Whats all this QR Code Stuff?

What's all this QR Code Stuff?? 

We live in an amazing digital age that is changing at the speed off light OR perhaps faster with microchips, 3-D printers, QR and BAR codes...

A long while back QR codes seemed to be all the rage...I remember seeing them at events from Home Shows to Pinterest shows. You could use an app from your smart phone to "see" what the person wanted you to. The home show QR code displayed in a frame might link you to their website... all you needed to do was use your QR Code app to scan the code and BOOM you were visiting their site and probably at the page of their "special" from the show. 

StampinUp used them in catalogs in 2014 to take a customer to specific projects... in fact I even bought QR codes from them to use in my cardmaking to add that special touch for my card receivers, unfortunately if you "lost" those in your craft space for 3 years like me they were no longer useable <sigh>. 

In that same timeframe I received a really cool Christmas. The giver had added a QR code designed to share more about the family. I loved it!

Back then I realized that the QR code could be for so-ooo many uses. But then I digress. How did I start down memory lane? 

"Did you know that QR codes can be read directly by YOUR smart phone camera?"

Over a recent weekend our business teams participated in a show. Since we were selling products and each of us was handling their own sales we needed various methods of payment besides cash. The group used Paypal and Venmo which both produce unique QR code identifiers to ensure your customer pays you not another with the same name. That use seemed so far away from the creative uses I had first seen QR codes used for. It brings me full circle to HOW CAN I, the CREATIVE maker use these QR codes for more.

I was thinking...could I invite more people to my blog using a QR code? Thats when I researched and found a website where you can create your own QR code...it is free, and quite varied in application. I decided to start with the most simple and recognizable QR code, black and white blocks. Here it is.

So lets ask a few questions... 

Who is THIS QR code representing? Me or more specifically The Scraproom.

What does this QR code do? It is designed to lead someone, (you) to take action. 

When does a QR code lead you? Hopefully it creates urgency to use your smart phone camera (or QR code reader app to scan the QR image NOW.

Where does it lead you? This QR code is designed to lead you HERE to my blog!

Why? That is a very good question... Our digital age has provided us with so many wonderful tools to make life easier if only we know how to use it. 

I am amazed when I get a Facetime call from my 1 1/2 (now 2 year old granddaughter. Put a phone, or just about any controller in a young ones hands and they seem to intuitively know how to use it. 

If we take a moment we might find the QR code can help us with many areas of life. I'm thinking it could help me keep track (as a sort of cataloging) of my boxed items in my attic and document what is inside.  It might also help me create order from the chaos that is my craft room currently. 

I loved how simple it was to create a link directly to TheScraproom.blogspot.com! I want to explore the more creative QR codes I have seen and try one out! 

FUN NEW TOOLS and TOYS FOR this Creative Junky

Are you a CREATIVE Junky? I am...I feel as though I never get enough and that includes the great new toys being introduced yearly!  

CREATIVATION 2020 happened in January and because of it there is all sorts of BUZZ going on! Youtube videos have been hitting the airwaves showing bits and pieces of the show, demos of exciting new products and lots more. 
Have you heard the quote "There is nothing new under the sun"? Funny how the old can become new again...I watched a video today demonstration a fun new product. Suddenly I had a flash from my past of a really cool toy I had received in my youth. Funny we may have grown up but we still LOVE what we LOVE. 

Check out this fun product, the MOLD PRESS 

from WE R MEMORY KEEPERS.

 Interesting how the company name even connected to that specific memory :)

Were you one of the lucky kids who owned Mattel's VACUFORM? 

They had the best ads!! Curious? Check out this youtube. I loved this toy!  

2020 Addicted to Creativity

Wow! Can you believe we are  2 months+ in to this brand NEW YEAR and a new decade!! Has your world been crazy? Mine has, and it has taken me to new and different paths and brand ways of creating. Those who follow me know I am in love with the arts and I love to experiment with interesting new products, cool amazing techniques I see on Youtube, Pinterest and more but the most fun comes from sharing and seeing the excitement of others as we dive in together. Some use the words "addicted" to describe some new thing that has captured their attention, desires and heart. I then would have to admit having a multi-addicted life when it comes to my world of creativity and I feel ok with that though because our Creator is also! 

One theologian writes:

We reveal His glory when we are creative. It is a part of His nature and He has given us creative powers.  We, His creatures, love to create.  We paint, build, draw, sew, design, mold, form, write, and so many other things – often for no more reason than enjoying the act of doing it.  There is creativity in thought, culture, art and literature, work, economics, and in all other areas of life.

When I read those words I really identified, I am grateful to to enjoy many means of creative expression!

Do you ever think of something you love and say "I'd die without... Art in its many forms is that "love" for me BUT here I am experiencing a very long drought. 

Painting had been a daily expression, I was always in the middle of a variety of pieces whether they were for an upcoming Spring Boutique or for a commissioned artwork... then there was Life Interrupted.

Last year my I had shared a video with my sweetheart. It was intriguing, I  had watched someone  playing with paint in a way I hadn't tried before. A great descriptive would be "LET IT GO, LET IT GO". 

Oh wait a minute, there is a song from kids movie with that song featured, hahaha! 

The video showed something so very simple but so beautiful in the end. 
We promptly assessed our art tools and paint supplies then found ourselves drawn to setting up our own dedicated "Art Pouring" space. Of course we couldn't keep it to ourselves so before long we hosted a Pour Birthday party for my sweet friend Melanie Diane.  That was a year plus ago and it has spurred me to do more. 

It is not where I want it to be creatively speaking but it is growing!

What has been going on in your crafty world friends?

Creative bliss almost amiss!

I'm in the middle of my creative bliss, supplies all strewn about. craft room turned upside down as I look for just the right die to trim out a sentiment... WHAT? 

I was so sure the one I picked would fit the sentiment...but no-oooo :( Phooey! Back to the supply drawer-then back to the drawing board because what I do have just doesn't look the same. AR-RGH...

BUT WAIT!!! I may have a solution. I remember seeing a person using a punch unconventionally to solve a similar situation and as it turns out there are others who have found a solution too. So I am trying to use my dies similarly to the way I saw the tip for the punch.

The solution is what is referred to as partial die cutting.

The die is the width I wanted but sadly the length won't capture all of my sentiment.

 

The solution is to lay the die in position on one side or end. Next lay your top plate in place but not quite to the end. 

Now when you crank the die through it will not press down into the paper and the die will not cut the end.

See what the cut looks like? It has only cut the part that had the top plate covering it. 

Reposition the dies' uncut end so

that it is in perfect alignment using the cut edge of the die to help. 

Let's take a look at the result.

Ok , as you can see it does not always make a perfect cut. My positioning was NOT perfect, but I may use it on a card anyway. I trimmed the edge a bit. 

On my second try I was still a bit off but I think it is much better! I hope you enjoyed seeing my experiments; failures and successes too! :)

I haven't finished my card yet but here is a basic layout for the planned card. 

And a second similar card. Now it is 

time to get the out some embellishments and add some finishing touches.  

Sewing With My Grandkids

Hanging out with my grandkids is a most delightful time!

Every time we go to visit our grandchildren the time with them is super special. I really never knew having grandchildren was going to be this amazing! Each visit I make I find it to be a surprise-- I never know what will be the project of the day or the play of the night but in the end we had great fun. 

When we head over for a visit the car is packed with items relating to the last visit. One time when we arrived my granddaughter Fiona has an armful of "injured" stuffed animals that she and Luke told me desperately needed help--could I ple--eeze sew them! That night we worked with the supplies they had but when I got home I put together an "animal hospital" sewing kit. My"animal hospital" sewing kit has a variety of thread colors in it, a small pair of scissors, a needle threader and such. Now in the past when we visit this had become an absolute "must pack" item! Fo the longest time in fact I packed the car with this at the top of the list. 

Once when my darling granddaughter called me on Skype she had a "special request". Could I possibly make a special doll she had in mind? This child has some amazing character traits. Her story telling capabilities are very in depth, details are her forte. I worked on Christina for a long time.(I'm going to save that story for another day).

Christmas was just days away when we arrived. With it being just 4 days before Christmas our thoughts were on many things... 

• Did I send out of town gifts, give local gifts and remember to pack the gifts for family we are visiting?
• Did I bring extra wrapping paper, bags, ribbon and tape?
• Did I pack our Christmas Cards and the list, stamps etc?
• Did I bring the address and phone info for theAirBnB hosts?
• Did I clear out the refrigerator?
• Is our dog, his cage, toys, food, supplements info for dog sitters etc packed?
• Did I remember our supplements, first aid kit...oh and MY pillow?
• Did I bring written contact info (sometimes there is no wifi)?
• Did we pre-contact and set appointments for business partners and friends?

I wish we could say I forgot nothing but unfortunately that was not the case. Every visit we learn  of another "staple" not to be forgotten item.   Some items that were needed have now been replaced with other items. The kids now had there own sewing kits, they had developed an interest in creating sewn items. Last year the oldest sewed pillows as gifts for friends, her brother helped. My contribution...I brought my sewing machine and basic knowledge. The gifts were a great success.  This year as we unloaded the big blue truck the first question out of grandson Luke's mouth...Did you bring your sewing machine? What?! H-mmm. Oh dear!  

Apparently Luke had ideas and it included creating stuff on the sewing machine! So-ooo we now needed to design an alternate plan. It turned out to be a great plan. 

I had suggested we make things from fabric around the home, things no longer being used for the original purpose- like socks. I showed him a Pinterest board that repurposed socks in various ways. That was inspiration enough.

I had suggested we follow directions from one of the projects but Luke had a better idea...Excitedly he declared "I want to make a toy for Chip." Chip is our now 1 year old Border Collie. We got this guy last year right after Christmas. In fact we were just driving home from visiting this family when I saw the ad. One call, a quick early morning drive and we brought Chip home right then.

Backstory: We had a beautiful Border Collie, "Oreo" for 15 years. We got him right after moving to Utah. Oreo had been named by our oldest grandson Tyler. He had died in 2017 and it took us a while before we were ready for another pet but when we decided, granddaughter Fiona had asked to be able to name him. 

Ok, back to Lukes sock "stuffie"... Luke wanted the toy to be for Chip and also he wanted it to look like Chip. Here is Luke working on it, his finished results with Chip and his toy.

The Craft Room Clean-Up Challenge

The title says it all... getting my craft space tidied up HAS been a huge challenge!

 

I have started on this endeavor repeatedly with the aim of a CLEAR craft space and a fairly organized surrounding area. What has really taken place is I get the desk top 2/3 of the way clear and then...Then I am drawn away to another task, another project, another key focus...errrr! 
A sweet friend and crafter Melanie D came over with the express purpose of helping me get my table CLEAR...Yeah! I was actually able to get the vacuum in and get the floor clear of paper bits. It looks so much better thanks to my dear friends help.

OK, now I've spent a little more time evaluating and what my next steps would be are....I am on a mission to find a cart that will roll under one table. My handyman (DH extraordinaire) will be adding a couple shelves to my current shelf to better house stamp cases.  I have hope!!

 In the meantime I want to show you a fun project I was working on EVEN with my space being in such a disarray.

 

  I'll update everyone  soon, I hope to show you a far more organized creative space!

 

Obsessions and Addictions

Do you have an Obsession or Addiction? 

I've heard friends talk about their chocolate obsession... others say they have a favorite Latte addiction... Others are into being a Gym Rat so much that yup I believe they are also obsessed- even addicted to that adrenaline rush. I'd have to say that as obsession's go I am coming  pretty close with my love of Youtube's varied topics!

 

No matter what your need or interest, I have found it on Youtube. 
Need a little happiness? Check out babies laughing.
Need to feel close to animals? Wow you can watch newborn eaglets in the nest! 
Are you trying to repair your broken appliance? Yes I learned how to repair my microwave by watching Youtube!
My Youtube topic list has grown so long I cannot find the correct topic when I want to save a great video. Hmm, now have duplicate topics. Yikes! 
Really though, I love, love, love Youtube! 

I can be watching a demonstration of a unique new gadget one minute  and then another moment see what people around the world do with plastic containers to repurpose them. 

A recent favorite though is the  arts and craft trade.There are many great demonstrations showing  exciting and new products and how to use them, also new ways to use products that have been around for a while. Today I was watching one of my favorites. A show demonstrator, Tim Holtz at Creativation 2018. Tim was showing off their new color additions to the Alcohol Ink line. I would use the old advertising jingle and say "You've Come A Long Way Baby"! 

I've bought and used alcohol inks before.... Sadly they would evaporate so fast I'd only get a few uses from it. They were fun but some of the redesigns that Tim demonstrates pumps me full of enthusiasm to go out and buy this whole set AND the cool tin to keep it in!! Another item I have not used before was discussed, Yupo paper, a synthetic paper. I am excited to try this product. Check out the video, if you are obsessed with creating paper arts, a collector of new and fun craft and supplies or just enjoy surfing Youtube check out this video below.

So-oo any friends want to explore some of these newer Alcohol Ink techniques? Come on over, "Lets Play."