Reclaiming my craft space

It always happens. You organize your crafting space and it looks beautiful, and then reality sets in and it gets MESSY! Well the above picture is the labor of the last 3 weeks of planning, cleaning, purging, and re-organizing. Finally, I have reclaimed my craft area and made it "live able" again. I say "live able" because I don't have a craft room, this is just a section of my bedroom. We have all heard the studies about how chaos in your bedroom makes it hard to sleep. Well I think that is really true. It made me so anxious to have everything in my room all messy. Below is what had become of the desk I made out of Jetmax cubes. This was after cleaning it up. I couldn't bear to take a picture of the real mess. It got to the point where I didn't want to stamp, scrap, nothing!

Enter the Jetmax cube with drawer. I decided the only option was to go vertical. I added another cube, removed a few of the shelves on the right and got a Sterilite 3 drawer cart to catch the overflow from the desk and to house my BigShot and dies.AFTER!
This is my TV tray where I make my cards. It has all my everyday tools. It sits next to my nightstand where my Copics are right at hand. It is a good spot because of the natural light from the sliding glass doors. The basket under the desk is balanced on my binders (sketches and Copic info) holds products I am using at the moment and scraps so they stay off the workspace. The basket on top of the desk has stamps that need to be cleaned or have just been cleaned and need to be put away.

I love that all my punches fit in the Jetmax cube with drawer and they are put away so I don't have to worry about dusting them. My Martha Stewart Score Board even fits in the cubby at the top with all of my
Martha punches. Storing cardstock and 12x12 papers upright left me so much extra room, I was able to stack my 6x6 paper pads and unmounted stamps. Baskets with extra ribbon and adhesive sit on top of a locker rack under the desk.

My BigShot now has a permanent home on top of this cart and the regular size dies fit in one of the drawers. I no longer have to take it down to use it. I keep inkpads and stickles, and adhesives in the top drawer. The bottom drawer has embossing supplies. The Isis cases are so easy and hold embellishments: trim, ribbon, flowers, buttons, etc. I also have travel organizer next to the desk to hold pearls, rhinestones, cotton swabs and balls and other small items that tend to get lost in the shuffle. It fits neatly in the 1 inch space between the desk and my bureau. Finally I have wood mounted stamps in the big bin on the bottom.

I love my new re-organized space...it is so functional now. Hope you like it! Now if I can just clean up the rest of the house.

Love Letters

This is my submission for the Saturated Canary Challenge Blog Challenge # 10 - Red Pink & White.

Wow it has been a while since I participated in any challenges. My goodness, getting this picture uploaded was a project. When I took the picture with my iPhone, no matter what I did when I edited it, it would always post sideways. I tried it 4 different ways and no matter what it wouldn't come out right. Finally I broke down and just scanned it.

I got to use that lovely pleated ribbon from Stampin' Up! and my LaRue Heart die from Memory Box. That die cuts like a butta! The little pieces pop out so easy, no torn edges. Dave Brethauer has such a cool video on using that die with glitter...it make me want to bust out my glitters and give it a try....even though glitter frightens me. It always seems to get every where and then linger around for months. I show up a work the next week and everyone asks...why is there glitter in your hair? My usual answer is "Because I like SPARKLES!!!"

Supplies-

Stamp- Saturated Canary Love Letters Digi Stamp

Paper- Glitz Happy Travels patterned paper, Stampin' Up! Card Stock, Boise HD Color Copy Cover

Accessories- Memory Box LaRue Heart die, Stampin' Up! Blushing Bride pleated ribbon, Blushing Bride Buttons, Stampin' Up! Rub Ons

Copics- Skin: E000 E00 E21 E04 R20 Hair: YR20 Yr21 YR24 Y28 Eyes: BG02 Clothes: R46 R56 R59 B91 B93 B95

Making Valentines

This card includes a couple of firsts for me. My first Memory Box die and my first Saturated Canary Digi Stamp! I received my very first Memory Box dies last week. I ordered the Cherish Border and the LaRue Heart die. I love the Memory Box dies because the images are so delicate. The LaRue Heart die cut so easily and all the little peices popped right out with my fingers, no tool required. I was so excited. When I got to the Cherish Border, my results were a little less than successful. I tried it with shims, wax paper, multiple different weights of cardstock and could not get the center of the border to cut all the way through. I finally tried it with Post It Adhesive Craft Paper and had good results. After doing a little research I finally figured out, that it was not the die that had an issue or my BigShot, it was me. Duh, you need to place the die on top with the cutting surface face down when you run it through the BigShot. I had mine face up. Total user error!!! Lol, chalk that up to a learning experience.

Supplies-

Stamp- Making Valentines by Saturated Canary

Paper- PTI, Stampin' Up, Boise HD Color Copy Cover, Love Struck by We R Memory Keepers
, Post It Lipstick Craft Paper

Accessories- Labels Collection Framelits by Stampin' Up, Memory Box Cherish die, Me & My Big Ideas Rhinestones, Glitzy Pretty In Pink Epoxy Sticker Sentiment

Copics- Skin: E000 E00 E01 E04 E21 R20, Hair: E13 YR20 E23, Clothes and Everything Else: B91 B93 B95 B00 B01 B02 RV52 RV55 RV66

Winter CHA 2012

So what new products have you seen debuted at CHA that you simply must have? Here are some of the things I am adding to my wishlist:

New ink colors from Memento!!!! You know I have to have my Copic safe inks!
I really love Morroco and Teal Zeal!

BASIC GREY PLUMERIA Collection:

(Updated 2/6/12: There are some amazing detailed pictures of the new Basic Grey lines posted by Melissa Stinson on Scrappyjedi.com !!!)

BASIC GREY WHAT'S UP Collection:

With the matching Hero's Arts Away stamp set because I still don't have a hot air balloon stamp.I really like IMAGINISCE's iMagicut ribbon cutter/sealer...no more frayed edges

(I also like the Hybrid Petal Roller as reported by Freda Thomas on the Craft Critique Blog)

KAISERCRAFT's Charlotte's Dream Collection as reported on the Scrapbook.com blog

KAISERCRAFT's Fine & Sunny Collection: Because clouds and rainbows are just cool!I'm loving some of the new Stacks from Die Cuts With A View as reported on Scrapbook.com's blog:

Adhesive Fabric Paper

The Coral Couture Stack

The Chateau Lavender Stack

The Glam Gal Stack

So what new products are you hoping to get your hands on?

Hope-y Birthday

It has been a crazy few days for me. I went to my best friend's daughter's 2nd Birthday party over the weekend. Ava is so adorable. That baby can read! She is just so smart. Here is the birthday card that I made for her.

I have also been working on reorganizing my crafting space. My real craft area was in the basement but it got flooded so most of my supplies got ruined or have that yucky mildewy smell. I have been concentrating on reorganizing my craft desk in my bedroom that I made out of Jetmax cubes. I got a new cube over the weekend. This one has the cubby space at the top and then a drawer with divider sections inside. I put all of my old style punches inside. They fit perfect and stand up. Then I put a leather basket with all my Martha Punches and any of the little tiny punches in the cubby space at the top.

I just got my Sale-A- Bration order from Stampin' Up. I didn't get too much. Just some of the SAB stamp sets, some cardstock, and a bunch of ribbon, plus some things for my BigShot. Can't wait to start playing with all of that.

Supplies-

Stamp- Hope by Sylvia Zet for SCACD

Paper- Boise HD Color Copy Cover, PTI Cardstock, Glitzy Happy Travels Patterned Paper, DCWV Glitter Cardstock, Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black and Tangelo dew drop ink pads, Antique Linen Distress Ink

Accessories- Tim Holtz die, Butterfly Circles Decorative Elements Nestabilities, Taylored Expressions Layering Doily Die, Zva Creative pearl flourish, Buttermilk Spica Pen, Stickles, Glitzy Pretty in Pink trim

Copics:

Hair- YR23 E17 E35 Skin- E21 E00 E000 R20 Wood- E31 E35 E37 Clothes- R05 R02 R01 R000 BG72 BG15 BG02 Wings- BG0000 Bunny- W00 W01, Leaves- YG11

Yay! The new 2012 Copics are here.

Yay! I got my new copics yesterday. I did a little coloring with them on this digi from Make It Crafty called Zoe Celebrates.

Skin: E000 E00 E21 R20 Hair: YR27 YR23 YR24 YR21 YR20 Top/Flowers: BV31 BV34; RV52 Eyes: BG53 BG57 Jeans: B000 B21 B23

Above are all the great new colors. I started filling in a new hand color chart with the 2012 and some of the colors that came out in 2011.

New Copic Journal pages below:

Hope this inspires you!!!

Muah! My Prince

No new Copics in the mail this weekend. :0( They are still in some sort facility in CA...how long will they be there? Darn USPS!

Since it was snowing, I decided to stay in and reorganize my craft area a bit. My desk and tray table were so messy and chaotic that I never felt like making anything. I decided to reclaim my desk from all the clutter and made myself a "BigShot Tower". It is really a 3 drawer Steralite cart where the BigShot fits perfectly on top and then I have all my dies in the drawers below along with some of the other tools and supplies that were cluttering up my workspace. Now I have a nice study place to use my Bigshot and a nice clear area for stamping.

I also started a journal to catalog all my clingmount rubber stamp images. I have them all put away (not in their original packaging) and it is impossible for me to remember their names when I take them out to use them. Now I just have to flip through my journal to get them names.

I made my very first paper rosette too! I love them and never had a moment to sit down and figure out how to make them. I was going to get the Tim Holtz die but then saw a tutorial on YouTube showing how to make them using the Martha Stewart Score Board so I decided to try it. My first attempt was the size in the tutorial using a 1 1/2 X 12 inch strip and it was just too big. I decided to try it at 3/4 inch X 12 and that came out the perfect size.

Supplies-
Stamp- My Prince digital stamp by Elisabeth Bell, Amy R Summer Sentiments
Paper- Glitz Happy Travels, PTI cardstock, Boise HD Color Copy Cover, DCWV Glitter Cardstock
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Ink Frayed Burlap
Accessories- BigShot, Taylored Expressions Layering Doily set of dies and Hearts a Plenty dies, Buttermilk and Clear Spica pens, Pop Up Glue Dots
Copics- R000, R01, R02, R05, R24, R27, G000, G82, G85, BG000, BG02, BG32, E000, E00, E21, YR30, YR31, E35

Have you joined Blitsy yet?

Have you heard about Blitsy? It is a new member site that sells different products every week at a discount. I got a Xyron Tape Runner and refills there a few weeks back- half off. The price was great and the shipping was fast too!

You can join by clicking the link below:

http://blitsy.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/5984/

This week they have Authentique 6x6 paper pads, Golden Glaze, Apple Pie Acrylic books, Just Rite Stamps, Spellbinders Dies and Teresa Collins Paper Packs, Zutter Kutters, Smooch Spritz, Clearsnap products, Tim Holtz Stains, and MBI Albums


Everyone loves a great deal and with excellent customer service, I think you will like this site.



In other shopping news, the new Copic colors are shipping! EEEEEEKKKK!!! Mine shipped on Wednesday from California so I think I should have them in the mail tomorrow. I hope I hope I hope! Crossing my fingers and my toes!


TGIF!

Everybody's Groovin Baby!

"Well a Love Shack Is A Little Old Place Where We Can Get Together"....
I can't say enough times how much I love this stamp set. It has lots of cute word stamps, a house, a tree, and a fence. I had so much fun last night just coloring up this cute little image. I usually go for people stamps and intricate detailed images, but it was very refreshing to have a clean and simple image to color. I think I will be picking up a few more TE Stamps and maybe a kit too!


Supplies-
Stamp- Love Shack Set by Taylored Expressions
Paper- We R Memory Keepers Love Struck, PTI Hawaiian Shores and Blue Shimmer Cardstock, Boise HD Color Copy Cover
Ink- Memento Red and Tuxedo Black
Accessories- Ribbon and Rhinestones from stash, Fiskars corner rounder, Ranger Glossy Accents
Copics- BG53, BG34, R35 and pictured below

First Valentine of the Year

Happy Thursday! I did it; I made my first card of 2012. Of course it is a Valentine. I think Valentine's Day is the biggest Hallmark holiday of the year and a perfect excuse to make a ton of cards. I used my Dachsunds in Love stamp from Taylored Expressions and some fun Lovestruck papers by We Are Memory Keepers. I hope you like it!

Supplies-

Stamp- Dachsunds in Love by Taylored Expressions

Paper- Card by Recollections, Love Struck by We R Memory Keepers (including sentiment),

Accessories- Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Studio G Ric Rac, Pearls from stash colored with R85 Copic Marker, Fiskars Corner Rounder

Copics- R35 R83 R85 R89 BG000 BG53 E13 E17 E19

Inspiration

No new crafty projects from me yet this year. I am still working on getting my mojo back in gear for the new year. I have been getting back to blog surfing, looking for inspiration. I am definitely excited about the 2012 Copic colors. I love Marianne Walker's sketch above of the new sketch markers. She is such a wonderful illustrator. I also really like Debbie Olson's chart of the new sketch colors and which other colors they coordinate with. Have you seen all of Debbie Olson's recent posts of her sketches... on her other blog? Wow, she is talented! Colleen Schaan's pictures of the new colors are really great too. Can't wait for February for them to ship.

What else crafty is going on? I placed my first ever order with Taylored Expressions and got my new goodies last night. I can't wait to find some time to play with them. I got some great little items for Valentines Day. I ordered some heart dies, a cute Valentine's 6x6 paper pad called Love Struck, and 3 new valentine's stamps including the one below. Who could resist a stamp set based on the song 'Love Shack' by the B52's???

Maybe all these new goodies will help me to get my mojo going.

I Am Weak!

I am so weak. I couldn't resist. The minute I read there were new Copic colors coming by March 2012 I had to preorder. ICopic.com had a really great price for Gold Members ($54 + free shipping) so I went ahead and took the plunge and pre-ordered mine. So much for my resolution not to order any more Copics. That brings us up to 358 total color choices.

Happy Holidays

Happy Chrismahanakawnzukah! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and wishing you a Happy New Year! I was a very good girl this year and Santa brought me just what I wanted....an Xbox 360 Kinect and The Black Eyed Peas Experience game. It is one heck of a good workout.

It has been a very busy past few months. My job moved to Midtown Manhattan so I have been getting used to the new neighborhood and new commute. Getting up before 5 every morning has me asleep very early every night. I have not had much time to do anything crafty. I did get to make a quick holiday card for my Dad this weekend. No stamping or coloring though.


Supplies- Recollections Paper, Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Me & My Big Ideas Jewel Sticker Sentitment, Recollections ribbon, Basic Grey Rhinestones


SEASONS GREETINGS!