September 2013 Archives

September 30, 2013October 2, 2013

Rebooting

Part of the reason I’ve never finished a scrapbook is that I stopped crafting altogether for a few years. In fact, I stopped doing a lot of things I enjoy during that time. Parts of me had gradually shut down.

There were lots of reasons for this. It’s kind of a whole tangled mess I’ve been trying to unravel since last year.

In January, I announced to a friend that this was going to be “MY year!” and then laughed because I wasn’t even sure what that meant. I just knew that it was the beginning of 2013 and 13 is my lucky number. Okay, I don’t really believe in lucky numbers, but I was born on Friday the 13th. I like the idea of turning the “unlucky” around, and it always makes me smile when a 13 shows up in my life.

As it turns out, this year has been about powering back on, opening up, jumping into new things, saying yes – even when I’m not sure why. It’s been about doing things I love. And not feeling I have to justify every single thing as being part of some Greater Purpose.

I still haven’t finished a scrapbook, but I’ve been crafting more. And taking last-minute trips (camping + conference). And sitting outside drinking tea in the mornings. And launching Travelcraft Journal. And picking out plants for our garden. And basically just doing things that sound awesome and not worrying so much about fitting my life into some constricting mold.

It’s a little weird out here outside the boundaries.

But I kinda like weird. I was born on Friday the 13th.

Photo of me by Phillip Liebold, while I was heading out the door to BlogHer.

September 21, 2013September 20, 2013

Paper bag journal: part 1(ish)

The idea of collecting trip mementos in paper bags has stuck with me since I saw it in Anna Corba’s Vintage Paper Crafts awhile ago, and I wanted to give it a try during our Colorado trip this summer.

Last year when we went on our Epic California Road Trip, we picked up a postcard for each day and wrote what we did on it. However, this time, I knew we couldn’t rely on always being somewhere with postcards for sale. Instead, I jotted down my notes about each day on brown paper sacks and tucked the day’s mementos (maps, cards, travel information, etc.) inside. I also collected a flower for (almost) every day to press during the trip and clip onto the pages later.

As we were getting ready to leave, I threw a stack of paper bags, pens, scissors and glue sticks into another paper bag. While Phillip drove, I numbered the bags 1-7 with the day of the week and wrote the date on each. Before I went to bed, the next day on the road, or whenever I found a moment, I would write about the day and doodle around the number with something related to what we did.

My notes got shorter toward the end of the trip, but the point was to write something – not to write a novel. I brought scrapbooking supplies, but I didn’t end up using them. The days were so packed it was all I could do to keep up with my basic journalling. I decided I could put things together when I got home and just kept the items I collected (except the flowers I was pressing) in each day’s bag.

If you wanted to give this a try, here’s what you need to create your own paper bag scrapbook:

A paper lunch bag for each day of your trip, plus one to store them all in. (Okay, maybe a few extra, just in case.)
Nice, archival-safe pens for journalling, doodling, or simply making a list of interesting things you saw that day.

Optional:

Clothespins or clips to keep bags together and/or clip things on outside of bags
Additional scrapbooking supplies (scissors, glue stick or double stick tape, etc.).
If you plan to collect a leaf or flower for each day, check out How to press flowers while traveling.

Now we’re back, and I have a record of what we did each day, a book full of flowers being pressed, and the other odds and ends I picked up along the way sorted by day.

Phillip says that if I never got the rest done, we’d still have a nice record of our trip. Me being me, I want it all finished and awesome. I’m still want to print more photos, weed out the bag contents, put the pressed flowers in clear plastic bags and attach them to each page. I don’t have a great track record with finishing scrapbook projects. But I’m crossing my fingers this post will have a Part 2!

September 18, 2013

Colorado flooding: How to help

Bear creek before the Colorado flooding.

Bear Creek in August 2013 before the Boulder area flooding.

Since I haven’t written about the details of our Colorado trip yet, you may not realize that most of the area where we spent the first part of the week has now been flooded. I’m seeing photos and videos of places we walked that turned into raging rivers and roads we drove eroded away. My mom’s side of the family is from this area, and many of my extended family members still live there. Thankfully, everyone is okay. The aunt and uncle we stayed with are ripping up soaked carpets and making repairs, but some of their neighbors’ homes were washed away or damaged beyond repair.

It’s hard to believe it. I mean, we were just there a month ago. People were concerned about droughts and wildfires. And now there is too much water.

It feels so close but so far away. I am praying for those affected, but I wish I could put on my work gloves and go help my aunt and uncle rip up carpet. Since I can’t do that and since maybe you’re also wondering how to help, I looked into what else we can do.

1. Donate money. Financial contributions are hugely helpful and flexible. Here are some organizations helping with relief in the Boulder area. Pick your fave. They all do good work.

Salvation Army, Intermountain Division – under “How would you like us to use your gift?” you can designate “emergency disaster services,” if you wish. Note: This is probably a general fund for all their disaster relief work. Page does not state your gift will go specifically to the Boulder-area flooding.
Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund – Note: This is probably a general fund for all their disaster relief work. Page does not state your gift will go specifically to the Boulder-area flooding.
The Foothills United Way Flood Relief Fund was “created to help those affected by the recent flooding in Boulder and Broomfield Counties.”

Flooded Colorado neighborhood. Photo taken on September 12, 2013 by cw_anderson.

2. Donate time and/or stuff. If you’re in the Denver area, you can volunteer or drop off donate options.

Boulder County Flood Recovery Hub – Click “I want to give” or “I want to volunteer,” and they will try to connect you with an organization that has a need for your items or volunteer time. They also list community updates with volunteer needs, donation drop-off locations, etc. (H/T Lori Holden.)
The Salvation Army in Boulder at 1701 33rd St is accepting donations of items. The YMCA of Boulder Valley, currently a Red Cross Shelter, has said they were in need of the items below and asked that they be brought to the Salvation Army:
- new towels
- new blankets
- new socks
- dry shoes
- packaged food

3. Donate space. Airbnb’s Disaster Response program is designed to make it easy to offer your extra room(s), guest apartment, etc. to disaster victims for free. They will waive their fees and still offer hosts their property damage insurance via their Host Guarantee program.

Picnic table in Bear Creek Lake, September 14, 2013 by Kent Kanouse.

To stay current on which areas are affected, Google’s Colorado Floods Crisis Map shows where there is water on the roads, closures, and evacuation notices, as well as links to other resources.

September 14, 2013September 14, 2013

5 tips to make trip packing easier

If you’re not a hardcore traveler with the packing precision of George Clooney’s character in Up in the Air, then getting ready for a trip can be a challenge.

Here are a few hints that I’ve found make it easier for us infrequent flyers.

1. Pack early. Instead of staying up late packing the night before a trip (which I used to always do), I schedule time to start packing 2-3 days ahead of time. This leaves less to do at the last minute, and, hopefully, gives you a little more rest. If you find you’re missing something, you have a chance to run to the store . (Or not – see #5.) Some people pack even earlier, but this is what works for me.

2. When in doubt, try it on. Make sure everything fits and matches as well as you remember and that you have all the accessories you need.

3. If you think of it, act on it. As soon as something crosses your mind that you have to remember to bring or to do before you leave, do it immediately or jot it down. Put the item in or on top of your suitcase or in the purse/wallet you’ll be taking with you if you don’t want to leave without it. The thought may not surface again in your memory until you’re on the road.

4. Stay packed. If there are things you always pack and have extras of, why not keep them packed? I keep travel-sized toiletries, some Q-tips, moleskin (not the journal – the stuff that prevents blisters), sanitary supplies, bobby pins, a compact mirror, and an extra hair band or two in my travel bag all the time. That’s stuff I don’t have to worry about remembering, and it gives me a head start on packing.

5. Don’t overthink it. When I was taking too long to get packed for family road trips as a teenager, my dad would say “There are stores everywhere.” If you forget it, chances are you can buy it (or borrow it) somewhere along the way.

What packing tips work for you?

September 10, 2013

Paper craft demonstration

Remember I told you about Craft Hack? (Yeah, I know you’re nodding while surreptitiously checking the link. I’ll refresh your memory.) It’s a monthly artist and crafter gathering. We chat and work on whatever craft projects we have in progress. Plus, each time there’s a different craft demo for anyone who wants to try something new.

Well, this time, I’m the demo-er. Demo-ista? Demotante?

Anyway. I’ll be demonstrating a few paper crafting techniques, while we pimp out paper sacks into holiday-worthy gift bags.

Should be fun times! Stop on by Gangplank Chandler for tomorrow’s Craft Hack, if you’re in town. Otherwise, I’ll be posting about it here later on.