Following other Creative Souls

With the holidays nearly out of the way in my world, I'm beginning to put things in place for the new year. One of those is getting back to creating. As I've worked on Holiday cards I felt a sense of peace like I've not felt for most of this year. With my favorite holiday movies playing in the background, I just let my mind and fingers wander where they wanted.

I've also started following blogs of other Creative Souls. For over a year I've received SheetLoad of Cards in my email courtesy of FeedBlitz. Now that I have the time to follow them regularly, they are retiring. But bless Crafty Al (Alicia), she is going to continue to inspire on her blog http://callmecraftyal.blogspot.com Not only is Alicia extremely talented but she surrounds herself with other Creative Souls. I look forward to getting to know her in 2010.

So, while you're looking for a new place to be inspired, drop by Alicia's blog and say Hi. She loves company and will be happy to see you.

Cardstock Storage

Finally found the elusive pics of the cabinet I bought at auction this past spring. It was listed as a 'scrapbook cabinet'. I picked it up for $5. The eight long, shallow drawers are perfect for storing the SU cardstock by color family. Spreading them out in a step-fashion, I can use 2 drawers per color family with plenty of room.

I covered the top with non-slip cabinet liner. I have the InkSpots in their respective boxes sitting in easy access. Behind each box is a basket to hold the refills in that color family. I like having everything easy to reach. If it's easy to get to, than it's easy to put back when I'm through - well, in theory. hehe

In a couple days I'll have pics of the ATCs I just finished for a Halloween swap.
Until then, Creative Blessings

Polymer Cafe Magazine

Okay, I have yet to see a copy of the new Polymer Cafe Magazine but the president of my guild emailed today to say she read the article and loved it. Now if my copy would just get here!

So if you're into beading, polymer cafe or just wonder what the heck I'm talking about, the Dec. issue of Polymer Cafe is at your local Borders, B & N, Michaels or Hobby Lobby. PC is the only magazine dedicated solely to the polymer clay industry. I'll have another article coming out after the first of the year.

Check out... www.polymercafe.com

I finally got the pics taken of the paper storage unit and will be posting it on Monday. I thought I'd better grab a pic while the desk in the background looked like a work space and not like a stamp and paper store exploded all over it. :-) I cleared the space and got to make some Halloween themed ATC's. I'll post pics of those just as soon as I know the gals in the swap have received theirs.

Creative Blessings

Getting Organized

When we moved to this Ozark oasis two years ago, we went from an eleven-room Victorian with lots of space to a 2-bedroom ranch. In the Victorian I had a 7'x18' office and a 10'x10' crafting space. In the new house, this all had to fit into a single 11'x15 space. I decided the best way to accomplish this was to create two separate working areas.

On the East and South walls I have an 'L-shaped' counter space for the printer/computer/stereo. The counter is anchored on both ends by base kitchen cabinets. Lots of storage for all the paper and computer programs a writer could need.

The West wall is a large 3-sectioned unit of shelves from a video store close out. The unit is jam packed with books to be read (TBR pile), research books for my novel writing and collectors books - many of them dating back to the late 1800's.

When my daughter left home the year before we moved, she left behind a large entertainment center. Leaving it behind was much easier than taking it apart. :-) Her loss was my Gold Mine. I knew this is where all of my rubber stamping/ scrapbooking supplies needed to fit. So in this new house, the Entertainment Center took on a whole new life along the North wall.

I laid out all of my stamp/scrap supplies and designed drawers for everything to fit in. Then I gave the dimensions to my capable hubby. Using the shelves we removed from the old craft room and sheets of underlayment, he constructed the drawers. Here's what my Creative Space looks like now.

The only difference is the computer is no longer in that center cubby. This now houses all of my inspiration books. The drawers on the left hold inks, paper/cs scraps, adhesives, punches and embellishments. Here's a pic of one of the embellishment drawers...

The right side of the unit is all stamps and fibers...

I also have added a 8-drawer scrapbooking cabinet that sits at the end of the table (drawers facing out). I covered the top with slipguard shelf liner in a matching blue. On top I keep all of my SU ink spots and ink refills. The drawers each hold color families of the 12x12 SU cardstock.

Since my daughter and granddaughter moved into the basement, I don't get the frequent use of the space but when I do, it's nice to know where everything is.

Do you have a space to call your own? Post a comment and include a link to your site and share yours with us!

Creative Blessings!

Kelly

Returning to Normal

Whatever normal is or as close as it will be for awhile.

I'm finally making time to play with my toys again. The keyword there is 'making'. I have to make time to play, to read, to watch my favorite TV show... whatever.

With that foot-to-the-floor decision came a sense of peace. Ink on my fingers, hearing the blade slide through the paper trimmer... ah bliss. Well, as peaceful as it can be with 70s music rockin' on the XM Direct TV channel. hehe

I'll have pictures to post in a couple days and as promised, a couple people to introduce you to. So hang with me. It's going to be FUN!

Swatch Ring

I've been working on this project for several weeks. It is still a work in progress. The picture left reminds me of Monopoly deed cards.

The Name Tab is printed on it's color of CS. I've then stamped a heart from the Mini Messages set in the coordinated ink color. This lets me see the true ink color on white.

At the bottom of each I've printed out a tag Bulleting the order number for the Ink Pad, Ink Refill, Marker, 12x12 and 8.5x11 CS.

When I have that item, I'll put a check mark so I know instantly what I have and what I still need to order.

When I have a package of the cardstock, I'll mat each one with the CS. The reverse side of the mat is large enough to audition colors for a project, I simply pull out my Swatch Ring and decide what colors to work with before even going to the drawers.

So far I've been able to complete the ring cards ( with the exception of inkspots) for past In Colors I have and all of the new 2009 In Colors (see left)

Next week... Part 1 of my workstation and how it's organized

Until then...

Creative Blessings!

Happy 4th of July!

I hope today's post finds all of my friends enjoying a safe and happy holiday weekend. It's quiet here in the central Ozarks. Hints of storms loom overhead, threatening to wash out any fireworks displays. I would like to have taken my granddaughter to see some tonight - our first 4th of July together. Instead, it sounds like an early night for her and a writing night for me.

I wanted to play with the layout. I hope you like it. I've finally made time to add links of some of my stampin' friends. These are gals I go to when I need a little inspiration. Next time you find yourself wanting to play with something different than the 'same old same old', check out their sites and you'll be back on track.

One of my favorite places to go for inspiration is www.splitcoaststampers.com If you've not been, you're in for a treat. Start with the GALLERY. More ideas there than you'll use in three lifetimes. Such creative people at SCS. I say people because you'll find some really talented guys as well as gals posting their samples at SplitCoast. SCS also has a wide variety of forums - everything from introduction to stamping/scrapping, tutorials, challenges and swaps just to name a few. A wealth of inspiration and information - FREE! You'll browse for hours so tuck the kids into bed, hand hubby the remote, grab your favorite beverage and take some personal time.

I have some things I'm playing with and hope to post early in the week.
Until then...
Creative Blessings!