What I want you to do is leave me your best house-cleaning shortcut tip in the comments to this post, I'm anxious to cut down on housework so's I can stamp. - I'm going to let it run until midnight (my time) on Friday 26th sept (so's all the bloghoppers get a chance to play too!) and then I will get a number randomly picked - there must be a generator somewhere on the internet that I can use.
I will post the winners name on the blog hopefully on Saturday.
Oh look - I managed to squeeze in one more fimo snowflake!! lol.
Hope it tickles.
Ooooh...I love that card...I think kraft paper goes beautifully with everything! My best housecleaning tip? What is housecleaning? Okay, okay...my favorite thing ever are the little disinfecting wipes. I have a pack in the bathroom and the kitchen and they make for really quick clean ups.
ReplyDeleteBest household shortcut cleaning tip that I can think of: is to clean as you go. This is especially true when preparing meals. Don't leave things out, wipe the counter and/or stove when it becomes dirty. Another household hint I have is to use baking soda when cleaning your stove rings and drip pans. Let them soak in hot water and baking soda and clean up will be a breeze. I also soak my oven racks in the bathtub with baking soda.
ReplyDeleteHi Claire! Mmmmm, #1 comment -- maybe not good luck in terms of being "randomly picked" but I have the best advice....get your husband to do all the cleaning:-) That's what I do and it works quite well....lots of stampin time for me LOL
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your blog hop item...you always blow me away!!
Wow! Congrats on the hits and I'm wishing you another 20K in a very short time!
ReplyDeleteMy best tip is actually one that was passed on to me from a wonderful lady in my bible study class. It is not really a tip but a website -
www.flylady.net
Flylady is a great FREE resource to help you get your home clean, organized, and under control so that you have more hours in the day the do the things that are important to you. I love it!
Blessings,
Cyndi
Love that card. I haven't played with Fimo for years. Might need to give it a try again.
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous card using PTI's snowflake set.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite cleaning tip is "close the door" then people don't know another room is messy!
:)
Tamara
my best house cleaning tip is to use those Lysol wipes when the cold season is upon you. To use them to wipe down any door nobs, and handles...table tops (like coffee tables) anywhere little hands are. It seriously cuts down on the colds in the house :D!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
catherine
www.mystampinggrounds.blogspot.com
catlevy@eastlink.ca
Oh, wow, look's like I'm first, Claire!!! Love having your feed on my favs, so I know when you've posted something new - so exciting! This card is just gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteMy household tip for you to free up more crafting time is: don't pick up any spiders; then instead of sipping tea to calm you, you can be busily crafting!!! LOL!!!
I'm not good with cleaning advice, except to say people don't usually notice a little dust; they want to see happy people, not a sparkling house! Spend time with your little ones now, you'll have plenty of time to clean when they're grown!!! ;-)
I always try to use the "CAYG" (Clean As You Go) method like not leaving pots in the sink (washing, drying them as they are used). That way there is not so much to do at the end of the meal. Enjoy your blog. It brings back memories of my trip to Ireland. Congrats on 20,000+ visitors!
ReplyDeleteClaire, I guess I'll start you off! My best tips are to clean to music you love- you'll move a lot faster! Plus you can sing along while cleaning which makes it less miserable. I also try to do a little bit of cleaning every day. That way I never have a ton to do at once.
ReplyDeleteThank you for offering up some goodies to us!!
Fabulous card as ever Claire.
ReplyDeleteNow for my tip for none streaky windows, add washing up liquid and vinigar to your bucket of hot water and once washed dry with scrunched up newspaper.
Another beautiful card Claire.
ReplyDeleteMy best cleaning tip is to set one day of the week aside to do the cleaning. Depending on the size of your house it really only takes a few hours. Then you only need to tidy a bit the rest of the week. I know it doesn't sound like a shortcut, but once you get in the habit of doing it your house stays pretty clean, which means more stamping time!!
I'm never very motivated, so I set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and try and focus during that time. Take a break, then do another timer set or a different room.
ReplyDeleteGreat card! My biggest cleaning advice is to have a place for everything and put it back when you're done with it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they have this product in Ireland but the Lysol Disinfecting wipes are the greatest for the kitchen and bath. They make cleaning a snap. Also for dusting the Swiffer products. I set aside certain chores for certain days and try my best to keep to that schedule, then when the weekend rolls around I'm free to do whatever!
ReplyDeleteA little household tip--denture tablets in the toilet! Drop one in and just let it fizz until the next time you flush. Helps keep the toilet white and sparkly.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win some 'surprise candy.' Are you including your fabulous witch too?!?!? One can ask and hope, can't one?
I Love your fimo snowflakes Claire - you are well on your way to having your holiday cards done! And 20K, congrats, that's so fabulous and well deserved! As for a tip for housecleaning, wish I had a real one, but the only thing that works for me is to stop blog surfing :-) he-he! And we all know I can't do that, so what's a little dust!
ReplyDeleteI keep all of my cleaning supplies for that particular room IN that particular room. That way, I'm not hunting down the cleaning supplies. They are already there and ready to go. The living room has a shoe box behind the couch with the dusting spray and clean cloths along with the glass cleaner. The Kitchen supplies are all under the sink. The bathroom supplies are in the bathrooom cupboard.....you get the idea. Now all I have to do is get a central vacuuming system in my house and I'll be all set!
ReplyDeleteLove this card Claire. I have no house cleaning tips... well except one, if your Mother in law offers to vacuum... let her. I used to get all upset like she was insulting me... now I just take the help!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm best house keeping tip. Get your husband to do it. Hasn't worked particularly well for me so far but there's always hope for others, right? Otherwise, I'd say try and keep tidy - picking up and putting away as things happen and then doing a big clean once a week. Congratulations on 20,000 hits!
ReplyDeleteSonya
I have to say that I always look forward to comming to your blog! You have such a fresh take on being creative and everything you make is just beautiful. Now with that being said, my best housecleaning tip is to.......... get a house cleaning service. I know I would if I could afford it!!! Maybe after I am done with school and have my nursing degree! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win your surprise candy. Many household tipps have been said already...like...clean as you go, set the timer, hop over to flylade...hmm...you know this stuff you put in your dishwasher so that the dishes come out sparkling? This works great for windows two...just put it in the cleaning water, whipe and dry.
Greetings from Austria,
eira
Great card. Love the comments left for fav cleaning tips LOL. I really like using the Swiffer duster. Seems to go quickly, at least that part. I'm with you...do away with the cleaning and have more time to stamp.
ReplyDeleteI do something similar to flylady. It's overwhelming at first, but once the first big clean is out of the way it's more of a maintenance thing and surprisingly doesn't take that much time. My house is too large to clean the whole thing in one day so I set up zones for deep cleaning. I do daily cleaning up like dishes, pick up toys (evening before bed) and 1 load of laundry each day. Deep cleaning a zone consists of sweeping, mopping, windows, mirrors, dusting, etc. This schedule sounds horrifying, but I have found I actually have more time now and I don't panic if someone rings the doorbell and I don't have to shut the bedroom door. lol!
ReplyDeleteMonday--kitchen and living room
Tuesday--Powder room, foyer, hallway, mud room, office and laundry room.
Wednesday--Master suite
Thursday--the children's rooms and bathroom
Friday and Saturday are free days and on Sunday I do the laundry that's left and change the bed sheets.
Claire, your snowflakes are really starting to grow on me! I put the Fimo away a long time ago, but I may have to dig it out now! Hmmm...my favorite housekeeping tip. Lately I have been using baking soda for everything! It's cheap, readily available, and really does wonders. I add a cup of it to every load of laundry. It helps to remove odors and really boosts the bleaching and cleaning power of your detergent. It's also great with a little vinegar to remove pet odors on carpet and freshens your rugs right up!
ReplyDeleteOkay that is so funny, I check my blog a millions times a day also to see if anyone else has stopped by! Hmmm best house cleaning tip, take a scented oil (I like cinnamon), and pour a few drops into a cotton ball, vaccuum it up and then everytime you vaccuum a yummy scent fill your home! Your card is adorable!!
ReplyDeletehousecleaning tip? i keep cleaning supplies in both bathrooms - along with a roll of paper towels - while i'm in that room - after using the facilities! i just spritz the cleaner on the mirros, and on the counter - and swipe it...ta dum! clean mirrors and sinks - and at the same time - spray the toilet - use a clean paper towel - and the bathroom's clean!! i don't know the time difference - so i hope that i'm in time to try to win some blog candy...how exciting that you have had so many people look at your blog - and that's because of the wonderful things that you make - and share...
ReplyDeletethanks!
Claire,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog you have here.
As for cleaning tips.....
Keep the lights down low
so the dust won't show.
Housekeeping is highly over-rated anyway.
sldinepping
Very nice card!! My quick tip for housecleaning...hire a housecleaner!! LOL No, seriously...that's what I do; I have REALLY bad allergies so I can't handle dust or cleaning solutions.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the hits!
Oh...I forgot to comment on the blog hop...gotta go back to the top...
~Lacey Stephens
www.handstampedbylacey.typepad.com
Claire, stop dusting now! When Halloween comes, your friends will all be stunned by how realistic the spider webs look. Just make some paper spiders, and put them on all of the dusty flat surfaces. then draw lines in the dust with your fingers, giving the spiders tracks. then, wjhen christmas comes, just drape little white lights all over the piles of newspapers and dust, and sprinkle snow all over the top of everything. Hides it all; works for me! ~babies~ Beth
ReplyDeleteHouse cleaning...who has time with all this stampin' to do!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I fill up my sink with hot water and 1 cup of bleach. Let it soak, drain and rinse. Your kitchen sink will sparkle...even the dirty dishes sitting next to it will look better...=)
My best house cleaning tip... Hmm, I just hide everything where no one else will see it! And use the wipes that are already saturated with solution - saves time and space... Hah. I have neither. Thanks for all your great inspiration! Always love visiting your blog!
ReplyDeleteYour card is beautiful, but you always have gorgeous items. The best tip I can give you is to only clean on 1 day--Thursday. That way you have the entire weekend and part of the next week to stamp. Good Luck in the Blog Hop Very Gorgeous item. Alice
ReplyDeleteCan I just say I love your blog? I case almost everything you make! LOL. Housecleaning tip? Hmmm, I'm not a very good housecleaner, but here's what I do: I focus on one area of the house each day of the week. Mondays are bathroom days, Tuesdays are kitchen/dining room days, wednesdays are living room days etc. I do try to clean as I go, but the detail stuff like floors, dusting, windows etc only get done on their days.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! And as soon as my daughter was able to tell a spoon from a fork, her chore was to unload the silverware from the dishwasher. You'd be surprised just how much that helps!
What I like to do is clean a little bit each night during the week, and then by the weekend, everything looks nice and I can do the fun things, like stamping!
ReplyDeleteGlad I "hopped" on over here - love your blog!
ReplyDeleteRebecca
ok Clorox wipes came from Heaven along with the swiffer duster. That is my secret!
ReplyDeleteYou make the most beautiful things! I'm definitely not the one to be giving out cleaning advice, but one thing I read somewhere was to clean the bathroom while your kids are in the bath, you can even use a wet towel to "mop" the floor! And my kids usually help by spilling out lots of water!
ReplyDeleteMelissa
i love your blog!! congrats! my 2 cleaning tips are:1)pick one day out of the week to clean-otherwise it seems that you are cleaning all day long, every day! and 2)blast the radio with something fast and upbeat to get you moving!!
ReplyDeletejaime aldridge
ctmritech@comcast.net
I just discovered your blog. I love the card. My cleaning tip is set the clock for 15 minutes and clean up clutter.
ReplyDeleteSO glad I found you thru the blog hop! You have now been bookmarked!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cleaning tip is to involve the children. Give them a little spray bottle with water and a rag, or the swiffers and they are little elves.:} And out of the way!
Love your work.
thanks for sharing.
I really enjoy reading your blog and I love your creative ideas!
ReplyDeleteI just came across a great website today called Real Simple (check it out at www.realsimple.com). They have a great article on how to clean your house in 19 minutes a day ... it's a great find! Maybe it will help you!
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/content/0,21770,1020737,00.html
Happy paper crafting!!!
your blogs is super cool. I am glad that I found it. Thanks Shanna
ReplyDeleteGreat card! Love all your creations and a long time stalker! LOL One of my housecleaning tips is dusting wipes. Forget the spray and rags!
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, Love your blog! You are so creative! I have two housekeeping tips: keep things tidy as you go (cooking, etc)--if you don't make a big mess, you don't have to clean one up. The second is to use a spray like Tilex Fresh Shower in your shower, so soap scum never builds up. I squeegee the shower and spray it with Fresh Shower after every shower--it really helps!
ReplyDeleteLove your ideas! They are inventive and beautiful. Your photos are also striking. LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteYUCK!...even thinking about housecleaning gives me chills however I do have one tip; always fix the beds. Even though the room isn't vacuumed or dusted, having the beds made gives it the illusion that it is clean.
mmmm. great card... this is a hard one, I guess my best tip would be to clean a little every day and don´t let the mess build up
ReplyDeleteWow love your blog. Just found it through PTI. I'm so inspired.
ReplyDeleteOkay my tip is: I spend 10 min in each room just picking up and straitening. I carry a basket with me to take and deliver things as I go. usually keeps my house tidy despite my 5 kiddos. :)
My house cleaning tip is a cure for stainless steel appliances that never look clean. Go ahead and clean it like you normally would, even if it looks streaky. After that take a TINY bit of baby oil on a soft rag and buff over the surface. Your appliances will look brand new again. This has saved me a lot of time that I used to spend trying to get rid of streaks. :-)
ReplyDeleteCUTE card!!!
ReplyDeleteMy House cleaning Shortcut Suggestion would have to be just dont clean at all! LoL Or of course half at it clean! HeHe
~Monica~
Congrats and here's to twentyK more!!
ReplyDeleteI actually have found recently that if I make a bit of a game out of cleaning it gets done more often. I set a timer for the amount of time that I think the task will take me, then try to 'beat the clock'! I also reward myself after I complete a task. Once I am done with a task I can doo something of my choosing. That has also helped me to not be on the computer all day! lol
My tried and true household tip, is get your husband to do it all. Works great at my house. He probably wouldn't agree, but he does do everything here except the cooking and shopping. I'm a lucky girl. kim
ReplyDelete