PRINTERS FOR COPICS - TIP OF THE DAY

I have been very upset with the ink from my inkjet printer.  For whatever reason it has started to smear when I use my Copics with it.  I don't remember having this problem initially but it is certainly a problem now and I found the BEST solution for $99.00.  I bought a laser printer!  Now this isn't a totally crazed idea, laser printers are MUCH more economical than inkjet or photo-jet printers and the ink is embedded into the paper.  I found a fairly compact Brother HL-2270ODW at Amazon for $99.00 Prime and I love it! This one is also wireless although it isn't a true air printer (you can download the Brother app for your iPad  and it is only black and white, the color lasers were far more expensive.  I tested it on X-Pressit, Neenah, and plain white cardstock and NOTHING SMEARS! Whoo hoo.  Here is a link if you want to check it out.

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-2270DW-Compact-Wireless-Networking/dp/B00450DVDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358522564&sr=8-1&keywords=BROTHER+LASER

IPAD APP FOR CRAFTING INVENTORY

Do you forget what you own and end up with duplicates? I sure do and it really annoys me a lot to spend money on something I already own. For the last few months I have been using an app on my ipad called N+OTES and I love it. It is extremely simple to use and additional features are available to purchase. I will take you through it using screen shots.

The first screen shot is the main menu that shows upon opening the app. You add whatever categories you want on the left side and they are alphabetized.

The next view shows a highlighted list with the sub-list on the right.

The third shows the next level which is the actual inventory, the first page is dies and the second the stamps.

Me likely!! I also like that I can cut, paste and edit,which I had to do with my Copic refills since I am not at home to actually look at what I have. I went to my account on Oozak.com and cut and pasted my refill orders right into the inventory. Of course, I had to edit somewhat but it took mere seconds.

The other useful thing is to keep track of items used as I make cards or layouts that I want to post in my blog. I was using a notebook but I sometimes forget to take it with me.

If you want an easy way to keep track of all the "stuff" that you have I highly recommend this app.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/n+otes/id480085812?mt=8

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING

We went to NYC in the beginning of December and I had to bring a number of presents with me in my suitcase (you know how much fun that is) so I soft wrapped everything in Kraft paper and then decorated with my Silhouette cameo and one hand colored tag (snow man from Hero Arts)

He is so cute and his body is painted with Twinkling H2O's and some glittery stuff on the bottom (not crazy about that).  Hat and nose colored with Copics and scarf stamped and cut out of patterned paper from stash.  Eyes are Tim Holtz black enamel.  Red pearls from Michael's.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM MAMMOTH

I didn't get to post on Monday, sorry for the late Christmas wishes.  We are having a very white winter in Mammoth Lakes and this morning's weather was sunny, snowy, windy, cloudy.  This darling little bird was pecking at a tree in the backyard for quite a while.  I still have cards to send out (how awfully delayed) and didn't post my assembly line cards so will today.  Hope everyone is having a healthy and safe holiday.

supplies - sorry no links for these on my laptop
Papertreyink cardstock
Hero Arts stamp
Martha Stewart micro glitter
Micro beads from stash

CRAFT ROOM CHAOS

What a mess my craft room is in.  About a month ago I decided I needed to rearrange, redo and add
some vertical space over my work area.  So, I pulled everything off and put it on the floor and on every available horizontal space.  Well since everything was down I thought I might as well paint.  So now I am living in a disaster zone.  We were in NYC and Washington DC for a week, then I had to go to work and was jet lagged and what with all the typical business upon returning (4 loads of laundry to do) I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE.  Please a little sympathy would be appropriate here.  Also, I got a HUGE haul of stuff from Papertrey Ink, Simon Says Stamps, MFT and the list goes on and all that needs to be filed away.  What I have been able to do is to P-touch all my ink pads and order a couple of reinkers.  That is pretty organized now but I think I have another order of ink pads coming??? Help, it is a disease.  Anyway I thought I'd share some chaos photos and hopefully after the new year I will be finished.
Oops, forgot, we will be in Mammoth for 2 1/2 weeks so can't get anything done then (but I will bring up
lots of projects to work on.  Hope this chaos doesn't go on too long cause I can't get any FUN stuff done.

SOME OF THE HAUL

INK PADS I USE MOST OFTEN, NOW LABELED

THIS IS THE WALL THAT NEEDS THE VERTICAL STORAGE

THESE TWO PHOTOS SHOW EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE AND
ALSO A RUBBER MAID THAT I PACK FOR MAMMOTH

                                       

THIS IS JUST EMBARRASSING!

A few days in Mammoth Lakes

We left Tarzana yesterday around 12:30 and had a beautiful drive up albeit very, very windy.  Too windy to stop for pictures.  It started to snow and by this afternoon we had about 8 new inches of powder.   Didn't bring any projects up with me, just some knitting to finish and so I decided to fiddle with the blog layout but I think I need help to customize it a bit.  Is there a Blogger for Dummies out there?   Maybe tomorrow we'll be able to get out for a bit to enjoy the snow.  I have a bunch of cards to post when we get back unless i can figure out how to access and post from ipad. Here is a pic from this morning, now it is grey and windy.

Seeing Green in Ireland

Just back, but still jet lagged, from a week in Ireland.  My California desert adjusted eyes couldn't get enough of the green and I hope you will enjoy these photos.  Can't wait to scrap them but first I need to weed out since I took over 400 pics.  None of these are adjusted or cropped.

Muckross House, Killarney

Ring of Kerry