MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - Creating Space!

We all have these... close to every stamping/ scrapbooking/ paper art magazine we've ever purchased. Something in the publication caught our eye and we just had to buy it. MAYBE we'll make the project we liked... maybe not. But one thing that does happen... they ACCUMULATE.

Monday posts last year were called - Magazine Monday - where I showcased my version of a card or project culled from the various magazines taking up space on my shelf. There were still some projects I wanted to keep for reference, but I need the shelf space. I plan to get the back copies of the Stampin UP catalogs out of the file drawer (they're curling & the drawer is full) and put them on the shelf where I can access them for inspiration or look up stamps someone might have for sale.

I spent two evenings with the TV marking my 'keeper' projects with post it strips. Then I spent the next afternoon copying them. Unless I felt the detail really would stand out better in color, I copied everything in B/W. I sorted them into 5 Categories: Cards, Tags & Calendars, Projects, Tutorials, Quotes & Patterns.

When I was done copying, this is what my desk looked like:

I copied the Title of each category on the front of the blue paper and put them in a 1.5" Durable Binder by Avery. And I added something I very seldom use... Pretty, plastic dividers. I always buy the inexpensive paper ones but I decided after all this work, I deserved a little treat ;-)

I'll continue to add the print-outs from Pinterest. With each print-out, I'll make note of the blog or designer so when I do create my version I can link back to them. 

And because none of the magazines were damaged, I can pass them on to another paper artist.

Creative Blessings!

Kel

WOYWW #207 - Artistic Focus

Happy WOYWW Everyone!

I really love Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Hostess, Julida Dunnit at Stampin Ground has created this awesome web of participants that allows us to peek inside each other's studios every week. Just click -> WOYWW to see what it's all about. Come join the FUN!


Today is going to be really crazy here. We are going to pick up the granddaughters tomorrow. We'll have both girls, 5-1/2 years and the other 19 months, for 3 weeks. Then we'll take the baby home and just have the older one for another 3 weeks. So don't be surprised if you don't see me popping about for the next 6 weeks. Not because I don't want to. LOL

As you ca see, my desk has nothing to do with crafting this week. I am on a crucial deadline to get my novella manuscript to the editor. Deadline technically is May 31st but I've been pushing to get the manuscript off before we go after the girls. I don't think that's going to happen. Thankfully I have DH to help with the girls for the two more weeks so I can still make deadline.

I'm off to get the sleeping arrangements set up. Have a Super Creative Week!
Kelly

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - Dauber Storage

I don't know why I had set this to run last Thursday. I wanted it to run today, so I've bumped it up.

Okay... I know the Mixed Media thing is a bit off course. I've just been so intent on getting things organized to use them that I've not done the mixed media art like I want to. I guess it's an OCD thing for me that I never realized I had until a couple of years ago. Things have to be 'just right' for me to work.

So for awhile my Mixed Media Monday posts will showcase some of the organization techniques I've been creating.

This week, it's all about Dauber Storage

I knew I wanted to use a dauber for each of my Stampin Up Ink Spots (which they've seen fit to retire - GRRRR!)

The challenge was how to bring the two together. How to store a dauber with its matching color? I didn't want them tossed into a dish to be dug through (that OCD thing kicking in again).  So after a bit of thought, I headed to my local hardware store and came up with these:

These are 9/16" diameter cork disks. They fit perfectly inside the finger hole of the dauber and they have adhesive on the back.  One cork is not thick enough to support the dauber. So I stacked them 2-high:

Then stuck one 'stack' on top of each spot lid:

I store my SPOTS, REFILLS and WaterColor Crayons by color family in their own Sterilite tub - minus the lid:

Next to each of the refill bottles, I have a piece of rubber mat like you put under exercise equipment that has a texture. The box of watercolor crayons store underneath the spot box.

With the retiring of the spots, I'll continue to use the available colors and my favorite colors. I don't think I'm going to purchase the full-size pads. I just don't have the room to store them... not even if I were to use one of those vertical storage units. I'd have to have a place to put that. LOL I'll purchase the refills and create a stamping pad with a dense sponge square whenever I need a color.

All the retired spots (I have all of those from when SU did a complete color family overhaul a couple years ago) are going to get their own daubers. Then I'm going to make a tray out of foam core to store them (along with their refill) with my Mixed Media supplies.

I'd love to hear how you store yours! What works for you?
Creative Blessings! - Kel

WOYWW #206 - What Do I Keep In Those Little Drawers?

I really love What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Hostess, Julia Dunnit at Stampin' Ground has created this awesome web of participants that allows us to peek inside each other's studios every week. Just click -> WOYWW to see what it's all about.

In the mean time... some of you have asked about my little drawer units at the back of my desk. These are 2 separate units of 6 drawers each... 3 over 3. I found them at a Goodwill store for $5 each. Not sure what I would do with them at the time, but I knew I couldn't leave them there. When I brought them home and sat them on the table, I knew they'd be perfect for items I use a lot but didn't want just sitting about. I later found these same drawer units in Oriental Trading for $30 each! Now I really wish I'd bought them all! So here we go...

Top Drawer - Glue Dots & Red Tape

Bottom Drawer - Pop Dots

Top Drawer - Acrylic Blocks

Bottom Drawer - Piercing Tools & Replacement Cutting Blades

Top Drawer - Hammer, Eyelet Tools, TH Sanding Block & refills

 Top Drawer - Shape Punches (May donate)

Bottom Drawer - Charms & other Metal Hardware

If I donate those hand punches, I'm going to use this drawer for the little ID Stamps I use on every card... you know the ones that say 'Stamped With Love', 'This Wish Stamped For You', etc. as well as my 2 most used large ink pads - VersaMark and Memento Black

And just in case you guys think my desk is never messy, I shot this pic after my crafting session on Saturday. I finally got the cards done up I was behind on... every one inspired by a card on Pinterest. I'll show them another time.. but here's my desk before clean-up:

I left just enough space in front of me to bring in the paper trimmer when needed. You can just see the stack of images to the left that I'd printed off my Pinterest board - Paper Playhouse. I've since done something else with them I'll be showing one day next week. Today, my desk is back to normal. 

And here's a puzzle for you... look to the upper right side of the picture.. just in front of the green corner punch. Can you tell what that might be? I will tell you it's one of my new organization tips I'll be showing soon. In the mean time, I'd love to hear what you think it is.

With hubby home a day early and two deadlines looming, I'll get around to as many of you as I can. Happy WOYWW!

Creative Blessings!

Kelly

BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY - Courtesy of Kezzy's Crafty Journey

Okay y'all! I know you LOVE FREE stuff and my WOYWW bud, Kezzy has an AWESOME assortment of goodies to give away.

There are no hoops to jump through... just stop at her blog and wish her a Happy Blog Anniversary! Though if you want to stalk... I mean follow... her, she wouldn't mind. Hehe
So cruise on over to Kezzys Crafty Journey for your chance to win. Winner will be selected by Random.org on May 23rd!

Good Luck & Creative Blessings!
Kel

TEAPOT TUESDAY - Bring On the Wine!

Today's card is for a lady in Canada. Marie thought she had the flu, only to be diagnosed with H1N1. She's use to being active so the rest required for her to recuperate is not going to be easy. So we decided to bring food & wine.

I thought I had the perfect image. I had several 'kits' left over from a Make & Take back when I worked at Michaels. With everything cut this card should take me all of five minutes to put together.  HA! All the pieces were cut... but none of the images had been stamped. All I had was the sample but not the stamp.

PrintShop to the rescue. I do not know what I'll do if I ever have a system that will not allow me to load my PrintShop. I LOVE this program have used it a lot over the past 15 years. I found this image with wine and cheese and fruit. Yum!  Since I've recently discovered I enjoy a glass of wine in the evenings, this was a card right up my grape arbor - one I'm still hoping to get planted soon! LOL

The kits had all been cut from the Heritage Collection pak of the ValuCardstock and a single 12x12 sheet of adhesive-backed cork (found with the scrapbooking paper). I replaced the P A R T Y sentiment originally used in the kit with this sentiment from Heidi Grace Sentiments CS collection. Brads for texture. 

While I was printing the image, I printed enough to finish up the remaining 9 card kits. I can stamp a sentiment on the inside for birthday, anniversary, promotion... 

But that's one more UFO project put together... and it only took me 2 hours to make all 10 cards!

I already have tomorrow's post ready to go. Technically we're suppose to take a picture of what our desk looks like on Wednesday morning for the Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday.  But some of you keep asking what I keep in those little drawers and I promised to share them with you tomorrow. Pics are done, resized and I'll write that post up next.

And it's a good thing. Bob called to let me know he'll be home either really late tonight (okay wee hours of the morning) or mid-day tomorrow instead of tomorrow night... Which means I'm cleaning like a whirlwind today! LOL

Happy Tuesday!

ARTIST KAYLAN BUTEYN - Win a set of her watercolor cards!

One of my fav places to cruise on WOYWW is The Emerald Homestead.

Kaylan is a fabulous watercolor artist, loving wife and mother, (in my mind) a bit of traditionalist. Today is offering you the opportunity to win a set of her beautiful cards (with envelopes).  I hope you'll pop over and introduce yourself.

Good Luck and Creative Blessings!
Kel