How Efficent are YOU?

You may be wondering if I fell off the face of the earth, but I can assure you I haven't! I really haven't. I am working on a very large job for EK - reproducing 3 8x8 scrapbook pages 150 times each. Yes. 150x3=450 pages....it's a pretty boring job. Most of the paper came from Prism trimmed to the size I specified, well most of it. There was a little snafu and I've got to trim one photo mat, but no biggie really. This box was crammed FULL of papers - nicely trimmed and packed in 50 piece packs.

So, basically I am just putting them all together....the picture above is what two colors of 150 pieces of 8 x 8 pages stacked on top of each other look like. It's a little overwhelming as I get started, but once I get in the groove it's ok. I just stand there and - geez - I don't even get to cut and paste - I just paste ;-)

I have learned to be an efficient worker since this is the second time around for this type of project for them. (If you ever go to AC Moore and see the Jolee's By You examples look for me, I made the three pages on that one sheet (of course, my other CAT Team members participated - so you'll also see their beautiful work too.) I devised this really cool tool to help me so that I don't have to line up my paper on the mark it needs to be cut at each and every time - and since I have to make that cut usually multiple times (and then some when I am cutting my journaling blocks from 8 1/2 x 11 paper) this works awesome for me! What I do is figure out where my cut is going to be and then tape a little paper "stop" at that spot on the grid of the paper trimmer. So, all I do is line my paper up with the paper stop and cut. In the first picture you can see the paper lined up and in the second picture you can see the paper stop as it's taped to the ruled area on the trimmer.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my Dahle? Oh my, it's like paper trimmer heaven. My Big Valentine got this very one for my birthday in 2004, and since it's a self-sharpening blade - I've never replaced the cutting head. It's wonderful, though it is an investment of nearly 180. bucks - I've save that in the last 3 years in cutting blades. I love my Dahle. She's been good to me! I did cut some tin foil the other day in prep of this project - but that's about it.

I have also been working on painting my house. I finished my studio this afternoon - it's a Martha Steward Signature Color from Lowe's - Cake Stand Blue. I tried to find a picture of it online for you folks but that didn't happen. Right now I am to dang comfy sitting here to go down and snap a picture....you'll have to wait until tomorrow! So far I have chosen paint for a few rooms: Masterbath: Seedling Green, MasterBedroom: Pignoli. For Ian's room I am going to paint the ceiling midnight blue and gradually change the color as it gets closer to the ground so it looks like a a fresh night sky. Um, yeah that's my plan.

Anywho, my wrists are tired from all the painting, cutting and using my new Scotch ATG gun. (Did I mention that thing rox too?? ) Maybe I'll get you a picture tomorrow....