Embellishments Squared - Organizing the little stuff

Every crafter is challenged with finding the best way to store their teeny-tiny embellishments or findings. There are soooooo many options out there (and believe me I have tried most of them), but this is by far my favorite.

I came across the idea rather by accident.... I was in a Tuesday Morning store when I spotted Crop in Style plastic containers at a price I couldn't pass up (the same price I paid as a retailer when I owned my store). My mom was going to be re-doing her stamp room and I thought they might came in handy so I bought all that the packages they had on the shelf. I gave some to my mom and stashed one box away for a future organization article and never really thought about them again. That is until I moved and was re-doing my own studio.



IKEA jars



I no longer had the cupboard with slide-out drawers that previously housed the majority of my IKEA jars and I was struggling to find somewhere to put them in the new, much smaller room. I wanted them all in one spot this time (a few had lined the edge of my desktop before), yet still within arms reach. I tried my desk drawers but, unfortunately, the IKEA jars didn't fit into the lower-profile drawers. Suddenly, I remembered having those plastic containers and a light bulb went off! They were more compact, and they were square so they would lie down without rolling around and I would be see the contents easily when they were on their sides! I opened the brand new box, tried them out for size and they fit perfectly! Jackpot!



Available at Michael's    $9.99 a pack



As I began switching the contents from the old to the new containers I realized I didn't have near enough of them. I hoped I would be able to find more at my local Michael's store. When I got to the store, coupon in hand, I discovered a slight difference. They were no longer manufactured by Crop in Style, but rather Michael's themselves (price $9.99). They were exactly the same size so I grabbed one and vowed to buy one more each visit (so I could keep using the 40% off coupons) until my drawer was completely full. Happily, on my third visit I was able to buy the remaining packs for 50% off during their storage supply sale! Mission complete.


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Problem solved! 27 containers in all.

You may have noticed that all the embellishments I've stored in this system are primarily metallic. That is because I use floss boxes to store my colored embellishments by individual color. Check that out here.

enjoy the changes in life that that turn out to be so much better than the original!
-dw.


Take II - Reorganizing Your Creative Space in a New Home.

 Life changes. Sometimes in the blink of an eye when we least expect it, before we are even remotely ready for it. We are forced to adjust. And we do.

When I began moving out of our family home, I never imagined that I wouldn't single-handedly pack all of my own belongings. I never imagined the chaos that lay ahead. But the reality of the huge mound of boxes containing my life stacked on my new front porch was undeniable.

The most painful of all....the contents of my once organized and lovingly decorated craft studio, were now in complete disorder. The packing had been quick, careless and thoughtless. There was simpy no order or organization to anything. Where would I begin?

One box at a time, I unpacked the contents and assessed the damage and disarray. In tears, I re-organized, re-boxed and re-labeled everything from my studio and then put that part of my life on hold until I could find a more permanent home.

Finally the day came; after finding a new job and relocating to a new town, I found a rental house that felt perfect! There was a room on the lower level that, while quite a bit smaller than my original room, would serve as my new studio. I was excited to be able to once again put my room together and that part of my life back into place.

As I unpacked, the joy was overwhelming. I was giddy with the excitement of having my own special place to create in once again. Since I love organizing as much as I do scrapbooking, it was a win-win! The smaller space made it impossible to merely re-do the room I once had, but finding ways to adapt the old furniture and storage pieces quickly gave it a fresh, new look that I love just as much.

What once was a 9' stretch of deskspace now became an "L" shaped workspace and die cut center. A beloved shelving unit that was too tall for the new room was replaced with a ladder desk my roommate offered up. The mini-table that once (barely) served to hold my Cricket die cutting system was now efficiently filling the vacant space in the middle of the room. A place to store my albums underneath for easy access and fun embellishment and stamp storage on top. My favorite piece, the IKEA Exedit once again houses my paper and embellishment jars, as well as serving as the main focal point of the room. Closet doors were removed to open up the space and store the Iris carts full of tools and rubber stamps that had previously been housed behind-closed-doors in IKEA shelving units.

In the end, the room came together just as I wanted. Although a smaller space, it feels welcoming and inspiring. Truth be told...I have actually scrapbooked more in the new room than I ever did in the old one.

Sometimes when we least expect it, things work out for the best.

enjoy seeing your organizing options in a new way!

-dw.

Note: These pictures were taken before the room was entitrely completed. I am still working on getting all my Dymo labels on the drawers, paper holders, and boxes to replace the temporary Post-it labels.

How a Visual Crafter Organizes

How we create is key to how we organize!

While working on my book "Creative Spaces," I came to the realization that being a very visual person meant I had to organize more visually. Out of sight for me often meant out of thought. I had to find ways to put things "away" while still having them in front of me.

Now I prioritize what needs to be most visible by what I use the most and what I forget about the most.

I love stamps! To me they are little pieces of art in themselves, but I always forgot about them. They were neatly sorted by themes, in cute little drawers, behind cabinet doors. While the room looked crisp and clean with things behind doors, my pages were a little crisper as well....because they didn't have any embellishing! Now I store my most loved stamps in jars and see-through baskets, colanders....anything that keeps them in view. That is not to say as the stamps I will need to make the occasional "welcome baby" card are visible, just those that I know I will use most often. The rest are still neatly sorted by themes, in cute little drawers, behind cabinet doors. Easy to find when they're needed.

I am inspired by seeing my supplies. When I walk into my room and see all the stuff it just makes me want to create something. It stirs up ideas and motivates me. Why do we feel so inspired in a sb store? Because all of the products, colors and images inspire us!

I had a friend make a comment that really opened my eyes. While describing my room to another friend she said, "It's like a store; everything displayed in these cute, little jars!" She was right. I had created my own little "boutique." Putting everything out in the open so that when creating, I could simply peruse my shelves looking for that certain thing I needed. So instead of being called a visual organizer maybe I should use the term, boutique organizer...for those of us that keep that shopping feeling alive!

enjoy the style of organizing that works best for you!
-d.

Back in Blogland!

I have been busy, busy, busy.

I started a new job as an Office Manager at a small publishing company on Valentine's Day and have been training, learning, absorbing...and adjusting to being gone all day, every day again. I have been self-employed and doing contract work for so many years, that it is a big change to be sitting at a desk five days a week! But I am really enjoying it! And steady paychecks are an awesome perk!!!

My training is now complete and I can settle into my new position comfortably. And with a more routine schedule, I can get back to blogging again! I have missed connecting with you all through your blogs as well as my own.

In celebration of my return to the internet world, I headed for my favorite on-line store.....Pottery Barn...to check out their clearance sale. I had this little voice that kept nagging at me to open the e-mail they sent earlier this week. I am SO glad I did! I discovered an item I have been coveting for about a year and unable to get my hands on. I had checked PB sale after sale, e-bay, craigslist, etc. with no luck. But today, somehow it resurfaced on the PB Clearance site!!! WooHoo!!!! Here is what will be arriving soon and heading straight for my studio....

a 3' drawing compass!!!

While it may not excite everyone the way it excites me, I simply LOVE it! It reminds me of my first introduction to art and drawing. I loved playing with my Mom's old compass when I was little. Of course, I grew tired of merely drawing circles and went on to bigger and better things eventually, but I never see a compass without recalling that very first one, a bit rusted and aged. That compass is like a piece of my own art history.

Normally retailing at $99, it was a bit more than I could allow for my decor budget, no matter how sentimental, so I waited. Apparently too long. I never saw it appear on the clearance site it was just gone. Until today! When I scooped it up for a mere $19.99!!!!! What a great way to start the day!

enjoy the deals that you score today!

-dw

Organizing Heaven...

...is where I have been lately!

I made a trip to The Container Store yesterday and found exactly what I was looking for! (Don't ya LOVE it when that happens?!) I needed a larger tiered shelf to place my adorable Heart and Home jars on, and they had one in the perfect size! And I mean perfect size! I questioned whether it would fit into my EXPEDIT shelf; it would be close, but I took the gamble. I got home and discovered with a little nudge it fits into the cube section as though it was made for it!!!! Yea, mission accomplished!

I also found a two-tier basket shelf that I have wanted for a soooooo long (since the PB version I coveted is no longer available) at a local yard sale....for only $3!!!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time. It completely made my weekend!

And finally, I'll share a little project that I managed to complete despite the obstacles I faced. It isn't perfect, but what the heck, it's art...it doesn't have to be! I am always altering rub-ons to ceate my own words and expressions. (I like to color outside the lines!) But this time I had a little problem. I over-adapted!! I accidentally cut through the wrong portion of the word, right through the letter I needed! No worries...I'll just run down to the sb store (luckily only three blocks from my house) and buy another one. Okay, a $5 mistake, but I just wanted to finish it. Wait! "What do you mean you don't carry that Basic Grey rub-on anymore?!" Aauugghhhh! So, I came back home and improvised. I pieced together different letters to create the letters I needed to spell "create." It is now finished and it is definately a one-of-a-kind piece!

enjoy overcoming the obstacles!

-dw

A surprise 3-day weekend!

Rog ended up having Friday off so we enjoyed an unscheduled three-day weekend! It was great! Lots of time to get stuff done around the house and just be together.

We headed to IKEA on Friday after Rog eyed my sticky note on the computer screen and realized the sale was on. (He is such a awesome hubby!) We spotted a couple upper cabinets in the As Is department and picked those up. We aren't really ready to do the entire wall yet, so we just bought the cabinet frames and will wait to get the doors and remaining units in a couple months.

I am so excited to get the last of the studio complete. But then...as Rog reminded me....we have to start on the garage organizing project. Ugh. The garage isn't near as much fun as the studio! When I sort through studio stuff it's colorful and pretty and it makes me want to create! When I sort garage stuff it's dusty and boring and makes me want to just head back to the studio! LOL! But fair is fair...and he has worked so hard to give me the studio of my dreams that I have to return the favor and help create his garage masterpiece!

We managed to find a couple other great deals at IKEA as well (of course)! I bought a cabinet a couple years ago to serve as a liquor cabinet. I scored it really cheap in the As Is department because it only had one frosted glass door. It looked okay that way, with the top half open, but I always wished I could find another door. The problem, I discovered, was that they are only sold in sets of two! On this trip we found a double wide model of the same cabinet and, amazingly enough, it too only had one door! What are the odds?! So we'll have a larger liquor cabinet with two bottom doors and a completely open cabinet to put somewhere else in the room! Perfect!

I also found these little cuties!

Rog was completely dumbfounded when I tossed ten of them in the cart. I assured him they would make creative party decor and he gave up even trying to understand. My brain just works a little differently than most people's...and the beauty part of our relationship is...he gets that!

Gotta love him!

enjoy life's surprises!

-dw

Studio Central!

Here it is....my studio-office-organizing haven-blog writing-space!

It is so nice to have it clean and organized!

While we are still waiting to buy upper cabinets

(to go on the wall above the 9' desk) everything else is pretty much complete!

Yippeeeeeeee! I love it!!!! And I LOVE IKEA!!!!

I find it rejuvenating and relaxing in this room

being surrounded by all the things I love...

This photo tour starts at the door and goes clockwise around the room.

Enjoy this little peak inside and I'll tell you lots more

about it and the things I used in my book!

enjoy the inspiration that surrounds YOU!

-dw

Little Corner of My World...

Battling the tail-end of a nasty, head cold, my dear, sweet hubby took some time to help me finish hanging some things in the Studio this weekend! Yea!!
My little work corner is almost complete!

I've posted some pictures, including some of the new rail system we installed (with our own USA adaptation). Other new additions in the room include my magnet board from IKEA and a memo holder from a recent Thrifty Thursday treasure hunt!

Enjoy the rewards in a finished project!
-dw

Oh, the Joy!

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Even though the sun didn't really shine for Mom's Day, it was still a warm, fuzzy day for me. Rog suggested a trip to IKEA! While that may not sound like an exciting way to spend Mother's Day to you, it is pure heaven to me! We did our normal enter through the exit strategy and headed for the "As Is" section. Yes, we were just there last Sunday, but everything changes so fast it is like a new experience each time.

So here is a pic of my Mother's Day gift from Rog...An Expedit Bookshelf! I've had white bookshelves lined up on this wall since setting up the studio, but they were old and not in the best shape, so Rog thought this would be a much sturdier alternative! He says I have a tendency to over-load the weight capacity! Hmmm....maybe.

Melissa also filled my day with fun organizing stuff...part of my gift from her were three mini-colanders! I quickly filled this one with all my wood mounted monogram stamps!!! It is soooo cute!

I spent the morning loading up the new shelves! Total Fun! While there are still some empty shelves now, they won't be that way for long! The room is really coming together and just having it neater and more functional, makes me want to dig in and play!

My other favorite thing besides organizing is party planning and decorating so.....Friday and Saturday I helped a good friend put on a wedding. We went to Pike Place Market and got some absolutely beautiful flowers (a LOT of them) for a screaming deal!!! I was amazed! From those flowers we created a bridal bouquet, an attendant bouquet, lined the stone hearth with five vases of flowers and still had great arrangements left for all the necessary places! The wedding was beautiful and so much fun to be involved in! Congrats to Ryan and Tamara....We wish them all the best!!!

I managed to click off a few photos in between tasks so I thought I'd share my favorites!

enjoy the magic reflecting back at you.....

-dw

Ahhh, Heaven...

I am happy to report that we got everything assembled last night for the new printer station (thanks, Baby!!) and I spent today sorting, purging, and organizing! So here it is..............the newest edition to the studio! The grey door will be replaced with a white one later. I actually had a 15" base already in the studio so we used it instead of assembling the new one. (We thought we had the 12") Darn, that means another trip to IKEA to exchange it! {grin}

I have all my die cutting and binding tools, as well as my new Zutter cutter, inside the cabinets. In the boxes below the R1800 printer are camera and iPod accessories. Inside the small cabinet are office supplies.

I also incorporated a couple new treasures into the studio today! While at the annual Mill Creek Garage Sale last weekend I scored a mini collandar for only $2 and a terrarium for $1! There will be a chapter in the book on turning unused household products into adorable and very functionable organizing units!

enjoy the peace & tranquility organizing brings...

-dw

IKEA Krazy!!!

So, we went for a drive and ended up at IKEA yesterday (45 minutes from home)! You all know how much I LOVE that store! As always, we entered through the exit and headed straight for the "As Is" department. And wouldn't you know, I found a couple great pieces of furniture with my name ALL over them! (it truly was...right after we applied the HOLD tags!)

We found a piece that will serve as an upper hutch cabinet. For what base you ask? Well, for the 45" worth of base cabinets we bought for a screaming deal in the kitchen department!! Tonight my dear hubby will take all this......
....and turn it into the printer station and storage that I have been desperately needing for the studio! I have a 12" printer that really wants out of its box!!! I have searched and searched for a piece that would best utilize the 45" space between one of the large PAX cabinets and the edge of the desktop. I couldn't find anything that would work. If it was the right size, it was the wrong color, and vice verse. So we took a trip to IKEA hoping something would add up to 45" of great, usable space!

And IKEA pulled through in the clutch again! Did I mention I LOVE that store?! We simply bought a 30" and a 15" kitchen base cabinet and a 49" counter top for it and Viola! Problem solved. Well, almost. If your math skills are working, you realized we have four extra inches of counter top to deal with! But never fear...hubby already worked that out. He realized we could re-work the bookshelf at the end of the desktop and gain (we think) the four inches back. Tonight we will know for sure! But even if we can't manoeuvre the extra space, we can always resort to cutting it down.

If all goes well and hubby isn't too tired to build stuff when he gets home tonight, I will post the new studio addition tomorrow! Stay tuned!

enjoy the unexpected discoveries in your day...
-dw

What's Old is New...

Remember when I said I had old storage containers in boxes and I just couldn't part with them? Well, yesterday proved why I have to keep them! I decided to dive in and re-sort my embellishments...this time by color family. I am so happy I am making the switch, but it is a BIG project! I also discovered why retail stores love to keep us reorganizing; they know we will have to run back and buy more stuff! Now I need more plastic floss boxes (I thought I'd never use these again!!! Surprise!). And as the boxes start to fill with color you want each spot to be full...because it looks so amazing! Have an empty spot? Better run to the scrapbook store and find some more pink embellishments to fill it! LOL! I have found that it is much easier to inventory what I have this way. It was nice to see an entire jar of turn mounts...but it's much more helpful to know I have only five pink ones!

And to see all the color together in one spot is so inspiring! After gathering the reds together I found myself wishing I had taken some Valentine's Day pictures! All that red just screamed...create something!!!! And red isn't even one of my favorite colors! Imagine how hard it was not to start playing when the blues came together! And the lime...and the pink...and well, I could go on and on! LOL! I simply love color! So if you are as inspired by color as I am, then this may be the perfect way for you to store your embellishments. But hey, don't go buying up all the floss containers before I get there! ;)

enjoy the color around you!

-dw

Update: Here is how the color boxes look in the studio after completing the big switch-over. I am happy to report I still LOVE this system! It has worked great and is a blessing when I scrap away from home. I just grab the color boxes I'll need, knowing I have everything in one place.

And as I always say....I'm more inspired when I can see color surrounding me.