My New Craft Closet

If you've been over to my house, you'll know that I have my craft supplies in the basement office but my crafting table in the rec room. This isn't very practical as I keep getting stuff out and never put it away to save on walking next time I need it.

So not long ago I wrote about my dream workspace (read blog) which I was planning to implement in the new house. Well I found a similar space but designed for crafters (see 1st photo below). Anyway, since we are no longer moving house I decided to get C to implement my dream craft space (see 2nd picture below) in the closet in the office.

ELF Craft Closet System (inspiration)
 

Marina's New Craft Closet
 
- Top shelf holds less used supplies including my label maker and a fabric covered box from London Drugs ($7) containing my "things to be scrapped".
- Middle shelf holds CH paper holders, CK QVC Papercrafting Kit, Scrapbooks.
- 1/2 shelf on left contains CK QVC Cardmaking Kit, loose stamps, embellishments.
- Lower shelf is used like a desk, left side contains magazine holders and idea books (need those handy), desk organizer (actually just a cute metal tin from Homesense for $7), hand-made fabric scrap collector (thanks Carrie!), CTMH pad of paper, Fiskars trimmer.
- Leaning on back wall is my magnetic bulletin board (Chapters)(C has yet to mount it).
- Under the lower shelf are two Sterlite 3 drawer carts (London Drugs $10 special), one contains all my stamps, stamp pads, markers etc. The other contains my Coluzzle stuff (and has a couple of empty drawers ready for new stuff!). Also my rolling tote is under the desk.


Shelves, mounting rails and brackets from Home Hardware (cost around $130 with hardware). 

My First Paper Bag Album

After recently seeing Julie A's paperbag album with pictures of her new baby Ella, I was so pumped to make my own. This is what I came up with (instructions can be found here).

Supplies: Kraft color paper bags (4), Rob & Bob Slab 6, SU Hodgepodge Hardware & Pockets/Pieces, CTMH Precious Alphabet, Chatterbox Accents, Ribbon.

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  

Looks Like Spring Card in Pale Plum

I've been working on the following card for a couple of days which is CASED from a Splitcoaststampers card I found. After getting stuck a couple of times (I don't have the word window punch yet and didn't have any Sahara or light cardstock), I got lucky after my Pockets and Pieces arrived as it included some die cuts that look just like word window punched pieces and a sheet of light cardstock. Hope you like it.

Made with Heroarts Italian Poem, SU Looks Like Spring, SU Noteworthy stamps. SU Pockets and Pieces, SU Pale Plum Cardstock & Ink, SU Chocolate Chip Ink, CTMH Grey Wool Ink, White Organdy Ribbon.
  

My Dream Workspace

I've been drooling over the following photo of a workspace from Better Homes and Gardens Special Edition Storage magazine for some time (so much in fact that the back cover just fell off!).

This is my dream workspace. I used to dream of a big wooden desk with return and file drawers, in fact I bought it and use it now. But you know what? I like this better. Why? Because you can close the doors. I am a messy person... not super-messy - I don't need CleanSweep to drop by just yet (although I wouldn't say no) - but I like to stack things in piles, stick post-it notes to my monitor and have a big in-box.

This workspace lets you close the doors and pretend that you don't have a big mess on the other side. Craig has promised to build me this dream closet in the "new" house (whenever we get our new house). I convinced him that he didn't really want to see all my craft supplies everywhere and that closing the doors would be a great idea!

Anyway, take a look, drool with me and build it if you want. Just let me know if you do so that I can pop over and drool in person!

  

My Third Pastel Painting

I thought I'd try something different at my pastel art class the last few weeks, and so I have been working on a full body portrait of a ballerina. The portrait was copied from a photo on the internet of a ballerina getting ready for a show. Unfortunately because the original is 11x14 inches, I was unable to scan the entire image, but you will get the idea from what you can see below. I will be displaying this painting at the Gallaghers Canyon Art Show at the beginning of June.

  

Mother's Day

Here's the Mother's Day card we're sending to my MIL. Made with Looks Like Spring, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Precious Alphabet, Tag Charms. Perfect Plum and Pale Plum cardstock and Perfect Plum ink.
  

A Baby Card for Matt & Keira

Here is a baby card I made to celebrate the birth of Matt and Keira's first child, a baby girl. The tag was made as part of VSN and was mounted on SU Perfect Plum cardstock stamped with Looks Like Spring in Perfect Plum ink.
  

A couple of CASED cards

A couple of cards CASED from the SU 2005/6 Idea Book and Catalog. Enjoy!

Made with Pocket Full of Posies stamps. Mellow Moss & Bliss Blue Cardstock, Bliss Blue & Basic Black Ink, green ribbon, Bashful Blue Button, Linen Thread.
 

Made with Love Without End, Script, Girly Girl Stamps. Kraft & Bliss Blue & Mellow Moss Cardstock, Mellow Moss Ink, Bashful Blue Button, Linen Thread, Blue Gingham Ribbon, SU Tags, Staple.
  

Splitcoaststampers VSN - Saturday

Here are my entries for Saturday's VSN.
Challenge to use staples:

Challenge to make a 3-D tag:

Challenge to make a curvy card:

Challenge to use a food stamp:

I had a great time at VSN and hope to participate next month! 

Splitcoaststampers VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) - Friday

I found a fantastic web site for Stampin Up addicts. It's called www.splitcraftstampers.com. While not exclusively for SU fans, there is a concentration towards SU stamps. The gallery is great for ideas and so is the discussion. Each month they host a VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) with challenges posted that you must complete within 45 mins. This month was special with a 2-day event. Here are my challenges from Friday night (Show Me Your Diamonds challenge).