What's Within Reach?

Hello again!
I wanted to share with you some pictures of my craft space, but I don't like the videos crafters/bloggers post showing the inside of each drawer and every cupboard. I do not find those interesting or informative. They come across as bragging about their crafting supplies, and how much they have.

I tried to come up with a way to show the items I find helpful to have within reach of where I sit at my desk. Which tools and items to I go to the MOST! Those are the posts I think are interesting. I thought I would share my ideas.

Mind you, I am a very frugal crafter surviving on a teacher's budget. I buy ONLY what I need and I use everything, or I don't keep it around. I have been card making for 5 years, and I have been blogging on and off for only 3.

Several of these items I have created by hand, and I have posts on my blog showing you in detail how you can create one also. I will link to those if you are interested. Leave a comment, I would love to hear your thoughts! I believe you can click each picture to zoom in.

Ohh, yes, I do own stamps! you cannot see them in these images, they are to my left, and not in these photos. Here are the links to the hand made items I mention.

• Cassette holder - Click here
• Shelving - Click here
• Ribbon Storage - Click here
• Ink Swatch book - Click here
• Blending pad binders - Click here & here
• die cut folders - Click here

Sick of the clutter!

Hey Everyone!

As I mentioned in my last post, I am on spring break. All my co-teachers are enjoying the beach, traveling, visiting family. What am I doing? I am SPRING CLEANING! 

I am so tired of trying to find what I am looking for, or re-buying food that I already have simply because it was buried in the back of the cupboards or the pantry.  

With the end vision in mind, I emptied out the entire pantry, and washed it all down. Then I lined the wire racks with thick sheets of white ruling mechanical board that a friend gave me a stack of. Last, I wrote down the measurements of the pantry (and while I'm at it) both fridge and freezer.

Then off shopping I went! (love this part). I went to two different dollar stores, Walmart, Lowe's and last Hobby Lobby. I found the perfect containers at Walmart and Hobby Lobby. Take a look:

 

Thank goodness the containers at Hobby Lobby were 40% off, or I would have walked on by. I love that store, but the prices are so high. Reorganizing the pantry, the fridge and freezer cost a total of $140.00.

Well, yes that is a lot of money for re-organization, but I will have them forever, and the peace of mind that I am not a total slob at my age, and that I have begun to simplify my surroundings for the long haul!

Leave a comment, I would love to inspire you to do some spring cleaning too!

Organization: Ink Swatch Book

Hello,

   Welcome back. I am so excited about my new creation! I cannot take full credit for its concept or design, but I did make it my own. The initial concept came from Jennifer McGuire's blog. (I love her). Click HERE for her video and post. (actually there are several) 

I loved the entire idea, but feared that I simply did not own enough inks to justify the project. Boy, was I wrong! I included every single mini pad and compilation pad I had from every corner of my craft room. I did not know I owned over 120 different inks. (including distress inks) WOW! I had to toss a few because they disintegrated when I attempted to stamp with them because of age. (over 8 years). Geez, I guess I need to buy more?!

Here's a look at my version:

I own a large collection of Stampin' Up! inks that I purchased when I began my obsession with stamping and card making. I wanted to keep track of all my inks, but I recorded something else on the back of my swatches too. 

If you look in the image, the first card is a key to the letters I used to indicated if I owned matching ink refills, cardstock, pen, and ribbon.  On the back of each stampin' up! swatch card, I wrote the letter of what I owned in that particular color. This way, I can pull the card out of the sleeve, flip it over I know exactly what else I own to match this color. Pretty ingenuous, huh?!

I included my distress inks, which I did a bit different then Jennifer. My last sheet all the way to the right is my page of distress inks. I stamped each color, then blended the same color with the blending tool. (she keeps hers separate than her other swatches, I believe) The coin sleeves and swatch downloads came from her website. I ordered the rings to bind them together too. (found them cheaper on Ebay 10 for $4.00) 

Now, can you guess what I am obsessed with now? I want more inks! I want to fill in the colors that I am missing. (oranges and purples as of late). I am eye balling some specialty inks from Hero arts and Color Theory. If you own these inks, and like them, can you let me know? I would love to hear from you!

Personalized: Custom made stamp!

Just arrived! Bought it online. I can't believe I've been making cards this long without a signature stamp.I ordered it from: Custom Stamp Place

Organization of Dies Using my Cricut!

Hello!

I can't express how satisfying it is to envision an organizational idea in my head, and have it come to reality just as I thought it would! I created this WHOLE project myself. (I can be rather stubborn) when I get stuck on something. Here is the problem:

Problem: Need to set up a current organizational system to store my dies that is NOT expensive. and easy to update in the future. NO 3-ring binders or pages. I want something I can flip through and store upright. It must be expandable to incorporate all my future purchases.  I HATE labeling things with those stupid white strips. (everyone uses them - thanks Jennifer McGuire!) I refuse. I want images and pictures.

Solution: Using my cricut, and some magnetic sheeting that my loving husband uses at work, I DON'T have to follow every other card maker's system I see on the internet, and I can have a system that I can call my own. (and share with you).

Tutorial:

I ran across this pad of paper on the sale rack at Walmart. the sale sticker read: "$5.00" by when the check out girl rang it up it read: "$2.50". (what a deal!). This paper is very pretty and seems thicker than other paper I have. 

On the internet I found the SVG of a envelope I liked. It was 3.75" by  4.75", This was just big enough for all my dies. Here is a screen shot:

I put two to a sheet. The dashed lines are perforations that will make the folding easier.

Here are two yellow envelopes after the cricut cut them out. I love how the paper gets darker from top to bottom.

 I folded the envelope and used strong adhesive to seal the edges. The magnetic sheet is on the right cut 3.5" by 4.5".

 I placed my "hello" dies (large and small) together for one envelope. and slid it into the envelope.

 This is the original packaging that the large die came in. (I cut and taped the small die info on it). I cut the front of the package to fit on the front of my new envelope.

Here is the finished product. (only four pictured) I just have to find a container to hold them all now. (or maybe I will create one... lol) I have cut out 30 envelopes thus far all different colors. My collection is small, but I am sure it will grow. I hope I gave you ideas to make your system your own. I will be happy to share the SVG file with you or anything else you want to know, if you leave me a comment. 

Now, I can move on to a new clear stamp system and a system to organize and store my paper scraps too. Stay tuned for more to come!

Featured: Organizing blending pads - follow-up!

Hello Everyone,
     I have several comments asking for dimensions and how-to's on my blending pad books. Click here for the first post. I have put together a few pictures to help you create your own!

Steps: I was given a few large pieces of black poster board from a teacher. I am not sure the thickness, but it was very rigid, not like science project poster board. Mine was thick enough that you cannot curl or bend it. I am sure you can find it in a craft store, any color will do, you will cover it with your favorite patterned paper anyway.

I cut the sheet down to 20 inches long, and 10 inches wide. The spine is  2 inches wide. I marked the spine with pencil from the left side at 9 inches and again at 11 inches.

With a ruler and a exact-o knife, I cut on each of the lines, but I DID NOT CUT all the way through. This creates a hinge. (I fortified the cuts with clear packing tape because I knew the cardboard will be weak since I cut almost all the way through.) Your pencil marks are now on the outside.

For my stampin' up book, because there are so many colors, I needed to add a page in the center on the spine. I took another piece of poster board and cut it 8 3/4 by 10 inches. I scored it 3/4 inches in on the left to make a hinge again and taped it onto the spine as seen below. I used clear packing tape on both sides. This page is NEVER coming loose!!  (lol)

I decorated the outside first with some designer paper from SU! and wrapped the paper around the edges into the inside of the book. Once the outside was finished I used some sparkly silver paper on the left inside, right inside and a smaller piece for the spine. 

 I am sure you think the ink will transfer from one pad to another, honestly, the spine is wide enough they don't even touch each other. I have not had an issue. I really love this project. I don't dread searching for the correct pad anymore, and I don't have to worry about smearing the wrong color on my current card. It also shows me which colors I use the most, and which colors I shy away from. I left space on the last page for additional colors and growth! I have used a label maker to add additional colors. I hope this has helped! Enjoy, feel free to ask me any questions, I will be sure to answer you!

Featured: Craft Room Highlights from Cindy II

Welcome to Part 2,
 As I mentioned in part one, (you can click here to take a look) I am showing highlights of my craft space. Much of my craft space is not that exciting, but I believe I have a few highlights that may get you thinking.

I had a terrible time trying to store all my punches. I am a very frugal crafter, but I bought out another crafter and gained all of her punches at a great price. But how to store them?

I found my solution at Ross. Take a look.

These are actually hanging shoe storage, (left) and jewelery (right). I placed the stampin' up punches in the left one (front and back) Man, is it heavy! and the smaller other company punches in the right one. The back is empty.  Room for more punches to come, right? :)

Featured: Craft Room Highlights from Cindy I

     I was thinking of creating a full post displaying my entire craft room. (Everyone does it right?) But my craft room is really not spectacular, with the exception of a few highlights. So I thought I could just include a picture or two of the highlights of my craft room that I think are very handy and may be useful to you!

Here is my first one:

With the use of nails (four total) I can hang up my most used tools. Now they are off my desk and easily accessible.

      My ink pads I wanted on the wall also. With the help of my husband, he mounted an old cassette storage system and I slid all my ink pads into the slots. If you notice carefully, the bottom row had the horizontal grid piece is missing. I did that purposely so I could fit odd sized pads also.

I sanded down and painted a wooden cassette holder to create an ink pad storage unit.
The only pads that don't fit are distress inks and minis which I store on top of the unit.

     I have one or two more highlights coming. I wish I could afford to have one of the more beautiful craft room, but alas I don't. To be honest, I appreciate all the space I have, and would rather invest my money in stamps and tools rather than expensive cupboards and elaborate storage systems. I guess I am more frugal than others. Enjoy, leave a comment if you felt this was helpful to you! It would make my day!

Featured storage: Magnetic Storage of Spellbinder and other dies

Happy Monday!
I am so happy to have one more day this weekend. I have a list a mile long of chores, errands and other around the house things to do. But alas, where am I? I am taking photos, and uploading them on my blog.  LOL! I am so addicted to crafting. That's ok, my obsession is your treasure!  Anyway, on to my project.

Again, I came up with a storage solution for my spellbinder dies and other smaller metal dies I own. I searched the Internet and saw bits and pieces of ideas I liked, but nothing I wanted to incorporate completely.

I knew I wanted to keep the front pages of the spellbinder dies. I needed the visual picture of the shapes and the names of the collections.  But I needed strong magnetic sheeting to adhere these dies to. My loving husband uses large sheets at his company, so he brought home a scrap piece for me to use. It was perfect!

Next I took the front information page from plastic packaging of my spellbinder dies. I cut a sheet of magnetic sheeting the same size. The white coating peels off, and it becomes a sticker. (how perfect is that?) I adhered it to the back of the spellbinder information sheet. I corner punched to round the edges.

front and back 

I am a very frugal crafter. I ONLY buy what I use. No more. I am not a collector, or purchase items and never use them. With that said, I only own a handful of spellbinder dies. They are simply too expensive to have a large quantity of. I love them, don't get me wrong. I only buy them on sale with a coupon.

my extensive collection thus far

 I know what the next two collections I have my eye on are: plain CIRCLES, and PLAIN ovals. (I don't care for doilies and frilly edges. I think of grandmas and old coffee tables decorated with paper doilies, lol) yucky.  :)

this system works great for all heights of dies (tall and shorter ones)

I have found a few flower and butterfly dies that I adore. Some of these third party companies are breaking away from spellbinders and creating their own lines. I own a few from Cheery Lynn. They are a bit easier to afford and just as high quality. I simply cut the label from the front of the plastic bag they were packaged in, and decorated a piece of cardboard with stampin' up! paper, and adhered the magnetic sheet to the back.
(see the purple dies in the photo)

Sits on my desk right in front of me

I store them in a cute box like a file box where they are always in view, and I flip to the one I want. No, they don't stick to each other. (I was thinking the same thing, he he). I hope this idea helps! It works perfectly for me. Enjoy. Leave a comment, it would seriously make my day!

Featured File: SU! Inks Excel spreadsheet

Hey Everyone,
As I stated before, I am new to the blog world. I am testing to see if I can share a document with you through my blog. In this post, I am inserting a few ways to obtain the file, and see which method works best. Please bear with me.

What am I sharing you ask? I created a list of EVERY Stampin up color, retired to current. I couldn't locate one online that I could manipulate. (they were all .PDF's). I attempted to add which collection each color belongs. This proved to be challenging because Stampin' up changed their collection names a bit at one point. Not only that, but the collection the color fits in seems to change depending on who you ask!?! lol. Long story short, the list is most likely not 100% correct. But it is a good start.

My sheet has all the colors I own at the top, but if you alphabetize them again, they will be all the colors.  Again, if I went to all this trouble to create it, maybe it can help you! Here is a preview of the excel spreadsheet below:

1.  Try this link to see if you can obtain it: Can I upload an excel sheet?

2.  Try this one to see if you can obtain it:  http://www.mediafire.com/edit/?5haaag8apb69dkjmeln6lo43wxfdiv8

Featured: Organizing blending pads!

Happy Friday everyone! Happy Memorial Day Weekend,

     I am very pleased with myself and this item I envisioned, designed and put together. It took me about three weekends to get enough time to complete it, but it was well worth it! I am excited to share it with you. Maybe you were looking for this idea as well...

     I looked all over blog-land, pinterest, websites, stores and everything in between for ideas to store blending pads. I was not impressed by anything. I knew I didn't want a three ring binder, or a container full of random colored pads. I wanted them easily accessible and labeled with the colors I currently owned, with room for more colors as my collection grew.

    A while back, Jo-ann Fabrics.com had a 5¢ shipping sale, and the blending pads were on sale too. (4.99 down to 2.99) I purchased 7 packs.  Yup...seven packs with ten pads in each...do the math...70 pads.

     I wanted to have enough for the 51 stampin up pads I have, the 12 distress pads, and a few for the other multi-colored pads that I use for blending. Not to mention room to grow...

PROJECT STEPS:

     I started my project by designing a four by four grid in Microsoft word. Then printed twelve of them on neenah cardstock and ran them through a heavy-duty laminater.

     On top of the lamination, I placed small rectangles of commercial grade Velcro that I found in the sewing department of Joann's. Using my coupon, I got three feet for less than $5. Of course, don't use the loops half, stash that away for another project.

      Then I downloaded and printed out the stampin' up labels, cut them apart and placed them alphabetically in order on four sheets. Be careful, I learned the hard way that tape is preferred over glue with the labels. The glue actually discolored the labels because it couldn't soak into the lamination. I had to peel them all off and print them out a second time and adhere them with clear scotch tape.

     I created a binder (not three ring) using a large sheet of cardboard (like science board) and decorated it with Stampin' up paper. I inserted an additional page in the middle and duck taped it in. (see photos)

     As you can see from the above photo. the bottom corner has my first blending pad on it. Each page hold 16 colors, 4 pages...do the math....64 colors! That is more than the 51 colors I currently own. I know, I know, stampin up just released their new colors. I JUST ordered the new catalog today. I can't wait to see it!

Here is an added photo of it full of pads. I placed a new pad for each color. The velcro works like a charm! 

     I have one more binder to create. I need binder to hold all my distress inks, and all the multicolored pads I own. I will be sure to add those photos too. I also re-organized my metal dies, and my acrylic stamp sets too, with minimal amounts of money invested. I will share those in my blog this weekend too. Check back soon!

****I have added details, and how-to's on this project. If you would like to make your own, click here.***