12 Days of Christmas... Hand Made Presents - Day 1

As my "12 Days of Christmas" I decided to showcase 12 different gift ideas, that you can easily get ready before Christmas.

Explosion Box

My 1st day may seem like more work - and that's what it actually is, but atleast you now have time to work on it.

I used the "Merry Moments Simply Scrappin'" kit (from the Stampin'Up! Holiday Catalogue, p. 9).

Explosion Box without lid

The kit allowed me to do 2 boxes (well... probably would have allowed more, if I would not have made a mistake with the lid size TWICE!!! and not used so many embellishment stickers on the boxes :)



Explosion box open (outside)

 I didn't add pictures to this one - I thought the person receiving this can add their own holiday pictures to it afterwards and personalize it to their liking.

The last picture shows where the slits are on the pages. If you prefer, you can cut the 4 corner pieces out all together, or if you want to make it even bigger, you can add a second layer to it. Just use a slightly smaller cardstock to start with, so that it fits inside the box!

And finally, here is the template for the box. Have fun!

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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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