My stamp room: A work in progress...PART 1

I love to go on all of these blogs or watch videos on YouTube about other people's craft rooms. I even pin pictures of them on Pinterest. The rooms I see are usually all nice and organized, and beautifully decorated with furniture from IKEA -every crafter's dream room.

That's my goal, too. However, I am not quite there yet!

If you have ever seen any of my stamp rooms in this or our past houses, you know that I am a "clutter bug"!

Well, let me tell you, I've come a long way!

It's getting there… Everything in its place or at least, I have a plan to put it SOMEWHERE, but haven't put it there yet!

I've come to the conclusion that it will never be perfect, but I wanted to share it with you anyway! If there is even one idea I can give you to help organize your stuff, I've done my job.

So, be warned! This is not a nice and tidy space like one of those "perfect" rooms you see on the web- you'll always see a little something messy in the photos!

... Just keepin' it real, people!

Here it is- my little piece of heaven !

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MY FAVORITES:

The card catalog

A recent addition to my room, this lovely piece of the past was GIVEN to me by my friend Pam A. I ended up taking a few of the drawers out to accommodate my cards and 12x12 paper, and boy, does it hold so much stuff!

Here is a peek at some of what's inside:

I even have those little pull out shelves that used to be used to write down your Dewey decimal system number(remember those?) it is now a shelf to use for heat embossing and/or using a glue gun. I keep the supplies in the drawers right above the pull out shelves, and I have an extension cord held up by command hooks, that runs along the top of the unit.

I do stamp 90% of the time, but I also love crafting in general! So, for that other 10% of the time that I'm not stamping, I even have room for general crafting supplies in this wonderful cabinet:

My custom made stamp shelf

My fabulous husband made this for me about 15 years ago as a Christmas gift!

I keep all of my non-SU! stamps on this. The shelves are adjustable to accommodate my tallest stamps, and I am able to fit stamps three-deep on each shelf!

The left-hand side of this shelf was created as a ribbon holder. I haven't used it in years because I used to have a long  table in my stamp room. I recently took that table away and was able to enjoy the side of the shelf again!

Note: you saw all my old, small punches in the card catalog drawer. All of my flat storage punches are on a ledge that goes across the width of the room. You'll notice some of them in this picture underneath the shelf.

Extra note: my husband always wants me to tell you that he will gladly make a shelf like this for you for $150. So there, I did!

CHA-CHING! Typical man… Always seeing the dollar signs!

Pull-out stamp shelves

When we bought this house, this room already had these shelves. The previous owner, I believe, used to have canning jars on them (kind of like a cold cellar?) My handy husband knew of my needs and converted six of them into pull-out shelves. Now I am able to store way too many stamps! The top, stationary shelves currently house some things that need to be given a new home.

The curtains and tie backs are recent thrift store purchases. Sometimes I just have to hide the mess and this was my way to do it!

More punch storage

This idea came from Pinterest!

An over-the-door shoe organizer comes in handy for storing punches! I use this one that I bought at Aldi for $5 to store my "lever punches". It's even my favorite color!

Well, that's it for today! I have lots more to show you, but another post will have to suffice!

A big "thank you" to my dear friend Nancy! Not only has she helped me on many days to just clean and organize my stuff, but she has given me lots of "mom advice" (like, "finish what you've started!") and also some great ideas for future projects! 

January paper pumpkin!

Paper Pumpkin for this month is a Valentine's Day project, of course!

The "Cute Conversations" kit is marvelous!

If you haven't seen it yet, you can follow this link to the Stampin' Up! Blog to view a few alternative project ideas:

http://www.stampinup.com/home/en-US/blog-post/corporate-blog/2016/01/25/january-paper-pumpkin-cute-conversations

You get 30 double-sided cut out hearts, plus all the trimmings (complete with stamps and an ink spot) to make both treat holders and a banner! I used 12 to make a banner and 18 to make nine treat pouches. 

I have only made a few treat pouches so far. But, after seeing my friend Nancy's completed kit, I decided that I would embellish the banner hearts a little more.

Here are some of her treat holders:

And here's one packaged up, all ready to be given:

Aren't they just darling? 

You can see that she used some of her own stock of embellishments, as well as more SU product that she had on hand to fancy them up.

As I said before, I followed her lead and dug out anything I could find that could pertained to Valentine's Day.... I had leftovers from last year's January paper pumpkin ("Filled with Love"), as well as last year's Artisan Embellishment kit, and some fun candy-heart stickers that I bought at Michael's.

Here is the banner I made:

And here are some close-ups:

 I am loving paper pumpkin!

And, did you know that right now during Sale-a-bration there is a sale on Paper Pumpkin?

That's right! A three month pre-paid subscription to this awesome monthly craft kit is only $55! This, of course would qualify you for a free SAB set as well!

A three month pre-paid subscription is a perfect way to try the monthly kit! It also makes a great gift for someone else!

Follow this link for more details on this tremendous deal! 

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=102100

You want to be sure that you place this order on my demonstrator website, with me, or on a workshop order- not on the paper pumpkin website- in order to use the item code you need!

My website for 24/7 shopping is:

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/dandyspandy/

Organizing Framelits

I have been wanting to change the way I organize my framelits for the Big Shot. 

All framelits come in a sturdy opaque envelope. They are attached to an inner piece of cardboard with a strip of really sticky double-sided adhesive. Half the time I feel like I'm going to bend my framelits when I try to pull them off! The other half of the time I get so frustrated because if I don't put them back on the adhesive strip, they end up falling right off and it's hard to put them all back in their envelope.

Here is what I mean:

See how they're floating around in there? Imagine a set with lots of little pieces!

I always spend a lot of time on Pinterest late at night. (If you know the follow me on Pinterest already know this) -ha ha!

I pinned a couple of different ideas for Framelit storage.

Some stampers are using a 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 photo album to store and organize their framelit collection. They are putting a set of framelits in each page sleeve.

 I have a box that I keep them in and I'm happy with that system. The box is from Creative Memories, and it was a "photo keeper". (I don't know if that is the official name, but it is wide enough to accommodate my larger size envelopes. - you know like the envelope liner framlits?)

(I keep my embossing folders in one of the storage boxes from Stampin' Up! -Perfect!)

Whether you put your framelits in an album or keep them in a container like I do, the element that all the posts seem to have in common is.... magnets.

I did a video when we first started to carry the framelits. I showed a couple of different ways how to use the heart framelits, and also how I stored them on a magnet sheet:

http://youtu.be/jh9BqZRZ0Ec

Problem is.... Stampin' Up! no longer sells the magnet sheets!

What to do...  what to do?

Who ever came up with this idea was a genius!

Yet another trip to Home Depot in order to purchase something not for its original use! 

(By the way, now that there is going to be a mad rush on this product, look for it in the plumbing, cooling and heating section of the store!)

These came in a three pack, 8" x 15", for only $4.50! I bought two, but I'm sure as my framelit collection grows (have you seen the new catalog?) I will be making more trips to Home Depot!

I cut it to the size of most of my framelits (6" x 5 3/4").

(I've had these goodies in my stamp room for years: a rotary cutter and a large cutting mat! I'm sure you could just as easily use scissors ,or even your paper cutter on this thin magnet sheet.)

No more messy framelits!

And because I had at least a 2" strip left over from what I cut, I put those to use as well!  No waste here! They were perfect for my smaller framelits!

I still have some small strips left over. I may even try this idea with framelits that match a particular stamp set:

Genius! (Tip was shared by Australian demonstrator Leonie Schroeder, on her website stamp-a-latte.com)

Try these tips! They will make your stamp room more organized and your life thatmuch easier!

June stamp club - My Paper Pumpkin!

For June I have three projects that we are making at Stamp Club: the Work of Art In Color card (which I have already posted about), the dividing screen card (which I have yet to do a post about), and a treat bag made with the June My Paper Pumpkin kit.

I am really excited to show you the My Paper Pumpkin kit!

When it first began last year, I didn't join, thinking that I already had too much stuff to do!

I have a customer who joined early on and was dissatisfied because of the elementary skill level of the first kit. She's an "advanced stamper", so I could understand.

But, then I started to see samples that people had created online using their monthly kit, and I noticed how each kit got better and better....

They were different every month.... A card, a journal, a banner, a piece of framed art... I liked what I saw!

Stampin' Up! has really "upped" the value of each monthly kit!

I realized that maybe I was missing the point of the kit... They've referred to it as "creativity in a box", delivered to your doorstep each month.

It wasn't always a card like I usually make  - it was a paper crafting kit.

Wouldn't this be fun to do with friends?

Everything is included that you need to make their monthly project (except scissors)!

After my friend Nancy showed me a "Paper Pumpkin" project that she had completed with her granddaughter, I was sold!  It was a cute, decorated gift bag.

Like I said before, I was approaching the concept the wrong way.... It is a monthly craft kit with some stamping involved!

So when Stampin' Up! made an offer I couldn't refuse, I signed up to start a monthly subscription.

I love this kit! It is so nice to have everything I need, including instructions (there is even a video), to assemble the projects! I don't have to spend time creating, cut paper, or plan!

This kit had everything I needed to complete 24 patriotic pinwheels! 24 cello bags, 24 jumbo brads, 24 sturdy "straws", 24 mini clips, an ink spot, 3 photopolymer stamps, baker's twine, 24 pre-cut, ( and pre-punched!) pieces of paper (heavy!), white card stock diecut banners, 96 glue dots (!) and instructions!

Because it was my first month they also included a clear block for use with all future kits.

This all arrived, mind you, in a cute red box! When I opened it up it was wrapped in Pool Party tissue paper and sealed with a sticker!

I felt like it was Christmas in June!

My hope is that my "locals" will join in on the fun! Then, I can set aside one night a month to get together and do My Paper Pumpkin with them!

Fun, right?

Of course, I already have some long-distance customers enjoying their monthly kit. I feel like I have missed out on so much!

Now with prepaid subscriptions being offered, I'm sure many will take advantage of this value as a gift for the Paper crafter!

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MONTH-TO-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

It’s convenient and low risk—you can put it on hold or cancel anytime. Visit MyPaperPumpkin.com to sign up for just $19.95 a month (shipping included). Once there, you'll have the opportunity to choose me as your demonstrator.

AND NOW we are offering prepaid subscriptions! You can purchase for yourself OR AS A GIFT!

If that isn't fantastic enough, your purchase will go towards your workshop or club total! You just use the following codes and it will be entered with your show or club. Then you will receive an email with your special enrollment code that you can start at any time!

PREPAID SUBSCRIPTION

Simply enjoy the fun every month.

ITEM	PREPAID SUBSCRIPTION	PRICE (shipping included)
137858	1-month	$19.95
137859	3-month	$59.85
137860	6-month	$113.70—save $1 per month
137861	12-month	$215.40 - $2 per month

Try My Paper Pumpkin today! It will be the best half hour of your month!

"Throwback Thursday" Stamping project

According to my two teenage boys there is no such thing as "Flashback Friday".

"Mom - you know it's "Throwback Thursday" right, not "Flashback Friday"?"

Hmph... Well, I guess I invented it, then, when I did posts on my blog with that name! "See - I'm a trendsetter. I'm cooler than cool" I tell them, hiding my lack of social media knowledge. Damn kids these days.... 

So, today is THURSDAY..... 

Here's the "THROWBACK THURSDAY" project:

Ooooh.... Aaahhh....

We made these candlelight roses at stamp club a few years ago. You need a battery operated tea light, the (retired) ornament punch, a bunch of glue dots, and glitter! 

See how it illuminates the dust that it's been collecting, sitting on my stamp-classroom ledge for a few years... Haha

Actually it's too pretty to get rid of (I'm gradually "cleaning house") so I just moved it to my stamp room, where I'm sure I will enjoy it more!

If you have the ornament punch - try it one of these roses! They are so pretty!

And, if you are lucky enough to have that punch, don't forget that not only was it made to match a certain stamp set, but it can be used for other things too (it's especially cute at Christmas time as a pointy-chinned elf face)!

Be creative! That is what this hobby is all about!

Flashback Friday! - a Valentine treat

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

This project was from stamp club just a few years ago; but I thought it too cute not to revisit!

I bought small Chinese takeout containers at the local party store. We made  "fortune cookies" out of little, felt circles and filled them with Hershey kisses and "a fortune". 

The container and the "fortune" were decorated using Stampin' Up! stamps, of course!

This was such a cute gift to give to a loved one or a friend!

Throwback Thursday!

Closer examination of the pictures I posted last week of my stamp room resulted in this:

You know how sometimes you don't even notice anything anymore that's right in front of you? He is on the shelf and I even forget he's there!

This cute little snowman was made at least 6 years ago!

My friend Carol A. and I used to do an after school stamp club during the winter at St. Joseph School in Bristol. This was one of the projects that we did with the kids.

Isn't he cute? He is especially adorable when you fill him with a cello bag of blue/ silver wrapped candies and give it as a gift! What better way to get someone out of the recent-snowstor -doldrums!

Let this serve as a friendly reminder that all of those little packages we make with the Big Shot, filled with a few goodies, even though small- brings a smile to someone's face!

So go do a random act of kindness, and make someone smile today!