the planner of choice...three years running

I should have posted this post in December.  It is kind of late in the year but hey this will give you some ideas for next year if you already have your planner purchased.

This is the planner that I use.  This is my third using it and will have a tough time changing to something else.  I found this planner three years ago while we were stationed in Hawaii.  The local Walmart carried it and I fell in love with it.  I use the monthly view to get an overall schedule of what's going on that month.  Then the weekly schedule is GREAT for planning my to-do list and business list.  On the weekly pages I run a line down the middle of each day so that I have better use of the daily lists. Sat & Sun I leave the way they because I work hard Mon - Fri to NOT work my business on the weekends.

BlueSkyImg.com

Cover & Monthly

Weekly

I love the colors and themes that they come out with every year.  In fact this year I had three different designs that I loved and had a tough time choosing which one to purchase.  They have several sizes, designs and styles to choose from. 

I use Washi Tape to mark off things of two or more days.  I love the look and the way that it helps to make my planner work better for me.

 Check out their website link below and see what they have available.

https://www.blueskyimg.com/1/Detail/July2014June2015AnaleisWeeklyMonthlyPlanner8511

when enough "stuff" is enough...

So what do we do when you get your craft store coupons in the mail and in your emails?  Yep, we go shopping, or at least some of us do.  I have even resorted to only purchasing just the one item that I get 40% - 75% off coupon.  BUT that is not the challenge here.  I know how to be frugal.  I know how to shop with coupons.  I know how to safe big bucks.  

What I have a challenge with is when enough is truly enough?

I have more than enough STASH to make so many things.  I could save money and space if I could just stop shopping.

Sometimes it just takes a different approach to what needs to be done or not done.  I needed to find a reason to stop purchasing more stuff when my spaces are already full and more so.

I made the decision to start reorganizing.  When I started doing this it took me down another road, one that I had not seen before me or even considered.  By organizing and freeing up physical space I felt different.  That then led to no desire to fill the freeing space.  What a new concept.  It was so new and refreshing that I really had to just let it sit and be with it for a while.  I'm telling you that it felt good.  I have gone for two months now and not purchased anything.  This is a true victory!

purging my "stuff"

There are times when the amount of creative "stuff" that I have can be overwhelming.  When you have too much stuff it becomes a distraction in your daily projects.  This is where I have to start the process of PURGING my stuff down to a manageable level.  There are some things that you can do without and probably never should have purchased, therefore it is necessary to let them go.   

I start the process with one container/drawer at a time and decide what is important and pertinent to what I am working on, at the present time.  If it has no purpose then I let it go.  Once I have gone through all of my containers, and this may make a week or two,  then I can relax and enjoy the space it gives me. 

There are some things that I keep no matter what.  For instance, I almost never get rid of any of my tools.  I used to do this and then I found myself purchasing the same tool down the road a bit and regretting getting rid of it.  Funds were being spent in things that weren't necessary to do so.  So the tools stay!  I have become very selective when purchasing tools.  I only purchase the tools I need.  Otherwise I could run out of storage space for all of my revolving stuff. 

Occasionally I will let go of a tool here or there, but not very often.  One thing that you could do, if it's something that you don't use very often, is date tag it.  Once the date tag is tacked to the item and if you use it enough times in year then you keep it.  If it is something that you don't use very often you will be able to see just how much space it is taking up and how often you use it.  If it is something that you don't use more than once a year and really truly could do without then you could decide whether to let it go or not.

sometimes I get lost...

When it's time for me to sit down and create everything else has to be taken care of.  Like I said in my last post that once that creative bug starts flowing I don't like to interrupt it. 

I tend to zone out or get lost in my own little creative world.  I love to get lost in the land of creation, if you will.  I love to let the project that I am working on totally grab and absorb all of my attention.  Sure interruptions happen because life happens, but when you fall into that creative zone life can fly by and sometimes you don't even realize how much time has gone by.

Then when I am done with my project I love to grab a cup of my favorite lemon & ginger herbal tea, sit back and really look at what I have just accomplished.  It's that other zone out time where I get to see what I have been up to while I was out there getting lost in my creative world.  Sometimes the projects come easy and sometimes they don't.  When they don't show up as easy I have to take a step back and really give the project it's self some space and just let it happen.  I occasionally will plan a few things, however, most things I create happen on the fly and instantly.  I believe that is what makes that creative process so much fun for me.  I never really know what I will come up with and the finished project.

Happy Creating,
Kat

preperation before creation...

When it is time to create I do a couple of things before I begin. 

 

I make sure that my boys are busy and working on their schoolwork.  I get my cup of ice water & my jar of almonds to snack on.  I make sure that I have my home phone & cell phone close by so I dont have to get up.  I decide on a theme for the day and get out all of the ingredients, supplies & embelishments that I will need to make that happen.  I get out the tools that I know I will use in the beginning also.  Sometimes I have to dive back into my supplies to get something I didn't get out to begin with but I only have to grab things occasionally. 

The best creative process is the unenterupted one. 

 

Once these things are done then I am ready to roll.

 

I feel that the preperation process is just as important as the creative process.  If you have not done the things you need to BEFORE you set down to create then you might as well not get started. 

thinking while creating...

You know the best time of the day is when I am in deep creating mode and in deep thought.  I think about the individual card that I am working on.  I imagine who will buy it and who will receive it.  Therefore lots of thought goes into each card I create, hence the one-of-a-kind cards.  I used to think that I had to make dozens of the card that I created.  I never wanted to be without that one awesome creation.  Then I would hang onto them forever and have to make myself sell them.  I have had to make some changes over the years. 

 

Now I make ONE card, love it and then let it go when it sells.

 

The most important thing is imagining being the one the card is given to and opening it for the first time.  What kind of impression does the card make?  Does the design have the kind of appeal that it's supposed to?  Do the colors work together?  Would I like to receive this card? 

The handmade gift always means more in so many ways.  It means that you thought out the card and/or gift.  It means that it was personal and meant just for the person that it is gifted to.  A card makes a first impression with the person who purchases it and the one whom receives it.  Know the the cards purchased from me were made with love.

 

Do Business BETTER: Why photography businesses fail – PART 1

This is an amazing lady with amazing insite on her area of expertise.  If you really want to know why your business isn't succeeding then take a look at this business training session part 1 & 2 with Shay.  She has had more than seven years of experience in the professional photography business.  She has some great insite to share with you.

 

Why photography businesses fail...with Shay Cochrane...part 1

 

Why photography businesses fail...with Shay Cochrane...part 2