...How Do I Keep Up?

I have often been asked how I keep up with all of the challenges that are out there, and my answer is easy...I have a "Challenge Calendar" {seen below}! I purchased this Mead At-A-Glance Planner at Office Depot, and they usually run between $12-$20 depending on the size you want to get. The one I use is a little bigger than 8-1/2 X 11, but I needed a larger one for the way that I organize each challenge. Below is a picture of my planner for this week, September 14-September 20. The very first time slot on each day is designated for the Splitcoast challenges, then I add other challenges starting at the 10:00 a.m. slot and skipping to the next hour if there are multiple challenges for that day. For instance, Monday is a busy day...I have the Technique Lovers' Challenge, Mojo Monday sketch, Clean & Simple Challenge, Little Paper Shop sketch, and Card Positioning System sketch. I find that having a vertical planning area is the best solution for me {being OCD and all}, but you can use any configuration that works best for you.

Once I have completed a challenge/sketch I highlight it in yellow. Most of the time I post the challenge on my blog the same day I complete it, so I also add a note in red stating the date that the challenge was posted {as seen below}. Note the reminder about the Verve Project Parade in the lower right-hand corner...I can also use my planner to remind me what is due the next day.

As far as sketches are concerned, I am a stickler when it comes to following the layout exactly. So I always save a picture of the sketch in my documents on my laptop, open it up in Adobe Photoshop Elements, crop it, resize it to actual size, print it off, then measure each layer {as seen below}. I warned you that I was OCD! LOL! I also add the date above the sketch so I can keep them in order.

Some times you might find a piece of paper clipped into my planner. This would indicate my "urgent to-do list"...I have to get these things finished before I can start on anything else. For example, below I have a list of what I have to do for the next Verve Release...WHICH IS THIS WEEK! As you can see I have five uploads due before Thursday, and then four more are due before October 11th. I also have a Project Parade post to get ready for the September Release, so I have noted it below the uploads that are due. I also have to make a Mojo card, and Viva La Verve card, an MTSC card, and a Crazy 4 Challenges card. I will be out of town on a stamping retreat starting Friday, so I have to get everything that is due this weekend completed and posted to my blog before I leave.

That's it for me today! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope this sheds some light on the sickness that is my way of organizing! LOL! As I mentioned before it is Release Week for the new September Verve Stamps! Be sure to stop by the Verve Forum to check out the Release Week Challenges , and for your chance to win some FREE STAMPS. The next release is this Friday, September 18 @ 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Verve will be releasing 6 new sets and a scripture Plain Jane immediately following the Release Party. The Divas will begin sharing sneak peeks starting Wednesday morning on the Verve Blog, and also on their individual blogs...me included! I will see you back here tomorrow for this week's Tuesday Sketch Challenge, so until then...