Social Media and Crafting

So I am coming up on a year of social media crafting.  I feel like it has given me more purpose in my crafting.  Normally it was like I made something that took hours and show my husband and he would say "that's nice" type of comment.  Then I may snap a photo and put it on my personal facebook page.  But with crafting on social media its awesome.  I get more feed back.  I get questions on my creations.  I get to meet new people from all over the world, not just at my local scrapbooking store.  Which I love going to that as well.  I do think that with social media crafting I have increased my spending.  I am not sure if it is from the need to impress, the constant sea of inspiration and advertising of etsy shops on IG (instagram), or if its because I found my "tribe."  I do think they may all be true.  I want to show people the newest stuff and how I am using it.  I feel like I see ads and deals all over IG 24/7.  Not knocking that I use my IG to advertise my etsy as well.  Its free to advertise so why not?? And lastly (a word I hate), I have found my "tribe." I have quite a few followers and I follow most of them back.  It gets hard to remember everyone, but I do have I would say my top 10 that I constantly interact with and socialize with.  Some of these girls I consider really good friends.  I enjoy the happy mail aspect as well of my new friends.  I do know that some girls can get catty on social media and I just do my best to stay out of the drama and delete/block anyone who does.  Youtube is a little different than IG.  It has a dislike button...I dislike that button lol.  I have seen people dislike my friends' youtube videos and I don't understand what they could have possibly not liked.  I get that if what they did or I did is not your style you don't care for it, but then just click off as Larua's life would say.  My hubby says those people that use that button don't usually even have a channel.  Youtube does allow you to see if it was a subscriber or not and where they were from.  Anyway, what I love about youtube is the comments and requests for future videos.  I even did my first collab with another youtuber.  I really enjoy that community as well.  I watch a ton of videos and some are just really inspiring!! I feel I spend more time watching youtube than I do watching netflix! I use my twitter but I don't feel like I have found a group I fit in there.  I also enjoy the planner groups on facebook.  I don't care for the strict ones haha.  Some have so many rules you constantly see people say in their post to take their post down if this violates this page.  That is just sad!  I am an admin of the Heidi Swapp Memory Planners and we are so not strict!  People post hauls, pages, complaints, planner stuff for sale, planner videos, and we love it all!  Well  I think I will sign off here so I can go film another plan with me.  

Up Date on my hand and other crafty things

Hi!

So I went to the doctor last Wednesday.  He took off the clunky metal brace and all the gauze wrapping! It is now Buddy tapped. I did a before and after pictures lol.  I couldn't have plain white tape. Typing with half a hand is still difficult thought.  I have been working on my planner, a couple of cards, and making things for my classroom. I plan on scrapbooking tomorrow.  I have a ton of pictures developed that I want to get scrapped before I go back to work on Thursday.I also started a youtube channel since it will be easier to talk than type for a while.  

Here is a peek at the pocket letter I finished tonight!I used Bella Rouge papers and sentiments.  The flowers are from Michaels.I like to label the pockets!  I used washi on the side and to close a pocket because I didn't want the brads to fall out.

I made a card with Unity Stamp Co. stamps and that is up on my youtube. 

Here is a sneak peek at the stuff I have made to decorate my classroom this year!The Harry Potter is actually for a coworker who has a cubicle because she is a SPED teacher.  Her theme is Hogwarts, so I mad this for her.  I used the create a friend on the cricut explore.  This was the graduate.  I did not make the hat and changed the colors to Hogwarts robes.  I added the lightning bolt, glasses, and a stick for a wand.  

Here is the layout for last week in my Heidi Swapp Planner!  The washi is HEMA. The days of the week are a stamp from Unity.  Some stickers are from my etsy shop.  

Hope you all are doing well!

Favorite Brands

I wanted to share my favorite brands of paper, stamps, tools, and embellishments. All the links send you to find that product.  Now I am not sponsored so this is really just my opinion.  

Paper: 

Echo Park
Pebbles
American Crafts
Imaginisce
Bo Bunny
Doodle Bug
Pink Paislee

Stamps:

Unity Company
heidi swapp

Tools:

Scissors: Fiskars scissors
Paper Trimmer: Fiskars trimmer
Knife: Fiskars Knife
Rule: X-Acto centering ruler
Glue Runner: Elmer's
Regular glue and glue stick: Scotch scrapbooker's glue with 2-way applicator
Cutting Machine: Cricut Expore

Embellishments:

I rarely buy random embellishments.  Most paper lines at my local scrapbooking store have coordinating embellishments.  I find buying the sticker sheet and sometime chipboard are the best accents to my layout.  I also try to buy the sheet of paper that has cards or tags that coordinate with the paper line.  I linked the store because you can order from them online as well.  Plus they have a great FREE scrapbook magazine called CREATE. 

Feel free to comment if you favorites are different. I would love to see your favs too!

Happy Crafting!-Lesley