Craft/Studio Organization TIPS!

These are some of the things I've done in my studio that I thought I'd share with you... hoping these organizational tips will be helpful to others :-)

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Bookcase storage...

ClubScrap & More -- ALSB & ScrapRapMagazines in Notebooks (chronologically), Special Editions & Projects in separate notebks, LO sketches, Card Ideas, etc

Cropper Hopper File Storage folders for CS Kits, with divider tabs by year. StampinUp! & misc cardstock sorted by color (bottom), Stickers sorted by theme (using ziploc bags & C.H. sticker storage folders), ALSB pages cut & ready for assembly (lower right in tubs), ALSB pages assembled waiting for pics in 2 gal ziplocs stored upright (next to tubs).

$ hint - JoAnn.com for C.H. file storage - watch for sales and then do online search for coupon codes!

Filing Cabinet storage...

CS Kits - the 8.5x11 papers, cut outs, stickers, etc

CS Kit embellies, 1/2# paper packs, etc

Bookcase closeups...

 

 StampinUp! cardstock by color groups

 

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Kitchen & Bath organizers...

Frequent tools & things.

$ hint - Pampered Chef, Walmart

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Container organizers...

Rubbermaid stackable drawers for punches, reinkers, inkpads & more.

$ hint - Walmart

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Fishing tackle, Hardware organizers...

for eyelets, brads, charms, etc

$ hint - Walmart, HomeDepot, etc

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Old lunch bag insert & ziploc "pint" freezer bags for clear stamps (page/sheet protectors & 3-ring binder for larger sets). Used white cardstock to fit inside ziploc for labeling stamp sets... filed by category (ie borders, baby, holiday, etc)

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FIBER... RIBBON... FIBER... RIBBON...

Photo Box... decorate, punch holes for eyelets, thread ribbon & wala! RIBBON DISPENSER :-)

$ hint - JoAnns

Christmas Decor organizers! I use these for fibers, ribbons, buttons, extra/specialty adhesives, etc!

$ hint - Target (late Fall)

Pants Hanger!

$ hint - Walmart, Target, etc...

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Have fun organizing your craft space / room!

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Isaiah 40:31

Studio FUN !?!?!

It's been three years since I've been able to do "hybrid" scrap-booking (that's what digi-scrapbookers call the "hands-on" scrapping that's been going on for decades). My severe NRLA (natural rubber latex allergy) put a halt to rubberstamping and the severity of my MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) prevented me from continuing to scrap even using the latex-free materials. That's 'cuz of all the chemicals involved... from adhesives to paints to inks to papers, embellishments & more!

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Thanks to a long road of nutritional supplements & homeopathic remedies, my immune system has gotten stronger. I still have to be extremely careful, even though I've been able to add some latex-cross-reactive foods back onto my 'ok' list... even though I've been able to resume "some" hands-on scrapping & other projects in the last 2-3 months, I still have to be extremely careful (repeat intentional). Because although most exposures come from known sources, there are still MANY surprise ones out there... including what caught me unawares a few days ago and rendered me a "couch YAM" for the last couple days (yams are "sweet" potatoes... and because regular potatoes are strong enemies of mine (HUGE latex-cross-reactive for me), I wanted to come up with a different term. My best friend, Melissa, helped me out with that... she knows how much I enjoy eating yams (raw, baked, roasted, chips, etc). Anyway, I had been sorting thru some supplies to set up to make some cards... had just completed a digi-LO for ClubScrap's PSL challenge and my blog post when I got hit... hard and fast... required 2 doses of epinephrine to stop, benadryl and several homeopathics (primarily anti-histamine, but also for gut & inflammatory pain symptoms that accompanied this particular anaphylaxis episode). I'm still not positive what caused this crash, but the couple suspicions came on top of a system that was already engaged in a defensive battle. Over the last couple of weeks I'd been exposed to: hotel fragrances, people fragrances & cigarette smoke, travel stuff (vehicle exhaust, latex-contaminated-road-dust, etc), farming chemicals several times (exhaust, insecticides, fertilizers, etc - we live right next door to a farm that has been SUPER busy this last month in their efforts to rescue & replant crops following the damaging wind/hail storm that hit our area). It's no wonder then, that the scales were tipped and I got hit so hard & fast... the final straw was either (or both!) a new olive leaf supplement (had been confirmed by manufacturer to be latex-safe) that I tried that morning and/or a malfunctioning air purifier that overheated, putting a burnt oil/rubber smell into the air. It is now in the repair shop for warranty service (problem still unknown)... and the new supplement is now on the "do not use" list!!

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Even keeping a daily log doesn't always help identify the source of the exposure that causes a life-threatening allergic reaction. I've been keeping a daily log since 2007 (wow! that's 5 yrs!!) which has helped me identify many, many triggers. By identifying them, I'm then able to avoid them... which is the ONLY treatment for NRLA and the 1st/best treatment for MCS. It's fairly easy to identify the triggers for immediate reactions, but harder for delayed ones. I believe my system was already on overload with 'recovering' from all the recent chemical exposures and that contributed to my needing more meds to stop the anaphylaxis and longer recovery time from this episode (hence the 'couch-yam' dressed in robe & pj's!). 

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Life is always an adventure living with NRLA "and" MCS, that's for sure.

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If you arrived at the post doing an internet search for info on latex allergy or mulitple chemical sensitivities, there are a few resource/educational links in my blog footer (you can get there quickly by pressing control-end).

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Here's my studio - this photo shows my map-fold books in progress :-)

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And here's a panoramic view - photo taken with my Sony Cybershot

I've used U-HAUL mattress bags, cut to fit, to cover my bookcases (scrap-booking supplies, photo albums, books and more) -- this blocks/minimizes exposures to any chemicals off-gassing from the various items. I either push them to the side or roll them up depending whether I'm reaching for something specific or "browsing". I also store scrap-booking & craft supplies in the metal filing & storage cabinets.

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For now, the card project is on hold ... we'll have to wait & see what next week brings. Meanwhile, getting all my other air purifiers checked out (1 at a time) to make sure whatever happened with the one the other day doesn't happen with the others (our home is "fragrance-free" and "latex-safe"... we have 4 air purifiers in our home... to keep up with carpet off-gassing, neighborhood chemicals, vehicle/lawn-mower/farm machine exhaust, ETC!).

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Isaiah 40:31

ClubScrap PSL 2012 Summer Camp!

I've taken the plunge and am signed up for summer camp -- only it's a lot different than it was 35+ years ago. It's a scrapbooking-challenge camp over at ClubScrap. I'm in the Osprey cabin (no pressure, no deadline... if I can do the challenge, great... if not, just get to have fun doing whatever! it's great!!

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This is week 3 and the challenge is to use fibers... I LOVE fibers and have quite a ribbon collection (stash!). I just completed a double-DIGI-spread (see previous posts) and have my work station all setup for cranking out "several" cards... gonna make some valentines (yeah, I "know" it's July!) and some all occasion ones.  Last week the challenge was "Art Media", but I wasn't able to do anything cuz of being in recovery from weekend exposures and ongoing exposures that week from farming chemicals and a few other things that I can't remember unless I look in my daily log (and I'm not going to run upstairs to do that, so for now it'll remain a "mystery").

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If you're ready for some scrappin' FUN... here are some ClubScrap links that you might be interested in...

Forum .... SHOP .... Gallery .... CLUBS .... Tutorial Videos .... PSL!!

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Isaiah 40:31

ClubScrap PSL 2012 #1

week 1 challenge - Let's Stamp!

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credits: stamps from ClubScrap Centennial R (Oct2007) & Haberdashery EXP (June2008), Tilescapes digi-kit from ClubScrap (Nov2011), font - Jester

----- NOTE: kit photo is of the regular 'hands-on' scrap kit ----- 

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HYBRID - credits: Matrix kit from ClubScrap (July2008)

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Isaiah 40:31

ClubScrap PSL 2012 #2-3

week 3 challenge - FIBER!

(makeup week 2 challenge - ART MEDIA)

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credits: Sorrento digi-kit from ClubScrap (July2012)
fonts - Existence, La Jolla ES
 featuring...McClintock PhotoGraphics

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Isaiah 40:31

Snap-Maps!

My husband came up with that title for the 6x6 map-fold books I made for our 3 sons. Out of snapshots and map-fold... he came up with "snap-maps". They turned out fantastic! This was a project from ClubScrap that came with a video tutorial (see below). Of course, I just HAD to $ the Scor-Pal for making them! The next in line is making the map-fold book of my honey & me ♥~♥

choosing & cutting 

cover pieces and photo mats

(ClubScrap cardstock)

folding the photo insert

(Stamping Up! and 

misc designer papers)

choosing & cutting photos

for map-fold book using

insert as a guide

Jon's finished book

LIFE "SNAP-MAP"

"Memory snapshots in the

real life adventures of..."

Pete's book

(inside covers)

Andrew's book

(right side opens & pops out)

Pete's book

(fully open)

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Watch live streaming video from clubscrap at livestream.com

video tutorial by Tricia at Club Scrap HERE 
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This project was an absolute blast! You'll have loads of fun if you give it a try :-)

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Isaiah 40:31

North Shore Adventures 2012

Keiko had an absolute blast with our spring trip to the North Shore this year. It was her 1st "vacation" away from home AND her 1st time to Lake Superior with its rocky beaches. She LOVED it!! We had a marvelous time and look forward to our next annual visit there.

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credits: Rest Relax Breathe by Binty Designs

fonts - Graphite Std

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Isaiah 40:31

FROGGY FUN!

We were recently blessed by a week long visit in Michigan with my parents and two of our son's families. It's always a JOY when we get to spend time with our grandsons, Ethan & Jaden. Mags recent kit, Frog in My Pocket was absolutely PERFECT for the park adventure that Grampa & "the boys" had on their walk. He was the cameraman and it was exciting to see that there were 4 photos I could use for each layout... 3 pages... "the Walk...", "the Search..." & "the Find..."

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credits: Frog in My Pocket kit by MagsGraphics
fonts: SU Liesly, Graphite Std

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Isaiah 40:31