Crafty Storage Link...

While I'm getting some crafty projects finished up, I just wanted to share this link that may inspire you to get that craft room organized...FOR REAL! Aurora over at Crafty Storage had asked to feature a recent post I had done on my craft space. Forget about my room, this blog will show you all sorts of neat ideas when getting that craft room organized. I've already skimmed thru some of the posts and I'm inpspired to get a few other things in order! CLICK HERE to get cleaning!

Fun, Fall Tags...

This should be last of the craft items to share..."promise". Because the craft show was right before Thanksgiving, I thought I'd make up a few Fall-ish items. I dug out my First Fruit set and got carried away! These tags were a big hit along with the close pins. Luckily I had a few left over and used them for packaging bananna bread and gave some as elf gifts this year. You could easily turn the close pins into magnets...I actually covered both sides of the pins in this festive and sparkly orange paper. As you can see, I used all available display space and up top on the peg board is where I squeezed my pins on. I tried my best to keep like items together and since this was all the Fall stuff I had, it fit perfectly! These pins have got me thinking of so many fun ideas...Valentine pins, Easter pins, etc....

Sometimes It Just Feels Good to PURGE...your spaces!

ETA: I'm adding a few links for the storage units....cause you know your going to make a trip to your nearest IKEA....TODAY;)

STAMP STORAGE

PUNCH STORAGE

PRIMA AND SMALL BUTTON STORAGE

LARGE BUTTON STORAGE

I could not find links for my COPIC storage, but you can find those utensil boxes in the kitchen section, and the ribbon storage box is also in the kitchen center....you can interchange the wooden boxes for glass jars (for storing dry noodles etc.).

Calling all IKEA LOVERS! I finally had some downtime and my upstairs master was screaming for a re-do/purge/declutter/INTERVENTION! Remember when I shared this post (moons ago) about my "little niche in the corner?" That "little corner" was back in Brooklyn, NY and once we moved to our new home in NC, the space nearly tripled and so did my crafting supplies! More space=more junk=more headaches! I'm a firm believer in "less is more" and so the last 4 days I've be tackling this space, and that space just to the left...the DREADED TOY CORNER! While I was visiting my sister and family in GA last week, we made a visit to the IKEA in Atlanta. What's that you say? You've never been to an IKEA before?!!! Follow along my dear! I figured I start with the lesser of 2 evils, and purged in my space first! Isn't Addison just precious? She's supposed to be cleaning her toys?!Directly behind the couch is an old sofa table...which may not be a BIG deal yet, but I plan on organzing all my ribbon soon and this table will be for my girls, who are 6 and 4. They have the crafting bug as well and need a space of their own. Stored underneath the table are my fruit stands and banner from the recent craft show. Following the bend to the right is my spinner rack and shelves with all the primas I HAD TO HAVE, but don't really use much! Adding that to my New Year's resolution....USE WHAT YOU HAVE! The "nerve center"...she will not stay this clean for long! That pretty bag and loot is from trip to Archiver's in Buford, GA as well as Hobby Lobby...I could stay there ALL DAY! There was 4 of us at Hobby Lobby and I even conned Dad into using a 40% coupon for one of my new paper packs...REAL MEN by pretty paper ;) Below my desk: to the left of my work chair are 6 plastic drawers which store tools, adhesives, chalk inks, and embossing supplies. The 2 binders you see leaning against the unit house my card sketches, patterns, and address labels for stamping. On the right you will see another plastic unit that houses SU! ink pads, stickles, soldering tools, and packaging supplies. If you go further to the right where the paint can is, that's where I put all my alterable items.Snazzy peg board! Regular ped board from Lowe's (smallest size they carry) that I mod podged with fabric. It's nice to have my everyday supplies close at hand. All the rods (for punches) and bakets (extra punches and buttons) are from IKEA. Some of these storage items I've had forever, but the COPIC marker boxes are new. Each box has 2 compartments and I found these in the kitchen untensil area of IKEA. Directly below the COPIC makers is my ribbon storage box. The box is full of ribbon that comes on the smaller spools and they are wrapped around 4x6 cardboard pieces and stored by color families. My redneck mug is full of water....no caffiene for this chica! More wonderful storage from IKEA! I have 3 of these units for holding my stamp collections. Most are Papepertrey ink sets, but for those that aren't, they too go into clear cd cases and get labeled. There is no subliminal message in that preggo card...I just held on it because it was the first card I ever created! I call it my "terrifically tacky" phase.
The loose stamps that do not come in CD cases are soon to be getting new homes! I've ordered some more cases from PTI so I don't have to keep putting these back in! They love to slip out all the time! Always keep baby wipes on hand. When I'm stamping, I perfer to stamp, wipe, and store...no more piles of stamps that need to be rinsed. There is a big bay window that separates the last photo from this one. I do love that there is plenty of light coming in this space. I find it hard to stamp in the evening with dimmed lighting. These would be my paper towers! There is also other supplies here: clearbags, small alterables like post-its and notebooks, and chipboard. The paper I've got on top was recently used and is just waiting for me to put it back! Heavy equipment table...makes me sound tough right?! Behind my cuttlebug are baskets, 1 for cuttlebug folders and dies, the other is for my PTI dies and nesty dies. Below the table is where all this madness started...SCRAPBOOKING supplies! I have not scrapped in over 5 years or so...maybe a page or two, but I'm not really dedicated like I should be! I hope soon that will all change. In my 2 drawer filing cabinet is where I store all my SU! 8.5x11 cardstock. Both drawers are plum full and I keep them well stocked. I've tried other brands, but SU! by far is my favorite...plus I have some of the matching ink pads so no need to switch brands.



************DANGER ZONE!!!*************

I know none of your children play like mine...50 toys at once?! I'm laughing as I type this because I'm just now noticing the nekked patch kid in the foreground...you get my point exactly!

That Addison is STILL sitting, chilling, waiting for "someone" to miraculously clean up! I wonder if she noticed that BIG, BLUE, IKEA bag in the chair? It's not full of "new" stuff anymore ;).A godsend! I took a pic because I knew someone would ask the name and I would not remember.
>Awwwww, sigh, relief....BREATHE! We purchased 2 of these units and they are pretty cool because of the combinations in how to display them. The white units can go on top of each other like puzzle pieces...store up and not out if you are limited on space. I liked them side by side and there is still plenty of room for the bins to be pulled out and played with. Each bin will soon be getting a label, hopefully making clean up time a breeze. Happy organizing my friends ;)

My Stamping Space Day #3

I'm always looking for new storage solutions and since I like to keep things clean and simple, this Creative Memories Binder stores all my FAVORITES! The inserts come in several different sizes...quarters, long sticker strips, wide 2 pocket pages etc. I originally did store all my stickers in here, but have since taken them out.
I just happen to have some spare sheets of strong, pliable plastic sheeting that I cut down to size and store my unmounted stamps on. This shot is of my Bella stamps and you can get about 4-5 per plastic sheeting, depending on size and shape. I copied and shrunk the original tags on one page and just simply put it inside of the pocket flap so all my stamps are easy to find.
For clear unmounted stamps, I keep them on the original sheeting they come on and just slide them into the pockets.
Look what else I can get in here???...lol I love the fact that my Nestibility dies are thin enough that I can get several sets in one pocket. I wasn't able to fit my next photo on this post, but the next page stores my large Cuttlebug folders and you can get 2 per pocket.

My Stamping Space Day #2...

Another great find from IKEA. Mom bought this for me over Christmas break...I loved it so much, I went and got an additonal rod and more baskets! These rods are very versatile and you can put whatever type basket on them that you like. I especially love the fact that all my tools are in "hands" reach. I put all the tools in there that I use for every project and its just super handy:) They are very sturdy and the bottom of the bucket rests against the wall. Just to be safe, you can put a little rubber dot on the back so it doesn't rub too much on the wall surface. The best part of this storage unit is that my tools are up & off my desk allowing for more room to create.
These are the additional baskets I bought along with a new rod. I just switched them out so you can see your options...lol Because I live in BRAND SPANKIN' new military housing, I really didn't want to put any more holes in the wall! I will certainly be putting them up at my new house in June though:) Great spot for your water bottle too...no spills on your precious artwork...lol

These plastic containers are the "heart" of my storage space. I put EVERYTHING in these that I will eventually use-12x12 patterned paper, chipboard, paper alterables, stickles, chalk ink, SU! ink pads, large punches, prismacolor pencils, makers, and large spools of ribbon. I purchased all these at Target when they were on sale. On a good sale day, a 3 drawer set is only 7.99! The red basket on the upper left drawers, is my basket for special card requests and gifts I make for friends and family. I don't keep very many cards on hand, so when I get a special order/request they are made in about a week, depending on how intricate the design might be. On the upper right hand drawers, I keep my Cuttlebug and Wizard Die Cutting Machines. Both of these machines are pretty heavy, but the plastic shelving seems to be holding up well!
I am not one to be too oganized, but I think since I've cleaned/de-cluttered everything, I've become a little OCD! Yes, these are see-thru containers, but I also like using my label maker...especially on the lower drawers where I might not be able to see the contents too well. In between these two units you will see a grey contraption sticking out in the middle. That is where I store my new Scor-Pal...she fits nicely and is out of the way when I'm not using her:) Whew! Thats a long post! I will share my FAVORITE storage idea tomorrow:)

My Stamping Space...

I like to keep things simple and organzied, so a corner in my dining room suites me just fine. Plus if I had my own room, I'd be buying many more supplies than I'd know what to do with...lol
Just about all my organizational tools and storage are from IKEA, because I love their quality and affordability. As you can see my Prima's and Buttons are stored in glass cylinders so I can "see" what I have. I just purchased these a few weeks ago and its made wonders on putting my flowers and buttons to use. Afterall, if you can't see it, than you don't use it!
My dandy ribbon storage! I had originally bought this for some other use, but discovered when I cut down my chipboard, that it would be perfect for my ribbon! The box on the far left stores my scrap ribbon and the remaining boxes store the rest and the ribbon is sorted by color families.
If you store your ribbon like this, be sure you use heavy weight chipboard to prevent it from "dipping" in the middle when wrapping your ribbon. To keep the ribbon from unraveling I just use a small straight pin and push it thru 2-3 layers of the ribbon. I haven't had any issues with a pin mark being left behind on the ribbon when I'm ready to use. Now, I do have large spools of my May Arts ribbon, however with their large yardage quantity they are stored in my rolling cart. Any ribbon 5 yards and under is stored in this wooden box.
I will show more storage and organzing tips thru-out the week! My favorite is how I store my clear/unmounted stamps and nestibility dies(all in ONE book!!!).