Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #7

Ah, a bright and frigid day - just 19 degrees as I type this. Got a call from DH on his way to take the kids to school that we was sideways on the road and that the highway was a disaster. This wouldn't concern me, as DH is an excellent (if sometimes fast under normal conditions LOL) driver, but he was in the new car! Hopefully, he makes his 45 minute drive without further incident.

First, a thank you to those who sent me well wishes. Today, so far, is looking better, but probably low-key is the word of the day. Tough for moms, we don't get breaks even when we're sick.

Second, Nitasha had a question about layouts qualifying for the Super Duper Treat at the end. Yes, if you don't complete all the layouts for a given week, as long as they are complete and linked to the proper posts by the March deadline, you can qualify for the Big One.

I'm watching my 1 y.o. table dance on the coffee table in the living room, round and round. This little show has given me today's challenge: eyelets. I have them, you have them, we all have them - probably tons of them too. Find them, dig them out and use them -- lots of them on your next layout. Use at least a dozen eyelets, as well as papers from your stash of papers and other supplies. Remember we're working through our oldest products.

Combine today's challenge with today's sketch from Sketchy Thursdays. I'm new to Sketchy Thursdays, but it's fast becoming a favorite. Check out her archives, or follow along weekly for great inspiration.

Alright, in the name of low-key, I have that kit to sort out so I can ship by the 12th, I have laundry to do, floors to sweep and billing stuff to deal with. My 11 y.o. son, who won the first game in his tourney, plays again tonight. I may be less enthusiastic, but I'll be cheering loud in my head! :)

Enjoy your day and your challenge.

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #6

A fever waylaid me yesterday, all day. Thank goodness DH and kids were home to take care of the 1 y.o., the downside was we didn't have the Super Bowl party (which was really just us eating yummies while watching the game), that the kids had been anticipating. I'm still knocked-down pretty good today - you wouldn't believe how many times I'm hitting the "backspace" key - so if there are any major grammatical errors, please forgive me.


I was thrilled to see all the posts coming in with completed layouts! Amazing! I'm still trying to wade through the emails from the weekend, so I haven't gotten to all of them, but I will. :) Once I'm feeling more myself I will be getting to the winners, I just need to be able to sit up and focus for more than 30 minutes.


Okay, starting to fade, so the rest of this is quick, quick. You're challenge for today is: use a combination of your three oldest patterned papers. Remember the rest of the items should also be oldies but goodies from your stash.


Today's sketch is from one of our favorites Becky Fleck at PageMaps

Remember all layouts need to be linked up by Sunday evening to be eligible for the Birthday Treats - haven't decided what to give away for the "complete-them-all" challenge goodie this week.

Here's to hoping tomorrow is a better day -- isn't that what Scarlett O'Hara said?

While You're At it

Anytime you dig into your stash, dig deeply into it that is, is a great time to use what you love and purge what you don't.

It's okay to get rid of the items you have but won't use.
It's okay that you forgot why you bought them.
It's okay that they aren't your favorites.
It's okay that they're not your style.
It's okay.

As you're pawing through your stacks, folders and drawers, if you come across items, and you will, that you no longer need, use or like, set them aside. Get a box to put them in and continue to put items in there as you go through this month.

When the month is over take the box with these purged items and donate them to:

• your local daycare (leave out the small buttons, brads and such because of choking hazards)
• your local elementary school (most kindergarten and 1st grade teachers will put papers and ribbons to great use; larger buttons are good for math games, as well as crafts.)
• a local senior center or retirement center
• your local boy or girl scout troops
• see if your local scrapbook store does "garage sales" and plan to participate
• put the lot up on Craigslist.com for a few dollars
• if you attend a group crop on a regular basis, take your stash the next time and put it out for anyone who can give it a good home and make use of it. Just because it's not your sytle anymore doesn't mean it isn't someone elses.

Some of these places you may need to give a quick call to see when's a good time to drop it off. Make sure what you're giving away is in good condition; no tears, rips, crumples, etc., half sheets of 12x12 papers are usually okay. Mostly intact sticker strips are okay, espeically if going to daycares or schools, but the strips with only Qs, Xs and Zs, send to the trash bin.

Remember - it's okay to purge the items and find a better place for them. You'll feel better when you crop, you won't be constantly looking at, and passing over, those unused items and you'll have more room for the items you do use.

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #5

Parent Appreciation Day at my kids' school had me out of the house early this morning. I got to enjoy time with both my son's in their classrooms (my 7th grade daughter didn't have to go to school today - I guess it's too much to shuffle Jr. High parents through the classrooms, so lucky her, she got to watch the 1 y.o. - hear the evil mom laugh?) Enjoyed a little mini-skit with my 11 y.o. and did some water color painting with my 9 y.o. and then was herded down to the gym for an assembly. Lots of cheers, songs and poems by the 1st through 6th grade classes thanking their parents for everything they do. It was cute, always chokes me up, and was nice to spend time with my boys.


Layouts are rockin' along, very nice. If you haven't checked out the links to everyone's layouts, please do, there is awesome work to be found that's sure to provide inspiration. I am trying to leave comments as I visit your blogs, if I miss you, it wasn't on purpose. It's also nice to see the digging being done to find some of these older kits. Makes me wonder though, are the kits intact or have they been used and you're just down to bits and pieces? I ask, because I usually keep my kits together until I've eeked out every last scrap, but I know other will break them apart as they use them.


Today, besides using more of those older kits and/or papers let's use up some of those lovely blossoms (remember the Prima Milk Bottle Craze?): include at least 8 blossoms on your layout. If you can mix and match some of your spares, all the better - use 'em up.

The sketch today comes from Triple the Sketch; click on the link to see examples done with this sketch. Patter is no longer updating this blog, but she has a nice archive of sketches.

This is the last challenge for this week, more to come next week! You have until Sunday to get all your layouts linked to the various posts to be eligible for either drawing: the one where you were only able to get a couple of the challenges done, or the one where all the challenges were completed.

With my early start this morning I haven't done much around the house. Add to that the kids are enjoying a half day and are being shoe dropping, dish leaving, book bags in the middle of the floor slugs and I have more than usual in the way of chores to catch up on.

Enjoy your weekend!

Winners - One From Last Week; One From This Week

I was so focused on getting the Birthday Challenges going, I totally spaced out that I had a winner to choose from January's last set of challenges - the week of the 25th. Actually, I didn't totally space them out, I remembered as I posted a couple times this week, but then forgot to include it in those posts. Mommy brain -- I could be the poster child for crying out loud.

Anyway, saw some great layouts and cards!! Good work ladies. Our winner from the week of January 25th is: Kristin Perez!! Congrats :)

In keeping with a winner's theme here, how about I select the first "You didn't have to do a thing, except be a registered follower of this blog" winner that is part of the Apron Strings' birthday celebration. I tossed everyone into Random.org and it came up with #14, which coincides with follower "CP." So, CP drop me an email at lori@apronstringsdesigns.com with your mailing information so I can get something out to you.

Congratulations to both of you. Hope it makes that one more day to the weekend a little easier to deal with. :)

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #4

I'm seeing some great layouts, and I'm seeing some pretty old products; it's like a walk down memory lane. Good Job to those of you digging deep! Hopefully it's fun to revisit older favorites. I have to wonder, is using an older kit or paper inspiring or difficult for you? I always find going through my stash inspiring and exciting and definitely makes my fingers itch to create.


If you're cruising along and ready for today's challenge, wait no longer: use a combination of buttons and brads on your layout -- go for, oh, at least five of each. Remember the point of all the challenges this month is to use older kits and/or papers, so be sure your base includes them in addition to the main challenge for the day.


Today's sketch comes from Becky Fleck over at PageMaps; love Becky and not just because she provides the monthly sketches for the AS kits. If you haven't checked out her extensive archives, please do!

Keep those great pages and older favorites coming -- it's just the beginning, but ya'll are doing great! Layouts for this week are due by Sunday evening and the prize for those who complete all this week's challenges is your choice of an available TV Dinner.

I'm off to do regular stay-at-home-mom stuff, sans dinner. We have a fundraiser for the kids' school at Gunther Toody's tonight. So between it being Student Appreciation Day today, which means no homework, and Gunther Toody's, which means no dinner, it should be a low key day!

Enjoy some of your own down time with a layout or two.

Don't Stash It Challenge - Day #3

Good morning (or afternoon to my east-coasters). How's everyone doing today? It's the middle of the week, any progress on getting some layouts done? I hope so, I have goodies I want to give away. I'm going to try to get photos snapped of the Big Birthday Treat so I can "inspire" you, but we'll see how that goes.

Today's a quiet day, with DH still on the road back home - and he's having a ball, by the way. He's like a 10 year old on a grand adventure. Men, do they ever grow up? LOL

Today's challenge: to use at least 3 different ribbons on your layout; more if you can swing it. Ribbon is such a fun and versatile embellishment, plus it's flat if you're not into a lot of bulk. Make sure you continue to use your older stuff, that's the heart of these challenges.

Today's sketch is from 52 Sketches. . .52 Weeks. Julie no longer posts new sketches on this blog, but she does post a new sketch on her personal blog. The archives on the 52 Sketches blog are too inspiring to not refer to them often.

For an added little nudge, this week's prize will be your pick of any available TV Dinner.

Have a great day.