Storage & Organization

Hmmm, so I love to organize and have everything in it's place. But I'm having issues with my paper/mixed media/scraping supplies. First problem, I have too much! There is so much out there and it's easy to think that you need it all! I bought one of these storage carts at sam's club and it is awesome. The drawers are big enough to hold 12x12 paper. I have a drawer for each child, so I can throw their photos into their drawer along with anything else that is special to them and then when I have time to scrap I can pull out their drawer and there it is.

So that is all good, but then their are chip pieces, brads, ribbons, rub-on's, stamps, stickers and tons of other embellishments. Not to mention the tools, embossing folders, sprays, paints, dies, just to name a few...

So you can probably see in the photo, I have more than one cart now. There are three... You can also see in the drawers that they are all FULL. So getting back to problem #1, having too much stuff. Now in my defense, I sell a lot of these things on my website. So having tons of paper takes up space. The cart on the left is full of paper for sale. 

Problem #2, remembering what I have? Have you ever peaked into Tim Holtz's studio? How on earth does that man remember what he has? I'll be digging around for something and find something else I forgot I had that would have been so cool on a project I finished yesterday! Tim says he keep everything in open storage so he sees it all. With all of that eye candy around you, it would take great focus to get anything done!

So, getting back to the task on hand, getting things organized in a helpful manner. Do you group your supplies by type. All of the paper here, tools over there and embellishments over there? Or do you keep things organized by season. Christmas supplies all in this drawer, Halloween in another and so on. Or do you put together and organize your supplies by future projects?

If you have pictures of your studio/craft rooms I'd love to see them! I'll take some more of my room to show you too.

Cyber Monday Madness!

Shop Handmade This Christmas!

I'm participating in the Cyber Monday Madness. Starting at Midnight tonight, everything on my website will be 30% off! The sale will go through the end of the month. There are a lot of items that are one-of-a-kind and they will go first come first get! I will work with local people on getting things to town for a pick up and refund shipping if you so wish.

Handmade products have so much more meaning than "made in china"! Think of supporting your local artists this holiday season!

Hard at work!

So this is what my work table looks like right now: 

Ready for paint. Tis the busy season right?

My Gift!

Okay seriously. Who doesn't LOVE getting a present in the mail!? And when you know it's coming from a crafty person, well that just amps up the excitement doesn't it! 

So with great anticipation I awaited the mailman. He brought me a box yesterday and I dove right in! I did have enough patience to take a photo before I opened it, isn't the wrapping wonderful?

 Hand stamped tag anyone? What wonderful details!!

Look at this wonderful heart garland! I absolutely LOVE it! I can't wait to decorate with it. Thank you so so much Hanneke!

Gift Exchange

So I'm participating in my first online gift exchange! How much fun! This is the paper cone wreath that I've made for my partner. I hope she likes it! 

Check out the blog for the gift exchange! http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/

The Handmade'ns Show

 Soo I feel terrible! It took me weeks to get this done! But I finally have posted some photos from this year's show. I also brought my video camera along for the set up.

The YouTube Link

I do want to apologize for the bad video. I wasn't a very good camera woman! 

  

Here are a couple of shots of the show before we opened:

A little history on the Handmade'ns show. It started in 1976. There is usually around 12 women in the group. There are no original members still in, but there are a couple that have been in for quite a while! The show is more of a boutique, and it's held once a year, usually the first Sunday in November. The Handmade'ns pride themselves in offering quality hand made products. There is quite a range, from welding, painting, woodwork, sewing and crochet!

Ebay Ebay!

Have you checked out my ebay listings lately? I have tons of stuff listed and more will be added! Oh and there are $1 auctions, so you should go there now and check them out!

So here I am! Things have been crazy busy lately. I thought after Handmade'ns I would be able to relax a little bit. That has yet to happen! I will be posting photos of the show along with a video that I shot soon. It was a wonderful show, we had so much merchandise this year, it was great!

Anyway, on to this post. I was fortunate enough to come by a large collection of books this summer. They are old law books from the 40's. So this lead me to look into what I could do with all of these books.

Reading them is out of the question! Of course when looking for ideas, you go to Pinterest! Here are some photos I found there:

 

What do YOU make out of old books?

Happy Halloween

From my 3 favorite spooks!  

Just Waiting for Santa

 

Find us here!

New Tutorial

Today I put together a video making this Joy standing sign. The finished piece is going to be for sale at my Handmade'ns show on the 6th of November. Click the link below to go to the video!

You Tube Tutorial

Here is another one I have finished for the show! I absolutely LOVE how this turned out!

Current WIP

Here Comes Santa Clause...

I finished up some Santa's for Handmade'ns yesterday. So now it's on to another project!

More Finished Pieces

So the weather has been beautiful today so I decided to work in the garage and outside finishing up a couple of things that I started a while back. I took some old window frames and jazzed them up a bit making them into cork/chalk boards. I've added knobs on the bottom for hanging other essentials and made custom push pins for the cork side. 

 I used the chalk board spray paint and coated the plywood with it. I didn't want a perfectly smooth look, so I left some of the detail in the wood when I sanded it before painting.

 I don't know which one I like better!

I also finished a shelf I built from scratch, but the stain is drying at the moment. Pictures will be posted on it later! Back to work!

Snowman Army

Here is the workings of my Snowman Army. 

Now on to Santas! 

Thanks Sweet Meadow Farms for the Pattern and inspiration!

Work Update

Quick post. I'm hard at work finishing some of my Handmade'ns projects. My snowmen are starting to look like snowmen! And yes I spy, that is an almost empty glass of wine in the background...

Handmade'ns is Getting Close!

So I can't believe how fast time is flying! We are well into October! My Handmade'ns show will be here before I know it! Yikes!! It's time to start working overtime cranking out the holiday goodness. Here is one of the things that I managed to get done yesterday. I've got some more of these planned and I'll be doing a you tube video tutorial on them as well.

The happy holidays is just stamped on old book paper and then I applied glossy accents on top to give it a cool effect.

I also lined some of the embellishments with stickles for a little bit of bling...

So I'm sure you have all heard about Pinterest by now. And like me have been sucked into it's fabulous world. I wont even admit how much of my time has been spent surfing the pictures sketching new ideas. Here is one of the things that I spied on the pin and have made. Thank you fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com for the original idea!

Here I Am!

I want to apologize! I have been MIA lately! I have been working working working. I've been getting things done and I can see the floor in my craft room. I just finished these pumpkins and they can be purchased at The Country Nest downtown Kearney! Prices of these range $4 - $10

Another thing I finished that can be purchased at the store is this awesome pumpkin wreath! It is mounted on an old bushel basket lid.

I've been working on some more things for Handmade'ns. I've got a couple of these old window cork boards. I'm also going to have some that are half chalk board and half cork board. I've added knobs to the bottom to hang your favorite items from.

After seeing these yarn wreaths on Pinterest I knew I wanted to make some. This is the first one that I've finished.

I sprayed the fall colored roses with a glimmer spray for a nice shine. I've got a couple more of these started.

Well it's back to work!

It's Never Too Late...

Today I had a rare moment of silence and was able to finish my piece! Let me know what you think! I did it as a famous quote challenge piece.

Current WIP

This is what is currently laying on my work table. Stay tuned for the finished product!

Halloween House Album Kit

So who wants to make this adorable album?

Check out this fabulous kit! Get ready to show off your Halloween photos in this Haunted House Chip Album. Click on any of the photos to see what you all get in this kit! The album is approx. 5.75" wide by 6" tall. All of the supplies bought separately would be over $30 dollars! You get this kit for $15 plus $6 priority shipping. Check out the video of my finished house.