Copic Storage

Hi gang! I don't have any cards to show you today, but I wanted to show you my new "Copic Cups" that I got at IKEA. I used to store my copics in two plastic containers, with rubber bands grouping the different color families. Well, I got tired of pulling them out of the cabinet when I needed them and putting them away, and wanted something so they'd be right in front of me. I totally got this idea from Julie's IKEA post here...thanks Julie!

*ETA*
A couple of you asked about my ink pad organizer. I got it at Organize More and HERE'S the link to the actual organizer.

Oh, and my buddy Dawn told me about Sandra Bullock's new movie...The Proposal...so my oldest daughter and I went to see it yesterday. AWESOME movie!! Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard I cried! If you get a chance to see it, go! You'll love it!

Ribbon Storage

Yesterday I got all my ribbon organized. Just in case you'd like to see, here's how I have it stored.

Half of my ribbon is hanging on Ribbon Rings that I got from Taylored Expressions. I love these things! They're even prettier now that they're out where I can see them (rather than in my closet)! I have the ribbon sorted on three different rings: greens, purples, and blues on one ring; reds, pinks, and oranges on another; neutrals on a third. I also hang my gold cord on the wall next to the ribbon rings.

The other half of my ribbon is now in a drawer (pretty much next to the ribbon rings), but wound very neatly on old-style clothes pins. I did NOT come up with this idea, so I can't take credit for it. I saw it posted by Nichole Heady, and you can see her post HERE. Awesome idea!!

I had the hardest time finding the old-style clothes pins, but then my friend Janice said I could find them at Dollar Tree. Sure enough, there they were...$1 for each pack of 20. I saw some on eBay too, but of course then there would be shipping costs. The ribbon is secured with some straight pins just like Nichole suggested in her post.



I have to tell you, rolling ribbon this way saved TONS of space compared to keeping the ribbon on the rolls!! This drawer was TOTALLY jam packed with ribbon rolls before I changed over to the clothes pins. I mean, I couldn't fit ANYTHING else in there. It was messy too because the ribbon still unwound and the rolls were all uneven. Look at it now, there's room for A LOT more ribbon...guess I can go ribbon shopping, huh? Hehe! There's even room to store the extra packs of clothes pins and a container that holds the straight pins and tags for my Ribbon Rings.

Oh, and I think I might get some sort of drawer dividers to keep the ribbon grouped by color family...because I know it won't stay this neat without them. Any ideas on what to get?

It's *done* enough to show you...

Okay, there are still some odds and ends that need to be done....like moving my cork board to where the perpetual calendar is hanging, adding the handles to the cabinets, etc., but it's done enough and I'm moved in enough that I can show you my newwwwwww stamping spot!

We got one heck of a deal on the cabinets, drawer and countertop at a discount builder's supply store in Reading, PA. It's called Heeby's.....definitely worth the trip if you're here in PA!

I know some of you have full stamp rooms (that I absolutely drool over), but my stamping area is on one side of my office. One side is set up with my printer, desktop computer, transcription equipment, etc.....BUT THIS is the FUN side of my room now! It used to be a junky wall with full sized file cabinets, a paper shredder, huge trash can, etc.

Here's a picture of the entire wall. My husband even installed lighting under the cabinets for me, moved the outlets up above the countertop, and put some extra ones inside the cabinets.

I used to store all my stamping stuff in bins and ziplock bags in my closet and every time I'd want to use something, I'd pull it out to use it and then put it all back. Well, one of the most exciting parts of this new space (for me) is that I can keep my Cuttlebug OUT on the counter all the time and I won't have to pack it back into a storage bin all the time. Soooo, one of the first things I did once my husband was finished putting all the cabinets together was set up the magnetic strips inside the cabinet doors for my Spellbinders dies like I saw on Laurie Schmidlin's blog. You can see her post HERE. Here's a picture of the inside of MY "Nestie cabinet," which is the cabinet all the way on the right above my Cuttlebug and ink pad storage (oh, and the ink pad storage is from Organize More).



Everything is pretty spread out in there right now. Like my husband says, "there's still lots of shovin' room!" to pack more stuff in there. {smile} Most of the containers are "Snapware" containers from Target.

Here's a picture of how I store my 8.5 x 11 CS. Each color is in a clear string envelope (I got mine at Staples) with a label showing the color name and color family. I might eventually set up hanging files and store them in a file cabinet like Nancy Riley posted on her blog, which you can see HERE....but in the meantime, this is what works for me. With the labels in the upper left corner like that, I can flip through and find the color I'm looking for.



Here are the Sterilite containers where my 12x12 paper is stored. They're also from Target.



Here's the cabinet on the left with a bunch of stamps...I need to reorganize it all somehow, but that'll happen later. The middle cabinet (not pictured) holds my SU sets.



So, that's my stampin' spot. If you have any questions, let me know.

Progress on the stamping space

Hi everyone!

Here's an updated picture with the drawers and countertop! DH ran some outlets up so they'd be above the countertop (for my heat gun and stuff) and he wants to add some lighting underneath the cabinets that'll shine down onto the workspace (he takes such good care of me!). He's also going to build a shelf under the smaller overhead cabinets for things that I need to grab fairly often but I want out of the way when working...like my paper cutter!

It's been a lot of work this past weekend...and my house was an absolute disaster, oye!...with reorganizing and moving things around, but I'm really excited. I'm also having a lot of fun checking out the Stamping Spaces gallery on SCS for ideas on how to organize all the stamps, paper, ink pads, etc. One thing that I reeeeeally can't wait to do is put some magnetic strips on the inside of the cabinet doors for my Nestabilities dies. I saw Laurie Schmidlin did this a while ago and I TOTALLY can't wait to do the same thing. Here's a link to HER POST (pure genius!!) if you want to check it out! Ohhh, to have everything at my fingertips is gonna be great!

We bought some handles for the cabinets so those need to be added, and I need to go shopping for a tall chair too. Weee!

Peek-A-Boo!

Hi everyone! I know last week I mentioned trying to post Sarah Kay cards on Sundays...and I really want to do that. I even found a weekly challenge blog specifically for the stamps, which you can see HERE. Anyway, this weekend I didn't get a chance to make a Sarah Kay card, but here's why...

We're converting half of my office into a permanent stamping space!! OMG, I'm so excited!! Right now all my stamping supplies are stored in my closet and every time I stamp I drag everything out and then put it all back when I'm done....kinda a pain. Well, now I'll have everything in my reach. Under those cabinets, I'm going to have an 8' long countertop with drawers underneath. Yay! I'll post more pics when it's done.

I do have a card to show you today....my first Rachelle Ann Miller card!!




















Thanks so much Michelle for sending Peek-A-Boo to me and for the cuuute heart stick pins too! You're the best!

The card measures 5.25" square and the layout is from last week's SCS Sketch 209. Waterfall stickles were added to the sparkles and butterfly trail on the main image, and opal liquid pearls were added to the heart on the sentiment to match the stick pin. The main image and punched hearts are up on dimensionals.

The stamps, ribbon, stickles, and liquid pearls are all available at Stamper's Dream.

SUPPLY LIST ~
Stamps: Rachelle Ann Miller Peek-A-Boo, Impression Obsession Mini Messages
Paper: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Apple Cider DP, White, Basic Black
Ink: River Rock, Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Black
Accessories: May Arts Checkered Ribbon, Waterfall Stickles, Opal Liquid Pearls, Rectangle and Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Creative Memories Heart Punches, Pearl Heart Stick Pin (Joann's), Dimensionals, Ornare Piercing Template
Technique: Watercoloring, Paper Piercing

Have a great day!