New setup for stamping and scrapbooking

This may still be a work in progress but it is so much more efficient now. Pulling the table out from the wall allowed me to put another pegboard up for handy storage. Now all my punches are up where I can get to them. Also I now have seating for four. It is a small room so having to walk to any of the storage locations will not count as exercise by any fitness expert.

          




Here is a view inside the closet, easily accessible storage drawers.   I rearranged the larger type embellishments in the drawers under the 12 x 12 scrapbooking papers.  My ink pads are right by my side now, but it can't hurt me to get up for them either. I have a DVD case on the wall for the new style of Stampin Up stamp sets and have ordered more empty cases for some other unmounted rubber and clear stamps I have to put up there also. Not sure yet what I will really do with the two hanging baskets over the ink stand, for now it seems to be holding plastic bags I might need so can't throw away just yet. The ink cleaning pad is in the top one for now.

     I wasn't able to hang the pegboard with the table back against the wall - couldn't reach. Now that the table is out I can utilize the space. More options available there, but for now I can access things better than before.  I like that all my punches are within reach. I took my ribbons out of drawers and put them in bags according to color family. The hang from a pole, easily unclipped so I can take the bag down and rummage through it. The patterned paper covered buckets were punched with the Big Bite Crop-a-dial and hold things once stuffed randomly in drawers. -so much easier to grab. I actually have room for 4 to sit.

      In the left corner I have my container of Stampin Up 8.5 x 11 card stock separated into the color families - which is changing in July - so I can easily find the colors I want. Some of my spools of ribbon hang next to the punches. I found a hanging tray for the board for the re-inkers. From under the pegboard I am hanging things like the mixing pallet, rulers, Fiskars work surface, and cutting templates. I have a Pampered Chef tool caddy on the table next to 3 little drawers organized where I can find frequently used items. The bookcase to the right of the table hold a container of my pens and pencils, and sharpener; 2nd shelf has 8.5 x 11 card stock; bottom shelf has 12 in.

     The original bookcase units are better organize and I actually have room for more. The catalogs and Take Ten magazines are accessible now. My two different sizes of envelops are there. My 8.5 x 14 and 11 x 17 papers are out when I need them. All the scrapbook albums being worked on are in a row. More bins for things that have been sorted are available when needed. I have the Cricut in its box with the 4 cartridges I have right there so I can lift it out and use it anytime I want. Under that is a paper box of more 8.5 x 11 card stock.
    I'm pretty happy so far.

Messy crafting space has to go

When I moved in I through the crafting room together quickly so I could have my place to escape and scrap. After all everyone needs their creative outlet to get through the daily routine of life.
I'm not done yet but have a real good start.
The closet wasn't being utilized. I didn't even have a place for everything, let alone everything in it's place. There were still boxes to go through, and sorting to accomplish.
The table up against the wall with compartments on the top really cut back on our work surface.
Here are the first pictures of how we were existing in there for first 4 months or so.

Oh, to start a new quilt

Check this out - it's a really cool giveaway from Ryan Walsh. I'm seeing some fabulous new fabrics to drool over.  Sure inspires me to get my sewing room ready to get quilting again.

In addition to wanting to make a wall hanging I think a new lap quilt is on my horizon and I've picked out the perfect collection of fabrics. I just love these patterns and the colors are so soothing to me.
So, go, check this site out and let me know what you think!

National Scrapbook Day is Comming

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Where will you be the weekend of April 30 through May 2nd? It's National Scrapbooking Day and there is going to be lots of fun, games, and inspiration for scraping over at my favorite place - Scrap Attack Scrapbooking

Here is my latest layout made for a challenge at {SAS}.

I was to use Pumpkin Pie and Cream for my colors and I could use the word "wisdom" or "Key".  I was thrilled that I had both pretty ribbons by Stampin' Up! and a super cool background paper from Scrap Attack on line store.
The main theme is Wii and I used some alpha templates to cut out the photos. I used the Cricut Hello Kitty Font cartridge for the "Happiness is". All stamps are SU!.

Star of the Day

http://www.qbaroo.com/scrapattackscrapbooking/largeimage.cfm?product=6745My alligator layout was selected so I am the star of the day at ScrapAttackScrapbooking for April 17, 2010.

 It was pretty exciting to get up this morning and check out the message board and find all the nice compli- ments on my page.
I made it for a challenge on the site. We were to use stamps in the title and that is what I did. I used Stampin' Up headline alphas. The greenish circle was cut from a sheet I made using alcohol inks, another technique featured at ScrapAttack that was so fun and addicting to try. The addition of the cardboard turned out to be a fun addition for added texture. I was sitting at the dining room table pealing and my DS walked by wondering if I had completely lost my senses I suppose until I explained I wanted it for my scrapbooking. Then he understood - anything goes, weird or not - so he went on.
     The stamped "real life" fit, seeing a alligator close in the wild is pretty real. And yes, I used a tripod and a telephoto for the shot. I wanted the page to represent the whole scene from the distant view of the canal to a mid-distance view, right up to the close shot of that huge head.
     I really am trying to expand my scrapbooking style, stretching out for a new (to me) design. Looking back at my style back 10-12 years ago I have improved but can't say I've kept up with the newest trends. But hey, it's my hobby and I have tons of fun. I love looking at what the folks are doing today but it's kind of hard to break the old style habits. You that scrap, do you find it a challenge or are you content with whatever your style has become?

Alligators in the canal

One large (around 8 feet) and 2 small alligators have been spotted in the canal behind our house. When family and friends reported this to me I took my bike down from the hook in the garage, grabbed my camera and tripod. I saw the big one on two occasions.
For the first appearance I only saw the tip of the nostrils and the eyes, but you can see the size of the head just under the water. A little later after others had left I spotted her again. This time I got much more of her head and saw some of her back.



It was now late afternoon and the sun was ready to set. She dived and I booked it out of there. Not that I was afraid, mind you, just didn't want to have her think I might be part of her supper.