When lacking inspiration...

Organize. 

Seems to help me sometimes. It is yet to be seen if it did the trick 

this time. 

ATC storage

Yesterday, I ran across someone asking about ATC storage. Some people use trading card sheets in 3-ring binders, others have them in baskets and so on.


I have several storage methods.

My first option was to use this very old photo album. It was in rough shape. I decided to make it my own by stamping and painting randomly on the pages for visual interest. I used photo corners to attach each ATC. The thing I like about this album is that you can see the backside of the card through the opening.

This book filled up rather quickly so...

I came with with my own storage option by creating a book that can have my ATC's upright whether they are made in a portrait or landscape style. This was very important to me. Once again I use photo corners to attach the ATC's so they can easily be removed to look at the back.
I wrote a tutorial when I created a second one.

I recently acquired this vintage wooden cheese box for the sole purpose of housing my ever growing collection. I tend to put ATC's that are thick, uneven or heavily embellished in the box. This box sits on my desk right by the computer so I can hopefully be inspired daily.

Do you have an ATC collection?  How do you store yours?

Revamped Art Zone

Recently, I was asked about my craft area. Did I have my own room? How do you handle storage? Lighting?
Here's a glimpse into my world.

My art space has gone through several transformations.

Above is the view from utility portion of the space. My back is pressed against the water heater as I took the picture.

This area has remained mostly unchanged. I have TONS of stuff within reach when I sit in the "command chair". I use the cute Chicks Rule bucket to hold my scraps. My little girl was kind enough to let me use it. Thanks sweetie!
I have a small florescent fixture that hangs for direct task lighting. There is also a large florescent fixture smack in the middle of the room that provides light but since it's behind me when I work, I tend to create a shadow for myself. Fabulous...

I love my Pampered Chef tool organizer. I know it's meant for kitchen stuff but it is perfect for all my "go-to" items. I use a self-healing cutting mat to protect my counter top. The stamp pad and ribbon storage rack was bought on eBay a couple years ago. Can't image what I did without it!

This cabinet was the latest piece we added to the space. I sold the old TV stand that was here to make room for this.

Now I have a standing working surface as well!! I love it.

Look at the rolling shelves! Awesome storage!

My husband put up this cabinet several years ago to help control my creative clutter. I have it jammed full as well. Although, I do know where every single thing is!

This is how I store my 12x12 scrapbook papers. Not the prettiest system but it works for me. Your eyes do not deceive you either...yet another storage piece under the counter top. It's on wheels so I can pull it out to store my sewing machine behind it when not in use. I didn't take a picture but there is also a tiny 2 shelf bookcase under the counter. It was way to messy for a photo.

The large orange file cabinet is also "new". To me at least. It came from my folks place along with the cabinet. The top 2 drawers just boring administrative stuff.
Oh, did I mention my craft area is in the laundry room... The dryer makes a great spot for my guillotine cutter.

But the bottom one holds all my scrap sorted by color and other ephemera.

Well, that's probably more than you ever cared to know about where I work. Now I should probably start using my space instead of just talking about it!

Pretty ribbons

I'm so happy with these glass jars I was able to find at the thrift store.

It got me to clean off my pile of random junk so I could display these jars full of wrapped ribbons.

I'm hoping these colorful additions will provide lots of inspiration.

Ribbon storage

I saw this post a while ago and knew I wanted to emulate it.
I finally made it to a dollar store to get some old fashion clothes pins.

The wrapping process has begun.

I think a trip to Goodwill is in order to find some pretty glass jars to store them in.

Sorta clean.

I buckled down and got at least half of my space clean and organized.

I scrubbed most of the paint and glue off my self healing mat and counter top as well.

I think now that it's clean, I'm going to work on some jewelry. Nothing worse than a messy space with beads and jumprings floating around!

Rearrranging and organizing

I haven't been able to be creative since we did some rearranging of furniture through the house. We call it the grand rotation of the crap. We never seem to get rid of any, it just moves to another room of the house.

I had to clean off the desk that went to the family room for the kids to work at...hence, the big pile on my workstation and chair and floor....

The light colored piece in the lower right is an old TV stand that was in DH office for lack of a better place. It should provide me more storage in the long run as soon as I figure out how to utilize it.

Hopefully I can get everything sorted out over the long holiday weekend so I can get back to being creative.

Here's how it looked the last time I organized.

Clean and organized

I finally got my art zone clean and organized. I had made a really good dent in the organizing process a couple of months ago but then of course..I got sidetracked and the mess multiplied. I've been in an end of the school year panic. I've been trying to get as much cleaned and organized all through the house as I possibly can before I have both kids home ALL THE TIME.