Craft room process (everlasting??)

As some of you may know, my craftroom has (and probably always will) gone through several changes - well... I think something would work and then I find something better :)

Like this first set up - this was created when we just moved to our current home 2½ years ago. Well.. I guess it served me well for the 12 months it stayed as such :)

I thought the IKEA Expedit shelving would be THE best solution, but quickly realized that the vertical supports were limiting the items I could store in the shelves, although they at the same time provided some support for scrapbook papers and books (I still have couple lower ones as my side tables). I also QUICKLY ran out of storage space for my clear mount stamps. So these are my solutions now for the stamps and for my ribbon and punches.

What is so great about this stamp storage, is that the cubes (from Solutions Store here in Ottawa) provide support for the stamps and I can store the stamps in "themes" and easily take one with me to a workshop or to the cottage :)

And the ribbon storage are IKEA picture rails and the old style punches are stored on IKEA kitchen railings. Works perfectly. The new style punches store nicely on the picturerails.

The hardest for me was to find perfect storage for my markers. I want to store them flat, so 1st I used poster tubes (which you can see behind the new system) and stored red markers in the red tube and so on. I was actually able to fit all 4 tubes in the Ikea Expedit small cube (as seen on the 1st picture on the shelf above the red drawers).

 

Then I bought a marker storage from a competing scrapbooking company - nice option, but the markers sat VERY deep in the container and I had hard time getting them out. Then I learned about this system (just 2 weeks ago). It is called "the ultimate pen storage" by Crafter's Companion (this set has 6 levels, each fitting 12 pens - you can get them individually or in larger sets - they mount either flash or little angled for easier access. They click together nicely, so they are very sturdy - and you can add to the side too!

 
 My 12"x12" papers I store in a Cropper Hopper file cart - best thing ever! (both this and the pen storage I got through Amazon.com.

I have 2 carts - one for my Stampin'Up! Designer Series Papers (current only!) and one for retired stuff plus non-SU! papers.






My 8½"x11" papers I store in a regular sized filing cabinet (2 drawers). I have the neutral colours and special colours on the lower drawer and the other colours on the upper - this, as well as the DSP storage cart, are located right behind my chair, so I only need to swing around and I have access to ALL my papers!

My embossing powders I like to store in larger containers - easier to just spoon over the card and shake extra back to the container!

 This is my storage for buttons and other trinkets. They are housed under the glass top (the table top is from IKEA). I got the white containers from Chapters and glued them together with Crystal Effects :-) each compartment fits 4 Stampin'Up! button/brad containers - perfect! and the small muffin pan houses other types of trinkets for my scrapbooking projects.




And then I have my "display wall". This is actually just a piece of MDF painted with nearly tempting turquoise coloured chalkboard paint and then I mounted 3 black IKEA picture rails. This goes with me to craft shows!


And then I have a place on one of the shelves for my business supplies like catalogues, class schedules and other advertisement pieces.




Hope you enjoyed the tour. I'll do an update (most likely at the beginning of next year) when I get the room organized (AGAIN!)







MOJO Monday 268

Here is the sketch for this weeks MOJO. I wanted to use the Window Frames Collection Framelits from the Holiday Catalogue (p. 30) on this sketch as I just got them and had not used them before. I also wanted to make a Christmas card and use the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper, also from the Holiday Catalogue (p. 4).

MOJO 268

My Digital Studio Challenge Scrap Map 3

I learned just yesterday, that MyDigitalStudio has their own challenge for digital scrapbookers. This month's challenge is called Scrap Map 3 and this is the sample

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And here is my page based on this scetch

“Scrap Map 3”

Christmas Class Schedule

ONLINE EXTRAVAGANZA!! Don't miss a great sale!

NOTE! Some things (like the Big Shot!!) is only on sale for the first 24 hours!

Don't miss the GREAT 50% sale on My Digital Studio 2 - what a great opportunity to buy a tool that makes your scrapbooking enter the 21st century (and on top of that, it makes it SO easy :-)

Going digital does not mean that you cannot embellish your scrapbook after printing with real ribbons, punches, stamps, buttons.... you name it.

Click the following link to find out more about items on sale!

Online Extravaganza

Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine - NEW UPDATE: STILL AVAILABLE!!!!

Due to our partnership with Sizzix, Stampin'Up! is pleased to be able to offer a test run of the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine in our North American markets. Stampin'Up! has 4,000 available to be sold only while supplies last. If this product test goes well, Stampin'Up! may offer the Texture Boutique again in the future.

The Texture Boutique works with Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil, or vellum into an embossed, textured masterpiece.

This machine embosses only; it does not die cut.

Because this is a product test, the Texture Boutique is not branded with the Stampin' Up! logo. It comes in Sizzix packaging and is the same color and design that is sold in stores.



'Tis the season of giving, and the Texture Boutique makes a wonderful gift for anyone who wants to create their own elegant embossed art. To help you with your gift-giving needs, Stampin'Up! is offering a special value bundle that saves you $10.90. If you prefer, you can also purchase the Texture Boutique alone. Looking for stocking stuffers? Pick up some additional embossing folders.
Texture Boutique Bundle
Item 132700
$45.95 (a $56.85 value)
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 Pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim
• Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive
• Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder-Stampin' Up! exclusive

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
Item 132657
$36.95
Includes

• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine, 1 pair of Standard Embossing Pads, 1 Mylar Shim

see the flyer at  http://www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/TexturedBoutique_flyer_CA.pdf

Talking Tag!

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words!

How to send a voice message:

1. Download the FREE TalkingTagT App on you smartphone from talkingtag.mobi, iTunes® or Google PlayT.
2. Adhere the message tag to your card or gift.
3. Open TalkingTagT App and scan the code.
4. Record your message (recording starts immediately, so make sure your ready!).

You will have the opportunity to listen, re-record, cancel, or confirm your message after you've completed recording it. Each label allows up to 60 seconds of a greeting, song, or product message.

To play the message, recipients will need to download the app and scan the code.  Messages are saved for two years, so they can listen to it over and over.

How to Buy Talking Tags:

Buy 'em by the sheet! You get 10 tags for just $7.95 (item 129723).

See the flyer here: http://www.stampinup.com/ca/documents/TalkingTags_Flyer_NA.pdf

Mojo Monday #267

Last week I was hesitant on making my MOJO card. I knew I wanted to do something for the Remembrance Day with my new Pleasant Poppies. The card turned out so great, that even I was surprised (well.. I atleast thought it was great :-)

So this weeks MOJO I tried to desing it away from my craft room - just to see how that would work and if the end result would actually turn out as nice as I planned it to be.


MOJO267 Sketch

I sketched the MOJO sample on a 3x4 post-it note and then while watching TV I was thinking of the colours, the stamps I might want to use and the feel of the card. And I wanted to make a masculine card - as those tend to be always more difficult and I seem to have a lot of use for them (plus they can also be used for my female friends - they are not über masculine :-)

I wanted to try how the new Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Stampin' Pad would look on a darker card stock, so I used Basic Gray as the card base and stamped the Destressed Dots with the Illuminate Glimmer Watermark on the back ground

Then I knew I wanted to use Baja Breeze and some kind of red on the card. At this point I turned to my trusted Colour Coatch and it suggested using Cajun Craze with Baja Breeze. And from there I just followed the layout of the sketch. As my "main" stamp set I chose the Clockworks - which is as masculine as a stamp set can get :-)

SALE-A-BRATION IS COMING TO TOWN!

This is an early notice of the annual Stampin'Up! Sale-A-Bration event! Keep your eyes open - and book a party in your calendar between January 22nd and March 22nd and take advantage of the great sale-a-bration deals. And don't worry... the new spring catalogue is FULL of great fun stuff (more doilies, lace, new ribbons and trinkets, embossing folders and framelits,... well.. that's all I'm going to tell for now - keep following and I might tell you more)

Christmas Bazaar #1

Overview of our VERY tight craft display area

On Saturday I attended a Christmas Bazaar at the Promenade Retirement Home in Orleans together with my upline Cathryn. I was in charge of the display board for DSP and I also brought the display shelf to show case some products.



Card display and Cathryn's great banner and couple of ornaments

Cathryn made the most beautiful banner, which she is going to hang at her house for Xmas... I asked how much she would sell it for (if someone would want to buy it) and she said "there is no such money in the world". I guess it took some time to create :)

Be of Good Cheer DSP and Fan Fair DSP

I made 3 Christmas ornaments (like on the cover of the Stampin'Up! Holiday Catalogue), and I have to say... my Xmas tree won't be decorated with ONLY hand made ornaments - nope! BUT DO NOT DISPARE! there is a "short cut" to the ornament - don't use the ornament stamp set - don't get me wrong - do BUY the ornament stamp set, but use it on cards, where you only need 1 or 2 ornaments.




Fan Fair DSP, Postage Due stamp, Story Time DSP

For the actual 3D ornament you will need 20 medium sized AND 20 smaller sized ornaments - imagine if you would stamp them and then you'd have to INDIVIDUALLY cut every single one out with the framelit! I can see one ornament per week with this rate! So back to the short cut: CUT the ornaments out of Designer Series Paper (DSP)  and the best part is - you can cut several (4 to be exact) layers of DSP with one run!!! So for the medium sized ornament - fold the 12x12 DSP in four equal width stripes (each 3" wide) and run the ornament framelit through once cutting all 4 layers - this will cut the cutting time by 4, as you only need to run the framelit through 5 times!

 

Display case with buttons, CardStock, Ribbons etc.

Can you see the tile coaster on the picture next to the display case? That is one of the items that I will be teaching at my Christmas Gift Class on December 15th!! Oh and there might be couple of card samples for my up coming Xmas Card classes too (November 12th, November 24th and December 10th).

 

And I'd be happy to teach you (and your friends) on how to make those ornaments - as long as we use DSP and not the stamped images :)

 

 

MOJO Monday 265 - better super late than never

Here is the sketch for LAST weeks MOJO Monday card.

I actually created this ornament on time but had packed it with my Christmas Bazaar things by accident so when I went to take a picture of it - I could not find it - it's not really a card, more of a gift tag. 


I figured I must have thrown it out with some garbage and you can imagine my surprise, when I found unpacking my Xmas bazaar items on Saturday :)

So the little fellow got to "hang" at my display at the bazaar also :-)

Lest We Forget (and MOJO Monday 266)

Recessional

 

God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies—
The Captains and the Kings depart—
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called our navies melt away—
On dune and headland sinks the fire—
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe—
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard—
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord!
Amen.

 

Rudyard Kipling

composed on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897

New Seasonal Blog Header

I'm very proud of this blog header! I have been playing with the My Digital Studio 2 (MDS2) this fall and have created some of my news letters using MDS2 and I have to say I do love it!

Sometimes things don't always turn out the way I intended them to work out - but live and learn.... I'm getting there :)

I'm also posting the header here. This way you can see it even when I go and change my header after the holidays :-)