Last New Release Ever! A Collab with Ruby Lane

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Apr 22, 2011 | View Comments

Well, for my very last kit, I have a collab I’ve been working on with Ruby Lane over at FPD.  It’s not part of the Retirement Sale, but you should check it out as it’s super fun!!

Here are some layouts my incredible CT girls did, for the very last time!

Also, don’t forget most of my store is still on sale for 60% off!!  Make sure you check that out before all of those products say goodbye for good!

Something Special is Coming Tomorrow…

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Apr 14, 2011 | View Comments

I’ve been working hard on something for you guys, and it’s going to make it’s debut tomorrow.  Instead of a traditional “Sneak Peek” I thought I’d show you some inspiration and what I put together using it.  Let me preface this by saying, Selena Gomez (Alex Russo as Keira calls her) is HUGE in my house.  My girls love absolutely EVERYTHING she does.  This song is really good, though.  I find it stuck in my head all the time, and it’s a great message.  And, it’s my inspiration this week.

Now that you’ve seen my inspiration, I wanted to show you what I put together with the kit.  A huge thanks to Zinnias and Swallowtails for the awesome template.

Check back tomorrow to see just what I have up my sleeve!

Spring Cleaning Your Folders and Files

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Apr 5, 2011 | View Comments

Your supplies folder isn’t the only folder that can use a little cleaning up during Spring Cleaning.  Taking a few minutes to look through the other folders on your computer and getting them cleaned up and organized can save you room on your hard drive, and help keep everything in working order.  I commonly look in folders that I access often: Documents and Pictures on my computer, and from my hard drive I check out my Work in Progress folder, my To Be Unzipped folder, my Layouts folder, and my School folders.  Here are some of the things I look for and try to take care of when I am cleaning out those folders.

• Any files I don’t need any longer go to the recycle bin.  This goes along with the ideas from yesterday’s post, but if I don’t need it any longer, adios!  Last time I did a clean up, I found lesson plans from three years ago, when I was teaching a whole different grade.
• Move files to where they belong.  I am famous for leaving files in my To Be Unzipped folder because I am too lazy to figure out where they really should go.  This is the time to do that.  Once you have cleaned out what you don’t need, put what you do need in it’s right place.
• Consolidate folders where you can.  I do this in my Pictures folder.  Each time I upload it creates a folder with the date.  At the end of the year, I put them all together in one folder for the year.  It helps me keep everything together, and easy to navigate if I need to find something.
• Make sure files are named so you’ll know what they are.  I can’t tell you how many “Untitled” files I have.  They are absolutely useless when I am trying to find something I need.  When I am going through cleaning up my files and folders, I take the time to rename anything that needs to be renamed.
• Make a list of any larger tasks you come along while you are working.  Often times, when I am cleaning up my files and folders, I find something that I had been meaning to work on.  When that happens, I add the task right to my Google Tasks list so that I won’t forget it again.  I can’t tell you how many tasks I have “remembered” like this.
• Remember, it’s all about making it work for you.  Whatever organizational system you find to be the most productive is the best for you, whatever rules you have for keeping files is best, as long as it works for you.  I always try to remember how good it feels when everything is all clean and organized, that usually prompts me to do these types of tasks again.

Do you go through and clean up your folders and files?   What strategies do you use to keep your folders and files clean and organized?  Let us know in the comments below.

Spring Cleaning Your Digital Scrapbooking Supplies

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Apr 4, 2011 | View Comments

To get started with our Spring Cleaning Week, I thought we’d take a minute and talk about Spring Cleaning our digital scrapbooking supplies.  The idea of purging your supplies can be a scary one, especially when it’s something you spent money on.  If you’re like me, you have a hard time just deleting something that you know you paid for.  Another hurdle I often face when I am trying to purge my supplies is the “I’ll use it someday” excuse.  You know: that kit is so cute, and I know I haven’t used it, but I’m sure it will come in handy someday, hence saving it from another round of deleting.  In the spirit of Spring Cleaning Week, here are some ideas for getting over those hurdles and purging your supplies.

• You can’t get a refund. Sure, you may find yourself feeling guilty that you want to get rid of something that you purchased (especially if you never used it…oh the horror!).  The thing is, keeping it isn’t going to make the money reappear.  When I purge, I usually start deleting things that I haven’t used in a year or so (much like my closet).  If I keep the supplies just because I bought them, and I’m not using them, there is really no reason to keep them.  You have to let go of the guilt, and that will give you the freedom to let go of your supplies (even ones you never used).
• Stop kidding yourself. Realistically, if you haven’t used the product in over a year, you probably aren’t going to use it again.  The last time I purged, prior to my most recent purging, I had left products that I hadn’t used in a year, but I was sure I was going to use soon.  Guess what happened….when I went back and did my most recent purging, those products were still there, unused.  The digital scrapbooking industry is one that is constantly putting  out new goods.   There will always be something you want to use more, something newer, something that better fits your style.  I’ve learned that the hard way.  Now, the steadfast rule is: if it hasn’t been used in a year, it gets deleted.
• Just because you have the room, doesn’t mean you need to use it. I’ve talked to so many people who say, “I don’t purge, I’ve got a 1TB EHD, so I have plenty of room.  There isn’t a need for me to get rid of stuff.”  I used to think like that too, but recently, I’ve been exploring this idea of living with less – if you don’t need it, get rid of it.  Our lives get filled with clutter so easily, it becomes necessary to start surveying what’s around you, and getting rid of what you don’t need.  The same goes for digital scrapbooking supplies – if it’s not necessary, why keep it around?  Freeing yourself of that clutter will help you feel more organized and pulled together.

How do you go about purging your supplies?  What hurdles do you face, and how do you overcome them?  Let us know in the comments below!

New Commercial Use from Sir Scrapalot Designs

Posted by Aaron aka Sir Scrapalot on Apr 1, 2011 | View Comments

This week, I am excited to share with you the Commercial Use versions of my Little Bunny Foo Foo Doodles!  They are ok for PU and CU, and are sure to make your projects absolutely adorable.  Check them out!

As always, they are 20% off this week!  I also left Little Bunny Foo Foo 20% for the week, so if you haven’t picked that up, make sure you do that soon!