If I am not, in fact, the first person who ever thought to do this…hold your "sorry to inform you, but..." posts for a day or so, just so I can live another 24 hours under the illusion that I invented something spectacularly brilliant

You know how when you open a package of say, stickers, or rub-ons, or whatever… and they come in a plastic sleeve?

Well, if you're like me (and you KNOW you want to be!) you might not use every single item on said sheet of stickers or rub-ons, or whatever. So… what do you have to do?

Put the stickers or rub-ons, or whatever BACK into the packaging.

And what happens? Come on... every single time? What happens?

The product STICKS to the sticky part of the flap on the plastic sleeve.

ARE YOU WITH ME?

Well, I don't want to toot my own horn TOO loudly, but I invented the following cure-all to this very common scrapbooking dilemma.

Watch closely:

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is EXACTLY what I'm thinking every single time I scrapbook.

Happy Easter.

Love,
Cathy

Comments

[jennifer]

1.

Ummm...I never thought of this. AND I had never heard of it. AND just yesterday I was swearing (using my "inside voice" since the kids were around) because of this exact problem.

Thank you for the tip. What a lovely Easter present indeed!

[Victoria Murray]

2.

Great idea. I hate those freaking sticky things. They make me use words like "freaking". I usually cut them off, but this is much better. Way to rock my scrap world!!

[Toni Brockliss]

3.

Bastards Incorporated is the name I mumble when I attempt to slide my rub-ons back into the sleeve and it fails.
Bastards Inc also made the extra loud chip packets that crinkle at critical times at the movies, popcorn bags that give you 3rd degree burns when you go to open them and pens that run out when you only have one word left to write on your scrapbook page.

[Karen Walker]

4.

I have a metal ruler right on my cutting mat in the middle of my desk. Did I ever think of this? NOPE! Do I think you're brilliant--again? YEP. Thanks. It's always been such a pain.

[ashley]

5.

Dude... that is freaking brilliant! I usually just cut the top part off and leave the sticky part permanently stuck.

[Shannon]

6.

I don't have a ruler...what now? what now Cathy?!?!?!

[Terry]

7.

I have no idea if you are the first--but what GREAT idea. I have struggled with a sticky package for the last time!

[Bree]

8.

This is slicker than my method - flip the sticky tab around and stick it to the Back of the packaging. Work okay, but then you have to unstick and reflip the package back. One of the corners always gets stuck.

Your idea looks a lot easier.

[Kathleen]

9.

That is BRILLIANT!!!! U-R-da-B!!!!
awesome girl!!!!!!

[Tanya Summers]

10.

That is a GREAT idea - thanks for sharing! ~Tanya

[lisa]

11.

Simply put, you are a genius! The best I ever came up with was to try and stick the sticky part to the back of the package. It never works. I bet this works every time.

[Sara]

12.

Sweet! You always come up with awesomeness! BRILLIANT, I say! :)

[lisa tanner]

13.

WOW - I've never been smart enough to figure this out. I've stuck the sticky to the back of the packaging and it never really works - at all. You are brilliant!!!

[Melissa Raphael]

14.

I just slice the package open and be done with it. Easier for me, who is too lazy to do it any other way.

[Linda F.]

15.

OMG! You ARE spectacularly (an exceedingly difficult word to say, even in my head) brilliant! This is my nemesis! Those d*#mned sticky strips! Thank you for the idea!

[sesil in chicago]

16.

you are soo smart. I think I am just lazy because I just cut the rub-on off the sheet with the plastic on it and then I am only getting the rub-on I want and the other rub-ons are still in tack. LAZY!

[Vanessa]

17.

As a full fledged "original packaging" person I appreciate the practicality of your tip!!! Where has this been all my life?

Okay..JUST noticed your blog header..murals at Animal Kingdom are awesome aren't they!
Here is a link to a shot I took of one with our tour guide--we got the full scoop behind them-well the disney version anyways ;-)
http://grooveygrover.blogspot.com/2006/11/disney-details.html

[Nadia]

18.

you ARE the smartest person EVER! who makes that metal ruler? I'm sorry I couldn't resist and I swear if you are sitting even remotely close to me at Inspired you have my permission to smack me over the head with the ruler. Of course I will be the one who will be so excited to finally meet you that I will be speechless. Should be easy to spot me!

[Candi Tardio]

19.

i wanna know what company those rockin' rubon's are from???????
inquiring minds wanna know :)

[michele]

20.

When I grow up, I want to be as smart as you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Courtney]

21.

You are simply brilliant.

[Shaunte]

22.

You should submit that tip/idea to Memory Makers or Scrapbook Trends or something....(snicker)

[Christine Villacarlos]

23.

LOL!!! Cathy!!! Yes, that is a brilliant idea!!! Thank you!!!

LOL Shannon! Lovin' your comment!!!

[LoRi]

24.

You are such a freaking hoot and I am way too dumb to have ever thought of that. Thanks for making me laugh every effin day!

[karen lee]

25.

those are annoying & that is a good idea,
but...
i fold the sticky part over, onto itself,
and then when i am done,
i pull it off and close the package,
no ruler needed!
try it!

karen lee

[~amy~]

26.

THANK YOU for this...you are a genius!!!

[Carrie]

27.

I've done the same thing for a long time now EXCEPT I attach the sticky stuff to my plastic ruler and not a metal one. :) I still think you're brilliant! Truly.

[Carolyn from Vancouver]

28.

Sorry to burst your bubble Cathy, but I've always done what Bree did, only easier. I don't flip the sticky part backwards, I just fold it forwards onto itself. No problem, no need for a ruler.

And yes, I do say smugly to myself that I'm the smartest person ever when I do this.

Darn. Karen Lee just beat me to this post.

I guess I'm only the second smartest person ever. Darn you Karen Lee (see me shaking my first a you)!

[jen]

29.

Genius I tell ya. You're brilliant. Now my Thickers can go back in easy peasy!

[Donna]

30.

Brilliant Cathy!!!
Like Michele said When I grow up I want to be as smart as you...

Have a Great Easter Weekend!!!

[Cel]

31.

Why oh why didn't I think of this?! This is genius Cathy!

[Ruth in OZ]

32.

Whilst I absolutely appreciate the fantastic idea, personally, I don't open my rub ons at the sticky flap end, I cut off the top bit,(the label)revealing the opening there, no sticky, no mess, and then I file them in an my psb or similar display file, so I can just flick through them looking for the PERFECT sticker, however, as my rubon obsession grows and grows, I have had to file those in storage containers marked by theme, Just love those damm rub ons. Hey Cathy, man I love your sense of humour, just so much, your blog is a highlight of my day. Ruth in Western Australia

[Sara]

33.

I know the sticky edge of which you speak. I had never thought to use a ruler or edge to hold it down. You've just saved me valuable scrapbook time. Thanks Cathy!!! Seriously, brilliant. LOL.

(no seriously, thank you from OCDers everywhere)

[Stacie]

34.

TOOT TOOOOT ! I'll toot your horn for you! You are a freakin Genius ! Really, this was such a pain for me....Thanks, Cath...You Rock!

[Darlene]

35.

You really ARE the smartest person ever...and yes, I do want to be like you. I even tell my friends that fact.

[Maggie]

36.

You are a rock star and I am having t shirts and posters made. They will be black with orange sleeves (remembering the sweatshirt of course). On the front will have biblical icon dude from your banner and on the back will have CZ ROCKS.... no no wait SMART CZ ROCKS! ...and don't do drugs! Scrapbooking is a family affair. I will make sure my people send one to your people...
I was going through my pix and came across an old CKU from San Jose where I had the most incredible fortune to sit in on your class while you were wearing a suit coat, glasses. Great stuff! Maybe I will have them slip some glasses on religious dude at the top for memory sake! Life is good and you are the queen of goodness. Gotta go... gotta find my medal ruler and be free at last with my rub ons.. Watch out Daisy D's here we come!

[Sharon Larmour]

37.

I bow down in humble acknowledgement of your sheer brilliance. Dare I say sheer bloodyflippinfreakinfarkin brilliance.

I worship at the altar of your brilliance.

Amen

brilliant

[Kathryn Booth]

38.

LOL, glad i'm not the only one who gets fed up with those sticky flaps! I usually end up folding them over to the sticky is covered up, or, a tip i did pick up from a class once - i snip the long side of the packet off. so then you can slide them in and out without worrying about stickyness!
BUT i deffo think you're the first with this ruler idea cathy!! GO YOU!

[Jana]

39.

You are awesome!!! Thanks for the great tip!!

[Patricia]

40.

Pure genius I say.

[Bev]

41.

I took a class with Rhonna Farrer once, and the best tip I've ever picked up was, don't even open the package, just cut out the sticker or rub-on that you want with the packaging still around it, then the rest of the pack stays nicely protected inside it's packaging.
It was worth a trip to Paris just for that one tip!

[Izzy]

42.

Oh geez! I've hated those stupid things for years. My biggest issue was getting 12x12 paper back in without the adhesive ripping a piece off the dead center. I shall retrieve my metal ruler at once!

Izzy

[Tina]

43.

OMG you are a genius! I knew it...just knew it!!!

[LaurenC]

44.

I just want the rubons. Those are some cool little symbols.
Oh yeah. And I guess your idea is kinda genius! :-)

[tiffany k. smoot]

45.

that is freakin' awesome! i bow down to your simple genius.

[Beth Gianturco]

46.

*Excellent* idea! If you didn't think of it first, I haven't heard about it. Thanks! XX's

[AmyInKy]

47.

Cathy, you are the smartest person, ever...Ever!
Thanks for the idea. :)

[Nathalie]

48.

You are too funny and sooooo clever!!! Thanks for the great tip. :) You are revitalizing my ruler! LOL

I battle with those all the time and my best trick for this so far was to do it with a friend... one holding the package and the other one putting the rub-ons back in but it doesn't work 90% of the time since I mostly scrap alone... LOL

[deana]

49.

I usually either cut off the top OR just fold the sticky part back inside the packaging. Drives me nuts, too...

[Sara]

50.

What an absolutely fantastic idea. I have loathed those packets ever since the first one I opened. In fact I think I'll have to go and make something right now just to test it out!

[Lisa Bracale]

51.

Great idea Cathy. I invented the simple just cut the small sticky strip off and nothing sticks. Granted the top doesn't close shut but it still folds over.

I hate when that stuff sticks so annoying.

Lisa

[Deborah P]

52.

I struggled with this last night and thought - there's GOT to be a better way, but I didn't think of it. Thank you!!! Looks like for at least 98% of us, your illusion is quite safe.

[Carla]

53.

I bow before you--- great idea. I usually just lose my patience and cut the sticky part off and cram it back in and curse and then throw it in another plastic keeper thingy... put in my quest to be more evolved in scrapbooking I will try to practice this!

[Bridget =)]

54.

damnit, why didn't i ever think of that!!!!!! awesome idea!

[Betsey Terry]

55.

Well Cathy, there is absolutely NO DOUBT you are the smartest person ever. My favorite trick though with those, learned from the lovely Jennifer McGuire, is to never take them out of the package in the first place..just cut out the portion you need!

[PJ]

56.

I cut the top art open with an exacto knife, to totally avoid even touching that ugly sticking part... but you... it's just AMAZING... you genius you!!!

[Ellen G]

57.

What a great idea! Time again I have struggled with this very thing. Didn't even cross my mind to put a ruler over the stick. You ARE the smartest person ever!

[Michelle Gauthier]

58.

Totally stinkin' brilliant! :)

[Michelle Gauthier]

59.

Totally stinkin' brilliant! :)

[Wendy H.]

60.

You mean I actually don't have to fight the sticker/rub-ons sticking to the package on the way back in?? What a brilliant idea. I used to try and fold it backwards without much success. Of course this now leaves me wondering: WHY didn't I think of this??????

I am scrapbooking tonight with my girlfriends. I am FOR SURE bringing this idea!

BTW - even if you haven't thought of this 1st: to ME you will always be the person that did. ;)

[Malinda]

61.

You're Brilliant! I have never thought of that and it has been an issue with me forever! I will now follow in your glorious footsteps and henceforth will bask in the glow of your greatness.

[Etta]

62.

Well I didn't think of it. THANK YOU SO MUCH because I had given up on putting things back in their plastic sleeves. You're a genius!

[Jill]

63.

hahahahahahahahahahahaha - brilliant!

[BeckyKay]

64.

Brilliant! Thank you, Cathy!

[Sophie]

65.

I don't know if you invented this...
but THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING !!

I can't repeat here the words I mumble everytime I try to get my rub-ons inside the package...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !!

Sophie

[Hillary Chybinski]

66.

Brilliant!! You rock - and quite frankly, who the heck does not want to be just like you???

As for me - I roll the sticky part back onto itself. . .slide my rub-ons/stickers back in. . .and unroll the sticky part and re-seal.

If I were half the woman and creative force you are - I wuld document that in slides or a video or something. . .but alas. . .I fall short again. :)

Have a heck of a great egg day!
Hillary

[nancy_scraps]

67.

Never heard of this. Never thought of this.

I always just try to peel off the adhesive...to varying results.

So... you ROCK and you are a GENIUS!!! How's that for a belated Birthday present?

[Ruth Pannell]

68.

I cut the bloody thing off.
And think about going digi.

[Gina]

69.

I am one who folds it back and sticks it to the package.

Lord knows I'd never be able to find the ruler on the scrap table. If only they could make one the size of the ATG.

[gitz]

70.

The brilliance it just took to come up with that idea burned enough calories to lose 5 pounds. Now you are a genius AND skinny. What a Good Friday.

:)

[LisaTO]

71.

I've lost many a rubon because of that sticky part of the packaging.

Great idea.

[jenn]

72.

Great idea!!!! I'm always cursing at that sticky stripe! lol

[Julie]

73.

SHUT UP!!! (Let me assure you that is a compliment of the highest form, blurted out at moments of being so impressed, I am rendered speechless, with the exception of those two words. Often followed by ".........thud!!!", which is indicative of me being knocked out by another's sheer brilliance. *grin*)

.................thud!!!

[jennifer]

74.

i hate it when that happens! you ARE BRILLIANT! :) enough said...

[Abby P.]

75.

Nothing pisses me off MORE than having my paper, rub-ons, etc., stick like that. It happens EVERY TIME! Thank you for your gift of knowledge! Now I won't have to use the "F" bomb so much when scrapbooking!

[Kelli Johnson]

76.

what a hot tip! THX!

[Theresa]

77.

You. Are. A. Frickin. Genius.

Word.

[Nancy]

78.

oh please Cathy, can your brilliance solve the problem of the wimpy little package edges ripping open, too? thanx!

[Nicola]

79.

"...and you KNOW you want to be!" <-- how did you know, what gave me away?!

You know you get to use those letters after your name now right? ie; Cathy Zielske SPE.

[Leslie]

80.

Absolutely brilliant!

[Sara]

81.

It's so genious in it's simplicity that it's scarey! I bow to you CZ!!

Happy Easter!!

[Maeghan]

82.

UGH. That is sooo my pet peeve when it comes to scrapbooking and cardmaking. Other than trimmers that don't cut straight, of course. And maybe sticky scissors. Oh, come to think of it, most of my pet peeves are creatively related!!!

[Heidi]

83.

I roll the sticky flap over backwards so it is out of the way, but I can still unroll it to keep all the stickers in the plastic bag.

[Karen Russell]

84.

Bloody genius (this problem has plagued me for years - seriously - years).

[Faith]

85.

Your blog makes my day. I love your sense of humor!! Also, your idea!!

[Gretchyn]

86.

This is a great tip that I will be using. Very nice!

Another option would be to make the darn packing here in the US like they do in Europe -- put the sticky stuff on the PACKAGE and not on the FLAP so that you can get things back in the package w/o fighting with it. Just a suggestion to any manufacturers who might be reading this blog, it's a big pet peeve of mine... :)

[susan keuter]

87.

Hey there lady - I must correct you.

That is NOT a metal ruler. That my dear, is a PICA POLE!

I have the exact same one, got me thru J-School and all of the line-o-type we had to lay down on our mock ups. Damn Professor Book if they weren't perfect. Thank GOD for my trusty Pica Pole. :)

[daniellemarieclaire]

88.

Well I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who came up with an idea to have the sticky side away from the rub-ons ! I have been sticking the sticky side inside the plastic bag for the last couple of years at least. The flap sticking everywhere was driving me nuts but I knew that I wouldn't stop using the rub-ons so I had to find a way to bring my frustration to a zero level and still get to use my rub-ons ! :)

But, miss Cathy, you're still a genius ! :) Great minds think alike, I know ... :) LOL

Danielle (daniellemarieclaire)

[Stephanie T.]

89.

Oh Divine Ms. Z! YOU are headed straight for Mensa. LOL!
(now go gloat over your brilliance!)

[Beth]

90.

this is so funny....
I just cut that bottom flap off and get rid of the sticky completely

[Valerie]

91.

I just usually cut that bastard right off, after cursing for several minutes. I love your idea, though, as I hate when the rub-ons, stickers, etc., etc., have opportunity to break loose. Preservation of the sticky flap is key...
Thanks Cathy!

[Paula H]

92.

The cool rub ons are from BasicGrey:

BasicGrey Element Rub Ons - Symbols - Black

Scrapbook.com as about 10 of them in stock right now..

[Sharon F.]

93.

You are absolutely brilliant! I would wrestle that piece over and stick it to the desk or counter, then attempt to keep it down and slide the piece back in...no one really knew who was winning this battle and usually there were casualties....

thanks for sharing !
sharon f.
oakland, ca

[Linda]

94.

We've all had that problem I'm sure. Thanks for the tip! You are just too cute and I love you!

[NanaBeth]

95.

In my book you are without a doubt the fricking most intelligent human ever-I sure never thought of it! Nobel circumventing annoying scrapbooking packaging prize to Ms Z please!

[pipw]

96.

Now that idea deserves a TimTam!!

[Laura]

97.

Awesome idea!

Happy Easter!

[Kitsa]

98.

I too, bow down to your almight genius and thank the scrapbook gods for sending you to us. We are so not worthy...hee hee! Love ya, girl!!!

[Angie Olson]

99.

You rock! I love it when something like happens. I have a l'il tip of my own regarding rub-ons...
You know how the backing sheet of the rub-ons shifts around after you've cut into them? Staple the sheets together (in between individual rub-ons)& the problem is solved. No more shifting & losing parts of rub-ons cuz the backing strayed while cutting or adhering.

[katie scott]

100.

yep i'm thinking the same thing myself & i'm convinced i came up w/the ranger dauber paint things one year ago