Why have plain white cupboard doors....

... when you can have paper patchwork doors!!

I've spoken about these doors when chatting about ways to use the paperstash (we all have it!)... and how instead of my favourite papers sitting unloved and forgotten in the stash I've chosen my absolute favourites (those ones that are so nice you don't actually want to use them lol) & cut them into 6x6in 'tiles' and papered the cupboard doors with them - I love them - they are inspiring and distracting in equal measure! lol

This cupboard is in the eaves of the loft space and designed to be a wardrobe, the doors are quite large - about 100x150cm each - so I have repurposed them! Along the top of the doors I glued cork tiles to create a 'notice board' - somewhere to keep inspiring or favourite bits and pieces... and inside the cupboard it is no longer a wardrobe...

... it is where I store stamps and (some)substrates - it is so organised it makes me smile:
* wood stamps are in the drawer unit.
* PaperArtsy hotpicks are in the baskets, Ink&TheDog are in a clear box 3shelves below.
* if I have a lot of a particular brand I store them in clear VHS tape boxes (perfect size, depth and easy to stack), and the A5 plastic paper boxes.
* all other unmounted stamps are either in file boxes, or in CD cases in racks (labelled with contents) - but I'm trying to re-home these into other storage....

.... simple accessible storage/filing - you see the administrator in me is always close to the surface lol

... and the doors themselves don't get wasted - look at all that lovely horizontal storage space! - I've started hanging strings of ribbon on them - next it will be other flat, light things - such as a paper trimmer, rings of washi tape and hooks for stencils...etc

If you're wondering where the JOFY stamps are they're stored separately - they have their own shelf on the other side of the room - not for any other reason than there's quite a lot of them now and I need quick and easy access to them (oh, ok- it also makes me happy and a little bit proud to see them all lined up like this):

Each wallet has a number sticker (on both sides) so that I ccan flick through to the plate I need (instead of pulling them each out to see the number lol) - its all getting a bit obsessively organised...  move away from the shelves & labeling Jo!! lol

Sometimes you have to be organised to be creative... lol, no not tidy - just organised! lol  tidy is a never-ending work in progress! (in my workroom anyway lol)

x

ah... the humble toast rack...

.... or alternatively 'when is a toast rack not a toast rack'....  I had been thinking of ways to stand stamp plates on my demo table so that they were easily accessible etc etc etc  *lightbulb* TOAST RACK!!! perfect size, easy & light to transport, easy to clean... not so easy to find! (especially if you are me who had an idea of the exact type of toast rack that was required (see above photo) and nothing else would do! lol)lol I have scoured the local charity shops - scoured I tell you lol (and now I have two the same! = happy crafter!)
Ta daaaaa:  Look how perfect they are stamp storage:

Please go and rescue the poor neglected toastrack from the back of the cupboard (or the back of your parents crockery cupboard which is where they are likely to be - these toast racks were popular wedding gifts in the 60s apparently!) dust it off and use it to stand your stamps in while you're working with them... perfect!

A this'n'that catch up.... Part 2

Here's another random selection of stuff that I meant to show you before now:

Ranger have brought out some more Distress Stains!! Squeeeeel! Love this product.
Thank you for the lovely messages I had about my article in this month's Craft Stamper - glad I inspired you.  I bought a few more of the Stains and played with the bleach on these too:

No great surprises in the remaining colour once bleached (eg walnut stain that has a great purple when bleached) but I do like the pale yellow thats left in the black soot - nice.

I bought Milled Lavender after I'd made these samples - it wasn't one of my favourite Distress Colours (not sure I even have it as an ink pad) (a bit of a 'non-colour) but the Stain is a really lovely soft pretty colour.  I'm converted.
Picket Fence!!! ooh thats a good one - its more opaque than the other stains - great for a white wash look over a surface.. very versatile.

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October ArtsyCrafts!!!

Oops  - can't believe I haven't blogged about this before now!! - well I might have mentioned that it was running but what I haven't mentioned is that its going to be another exciting event with another guest teacher!!!

In addition to the usual top classes by Leandra & Lin, Lynne Perella will teach 3 days of classes - a different one each day.

How fabulous is that!

Aaaaaand its very exciting for me because I'm not going to be working at the event* - I'm going to be taking 2 of the classes!!!!!!!  Beyond excited.
(* don't get me wrong I love working at these events)

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aaaand another exciting event - so much arty learning will be going into my head in October I may implode (but don't worry if I do it will be sparkly and there may be buttons..lol) - I was lucky to get a place on the Dina Wakley classes at LB Crafts!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, beyond excited! lol  I love Dina's artsy, splashy, colour rich, sprayiness (yes, I know that's not a word but I'm excited so forgive me! lol)

Dina Wakley. www.dinastamps.typepad.com

So many new exciting things to be learnt in October ( I love learning new things) I may have to lay in a darkened room for the whole of November! lol

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In my workroom there are lots of boxes with supplies in them, & it's sort of organised (& getting better, its an ongoing process) - I have several Moppe boxes (from Ikea - love these but apparently they don't make them anymore! The shock!) but these boxes aren't very interesting to look at - so I pulled out some of my current favourite scrapbook papers and covered the drawers in those!

I like looking at scrapbook papers!
I like storage.
Its a win win situation. I deliberately kept them simple and embellishment free so that if I get 'bored' of these papers I can easily change them.

Take care