Project Scrapbox Workbox: Installment #3

Hello! I decided to share my workspace, the Original Scrapbox Workbox, again. I just went through a big purge of unused supplies. As you've seen here and here, my craft area is teensy. So constant cleaning and organization is a must. The space is a real work in progress...

In an effort to take up less space, I've upgraded most of my full size stamp pads with Tsukineko Dew Drops, Clearsnap ColorBox Cat's Eye Queues, and SEI Ink Blocks. It's made such a difference and I love how I can quickly see all of the colors all in one small tin.

It's been a real struggle for me to find the right function behind my storage space since I always tend to have more than what can fit into the space. What are your tips to keeping an organized small craft space?

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Project Scrapbox Workbox: Installment #2

I've been getting things back in order... both cleaning and organizing around the apartment.

Since I got the Scrapbox Workbox almost two years ago, I've had it neat, tidy, and closed for maybe a total of 5 days. It sits in the middle of my living room and since I'm constantly using this station, I've wanted to add a fabric panel to conceal my mess for quite some time.

But first, I actually had to clean my table top mess to even tackle sewing a fabric panel. Here's the whole transformation via Vine.

Materials used: Ikea fabric, Singer sewing machine, Velcro

Wait, this is Installment #2? Where's Installment #1? Here you go.

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Getting Organized: Tape Holder Shelf

It's January, so it's time to get organized! I've accumulated a small collection of tape and I've been looking for a flexible system to store them. Here's what I made:

Materials Used: Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings You & Me, Acrylic Paint in Gold, Mini Drawers; Other: Mod Podge

I love Kaisercraft's mini drawers because it's up to you with how you want to use it. Perhaps you have need for all the small compartments to hold beads or small findings. For me, the foundation shelf for the mini drawers was perfect to store all of my tapes. I love how it can stand horizontally like a bin or vertically like a shelf.

And it was so easy to make! I first painted the entire piece with gold acrylic paint. I then carefully adhered all of the paper to the shelf using Mod Podge. I then clipped a medium sized binder clip to hold my mini scissors which are perfect to snip tape. So simple and easy!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Planning the New Year

Back again to show another project sure to help with organization. The best part about this project is that it's super easy and it will serve for an entire year!

Materials Used: SEI Spooks collection, Bazzill cardstock, Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine

I created a fun and simple calendar that also serves as wall art and a picture frame. To create this calendar, I printed out the 2012 calendar, punched hearts of different sizes, cut a business card holder pocket and sewed them all to the page. I then finished it off with the 2012 stickers and slipped in a picture of my friend and I to personalize it. It's a simple enough of a project where you can even mass produce these to give to friends as a lovely handmade gift that helps them stay organized all year round too!

Hope you like this idea and be sure to check out the SEI blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Staying Organized in December

I find it particularly hard to keep it all together in December, largely due to all the events, gift buying, and new year planning. Don't get me wrong, it's my favorite time of year. Lots of tying up loose ends as well as beginning new plans and resolutions. So the remainder of December's projects will be things crafted to help me stay organized through the end of the year. I'll let you know how I do with my newly crafted organization tools come January. :)

If you're like me, you have tons of post-it notes floating everywhere with all kinds of lists that are always at the wrong places when you need them. Welp, my solution this year is to keep a pocket organizer just for the last two months of the year when all the hustle and bustle occurs.

Materials Used: SEI Holiday Cheer, White Elegance collections; Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine, circle punches

Inside there's a November and December calendar, a lists of various to-do's, a place to collect coupons and slip in anything else such as receipts from gift purchases, etc.

To create the organizer, I sewed three 5 1/2 x 8 sheet protectors together. The third sheet protector was sewn in half. I then cut a slit in the middle of the pockets for coupon and receipt storage. (Yep, that's a Michael's coupon.)

So far this system has proven to work quite well for me. The best part about this is that once this year completes, I have all of my lists and plans all stored and documented in one place. And, next year, I'll be able to look at all of my lists from this year.

Hope you like this idea and be sure to check out the SEI blog for more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Project Scrapbox Workbox: Installment #1

Lots of changes this month... lots to be thankful for and lots to look forward to... On the work front, I said good bye to an old company and hello to a new company! I am so excited and I can't wait to jump right in. But the last few weeks have also been so busy wrapping things up and tying loose ends.

On the crafting front, I am excited to share that I made the investment in the Scrapbox Workbox. At first, I was hesitant because the box itself isn't necessarily my style with its traditional furniture look. But after further research, I was convinced it will meet all of my organizational and functional needs. And it did!

As you can see, it's still a somewhat unfinished workspace... meaning, I didn't complete all the organization of my craft stuff nor did I finalize the configuration of all the inside shelving. But the point of this post is just to share some things I learned through this huge investment. Installment #2 will be about the finished workspace and how I personalized it to inspire me each time I open the unit.

Research & Decision:

• I wanted to purchase the unit with a discount, free shipping, and from a company with great customer care.
• I finally bought it from Legacy Scrapbooking because I personally found the owners, Larry and Lynda, extremely responsive and helpful.
• Plus, there was a 5% additional discount when you "LIKE" Legacy Scrapbooking on Facebook.

Timeline:

• 9 days shipping from Utah to my New York apartment (amazing shipping time, if you ask me)
• 0.5 hours moving and unwrapping the 5 boxes (total weight of 450 lbs.)
  
• 5.5 hours building the unit (Thank you, love of my life!)
  
• 3 hours configuring the inside shelving (still working on this)
  
• Lifetime of craft organization at my fingertips! Love it!
  

My 'Before' Studio:

• I had two large craft units (one of them featured in this previous blog post), one small craft drawer, one small book shelf, and a small craft desk scattered around my living room, taking up way too much space.
• But I loved the eclectic collected look of all the different units thrown together.

My 'After' Studio:

• I have one large craft unit that magically fits everything craft-related in a highly organized manner!
• I will be personalizing it further so it feels more like my "studio" and less of just a huge display shelves.

 

Next Steps:

• Personalize the inside of the unit!
• Come back and check out installment #2 on "Project Scrapbox Workbox"!
  

Hope you found this post helpful if you're looking for information on the Scrapbox Workbox and let me know if you have any questions about it!

Oh, and on a separate note, a great big thank you to Aussie Scrap Source for featuring one of my favorite layouts this past weekend. I used one of my absolute favorite punches on it, the Martha Stewart studded heart punch and now it is also on sale for 25% off at Two Peas!


Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl