Workspace Wednesdays (#4)--Roller Stamps

Back in December 2012, I wrote about my roller date stamps collection.  At that time, I had 9 stamps (and added 2 more shortly after) and stored them in these glass square vases.

But like most of my supplies, this had doubled to 22 (currently) and they no longer fit in the vases.

I found a basket at Michaels in turquoise (my favorite) and they are still easy to reach for on my workspace.

But with 22 stamps, it is hard to remember or search for phrases, so last year, I started to stamp each phrase on an index card and labeling which color handle (and brand) it belongs to.  I also try to remember to write which year the stamps starts.

About a month or so ago, Studio Calico (via Nicole Reaves) posted a picture on Instagram that was similar...I was like hey, I have been doing that too!  Great minds think alike--hahaha.

Even though my current storage works, I would really like an antique stamp holder.

Like this one that Layle Koncar posted.  

If I don't find one, I know that Ranger Inks sells a similar one, but it won't be antique! ha ha ha

Thank you for looking!!

Workspace Wednesday (#3) Washi

Back in 2010, my friend Liz and I went to a Renegade Craft Fair and she was looking for washi tape...I was like I don't know what that is and I don't need another obession...fast forward to now...I have a growing stash :/

Here is my first storage (September 2012)

Shortly after, I started to store them in this (November 2012)

Then as my stash was growing, I bought this at Michaels...but that was so short-lived that I didn't even snap a picture with my rolls of washi on it :)

I was soon back at Michaels when these washi holders were on sale...I bought two extra for room to grow (July 2013).

But I hated this type of storage...it was really hard to tear a piece off.  And if I was taking a few to a crop, it was a pain to take them off the dowels.

Then a few months ago, I was looking for a basket or something...in turquoise and found this lovely platter at Michaels in the summer section.

I love how I can see them all at the same time!  And I still have a little room for some more, but for now this is my collection.

Thanks for looking!

Workspace Wednesday (#2)

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading Gleeful Things' blog and she was talking about yarn storage.  It reminded me that I have not shared my newest yarn storage!

So just as a reminder, when I first started crocheting in 2010, this was my storage...all my yarn fit into these two bags!

But because I am kind of a hoarder, that was very short lived.  I then used baskets and cute paper bags to help with the overflow.

Then it was starting to look too messy in the living room.

So back in January, I bought this Ikea Expedite (now they are sold under Kallax).  And because I am boring and am afraid of color, I bought the black cubes (which were on sale at the time).  

Since my Craft room is full (and also used as my husband's home office), the shelves are actually in my living room and I didn't want all the yarn to be seen.

All the cubes are full!

Here is a peek into a couple...

The cubes hold my different types of yarn, my finished items, and my tools :)

Thanks for looking.

Workspace Wednesday (#1)

Hello!!!  It has been quite a while since I've blogged.  Between my son's last high school baseball season and him graduating, I didn't have too much time to craft.  But this week I started to again :)

I'm not sure if I'll post a picture of my workspace every week, but I have seen other bloggers do this and I love peeking into their space!

Here is my table today:

I am currently working on one of my goals for the year--scrapbooking our 2008 trip to Oahu.  I am using the PL mini album.  I've been waiting to get my hands on one of these mini albums just for this trip, but waited in hopes that I could find one at a Big Box store and use a coupon, but no such luck and I finally bit the bullet and bought it full price (oh the horror!!) ha ha ha.

I did do something I didn't think I'd ever do...I took my PL cards out of the box!  Well I only had 2 boxes--the Amy Tangerine Plus One mini kit and the Maggie Holmes Flea Market kit.  I have a bunch of other cards from various kits.  (I started listing them, but the list became too long--ha ha ha.)

They are actually easier to flip through without having to take the 2 sets out of the box, then putting them back in.  I don't know how the ladies that have every set do it!  I was having a hard enough time going through the 7 sets plus 6 Studio Calico PL kits!!

Thanks for looking into my creative space...hopefully I will be able to be more creative this summer.

My Ever-Changing Craft Room

Last month, I shared one room of our home remodel…our Office/my craft room.

This was the room right after the remodel in 2007--yellow…against my husband's will.  Since then, I have made many changes through out.

Things that I hated about this room...
~yellow walls (yes, my husband warned me I would)
~open shelving on wall

2 years ago, I finally got the chance to pull everything out and paint it white :)  I also pulled everything off the walls because 5 years after I got my craft room, the wall was pretty much full of magazines and lots of paper…it was way too cluttered.

Seriously…who could be creative in this space!

Here was the update, up until last weekend.

But I was still not completely happy because my work area was so small…(this is a mock layout…normally I have more paper and embellishments I try to dig through on my desk)

I didn't have much room to spread everything out.  So I talked my husband into getting me a larger table.

I really wanted a 48 x 84 inch space, but that wouldn't be possible, so I settled for 39 x 79.  It gave me 14 more inches depth wise and 7 additional inches wide wise.

I love all the space I have now!

Here is the before and after side view

I love that my Ikea Raskog Cart now fits behind my desk!  I also have extra storage behind the cabinets for my crop roller cart and other stuff.

Another new addition I was able to add to my table was a Harbor Freight revolving bin that I've seen many crafters on Instagram and in the blogosphere use.

(before and after)

I still have to fill it up!  I may paint it someday, but for right now, black is part of my accent colors, so it will stay black for the time being.

I do love my updated space, but I am still wishing that:

1.  I had a bigger room

2.  I had a bigger window for natural light

3.  The door to the garage wasn't in this room

4.  I could have an Island (impossible because of 1 & 3 above)

5.  I had longer arms because I really can't reach into the corner now or the back wall very easily ha ha ha.

But none of those can be changed, so for now (until we win the lottery) I will be content with my space.  

Thanks for looking!

Vintage Crocheted Coaster

After a brief hiatus from crocheting (for no reason other than to focus on scrapbooking), I finally crocheted a coaster for myself to use in my craft room.

I found this vintage pattern (via Pinterest), so I thought I would give it a go.

It was fun (and easy) to make and it will save my table from those dreaded cup rings.  I swore I'd never make doilies or any type of cozies (well except for coffee cup cozies), so if I ever make a cozy for the toilet paper rolls, please put me in a home :D

Thanks for looking.

Paper Collection...

...aka Paper Hoarding!

My craft room organization has been going on for some time, but I really like my paper storage and don't plan on changing it.  I've had these Michaels cubes (turned sideways) and Cropper Hopper paper holders for some time.

The cubes are housed under my work table which is easy to get to and works perfectly.

So what do I have in there?

1. 8 1/2 x 11 Cardstock (mostly Recollection brand)

2. 12x12 Cardstock (Some Bazzill, CTMH, DCWV, and Recollection)

3. White & Black 12x12 & 8 1/2 x 11 card stock (Recollection brand)

4. Dear Lizzy, Maggie Holmes, Basic Grey, and Recollection paper packs

5. More paper packs (Amy Tangerine and DCWV) and some water color paper 

6. 8x8 paper pads (DCWV and Slabs)

7. more 8x8 DCWV pads and some 4.5x6.5 DCWV pads

8. 6x6 paper packs (Simple Stories, DCWV, and Basic Grey)

9. Christmas papers and pads

10. More Christmas, Halloween papers and some Valentine's packs

11. Disney papers (missing from photo) and Basic Grey papers (lots!)

12. Assorted CTMH paper packs and cardstock

13. Miscellaneous papers (sorted by lines--Love, Elsie, Rusty Pickle, etc.)

14. Miscellaneous papers (sorted by themes--baby, school, sports, etc.)

15. 12x12 DCWV paper packs and Slabs

16. 12x12 Michaels Slabs

As I am typing this, I am realizing I have a lot more than I remember.  I also have 3 more 4.5x6.5 paper pads in my Ikea Raskog cart!  But I am going to focus on the Slabs in this post.

What are Slabs?  180 pieces of thin paper that Michaels sold in a pack.  Now they sell "Paper Pads" which are a bit thicker paper (but not much).

When I first started scrapbooking, I was constantly buying the Slabs when they would come out…with the weekly coupons, it seemed cheaper that way…but I never used most of it--so it wasn't cheaper!  

A few years ago, one of our nieces asked for donations of craft supplies for her daughter's Girl Scout troop, so I took 2/3 of every Slab and lots of cardstock to her.  Well since then I still haven't used any of the Slabs!  (ok, I used 2 sheets on one card I made for my friend's mom, but that is it!)

Lately, I've been going through all my supplies and setting aside items in boxes to donate to a local Girl Scout troop--preferable a Brownie troop since I was a Brownie so long ago :D

So I will finally be donating the remaining papers from the Slabs 1-6

At least that was the plan…except for Slab 3 which I was never going to donate because I plan to use that paper when I finally complete our Honeymoon (to Mexico) album.

But then as I looked through the papers, I wanted to keep Slab 6 as well since it has always been my favorite Slab.  (Maybe I will only keep half of it.)

Then, I took out a few more papers from the other Slabs.

Shhh!!!

I actually thought I had sworn off paper packs a long time ago, but within the last year, I have been collecting American Crafts paper packs from Dear Lizzy (3 pads), Amy Tangerine (2 pads), some Recollection pads, and yesterday I added the Maggie Holmes pad!!!  eeekkk…I have a problem.

I so need to used them up and stop buying more paper!  

I am waiting on 2 deliveries though--one contains 50 sheets of Bazzill (got it for cheap through Blitsy) and the other contains Simple Stories Say Cheese line (again got a good deal).  

And I am drooling over the Amy Tangerine Plus One paper pack…and then that is it…I will quit paper! ;)

My "TO DO" board

This magnetic board has been on my wall for a few years now, but I recently transformed it from just a "mood" board that had a bunch of random pictures on it...to this.

What is it?  I had added a list to my blog at the beginning of the year of my scrapbooking goals I want to complete this year, but I thought if I seen them on my real wall, I might actually do them.

Luckily, I had the perfect turquoise blue post-its on hand to match!

I really hope to get at least 1 or 2 of the items complete this year…

Originally, this board was an all white board, but I repainted it a couple of years ago to match my black/turquoise decor.

*A couple of my 'L's (I have random L's in my craftroom--like Laverne :)
*the basket is magnetic, I found at Ross already in the perfect color
*the giant clothespin (also in the perfect color) was found at Michaels
*I can't seem to take my Amy Tangerine pens out of the cute box and they don't fit in my pen box...so they are displayed to make my area look pretty
*The flowery dress is a Cricut cut I made through the Cricut Craftroom and have been meaning to share...another "to do" post :)
*Usually that basket is full of random stuff (junk?)...I just prettied it up for the picture!

ok...I lied...another crochet project :D

I was trying to hold off on doing any crochet projects until I got some scrapbooking done, but I was sitting on the couch catching up on American Horror Story and Castle and it dawned on me that I have been wanting to do this project for a while and I am just sitting here so I might as well do something "productive".

My friend Liz embroidered this for me a long time ago...like 2 years ago (sorry, Liz!).  First, it took me awhile to actually get a hoop because I'd forget every time I was at Micheals or Joanns or Hobby Lobby...which is quite often.  I finally got a hoop and I had planned on painting it turquoise to match all the other stuff I've painted in my craftroom...but it just sat in my "To Do" box.

Then this past September, I seen this cute crocheted hoop that Sew Chatty made.  Luckily, I hadn't painted the hoop yet.  Although I think I would have still crocheted the border even if I had painted it :)  Maybe I should have gone with a better colored yarn though instead of boring white :D

Ok...this will be the last crochet project for a while (maybe!) ha ha ha.

Thank you for looking.

Ikea Raskog Cart and Organization

As promised, I am sharing my filled up Raskog cart.

But first I have to show the "before" storage pictures.

This picture doesn't even do justice the amount of stickers I had.  They used to be housed in a 3 inch binder that was quite full (kicking myself for not taking a picture of it before).

I went through them all and below is the give away pile.  I'll let my daughter go through them first, then the rest will be donated to a Girl Scout troop.

Next up was my "junk" drawer.  Embellishments used to pour out of this drawer.  I didn't get rid of too much from here.

Both my huge binder of stickers and my "junk" drawer fit nicely in my top basket.  The binder will be recycled and the drawer will now house only Christmas embellishments.  (and I still have some room in this top basket!)

You will notice two of the storage cups are full.  One with my "bling" and the other is just a mishmash of items--we'll call it my "junk" cup :D

The next basket was for my scrap papers.  They used to be housed in this accordion storage.

Now I can easily flip through all my small pieces of paper...I do keep too many small scraps--someday I'll fix that.  I also placed my 4.5 x 6.5 paper pads in this basket.

You will see another cup filled with my wood veneer items :)

At first, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the bottom basket, but I was pulling out my Halloween mini album (hopefully to be posted about on Halloween) and I noticed because where it was stored, some of the letters fell off as well as a flower.  So I figured if I stored them in their own basket they wouldn't be smashed again--hopefully.

 I don't have too many mini albums...the majority in the basket are Christmas cards from previous years that I had bound together years ago.  Hopefully seeing them will remind me to look through them more often.

So far, I love being able to just roll the cart up next to my desk and flip through items to find the right embellishment or paper without having to dig through the drawer and put everything back or flip through the heavy binder of stickers.  Totally worth the investment :D

Craft Room update

It has been a few months since I started to rearrange and paint my Craft room.  So far, I have only completed about 1/2 the room.

Here is a look at the first completed wall.

All of the items hung on the wall are repurposed (hopefully I will blog the transformations I made on the boards).  The desk was here but I did finally add some handles.  My husband uses the desk sometimes when he is on a conference call for work, but for the most part it is all mine (and most of the time it has mail piled high--the magazine holder isn't usually as clean either :p)

Here is the before...

The calendar white board and cassette (now stamp) holder did not change, but were moved.  I have previously blogged about how I repurposed the cork and magnet boards from Target.  Gone is the fax machine, but now we have a much larger desk hogging printer that has fax capabilities as well, as you can see from the 2nd wall that is completed.

Unfortunately (fortunately?), this wall has the door and my tiny window, so it didn't take too much time to complete this wall :D  {I didn't shut the door because the back of the door has not been painted (it should have been painted way too many years ago, but we always forget it isn't painted on the back).

It feels so much cleaner and less cluttered.  You can see from the before picture that the right wall doesn't have all that stuff on it--woo hoo!  But that wall has a few more touches to add before unveiling it.

My weakness for Magazines

These are the piles of magazines and idea books I have compiled over the years.  And these are only the scrapbooking and card making magazines.

So far, here is my organization of magazines.

In this corner, we have my Scrapbooks Etc. (with more space to add to), PaperKuts (RIP), Simple Scrapbooks (RIP), Scrapbook Answers (RIP), and all my various idea books and special ideas magazines.

It would be perfect except for the fact that I still have all these Creating Keepsakes magazines!  These date from June 2003 through April 2010--I have actually been good with this magazine and have stopped buying them.

I also have this pile of Memory Makers (RIP)--I have gotten rid of some of them and I plan on getting rid of all the rest as soon as I look through them again.

All of my Paper Crafts magazines are in a different area of my room (with my card making supplies) along with my Cards magazine and various card making idea books.  I have gotten rid of a year's worth of Card Making magazine--so I know I can edit myself--it is just really hard to toss magazines.

And finally, these were not in the photo of my piles of magazines.  These are my photography magazines and photography books.

My problem with magazines?  I love buying them, especially if the cover pops out at me, but I really don't read them.  I like looking at the pictures and scanning the titles and subtitles, but I rarely read them and sometimes I am so bummed out and disappointed after I bring them home.

Over the years, I have collected Latina magazine and Health magazine--both have been recycled years ago.  I received a free year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens--after the year was up, I gave them to my friend because I had no room for them.  Right now, I am receiving Weight Watchers magazine (it was also free).  I might clip some of the recipes, but those will be toss in the recycle bin soon (I hope).  

I also have a small collection of Crochet Today magazines, some crochet books, and a couple of knitting books (even thought I have yet to learn to knit).

I know that I don't need any more magazines or idea books and I try not to subscribe to any more, but I do have such a weakness.

My purchases after the magazine organization.

I mean who can resist covers like that!!!!

(and just to be fair, my husband has subscribed to Sports Illustrated for over 15 years and we have boxes in the garage of those!  Are we hoarders or what? ha ha ha)