My Craft Room

These are photos of my updated craft room. I became an Independent Stampin’ Up! demonstrator in June of 2013. In this past year I have acquired a need to be more organized. I was organized before but with the extra income that I’m getting as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I am able to purchase better organizational items. Since my space is small, I have to make very good use of it of every inch. I left the photos of my old craft room and they are below.

This photo was taken standing in the doorway to my craft room. I used to have a love seat instead of a chair but wanted my love seat upstairs. But this is a nice large chair that I can curl up in when not at my craft table. (It doesn’t get much use.) I didn’t take a photo of it but the chair faces a wall that has an entertainment center.

The top of this stamp cabinet was bought online many years ago. My husband, Vern, built the bottom storage cabinet. He did a wonderful job on it! It used to sit where my stamp shelves sit now, but with the new cases that the Stampin’ Up! stamps come in, it is almost obsolete. Of course I would never part with it. I keep single stamps and the old style Stampin’ Up! stamps in it.

Behind my stamp cabinet is my desk. Under my desk, I store my Big Shot Pro. I rarely used it and it was taking up precious space. I also have a pink canvas fold down cube under there that holds some of my 12×12″ Designer Series Paper. I easily pull it out when needed.

I LOVE seeing my desk this clean! Doesn’t happen very often. I’m hoping that with all the changes I’ve made it will be easier to keep things in order. Although, it seems that whenever I’m working on a project, things just explode on my desk! It always amazes me how much stuff my desk can accumulate with just one simple project. Anyone else have that problem?!

This organizer was intended to sit on a desk. But when I laid eyes on it, I knew immediately that it was going to go on the wall. I have been thinking for literally years, about a good place to house my paper trimmer. I needed it close at hand, yet out of the way. I found this at Office Max. It’s made of wire and I was able to screw it right to the wall, right beside my desk. It’s no longer in the way and is at arms reach when needed, which is very often!

I didn’t change my card stock storage. I have been using this system for years and it works great for me. I have a hanging file for each color and each hanging folder has a file folder to hold the scraps for that particular color. It sits right beside me. I did change the way I store my Whisper White scraps. I was getting so many that it was taking up too much space in the files. I now use a plastic tub which sits on the bottom.

My stamp shelf is one of the best items I purchased! I found it on Amazon.com. It was intended for DVDs but is perfect for the new cases that the Stampin’ Up! stamps come in. On top are boxes that I made using Sam’s templates on pootles.co.uk. I have my Framelits, embossing folders, and Thinlits in them. There is also one to hold all my stampin’ up markers.

Here is my ribbon shelf that my husband made for me for Mother’s Day! I found him some dimensions on the internet, we went out to the garage to find some lumber and I spotted some leftover trim. The next day he’d made me 2 of them. This one and a smaller one. I added some washi tape to decorate it. And I can easily change it whenever I want. Yes, I have a wonderful husband! Seriously, they were so easy to make and there was no way I was going to pay the asking price plus shipping.

I was placing any order at JoAnn.com and came across this “Create” sign and it was on clearance! I think it was $4 and change! The flowers and rosettes, I made myself. The rosettes I made with the Stampin’ Up! Designer Rosette Bigz XL die. The green one I added Daydream Medallions stamp set with Strawberry Slush ink. The large flower I made using the Floral Frames Collection Framelits. And the medium and small flower I used the Flower Frenzy Bigz L die. This is the first thing to catch my eye as I walk into my craft room and it makes it a happy place to be.

These are the old style Stampin’ Up! punches. I love my punches! These punches used to be held in my desk drawer. They were easily accessible but out of sight. And usually when I wanted one it was clear to the back. And they had to be put in the drawer just so or they wouldn’t all fit. Kind of a pain. Now I can just reach for one and put it back easily. These are the Ikea Bygel storage organizers. I found them at Amazon which I was thrilled about since I don’t have an Ikea store close by. I purchased the 22″ but they also come in 39″ length. Here is a link if you’re interested. Ikea Bygel The hanging basket is also Ikea. I made a liner for it and it holds my small punches.

In the window are my Stampin’ Up! Stack & Store Caddies. They hold my embellishments (well okay, some of my embellishments). The plastic container to the left is filled with embossing folders. On the counter is my Dahle Professional Rotary Paper Trimmer (also from Amazon). I do a lot of paper cutting for classes and this trimmer is wonderful! It has a Self-Sharpening Blade and it cuts straight every time. It also doesn’t leave any jagged edges but gives a clean cut. The only con to this trimmer is that you can only cut 3 pieces of cardstock and still get the clean cut. And you can’t cut smaller than 2″. But I don’t really have a problem with the 2″ issue because I just use my small trimmer. And cutting 3 pieces of cardstock at a time is better than one. (: My Big Shot is to the left. This wonderful machine gets lots of use. The basket in the middle is part of the set to the basket on the wall holding my trimmer.

These are the newer style Stampin’ Up! punches. YEP! I love my punches! Below them is my DreamKuts paper cutter. I use this when I want to cut a single piece of cardstock in half. I’ve had this for years and the blades are the original. They are self sharping. Also, I saw this pink heat gun and since mine is over 20 years old, I decided I should have a new on. I love pink….

This is the small ribbon shelf that my husband made for me. I think I’m going to need a new one soon. (:

These cubes are from Walmart and are usually only available when the new school supplies come out. My cubes were originally black. Then I needed more and found some clear ones. Then one day I was looking for more to add to the ones I already had and came across some pink ones. Out went the black and in came the pink. Each cube is tied to the one above it, the one below and on each side with cheap ribbon so that they can’t fall. It took me hours to change out the black ones but it was worth it. If you look at my glue stash in my cubes you will see that I really like the green Mono Adhesive. I found a good (excellent) sale and stocked up. On the bottom are my Spellbinders, labeled and in CD cases. I have a pink container in the center just above the Spellbinders that I keep my Washi Tape in. The paper storage holds all of my extra cardstock. I have had this for years and don’t even remember where I purchased it from but it has held up extremely well.

This concludes the tour of my Craft Room Makeover. Thanks for stopping by. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

This was my craft room in June of 2013…

Standing in the doorway.

To the right. My Cricut Expression.

My new Big Shot! I keep it right next to my desk for easy access.

I updated my card stock so that it is now current with the new catalog!

Behind my desk, I keep my Big Shot Pro, The container in the center holds my embossing folders. And to the left is my DreamKuts.

These are cubes that I purchased at Walmart. They hold a variety of things. Stamps, Spellbinder dies, embelishments, ink overflow, etc.

Paper overflow, and cubes. (I have some pink cubes at the end that need to be put up.)

Iris Carts hold an array of things. Re-inkers, adhesives, brayers, crimpers, too many things to mention.

Old style punches in the left drawer of my desk.

New style punches and ink overflow. The white drawers hold envelopes, pearls & rhinestone, small punches & clear blocks. These are on my desk for handy use.