~ I hope you all are able to spend time with Family and friends today!5/26/08
5/24/08
Craft Space Challenge ~ Update
~~Here are some "sneaky peeks" from the homes of those participating
in the "Craft Space Challenge!"
~ I bet some of you blog readers can relate to these craft room spaces....
The goal for those participating is to have their said space organized by June 30th or a couple days before hand and to send me their "after" Photo's so I can set up a on-line voting for best craft space clean up! Feel free to go here for the original post!
Kris ~ Retro Cafe Art
1.What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Too much stuff and not enough space! Also, I have so many bits and pieces that don't really go together!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Everything I find is a treasure, so yes :). I also tend to save my "good junk" for something really special but then I end up not using it ever! So now I'm trying to use my "good junk" first.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I used a three tier hanging kitchen basket, which I hung in my studio to hold all of my finished resin pieces that are waiting for a good home.
4. What have you had to buy?
Plastic carts with drawers! Love them!
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I like to be neat, then I feel open to create. But somehow after creating my studio is a disaster! I'm trying to get in the habit of cleaning up after each creative time, so I feel more open.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Almost every day!
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
No. I almost never keep what I make. Then I would really run out of room. My "strategy" is telling myself I can buy more stuff every time I get rid of something!
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Depends on if I create on that day :).
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Buy more "stuff" of course!
10. any thing else...?
I had my DH install utility cabinets from Lowe's when we first moved in. They were cheap and plain white, so I painted the doors before assembling them. I love them and they hold SO MUCH stuff! And they also look like 3-D art pieces on the wall.
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Debby ~ Debby Dares
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Once I get it organized to keep it that way.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Some paper lines and old unfinished class projects
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
My husband made a ribbon holder for me to hand on the wall. It gets some of my ribbon
off the table and up where I can see it. I've used it a lot more since then.
4. What have you had to buy?
For organization? I bought this little thingy thingy from Walmart to put odds and ends in...but I probably should have, because it gives me somewhere to throw things until I'm ready to put it away.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I hate clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Too many
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Sometimes. I can let go of just about anything except my paper. My paper is my backbone of scrapbooking.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Oh, yes!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Have my friends over for a studio christening party!
10. any thing else...?
I have a real need to see everything....so I'll take any suggestions once folks see my studio.
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Jennifer ~ Adventures in mixed media
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT IS FINDING A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.>>
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
WE MOVED HERE ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO AND THIS HOUSE HAS A DREADFUL BASEMENT THAT CANNOT STORE ANYTHING OF IMPORTANCE AS IT WILL EVENTUALLY SUCCUMB TO THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR DOWN THERE(OR THE INCHES OF WATER WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS SPRING- WE HAVE A PROPER SUMP- PUMP NOW AND HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.). OUR OLD HOUSE HAD A VERY DRY BASEMENT SO I COULD STORE THINGS LIKE BOXES WITH CONTAINERS FOR ALTERING OR ITEMS THAT I HAD PLANS FOR, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO USE RIGHT AWAY.>>
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I USE SMALL PLASTIC BOXES PICKED UP AT DOLLAR STORES AND YARD SALES ALONG WITH OLD MECHANICS DRAWERS TO STORE ITEMS. FUNKY CONTAINERS I'VE PICKED UP OVER THE YEARS ARE GREAT WAYS TO STASH THINGS TOO.>>
4. What have you had to buy?
FOR MY RUBBER STAMPS I BOUGHT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE SETS OF RED METAL DRAWERS THAT SOME WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO BUILD THE BOX THEY FIT INTO. MY HUBBY IS VERY HANDY AND WILL BUILD ALMOST ANYTHING FOR ME. THE DRAWERS ARE GREAT TO LOOK AT AND JUST THE RIGHT DEPTH TO PUT TWO LAYERS OF STAMPS AND I AM ABLE TO SORT THEM BY THEME OR SUBJECT MATTER. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF WONDERFUL FINDS AT YARD SALES WHICH HAVE MADE GREAT STORAGE SOLUTIONS AND I ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL DESK FILLED WITH DRAWERS THAT HOLD MY ODD BITS- IT WAS FREE, FROM A NEIGHBOUR DOWN THE ROAD.>>
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely >comfortable?
TO BE HONEST, I AM BOTH. I LIKE THE PUBLIC PARTS OF MY HOUSE VERY TIDY, AND AM CONSTANTLY TIDYING MY KITCHEN, TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK UNUSED (I LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH FOUR YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN, WHO ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF PREPARING FOOD FOR THEMSELVES BUT SEEM STRANGELY ALLERGIC TO THE DISHWASHER!)MY COLLECTIONS, AND THERE ARE MANY, I SUPPOSE, ARE ALL BEHIND GLASS SO THEY ARE VISIBLE BUT IN A CONTROLLED WAY. MY STUDIO IS ANOTHER STORY!! I LIKE TO HAVE THINGS OUT WHEN POSSIBLE SO I DON'T FORGET WHAT IT WAS I PLANNED TO DO WITH THEM. AS MENTIONED BEFORE THERE IS A DEFINITE SPACE ISSUE IN MY STUDIO AS I HAVEN'T THE STORAGE OPTIONS I AM USED TO.>>
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this >challenge?
I DID GET DISTRACTED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND RE-ORGANISED THE WAY I STORED MY VICTORIAN PAPER SCRAPS AND SOME OF MY OTHER PAPERS. I ALSO DIVIDED UP MY PIN COLLECTION UP SO IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FIND THINGS. I WAS ALSO PROCRASTINATING...>>
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO LET GO. I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS FLOATING AROUND IN MY HEAD AND I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO GET THEM DONE. I HAVE BEGUN TO USE ORIGINAL ITEMS AND NOT COPIES IN MY WORK NOW. THEY MUST BE CONSUMED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I HAVE A FEELING THAT I WILL FIND OTHER ITEMS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED AND IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A LITTLE EMPTY SPACE HERE AND THERE.>>
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I AM GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT. WE ARE HAVING A YARD SALE NEXT WEEK AND THAT MIGHT HELP A BIT.>>
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
I WILL LIKELY BEGIN ANOTHER PROJECT. I HAVE AN ARTIST TOUR COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER AND MUST GET MUCH MORE WORK COMPLETED.>>
10. any thing else...?
I WILL SIT IN MY CHAIR, CURRENTLY COVERED WITH STUFF, AND READ A MAGAZINE! I WILL LOOK AROUND AND BE FRESHLY INSPIRED.
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Tracy Fiskateer #4168
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Figuring out where to place everything!!! Since we are in a rental house we aren't allowed to put hooks in the walls or anything like that so I'm trying to get a little more creative!!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not yet!!! But that doesn't mean I won't!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have altered some containers, and I have more to alter, I am also planning on doing a big major overhaul on my notice borad to use as storage rather than something to pin my junk on!
4. What have you had to buy?
Nothing .... yet!!!
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am definately a messy person!! When I was living at home my Mum used to call my bedroom organised chaos!! I always know where everything is!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Lots lol I have re-done my ribbon storage about 4 times so far, and I'm just about to try a 5th and hopefully final solution!!
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Let Go? There is nothing I need to let go!!! ;)
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I am definately aiming for it!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Maybe by going off on a scrap shopping spree!!!
10. any thing else...?
Thanks for this Michelle, what a fantastic challenge and excellent motivator to get my room organised and sorted!! All the emails and promts are wonderful!! I really appreciate the effort you are making for this :)
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LiLi ~ Lili's Adventures
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
It would be so nice if I didn't have to search for almost anything. I keep things in boxes, but in which box is this or that? There has to come some labeling or whatever. I still am not sure if there simply aren't too many things in too little space, but we'll see once we are one the way of cleaning and perhaps giving and throwing away. ( I said perhaps ;-)).
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
No treasures yet, but I have just started. I did find a pile of vinyl wallpaper pieces, which I don't like, which were given to me because 'you like to work with vintage wallpaper, don't you?' And of course I wouldn't offend that giving person.
But why do I keep them?????
If I find something I'll let you know by mail. But I have the feeling that I'm reorganizing my craftspace every month, but never do it thoroughly, so I know my stock (I think hahaha).
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I think I will still use all my jars and the desk and the chest of drawers. I bought a hanging cupboard that used to belong to a dutch postoffice to sort the mail before this challenge, but I haven't hang it on the wall yet. So it could be in 3 or 4.
4. What have you had to buy?
I think I'll have to buy a big cupboard, but I'm not sure yet.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Well what will be my answer? In my entire life I have had clutter around me. It is not that I like that so much, it's just the way I work. When I'm busy with a project I go on and on and on. I use something like scissors and pensils and I go on. After a short while my scissors are gone. Of course I have a spare one (LOL). After a couple of houres my working space has been reduced to a square inch. The way my craftroom is organised now, it just doesn't work. When I tidy up it's neat, but after one little project it is like a bomb has exploded (pictures will follow...so you'll be prepared!)
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
About once a month, but I know I have to make moves to organize things in a different way.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Very hard. Especially craftmaterials. In my opinion it's always like this; you have saved something about 10 years, the moment after you have given that special fabric or whatever to a thriftstore you'll need it. Or worse; I cannot find something and I cannot remember for sure whether I have given it to the thriftshop or not, so is my search totally in vain or not? Good thing: when I search for something I always find something that was lost too. (or isn't that good :-})
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes!!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Have a nice blogparty! A give away may be (some craftsulppy leftovers??).
10. any thing else...?
Finally make all my friends that really deserve it something special. This should take about a quarter of the time in my newly organized craftspace...and thank you of course!!
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Jessi~Scrappy Jessi
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Too much stuff. haha need a bigger room.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
not so much, I feel like im always re-arranging my room
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I used vintage baby planters, my apothecary jars. baskets. glasses
4. What have you had to buy?
Just a few clear 12x12 boxes. I got the Making memories wall organizer for mothers day.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Totally organized!!! clutter makes me crazy.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
maybe twice
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
sometimes. I will make something for a swap or trade. and wish it was mine. I have learned to buy enough supplies to make 2.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Im hoping!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Go buy more stuff!!!
10. any thing else...?
This has been a real challenge. Thanks
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Kim~ Thread Tales
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
!. 10 pounds of blivets in a 5 pound blivet bag!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Sure, but there is still a whole brigade missing!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Rubbermaid boxes
4. What have you had to buy?
Target plastic boxes and rubbermaid shelves
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am, I am afraid, not neat. A cruel truth.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge? .
Everytime I do anything in the room
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Oh yeah.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Maybe. Probably. It may be a brief thing but probably9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate? Probably by buying more art stuff!10. It is hard to organize when having to shift things between the cutting table and the sewing table and the craftin table!
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Susan~ Red Bess Bonney
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
trying to fit a bunch of stuff in a very small space... we have a one bedroom apartment, and I just have a corner of the living room.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
I honestly have not done that much work on my space yet... (I still have June...!)
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have bead boxes, photo boxes, and an Ikea dresser.
4. What have you had to buy?
nothing yet
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I really am a neat/type A/anal retentive person, although you wouldn't know it from my home!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Zero! :P
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Not really. Being on a budget I'm really trying to not buy a bunch of stuff that won't get used.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Hopefully!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Margaritas!
10. any thing else...?
I have listed some supplies/destash for sale in my Etsy shop, RedBessBonney.etsy.com... with more to come!
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Jessica~ Zakka Life
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Deciding what's the best shelving unit to buy for the space.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
No
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Currently using a child wood storage unit and big blue metal bucket
.4. What have you had to buy?
I'm planning on buying some kind of storage unit.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Neat, I like everything organized.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Once
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
No, only because everything I got rid of were things like dried out markers and coloring books that were all used up.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
. Having it clean will be my reward.
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Danielle~ My Creative Corner
What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
SO much stuff and I just don't know where to start it is sometimes aggrevating I will walk in and just walk back out!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Yes I found some money not much few dollars, my CTMH idea book and a cricut cartridge, It has been quite the treasure hunt
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had? I am using crates and those organizing cubes from Target
4. What have you had to buy?
more cubes and some page protectors and crates and folders
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Clutter does make me uncomfortable and with my scrapbook stuff in disarray .I just dont feel like scrapbooking:(
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
probably a couple of times I can't quite buying things so then I have to rearrange the supplies
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes I can't throw anything away I wish I could but I cant I keep thinking I will scrap this some day or I may need that box to alter it is getting bad the clutter but when I get my new room done I will have more space and more homes for my supplies so hopefully NO CLUTTER
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
yes the room should be done in a few weeks
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
probably hold my first crop in my new space and then party :)
10. any thing else...?
I would like to thank you for this challenge it has got me motivated into organizing my things thank you!!
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Robin~ My Life Exposed
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Space
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not really, I have found some stuff I had forgotten about.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have a ton of plastic storage containers. I am trying to utilize what I have on had. I have jars that I had saved that I am using also.
4. What have you had to buy?
Nothing so far
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am a neat person wanna be..I am finding as I get older I like less clutter.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
a couple of times
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes, I find it hard to let go. I have made a box for my 3 year old daughter to use and have given stuff to Mom..she recently started scrapbooking and card marking.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I plan to be.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
To scrapbook!!!!
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Judy~My Artistic Side
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
The real challenge has been making sure all the basic supplies are in my studio area and not in the garage or spare bedroom. I spent a lot of time traveling between kitchen, garage, and spare room. Think I have that under control now.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Yep! Discovered long forgotten bits to put into my collages. Also found some missing tiny bottles with cork stoppers that I had searched for all over the house.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I bought several large storage boxes covered with pretty paper and fabric for ribbons and fibers. Also bought old Mason jars for storage of flowers, buttons, bits of ribbons, leaves, etc. The glass jars make identification of contents real easy. I try to put like things together.
4. What have you had to buy?
All kinds of storage boxes for seasonal papers, stickers, pictures, fabric, ribbons, etc. I have a number of them now with seasonal and topical things in each.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am naturally neat and tidy. My house is pretty neat and uncluttered. I put things back where they belong around the house. My craft studio is just the opposite. One thing that I have learned during this reorganization is to put things back where they belong when something is finished.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Still at it! Although I am finding that I have to do it less and less.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
It is hard for me to "think outside the box" for some of this reorganization. I hope to carry on this reorganization in the spare bedroom closet. I have shelves and drawers in there that need to be cleaned up/out and then stack and organize things so I can find them easily. The spare room is where I sew, store fabric and sewing items. I would like that to be better organized so I can find things easily.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
My basic work area in the kitchen should be done by the end of June, but I also see this whole reorganization as a work in progress. It will be ongoing for a while because I still have to tackle the boxes and shelves in the garage. I want to start cleaning out things I am not going to use.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
I think I will take pictures, toast the whole thing with a small glass of wine, and then sit down and admire it all!
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Sandy~ Fiskateer 1781
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Utilizing the shelves to their best advantage. I will never admit to having too much stuff, so I'll have to say I need to find better ways to store it all. LOL!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not yet, I'm still working the surface stuff, but I am still going through little boxes and bags of things that I had not look through before. It's so much fun!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Shower curtain rod and little trays for holding paints, sprays, etc. My favorite is using the plastic bag my newspaper comes in to hold all of my rolled papers.
4. What have you had to buy?
So far, 3 shelf size see through tubs with white lids. It's hard to know what sizes are needed most, but I needed something that would hold larger items. Just stacking stuff on the shelves messy and doesn't use the shelf well.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I'm a naturally neat "wanna be". My story is simple. While working, I never had time to keep everything perfect, but it was always clean and orderly (work was perfect). Since retiring, I never take time to keep things perfect.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
A couple of things, a couple of times. Mostly, my glues, paints, sprays, etc. I keep trying out different trays to store them in. I'm also about to give up on using a circular clip up system that I made from a paper towel holder and lamp shade ring. I don't have enough table top space and I can't seem to find a spot out of the wind from the swamp cooler, fans, air conditioner, window, etc.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes, it is hard. I love working in mixed media and that includes anything I find on the ground of interest. Lumpy stuff, flat stuff, shiny stuff, it's all valuable!!! LOL! This problem isn't limited to my crafting, but my house is currently under control. This week, I go through the clothes again. Anyway, one thing that has helped a lot, is having friends to share with. Offering RAKs on my two message boards and taking things to crops really does make a difference. One group also sends a box around with their "used and never gonna use stash", and we take what we want. Then we add a similar value from our own stash. It goes from friend to friend around the country. Of course, this works for me because I start the box, and when it comes back to me, it's usually fuller than when I started, but I only pick out items I will use within the month and the rest is given away to a scrapper on a tighter budget than myself.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes, almost completely. I don't see a few of the custom shelves in our budget until August, but that will depend on how much more I spend (if any) on storage bins.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate? I can't think of anything nicer than just sitting down to craft all day with a friend. Then I'll head out to the studio and get my paper making business back in order. It has gone by the way side as a storage area while we tear down a building and rebuild.
10. any thing else...?
Yes, I want to share a few favorite storage ideas. One, just a simple shelving unit that is advertised as CD, DVD, or Video shelves. What is so great is that they are 5.5" deep and that is perfect for seeing what you have. This is where I find all of my glues and pastes, Stickles, paints, glazes, re-Inkers, sponges, Water spray bottle, texture pastes, Undo, metallic rubs, and other tall bottles. Lots of these items are in little trays that sit on the shelf and a few are just stacked on the shelf. I have used this shelving unit for 4 years now and it has never been re-organized. That's how well it works.My second favorite idea is my horizontal tool storage. I took 19 "empty sticker rolls" and laid them flat and glued them together. I store paintbrushes, foam brushes, pens & pencils, stir sticks, perm. markers, paste tools, etc. in these rolls. It has worked extremely well for over two years.My last idea is to help people use their scraps. Keep a box of cheap page protectors handy. When you finish a project and have large enough scraps to keep, put them in the page protector and store them with the original paper, albeit in vertical files, or paper shelves or trays. Usually, I can store the scraps from lots of papers in one page protector, as long as it is the scraps from papers on that shelf. If the scrap is too big for these page protectors, then it can probably sit on the shelf with the other papers, or you can use a scrapbook 12" x 12" protector.Thanks again Michelle. This goal is very doable for me and I've been having fun.
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Michelle~ Faerie Dust Dreams
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Utilizing the space I share with my husband. His side is the "office" my side is the "studio"
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
I did find a few things that I'd forgotten I had and have become re-excited with the prospects of what they will become again!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Plain brown shoe boxes to organize my rubber stamps, clear containers and small baskets are working well. I also have ten 12x12 stacking trays I got on e-bay a while back..I re-sorted my scrapbook paper and donated a ton to a foster care center.
I'm also hip on using vintage spice racks, the kind that swivel as well as the wall mounting kind to hold "collections" of my supplies...ink refill, flitters, even stamps. Go here to see where I found the spice rack inspiration!
4. What have you had to buy?
I've been tempted... but so far nothing yet. I do plan on getting a new and improved scrapbook rolling tote as my old one is housing my Cricut. I think later I might but some wooden mini shelves to better display some of my Altered Art. Oh and I do plan to get one of those clear shower curtains with pockets to put in front of the closet to which I removed the doors long ago.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
By far I'm not a neat person. I like things clean to a extent. I also like the "lived in " feel.
I do however like my stuff organized so I know where to find them when I need them.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
A few times. If I find that something is not "working", I gotta change it right then and there or else it disrupts the flow of things. I do have a box of things that I got tired of organizing and just "dumped' everything in for a later date.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
In the beggining of my craft career, Yes. I did not have a set style. Now that I do, I'm more open to sharing my supplies. I save some for my craft club girls, some goes to Dyllan as he loves to cut and paste paper, and the rest I donate.
My new rule of thumb is that if I don't use certain items...unfinished wood pieces, board books, jars and bottles..those kinds of take up space stuff in the course of two months, then I give it away.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Admist current deadlines, yes. It's looking pretty good!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Buy a little portable CD/Casette player for my old tunes, and finally get our kitchen tiny TV installed so I can watch cable once in a while while working on craft projects!
Oh, yea...i also want to put up some curtains and hang a strand of decorative indoor lights!
10. any thing else...?
Thanks to all the support for this project from those participating and those not. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one with a craft addiction!
in the "Craft Space Challenge!"
~ I bet some of you blog readers can relate to these craft room spaces....
The goal for those participating is to have their said space organized by June 30th or a couple days before hand and to send me their "after" Photo's so I can set up a on-line voting for best craft space clean up! Feel free to go here for the original post!
~ After these photo's , please read on to a survey the girls answered about this challenge so far...
Kris ~ Retro Cafe Art
1.What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Too much stuff and not enough space! Also, I have so many bits and pieces that don't really go together!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Everything I find is a treasure, so yes :). I also tend to save my "good junk" for something really special but then I end up not using it ever! So now I'm trying to use my "good junk" first.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I used a three tier hanging kitchen basket, which I hung in my studio to hold all of my finished resin pieces that are waiting for a good home.
4. What have you had to buy?
Plastic carts with drawers! Love them!
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I like to be neat, then I feel open to create. But somehow after creating my studio is a disaster! I'm trying to get in the habit of cleaning up after each creative time, so I feel more open.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Almost every day!
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
No. I almost never keep what I make. Then I would really run out of room. My "strategy" is telling myself I can buy more stuff every time I get rid of something!
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Depends on if I create on that day :).
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Buy more "stuff" of course!
10. any thing else...?
I had my DH install utility cabinets from Lowe's when we first moved in. They were cheap and plain white, so I painted the doors before assembling them. I love them and they hold SO MUCH stuff! And they also look like 3-D art pieces on the wall.
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Debby ~ Debby Dares
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Once I get it organized to keep it that way.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Some paper lines and old unfinished class projects
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
My husband made a ribbon holder for me to hand on the wall. It gets some of my ribbon
off the table and up where I can see it. I've used it a lot more since then.
4. What have you had to buy?
For organization? I bought this little thingy thingy from Walmart to put odds and ends in...but I probably should have, because it gives me somewhere to throw things until I'm ready to put it away.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I hate clutter!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Too many
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Sometimes. I can let go of just about anything except my paper. My paper is my backbone of scrapbooking.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Oh, yes!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Have my friends over for a studio christening party!
10. any thing else...?
I have a real need to see everything....so I'll take any suggestions once folks see my studio.
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Jennifer ~ Adventures in mixed media
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE AT THE MOMENT IS FINDING A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.>>
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
WE MOVED HERE ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO AND THIS HOUSE HAS A DREADFUL BASEMENT THAT CANNOT STORE ANYTHING OF IMPORTANCE AS IT WILL EVENTUALLY SUCCUMB TO THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR DOWN THERE(OR THE INCHES OF WATER WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS SPRING- WE HAVE A PROPER SUMP- PUMP NOW AND HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.). OUR OLD HOUSE HAD A VERY DRY BASEMENT SO I COULD STORE THINGS LIKE BOXES WITH CONTAINERS FOR ALTERING OR ITEMS THAT I HAD PLANS FOR, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO USE RIGHT AWAY.>>
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I USE SMALL PLASTIC BOXES PICKED UP AT DOLLAR STORES AND YARD SALES ALONG WITH OLD MECHANICS DRAWERS TO STORE ITEMS. FUNKY CONTAINERS I'VE PICKED UP OVER THE YEARS ARE GREAT WAYS TO STASH THINGS TOO.>>
4. What have you had to buy?
FOR MY RUBBER STAMPS I BOUGHT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE SETS OF RED METAL DRAWERS THAT SOME WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO BUILD THE BOX THEY FIT INTO. MY HUBBY IS VERY HANDY AND WILL BUILD ALMOST ANYTHING FOR ME. THE DRAWERS ARE GREAT TO LOOK AT AND JUST THE RIGHT DEPTH TO PUT TWO LAYERS OF STAMPS AND I AM ABLE TO SORT THEM BY THEME OR SUBJECT MATTER. THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF WONDERFUL FINDS AT YARD SALES WHICH HAVE MADE GREAT STORAGE SOLUTIONS AND I ALSO HAVE A WONDERFUL DESK FILLED WITH DRAWERS THAT HOLD MY ODD BITS- IT WAS FREE, FROM A NEIGHBOUR DOWN THE ROAD.>>
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely >comfortable?
TO BE HONEST, I AM BOTH. I LIKE THE PUBLIC PARTS OF MY HOUSE VERY TIDY, AND AM CONSTANTLY TIDYING MY KITCHEN, TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK UNUSED (I LIVE IN A HOUSE WITH FOUR YOUNG ADULT CHILDREN, WHO ARE QUITE CAPABLE OF PREPARING FOOD FOR THEMSELVES BUT SEEM STRANGELY ALLERGIC TO THE DISHWASHER!)MY COLLECTIONS, AND THERE ARE MANY, I SUPPOSE, ARE ALL BEHIND GLASS SO THEY ARE VISIBLE BUT IN A CONTROLLED WAY. MY STUDIO IS ANOTHER STORY!! I LIKE TO HAVE THINGS OUT WHEN POSSIBLE SO I DON'T FORGET WHAT IT WAS I PLANNED TO DO WITH THEM. AS MENTIONED BEFORE THERE IS A DEFINITE SPACE ISSUE IN MY STUDIO AS I HAVEN'T THE STORAGE OPTIONS I AM USED TO.>>
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this >challenge?
I DID GET DISTRACTED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND RE-ORGANISED THE WAY I STORED MY VICTORIAN PAPER SCRAPS AND SOME OF MY OTHER PAPERS. I ALSO DIVIDED UP MY PIN COLLECTION UP SO IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FIND THINGS. I WAS ALSO PROCRASTINATING...>>
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO LET GO. I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS FLOATING AROUND IN MY HEAD AND I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO GET THEM DONE. I HAVE BEGUN TO USE ORIGINAL ITEMS AND NOT COPIES IN MY WORK NOW. THEY MUST BE CONSUMED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I HAVE A FEELING THAT I WILL FIND OTHER ITEMS WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED AND IT IS GOOD TO HAVE A LITTLE EMPTY SPACE HERE AND THERE.>>
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I AM GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT. WE ARE HAVING A YARD SALE NEXT WEEK AND THAT MIGHT HELP A BIT.>>
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
I WILL LIKELY BEGIN ANOTHER PROJECT. I HAVE AN ARTIST TOUR COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER AND MUST GET MUCH MORE WORK COMPLETED.>>
10. any thing else...?
I WILL SIT IN MY CHAIR, CURRENTLY COVERED WITH STUFF, AND READ A MAGAZINE! I WILL LOOK AROUND AND BE FRESHLY INSPIRED.
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Tracy Fiskateer #4168
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Figuring out where to place everything!!! Since we are in a rental house we aren't allowed to put hooks in the walls or anything like that so I'm trying to get a little more creative!!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not yet!!! But that doesn't mean I won't!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have altered some containers, and I have more to alter, I am also planning on doing a big major overhaul on my notice borad to use as storage rather than something to pin my junk on!
4. What have you had to buy?
Nothing .... yet!!!
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am definately a messy person!! When I was living at home my Mum used to call my bedroom organised chaos!! I always know where everything is!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Lots lol I have re-done my ribbon storage about 4 times so far, and I'm just about to try a 5th and hopefully final solution!!
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Let Go? There is nothing I need to let go!!! ;)
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I am definately aiming for it!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Maybe by going off on a scrap shopping spree!!!
10. any thing else...?
Thanks for this Michelle, what a fantastic challenge and excellent motivator to get my room organised and sorted!! All the emails and promts are wonderful!! I really appreciate the effort you are making for this :)
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LiLi ~ Lili's Adventures
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
It would be so nice if I didn't have to search for almost anything. I keep things in boxes, but in which box is this or that? There has to come some labeling or whatever. I still am not sure if there simply aren't too many things in too little space, but we'll see once we are one the way of cleaning and perhaps giving and throwing away. ( I said perhaps ;-)).
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
No treasures yet, but I have just started. I did find a pile of vinyl wallpaper pieces, which I don't like, which were given to me because 'you like to work with vintage wallpaper, don't you?' And of course I wouldn't offend that giving person.
But why do I keep them?????
If I find something I'll let you know by mail. But I have the feeling that I'm reorganizing my craftspace every month, but never do it thoroughly, so I know my stock (I think hahaha).
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I think I will still use all my jars and the desk and the chest of drawers. I bought a hanging cupboard that used to belong to a dutch postoffice to sort the mail before this challenge, but I haven't hang it on the wall yet. So it could be in 3 or 4.
4. What have you had to buy?
I think I'll have to buy a big cupboard, but I'm not sure yet.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Well what will be my answer? In my entire life I have had clutter around me. It is not that I like that so much, it's just the way I work. When I'm busy with a project I go on and on and on. I use something like scissors and pensils and I go on. After a short while my scissors are gone. Of course I have a spare one (LOL). After a couple of houres my working space has been reduced to a square inch. The way my craftroom is organised now, it just doesn't work. When I tidy up it's neat, but after one little project it is like a bomb has exploded (pictures will follow...so you'll be prepared!)
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
About once a month, but I know I have to make moves to organize things in a different way.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Very hard. Especially craftmaterials. In my opinion it's always like this; you have saved something about 10 years, the moment after you have given that special fabric or whatever to a thriftstore you'll need it. Or worse; I cannot find something and I cannot remember for sure whether I have given it to the thriftshop or not, so is my search totally in vain or not? Good thing: when I search for something I always find something that was lost too. (or isn't that good :-})
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes!!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Have a nice blogparty! A give away may be (some craftsulppy leftovers??).
10. any thing else...?
Finally make all my friends that really deserve it something special. This should take about a quarter of the time in my newly organized craftspace...and thank you of course!!
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Jessi~Scrappy Jessi
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Too much stuff. haha need a bigger room.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
not so much, I feel like im always re-arranging my room
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I used vintage baby planters, my apothecary jars. baskets. glasses
4. What have you had to buy?
Just a few clear 12x12 boxes. I got the Making memories wall organizer for mothers day.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Totally organized!!! clutter makes me crazy.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
maybe twice
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
sometimes. I will make something for a swap or trade. and wish it was mine. I have learned to buy enough supplies to make 2.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Im hoping!!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Go buy more stuff!!!
10. any thing else...?
This has been a real challenge. Thanks
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Kim~ Thread Tales
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
!. 10 pounds of blivets in a 5 pound blivet bag!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Sure, but there is still a whole brigade missing!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Rubbermaid boxes
4. What have you had to buy?
Target plastic boxes and rubbermaid shelves
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am, I am afraid, not neat. A cruel truth.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge? .
Everytime I do anything in the room
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Oh yeah.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Maybe. Probably. It may be a brief thing but probably9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate? Probably by buying more art stuff!10. It is hard to organize when having to shift things between the cutting table and the sewing table and the craftin table!
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Susan~ Red Bess Bonney
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
trying to fit a bunch of stuff in a very small space... we have a one bedroom apartment, and I just have a corner of the living room.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
I honestly have not done that much work on my space yet... (I still have June...!)
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have bead boxes, photo boxes, and an Ikea dresser.
4. What have you had to buy?
nothing yet
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I really am a neat/type A/anal retentive person, although you wouldn't know it from my home!
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Zero! :P
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Not really. Being on a budget I'm really trying to not buy a bunch of stuff that won't get used.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Hopefully!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Margaritas!
10. any thing else...?
I have listed some supplies/destash for sale in my Etsy shop, RedBessBonney.etsy.com... with more to come!
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Jessica~ Zakka Life
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Deciding what's the best shelving unit to buy for the space.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
No
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Currently using a child wood storage unit and big blue metal bucket
.4. What have you had to buy?
I'm planning on buying some kind of storage unit.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Neat, I like everything organized.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Once
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
No, only because everything I got rid of were things like dried out markers and coloring books that were all used up.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
. Having it clean will be my reward.
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Danielle~ My Creative Corner
What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
SO much stuff and I just don't know where to start it is sometimes aggrevating I will walk in and just walk back out!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Yes I found some money not much few dollars, my CTMH idea book and a cricut cartridge, It has been quite the treasure hunt
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had? I am using crates and those organizing cubes from Target
4. What have you had to buy?
more cubes and some page protectors and crates and folders
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
Clutter does make me uncomfortable and with my scrapbook stuff in disarray .I just dont feel like scrapbooking:(
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
probably a couple of times I can't quite buying things so then I have to rearrange the supplies
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes I can't throw anything away I wish I could but I cant I keep thinking I will scrap this some day or I may need that box to alter it is getting bad the clutter but when I get my new room done I will have more space and more homes for my supplies so hopefully NO CLUTTER
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
yes the room should be done in a few weeks
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
probably hold my first crop in my new space and then party :)
10. any thing else...?
I would like to thank you for this challenge it has got me motivated into organizing my things thank you!!
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Robin~ My Life Exposed
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Space
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not really, I have found some stuff I had forgotten about.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I have a ton of plastic storage containers. I am trying to utilize what I have on had. I have jars that I had saved that I am using also.
4. What have you had to buy?
Nothing so far
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am a neat person wanna be..I am finding as I get older I like less clutter.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
a couple of times
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes, I find it hard to let go. I have made a box for my 3 year old daughter to use and have given stuff to Mom..she recently started scrapbooking and card marking.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
I plan to be.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
To scrapbook!!!!
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Judy~My Artistic Side
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
The real challenge has been making sure all the basic supplies are in my studio area and not in the garage or spare bedroom. I spent a lot of time traveling between kitchen, garage, and spare room. Think I have that under control now.
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Yep! Discovered long forgotten bits to put into my collages. Also found some missing tiny bottles with cork stoppers that I had searched for all over the house.
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
I bought several large storage boxes covered with pretty paper and fabric for ribbons and fibers. Also bought old Mason jars for storage of flowers, buttons, bits of ribbons, leaves, etc. The glass jars make identification of contents real easy. I try to put like things together.
4. What have you had to buy?
All kinds of storage boxes for seasonal papers, stickers, pictures, fabric, ribbons, etc. I have a number of them now with seasonal and topical things in each.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I am naturally neat and tidy. My house is pretty neat and uncluttered. I put things back where they belong around the house. My craft studio is just the opposite. One thing that I have learned during this reorganization is to put things back where they belong when something is finished.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
Still at it! Although I am finding that I have to do it less and less.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
It is hard for me to "think outside the box" for some of this reorganization. I hope to carry on this reorganization in the spare bedroom closet. I have shelves and drawers in there that need to be cleaned up/out and then stack and organize things so I can find them easily. The spare room is where I sew, store fabric and sewing items. I would like that to be better organized so I can find things easily.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
My basic work area in the kitchen should be done by the end of June, but I also see this whole reorganization as a work in progress. It will be ongoing for a while because I still have to tackle the boxes and shelves in the garage. I want to start cleaning out things I am not going to use.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
I think I will take pictures, toast the whole thing with a small glass of wine, and then sit down and admire it all!
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Sandy~ Fiskateer 1781
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Utilizing the shelves to their best advantage. I will never admit to having too much stuff, so I'll have to say I need to find better ways to store it all. LOL!
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
Not yet, I'm still working the surface stuff, but I am still going through little boxes and bags of things that I had not look through before. It's so much fun!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Shower curtain rod and little trays for holding paints, sprays, etc. My favorite is using the plastic bag my newspaper comes in to hold all of my rolled papers.
4. What have you had to buy?
So far, 3 shelf size see through tubs with white lids. It's hard to know what sizes are needed most, but I needed something that would hold larger items. Just stacking stuff on the shelves messy and doesn't use the shelf well.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
I'm a naturally neat "wanna be". My story is simple. While working, I never had time to keep everything perfect, but it was always clean and orderly (work was perfect). Since retiring, I never take time to keep things perfect.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
A couple of things, a couple of times. Mostly, my glues, paints, sprays, etc. I keep trying out different trays to store them in. I'm also about to give up on using a circular clip up system that I made from a paper towel holder and lamp shade ring. I don't have enough table top space and I can't seem to find a spot out of the wind from the swamp cooler, fans, air conditioner, window, etc.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
Yes, it is hard. I love working in mixed media and that includes anything I find on the ground of interest. Lumpy stuff, flat stuff, shiny stuff, it's all valuable!!! LOL! This problem isn't limited to my crafting, but my house is currently under control. This week, I go through the clothes again. Anyway, one thing that has helped a lot, is having friends to share with. Offering RAKs on my two message boards and taking things to crops really does make a difference. One group also sends a box around with their "used and never gonna use stash", and we take what we want. Then we add a similar value from our own stash. It goes from friend to friend around the country. Of course, this works for me because I start the box, and when it comes back to me, it's usually fuller than when I started, but I only pick out items I will use within the month and the rest is given away to a scrapper on a tighter budget than myself.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Yes, almost completely. I don't see a few of the custom shelves in our budget until August, but that will depend on how much more I spend (if any) on storage bins.
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate? I can't think of anything nicer than just sitting down to craft all day with a friend. Then I'll head out to the studio and get my paper making business back in order. It has gone by the way side as a storage area while we tear down a building and rebuild.
10. any thing else...?
Yes, I want to share a few favorite storage ideas. One, just a simple shelving unit that is advertised as CD, DVD, or Video shelves. What is so great is that they are 5.5" deep and that is perfect for seeing what you have. This is where I find all of my glues and pastes, Stickles, paints, glazes, re-Inkers, sponges, Water spray bottle, texture pastes, Undo, metallic rubs, and other tall bottles. Lots of these items are in little trays that sit on the shelf and a few are just stacked on the shelf. I have used this shelving unit for 4 years now and it has never been re-organized. That's how well it works.My second favorite idea is my horizontal tool storage. I took 19 "empty sticker rolls" and laid them flat and glued them together. I store paintbrushes, foam brushes, pens & pencils, stir sticks, perm. markers, paste tools, etc. in these rolls. It has worked extremely well for over two years.My last idea is to help people use their scraps. Keep a box of cheap page protectors handy. When you finish a project and have large enough scraps to keep, put them in the page protector and store them with the original paper, albeit in vertical files, or paper shelves or trays. Usually, I can store the scraps from lots of papers in one page protector, as long as it is the scraps from papers on that shelf. If the scrap is too big for these page protectors, then it can probably sit on the shelf with the other papers, or you can use a scrapbook 12" x 12" protector.Thanks again Michelle. This goal is very doable for me and I've been having fun.
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Michelle~ Faerie Dust Dreams
1. What's the real challenge about organizing your studio?
Utilizing the space I share with my husband. His side is the "office" my side is the "studio"
2. Have you found any hidden treasures that you thought were long gone?
I did find a few things that I'd forgotten I had and have become re-excited with the prospects of what they will become again!
3. What have you used to organize your items that you already had?
Plain brown shoe boxes to organize my rubber stamps, clear containers and small baskets are working well. I also have ten 12x12 stacking trays I got on e-bay a while back..I re-sorted my scrapbook paper and donated a ton to a foster care center.
I'm also hip on using vintage spice racks, the kind that swivel as well as the wall mounting kind to hold "collections" of my supplies...ink refill, flitters, even stamps. Go here to see where I found the spice rack inspiration!
4. What have you had to buy?
I've been tempted... but so far nothing yet. I do plan on getting a new and improved scrapbook rolling tote as my old one is housing my Cricut. I think later I might but some wooden mini shelves to better display some of my Altered Art. Oh and I do plan to get one of those clear shower curtains with pockets to put in front of the closet to which I removed the doors long ago.
5. Are you naturally a neat person? Or does clutter make you strangely comfortable?
By far I'm not a neat person. I like things clean to a extent. I also like the "lived in " feel.
I do however like my stuff organized so I know where to find them when I need them.
6. How many times have you had to re-organize something since starting this challenge?
A few times. If I find that something is not "working", I gotta change it right then and there or else it disrupts the flow of things. I do have a box of things that I got tired of organizing and just "dumped' everything in for a later date.
7. Is it hard for you to "let go"? if not , what's your strategy?
In the beggining of my craft career, Yes. I did not have a set style. Now that I do, I'm more open to sharing my supplies. I save some for my craft club girls, some goes to Dyllan as he loves to cut and paste paper, and the rest I donate.
My new rule of thumb is that if I don't use certain items...unfinished wood pieces, board books, jars and bottles..those kinds of take up space stuff in the course of two months, then I give it away.
8. Do you see your craft space to be organized by the end of June?
Admist current deadlines, yes. It's looking pretty good!
9. If you are organized by due date, how will you celebrate?
Buy a little portable CD/Casette player for my old tunes, and finally get our kitchen tiny TV installed so I can watch cable once in a while while working on craft projects!
Oh, yea...i also want to put up some curtains and hang a strand of decorative indoor lights!
10. any thing else...?
Thanks to all the support for this project from those participating and those not. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one with a craft addiction!
5/22/08
My Mothers Day
~ So as promosed, here are my photo's to share of our family day trip to the LA Arboretum!
~ A peacock courting a female
~ Roosting high up in a tree!
~ This is the Santa Anita Depot which was moved from it's original location, brick by brick.
Brian by the most amazing fountain.
Dyllan hopping on some ABC stones
I absolutely loved the wrap around porch at the cottage and could only imagine days spent picnicking by the lake.
Is only open to the public twice a year. Mothers Day and Christmas. Unfortunately no photo's were allowed on the inside tour.
I wore little booties on my shoes as the entire inside is all original all the way down to the rugs! Everything was so beautiful and I enjoyed looking in a book case at favorite reads, seeing framed photo's on the wall and gazing at the beautiful and lovingly worn furniture!
~ Baldwin lake is so amazing. And it's history is so rich with Movie appearances such as...
~ Baldwin lake is so amazing. And it's history is so rich with Movie appearances such as...
~Johnny Weissmuller swam in LASCA Lagoon/Baldwin Lake for three decades as Tarzan and later Jungle Jim.
~Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour took up a month-long watery Baldwin Lake residence in homes on stilts for the filming of Road to Singapore in 1939, the same year the Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,/Madeleine Carroll film Safari managed to sink a paddlewheel boat in the same lake.
~Undaunted, television's original "Fantasy Island" lowered a pontoon plane by helicopter onto Baldwin Lake and propelled it across the water to disembark visitors to Mr. Roark's island paradise.
~Alex Haley's "Roots II", Baldwin Lake became Kunta Kinte's river home in Africa;
~It's easy to get turmed around as the map they give you at the front gate is a poor black and white copy.
~Here is Dyllan off exploring, we trailed happily, grateful for the shade.
~Taking a break in the beautiful rose garden.
~ The flowers were so breathtaking!
~ We took a shortcut through a orange grove. All Dyllan wanted to do was step on and squash the oranges that had fallen to the ground!
~Dyllan playing in a nearby fountain while I explored the cottage.
Lucky Baldwin housed his private carriages plus those of his guests in this Barn (a report of 1891 indicated 14 different vehicles in residence). Generous ornate stall space with was provided for carriage horses, and convenient hay and grain chutes were fed directly from the loft above.
~ Brian's photo's are scattered through out this post, feel free to visit his web site!
~This Victorian dog house just outside the Coach Barn once sheltered bull mastiffs,
Lucky Baldwin's ranch guard dogs.
~ I love how Dyllan's feet don't quite touch the ground yet.
~ Having fun at the Train Depot!
~ A beautiful show, everywhere we went!
~ A beautiful show, everywhere we went!
~ Our little Dreamer.
~ Aftarwards we ate a nearby Tony Roma's and once we got home, I completley vegged out on the couch in the living room and did nothing creative in the studio. It was nice.
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