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 It's almost mid-year and this is the time when I usually take stock of what I have done and not done. But for this year, I don't think I will do this.
Mainly because I know I am so far away from the goals I set at the beginning of the year. But also because I feel it would add some pressure, which frankly, I don't want more of at the moment.
Despite being a stay-at-home mom with 3 angels to help me, there is just so much to do that 24 hours a day is not enough to do everything I want. But I am happy with what I have been able to do so far. I have tried out quite a few new things in the last 6 months, such as:
Ranger Distress Crackle Paint
This is my favorite product find to-date...although American Crafts Thickers comes a close second. I've always been a fan of the Distress Inks and Embossing Powders, but the Crackle Paint takes the cake! You simply brush it on and wait for it to dry and crackle.
 I've used it for stamping, distressing edges and even masking. I love the texture and dimension it gives, whether applied thinly or with a heavy hand. Plus, I never realized how convenient it is to have a paint bottle with a built-in brush -- now I know why I avoid using my other acrylic paints -- cleaning up is too much of a hassle.
Heat-Embossing with Micro-beads
I've had these Provo Craft Micro-Beads for a while and I've only used them once. I found them quite difficult to adhere which is why I rarely used them. Check-out the LO above where I used them.
 It's not that difficult, but requires some patience -- especially if you're doing a whole title like I did. Just heat emboss 2-3 layers with UTEE, then heat the sides/edges and dip in microbeads.
Using my Sewing Machine
I've had my sewing machine beside me as I scrap for the last 3 years, but how many times have I used it? Only in the past 3 weeks when I finally forced myself to put it in the center of my scrap table (instead of at my right elbow) and use it.
 Check out my Father's Day LO (Same Product, 5 Ways) which is the result of my experimentation. I'm still not sure how to change the thread, but luckily, the LO had a distressed look since the stitches were uneven.
If you haven't scrapped with a sewing machine yet, it's a great way to get you into the scrapping groove you've been looking for. If you don't have a sewing machine, hand-stitching gives a nice texture too, except that you don't get the same high because it takes much longer to finish the sewing!
If you haven't tried these things yet, it's worth trying out. Other than having a numeric scrapping goal, my other goal is "continuous learning". I want to learn something or do something new with every LO I make -- which I think is a lofty goal as well.
The "something new" doesn't have to be a big thing, it could be just changing the angle of your photo or using a different sized photo. But you get the point, right? It's just nice to be able to do something different, once in a while.
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