Scraproom

Some of my most favorite posts of all time are when people let me into their space and show me where they create. Mine is a work in progress. It hasn't been very long that I have had my own room so I'm still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. I have seen some very beautiful rooms and although I wouldn't say mine is ugly or anything it's just more simple and hodge podged together, for now. So welcome into my space...

If after you walk in and look to the right you see this wall of 2 book cases. I know the picture is small but on there I have many of my beloved pictures plus storage for what I have to scrap (on the bottom shelf), project kits (on the top shelf), my old Sizzix dies and machine that I gave to my sister (on the top shelf), my paper scraps and 8.5X11 paper, my albums, and some of my embellishments in the white drawers. Off to the right, you can see the "vanity room" of a Jack and Jill bathroom that the room shares with my boys' room.

Following is the view from my "vanity room". The table I use is our old kitchen room table. I like that it is counter height. It's not what I would have picked if I was were decorating the room but since I didn't have to buy anything special because we were replacing our kitchen room table I figured it was fine. :) Also, if you look closely, on the wall are my stamps. I don't have a lot, but I try to only keep what I use and pass the rest on. I have unmounted all my stamps and put them in clear DVD cases from Stampin' Up. I have used wall DVD storage from IKEA. I have two shown, they were only $6 a piece!

In this picture, to the left I have my Original Cricut machine which is on my 12X12 paper storage unit. Just to the right of that I have 2 3X3 cube storage units. I am in the process of replacing the really red boxes with the burgundy. On these cube units is where I tend to store almost everything. I have my Cuddle bug and supplies, my Sidekick and supplies, I have my radio, I have my Stampin' Up Stamps, embellishments, my ribbons and fibers, my Prima flowers, my circle cutter and much much more.

This is where I sit! I have my light sweatshirt draped over my chair when I get cold. It doesn't happen too often but when I'm crafting in the middle of the night I get chillier as I get more and more tired. I have my trash can to the left. Next to that I have a 3 drawer unit thing -- I love this. I got it at Walmart for $20! In the top drawer I keep miscellaneous supplies. Middle drawer I keep all my adhesives. I haven't assigned anything to the bottom drawer yet. :) On the top I have my two Tote-ally Cool pink and brown totes. I have one of the minis. It is too cute! :) I also have other odds and ends up there and a small sewing machine I got from HSN which I haven't used yet. On top of my table I have two mats, two little garbage cans and two red lights and now another desk light in black. Notice I have two of everything so that I can easily have guest over.

This is the view from where I sit. I get to see all who enter... muhahaha! :) Actually, I adore visitors into my space! My 9 year old son comes to craft and play on my Cricut quite often. And as you can see my beloved companion (my Mac) is never too far away.

From where I sit, if I look to the right I see my cube storage. From the left there is a white drawer storage (want to get black... see a theme here? lol) in there I have my Stampin Up wheels, my embossing tools, extra envelops, stickers and other embellishments, my acrylic blocks for my stamps, and I think that's it. I have already told you what is in the rest of the picture, I think.

So there you have it, a peek into my world. :) I'm glad you could join me! I loved having you! If you have any specific questions, don't be afraid to ask. Can't wait to share more with you next time!!!

Oh, and PS -- sorry about the glare in the photos, I don't know how that happened! I tried to fix it but it wouldn't fix right and I didn't want to retake the pictures because I wanted to get this posted and move on to more crafting. Have a fantastic day!

A quick card

This is what I spent a few minutes doing tonight. I know I feel a ton better when I get to do one thing creative a day. This wasn't much but just adhering pattern paper to plain paper and stamping a little greeting makes my day.

These little notes are just 3X4 or something but I like to give these with gifts over the 2X2 or whatever they are that you get in the gift wrap section of your local store. I also like to give them when I don't have much to say other than a quick thank you.

I'm not sure how these cards were cut or their dimensions because I got all the supplies from a Stampin' Up Stamp-a-Stack.

It was a few years ago now but I think I bought a few extra packs that were available. I think of it as a challenge to take these papers and come up with a project. And now that is has been so long I have no idea what the original idea was! I recommend trying it some time. :)

Using what I have

I am trying desperately to get this room just so. I have cleaned rooms before and it has taken me a lot less time but this time I want to make sure everything is in the right place. I will post a video once I have the whole thing done. It's not the fantastic and awesome place like some others have but it's mine and I love it.

As I put things away I was noticing I don't have things to put my pictures or momentos in so I figured I would try to find something. I looked at Target, Michael's, WalMart and Ikea. I couldn't find anything that was the right size. Then I had an even BETTER idea. I would cut down a card board box. There were many reason I like this idea: I got the perfect size bin for my belonging, I got to use up the paper that I probably wouldn't use for anything else, the price was PERFECT and I got to be creative (my favorite part!).

Normally I'm uber into matching everything but I wanted to use paper I already had that I haven't used in years. I like the paper but I didn't really have anything to use it on anymore.

I started with a bigger box. It turned out pretty cute. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. You can't see here but I covered all 4 sides. I had to cut this one down in the middle to make it fit just right. It was kind of fun to dissect a box and make it fit my space perfectly.

Then I moved on to a smaller one. I didn't have another box big enough for my space. I figured I would just make the smaller one work rather than trying to cut one up and add to it to make it bigger. This one turned out better for some reason. I did actually score the sides so it has crisper edges and things I learned on the other box I could use on this box. Again, it doesn't match of the first box but I love it! ;) Here are some pictures:

And here is what it looks like all finished. Like I said, it's not exactly what I would have put there if I would have spent money but there is a feel good feeling about using what I have and making free storage solutions.

Last night as I was waiting for dh to come home I decided to fiddle with some stuff that I had lying around. I have this knack for buying supplies for crafts that I leave laying around and not using. As I'm trying to clean up and organize my craft room I figured I'd make something.

I made the H to the right to hang on my wall. I love how plain and simple it is. There are things, as I look at it, that I could have done to it to add to it but I think the simplicity has it's benefit.

I was also pleased that I didn't have to buy anything special. I said earlier that I bought stuff for it, but really all I bought was the H, for $3.99 at JoAnn's. It is just a paper mache' letter that is about 12" high. I had the ribbon, paper and rub-ons just hanging out in my supplies.

I was thinking this could be a cute thing to give as a gift to pre-teen and teen aged girls. Who wouldn't love to have their initial hanging on their wall. Even if you give this with a little gift card. I do like the inexpensive gift ideas. :)