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Monday 29 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe's Favourite Quotes - 5, with a Project of the Day.

Dear Scribblers

I thought that this quote by the Roman writer, Publius Terentius would resonate with you as much today as it did in the 3rd century when it was written:
"Draw from others the lesson that may profit yourself."
Meaning, if someone does something you like, learn why they were successful and copy it. I'm not saying to plagiarise; I mean, look at what made something work, and develop it into your own style with your personal twist.

It is a quote that has been ‘used and learnt’ in the very modern practise of PMA- Positive Mental Attitude in the form of the R2A2 formula. This stands for:
Recognise - Relate - Assimilate - Action
Recognise the fabulous lesson, idea or concept.
Relate it to you own work or life.
Assimilate it, by working out how to use it and change it to work for you.
Action it by... well... Doing it!

This was developed by W. Clement Stone who wrote books such as; ‘The Success System that Never Fails’, ‘Believe and Achieve’ and (with Napoleon Hill) ‘Success Through Positive Mental Attitude’.  To find out more about W. Clement Stone and his 17 Principles of Success, please check out R2A2 or Amazon. (Please note I have no connection with these websites or books.)

Crafters follow this rule a lot. Have you? If you have ever copied someone else’s sketch in a ‘Scrap-lift’, you have gone through the process of R2A2. It’s one of the best ways to develop new skills. Simple and effective!

Project of the Day - Look to someone, or something that inspires you. Follow the R2A2 formula, and create something of your own. Notice how often you may do this anyway.

Happy Scribing!

Friday 26 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe's Favourite Quotes - 4, with a Project of the Day.

Dear Scribblers

Here is an old Irish prayer which I think you may like:
"Take Time to Work - it is the price of success. 
Take Time to Think - it is the source of power. 
Take Time to Play - it is the secret of perpetual youth. 
Take Time to Read - it is the foundation of wisdom. 
Take Time to be Friendly - it is the road to happiness. 
Take Time to Dream - it is hitching your wagon to a star. 
Take Time to Love and Be Loved - it is the privilege of the Gods. 
Take Time to Look Around - the day is too short to be selfish. 
Take Time to Laugh - it is the music of your soul."
Don't you think that says it all?

Project of the Day - Create a mini book, or journal on the prayer. Take each page for each line, and demonstrate it in context of your own life. E.G. Take Time to Work - use a photo of (or describe) you working, of your work environment/building/desk. Take Time to Think - where is your favourite place you go to to sit and think? Scrap or write that. Take each line and build up a project about you.

Happy Scribing!

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Scrapbooking & Journalling Your Own History - Part 1

Scrapbooking & Journalling Your Own History - Part 1
Dear Scribblers
To Recap:
Every person in the world has their own story to tell, and I feel that it is important for you to record your own personal history. You can include your own family tree and genealogy, or just begin with your own birth or any other significant point in your journey. It's up to you.
Think about what areas of your past life you would like to record for your future. Are you going to include past family? Present family and friends? Are you going to go from birth? From school? From adulthood? Will you include photos? Draw? Writing only? How much details would you like to go into, and how you would like to capture these memories? Are you going to scrapbook? Journal? Art book? Mini book? A4 folder? Sketch book? Canvas panels? Artist trading cards? Film? Let your mind wander, bring forward the images of your life. 
Over a number of blog entries, I will be sharing with you my ideas, and hints and tips I’ve picked up along the way on how to journal your life. There will be plenty of writing prompts for you to think about.
… And off we go!
Part 1
I trust by now, you have some idea how you are going to begin. Are you a happy scrapper? Or are you a raring-to-go writer? It doesn’t matter how you journal your physical or digital pages, what matters is that you are doing it in the first place.
Some of you may want to work chronologically, but you may find your mind wandering off on a direction you didn’t expect. If this happens, don’t worry about it, just go with the flow. Out of this, you may find undiscovered pearls of wisdom and creativity. 
Remember this project is about your life. You may decide to include your family tree and your ancestors stories too, or you may decide to focus on just apart of your world; such as your work life. It’s entirely up to you. 
It’s Your Story
Never forget that. It may take you a few days or weeks to tackle your idea, or it may be a project that will be with you forever, as you add events in the future too. This may sound very daunting, but whatever the reason for your journalling, take each page as it comes. Little steps finally finish the marathon.
I also recommend that you keep each idea or event separate, as it gives focus to your work.
I think that each page, be it digital or tactile, be it writing or scrapbooking, should contain 3 essential items:
The 3D’s - DESCRIPTION - DATE - DETAIL
Description - This is your title for your page. This can be just one word such as; ‘Me!', or a sentence, ‘This is Me!’ or a saying ‘It’s All About Me!’
You can add a sub-title too if it needs explaining; Title: ‘This is Me!’ Sub-Title: 'by The Crafty Scribe.' Your heading can be simple, serious, funny or thoughtful, but it must tell you exactly what the page is about. After all, if a tin of sweet corn was labelled baked beans, you would be mighty disappointed if you had wanted beans on toast!
Date - This is important to add, especially if you are adding it to a time-line of your life. This can include: full date and time - 24 March 2010 10:00 am, or if you don’t remember it could be - Spring 2010, or even circa 2010.
Detail - Now this is the fun bit. This is your journalling. The information and additional data about your page. It can be as simple as a sentence to name the people in an added photograph. Or it can be a quick paragraph, or a whole essay. Once you have your 3D’s you can add whatever you want to your page. It may just be all about the writing or it may be about photographs, embellishments and ephemera, it’s up to you.
If you are having trouble wondering what to write. Jot down your memories using the famous journalists prompt:
What - Where - When - Who - How - Why.
If you follow this, you may recall more details than you thought you would.
To get you started, I would like you to have a go at the following:
Project of the Day: Write a Me page on how you are right now. Title it. Date it. Describe yourself. Do you want to include a description of how you look? Where you live? Your family? Work? Mood? Goals? Add a photo? Write as little or as much as you want. Make it personal. This can become the title page of your entire project - even if you are going to be delving into your past, knowing where you are at this place and time, when you are deciding to journal your life is your jumping off point. Don’t forget you as you are.
So now you have the basics on how to begin a page - (and hopefully a ‘This is Me’ page) - what are you going to write about next? In the next few parts of Scrapbooking and Journalling your Own History, I will be discussing journalling prompts in full. I hope you will join me.
Happy Scribing!

Wednesday 17 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe's Favourite Quotes - 3. Project of the Day.

Dear Scribblers

I thought I would share with you today, the quote that means the most to me. I can't tell you where it came from. I think I made it up when I was about 16, but I may have heard it somewhere, or it was a mixture of a couple of quotes. I can't really say for sure. All I know is that it has stuck with me, and I still believe in it more than 20-odd years later.
Live Life to the Full, and Enjoy!
Do you have a quote, or saying that has been a lifelong companion? If you want to share, please add it to the comments.

Project of the Day: If you have a very personal quote, journal about it, or scrapbook a page showing what it means to you. You could even make a mini book showing all the times you followed your quote and was successful in your endeavours. Take your quote and turn it into your own piece of art.

Enjoy your day.

Happy Scribing! 

Saturday 13 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - Feed-The-Frenzy

Communiqué - News Flash - Communiqué 

Dear Scribblers

It's Script Frenzy Feed-the-Frenzy day today. I'm in! Are you?


Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends - Communiqué Ends

Wednesday 10 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - Script Frenzy

Communiqué - News Flash - Communiqué 

Dear Scribblers

  • Have you ever had an idea, and thought to yourself, that it would make an excellent film script or play? 
  • Do you write short stories or novels, and wonder what it would be like to turn your work into a script? Can you see it performed, on a stage or on that big screen, in your mind? 
  • Are you an existing script writer, and need a boost of support and inspiration?
  • Or would you like to try something new?

Well take a look at this website:

Organised by the same company as NaNoWriMo who encourages you to write a novel in November, Script Frenzy is an international writing event in which participants take on the challenge of writing 100 pages of scripted material in the month of April. 

From long-suffering scriptwriters and playwrites, to complete newbies, you can have a go.  

For further information, see their 'What is Script Frenzy?' page, which gives you an overview of what Script Frenzy is all about, more on the machanics of the month, and a link to their frequently asked questions.

I'll be writing my 100 pages. Why don't you try something new in April, and join me? Head on over to Script Frenzy - browse the website, and sign up today!

Happy Scribing!

Communiqué Ends - Communiqué Ends

Tuesday 9 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe's Favourite Quotes - 2. Project of the Day. The Artist's Way.

Dear Scribblers

Here is another quote. Short and sweet, but I think it packs a massive punch.

Desire, Ask, Believe, Receive.        - Stella Terrill Mann

If we lived our life following this, just think what we could achieve.

Project of the Day - Take a clean journal page/scrapbook sheet/art pad page, and pick one goal or desire you have. It doesn't matter how crazy you think it is.

  1. Now make that 'desire' your title. 
  2. Journal your 'ask', write out your want in clear conscise and POSITIVE language only. The request will only work if you are careful. Remember the old saying, 'Be careful what you wish for, as you may just get it.'
  3. Add pictures or drawings to your page to boost and empower your desire. If you can't draw, or have no photos. Cut out pictures from magazines, or download and print from the internet. You won't be showing anyone this page, so doing this is for your own private use.
  4. As you work, work with honesty. Keep an open mind, and 'Believe' this will work.
  5. Put the page away, and keep believing. If you find yourself wavering, and losing faith. Take out the page, and look at it. Allow the same feeling you felt to wash over you now. Was it strength? Was it enthusiasm? Or excitement. Enjoy the positive feelings again.
  6. Keep your page secret. It is for your eyes only, as this is a personal goal. Don't let others limit you by their negative comments or disbelief.
  7. Wait to 'Receive'. Now think about this? Your desire will not just show up on your doorstep, you will have to work for it, but look out for all those so-called coincidences and opportunities that pass your way. Say yes, to the favourable and constructive offers. They make take you a step nearer to achieving your goal.
  8. Remember there is no time restriction on this, so you need patience. If your desire does have a time frame, add it to your ask request.
I found today's quote within the pages of 'The Artist's Way' a book by Julia Cameron. The inspiration for today's project also came from my own experiences on working through the course. If you are interested in joining a support group who are presently working through the 12 weeks of The Artist's Way. Check out Mighty Mur's blog - 'I Should Be Writing' - the course is not just for writers, but anyone who wants to create. I thoroughly recommend it.

Happy Scribing!

Sunday 7 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe's Favourite Quotes - Number One

Dear Scribblers

Do you often see a quote that resonates with you? Do you read it, then forget it, or do you write it down?

Project for the Day: Remember to add the quotes that mean something to you to your journalling or to your crafting. Even start a Quote Notebook, or Quote Document/File on your computer as a place to store them, so you know where to look when you read or hear something. Start this today - it will work as a prompt for you to action.

The new mantra for 2010 - If it's important, remember to record it.
So here's my first favourite quote.
'In twenty years from now, you'll be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Explore! Dream! Discover!'  - Mark Twain 
Look out under the posts 'Favourite Quotes' as I add more to the blog. I hope some of mine become your favourites too. If you have any you would like to share, please add them to the comments.

Happy Scribing!

p.s. Normal programming will resume shortly... I promise!

Friday 5 March 2010

The Crafty Scribe Communiqué - eCraft

Communiqué - News Flash - Communiqué 

Dear Scribblers

Want to see what I think is going to be THE best electronic cutter on the market?

Check out The eCraft by Craftwell Go view the site to see what you think.

No adhesives, no cutting mats, SD cards of images, software to be available for both PC and Mac, and an iPhone app. What’s not to like?

Or check on the demonstration on episode 467 video podcast on Scraptime

If you are into crafting and scrapbooking, and you like die-cuts. It’s worth a look. Available in the USA from Spring 2010.

I’m just waiting to find out if they are going to be available in the UK. Fingers crossed!

Happy Scribing!

Communique Ends - Communique Ends

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