April SUSIE-Q Fun Tip(s)!


Well, it’s me, Susan (susiestampalot) and I’m back again with my monthly ramblings/tips/tutorial.  This time, I thought  ya’ll would like to see what’s in my drawers!  Yes, we YNS design team members have been chatting behind the scenes about our craft spaces (I’ve been mostly drooling at some of the other girls’ spaces!), so I thought it would be fun to “bare all” and show ya’ll where I work.  (Warning–this post is picture HEAVY, so I hope ya’ll don’t mind.)  This will also act as a “SHOUT OUT” to all of you that don’t have a craft room per se and just have a small space like me.  I craft from a corner of our master bedroom.  I still call it my craft room, and we just happen to sleep in there!

Anyway, I hope someone gleans something from my keen organizational skillz…Let’s go.


Welcome to my world.  I basically take up an entire wall in our bedroom and have a couple of other storage pieces you’ll see in a minute across on the other side of the room.  Because of my limited space, I have to be quite “crafty” in how I store everything (and keep it clean). 

Here’s where all the action takes place for the most part.  Copics, glue, scrap basket, trimmer, Prima self-healing mat and I couldn’t live without the grid paper to work on!  Oh and see the little bucket to the far right?  I keep all my white/cream/kraft scraps here to stamp images on.  Just mark the paper type with a pencil very lightly in the corner to know what you’re about to work with (Neenah, PTI, Georgia Pacific–I use the first letter of each.)

 
This magnet strip from IKEA has been the BEST THING

 
Ok, moving to the right of my desk is my cardstock/12×12 paper storage.  The cardstock sorter has been the greatest thing…cost me a nickel (long story).  My 12×12 paper is stored above it in the plastic boxes (mostly solids and a project kit I want to make), and the paper I use all the time is sorted in the shelves by new, whole paper collections, polkadots (A MUST) and older papers.  I keep my heat gun plugged in all the time as I heat set all black ink (paranoid) and I just hang it in that bucket.  I like buckets.


One of the sections in this sorter is for my larger cardstock scraps.  I cut down some plastic dividers I found at a garage sale to fit the cubbie.  This is where I look first for cardstock when making a card or project.  It’s my favorite.

 
I love my dies too, so when I switched from a Cuttlebug (which I kept on the floor and shlepped it up on my desk when I needed it) to a Big Shot, I needed a little table to put it on…also from IKEA, just wish it had drawers.  I also keep my tool caddy here.  It has ALL of my essentials.  I have to be portable, because I take this to work every weekend (I work at my local scrapbook store.).  I’ve learned exactly what I need and don’t need by doing this.  My trimmer goes right in the middle of it.  The best part?  One of my besties gave it to me AND it turns like a lazy Susan (hey, who ya’ll callin’ lazy?).


Are ya’ll still with me?  Like I said, I have to stay “portable”, but at the same time, I don’t want to carry a bunch of stuff.  So here’s my die situation.  NOT ORGANIZED, but all in one place!?!?  Nestabilities are kept in this CD case and ALL my other dies (except one other company…I have my reasons) are kept loosey-goosey in this zipper case with a clear front.  I have an extra one to do a little “sorting” with, but haven’t got to it yet.  I don’t like to spend a lot of time on organizing.  I’d rather be crafting with that time.  Can I get an “AMEN“?

 
Ok, let me whisk you across the vast expanse of my room to the other side…Here’s where I have my most important stamp sets in the Elfa Cart, and who knows what lurks behind those doors of that armoire.  I DO know, I just don’t want to think about it.  It’s stuff like extra embellishments, more ribbon, alterables, wood-mounted stamps and stamps from other companies who I don’t design for, glitter, Mod Podge–I really need to clean it out.  Who wants to come help me?


Back to more important things–now it’s time to see in MY DRAWERS!  (I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours!)  Let’s start with my white sewing machine desk.  Buttons sorted by color make me happy.


Behind my sewing machine, are my favorite ribbon organizers from Michael’s.  When I got these, I knew I would never keep my ribbon in anything else…


…except this drawer and oh yeah, over in that armoire across the room.


Another thing that keeps me sane in my tiny space–if I didn’t use this bucket, I’d have a big mess pile all the time of new things/things that need to be put away.  I just got those markers on Friday and can’t wait to try them!  I see some YNS that needs to find its friends, too!  This is where I also keep current stuff and stamp sets I need to use for design work.  It gets cleaned out about once a month.

A couple of the other drawers in the white desk.  These are to my immediate left when I’m working, so they are super handy to have close by because I use this stuff A LOT.  I don’t even have to get up from my chair to find things here!  Again, NOT ORGANIZED in any way, just thrown in there.  Ain’t nobody got time fo dat!

 
Moving back “home” to my little solid maple blue desk.  It has a special place in my heart.  It used to be my sisters’ desk where they would do their homework as teenagers, then I saw it in my brother-in-law’s shed and gave it new life several years ago (fought off a swarm of hornets getting it out, too!).  I did the crackle paint job to it (when crackle was cool) and hand-painted several things on the top, front and sides that you just can’t see.  Someday it will have a nicer home and I can have it on display again!).  Ok, so did I distract you from seeing my TERRIBLY DIRTY acrylic blocks?  That’s how I roll.


Doodads.  In a drawer.  ‘Nuff said.  Except I do LOVE those little trinket boxes from Making Memories.  Not only do they close, but they “lock” shut with little slider thingies on the front.  If they are dropped, they won’t fling open (unless they shatter, of course).  My floor is stained concrete.  It could happen.


This is the drawer right in front of me at my desk.  It holds, well, you know, the essentials…who DOESN’T have a Spongebob notebook?

 
Well, since I showed ya’ll all the other stuff, I thought I’d share the other most “permanent fixture” in my craft space–ME!!  Time to stamp, ya’ll!!!

Again, I hope that wasn’t TOO SCARY, seeing my drawers and all (or my face)!  And I hope everyone who has a tiny craft space especially, found something fun to help them out in their organizational journey!  If ya’ll have any questions about anything you see here or even something I didn’t talk about, I’d LOVE to  hear from you!

DONT’ FORGET to leave me a comment— 

  There’s going to be a random drawing on April 5th from all the comments to win some YNS goodies!    

Ready, set, GO!!!!!
FacebookPinterestTwitterEmail

39 Comments

  1. 1

    I love your ribbon storage… as for the rest it looks like it works for you, everything has a place and to me that is all that matters… that it works and that i can find it…

  2. 2
    Lucinda says:

    I love that you use your bedroom as your craft space.Its nice to know that not everyone has a custom made craft room. who says you cant be creative in the bedroom?LOL

  3. 3
    FitXmom says:

    Wow, that is a great idea!! I need to first find my little crafting corner and then start building it. For now, I am using a hallway closet to store my stuff. Thank you for sharing your creation station! πŸ™‚

  4. 4
    Eret says:

    I’m so happy to hear that I’m not the only one who crafts in the bedroom. Or sleep in the craft room πŸ™‚ I love this attidude πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing your room

  5. 5
    Heather says:

    I think it is a lovely “craft room”. Thanks for sharing it with us. I am WAY too organized and love to organize sometmes when I really should be crafting. So I will come help you clean out the armoire if you will make a card for me πŸ™‚

  6. 6
    Janet Zeppa says:

    Kudos to you for proving that you don’t need a separate craft room to get crafty!!

  7. 7
    Debbie says:

    Love your crafting area. It looks very organized to me. And you know where everything is, which is the important thing.
    Thanks for sharing.

  8. 8
    Tracey says:

    Thanks so much for sharing your space!! I love how organized you are!!

  9. 9

    I LOVE your craft space Susan! I think it is all beautifully organized and found your comments entertaining. Thank you for sharing your crafting space with us and sharing ideas for us to incorporate into our own organization!

  10. 10

    Hi Susie! I like your craft room too! I especially like your idea for storing dies and will tuck that away for myself. Your ribbon organizer is totally cool but too big for my space. I have a coat closet converted to shelves and drag everything out on the kitchen table. It’s a work in progress for me. Perhaps, a small desk in my bedroom would be nice to speed up my crafting time. A space to leave the essentials and use my closet for storage and pull from there? I like that idea ALOT. Thank you for sharing with us and your great sense of humor. You always make me smile!

  11. 11
    Dandi93 says:

    Awesome craft space Susan, Love your organized supplies, I can’t work unless I am organized…Shhh..I am weird that way.. It’s great getting to see another stamper’s work area.. so thanks for all the photos.. It is amazing how much of the essentials we can pull in and make handy….BTW, Can one ever have too many supplies? I think “NOT”… lol

  12. 12
    Joyce Fisher says:

    Hi Susan,
    Love the ribbon organizer and the magnetic strip for the tools. I’m always trying to find the piercing tool & stylus!
    Peace, Love & Joy,
    Joyce

  13. 13

    Wow, I can’t believe how much you managed to get on one wall of a room! You definitely made the most of the space you have. I’m working on my craftroom right now & it’s very challenging to figure out what works best & where it needs to be placed. Great job!

  14. 14
    Jenny says:

    LOVED reading your post Susan! You have really made use of a small space, and it looks NEAT! Great inspiration here! xo

  15. 15
    Linda Monroe says:

    Thanks for keeping it real Susan. I love your craft space and what a darling husband you must have to allows you to take over the bedroom for your hobby.

  16. 16
    Mehrll says:

    You have inspired me to be more intelligent on what I keep and what I store and how to store it. I am bad about keeping everything so I’ll have it “someday” when I need it. Thanks for the inspiration.

  17. 17
    Monica-FC says:

    there is alot there one can do for organizing ones craft room. thanks you so much for a chance to win also.

  18. 18
    marg0006 says:

    Great ideas in organizing. Wish I had a room to organize. You did a wonderful job.

    marg0006 at Verizon dot net
    Loving Scrapper 101

  19. 19

    oh my goodness.. Susan you have the best space!! i have a small craft room but yours is much more organized – love the ribbon storage – i will have to be on the look out for that

  20. 20

    I’m cracking up here! The cone of shame?! LOL!! πŸ™‚ You have effectively shown how much you can store in a small space! And really truly all of us who craft have ridiculous amounts of STUFF. I myself must share THAT cone of shame! πŸ™‚ thanks for sharing and making me laugh after an incredibly rough Monday!

  21. 21

    Awesome space…. Now can you come over and help me organize my loot. =)

  22. 22
    Sheila says:

    I know what it’s like to have a small craft space. I live in a 680 sq ft condo in Toronto. My craft space is a wall too. But it holds a lot if you’re organized. Thanks for sharing yours. Maybe you’d like to check out mine?!
    It’s here http://www.sheloveshoes.blogspot.com just scroll down and click on the picture. Thanks again!

  23. 23

    I think it’s great!!! As long as it works for you–that’s all that matters!!!

  24. 24

    Bless your heart for your zeal for the stamping life – its refreshing to see the real deal which most of us share right on up there with you! High five!

  25. 25

    This is awesome! I have that EXACT black and pink bag LOL!! πŸ™‚

  26. 26
    Nancy says:

    You are just too cute, Susan! Thank you for helping to help me locate a design from TCP at Lynn’s request! When I grow up, I want to be fantastic at this whacked out hobby as you are! Since I’ve just started out, really, I do have a room just for the craft, but don’t have much in it. Time….Thanks for sharing!

  27. 27
    Indy says:

    What fun to see another crafter’s space! I’m lucky enough to have a small craft room and storage closet. My hubby framed it just for me when finishing the basement. Looks like you have maximized your space. Thanks for sharing!
    {hugs}
    Indy

  28. 28
    Sue D says:

    Thanks for sharing your happy crafting space–it is always nice to see where other people craft.

  29. 29
    MamaKaraba says:

    Could you please come over to my house and organize my craft stuff?

  30. 30
    Billie A says:

    Awesome tour of your craft room/bedroom.. love it. It’s nice to see your storage and it’s funny how we all have the same things or similar and storage similar too. Of course every crafter has a chocolate stash.. how come mine is bigger..hum. Great you got the family memory desk it’s always nice to have that piece of comfort. Thanks for sharing your piece of crafting heaven.

  31. 31

    I love your room! I am so jealous of your space, if only my husband would let me do this! I love the magnetic strip idea and your doodad drawer!

  32. 32
    Mary-Anne V says:

    Wow thanks for the tour…its so neat to see how other crafters use their space. I really liked the magnetic strip from Ikea, the cd case for dies and the ribbon holder.

  33. 33
    Nancy L. says:

    Very nice! Thanks for the tour!

  34. 34
    Shari says:

    Thank you so much for the informative tour! Maybe a small space, but so well utalized! I have a craft room and trust me, no matter how much room you have there is never enough space! LOL. Only thing with having a whole room to play in is you seem to spend more as you can store more LOL. Oh and just to make you feel better, I have Dark Chocolate covered Almonds in a jar in my room =)

    Hugs;
    Shari

  35. 35
    Carole RB says:

    Hi Susie, I wish my craftroom would be as organised as yours!

  36. 36
    Tracey says:

    Thanks for sharing this with us. You have definitely given me some ideas that I just might use as I get my space set up….hopefully. I am trying to find the time, sooner than later I hope! Take care and enjoy your haven.
    Hugs, Tracey

  37. 37
    Olivia says:

    Such a fabulous crafty spot and jammed packed with so many goodies!

  38. 38
    DogsMom says:

    I missed the contest but still had to tell you how wonderful your space is. Thanks for sharing it.

  39. 39
    terry says:

    ok. That copic bucket looks very familiar! ~Terry Y.

Leave a Reply to Beverly's Stamping Beehive

© 2024 Your Next Stamp. All Rights Reserved.