Gettin' By

Workspace Wednesday

Yes, I do know it's Thursday, but it's been a whirlwind week with the end of school (and accompanying activities), a quick getaway to the mountains for the long weekend (with no internet service) and generally a very full schedule here at Casa Dickinson. And in true summer form, I'm having trouble keeping the weekdays straight, let alone keeping this little blog up-to-date!

But we are settling into the slower summer routine, and next week will kick off swim team practice and summer camps for both kiddos, and hopefully I'll be able to make a more regular appearance here. In the meantime, I wanted to share some scrap space tips & tricks that were recently posted on the Elle's Studio blog. Here's some of the ideas I have for storing and organizing my ES goodies - all easily applied to any other scrap supplies as well!

 

This little tin box (found in the bathroom storage section of a home goods store) is the perfect size for holding the monthly Elle's Studio kits. I keep the kits in the original clear bags which makes it easy to flip through and find what I need. Once a kit has been mostly used up, I mix any remaining pieces in with whatever Elle’s Studio collection it coordinates best with. I have two more of these small bins that hold smaller tags, envelopes, and journal cards atop my work table.

 I love these large plastic hanging file bins from Target for cheap and colorful paper storage! The 12x12 papers fit perfectly and are easily thumbed through to find the pattern or color I need.  I use these to hold the bulk of my patterned paper, which is grouped by manufacturer and collection.

To divide each paper collection in the bin, I insert a hanging folder between each different line. The folder holds the any matching embellishments - tags, cards, stickers, etc. - that go with the collection.

 

For my smaller embellishments, I like to be able to sort through them to find the right shape and size for a layout. Rather than keep them in the original packaging, I empty them into small metal buckets. You can often find these small buckets at dollar stores, or in bulk in the wedding section of crafts stores. They make it easy to dump out your options and find the perfect piece! Tucked inside a drawer at my work table, I can see all the embellishment options I have at once.

Though I've always considered myself a novice stamper, I don't seem to have any trouble collecting cute sets! And organizing for easy use has been a trial and error process. I've finally settled on a Martha Stewart Home Office binder (I got mine at Staples) to keep all my stamps together in one place.

Inside, the three-ring binder holds pocket pages (available in a variety of sizes and configurations) and each pocket holds a stamp set. I can flip through the pages to find the images I need and the sets are easily slipped out of the top-loading pockets. 

 

I'm hoping I can apply some of these organizing and storage tips to my closet, which is in desperate need of a spring clean. Ok, it's not technically spring anymore, but do you really expect a girl who can't keep her days straight to know what season it is??

Happy Wednesday!

Workspace Wednesday

A few months back when I asked for suggestions on blog content, several readers suggested I share photos of where I scrap and some of the tips and tricks I use to organize my space. Since a full-blown tour would require I actually clean it (ain't nobody got time for that!) I'm opting to share a few bits and pieces in this new feature, Workspace Wednesday. You'll get little glimpses into my scrap space, all cleverly photographed to hide the catastrophic state that it's typically in. And I don't have to pull out the vacuum or Swiffer just to write a blog post. Sound good? Here goes!

I'm currently in the process of sorting my huge jar of buttons into smaller, color categorized jars (these tin-lid mason jars are now in the Target Dollar Spot!). While I love the huge jar for display and decor purposes, it's just not practical to dig through the mass for that elusive yellow button. I've gotten Riely to do most of the work and bonus for me - she works for Skittles!

 

My antique work desk has a faux-front door that houses an old typewriter lift, which is a perfect spot for my smaller photo printer to hide. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the compartment (and by that, I mean I told my dear husband to do it) to allow the cords to go through, and it gets tucked away nicely when not in use. Note: This printer is my HP Photosmart D7460, which I bought back in 2007 for $199 and it's still running like a champ. I think it likes its home!

 

I recently repurposed this little wooden crate to hold all my adhesives. I've never had a single spot for all of them, so naturally they are never there when I need them to be. Which results in me yelling obscenities and blaming the dog for stealing my glue. So I corralled all the most used items - foam dots, tape runners, liquid adhesive, glue dots, and double sided tape - all in one place. I'm hoping it will save my sanity (and the dog hopes so, too!)

 

I organize my scrap pieces of cardstock in a plastic crate that holds hanging files. Each color has a file and I can easily pull it out and grab a piece to punch, cut out a title, or matte a photo. Truth be told, I no longer keep pieces smaller than about 5x7 - I just don't have enough room, so I recycle them. And I think of shopping for cardstock much like shopping for toilet paper - it's just a necessity. And bulk packs are always a good idea.

 

Hope you enjoyed the debut of Workspace Wednesday! Let me know if there's anything specific you'd like to see in upcoming weeks. If it doesn't interfere with my current housekeeping strike (holding strong since 1998!) I'll be happy to try and feature it in the near future! 

 

P.S. I'm a guest on today's Paperclipping Roundtable, so hope you'll check out the podcast later today when it goes live!

 

I've Been Waiting...

...and if you can read that title without hearing Mark Salling's acoustic version on last night's Glee (and humming it to yourself), then you are obviously not a Gleek or you just have no soul.  Either way, I'm not sure we can be friends.

So yeah. A long, long time ago I discovered the world of scrapbooking when a friend took me to a Creative Memories party. And I loved the idea of pasting photos and stories in books (and, to be honest, I've had a thing for Mrs. Grossman's stickers since I was, um, seven) so it was a match made in heaven.  I started out scrapbooking every now and then, with a plastic box of supplies I'd pull out and use at the dining room table every few weeks.

Then I got more involved. I discovered scrapbook magazines, the Two Peas in a Bucket site, and scrapbooking became a much more frequent event for me. I started submitting layouts to magazines, finally getting my first publication in the March/April 2004 issue of Simple Scrapbooks. I accepted positions on a few design teams and scrapbooking evolved into an everyday occurence that quickly outgrew the plastic box and dining room table.

Fast forward to today.  I have a lovely office set-up that, in theory, should work for both my graphic design and scrapbooking.  In reality, however, I have discovered that I am a stand-up scrapper (Homo Sapien Scrapper Erectus) which means I am either stooping to work at the too-short desk, or moving my work to the floor which requires advanced level yoga moves and contortions. So after a few trips to the chiropractor, I decided it was time to find a counter-height scrap table.  And so the hunt began.

I looked for a long, long time, scouring home decor, big box, and furniture stores....garage sales and Craigslist and eBay...and every antique store in a 50 mile radius....waiting and searching for that elusive piece.  It needed to be tall, long, with a decent amount of storage, and preferably fit in with the ecclectic vintage/peeling paint/furniture-with-a-history vibe I had going on in my workspace.  And then, two weeks ago, I walked into Cozy Cottage at Flat Irons and saw it:

<<cue the angels singing and symphonic overtures>>

There it was... an old postal counter from the 1910s, counter-height in a perfectly distressed and patina-ed finish. And a glorious 8-feet of workspace! (I might have squealed like a little girl).

After pitching my argument for its purchase to Mike, which might have gone something like "If I don't get this table, I might diiiiiieeeeeeee.  Or at least pout for six weeks and make your life horrible."  (Sometimes I can be so convincing. And whiny. It's a highly developed talent.) he agreed and handed over his credit card. And I made darn sure the store slapped on a SOLD! tag before I'd leave.

So this baby was delivered on Monday and we've been getting to know each other ever since. It's got a slight slant to the work surface, but not so steep that things slide off.  The edge against the wall is level, and will soon be lined with jars of scrapping goodies.

Since the table will be replacing the glass-doored bookshelves that used to reside on this wall, I have to find places for all the stuff in that bookcase. Luckily, these drawers are big and deep, and I'm slowly working on filling them up!

I'm also realizing that I have too.dang.much.stuff and am in the process of yet another ginormous purge. Which means it looks like a scrapbook store exploded in here right now.  But by fueling up on candy corn and coffee, I'll have this space whipped into shape in no time.

Welcome home, sweet scrap table.  I've waited a long, long time for this day!

 

A Glimpse Into My Inner Sanctum.

OK, you're not really getting a peek into much more than my office, but a blog title is supposed to be a hook, right? A few months ago, when I guest designed over at Mosh Posh, they featured a little tour of my scrapbook space.  I realized I'd never posted it here, so today I'm going to remedy that!

Since I work from home and occasionally have to meet with graphic design clients here, I have commandeered the designated "office space" in our house. It's supposed to be a formal living room, but since we're not formal (and only own one sofa), it's become my studio.  The room is about a 12' x 12' and houses a big wooden desk, a glass-doored bookcase, a red leather chair, an antique filing cabinet and several smaller storage cabinets and bins to hold all my stuff. 

Almost all of the pieces are hand-me-downs or were found at antique stores, flea markets & garage sales.  I have a thing for furniture with a history (and if it has peeling paint, even better!)

My desk was an anniversary gift from my husband and found at an antique mall in Jenks, Oklahoma. I had spotted it there on a solo outing and came home to tell Mike I'd found the perfect desk. After conspiring with the sales staff at the mall, he took me back under the guise of measuring the desk to see if it would fit our space.  When we arrived, there was a big yellow SOLD sign on the piece and I was almost in tears that my treasure had been stolen from me.  Then Mike had me open the drawer where another sign said Happy Anniversary and I realized he'd already bought it for me. One of my most favorite surprises ever!

I should note that it did not look like this when we brought it home.  It was stained a dark black and had huge, hideous, scrolly brass hardward on the front.  We refinished it and added new pulls to the drawers. I love the expansive workspace (almost 5" x 3") and most days, it is usually covered in various scrap projects.  On the left side of the desk there are faux drawers, which are actually a door that houses a typewriter lift.  I love this feature because it lets me hide the more modern technology my job requires -  it's where I've stashed my photo printer and Silhouette.

I store the supplies I use regularly (adhesives, pens, scissors, punches) in a painted wood cubby on my desk - another flea market find. The only challenge is keeping other household members from "borrowing" them.

On the opposite wall as my desk is a glass-doored bookshelf, which holds the bulk of my scrapping supplies. (It's very similar to this one at Crate & Barrel.)  I have them sorted into a variety of bins, buckets and baskets and I'm always on the lookout at flea markets for vintage-y type storage.  Currently this space is packed full, which means a cleaning purge is imminent.

To the left of my desk, I have an old cupboard with shelves on the interior. To lift it off the floor, my husband added turned legs to the bottom (you can find these in the wood trim area of Home Depot).  I distressed the whole thing with cream and sage-colored paint.  It houses magazines, photo boxes, ink refills, photo paper and other stuff that's not particularly attractive and looks better behind closed doors.

On top of the cupboard is a small drawer unit that holds all my stamps, inks, and paints.  The drawers pull completely out, so I can sort through them while I'm creating. It's also another piece I practiced my distress-painting techniques on. I'm pretty sure my heaven will be painted in faux finishes. :)

I searched forever for a safe, sturdy storage option for my beloved cardstock and I was never able to find anything that was just right.  So my handy husband made me two wooden bins that fit my specifications perfectly:

My patterned paper doesn't get such pretty storage - it's stacked in paper racks and housed in the coat closet adjacent to my office.   This is another area in desperate need of a purging.  Luckily, it's also behind closed doors so it makes it easy to ignore. We also put shelves in this closet to house all my albums (and getting all my layouts into these albums is currently a work in progress!)

A recent addition to the office has helped somewhat to keep my desktop clean.  I keep a large, flat basket handy on the floor beneath my desk to sweep scraps into.  Once a week, I empty the basket into the recycle bin.


And that, my friends, is where I create. In the interest of full disclosure, I did clean up before snapping these photos.  Most days, there are scrap supplies covering the desk, floor, and any other flat surface.  Also usually present is a large dog on the floor behind the desk (carefully napping amongst the scrap disaster!) If you were to stop by my house unannounced, this is likely the scene you'd see:

Because creativity requires a mess.  At least that's what I keep telling my husband.

Have a delightful 1.11.11!