just be ...

Inspired : Career Color.

Its been a busy week and I wasnt able to spend my Saturday morning surfing the 'net like I usually do.  This is when I find all sorts of goodies to download and share.  This past weekend I was helping my mom who is on the mend from knee replacement surgery.  (If you recall, my dad had the same surgery, on both knees not too long ago.  Hmm...lets do some math here, shall we?  Dad had knee replacement surgery.  Mom had knee replacement surgery.  I have arthritis in my knees.  First the gallbladder, next, the knees.  Fab.  Thank you Parents!)

However, inspite of my future medical problems, I did find this.  Freaky.  

Career Color

  

Inspired : Menu Planner

To continue the theme of being organized and food planning, I found a 'whimsical' (as my friend Rich says everything in my house is whimsical, guess this would just add to that!), yet functional menu planner. 

What I've done, just as the artist recommended, was print out the planner, put it in a frame (cause i have like 12 of them laying around not being used collecting dust), picked up a dry erase marker at Office Max and Voila!  A menu planner. 

The reason for the frame is so that you only print one planner (saving on printing = being green), and if you change your mind on meals, all you have to do is wipe off marker from the glass with a wet towel vs., scribbling off to the side, adding arrows from Monday to Sunday and back to Monday again, making a big mess of the nice planner. 

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note : I resized my download in PhotoShop to fit a 8x10 frame.  The original size of the download is larger than an average size piece of paper.  I had Office Max give me a quote on printing the original size, and it was roughly $25.00.  If you are interested in downloading this and dont have the ability to resize, please email me and I will send you a copy.   

Inspired : Printable Card

This is the one thing that I am horrible at, sending 'thinking of you' messages.  I am always thinking of people, wondering how they are, if they are on the mend (for those who were ill) or just plain interested in what they are doing.  I find emails to be so impersonal, yet convenient.  And when I am shopping I never think to buy the cards to stash away (see first Inspired weekly post). 

Each year, one of my resolutions is to get better at sending cards.  I think this year I might actually resolve it.  Starting with this : Just Because. 

I have an aunt who is currently recuperating from major surgery.  I've been thinking about her, wondering if she is doing well.  Tomorrow, I will pop this in the snail mail. 

Wednesday, Inspired : Freezer Labels.

Does your freezer look like a giant box of Ziploc bags or plastic containers exploded in it?  On occasion, mine does.  Since Max's arrival, I've been doing really well at planning meals and making things ahead of time and freezing.  However, I know in a couple of months from now I will look at a few of the items and wonder, A, what it is and 2, how long its been in the freezer. 

Thankfully Martha has an answer for almost every dilemma! 

Check out her Freezer Label clipart. 
(I purchased the sticker paper at Office Max)

 

Wednesday, Inspired : Pop-up Photo Diorama.

Remember when we had to make the shoe box dioramas in school?  And how the more elaborate and life-like the better?  I recall a friend of mine, who was very artistic, had painted her shoebox an ocean blue and strategically added about 100 fish cutouts to make it appear as a school of fish.  It was amazing!  (obviously so if I still remember it 30 years later!)  I think I was more amazed at her talent at such a young age! 

So here's the modern day version of the diorama.  Find two photos of your liking.  One of them will be the background/frame and the other will be the main object.  Print to 8x10 size.  See my selections - a visit with the boys, a prairie walk and some blueberry picking.  The end result?  Charlie blueberry picking!   

Link - http://content.photojojo.com/diy/make-pop-up-photo-diorama/

 

The instructions are super easy and it took me all of 10 minutes to complete.  I do highly recommend adding cardstock to the back of the scenic picture for support.  Helps with allowing the diorama to stand freely. 

Charlie in the Blueberry Patch diorama:

*this capture doesnt do the diorama justice.  Its actually very cute!  I will send this and one I will make of Tyler to them for their bedroom.   
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This week's inspiration isnt really all that free.  If you have the photo paper at home, then sure this could be free, but if you send the pictures to be printed, then you'll have a small expense.  I had these photos printed at Walgreens. 

Wednesday, Inspired : DIY Coloring Sheets

Since its right smack in the middle of the summer, and the boredom will be coming up sooner than you think, I found a great idea for some 'super hot and humid, cant really do anything outside' activities, that are not watching tv, playing computer or video games.  This activity will encourage creative thinking and a little daydreaming.  It actually requires you to pull out the box of crayons! 

DIY Free Beach Coloring Sheets

 

What do you like to do at the beach? 

I've always found coloring to be therapeutic, and it encouraged my love for colors and mixing and designing.  Pulling out a coloring book and the 64 box of crayons was always a delight for me.  Hopefully someone you know will enjoy these! 

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legal stuff : for personal use only.  these are a free download from the artist website, so we have to respect her copyrights. 

Introducing.

I have a rather extensive blogroll (n., a list of blogs that have been bookmarked to be read frequently).  I frequent most of them every day, all of them weekly.  They provide inspiration to me.  Many of my ideas are sparked from this list of blogs.  Including this new one.  Each blog I read always has some kind of post about where to get 'free' stuff.  In this sense, the word 'free' is used for downloadable items only.  No mail-in rebates, no going to the store with a coupon and walking out with a box of something. 

See?  Inspired and loaded with a new idea!  Why not share with my readers what I find 'free' per chance they need/want it too?  And that snowballed into another idea!  Why not have a weekly post of 'free' items?  Not only will people be able to indulge in something they might/might not but want need, but it will be free and that equates Guilt. Free. Spending. 

My first item? 

Many of the items that I dont budget for, are usually the items that cost me the most when I need them.  I never keep envelopes or note cards of any kind around.  And when I need them, I am shelling out more than I should had I planned better.  This just adds annoyance to the whole situation and makes the experience a wee bit negative for me.  A couple of weeks ago I was surfing many of the blogs in my blogroll and came across a website for free downloadable invitation templates.  Knowing I have an event coming up that will require invites, I browsed this website and actually FOUND a template that I can use.   

Here's a sample of the invitation template I have downloaded and will be using in the near future.  (mind the data in the invite is not accurate!)

 
Invitation Template: Square Polka Dots

Most of these templates are 'wedding' inspired, but once you download and open in Microsoft Word, you can edit to your desire. 

Check back next Wednesday for more ideas!

Edit: Be sure to use good quality scrapbooking cardstock when printing the invitations.