My New Studio

I am absolutely smitten with my new studio space.  It is bright and cheerful and cozy.  It would originally have been a bedroom, on the second floor, but I picked it out as my studio since it has east and south windows for plenty of natural light.  It has been quite a process unpacking all my things since our move, but slowly, it started to come together.  It is not yet as organized as I would like it, but, it may never be.  I will just enjoy it!


The "Before" pictures:

The "After" pictures:

Some Fun Storage

I wanted to share a couple of fun little storage ideas that I am currently using in my studio. 

First, a sweet little tea set.  I am using the teapot to store my most used tools that I like to keep close at hand.  The creamer holds my tombow and adhesives.  One of the teacups holds little odds and ends.

I am using these inexpensive toile planters to hold my copics, but they could be used to hold markers, pens, tools, rulers etc.

Just ignore all the mess :-)

A Card and some Storage Space

A pretty little spring card that I CASE'd from Michelle Wooderson.  I loved the layout, so I used it to make my own version.

Supplies:

Paper:  Rustic White Cardstock (Papertrey Ink), background paper, Soiree (Pink Paislee), polkadot paper, Mitten Wheather (Cosmo Cricket)

Stamps:  Button Boutique, Friendship Jar (sentiment), (Papertrey Ink)

Inks:  Sorbet (CTMH), Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)

Dies:  Button card (Papertrey Ink)

Embellishments:  Fabric, Buttons and trim from stash


I also wanted to share a new storage unit that I purchased for my studio.  I am so happy to be able to better organize my stuff.

This is meant to be used to store CD's and DVD's, but since some of my stamp sets are in CD cases, it works awesome.

I can store all my Spellbinders dies since I transfer them to CD cases when I purchase them.

All of my Papertrey Ink dies, which I just leave in the little zip-lock bags they come in, plus the small stamp sets.

My Papertrey Ink stamps, which come with a CD case for storage.  (I did read however that PTI is going to start using DVD size storage for their stamps.)

Stampin' Up! stamps that come with a DVD case for storage fit in here great as well.

Though I have to put them on their side, all of my Unity Stamps will fit too.

Sadly, most all of my stamp sets are CTMH and they just won't fit, so I either will have to transfer them all to CD cases or just store them how I am currently doing it.

I can also put a lot of little odds and ends into these drawers.  I love being able to store so much stuff, and I still have plenty of empty drawers I can use in the future.

 Random paper items such as tags and envelopes.

 Lots of brads and lots of bling.

The one downside to getting my storage unit is that I had to move my vintage Costco cart out of my studio to make room.  I really loved using it to store my Big Shot and large dies, but I was able to find another use for it.

Jackpot!

WOYWW? (What's on your workdesk Wednesday?)

My desk is a disaster this week.  My previous post shows the project that is responsible for this mess, but well worth it. 

I found a new organizer for my Copics.  It will work great just so long as I don't buy anymore Copics or I find another cheese box.

I went antiquing on Sunday and I was looking for wood thread spools all day without much luck.  At the last shop I noticed a large oatmeal canister with wood spools written on it.  It was FULL of wooden spools, jackpot!  I only had to pay $5.  So happy to find them.  I have used several already for baker's twine and the rest are in these glass containers for the time being.

Do you like to snoop at others' workdesks?  Well pop on over to see Julia and so many wonderful workdesks.

~Shari

From My Heart To Yours

I was really excited when I read the Heart 2 Heart Challenge this week.  It is called "From Your Heart to Ours" and the concept behind it is to share something that is not artwork.  To start the new feature off, the theme for this week is Organization. 

Ok, some of you will call me crazy, but organization is one of my most favorite things to do, I don't know where I picked up the idea, but according to most anyone in my family, I started organizing at a very young age and my mom often reminds me how she was amazed that she never had to ask me to clean my room.  Now I will fully admit to being an organizing fanatic, but I never mentioned that I was an awesome duster, so please forgive the dust in the following pictures.

First is a shelving unit that my husband made for me out of cheap plywood. I painted it black and actually use painted metal flower planters to store my stamps in. I organize my stamps by category, then by size, then alphabetically. I have scanned all my stamp sets and put the copies into a 3 ring binder for a reference.

This is also a metal flower planter that sits inside a wire basket.  I thought my stamps would fit into them, but they didn't, so I use these for cards, and a lot of CTMH embellishments.

Above my desk is a shelving unit that I use the ribbon dowel to hang my stickease from using curtain hooks.  I also break all my Dimensional Elements from the large sheet and put them into smaller bags leftover from other products and have them hanging here as well.

This is a small shelf with small cubbies that I purchased at a garage sale for 25 cents.  I eventually plan on painting it white.  I use it for my acrylic blocks, PTI dies and random things I like within reach.  I use the glass jars to hold homeless ribbon and flowers and the cupcake tin has little things I like to have close.  I purchase nail files in bulk and then cut them in half to use as sanding blocks for myself and for classes.  They are washable too!

This area of my desk is my main work area.  I have everything I need within reach so I don't have to get up.  I have a bad habit of standing and scrapping for hours and then wonder why my back hurts, so I tried to arrange so that once I sat down, I wouldn't need to get up.  I keep all my CTMH and PTI cardstocks in the plastic drawers below my desk and have them organized by color family.  I would be lost if I didn't have the stamp pad organizer.

This is yet another shelving unit that holds most all of my Level 2 paper packs.  Once I have used them, I remove all the cardstock and put it away with the other cardstock then 

alphabetize the paper packs. I removed some of the metal planters from their wire baskets because I found out that my stamps do fit inside them, so more stamp storage, idea binders, pages to complete, extra adhesives, and photos to scrapbook are all stored in these shelves and drawers.

The little desk is for my nieces so they can scrapbook and do artwork when they come over and the table is for classes.  I really try to keep my table clear so I don't have to clean it off every week just before a class.  Easier said than done :).

Last but not least is my sewing machine that sits on top of an antique Singer.  It actually still works!  My Grandpa salvaged it for me and I really love it.




 Well, that is my tour.  I really enjoy my space but I sometimes wish I had all matching furniture as mine is really eclectic.  I am very thrifty though and all of the furniture I have collected has been the clearance stuff or the dented stuff that the store just wants to get rid of.  Some of it is hand-me-down and some of it was handmade, so I guess it is unique and hope you enjoyed me sharing with you.  Can't wait to go look at every one else's organizational tips and you can too, just click here to visit the H2H blog.