Happy Thanksgiving - I am Thankful

I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving, but most of all family!

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Evolution of My Craft Room

My craft room started its life as a storeroom. Hubs and I bought 3 shelving units and stored all our stuff there - photos, craft stuff, tools, paint and everything that otherwise didn't have a "home."

Then it became a craft/storeroom. Now it is more craft room, but still part storeroom.

 This picture shows its incarnation as lots of storage and part craft room.

 Being used as a craft room, but no real organization.

 Packed up and awaiting transformation.

 Floor to ceiling pantry and open shelves. Slowly being filled up.

 Oh, yes, a minifridge. The "craft" side of the room has 42 inch cabinets.

 Looks better!

 This is my set up for my eclips. Unfortunately, the video card on the laptop died. The computer is almost 6 years old, not sure its worth fixing.

 You can see that I am getting it unpacked and set up.








I'm sad the old Dell laptop is not working. Not sure what I'm going to do, but too busy to go looking at anything. I think I'll finish setting it up first. Everything to the right of the laptop has been put away, hung, or organized. Just a few finishing touches. You can see the Martha Stewart Wall system. I added to that today and will take more pictures when I've neatened up a bit.

It was a long time coming, but worth the wait.

What We Did Today!

This is what we did today .. we cleaned everything out of our "storeroom." It hasn't been this empty since we moved in June 13, 2008. The filet crochet hanging I made for our bathroom, but I like it in this room.

Why is the room cleaned out? On Monday, it will be transformed into my long-awaited craft room! Really, I have been without a craft room for a couple of months, because we packed things up before we went on vacation in September. I will be glad to get back to crafting.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

I can't believe it's been 34 years!

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

I Can't Believe its Been That Long

My last post was the great Easter basket/bag project for the kids on Younger daughter's boyfriend's side of the family. It was great fun, but exhausting.

At that time I was waiting (anxiously) for the craft room redo. Guess what? I am still waiting anxiously! Our cabinet maker had some real issues with electrical systems and got way behind. We are hoping for install in about 6 weeks. God willing and the Creek don't rise.

In the meantime, and before we headed out for vacation, we packed up the storeroom-soon-to-be-craft-room and the bookcases in the living room. So I can't even pull out my stuff to work on any projects. Argh!

My crochet stuff is in the guest room. Guess it might get dragged out!

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Ready for Easter

After a few days of forced downtime, I am back and crafting like crazy. My latest project? Easter Treat Bags courtesy of SVG Cuts.

I had some adorable paper that was already embossed and Easter bright! Couple that with some glitter stack paper and I was in business. I finished them off with round 25 name buttons using my shape tool from Epiphany Crafts.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

And It's Off ...

Yesterday, I popped the Sizzix Texture Boutique in the mail to Misty Morgan, our winner. Just one less thing to find storage for when the craft room undergoes renovation in the coming months.

I haven't done much in the way of scrapbooking or crafting lately, but did organize all my card kits from SVG Cuts into a folder of it's own. Actually its now in a comb-binder with room to grow! The binders were just too heavy to handle and were aggravating my carpal tunnel. I have yet to organize the rest of the kits, and not too sure how I am going to handle those.

On tap for today? Not sure. Hope to get into the craft room and make some cards, if I can keep Miss Mouse the cat out of there! She is far too interested in electronics. And in laying on top of anything I want to work on.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Still Waiting for the Winner of the Sizzix Texture Boutique!

 I'm still waiting for the winner to contact me!

 And the winner is .... Misty Morgan! Email me at gendotwitchatgmaildotcom, with your snail mail address!

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational


Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

The Guide to Using PhotoShop Elements

 For years I've used the same Arcsoft photo-editing program. It came with my old Canon lide 30 scanner that I used to take on genealogy research trips. It was really an easy program to use, and though I used it for many years, I can't say I was really knowledgeable about photo touch up.

Enter 2012 and a new laptop with Windows 7. My old scanner was no longer compatible. And it mattered even though I had a Canon all-in-one. I ended up buying one of those cute little Flip-Pal scanners, which really is more powerful than its size.

But I digress a little. With the new laptop came Adobe PhotoShop Elements 9. It is the "consumer" version of Adobe PhotoShop and I hoped it would be adequate for what I needed. Or that I would be adequate to learning the new software.

I've bumbled along for almost a year with it, until I saw a review of  Photo Restoration KwikGuide: A Step-by-Step Guide for Repairing Photographs with Photoshop Elements. No where in the review did it say which version of Elements was necessary, but I took a chance .. and won!

Really, the version used is version 11, and it's not so different than my version 9. Whew. I ran through the first 3 chapters relatively easily and learned some basic stuff.

I've been scanning photos for years and know I have some that are pretty bad: wrinkled, torn, blotchy, faded or dark. I'm hoping to fix some of that stuff. The great thing about this program are the photos you can download and work with to see how the different functions work. That to me, is worth the $17.95 purchase price.

You can buy the book here. I got it from Amazon so I could get it fast.

Copyright 2010-2013, ACK for Gene Notes


Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy Birthday to Me -- And the Winner Is ....

 And the winner is .... Misty Morgan! Email me at gendotwitchatgmaildotcom, with your snail mail address!

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Last Day to Enter My Happy Birthday Giveaway - Sizzix Texture Boutique

Time is running out! Today is the last day you can enter! I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since  my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

This is a great little contraption and is a great idea for that young crafter or even those of you who like to take your crafts with you. It uses standard size embossing folders by Sizzix (textured impressions) and Paper Studio and Cuttlebug embossing folders. It's fantastic for card-making as it is sized perfectly for A2 size cards. Also included with it will be a NEW embossing folder.

How do you win? Just leave a comment by Midnight CST on February 16th and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.


Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy Birthday Giveaway - Sizzix Texture Boutique

Time is running out! I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since  my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

This is a great little contraption and is a great idea for that young crafter. It uses standard size embossing folders by Sizzix (textured impressions) and Paper Studio and Cuttlebug embossing folders. It's fantastic for card-making as it is sized perfectly for A2 size cards. Also included with it will be a NEW embossing folder.

How do you win? Just leave a comment by Midnight CST on February 16th and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.



Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy Birthday Giveaway - Sizzix Texture Boutique

Time is running out! I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since you can see my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

This is a great little contraption and is a great idea for that young crafter. It uses standard size embossing folders by Sizzix (textured impressions) and Paper Studio and Cuttlebug embossing folders. It's fantastic for card-making as it is sized perfectly for A2 size cards.

How do you win? Just leave a comment by Midnight CST on February 16th and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy Birthday Giveaway

I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since you can see my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

This is a great little contraption and is a great idea for that young crafter. It uses standard size embossing folders by Sizzix (textured impressions) and Paper Studio and Cuttlebug embossing folders. It's fantastic for card-making as it is sized perfectly for A2 size cards.

How do you win? Just leave a comment by Midnight CST on February 16th and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.




Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Sizzix Texture Boutique Giveaway!

I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since you can see my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

How do you win? Just leave a comment and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.



Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Working On My Organizational Skills

I'll admit it. I AM GUILTY! I watched a Martha Stewart video on organizing my craft room. Well, I probably only got about 1 minute into it when she started talking about labeling with a p-touch label maker. Years ago, hubby got one for Christmas. It was too complicated for him (I think it was in the era before cell phones?)

Anyway, the conversation the other day was along these lines:

Me: Do you know where that label maker is?
Him: No, I think we got rid of it.  [Me thinking: Got rid of it? Us? No way!]
Me: No, I told you not to get rid of it.
Him: Try my office closet.

And yes, that is where it was. All it needed was 8 fresh AA batteries. The cat and I had a great time printing labels. She kept trying to figure out how to make it print.

So labels are made and I am still putting them on the appropriate storage containers. Back to work!

Don't forget I am giving away a slightly used Sizzix Texture Boutique that has all it's parts. You only need to leave a comment on my blog. Here is the link.


Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for

Another Give-Away

I am having a give-away now until February 17th, which is my birthday. I am giving away a Sizzix Texture Boutique. It isn't new, but it is in great shape. It's been replaced by a Big Shot and since you can see my space is limited ... I thought I would give it away. I'll use Random.org to chose the winner.

How do you win? Just leave a comment and I'll pick the winner on February 17, 2013.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Workin' on Organization

Still waiting to hear a quote on our home "improvement" projects. Basically, they are built-in storage for our great room and our storeroom/craft room. Also waiting to hear back from the fence guy who is going to install a hand railing on our front steps. Hopefully, it will make it easier for me to get up and down those steps. Granted, I rarely go in and out that way, but we are aging and my new right knee just doesn't work like the old one. 

I hate waiting. In the meantime, I took some pictures of the storeroom. Sort of cleaned up. Sort of. All the plastic storage bins are filled with photos that need to be sorted. You can see that I craft on one side of the room. It will be nice to have one level work surface. And someplace where I can work on sorting those photos.

 

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

My Memories Cover 2 Cover 2013

I am so excited to have finally started my project. I played around for weeks trying to get the right cover for my Cover 2 Cover book, and I finally did it. No, I'm not doing and 2013 book, although I might make one. I am finally putting my wedding photos in a scrapbook. I think I actually spent more time finding the right font for this cover than I did selecting the papers and embellishments.

I learned how to do a few new things in the Cover2Cover Webinar on Friday evening. I didn't even mind that it went longer than an hour.

Seriously, this software is great. I won't ever stop using real paper, but I do love the look of the finished product using My Memories version 4. If you are interested in purchasing the program and have questions, leave a comment, or use the discount code located on the right side of this page! It will save you $10.

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Snow Globe Shaker Card

I have been dying to make this card from SVG Cuts "Every Day Winter Cards" kit. It's so cute! And I knew when I saw it who the recipient would be. I hope he likes it! I think it turned out great. The snowman was a Christmas embellishment I had on hand!

This is the first thing I've made this year. Now it is time to clean up the storeroom/craft room in preparation for a change?

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

And Now a Word from the TennLady!

I have a project that I will be working on for the rest of the year -- and you will see mention of this project from time to time over at my alter ego site Gene Notes. This particular project is to do a cover-to-cover scrapbook. Named 2013 Cover 2 Cover by My Memories it is a way to scrap the year through and have a print ready book before Christmas.

Because I have to be different, and the fact that I have 33 years worth of photos waiting to be sorted and scrapped, I thought I would start at the beginning - well 1979 - when my life began with my DH. I scanned just about all our wedding photos - taken by friends and family at our tiny wedding - and selected the best of them (I think) for inclusion in a book.  Sounds like fun!

In the meantime, we've arranged for the fella who built our kitchen cabinets to come in and price out some built in cabinets in the living room and the storeroom/craft room. Which means I need to go in there and clean it up a bit lot! OMG!

In the meantime, if you haven't tried this software, it is the best scrapbooking software out there. And you can save $10 by using my code on the right side of this page. 


Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational

Happy New Year - 2013

Happy New Year 

If the image is fuzzy, maybe you had too much last night? 

Copyright 2008-2013, ACK, for Generational