Katie Orse

From linen bulletin board to mini album

A few weeks ago I shared on my Facebook a bulletin board I made for my studio.

After the project, I had about half a yard of fabric left and I didn't want it to go to waste. So, I could have made a cute zippered pouch or even more fun...a mini album. I might go back and make a zippered pouch later on, but this mini album is what turned out and I love it!

Pin It

 

It's still a work in progress mini album, but I'm going to include lots of my favorite people/things that make me happy. 

On some business news...I've been designing a few new products to include in my shop for Spring. Spring is almost here to me. It's approaching really fast and I feel so behind on schedule. One major business idealogy I want to focus on is solving problems for others, but with my own sense of style. I hope I can please ;)

And finally the weekend is here! I'm looking forward to filling it with family time, celebrating my 12 year old (she turns 13 this weekend!), and perhaps The Lorax movie??? It's going to be a great.

So, what are you planning for this weekend?  

Free Meal planning & Password Downloads

 

I've been reading this book.

My goal is to find a personal solution to help

better manage my time, home and family. 

It's been a challenge to work at home and balance

family schedules. One of the systems that I have

in place is our family's meal planning.

I've tried other meal planning programs

and we just didn't seem to click. I needed something

that was VERY simple and without a service that required 

a monthly fee for something that I could 

easily create myself. All it took was some time.

So, I'm sharing with you two free downloads that have 

personally helped me get organized.

Download:

Meal planning

and

Password Organizer

Print the meal planning handout, plan 

some meals (I like browsing Pinterest for meal ideas), 

create your shopping list and take with you 

to the store. Don't worry about getting

fancy with meals and honestly, creating

healthy meals takes some research and common sense.

Moderation in red meats (more chicken/lean meats), 

less fried food, more vegetables and grains.

 ***

The Password organizer download is so handy!

Am I the only one who forgets which website has

which password? Sometimes you have to create

different ones for different sites because the combination of

letters/numbers and symbols IS required. It's crazy!

So there you go. Enjoy and please feel free to share

with others.

Want more for your planner?

You can purchase the ENTIRE download here too.

Have a great weekend!

{Dream. Plan. Create. 2012}

Well, I did it. I posted My last Daily Gem

for 2011 yesterday.

I still can't believe it.

Sharing an inspirational quote

EVERY single day of 2011.

That's 365 days my friend!

Now that we are in the first day of 2012...

I kind of feel lost without My Daily Gems.

Do you know what I mean? I looked forward to them every day.

Now what to do?

Well, I'm going to go forward with no fear for 2012.

I know 2011 was such a tough year. I know many who

are looking ahead to what this New Year has in store.

Right now I'm going to dream, plan, and create

for 2012. I don't know what it will entail.

I wish I could see into the future. It can be scary.

So, pause and enjoy the first day of January;

the first day in 2012. 

We are headed out to church later today and I can

already feel inspired. What are your plans for today?

My Ebooks

100 Positive Journaling Prompts

 

$1.99

 

                               

 

    (Digital Download Only) 

            Are you looking for journaling inspiration?

I've got what you may be looking for.

These are 100 Positive Journaling Prompts that I use myself.

 My journals and art journals are filled using these inspirational prompts. They help give that extra creative boast you may need when you're in a "writing rut".

 

With this new creative goodie, you've got lots of fresh journaling prompts that focus on the positive side of things...things we need to emphasize in our life. Some of my prompts are reflective and some are just plain fun.

I feel that when we journal, we should always try to keep things we write positive. Even if life doesn't seem to be that way. It's okay, to write about your downs, but uplifting yourself is also very important. Important for your spiritual well-being.

You don't need to use these journaling prompts every day for journaling either. They can be used for those days that you may need an extra inspirational boast.

 

  Here's how it works:

When you purchase this digital download,

you'll receive 3 pdf files for you to open and download. You'll receive:

- 5 pages of journaling prompts

- 4 tags/labels for your jar

- 3 pages of Positive Words to use 

for your journaling,

and/or scrapbooking etc.

{Vintage jar not included in this purchase.}

 You can get some great finds in your local thrift store.

And if you don't have any in your local area, you can find them on Etsy and even on Ebay. Or use any jar or your favorite container. 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

100 Positive Affirmations

Price: $1.99

Digital download

(4 pages)

These are positive affirmations that you will be able to print out and cut into small strips. Then place in your very own jar/container. Once a day, pull out a positive affirmation, read it to yourself three times. On the third  time, read it out loud so you can reaffirm with yourself.

                                  

 

Once I receive your payment, I will email you the files for you to enjoy! 

Start your Creative & Positive Journaling today!

 

Happy Journaling!

Hugs,

Katie

 

 

Project Life Paper Kit Tabs + Business Brain Book

I managed to slip some time in to put tabs in my business journal. I had wanted to do this since early January, but I didn't find the right papers. Problem solved! 

Imagine how I felt when I got my Becky Higgins Project Life kit 3 weeks ago. Becky doesn't need a plug for anything, but EVERYTHING in that big box looked great, but the papers were what really opened my eyes!

The bright colors and designs from the Amber kit was just my style. It's similar to the fabric colors I chose for my Spring collection and I didn't realize that it would look really good against my fabric sleeves. Well, they did! 

Here's my desk view. (Paper kit from Becky's Amber Kit):

Using my large Tab Punch, I carefully punched out 5 tabs. This page is my swatch section for ideas I was working on for Spring 2011. Lots of brainstorming. Love it!

If you decide to put in tabs for your book, decide what you will use them for first. Make a list, and then section them off. My sections are for:

1. Inspiration (photos from magazines, sketches etc)

2. Business notes (prototypes, email convo notes)

3. Writing section for book (ideas, notes)

4. Extra section for anything I need but didn't think of :)

5. Calendar

 

Using your favorite adhesive, place the tabs right onto your page. Easy peasy! I didn't do this, but you can write or print out labels for the tabs. I think I'm going to keep mine as is with no labels. I'm currently using the big 8x10 hardbound for my business brain book. 

Here's my opinion. I've used every planner probably known on this planet. My best was a Franklin Covey, but to be honest, the planners I used often were the ones I made. In my Calendar section, it's a simple print out calendar from my computer desktop, which I adhered onto my book page. I have an iphone and Mac so my calendar is synced. Printing out the monthly calendar with agendas already in the calendar takes a lot of work out of it. You might want to try this.

The other tool I use is FREE Calendar print outs you can find throughout the web. Here are some of my favorite print-out sites:

 Somacon

Printable Calendar

 

I'm linking up here with Tipjunkie.com.

{ It's time to say goodbye to Close To My Heart Scrapbooking }

Well, here we go...

I was holding back several times on this post. It's been a difficult decision to make, but I am leaving Close To My Heart. The scrapbooking company that I have represented for almost nine 1/2 years as an independent consultant & one of their top directors. I've been with them for a long time and if you read my bio, you'll learn how I started with them. 

This month in December should be my last month as a consultant. I will truly miss all my team members and fellow consultants. My CTMH family.  There are hundreds of women I work with and without them I would not be where I am today. Without them I would not have what I have today.  I've been in business with Close To My Heart for almost a decade! Can you imagine how hard it is to leave? I've reached all my goals with the company, and the BEST part of reaching those goals is the FRIENDSHIP I have made. I will never forget. There are so many wonderful memories!

Now some of you are going to ask me why the heck am I leaving. About a year ago I wrote in my journal about a dream. A dream of possibly starting my very own business. At the time I didn't really know. But I wanted to do something completely on my own and something I love. I've achieved several goals with Close To My Heart and it was time for me to set new challenges. At convention in Orlando, I felt like I was missing something. I felt like I needed to do more. When I reached Executive Director, after being with the company for five years, I thought maybe I could go further. But that wasn't what really made me happy. There was still something missing.

photo credit

So I went home and began to reflect on this. I prayed. I read a lot of different books. I talked to a few people who I admired. I tried to kick off this bad mojo I thought I was feeling. Could this be one of my mid-life crisis? Yikes! But you know what it was really?

It was F E A R.

Fear of failure. 

photo credit

And this is scary for me. I don't want to fail. I don't want to let my family down. I'm afraid I can't duplicate the same success I've had with my Close To My Heart business. I'm really a nobody. But I am a trier. I don't give up easily and I don't quit. I am perhaps the most stubborn-mule around when it comes to that. (My poor husband).

photo credit

One of my favorite business icons once said, "Keep moving forward." Remember him? That was Walt Disney. And he's right. I keep looking back into the past and that was holding me back. No more of that. I need to have more Courage. And I have to have more faith. 

photo credit

So, what's next after Close To My Heart then? Here's what I know so far. I have new fabric designed products. A good friend of mine is going to help with this launch sometime in mid-January. I am so grateful for her! There is also work that is going on with a manufacturer that I want to test the waters out with. I can't say what it is right now. But let's just say I'm learning all about patents, trademarks, and copyrights. THAT I have never learned about before! And last, I'm also working on my first nonfiction book. I'm excited for this one as well!

It's going to be an exciting New Year with new hopes, dreams, and goals. If my career with Close to My Heart was any indication of what the possibilities are, than I'm up for the new challenge! But most of all...I will be a happy person knowing that I at least tried to accomplish my goals, rather than looking back and regretting that I didn't take that leap of faith. Even if I fail, I tried.

Thanks so much for letting me share this with you! May you have Peace + Love + Happiness + Success! 

 

XOXO, Katie

Find joy in your journey! 

 

Office Space Idea

I'm seeing a lot of this particular gray/brown wall color. Is this the new color trend?

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32827/list/Where-Creativity-Happens

 

And here...in Jennifer Johner's craft area.

http://jenniferjohner.typepad.com/jennifer/2010/11/my-craft-space.html

This office features a good use of space. Three people can work here along one side of the wall.

   http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/26124/list/Tips-for-Designing-a-Great-Shared-Kids--Room

 

And finally, my all-time favorite color combo for an office.

http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-office-of-tobi-fairley.html

XOXO