My apologies friends, the last poll closed down early because I went in to alter the date and made a huge mistake. I tried to reactivate it but could not. I could kick myself because this was an interesting poll to me and I guess I was very surprised with what I was hearing. I’m amazed after doing a poll like this how much people like to give the name of their Local Stamp or Scrapbooking store that they shop at, same with online stores. Unfortunately a lot of those end up in my spam folder because there is a URL attached.
So, please do me a favor — I’m contemplating adding a link page/listing page of where readers shop (when I get time). If you were one of those who wanted talked about your Local Stamp or Local Scrapbook store – drop it off to me through my contact page with the subject “My Favorite Craft Shop”. The subject line is important – I get a lot of mail and need to be able to go back in and search for that subject line. If it is a physical store, be sure to let me know the address. Okay. . . I’ll try to have one for internet too although I won’t list anything that doesn’t have a cart or home party type businesses. I’m quite sure I’ll see something I wasn’t expecting, so I reserve the right to filter and edit as I deem necessary.
So I’m setting up this week’s poll early, so that I do it right this time!! It’s an easy poll and there’s no such thing as “none of the above” because everyone will be able to pick one. Remember, you can see old poll results by going to my Poll Archive Page – the results are so interesting!!
A special thanks to you all – life is very quiet for me and I sure love the interaction I have with you all!! Thanks for your support!
You are right – this poll was easy. Take care of yourself. Plant and flower and watch it grow. Thanks for all your ideas for cards.
Lois
Becca, I HOPE you are enjoying the ‘quiet’ at the moment, and not feeling too lonely. Sometimes we need the quiet to rejuvenate our souls, contemplate good/happy memories and just plain ole rest! I hope that your children are close enough to keep you feeling ‘cared for’, or that you have great friends who can do this service. You have tons of blog friends, but I realize that’s not quite the same thing. Personally, I LIKE quiet. I don’t get bored, as I can find things to do. (always go looking thru Amazing Grace archives, see what I’ve ‘forgotten how to do’, and just enjoy. Blessings.
More in the summer when I am not teaching, less the rest of the year. I always do my Christmas cards in July and August.
I put 1 day, but I don’t even get to do that much!!! Too busy…but in my dreams….7 days!!!!
I try to get at least 4 days a week of crafting in but during the stay-home vacations—like the one I have coming up in July—I will probably be able to squeeze in more than 4. I have so many projects that I have started right now and would like to see some of them get finished….lol I usually put some of my projects aside and work at it in stages but lately it seems (for whatever reason) as if I’m not getting back to them. Oh…also wanted to mention that I went to Joann’s today. They had quite a few of the Spellbinders dies marked down to 4.97 and 5.97!! I picked up a few but could have easily bought more if I had the funds. I had spent most of my craft fund at another store before going to Joann’s. Who knew what luck I would have run into there but it was too late…lol
Don’t worry about the poll. Just enjoy your day with family. It will always be there tomorrow. Have a great Sunday.
Delama
Hi Becca…..thank you for always sharing your talent with us….and may God comfort you in your quiet time and give you peace……
hugs
Since I am a teacher, I find more time to craft in the summer months. I do try to do a little bit during the school year, but it is significantly less.
I was hoping by this time in my life I’d be crafting more often! But the Lord had different plans for me; I’m raising my granddaughter! So I do try to set aside time once a week to craft. Some weeks it just doesn’t work out, but that’s OK.
My heart hurts for you. I’ve not lost my husband (have lost a son), so I don’t know exactly what you’re going through. I do know that the quiet house was the hardest thing for my mother when my father died. Grief is a tough journey, up and down, gotta go THROUGH it, can’t go around it. Please know you’re being lifted up in prayer! HUGs!
hey Becca!
do u actually read all the e-mails and all the e-mails?
Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaa
I LOVE your work Becca
**Milu**
Working all day, my craft time is in the evenings and on weekends. Creative ideas seem to take place late at night for me, so Friday and Saturday nights, I am at the kitchen table working on my cards into the wee hours of the morning.
BECCA IF YOU ASK ME HOW MANY DAYS I CRAFT I WOULD SAY 7
BUT IF I COULD I WOULD CRAFT 24/7. SEEMS THAT IS WHAT MAKES
ME THE HAPPIEST. DOING HOUSEWORKI SURE DOESN’T DO ANY
THING FOR ME. I LOVE CRAFTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CYNTHIA
I try to make cards every day … but more on the weekends. It takes me a while … I’m not into production cardmaking.
I understand what you mean about the quiet. I have 4 children that are all grown up, married or out of the house. I remember wishing I had 10 minutes of quiet time or the time and ability to take a bath in peace without hearing someone yell, “Mommy”. I now can go through several days of silence except for the sounds the TV or dogs make. I would gladly go back in time, as far as I am concerned,” silence,” is not golden. I appreciated my kids and treasured every moment (for the most part) but darn it, those times flew just a little too fast for my liking.
Sammie
I understand what you mean about the quiet. I have 4 children that are all grown up, married or out of the house. I remember wishing I had 10 minutes of quiet time or the time and ability to take a bath in peace without hearing someone yell, “Mommy”. I now can go through several days of silence except for the sounds the TV or dogs make. I would gladly go back in time, as far as I am concerned,” silence,” is not golden. I appreciated my kids and treasured every moment (for the most part) but darn it, those times flew just a little too fast for my liking.
When the weather is beautiful I spend less time crafting and more time gardening. On average I spend some time crafting about five days a week.
My husband is ill and his needs fill a great portion of our lives. I really enjoy quiet but I am not looking forward to the quite you speak of. You are in my prayers.
Blessings Bernie
I am so blessed that I usually get to craft every single day if I feel like it. I have to be careful because I will let things go around the house to squeeze in time. I even set a timer for myself because I get so involved the time gets away from me when I am into my card. I have been known to go turn the timer on again! I do not like TV so when we built a new home we only built one bedroom but a TV room double insulated and at the other end of the house my craft room.
When the weather is as HOT and dry as it is in TX right now, there is no going out from the ac unless I have to go to the store. I craft on something every single day because it is to HOT to go out. But really, the heat is only an excuse, lol, I just like crafting.
Actually once again there isn’t just one answer to this question. Some weeks I don’t craft at all and then when I’m in the mood, on a roll or if I have a deadline (like Christmas cards or the like) I craft every day until I get the job done.
I love getting up each day to see what cleaver, beautiful creation you’ve got to wow us yet again. Thank you for constantly being a source of inspiration and information.
When I saw the question, I thought: “Well, it’s 7 days a week that I WANT to craft, but in reality I probably get to do it only a couple of days a week!” LOL
I would love to craft 5 days every week but it doesn’t happen. I craft more from September thru May than June thru August as I have one grandchild and he will turn 15 next month and as long as he wants to spend time with us, he is my priority. I voted for 3 days but my mind is racing with ideas and wants. Thanks for the poll.
Becca, I schedule craft time nearly every day and when I’m not crafting, I’m thinking about a card design or the next project to alter. Yes, I do this even at work to relieve stress as crafting is my relaxation technique. When I get antsy, my husband always says ‘go make a card!’ I know, I’ve been blessed to have such a supporting husband, he is my best friend! He never complains when he pushes the cart at Michaels or Joannes. I don’t know if I did this for a living if I would enjoy it as much, especially if I was having a design slump.
Thanks for the polls and your inspiration, you truly are amazing!
Nancy
Second post. The reason my grandson likes to spend time with us is we have a compuiter and XBox 360. That explains it.
It is summer time and too many things to do for this time of year. I do spend more time making cards in the winter. Dianne
Hey Becca, I love your blog, I’d rather spend time on yours than updating mine! lol Which is obvious by how often I don’t update it.
I really enjoy your polls, they are always interesting. It’s funny that my vote for where I shop was really hard to pick just one place! I really do shop at all of the places you named! I have Michael’s, AC Moore, my local scrap store, Charleston Scrapbooking, however, It has just gone online. They’ve kept a small brick and morter store here. I haven’t been there yet, but I hear it’s much smaller. I also shop online with several sites, It’s the way I get my Cricut cartridges. But I can get the supplies(blades & mats etc) at Walmart and not pay the postage. I always look for the smallest prices for cartridges, before I purchase.
My other half has been laid off recently, so I’m not spending at all right now. So, it’s very difficult. to look at all the pretty new stuff, and not buy. But, I’ve got a lot of lovely goodies in my stash too, so I’m using that.
I’m thinking of making a Junque Journal, using all the paper etc that I already have. The only thing I’ve bought in the last few months has been for adhesive. But I think I’m experiencing withdrawal symptoms for not shopping! Thanks for sharing all your lovely cards, and your polls too.
Hugs Jessica
Becca, I try to sneak to my craft room every day. I may not make cards every day. Some days I quilt, some days I do foral arranging, and lots of days I play with paper.
It is fixed now and I got to vote, I am retired and this is my therapy and enjoyment to craft whenever I feel the need, being a crafter there is a need to make something most of the time. It is such a good feeling to make something and have others appreciate what you make.
I check out your blog every day to get inspiration from your cards and videos please keep doing these for they are very helpful. Thank you.
I try to craft every day, but am not always able to. I get a card idea in my head and then I think about it constantly, interrupting my sleep even, as more ideas come to me, so I need to implement my idea asap so that I can sleep the next night! For example: we were at the OBX last week and I got a card idea in my mind after going to a scrapbooking store(the only 1 in the area) and seeing some very tiny shells at a Wings store. I kept waking up as more ideas came to me. I had to go back to the stores the next morning so that I could get the rest of what I imagined I needed to complete the card idea. I had to wait until I got home so that I could stamp the image and go to work. To me, planning and imagining the card idea is also part of crafting and I seem to do a lot of that!
I said 6, but now that I think of it usually it’s 5, the days my hubby has off work we are usually so busy running around or doing stuff that needs to get done around the house that I don’t always get time to craft those days. I think now that I have a blog I tend to make cards more regular so that I have something to post.
I entered 3 but it really varies. I baby sit my grandson now so I don’t craft as much as I used to during the week. There’s the times that he is down for a nap and I sneak away to create. If I’m lucky I can finish it or leave it for the next days nap. One thing I’ve learned is that now that he’s crawling and pulling up on things I have to keep my door closed. Too many “interesting” things that he can see and wants to get a hold of. lol
I believe we are blessed with quiet times for a good reason, at important times of our lives – a time remember, a time to reflect, a time to heal and a time to recharge emotionally, physically and spiritually. It’s a time to poke around in our memory, see what is under rocks that we never had the courage to lift before and a time for difficult but rewarding personal growth. It’s as good as retreat, but it’s in our heads. When we make the most of it, we emerge from the other side of the quiet, stronger and happier. I wish you a very productive quiet time, dear Becca.
On to more worldly matters… I find I need to get into “flow” to craft. When it hits me, I can go non-stop for days. In fact, I resent interruptions ( as pleasantly I can), to make dinner, housekeep, return to humanity. Flow is a great place to be, but it can also take over one’s life. Perhaps it’s a good thing that it does not show up every day. I chose 3 as an average.
I guess I’m done babbling here. Becca, have a great retreat. I love what you do here. It brings out the best in me.
Big hugs from Montreal, Francie
I get to craft often, only because I count the knitting I do on the bus while I commute. I don’t get nearly as much paper crafting done as I would like, maybe one or two days per week. My card making isn’t as portable as knitting.
thanks for sharing your inspiration with us, I look forward to your blog every day.
Hi Becca – I am 70 and retired and love to do cards and work with paper. I do a couple craft shows in the fall so I keep supplies right next to my easy chair that I can put together once the basics are done.
I often say that my most prized possession is my very own craft room. When I realized that my hubby was doing all of his computer work while watching TV in the living room, I took over his office and made it mine!!
Having a place like that means I can pop in there anytime and I can close the door on the mess if I want so that it is all there when I pop in again.
I am retired and my hubby is still working. He was out of work for almost 2 years and it took me awhile to get used to him being “underfoot”. When I did, he got a job and I had to get used to him being gone all day. Life is change, they say.
Anyway, I was the oldest of 7 siblings and from the moment I left home, I have treasured my quiet time.
Perhaps it is the source of the quiet that makes a difference. If it is lonely quiet, I have to go out among people. Luckily, I live in the south and perfect strangers will chat briefly with you. Just a word or a smile from a fellow human brightens my day and I go home refreshed.
Having people like you out there, Becca, makes a world of difference. Through you and several others, I always feel connected to life and creativity. I am happy that we are all part of your support system as well.
It really varies so much….depends on how I feel and what else NEEDS to get done……3 afternoons/eves a week is what I shoot for.
At least, one day week, if i can do more, it’s o.k………
and Becca….thank you……….
Thank you for sharing your ideas. I make all my greeting cards for family and friends and meet with friends once a month to share ideas. I have been stamping since before stamp stores and e-mail. My great local stamp store is “and Bear Makes 3” in Moore, Ok. I live about 10 miles from Hobby Lobby Corporate offices and manufacturing plants and enjoy their wonderful stamping supplies and sales. I also belong to Midwest Stamp Group on Yahoo and enjoy sharing cards and ideas. Keep those ideas coming. Pat in Mustang, OK.
This is cute, cute, cute!!! I will definitely check back on how to make this adorable pick cushion and the picks, themselves. Thanks, Becca for all you do.
I LOVE the pin cushion with all your beautiful stick pins. I always loved the pins you used and will start to make my own now. I can’t wait to see the directions on how to make my own. Thanks Becca for all the beautiful ideas you come up with.
Would I ever LOVE to win this pin cushion! I do not sew not even a button(because it would fall off!)
LOVE the picks that you out together Becca they are awesome as is ALL your work!
Love the card Trust in Him!
If only I could be talented like Becca.!
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful work. LOVE it all!
totally in love with the stick pin cusion. This is great.
What an adorable idea. You never cease to amaze us (no pun intended) THis is a delightful way to showcase something we all need handy but it is art in the waiting. Thanks for the creativity!