I have been very busy lately. Part 1

Starting with December 3^rd (yes, that long ago), I did a craft fair to which I was honored (as well as humbled) to participate in again this year.   The craft fair was sponsored by the Eastmoor High School PTA.   The first time was last year (2010).   I say that because for one, no one has ever asked me in the first place before (I have always seen the ad for venders, then apply), and second, the humbling part is that the only ones who bought again this year were the PTA participates and anyone who was using the school for some activity (which was not much).   Last year, it was just Longaberger and me (before I named it Tricia’s Baskets).  This year, it was both companies.  

For the Tricia’s Basket side (Longaberger), I had Travel Cups in one the school colors (Cornflower), Chocolate, Medallion, and Celebration.   Along with the cups, I had coffee packs that can be sold with them.   Sold none.   I also picked up some items from Homestead to be sold.   I had luggage tags, two Hershey cookbooks, two note pads, and a couple other things.   Sold none.

For the MDN Creates side, I made Post a note pads, made from a chipboard coaster, covered it, and hot glued the post a note pad on top.   Sold one.  Next, I covered some composition notebooks with pretty patterned paper.  Sold none.  I also made some cards and sold a few.   Finally for kicks I made a few bookmarkers and sold one.  I am learning that maybe I better find another craft fair next year.   Columbus has a huge Winterfair at the fairgrounds.  It is not for crafters, it is for artisans, which to me, I do not know the difference if you have a business.   This is what I was told.   Well, Starting January, I am going to start making lots more cards that could be sold through my Etsy shop (which I have been neglecting lately) or prepare for a both somewhere.  I am starving for my work (passion), so I think that makes me like them. 

Changes for the new year...2012

Why am I publishing it now?  Because I want to make sure that there are no surprises in the new year.  January is all about changes.  You take a look at the year of old, see what was done wrong, and what you would like to see.   More on that later.  The highlights of the year 2012 are:

More traffic:   I enjoy anyone who is anyone to see, read, and connect to me.   A person does not have to like what I do, but I want that connection, because maybe a person may not agree with everything I say, and who needs to, but maybe I can find that one little spark that hits that person over the head, and they sit there and say, "I get where you are coming from, lady, I may not agree on that particular point, but I get it."

More blogging:   2011 has been a topsy-turvy year for me as I continue to get this business off the ground, while trying to maintain the Longaberger business.   I also found out this year that I like to write, but I also found out that I am the most laziest person I can think of next to my nephew Michael, who is typical teen boy.  One more thing I found out is I like the feeling of being organized.   I may not always get there, but I like containers.  See where I am going with this?  OK, if you don't, just know this much: these two ideas of writing and organizing has sparked two more blogs.  One of them has already been done on my Tricia's Baskets blog and a WordPress blog called Tricia's Organizing (I think I entered one or two posts on the latter, then quit).  the other one has to do with being published on sites like Hubpages (the good stuff) and Helium (the bad stuff), and I have been freelancing for a couple of people.  I want to continue with MDN Creates the blog (this one), and Tricia's Baskets (The Longaberger business one), and try to send things into the Stratosphere.   I will be also continuing to contribute to the Card a day Blog (although I forfeited my turn for next month, because I want to concentrate on organize my little business empire and my house (hey I am no Martha Stewart, and I am not trying to be)

Social Media Savvy:   It is no secret that blogging, typing on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, reading sites like Digg, and viewing videos on You tube and Hulu are here to stay (now where did that come from, LOL), but it is how business is conducted for the most part.   Even traditional companies are starting to throw in the towel and saying "the heck with it, we are dealing with social media."   I do not know if it because today's generation is saying to "with us, or get the heck out of the way."  In either case, I plan on being part of this ride.   For that reason, I have a smart phone (as of today), and I am doing both face to face, as well as online business.   I do not want to be left out, nor do want to be totally depended on it either.   I can understand the pressure, especially with my parents.   My dad does email but has another "dumb phone".  we gave mom an account, but dad's email account is her email account, and she wants me or dad to pull her email, and print it off to her.   She only wants to use her cell phone in case of emergency.   It seems that I already hate my new phone, though.  I left my charge at my parent's house, LOL, and the battery is almost gone, but I am connected to my Google accounts, my Kindle account (I have Kindle for PC, and just added my account to Kindle for Android).   I now have the Longaberger wishlist on my phone so that if a customer wants to look at a product, they can find it.

There are so many changes, until there is a part two, so stay tuned. I will also show some of my cards I am working on for my mom to send for Christmas.

Christmas and children

Hello, Patricia here.  I am post my card a day post.   I am a little late getting started, but this will work out, as I only have less than two hours to post this.  I have been super busy lately (my new term), and I have not forgotten, but I have a craft show that I am preparing for Saturday, December 3.   I am selling cards, note pads, cover journals, and Longaberger products.   I hope I do well.   Anyway, on with today's card.    I am doing this step by step.   So let's get started:

First of all, I do not know what the plan is.   Sometimes it happens.  You have one idea, and end up with something totally different.

1.  First of all, I am starting with this cute and simply paper pack from Echo Park called Dots and Stripes.   This is a cute pack that is compatible. If you decide to get this, I got mine at Archiver's. it comes with tags

Sticker letters,



and 12 pieces of double-sided papers.

Well, things change.  I was going to use the pattern paper as the base, but at this point, I decided to rely on good old fashion kraft cardstock as the base.   I am still using the patterned paper, but could not think for the life of me on how to fold the paper after cutting it in half. Time for plan "B", LOL.  

Take 8 1/2 x 11 piece of the kraft cardstock, and cut in half, making it 8 1/2" x 5.5".   Fold in half.  you can use a ready made card blank.   This is an A2 card.

Next, I cut a mat, measuring less than the 4.5" x 5.5".   Next I cut a strip of the same paper, and this time, I used the other side, attached a piece of ribbon to it, and glue it to the mat.

Now I am stuck.   but not for long.    

Next, I took a winter scene stamp with trees, and  stamped it in distress ink tea dye ink, and cut to size.   I put it on pop dots.   Again here is the finished card.   Enjoy.


Do not forget about the challenge on Card a Day Blog

New prompt:How do you balance your children, relationship, and work life?

First of all, I have not been very diligent about these prompts, but when I went to BlogHer to get my next Journal prompt for Sunday (because I was behind already), I found out that Blogher does not post these prompts on Saturday and  Sunday.   I am so glad.

Today's prompt:  How do you balance your children, relationships, and work life?   the prompt is by Ricky Lake.   Yes, that Ricky Lake who had a talk show, took time out for family, and then shows up on Entertainment Tonight, before signing up to do Dancing With the Stars this season.   I hope she wins.

Anyway, I have been bad in this area for a long time.   First of all, I do not have any kids, and I am not married.   I still have a mother and a father, who is still married after 50 years.  This rarely happens, and I thank God for it.   they are raising my oldest nephew.   I will tell you in another post the day I thought they were getting a divorce.   It is hilarious now, and I was 12 at the time.  My brother, who lives in another city, with his fiancee and their cute little bungle of joy.   His is the youngest nephew, brother to the oldest one.  My sister lives here with her two kids, middle nephew, and only niece.   So I try to spend time with everyone.   I am currently not in a relationship, so forget that.   I do want a man who will except who I am, and please do not change me from me.  I like me, and I like support, so if he can get to the support part, I will be fine.   I will only change to include him in my life, and we should be comparable,and he will have to except that I also do things for my church.
Lastly, there is my work-life.  You know, I am finding out that it is not easy to do the combo.  It seems that everyone it not getting the whole self employment thing.  It does not mean that I will never have another outside or corporate job again.  I am taking a time-out from them, because well, my last paycheck was not good, and neither were my hours.  I go back from time to time, and I see they have hired anymore people.  In fact everyone I knew, except three people are gone.   I guess they all found out what I knew all along, because I was the first in a string of people, who decided to quit.

I need to get better at this thing called a work life balance.   How about you?   Do you have a balance, or is it one-sided?    God Bless, and Good night.

When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?

For those of you who do not know, I added writing to my list of things to do while keeping busy.  Writing, like my music (self-created or listening to someone else's music) relaxes me, and gives me a way to enhance other areas of my life (like promoting my businesses or other things).   Anyway, I took on a challenge on BlogHer to post for 30 days something.   Sometimes I will post a prompt they suggest (like today's prompt), and sometimes I will post what I normally post on this blog (such as an up and coming post on December 1st-a card with the theme of Christmas and Children).   

Well today's prompt is all about how I write.  The question is "When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?" When I started writing, it was personal, and something for my children to read long after I have passed away.   I wanted them to know what type of person I was before they were adopted, little notes of wisdom, and for them to know that they were not born in my belly, but in my heart.  Once I got bitten, I wanted to do something that allowed me to say something about the things I love to do, so I started this blog.   A few months later I split this blog up to allow people to learn more about The Longaberger Company, my individual business of being a consultant, and how a person can decorate and have their own business as a consultant.   

Back to the question.   As you see here, I love writing by computer rather by pen.   It is faster, and if I mess up, there is the delete button, and if I spell something wrong, there is the spell checker.   I have become too dependent on this little gift.   I do not shun the pen, because that is how I got started.  I started like many people, in Kindergarten, learning how to print.  by third grade, I learned the art of writing cursive, and all of a sudden, writing in my own handwriting became pretty.  

One tip for you: As much as computer writing is all the rage, and I do love it, DO NOT STOP WRITING IN YOUR OWN HANDWRITING!  Yes I said it.   It shows you care, especially if you are send a personal note such as a thank you, or signing greeting cards.   Another reason for improving on your own handwriting:  What if you have to add your signature to an important document such as your new driver's license or a business document.   I know that school systems are now saying that it is not necessary for a child to learn cursive writing, and two states have cut it out altogether.   It is important for a parent to sit down to teach what school are now failing to do.   A child needs to learn the basics that will help them excel in life.  If not, then where does it leave a country that requires it in business, academics, and other aspects of life.   I am going to stop there, because I will go into some of the other things that children need to learn and computers may not be always available.

Enjoy your day, and I will talk to you later. God Bless You.   

Christmas at Home

Although I was born in Ohio, and I call Ohio my home, I have not lived in Ohio all of my life.   My parents are from Alabama, and when my father was 17, he joined the Air Force in the late 1950's.   He was stationed in Plattsburg AFB, NY, when he came to visit my mom, who was attending University of Michigan at the time.  They were married 50 years ago On July 27, 1961, and I was born 3 years later at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio about 5 miles south of Columbus.   I cannot remember any snow during that time, but I saw my first snow when I was 4 years old at the Big Bear Mountains overlooking San Bernadino, Ca. In a picture, my mom and I were in sweaters looking at the snow.   I encountered my first blizzard in 1976, when we were living at McGuire AFB, NJ, and I never saw so much snow before in my life.  My brother and I played in that stuff.   But the worst snow I ever experienced was 6 years ago in Columbus.   An ice storm hit Columbus, and I had no lights.   I had to feel my way downstairs to my living room, and waited until my mom came and got me.   I could not get my car out of the garage. in my parents house was me, my oldest nephew, my sister, mom and dad with no lights, except for the light of the fireplace.   It was warm, peaceful, and I got lots of sleep that night.

Over at the Card-a day blog, the theme is Christmas at home, and a designer on the blog,  I want to show you a card that defines that memory.    It is made almost entirely with the Cricut Imagine, and this is my first project made with this machine.   I also have the Expression and  the Expression 2, 5th Anniversary Edition, introduced back in April on HSN (Home Shopping Network).   I am not sure if you can see it or not, but there is a dog and a cat looking out at the snow.   It reminds me of all those days and nights where i would look out, and wonder when I could go out and play in New Jersey, when we could go to the mountains in California, or when can I dig my car out of the snow here in Ohio.

I used a newer cartridge. Enjoy the Season, and if you never seen what an Imagine cartridge has on it, it is different from a regular Cricut cartridge.   Not only does these cartridges have things to cut out like a regular cricut cartridge, but it has pattern paper you can print out, and images you can print and cut as well.  You do not have to do the whole image either.

I selected my images to print and cut, which if you already have this cartridge, it is on page 20 in the handbook, and I did not change any colors at all.   The size of the image is 2.0", and I also printed a whole sheet of 12x12 snowflake paper, which is listed on page 40 in the handbook.   The reason I printed out a whole sheet was because I did not know how much was needed, but you can determine your size in the settings, and I would print out about an A2 size, which is about 4x6 (or 6x6 on the Imagine).   take a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11, and cut it in half width-wise to have 4 1/4 x 8 1/2.     Fold it in half to get 4 1/2 x 5 1/2.  Set the card blank aside.  I then cut and printed out a Enjoy the season (at 1.5") on page 27 of the handbook, and changed the background to match the mat.
Take you 12x12 sheet, and cut it slightly smaller than the front of the card blank (4x5) and adhere it to the front.   Take pop dots for that 3-d effect, and put them on the dog/cat image and the Enjoy the Season, and stuck them to the mat.  This is a fun last minute card, when you have forgotten someone on your list.   Don't have an Imagine?   You can do this same effect from any die cut machine, electronic or not.   don't have a die cut machine at all?   You can purchase a bunch of Christmas-like 3-d stickers with brands like Jolee's, EK success, K& Co., and buy a holiday-like pattern paper and make some cards.   The good thing about most of these pre-made stickers is most of them already has a pop dot foam on the back of them, so you will save money in the long run.

Well thanks for stopping by. 

The winner to the "In the Celebration of Sistahhood "Blog hop, and other happenings

Hello, and this is an update to the In the Celebration of Sistahhood Blog Hop.   To be fair, I used Random.Org to do my picking (he is not bias at all, lol).   the winner of my blog candy is Netta.   So Netta, if you are reading this, please email me your address to me, so I can get it in the mail.   my email is plogan@columbus.rr.com, and your information is safe with me.

This is what Netta said, "nice job on your album..love the flowers,  ``Netta (craftynetta)~~  


So thanks again, everyone.   I am resting from blog hops for a month.  November and December will be super busy for me.   I am preparing for a craft fair which will take place at Eastmoor High School, December 3, 9am-2pm I believe (I will get back to you on that as soon as I look at my information again).   I participated last year, and only had Longaberger products, and it did not go well.  My table this year will be both Longaberger and MDN Creates products.  I know, i know the rules of selling, but I have to have something for the kids to buy, as well as those with not enough money to buy. Starting next week, I will be cranking it out, and ordering cash and carry items from Longaberger so they can make it by December 3rd.    If you are in the Columbus area and would like to stop by and take a look, again it is at Eastmoor High School, and it is their winter festival.   Hope to see you there.


I am also into writing now, and have written several articles for a couple of companies from Freelancer.com.   I feel blessed in sharing my work to people, and I do not care if it is through crafting, writing, music, or dance.  Yes I am also a musician (piano, organ, keyboard), and a dancer (ballet, jazz, tap, and literal. )  All of this coming from a person who was very shy as a child.
I am now speaking to any children who are reading this:  you can accomplish anything you want to.  I used to ask God to take away this shyness I had, which to me was bigger than any other problem I had physical.   the true is that you have to believe in yourself, just as God believes in you.  Whatever you are good at, and everyone is good at something.  I never knew that being shy means that I was a great listener.   You do not have to say a word, and instantly that person feels better, because they had a chance to pour their heart out.


One of the things I never got to do when I was younger was to be a model.   I used to get upset about that.   I have some physical attributes that do not set right with the industry, but that is OK, because in a world where everyone is different, they are the most discriminatory industry in the world, and most clothing industries only want certain body types to wear their clothing, but that is OK too, because one day, they may find themselves on the other side where most of us are at now, and they are going to wish that they have never set those guidelines for women and modeling.   Sorry I that I said it here, but I had to get it off my chest, as it is far worst than when I wanted to model.  


Back to scrapbooking.  I am now a proud owner of a Cricut Imagine.   For those of you who are not familiar with this little piece of a gem.   The Imagine or CI for short is a printing and cutting machine made by Provo Craft.   This thing is not little, lol.   I bought it from a friend of mine, who thought it was too complicated, and wanted to stick to her expression machine (she did not purchase the E2 like I did).   Anyway, I took my sister alone, with my niece (3) and my nephew (4) in tow.   I knew that it was big (weights about 40 pounds or is it more like 100!!!), so I was hoping that my sister would get out of the car with me.  Are You Kidding !!!, this woman lower the seat, and went to sleep on me.  My niece is sleep, and nephew wide awake (like he could help me get this "Heavy D" of a Cricut machine out of the door)  It was a good thing her husband was there to put it in the trunk for me.    I get home, and take everything out (purse and the like), and tried to get the imagine between the wall in my garage and my car, and I had to set it on its side and wiggle it around.  I got it up on the table, calibrated it (you have to calibrate both the Imagine and the E2 every time you move them, even within the house), and now it is all ready to go.


Well this is pretty long, so I better stop and get something to eat before the Nate Berkus show comes on and my call in for Longaberger at 8pm.   Again congrats to Netta for winning, and your blog candy will be in the mail as soon as you send me your address.


God bless you all.