Organization 101

I did a little re-org in the studio yesterday and swapped around some of my containers and such. I love seeing everything and having things close at hand. For about the last 10 years, I've been using those wooden storage cubes that you can configure a bunch of different ways. They've seen me through several moves and tons of reconfigurations (that's what I love about them!) and finally I think I've found a configuration that works. Here are a few shots of some of the organization...

I'm not sure what I originally bought this cube for, but I did a little happy dance when I discovered the dividers fit my ribbon spools perfectly!

Same applies for my twine & trim drawer. I just love opening these up and taking a peek inside.

This last pic is obviously not a drawer, but this container now sits inside one of the shelves. It was actually in a pile to give away and then I thought it would be a better embellishment holder for all my little do-dads. Now I can just open it up and use my little scoopers to pick what I want. Aren't those sooooo adorable?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Make A Wish

I designed this card using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches, and colour scheme from Sunday Stamps (although, I'm too late to enter the challenge there). My card uses many new products from the upcoming Occasion Catalogue (live January 5th). Check it out:

I embossed my white layer with the new Confetti TIEF before stamping with a new birthday set called Party Wishes. It coordinates with an entire suite of stuff, including punches, DSP, twine & more!

To finish off the card, I rounded the top corners with the Curvy Corner Trio Punch, a returning favourite from the Holiday Catalogue, and wrapped some baker's twine around the front (also new!). On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from the same birthday set.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Entering this card at Freshly Made Sketches, #217

Embellishment Center

If you've been following me, you've probably come to realize that I haven't had much time for crafting. Well, a big chunk of my time has been dedicated to reorganizing, decluttering, purging, donating, selling & cleaning up my space! It was time!! Long overdue, actually. With the new catalogue launching soon, I needed to make room for the new stuff and let go of all the things I've been holding on to, but haven't used in more than a year.

I also had to do a major clean-up of my space. When I get creative, I get messy. It's how I roll. But, it was getting to be too much. Over the last several months I'd work until I ended up working in a 5" square space with piles all around me and then tidy up just enough to keep at it. Finally, that wasn't cutting it anymore. I was spending too much time looking for things and not enough time making things.

Today I wanted to share one of the areas I revamped in my space - my "embellishment center". I didn't change the way I organized my stash, but I did move things around slightly. You can read more details on some of my organization tips & tricks here, here & here.

You probably know that I'm a very visual person. If I don't see it (or if it's not labeled properly in a drawer that I can't see into), I don't use it. I especially like to see all my embellishments, paper & punches out on display and within reach. I previously had all my embellishments scattered around me, but now I house them all one area:

1. Four shelves that hold my ribbons, trims, twines & wooden embellishments. Thank you IKEA & Value Village!
2. Glass mason jars & wooden dowels hold all my baker's twine.
3. Glass jars from IKEA (that I repurposed from my kitchen) hold all my flowers, ribbon scraps, clay embellishments & my beloved Washi Tape!
4. My pride & joy. Repurposed embellishment rack that holds all my brads, buttons, do-dads & whatnots. Love, love, LOVE this spinning unit!

Hope this post helps you to reorganize or revamp a space in your house too!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's a Sketch Week!

Well, a sketch week for two weeks that is! If you didn't know already, Sunday Stamps is a bi-weekly challenge now... leaves you plenty of time to join us!! This time around, Marie has a great sketch for us. It's her first time hosting a sketch, so show her some love and play along, won't you?

I kept my card fairly simple. Only one layer and no "bling". Gasp! I love it though. I added a couple more pieces than what appear in the sketch, but the basic elements are all there and that's what sketch challenges are all about.

Since next weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and Fall is my favourite time of year, I created a Thanksgiving card. The wavy element in the sketch reminded me of leaves blowing in the wind. I simply created a template from scratch paper to mask my area and stamped away. I then stamped the three leaves in Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit and Cherry Cobbler tone-on-tone on top of cardstock. I ruffly cut out each leaf, distressed the edges with my scissors and scrunched them up to give them more dimension. To add to the harvest feel, I took out some strings from the new burlap ribbon from the Holiday Catalogue (LOVE it!) and tied together with a piece of twine.

Hope you'll play along with us - you have until October 18th! Don't forget to check out the rest of the DT Designs too because they will inspire you!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

RECIPE
Paper: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Summer Starfruit
Stamps: French Foliage (retired)
Tools: Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch
Accessories: Twine, 1/4" Burlap Ribbon
Techniques: Distressing