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Brandy Burke

Brandy is an avid planner and paper crafter who can be found in her modest craft room gluing her fingers together and spewing obscenities.

#dogoodstuff

Cards for Kindness

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

What card maker, new or experienced doesn’t have a stack of cards in a closet somewhere that were made with good intentions, but with no home?

If you love cardmaking and you’re looking to do some good in the world, Scrapbook.com has launched a global initiative, Cards for Kindness, to get handmade cards in the hands of folks who could use them – nurses, doctors, counselors, staff members, volunteers – they’ll reach sick people, lonely people, maybe even people in service. To see a list of some of the organizations who will use your cards, and to learn more about this initiative, click here for Scrapbook.com Cards for Kindness information

#dogoodstuff

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Polaroid Watercolor Project Create Image
Papercrafting

Polaroid Watercolor Project

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

Oh if you loved polaroids back in the day you’ll get why I’m so jazzed about this fun, mixed media type polaroid watercolor project that I’m sharing with you today.

Polaroid Watercolor Project Tools

Polaroid Watercolor Project Instructions

Cut watercolor paper rectangles at 3.5 X 4.5 inches – you can find actual polaroid measurements on the net, but I like to keep it simple.

Use a thin washi tape or the edge of your painters tape to tape the top and both sides of the watercolor to create a 1/32″ border all the way around. You know I hate rules and measuring, so honestly, just tape it as you see fit. I also taped off a 1 1/4 inch border at the bottom

Next, create the background of your choice. I’ve played with watercolors, distress inks, acrylics, pastels, pastes, alcohol ink – the sky really is the limit.

Use embellishments, printed words, etc to create a mixed media masterpiece.

If you create this project, share it with me on Instagram @goodstuffmama by tagging me in it!

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DIY

DIY Rag Wreath – Fabric Wreath Tutorial

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

During Coronavirus, I bought the best beginner’s sewing machine and taught myself to make fabric masks. You know I’m a project jumper, so once I felt I’d mastered the technique, I was on to other things, but left with lots of little fabric remnants which lead to the perfect craft: DIY Rag Wreath.

I actually read several tutorials and I’m going to be straight with you – there’s one reason I decided to share this with you, among all the others out there on Pinterest – and that was the hopes that it would give you the permission to excuse the rules.

I’ll explain more in a minute.

DIY Rag Wreath Supplies

  • About 1-2 total yards of fabric in various colors and patterns
    Note: I also threw in some various ribbons that I had remaining from projects.
  • Wreath frame (mine was 16″)
  • Fabric Scissors

First rule we’re breaking — who cares if the fabric coordinates. I mean, maybe you do care and if you do, or you have a specific intention in mind, then by all means – but some many tutorials speak of coordinating the fabric and I’m over it. You start adding rules to my crafting and I’m not interested 😀

Cut your fabric in squares ranging from about 5″ to about 8″ long. Other tutorials say to cut 8″ strips but I wanted mine to actually look raggedy and I admired the variation in length. From these 5-8″ long fabric strips, cut a notch at 1/2 – 1″ (ISH” ” increments (second “rule” we’re breaking) – 1/2 to 1 or even 2″. it’s really up to you.

Cutting Fabric for Rag Wreath

From that, tear your fabric in strips (third “rule” we’re breaking – others say to cut it all nice and neat with a rotary cutter, heck no, I want the ripped, jagged edges and wads of string that give this the most beautiful, rich texture.

cutting fabric for rag wreath

Next, just tie all the fabric on around the wreath. I didn’t really work in order, I didn’t want too much “pattern” to it – I wanted it to be unique, unreplicable, and in the end, it definitely turned out to be special.

how to tie fabric for rag wreath

rag wreath hanging in craft room
close up of rag wreath
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#dogoodstuffDIYNeedle Arts

How to make Dyed Plarn and Save the Planet

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

I probably never would have tried Dyed Plarn but, Covid-19 made me do it. Since Covid-19 struck, we’ve been having to order our groceries through Shipt. I’m so thankful for the service that allows me to stay home and have my groceries delivered to my door – but the one caveat to that is that the groceries arrive in plastic bags. I can’t very well ask them to come to pick up my reusable bags before shopping 🙂

This has led to a big wad of plastic bags in the pantry and a big pit of guilt in my stomach. Several of our local stores “recycle” plastic bags, but I’m always a little hesitant to believe that everything I drop in my bins (or take back to the store) actually gets repurposed into the world. This comes from working for a trash corporation many, many years ago.

I’ve always wanted to try to make plain, but I shop at stores that have plain white bags with obnoxious logos on them – and honestly, who wants a rug or a scarf or a weird plarn bowl that says “save 24 hours a day” on it…

So I set out to add some color, doing a bit of research first and I double heart eyes how it turned out.

How To Make Dyed Plarn

What you need to make Dyed Plarn

How to Dye Plarn

I always set out jolly on a project and then realize about 10 minutes in that I’m ready to be done with it. Can you relate? With 20 white plastic bags and 50 markers staring at me, I thought it would take hours upon hours to color them – but it didn’t. I think I got them colored in about one hour.

Instead of fully coloring a bag (which I’m sure you can do for a much different result) I scribbled a tight wavey line horizontally across the bag making three to four different colors on a bag – be sure to flip it over and do the back as well as the sides of the bag (but hey, if you forget this step, no one will be able to tell, it will just cause a portion of your plarn to be white.

I set all of my bags to the side to dry and allowed them to dry an hour or so just to be sure I wouldn’t be a painted person once I was finished working with the pieces.

How To Cut Plarn

Once everything was colored and very dry, I set out to cut the plarn into strips so that I could join it into a big ball of plastic fun.

Start by folding your sides in, the way that the bag naturally folds. Don’t worry about everything being in perfect alignment, it’s not going to happen, and you’re not going to notice.

How to fold a dyed plarn bag to cut it
Hey, ignore my messy mat. I don’t believe in cleaning up after myself in the craft room.

Next fold the bag in half vertically, and then in half again and smooth the bag out (there’s a lot of air in them still).

How to cut dyed plarn

Trim the bottom seam and the handles off of the bag. This pained me because I didn’t have a use for them, but in the end, it was a fraction of the waste and I was reassured by that.

how to cut the handles off of a dyed plarn bag

Finally, I just sliced the bags in one-inch pieces all the way down the bag.

how to trim the dyed plarn into one inch strips

Joining Dyed Plarn

in the end, you’ll be left with hundreds of 1″ loops of colored plastic. Sounds fun, right? Some people cut these loops to make one long strip by plastic bags are thin and I wanted a bit more substance, so I kept them as loops to add more substance. Take the two loops and overlap them, then create a knot.

Now, while binging your favorite Netflix show, you just sit and knot all the yarn together, and roll it into a nice big, beautiful dyed plarn ball.

Great. Now, What Can I Use Plarn For?

Plarn can be used for nearly anything you’d use regular yarn for, but I can’t imagine wanting plarn socks or a plarn sweater. I’ve listed some of my favorite ideas below.

  • Plarn Rug
  • Plarn Bowl
  • Plarn Waste Basket
  • Plarn Place Mats
  • Plarn Table Runner
  • Plarn Storage Bin
  • Plarn Tote Bag
  • Plarn Plastic Bag Holder (I love this irony)
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Journaling

May Journal Prompts

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

May is all about mental health. Grab your journal and join us!

  1. When things are hard, I want to remember
  2. Write the words you need to hear right now
  3. What is something you want to overcome
  4. How can I release the negative energy in my life
  5. What is my worst fear?
  6. I feel safe when
  7. What’s something I need to give myself permission to do
  8. What I think it means to be a worrier
  9. The dominant emotion in my life today is
  10. Healthy boundaries I need to set
  11. This calms me down every time…
  12.  Free write
  13.  When I experience failure, I
  14.  My definition of enough
  15.  My anxiety (worries, depression) has taught me ____ about myself
  16.  Write a letter to a person who has negatively impacted you
  17.  The most irrational fear I can think of
  18.  I feel safe when
  19.  What it takes to reset
  20.  _________ totally gets me
  21.  What I needed to hear when I was a child was ______________
  22.  When I feel out of control
  23.  Two secrets I kept as a child are
  24.  Things I’m carrying around that aren’t my load to bear
  25.  _________ makes me feel small
  26.  If I really did what I wanted I’d ___________
  27.  Five things I can do when I’m feeling stressed
  28.  Songs lyrics that make me feel happy
  29.  My enneagram is _____ and 
  30.  Free write
  31. I was taught to deal with emotions by
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Journaling

April Journal Prompts

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

April is all about reflection – grab your journal and join us.

  1. What struggles are you grateful for
  2. A few ways I’ve made myself proud
  3. The memory I really wish I could erase is
  4. I love the sound of
  5. What makes it a good life
  6. The hardest lesson I ever had to learn was
  7. I like the person I am today because
  8. A funny story that makes me laugh every time I hear it
  9. The color of my heart is
  10. If I hadn’t experienced _______ I wouldn’t have _________
  11. The gift that meant the most to me
  12. In my bravest moment I
  13. I can’t help it, any time I smell _______ I
  14. I’m embarrassed to admit
  15. A few rules I have broken
  16. My bucket list
  17. Here’s the soundtrack of my life
  18. My enneagram
  19. I don’t recognize myself when
  20. I wish people were more
  21. I feel most loved when
  22. When I have time alone, I
  23. The biggest lie I ever told
  24. This year, I’ve experienced these positive changes
  25.  Free write
  26.  My parent’s relationship
  27.  My favorite things
  28.  5 people at a dinner party
  29. The qualities I get from my mom are
  30. The qualities I get from my dad are
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planner finds

Planner Supplies for Productivity

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke
Every link on every page or post in this blog is subject to affiliate links.

There are all different types of planning out there – some plan decoratively, some plan functionally, some like to use some combination of both (that’s me), but no matter how you plan, there are a few supplies I totally recommend to up your productivity game in your planner.

Here are my top 3 favorite planner supplies for Productivity.

#1 – Frixion Pens For Planning

Frixion Pens are pretty to look at, pretty to write with and <drum roll, please> ERASABLE – no matter how much we plan, things will always come up that send those plans spinning in a different direction and the very best advice I can give is to write with something that allows your life to be flexible without stressing out and hating your planner. You can find these here.

#2 Simple Checklist Stickers for Planning

Not only do simple checklist stickers fit in most planners but they are also a neat, tidy, and focused way to plan on anything – slap one on a piece of paper, your post-it note, the side of a meeting agenda for take-away tasks, etc. I keep dozens of checklist stickers on-hand. These are by Lulu Daisies & Co.

#3 A Great Productivity Printable

What I love about this one: It has plan vs actual. A spot for rewards, your schedule — it’s just really brilliantly laid out by Ellagant Studios.

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Planners

How to Plan for a Productive Day

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

We all want to be productive right? Well, at least the majority of us do – because being productive makes it feel like we got up for a reason, and helps us to feel like our day meant something as we slip into bed each day.

But even the best planners and the most determined list makers can still struggle with getting the needed things accomplished in their day – why? I really think it’s because of how we plan.

Often times, planning can just be a brain dump of all the things you need to do, and a brain dump is an important step in the planning process, but you have to smooth out the wrinkles afterward to make your calendar really make sense.

4 Tips for Productive Planning

  1. Start with the Non-Negotiables.
    Your non-negotiables are the things in your days and weeks that you’re not willing to compromise on. They’re the things that happen because they make you who you are – and solidify your needs as well as your morals.
  2. Brain Dump.
    We chatted about it above, a brain dump is important. But many people do this right on their planner and that’s where it all stops. Brain dump on a piece of scratch paper first, getting out all the little fiddly bits of things you really want and need to get accomplished. Then…
  3. Next, plan the priorities.
    These are the things that absolutely have to get done, they have deadlines, other things depend on them, they pay the bills
  4. Next, Calendar Block.
    This is especially easy when using an hourly planner, but even if you’re not using an hourly planner, you can still block like tasks together. So a priority may have been going to the grocery store – while you’re out running errands, lets put them all together in a block to avoid extra time and gas spent. The same with phone calls and meetings. When we block like items together, we’re bound to be productive.

There are also a lot of really great books on productivity that can help further add to the productivity life goal, just be sure you plan some time for reading, too!

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Planners

Free Work/Life Balance Tracker

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

Does Work/life balance really exist or is it this elusive, magical thing that we hear about but no one has ever seen? It’s been the topic of conversation a lot at work lately, and even at home.

This set me out on the mission to create a planner that would track my habits related to balance, in finding a whole, true person underneath the workaholic I’ve become (and from listening to the community, I’m not alone).

So I’m sharing this free work/life balance tracker with you today in hopes that it helps you uncover the person underneath the executive, the entrepreneur, the one trying to climb the corporate ladder. I hope it helps and I can’t wait to see you put it into use.

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PlannersUncategorized

Free Non-Negotiables Worksheet

by Brandy Burke
written by Brandy Burke

In our continued talk about work/life balance, I think it’s important that we at least brush on the subject of non-negotiables in life.

What is a non-negotiable?

A non-negotiable is something that you do every single day, the things that make your heart sing, make your day worth waking up for. They’re the things that don’t bump for other things.

It’s something you are totally committed to, and it goes in your planner before anything else.

These things become the fabric of who we are and span several categories, and you’ll find by working through your non-negotiables list that you have one for nearly all the categories and some custom categories that apply only to your life.

For a runner, this could be that they run every day, without question, they find time to do it. For a crafter, like myself, I always find time to be in the studio, even if only briefly, to unleash my creativity – and if there’s a day that I can’t (it’s rare) I feel it in my soul.

Today I’m sharing the Non-negotiables Life Worksheet to help you work through your own daily life musts. I challenge you to list your non-negotiables in every category.

Family

Examples of Family Non-negotiables

Relationships

Examples of Relationship Non-negotiables (this is outside of the things that you will or will not accept in a relationship with significant others and friends

  • Date night
  • Cooking together
  • Coffee/events with friends

Health

Examples of Health Non-negotiables

  • Eat Healthy Organic Foods (See Free Health Tracker Printable)
  • Sleep 8 hours per night
  • Physical Fitness (broad or specific: Running, Yoga, etc)
  • Massage

Self and Spirit

Examples of Self and Spirit Non-negotiables

  • Church or other religious event attendance
  • Bible reading
  • Meditation
  • Reading books
  • Earthing

Career

Examples of Career Non-negotiables

  • Specific start and stop times to maintain balance
  • Reading and further education
  • Priorities

Other

Examples of Other Non-negotiables

  • Crafting
  • Bullet Journaling
  • Planning
  • Recreational Classes and Desires
  • Home Needs, Chores and Upkeep

Once you’ve identified your non-negotiables in life, you plug these things in first when you sit down to lay out your planner for the week. Sometimes it’s blocking in that specific non-negotiable, like running or reading a book, other times it’s planning things that support that non-negotiable, like setting a hard lights-out time to support 8 hours of sleep, or grocery shopping and meal prep time if you want to eat only healthy organic foods prepared at home.

These priorities may shift from time to time but once a non-negotiable is identified and in-play, you honor it in your week.

Click Here to Download Worksheet
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