Dragon Crossing

Tips for Fussy Cutting

2026-10-19T19:39:22.271-07:00

Some of this information was gathered from a number of websites. I asked permission of the writer if I could use the information they gave on my blog

What You Need

Scissors: Small, sharp, fine-tip craft scissors (about 2.5 inches long) with short blades give you the best control.
Alternative Tools: An X-Acto knife, a swivel blade knife, or a self-healing cutting mat for intricate interior spaces.

Hand-Cutting Technique

Use Fine-Tip Precision Scissors: For fussy cutting, use scissors with fine, pointed tips. They make it easier to get into small areas and cut intricate details cleanly, especially in places where larger scissors might be difficult to maneuver.
Always Use Sharp Scissors: Sharp scissors will give you cleaner cuts. Dull blades can leave ragged or bent edges and make cutting more difficult.
Rough Cut Your Images First: It is much easier to fussy cut when you are working with a single image rather than a large sheet of paper. Start by trimming away the large chunks of excess paper around the image to create a smaller, more manageable piece to hold.

There is one exception: If you are cutting out very small images, leave a little extra paper around them first. This gives you more paper to hold while you work on the details.

Cut the Inner Areas First: If your image has inner spaces you want to cut out, such as the areas between the legs, cut those first. Then cut around the outside edge. Keeping the outer edges intact provides more support for making those inner cuts.
Go Slowly: Take your time! The faster you cut, the more likely you are to make a mistake or accidentally cut off a part of the image you wanted to keep. Slow, careful cuts will give you better results.
Move the Paper, Not the Scissors: Keep your dominant hand and scissors relatively steady while using your non-dominant hand to turn and guide the paper. This helps you follow the curves and contours of the image more smoothly.
Turn the Paper at Corners: When you reach a corner or need to change direction, turn the paper, not your scissors. This helps you maintain better control, produces cleaner cuts, and reduces the chance of tearing the paper.
Angle the Blades: Hold your scissors at a slight angle, about 20 to 45 degrees away from the paper, with the tips pointing straight ahead or away from you. This can help you maintain a smooth cutting motion and better control over your cuts.
Decide on Your Border: Decide whether you want to cut right along the printed edge for a seamless look or leave a tiny 1/16-inch white border around the image. Leaving a small border is often more forgiving and helps hide minor hand tremors or slightly uneven cuts.
Use the Inner Part of the Blades: Whenever possible, cut with the middle-to-back portion of the scissor blades rather than just the tips. This helps you make smoother, more continuous cuts and reduces the risk of tearing the paper.
Finish the Edges: After cutting out your image or images, run a black marker—or a marker that matches the stamped image—along the cut edges of the paper. This helps soften the edges and gives your fussy-cut images a more finished look.

You don’t have to cut out every little detail! For example, when cutting out a person, you can choose to cut around all the little pieces of hair, cut them off completely, or leave the hair as one piece. It’s entirely up to you!

Remember, it’s your art piece, and you get to make the choices. You can even use only part of an image. If you look at some of the artwork other artists share, you may never know that they cut off part of an image to make it work for their project.

Try looking at fussy cutting as the beginning of your creative process, but also as something relaxing to do. Don’t stress about cutting out every little detail. Just relax and enjoy the process!

Personally, I tend to fussy cut an entire book, or at least most of it, when I get a new one. I like to sit down, watch TV, and fussy cut. I find it relaxing, and it’s a great way to get ready for future projects.

Then, when I’m ready to create something, I can simply go to my bins of images and find what I need without having to stop and cut everything out first!

Here is a video that I found that gives the "Best Hacks for Fussy Cutting” that I found.

If you’d like to see how I organize and store my fussy cuts so they’re easy to find, check out the link to my blog post about my “Storage Method for Fussy Cuts.”

Happy creating!

Judy

Quotes & Sayings for Art Journaling and other Creative Projects - Updated October 19, 2026

2026-10-19T18:50:29.360-07:00

If you enjoy creating art journal pages, scrapbook layouts, handmade cards, or other creative projects, you know how helpful it can be to find just the right quote or saying to complete your design.

I used to spend so much time searching the internet and flipping through books whenever I needed a quote that captured a particular feeling, theme, or idea. Eventually, I decided there had to be an easier way!

I began collecting quotes and sayings that spoke to me and organizing them all in one place. I also gathered many of the wonderful quotes Marta included in her books and added them to my collection. That way, whenever I needed a little inspiration, I would have a variety of words and phrases ready to choose from.

Organizing My Quotes & Sayings

As my collection grew, I entered the quotes into a database and created Word documents organized by category.

Because I enjoy printing quotes and incorporating them into my journal pages and art projects, I formatted the sayings into tables. This makes them easy to print, cut apart, and arrange on a page. It also makes finding the perfect quote for a particular project much simpler!

How to Print and Organize Your Quotes

If you enjoy using printed quotes in your artwork, here's a simple way to keep them organized and ready whenever inspiration strikes.

Print on ivory or off-white paper. Regular paper works best, rather than cardstock, because it's easier to cut and incorporate into your projects.
Cut the pages into columns. After printing, cut from top to bottom between the columns of quotes.
Store them in page protectors. Place the cut sheets in page protectors and organize them in a binder.
Label each category. Add index labels along the side of the page protectors so you can quickly find the type of quote you're looking for.
Choose your quote and save the rest. Simply remove the quote you want to use, then return the remaining collection to its page protector for another day.

With this system, you'll have an inspiring collection close at hand whenever you're ready to create!

Access the Quotes & Sayings Collection

Some of the quotes I've collected didn't include the original author's name, so attribution information wasn't always available. I originally created this collection for my own personal use, and I don't sell my artwork.

I thought other art journal enthusiasts, scrapbookers, and artists might enjoy having access to these quotes, too, so I'm happy to share the Word documents with you!

Accessing the Quotes & Sayings Collection on Google Drive

The files are available in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats. Click the link for the format you prefer.

I hope you'll find something in this collection that inspires your next art journal page, scrapbook layout, handmade card, or creative project. Whether you're searching for words of encouragement, a touch of humor, a meaningful sentiment, or a saying that perfectly expresses how you feel, I hope these quotes help spark your creativity.

Sometimes, the right words are just what a project needs to come together!

Happy creating!

Judy

Storage Method for Fussy Cuts - Updated October 19, 2026

2026-10-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

I have updated the way I store both my images that have already been fussy cut and the images that haven’t been cut out yet. Because of the way my brain works, fussy cutting images only when I need them doesn’t work for me. However, I came up with a solution that works for me and keeps everything easily accessible.

This may seem like a lot of work to some people, but if you are someone who needs to be able to see what you have and find it easily, this system might work for you, too.

Since I started doing this after I had purchased a couple of books, it wasn’t a big deal for me to get everything organized. After flipping through those first couple of books over and over to find an image, I quickly became frustrated because I couldn’t remember which book I had seen it in. I can’t even imagine what it would be like now that I have all but three of Marta’s books!

Organizing the Pages from the Books

When a new book arrives, I remove all the pages and scan the book from cover to cover - Jump to Why I scan.

Then I sort the pages into categories, such as backgrounds, main images, bits and bobs, words, and so on. If a page contains images from multiple categories, I cut the page apart so I can file each section where it belongs.

I use hanging file folders labeled with the book names and store them in a rolling file cart.

I have two file drawers for storing the pages from the books. One drawer holds folders containing images, and the other holds the backgrounds.

The backgrounds are sorted by book. Within each book’s main background folder, I sort the backgrounds by size and place them in ziplock bags.

In front of the drawer that holds the backgrounds, I keep folders containing images that won’t fit into my 8.75 x 6.25-inch bins. Behind those folders, I keep the remaining images sorted by book and then by category.

For example, I have folders labeled:

Autumn Stories – Fairies/Kids
Autumn Stories – Bits & Bobs
Autumn Stories – Animals

This makes it much easier to find the pages I want when I’m ready to do some fussy cutting.

My System for Fussy Cutting

When I’m ready to fussy cut, I take a folder containing the images I want to cut to my chair in the front room. Then, while I’m watching or listening to my TV shows, I fussy cut the images and toss them into an empty bin.

The next day, I sort the cut images into categories and put them into the appropriate bins. Each book has at least one bin.

The bins I use are ones I buy from Dollar Tree. I generally order 12 at a time and have them delivered.

How I Organize My Fussy-Cut Images

For the most part, I organize my bins by category and book. However, there are some exceptions.

Some images can be used with any book, so it makes sense to keep them together. For things like butterflies, birds, fences, rocks, and similar items, I combine images from all the books into one bin labeled “Misc.”

That way, if I’m looking for a bird, for example, I know I can find one from any book in the Misc bin. It doesn’t have to come from a particular book—unless, of course, I want a bird dressed for Halloween!

Inside each bin, I use small snack-sized ziplock bags and small 3 x 5-inch ziplock bags, which I purchased on Amazon, to organize the smaller images. I put each type of item into its own ziplock bag. In the bins containing people, I sort the images by size and put them into separate bags. This makes it easy to find the size of image I want without having to sort through everything.

My New Way of Organizing Backgrounds and Images by Theme

Recently, I found myself getting frustrated when I was looking for a background to use for a journal page I wanted to create.

For instance, I wanted to make a Halloween page. I knew I had just the right background somewhere, but I couldn’t remember which Halloween or autumn book it was in. I was having the same problem when looking for images to use.

I decided it was time to make another change!

Over a couple of evenings, while watching TV, I went through all the file folders containing the large and small background papers from Marta’s books.

Instead of keeping everything organized only by book, I decided to combine similar themes. For example, I would put all the winter backgrounds together, all the Halloween backgrounds together, and so on.

My goal was to make it easier to find the background that fits the theme of the journal page I want to create, without having to remember which book it came from.

The little drawers on the left side are also from Dollar Tree - Small Drawers. Those hold most of the smaller tickets that primarily came out of the Junk Journaling Tickets book. Using the small drawers made it easier for me to get the color I wanted quickily & easily.

I think the pictures will help explain what I am talking about, but I am more than happy to explain it more if you need additional info.

Why I scan

One of the reasons I scan the books is so I can print out extra backgrounds or images if I am making greeting cards (to give to family/friends). The other is that I can’t do the fine hand movements to draw lines around the smallest images for my ScanNCut to easily see. So, I use a graphic program to put an outline around each image, then print it out and have my ScanNCut cut it out.

Happy creating!

Judy

Shaving Cream Background with Lindy's Magicals

2026-06-01T11:07:22.909-07:00

I have been having a blast creating card backgrounds using shaving cream. I use Walmart’s Brand - Equate Men's Regular Shave Foam.

You can search Google for “making shaving cream backgrounds” to get an idea of where to start.

I have used watercolor card bases (smooth on one side), Generic Cardstock about 150 pound and Neenah Index Cardstock 90 lb./163 gsm. My favorite is the watercolor cardstock, but that can be hard to get a clear stamp image on it later. Most often, I have been using either one of the cardstocks. I have a stack of cardbases that I made from leftovers cardstock, that is a mixture of both cardstocks. I just grab whatever sheet is on top.

What I do is dip a card background base and then add another sheet on the top and set it aside while a dip 2 or 3 more. Next step is to pull them apart, scrape off most of the foam, then set them aside to completely dry.

Depending on how much foam is left, I may scrap the excess foam I just scraped off onto more cardbases or put it scrape it back on top of that I already have.

Staying with one color family or with colors that won’t create “mud” you can keep going until there is no more shaving cream left. You can add more colors, add more shaving cream, etc.

I keep going until I run out of room to lay them down. Next time, I will bring in a folding table so I can keep making backgrounds.

Start with a small pile of shaving making – a bit bigger than a card base and about a half inch of shaving cream. Smooth it out, add whatever you are going to use for color, swirl the color, and put a card base in it. You can pick it up right away or gently push down a tiny bit and then pick it up. You can lightly twist it before you pick it up.

Basically, just play – there are no mistakes. If you don’t like the result (decide after you let them dry), remember, it is just paper and can be thrown away. But you can stamp over the top of it, or make strips to mix with other scraps, you can even use it as a card base in your next batch of shaving cream fun.

Have a trash can nearby for the paper towels you will be using. Where something that you don’t mind colors all over. Have at least a half roll of paper towels nearby. I suggest either getting some Barrier Skin Cream (I use workman’s Friend) or wearing gloves because you WILL get messy. Remember the clean-up may be messy, but it is an easy cleanup because Shaving cream is basically soap.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 13

2026-03-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is "Before & After".

I showed pictures of my studio a week ago, and thought that you might like to see it before I stared to completely re-do the room. These pictures ae from 2020 when I shared my studio with the crates for my three dogs. You will see Scotty, my Pitt Bull Mix in a couple of the photos

#CPC26

You can see the way my studio looked January 2026 here.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Wall Hanging - Blossom like a Flower

2026-03-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

This piece was created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books. For this piece, I used images from the Faries in Bloom book.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 11

2026-03-11T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is "Handmade".

I created an Envelope Book Journal. Since I basically started with just envelopes, I concider this a handmade piece. An envelope book is a handmade, interactive album created by binding multiple envelopes together—usually by their flaps—to form pages with built-in pockets. I didn't make the pockets in this one, but I have a second one in the planning stages with a spring theme.

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books. This piece used images from the Moss Stories Book.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

SteamPunk Journal Pages #2

2026-03-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

Act as if what you do makes a difference

Sometimes the smallest things

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 10

2026-03-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is "Something I wished I knew before".

I wish I knew how addicting fussy cutting images to use in my journal pages and Mixed Media pieces can be. Especially after my favorite YouTube artist started creating books of images. I happily spend evenings while "watching" TV, fussy cutting images. When I ran of of images to cut out, I was at a loss for what to do during TV time.

I started creating journal pages and mixed media pieces about 4 years ago. I would see a idea online, then took that and created a journal pages or mixed media piece using that idea or technique. But it wasn't a thing I did consistently because my muse would not cooperate in finding idea on my own.

That all changed when my favorite YouTube artist started creating books of images Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books. I bought almost every book she has created and have fussy cut all but the newest ones out.

Now I have bins of images sorted by book or theme that I can easily access. Plus, while I fussy cut the images, I have a notepad nearby where I write down any ideas that come to mind for the images. I just use a pencil to put a number on the back of the image related to the idea, so I have ideas galore even if my muse isn't cooperating.

My Storage Method for my Fussy Cuts

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 9

2026-03-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Today's challenge is "Share Your Goals".

My goals for my blog is to post at picture of one of my pieces of art work, be it a Journal Page or Wall Art or a Greeting card, at least every other day

As far as spending time in my studio, my goal is to spend some time in there every day. I don't have to be creating, but I want to be there at least learning something by playing with my supplies, etc. I will even count watching a YouTube video from the Artists I follow - not a short, but a complete video

My last goal is to attend either an online class or one day of an online summit every month. I believe that will both allow me to learn new things and to find new artists that I enjoy the work they create

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

SteamPunk Journal Pages #1

2026-03-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

Awaken the senses

Replace fear of the unknown

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Winter Journal Pages #2

2026-03-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

Appreciate the Beauty of the Snowflake

Winter is a Celebration

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 7

2026-03-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Today's challenge is "Share Your Workspace". This space has changed a lot over the last 12 years. At my old house, I had a 14x14 foot studio with a open closet that store my bigger stuff. Then I moved to my smaller house and I had a 10x10 foot room that I shared with 3 big dog crates. By 2025, I had the room to myself (my dogs passed away). It still was extrememly crowded with "stuff", so I did a major decluttering and wound up with a studio that I am proud of. Now, I can sit at my desk and the majority of my stuff is accessable by just tuerning around in my chair. The rest is just a short roll away.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Winter Journal Pages - #1

2026-03-06T17:38:00.000-08:00

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

Even the coldest winter

There's a certain magic

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 6

2026-03-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today's challenge is "An Aesthetic Photo". The two photos that came to my mind immediately was a photo I took over 40 years ago of my son at Christmas. The other was a photo of my husband back in 1995 of the Merry-go-round at the San Francisco Zoo. Both hold special memories. The one of my son because of the look on his face when he saw his Grandma’s super decorated Christmas Tree . The one of my husband because he told me that it was the first time he had been a Merry-go-round.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 5

2026-03-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

Today's challenge is ""You Should See This". These are pieces that were inspired by quilt patterns. For the backgrounds, I used strips of leftover scraps from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 4

2026-03-04T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today's challenge is "Favorite Things". I decided to focus on one of my favorite smaller mixed media pieces I create - Mixed Media Jumbo Cards. They are nice smaller pieces that are easy to store in 4x6 inch photo albums and easy to flip through if you are looking for ideas.

What are Mixed Media Jumbo cards you ask? They are small artworks creaded using a large playing card as a base. Jumbo Cards measure 3.5 X 5 Inches (8.89cm x 12.7cm). If you are interested you can get them on Amazon, search for jumbo+playing+cards+3.5x5 - or you can just cut watercolor of mixed media paper to the correct size.

I found out about Mixed Media Jumbo Cards from Marta Lapkowska on her YouTube channel and on her Facebook Group Cut & Collage - Art Journaling with Maremi #maremicollagebooks. I have been following Marta for years and she inspired me to start art journalling and creating Mixed Media art.

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

These are Jumbo Cards #1 through #19 from Marta's "Jumbo Card Challenge", which is still on-going. The images are from Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art

#maremijumbocards

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 3

2026-03-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today's Challenge is "LAYERS".

These pieces were created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books.

These images for this piece are from the Summer Stories book. I decided to add real sand to the beach, then shells and beads to the beach and the frame to create some layers.

I created another piece with layers. These images are from the Spring Stories book. I added some "grass" (generally used in creating dioramas) and some small flowers that I also use on my rubberstamped cards.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Journal Page - Find Joy in the Ordinary

2026-03-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

This piece was created using images from the books drawn & created by Marta Lapkowska Maremi Small Art books..For this piece, I used a fairy from the Fairy from the Spring Stories book, the other images are from various other books of hers.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge - Day 1

2026-03-01T11:17:00.000-08:00

I decided to do the CraftPrint 31-Day Content Challenge. This challenge will inspire me to create daily posts following the prompts they give. This will inspire me to create more and share more of my artwork, journal pages, rubberstamped cards & other things I create.

This challenge will also allow me to start posting photos of the things I made in the recent past.

Todays challenge is "INTRODUCE YOURSELF".

In 2006, at age 49, I had a stroke. While I was in a coma, they told my husband that IF I survive the coma, I would never be able walk, never be able to talk and never be able to take care of myself. They suggested that he find a nursing home or full-time live in caregiver. He told them "You don't know her. She is stubborn and will inspire others". How true he was.

The doctors in the rehab facility told us I would be there at least 6 to 8 weeks. I laughed at that and told them that I would walk out in 2 weeks. They shook their heads and said that they would be shocked if I did that.

I went from needing to be belted into a wheelchair because I would slide out otherwise, to walking with a cane in 2 weeks and 2 days. I still believe it was because I didn’t want to be away from my husband any longer than I needed to.

This year I celebrate the 20th anniversary of my stroke on June 19, 2026. Yes, I still don’t have complete use of my right hand and other minor issues, but I am still alive & kicking.

Those 20 years brought many changes to my life. We bought a house, dealt with the effects of 911, lost the house, bought a larger second home 6 years later, lost my husband, my mom and my oldest sister, and much more. Through all of this, I thank God every morning that I have another day ahead of me.

Now, I am 69 years old, live in a little house I bought for myself (sold that big house I bought with my husband), and try to spend some time everyday working in my studio creating art.

#CPC26

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

YouTube Videos on How to Make EASY Shaker Cards

2025-11-22T09:02:00.000-08:00

If you like Shakers Cards, but don't want to deal with using foam tape, here are a few ways to make shaker cards without the foam tape.

This is the method I use

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VObTkM2190s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKItWBh31Oc

Here are some using clear envelopes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aasy0efj9TA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_JEj4AiULU

This one uses pre-cut panels rather than creating your own (like the first videos I gave). I have bought and used these, but it is MUCH cheaper cut make your own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5SX4wc_Me0

Judy

Flowers & Butterflies Multi-Media Piece

2025-02-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

This this my first true Mixed Media piece. Created the background and added the texture with modeling paste. Then painted with acrylic paints and Glimmer Mist Sprays - I didn't like the result.

So, I wiped it all off (rubbing alcohol works great for getting most of the acrylic paint off, even when dry), and started again. Took painting it 3 times before I liked it.

Then added the painted swirly leaf chipboard, the flowers, and the saying. The upper right corner looked empty, so I added the 3D butterfly.

Detailed Photos

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Creativity Multi Media Piece

2025-02-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

This my take on "Collage in Squares" as taught by Marta at Maremi Small Art Marta at Maremi Small Art. She used squares, but I decidfed to use circles.

This was made on a Canvas panel, with circles cut from assorted scrapbook papers.

I torn apart a sheet of Stamperia Decoupage Imagine LOVE ART Rice Paper to fit in the spaces between the circles.

Lastly, I shaded everything and added some Quote chips from the Tim Holtz - Advantus Quote Chips Idea-Olo Theories set.

Detailed Photos

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

What is luck?

2025-01-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Luck, there is all sorts of luck, good and bad. I think, for the most part, we create our own luck, good or bad, by how we approach life.

Sometimes luck that at first seems bad, in the end turned out to be good luck. That is how I look at my stroke – It was bad luck that I had the stroke, but in the end it changed my life in so many positive ways.

Mike and I quit smoking the day I had the stroke, we had talked about wanting to quit, but we kept putting it off. Life said “You will quit NOW”. Who can argue with that?

It brought my family closer together – from my brothers to the extended family, we are closer now. It brought all the kids closer to each other and I think closer to me too. Heck, even Helen has come a bit closer to me too.

I think that the biggest positive change is how it brought Mike & me closer. I mean we were close, but we were sort of plodding along with no goals ahead of us. Now we have bought a house again, we are making plans for making improvements to it, and generally looking forward.

I’ve come to know that my “email buddies” are very important to me. They are one the reasons that the first thing I wanted to be able to do is use the computer again. Granted, I not only needed to learn to use the computer again, I had to re-learn where the specific letters were – nothing like having to hunt & peck & try to spell at the same time.

I now truly realize how much my “studio” and my “crafty stuff” means to me too. I thought that I lost the ability to create scrapbooks, and that really depressed me because I had not finished my Dad’s memorial album. But again, I wanted to get back my crafts, and a year after the stroke I finished the album and presented it to my Mom & the rest of the family.

I’ve learned just how strong and stubborn I am, how determined I can be to get my life back as close to what it was. Things have changed, I have changed. Some of the things that were important to me before my stroke have become less important. I didn’t think that having a cat and being responsible for it was important, now I have a furry friend that brightens up my day.

So Luck – it is what you make it to be, what you want it to be. Good, bad or indifferent, it exists and it affects our lives.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy

Places to Donate Used Toys

2024-10-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I will add onto this list as I find new links - UPDATED 11/09/2023

Donating Used Toys in the San Francisco Bay Area - Places to Donate in San Francisco, East Bay, the Peninsula, and Marin

23 Great Places to Donate Used Toys - This is a great list of places

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies

There are three ways to donate to Stuffed Animals For Emergencies:

Through Their SAFE Volunteers (Chapters). Donate your stuffed animals and other items to SAFE and their our volunteers clean them and find places to donate to.

Urgent Needs Locations. Here you will find a list of our partner organizations that are requesting donations where they do NOT currently have a SAFE chapter. You can donate directly to these organizations if you are willing to clean any of your gently used donations first.

Host a Stuffed Animal Drive. Organize a stuffed animal drive, birthday drive, or corporate event for SAFE. Here you will find information you need to run a drive for SAFE.

Second Chance Toys

The website states - Thank you for your interest in recirculating toys with SCT! Our donation matching is closed right now, so please check back during our next toy giving season. Toy matching takes place twice a year; during the month of April in celebration of Earth Month and again in November and December for the Holiday Season.

Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
See you soon!
Judy
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