currently there. I'm hoping that if I know people are reading and keeping up with what I'm doing, I'll be more encouraged to show some progress, and I'm always up for ideas along the way. I may ask you questions or your opinions on a lot of things, so please feel free to comment on my posts.

I am a bad, bad, bad blogger.

New Suite 101 articles

My more recent Suite101 articles have focused on scrapbooking tools. I am such a tool junkie. One day I will write a complete ode to my Crop-o-Dile.

5 Essential Cutting Tools

Useful Paper Craft Cutting Tools

Digital Paper Cutting Systems

Do You Squidoo?

I was referred to a really cool site yesterday called Squidoo. It was created by marketing guru Seth Godin, and is a really easy way to make a "lens", or page, about something you're interested in. You can create lenses about a hobby or interest, to promote your business, or just to tell the world all about you! So far, I've created two lenses. One is to promote my business, and it focuses on resources for technical proposals. The other is to promote my scrapbooking articles on Suite 101 and other places. It seriously only takes ten minutes to get a lens started. You can join or create groups of lenses that focus on different interests. I came across a group of lenses for Etsy shop owners, for example.

Interested? If you want to create your own Squidoo lens, I would love it if you use this referral link: Sue wants you to join Squidoo! It is easy and free, and kind of fun!

I am Procrastinating.

I have three different work projects I could be working on right now. Or, I could be doing laundry, or dishes, picking up the toys in the living room, or heck, even scrapbooking. I really should be working, but I write a sentence or so, then I feel the need to check my email, or my blog, or my Suite 101 articles, or the SBO forums, etc. So, here I am, updating my blog instead of working.

It finally stopped snowing, and it looks like we had about 10" fall. I love snow. I don't even mind driving in it so much (I don't like dumb people driving in snow though.). The snow looks so pretty covering everything.

Sounds like the little one is up from his nap....time for me to move on to another form of procrastination.

Do Something Creative Every Day

Oh a total whim, I joined the free Layout a Day for January class at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I'm pretty proud of myself, because I'm 5 for 5 for scrapbooking and uploading new content for January! There is a grand prize drawing from all of the members who upload something for all 31 days, and I am going to stick it out. I'm using this scrap opportunity to use up some materials. I pulled out an old Prima paper kit, and I'm trying to keep drawing from it until I use it up. I have so many wonderful papers and embellishments just hiding in my stash, and since I have a limited budget to get new things, I may as well use them. :)

Happy New Year!

We stayed up just long enough to watch the ball drop, then we went to bed. I then woke up at 4AM for no real reason. I was wide awake. I got up, did a couple of things around the house, took some meds for my cold, and then went back to bed, all the while thinking this would make some interesting layout journaling. So, I've scrapped my very first experience of 2008.