Category: This crafty life

Prepping for a NEW YEAR

I haven’t stayed up until midnight on New Years Eve in years. Since 2020 has been such a dumpster fire, I have decided to stay up until midnight to make sure that 2020 actually ends. I’m sort of worried that I’m going to wake up tomorrow and see that the date is December 32, 2020. That would be so 2020!

During the month of December I have been working on plans for 2021.

  1. Health – I’ve started what, so far, is a helpful way to lose weight. NOOM. Someone I know lost 100 pounds using this service so I thought I’d try. So far I am down 6 pounds! It is a very different approach towards weight loss. More info to come in the new year as I chronicle my journey. Mike and I are also starting to exercise more and plan to make it a habit in 2021.
  2. Career – Since work has changed so much this year, I have been feeling uninspired and unfulfilled. I have decided to work on taking my passion for crafting to the next level. I’ve been listening to the “Don’t Keep Your Day Job” podcast and have really been inspired to find how I can make the world a better place through my passion of crafting. Things currently in the works:
    • Craft videos on YouTube in the hopes of getting a good enough following to monetize my craft videos.
    • Creating a plan to sell my crafts on Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, craft shows, etc. I am making a list of what to make in preparation for upcoming holidays and celebrations.
    • Planning a way to start doing at-home craft parties once we all get Covid-19 under control.
    • Collaborating with two friends on a really cool videography project.
  3. Reading – Increase my reading and book review blog posts by creating a calendar to remind myself to post reviews to my blog twice a month.
  4. Brainstorming on a podcast idea I have.

So, those are my big plans to make 2021 the best year ever.

What are your plans for 2021? Do you plan to stay up until midnight? Do you have a craft you would like me to create a video for? Do you have any book recommendations for me? How about a healthy recipe or an exercise for me to add to our getting healthy plan? Please drop me a note below and I promise to send you a great big thank you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Crafty weekend

I finally had some time to work in my craft room. I chose a Cricut craft that would take some time – engraving. While I waited the two hours for this engraving to complete, I worked on getting my craft supplies more organized. I also made some earrings. I had fun!

This is part of a sign I made with three bicycles and the phrase “I want to ride my bicycle” on it. Still trying to get a good picture of the whole sign.
Engraving on a cookie spatula
Earrings made with faux leather and faux suede
Detail on one of the earrings

To sell or not to sell…

What do you do when the byproduct of your stress relief activity, crafting, leaves you with a bunch of finished crafts? I currently have cards, tea light holders, luminarias, explosion boxes, iron on designs, wooden and slate signs with sayings on them, cute coffee mugs, beer glasses, and Christmas ornaments – EVERY WHERE! Normally, I would do a craft show, but I work every Saturday at the library and can’t participate in those. So…should I sell on Etsy? Do I want to have to ship things? How does one ship something like this:

And what would one charge for one of these:

That is where I am stuck today. Thinking about selling my crafts.

If any one would like to, please share your thoughts on my dilemma. Thanks.

Paying it forward

At the library where I work, the Summer Reading theme is Build a Better World.  Our adult programs are build around Pay It Forward, the book and movie.  We are having  a Pay It Forward Raffle for prizes where patrons have to fill out a card saying they performed 5 various Pay It Forward activities.

Today, I was in the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts getting a coffee and the young lady in the car in front of me paid for my coffee.  I’m still moved by her kindness.

In the spirit of her generosity, I have running an Amazon Giveaway for the ebook Pay It Forward.  All you have to do is follow me on Twitter.  Here is the link:

https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/25ebcaf9038b83c2

Good luck and thanks for reading.