To Remember Archives - Page 2 of 13

Marching on

SuzerSpace is mostly a craft blog where I share my projects and tips and tricks.

But the last year has been a tough one for just about everyone, and I’ve found myself with less enthusiasm for crafting.

When the safety protocols started for COVID-19 and I was under a stay-at-home order, I found myself filling my time reading all I could about the science behind the virus, plus a lot of long form journalism that was extremely well written but gut wrenchingly accurate about the cost of the pandemic in turns of economic and human tragedies.

I soon realized this wasn’t really a good coping mechanism – normally I like to learn everything I can about a topic, but having a jillion tabs open with each one bringing sad news, bad news or politically charged opinions was definitely NOT what I craved.

So I searched for something more uplifting. Not syrupy feel good postivity that didn’t take into account what was going on around me. That would have made me equally miserable.

Below are links to some of the places I found for reading and viewing that would fill my brain and heart with skills to weather this storm in particular, and probably all sorts of other difficult times.

A quick, but important note:

None of these links are ads or affiliate, and I’m not endorsing any particular platform.

Your mental health is a serious topic, and I’m not a doctor, so this is not advice to be used in place of professional help.

Calm, a developer of a Mediation and Mindfulness app (which I don’t use) has a variety of free resources that do not require you to download their app or provide any contact information (not even an email).

Of the above, I have really enjoyed this online generator of intention cards (kind of like and affirmation magic eight ball).

In addition, Calm has have added a page of resources specifically designed for Covid 19 stress – meditations, lectures and stories to listen to lull yourself (or someone else in your house) to sleep:

Instead of binge watching bad TV, I signed up for this Science of Happiness Course , which is online, free and self paced class taught by Professor Laurie Santos of Yale. It “reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change.”

Have you watched EVERYTHING on Netflix, Prime, Hulu and Disney? TED has a neat searching tool for their talks which let you search by content, speaker or time.

If the above is all too serious for consideration, here are two more links that are pure diversion:

A nice assortment of Live Webcams featuring beautiful views, adorable puppies and aquariums (there are also bats, alligators and cats if that is more your thing).

A free download of a coloring book that you can print out for yourself or others in your household, or import into a drawing or painting program so you can color with whatever medium you prefer.

Again – these links are just things I’ve found online that I personally enjoy and they help me not spend my time doom scrolling (endlessly reading bad news about the virus or politics).

If you have any good bookmarks you’d like to share, please leave them in the comments below!

Which is better: Paper vs. Digital Planning Options

Pick a planner for 2020 - either a paper planner, or customize a digital planner by adding a template to GoodNotes | SuzerSpace

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but planners are having a moment.

I’ve always been little addicted to planners. Not this addicted, but I can’t resist going down the aisle at the store where they are located, opening and flipping through anything that looks new.

If you are just getting into planning, or are looking for a new planner for this year, it can be a little difficult to figure out where to start.

The first step is decide if you want a paper or digital planner.

January 12, 2020 by suzer Calendars and Planners I made this To Remember

Top 5 Back to School Craft Ideas

Nerd alert: I really liked school.

Well, parts of it 😉 .

One of the best was picking out those school supplies. I’m somewhat convinced that my love for paper and pens led me on a long and windy road that ended up with a career in the prepress department of a commercial printer.

These days, just regular notebooks and pencil holders won’t do. You need to step up your back to school craft game to have the best, and I’ve been reading and pinning some really great ideas.

Here are my top five back to school craft ideas for this year:

Here’s an easy tutorial on covering composition books with a printable and washi tape to make a custom notebook.

How about some really custom pencils? Although I’m still obsessed with hand lettering with my brush pens (and iPad), I’m a pencil devotee – as long as the eraser is a good one.

This crayon design is listed as a teacher gift, but how cute would it be to make a child’s name for their art area?

Another teacher gift project that I think would be super cute (and useful) in a homework area at home. I’d fill it with pencils and scissors, not plants.

I don’t remember teacher gifts being a thing when I went to school. In fact, I’m really hoping they weren’t, because if they were, then I totally didn’t participate and that would be kind of rude/sad. But if you’ve suddenly realized that school starts this week (it does in Kansas City) and you aren’t in the mood to craft up a ton of projects, a printable card might be exactly what you need!

August 13, 2019 by suzer I made this In the Craft Room Links and Things To Remember

Silk plant decorating

Quality silk plants are a bullet proof way to add greenery to your home | suzerspace

Disclosure: I received a silk plant to keep as part of a product review.

A couple of years ago I finally figured out the best way to stop killing houseplants was to stop buying them.

I know I’m not alone struggling to keep plants alive – I have good intentions, but most of my house windows face North, which isn’t good for sunlight, and the ones that do face good sun have furniture near them that isn’t suitable for supporting a plant.

Paper Cactus plants are cute, easy to make and require no maintenance.

PAPER CACTUS: EASY TO MAKE, EVEN EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF!

Paper succulents are fun to make, and while they do brighten the corner they live in, they are no substitute for the look of a real plant.

I was happy to hear from Commercial Silk, a leading designer, manufacturer and wholesale supplier of artificial trees and plants. Their website boasts an extensive list of plants that can be used in indoor or outdoor situations, and they have great photos and case studies to help architects and designers find exactly what they need for hotel, office, restaurant or other commercial projects. Continue reading…

March 12, 2018 by suzer Links and Things To Remember

Valentine Craft Roundup

Three great projects for Valentine's Day - faux watercolor, typographic heart garlands and a polka dot gift card holder | SuzerSpace.com

I’ve realized that every year I say I don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day, and then every year some craft comes around that I just have to try, and sure enough, I’ve decorated for the holiday.

This year, three projects made their way into my crafterday afternoons:

Faux watercolor cards. While technically not a Valentine’s Craft, I combined this technique with my favorite thing – a pun – to make a cheery card. This also let me work on my brush lettering and doodling challenges that I’m doing this year.

Faux watercolor and doodling create a punny Valentine's Card! | suzerspace.com This super cute garland tugged at my tyopography heart strings. The original post features a different technique; I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out the large letter “U” to make my hearts. (It’s Helvetica Neu Bold Condensed if you are keeping score at home). Strung with red and white baker’s twine, it looks happy over my fireplace.