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We’ve shared some of our favorite craft room organization tips in a prior post, but getting organized for crafting away from home can be difficult too. Today we are sharing some of our favorite tips to get organized and packed for a “Crop”. This can include attending the monthly “Creative Weekend” here at Palette & Paper or other “Crop” events.  No doubt about it, packing up for a Crop can seem a little overwhelming at first. The last thing you want to do is forget something important, but you also don’t want to pack so much that you don’t have room for it all at your crop table nor lug stuff around that never gets used. Here are a few things I try to do in preparation for the Creative Weekend/Crop: 1. Refer to my “Project List” and hone in on a couple that I want to tackle at the Crop. (Note: I keep a running Google Document filled with ideas of things I want to make, inspiration pictures, etc. Since I dabble in a lot of different types of crafts this helps me determine what I want to focus on. You could keep a similar list written in your planner or in the notes section on your phone.) 2. Once I have determined which projects I want to focus on, I re-edit my list based on time limitations. I have a good idea of how long something will take me to complete, so if I pick two 4-hour projects and a 2-hour project for a day-long crop that is probably a good amount to pack up. If I realize my list includes about 20 hours of craft time for a day-long crop then I know I need to edit my focus! 3. With my projects in mind I start another Google Document (again, you can use pen and paper, notes on your phone, etc.) that includes my packing list of all of the items I will need to create my projects. I try to leave nothing to assumptions and even write the most basic essential items* (including scissors, paper trimmer, etc.).  4. In the days leading up to the Crop I review my list and make adjustments as needed – adding items or taking them away as I may adjust my project list. 5. A few days before the Crop I try to make sure I have everything I need.
6. Prior to the Crop, I print off my project and item lists and start packing (I’ll be honest, this usually happens the night before or the morning of, but with my printed list it makes things so much easier!).
 7. Just like when I pack for a vacation, when I pack for the Crop I mark off each item as it goes into my bag. 8. Once I arrive at the Crop, my project list comes in handy also. It helps keep me on track to actually accomplish things vs. just staring at others’ crafty goodness and talking (granted, both of these are fun too!).  Here’s a quick look at items I consider essential and always bring with me to Crops:
If starting a list from scratch is a bit overwhelming, click here for a list to get your started. Hopefully, this blog post will help you pack for futures Crops. Be sure to mark your calendar for the Creative Weekend at Palette & Paper being held July 7-9. The one this weekend is sold out! Can’t wait to see what everyone packs and creates! Do you have any tips for packing for a Crop? Please share below!
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Do you love to create? Do you like to paint? Do you love to make mixed media canvases? Do you enjoy creating chalkboard art? Have you made a scrapbook layout that brings a smile to your face? If you are reading this, you probably answered yes to at least one of these questions! What do you do with your creations though? It is always nice to create items to give as gifts, but do you ever gift something to yourself? Today we are sharing some ways to incorporate your artwork and creations into your home decor. After all, surrounding yourself with things that make you happy will lead to more happiness!  Creating a "gallery wall" in your home is a great way to incorporate pieces of your artwork along with other store bought items. If you artwork can be framed you could keep the frame consistent on your wall, but swap out the artwork it holds as you create new and exciting things (Dina Wakley does this in her home. She has a few large IKEA frames that she fills with her art). A tip for creating a cohesive gallery wall is to have "repeating elements". Like you can see with the examples below the pops of white in the top wall and the overall rustic theme of the second picture are great examples of this.   If a full gallery wall is too much for your tastes, try a "gallery shelf" or a similar look can be achieved on a fireplace mantel.  If you don't have a full wall to decorate, nestle your creations into a corner.
Don't forget, your scrapbook layouts are frame worthy too! If you want to keep the original in your album make a colored copy to frame. You could keep it the 12x12" format or scale it down (or up!). You can pick up 12x12" frames at most places that sell frames. If you love the idea of a gallery wall, but aren't thrilled about the number of nail holes it will require have no fear! Check out these great Command Brand hanging tabs. Click here for more details on how to use them.
If don't want to commit to set frames and want flexibility with your gallery wall, use clipboards! You can clip up creations, including smaller scale cards and tags along with larger items (plus it will give you the P&P Studio vibe like our clipboard calendar).    If you are looking for some more art to include in your gallery wall, don't forget to sign up for Ken Oliver's Reverse Painting class coming up in June. All the details for this class and his two other classes are here. The most important take away from today's blog post is your creations are important! They bring happiness to you, the creator, which brings happiness to those around you. Share your art with the world (or at least your family and friends).  Earlier this week was Handwriting Day (Monday, January 23). It seems like a bit of an odd holiday to celebrate, but in this day and age of computers and texting handwriting is becoming a bit of a lost art form. I think this is why we are seeing such a resurgence of “hand lettering” in the craft world. The number of pens and markers with various tips is expanding, and an emphasis on adding words to mixed media projects and journaling to scrapbooks can definitely been seen.  Here’s a little round up on some of our favorite projects, products, and resources for adding more handwriting to your arts and crafts projects. I love seeing what Amy Tangerine can do with some watercolor paper, a set of watercolor paints and a waterbrush. Her fun “word paintings” provide so much inspiration.
A favorite mixed media artist of mine, Dina Wakley, incorporates hand writing into (almost) every piece of art she creates. She has an easy-going, free-flowing way with her handwriting as you can see below.
Tombow makes great dual-tipped pens that makes it easier to incorporate “fancy” handwriting into your projects. Check out our blog post here for more details.  Speaking of “fancy” handwriting, check this out. It shows how you can add emphasis/width to your downstrokes to give your writing a different look. This can be done with all sorts of pens and markers (like the awesome Kaisercraft gel pens that we have in stock).   Want to practice your handwriting?
Tombox has great (free) practice sheets that you can print off. Ready to really practice? Check out this 30 Days to Better Brush Calligraphy Online Tutorial. It seems like with each year’s passing that time goes more and more quickly. It leaves me longing for capturing and remembering memories and events. Palette & Paper offers a lot of products to help memorialize those memories. However, a big part of memories is capturing photographs to incorporate into your planner, scrapbook pages, traveler’s notebook, art journal and more. Most photos are captured using our smartphones (gotta love not having to haul around a separate camera), so I thought I would share a few of my favorite apps for photos, including editing, organizing and printing. Looking for an app to help boost the colors in your photos? Convert them to black and white? Make them warmer or cooler looking? Add some light flares or bokeh? Try out A Color Story.  It is free with in-app purchases available ranging from $0.99 - $8.99 for all the filters and effects. It is super easy to use, quick at applying filters for preview and doesn’t make any changes to your original picture. Here is an example of the filters and bokeh you can add with just one-click.  Original
Do you feel uninspired when it comes to taking pictures? How about participating in daily prompts to kick-start your inspiration? The app, Little Moments, has daily prompts available for the month (examples for a few days this month include: lunch, something red, three and pop!).  It also has editing capabilities and “stickers”, including quotes and doodles to add to your pictures. The app is free to download with in-app purchases available ranging from $0.99 - $3.99 to unlock all the designs.
Another great app that organizes all your photos is Shoebox.  It is free for unlimited photo backup and your photos are available everywhere – you can view them on your phone, tablet or computer (in-app purchases are also available). Another great feature of Shoebox is it will provide a little daily reminder showing you pictures that were taken on that date last year, 2 years ago, etc. It makes for super fun memories. On this date a year ago my dog was less than impressed with her new hippo toy (below, left) and 2 years ago my niece looked adorable while opening Christmas gifts (below, right).
You can also review timelines of photos by month and year.  Lastly, all of these pictures need to be printed out (something we are all guilty of – taking pictures and leaving them on our phones indefinitely). I like using the Printicular app.  Printicular works with Walgreens, so you can easily upload photos to the nearest Walgreens and get 1-hour service (they also have an option to have photos mailed to you if you aren’t close to a Walgreens). You can upload pictures from your phone and social networks, including Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Dropbox and more. It is a free app and you can receive 30% off of your print job with code MEAM. Plus, you can print 4x4”, 4x6”, 8x8” and more. Are there any photo apps that you consider a must have? Leave us a comment! |
Palette & Paper's blog is written by various creative team members.
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