Organization - Paper Storage

My craft room is a 12x12-foot room on the main level of our home.  Granted, the room is box shaped, but it has interesting quirks features to work around.  The door is on an angle and there is a large 8-foot wide bay window across the front of the room.

Like most of us, I'm starting to run out of space in certain areas of my craft room.  I often think that maybe I am not using my space as efficiently as I could be, or maybe there is a better solution that I just haven't found yet.  I'm constantly on Pinterest and other blogs looking to see how people organize their spaces.

Paper is my challenge right now - at least storing it.  I'm constantly adding to my supply, since the company I purchase most of my paper from (as well as most of my stamps, ink, buttons and ribbon) continue to add new colors to their line.
I pretty much use only three different types of solid cardstock: Papertrey Ink's 110 lb weight (for cards and any paper crafts I make that I give away or need a higher weight paper for), the Michael's brand Reflections 60 lb weight (for anything I make with my Cricut as I am not able to get nice, clean, consistent cuts using PTI paper), and a very limited amount of American Crafts textured cardstock I purchased years ago simply because it was 70% off.  It's all just preference, I guess.

For a few years I've been storing my 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of PTI in this Paper Storage Cube System.  I purchased two of them initially and stacked one more section later.  Ideally I'd like to add the additional three sections which I have, but the unit would not be very sturdy if it went any higher (and I am out of floor space to use them as well).  I have my tower currently holding 34 different PTI colors, a space at the top for miscellaneous items, one space towards the bottom holding a Reflections 12 x12 pack (until I find a few home for it), and two open slots to expand for PTI.  Even though this tower is ideal for me, I am going to run out of room quickly!  My lower weight paper did share some space in this tower, but PTI forced them out.  I found these Cropper Hopper 8 1/2 x 11 Paper Holders last week and purchased a few of them (shown in the first photo).  I've decided that anything non-PTI will be stored in these holders, which are then placed in my Ikea Expedite.  This of course leads to another 'problem':  will all this paper overtake the storage I have in my Expedite?  I fell like I'm in a constant live Tetris game with my craft room!

Merry Christmas

This is our little guy, Piper, in front of one of our Christmas trees (we  have two trees).  I was very tempted to add a third tree this year to our foyer, but just didn't get to purchasing the actual tree.

Throughout the year I purchased Christopher Radko Shiny and Bright ornaments (Cool Yule, which are retired) in all different shapes and sizes.  I was even able to find the matching tree topper.  I purchased all of the ornaments from Kathies Christmas and Collectibles at a huge discount.  Highly recommend this store, their shipping is super quick.  In the past our 9 foot 'main tree' in the family room was dedicated to a Disney theme, but Cool Yule took over this year.

Our second tree is 7 feet tall, located in our living room, and is all Santa ornament themed.  In fact, the living room is decorated with nothing but Santas.  I love that both trees are on timers and when we come home they are already lit up for us.  Sigh.  I love the white lights!  Now that I have all decorations for the third tree, I need to work on getting that purchased.  I'll need to find a new home for our mascot "Nutty" who has guarded our foyer for the past few Christmases!  We found this huge nutcracker at Costco a couple years ago.  Couldn't resist him.  Our Costco trips are hysterical:  case of tissues, case of paper towels, case of water, one 6 foot nutcracker.

I found a home for some of the extra mini candy canes I did not use while making my Christmas place card holders.  I filled the apothecary jar on the left with store-bought mini balls in red, white and silver.  The jar on the right is filled with clear balls which I purchased and coated them inside with glitter.  I've made a few dozen of them in all different colors and change them depending on the season.
I wish you a happy holiday season and all the best for 2012!

Hostess Gifts and Christmas Prep

Those who celebrate Christmas are well into their holiday preparations.  Trees are up by now, gifts are bought (I'm almost done) and cookies are being baked.  What a great time of year.  We have been busy since Thanksgiving.  Every weekend we've been invited to a cocktail party.

I try very hard not to bring a typical hostess gift such as a bottle of wine.  First off, I know nothing about wine - so unless I know the hosts favorite bottle, I just give up.  Second, it seems everyone brings wine as a gift.  Some times I just buy multiples of the same gift, but this year they were all different.  Last year, I purchased a few square shaped baskets from Longaberger and filled them with personalized cocktail napkins from The Stationery Studio.   I found people really like personalized things.  I think it shows you put a lot of thought into the gift.

Two examples I gave this year were: Rachael Ray's Olive Oil Bottle (the hostess' kitchen is orange, I was sure to get her a matching bottle) and a good bottle of olive oil from Williams-Somona wrapped nicely in cello.  She just LOVED the gift.  Last night I gave another hostess a "Box of Wine" soap set from Rinse Bath and Body Co.  Cute little take on the standard bottle of wine, I thought.  I purchased the soaps on our last trip to Disney World in October; they have had a booth in EPCOT the last few years at the Food and Wine Festival.  Their soaps smell yummy good!  I look forward to visiting their booth again in May (again at Disney World in EPCOT).

I've started to plan our dinner and think about the menu, place settings, table cloths and place cards.  I attempted something different today with the place cards.  I used 3 mini candy canes to form an easel of sorts to hold the cards.  I made the cards using Papertrey Ink's Places, Please stamp set and their matching die.  I tied mini bows and attached them to the top of the place card holders.  Something different and it was quick and easy.  I have a ton of mini candy canes left over, so I think I'll fill some apothecary jars as decoration.

Disney

My DH and I are Disney World fans freaks! Unlike most people I know, I did not visit Disney World as a child on a family vacation. Our time was spent at the Jersey shore :)  Actually, I am not even sure I knew Disney World existed when I was a child.

My DH and I made our first visit in 1999 and since have gone back 22 times. We are now proud Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members. Being members makes it possible to bring family and friends with us from time to time.  I love bringing people with us and showing them around and telling them things they never knew about Disney World.

We are good friends with another couple that we travel many places with frequently.  They just happen to be Disney fans freaks also. It's been over a year since the four of us went back to Disney World together (although we've been other places since). THIS is our year! I'm soooo excited. Because we go so often, we I try to change it up a bit for each trip. I like to do something special each time.

I was looking around on Etsy.com and found this shop One Great Thing. Cassi does great tie dye designs. I ordered us four shirts in the fall colors for our trip during the Food and Wine Festival. Check out Cassi's site. She's easy to work with and does custom orders.  

We were not sure how were were going to present the shirts to our friends.  Since they now live in another state we decided to mail them to them prior to our trip.  Hope they go for the four of us wearing them all at the same time!  My DH is a very good sport with this type of thing. I did ask him prior to ordering them.

I'm a Changed Woman

OK, the title is a little dramatic, but my opinion about ink has surely changed!!!  Two weeks ago I was going through my normal Monday morning routine and visited Kristina's blog.  She has discussed ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink in the past, but this time she gave a great source where to purchase them. 

I am a huge Papertrey Ink (PTI) fan.  Love their stamps, paper and how everything goes so nicely together, but for the past few months they have been having issues with their ink.  They've stopped selling the colors that match their paper and my ink supply has been, well...running dry.  So I decided to dip my finger into chalk ink.  Since I love my inks to coordinate with my paper, I started to do a search of what colors would go well with my paper from PTI.  I came across the Splitcoaststampers forum, where "Stampintoo" gave a detailed description of which ink coordinates with which PTI paper.   They even have a picture showing the paper and ink together.  (thank you very much Stampintoo).

I quickly placed my order for nine different colors based on her chart.  I am in LOVE with chalk ink.  Wow!  What a difference.  I'm convinced.   The colors coordinate well, but the crispness and great coverage of the stamp are exceptional.

I'm a changed woman. 

Papertrey Goods

Just received my newest order from Papertrey Ink. Seems like forever between ordering and actually getting my stamps - in reality it's not that long at all (ordered 6/17 in my hands 6/27). I'm just very impatient.

I usually have a rhyme or reason for my PTI orders. Sometimes my 'goal' is to just restock my paper or ribbon. Other times I focus on new items in their release.

This order started because of Christina's Stampin' on Friday video. I am loving her Friday series! I can't wait to try the Newsprint stamp set! I also picked up a few mini stamp sets: Mehndi Medallion (and index label), Think Big Favorites #5 (and index label), Think Big Favorites #3 (and index label) and a full size set: Inside & Out: Birthday. I had to pick up the Baker's Twine too, thanks Christina for enabling me :)

Photo Carousel

I have such an obsession for Pottery Barn. It's just not normal. I've been looking at this photo carousel for weeks. My idea is to place this in my craft room to display cards and photos.

I have learned from my prior mistakes with PB. If I really, really, REALLY love something from them, I need to grab it. Too many times I eye something up for a long time and when I go to order it (or get it from the store) - it's gone. sigh

I pressed the order button (while I still had a 10% off code). I was going back and forth between this table top version and the standing one (which as of right now is sold out). My craft room floor space is limited - so it all worked out. Can't wait to get it!

Punch Storage

Christina is asking us to show it off again :) Today is all about our punch storage. I really enjoy looking at what everyone posts. There so many ways organize and sometimes it just takes a new fresh idea.

I actually shared this picture a few weeks ago. I organize my craft room a few different ways. I do have some items out in the open (you can get a glimpse of my ribbon storage just above this drawer chest) but try to keep things in drawers/containers as much as I can.

I purchased this baby from Home Decorators. It's called Stanton and I'm pretty happy with it. It now houses my punches (among other items).

It is 41" tall by 20" wide. This is actually the 'wide' version of a Stanton.

It has 6 smaller drawers (inside drawer size is 2 1/4" high x 16" wide x 10 1/2" deep) and 2 larger drawers (inside drawer size is 6 1/4" high x 16" wide x 10 1/2 deep)

Here's some pictures of the inside, starting with the top drawer. This has my circle punches (also a square and oval punch).

The second drawer is for the scallop circle punches

The third is for my border punches (and crop-a-dial and corner chomper)

The forth is pretty much miscellaneous, not often used punches.

Sadly, I had to use one of the larger bottom drawers to hold my jumbo 2 3/4 and 3 inch punches. I haven't found these two in the new sleek punch design yet. Still looking. So, they sit with my heat gun and mini glue guns.

So, that's it. I showed mine.....now, show us yours!! If you haven't seen Christina's blog head on over. I've learned so much from her. I hope she continues this little 'show me' series.

Finally - SMASH is here!

I've been waiting forEVER! My SMASH order has finally come in today.

I ordered; 2 journals (Pretty Pink and Mod Black), date stamp, travel pad, blue bands and a SMASH stick. I figured I'd need an extra stick to just follow me around. Although I have a feeling that once my sister spots it, it will be hers :)

Can't wait to open everything and look through it. Admittedly, I don't know why I purchased two of them. I know I will use one to store travel related ideas and notes. Not sure about the other one yet.

Organization!

A place for everything and everything in its place. Well, maybe not everything.
My new Stanton drawer chest from Home Decorators came...twice.
Received the first one, it was damaged. Called and had them ship a second. PERFECT. (Great customer service people).
The item came with casters but I've decided not to use them yet.

Waiting for Smash!!

Cant tell you how excited I am about the new Smash journals coming out this Spring. Check out the blog - http://www.smashstoriesblog.com/. They have THE cutest video on the right nav you have to watch. The wait is killing me. Crazy, right?!?!