Happy New Year

Happy New Year my friends,

I hope your 2019 is off to a wonderful start with lots of crafting and reading! I am pleased to report that my new year has been lovely so far with just a few bumps (migraines).

I've been having a blast hanging out with so many of you on Facebook, Cozy Mystery Book Corner group and on Goodreads. Both groups are filled with inspiration, support, encouragement, answers, and the most FABULOUS people. 

I've met so many wonderful people thanks to these groups and others, and I am grateful for all of your support and kind words. And, so MANY new followers on This and That with Karen Facebook page!  I am truly a lucky human being!

I am going to spend the next 8 weeks working on organizing our home and a few chores we put off after our floors were done.  With my chronic illness these things can take longer than normal along with me being very lethargic these last few months.  One area I am working on is the Craftroom AGAIN lol will it ever stop.   I am wanting it to look more like our original loft area where most of my craft supplies and tools were hidden away.  This way it can be my reading nook, place to write, watch movies as well as make cards.

This is a photo of the current state of the room (please don't forget that i have stuff hidden away still in basement and spareroom)  I am hoping to downsize my stash even as I still wait for products to arrive from Kristy in Halifax who owns Scrapbook Cafe  and runs the Canadian Crafters and Stampers Group on Facebook.

I have so many fun projects planned for 2019, and I can't wait to share them with you! (Our goal is to use the supplies we currently have)

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Crafty Space 2016!

Hello my crafty peeps, what a glorious day today has turned out to be...nothing special going on, just such a beautiful sunny wintery kind of day. 

I am always looking for more ways to decorate/organize my room.....although I have had my room for about 2 years, it is soooooooo far from being done....I always tell my hubby that it is only 60 to 80 percent done....that drives him nuts... hee hee considering that I have spent so much time organizing and arranging. (My cousin always says havent you already organized it twenty times)

It will never be my ideal craft room, unlike some of the gorgeous ones you see on Pinterest or youtube, with the stamp-n-storage systems and huge space but for now I am just thankful he let me have his loft office/den as my craft space.  Insert "happy dance" or at least that was how I felt 6 months ago, now that I do the odd class, I think the basement family room would be a better fit, but he ain't budgin' now from his "Man Cave"

For some reason about 11pm last night I decided I needed to move some furniture around and start to organize my punches and stamps.  There is only so much I can do in the space but one of these days I hope to find the right fit. I better start up again once I'm done my tea, stay tuned for the finished photos...

If you have a craft space, please share in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs, Karen

Craft Supply Inventory

OK, so I made an Excel inventory spreadsheet for my Stampin' Up! products and am now in the process of doing one for my other craft supplies.  

Screen shot of my spreadsheet

That's not weird is it?  

I mean, I just got a little tired of not remembering what I had and didn't have.  Buying doubles is fine for some things, but not for others, you know what I mean?  "can we say hoarder"

Stampin' Up business supplies etc.

Stampin up drawer full to the brim with stamps, ribbon and other little giveaways

New cube storage, copics store in bin, new stamps on shelf

Side view from desk, more stamps stored on shelf

I have been working on this for a couple of months (years).  I think I have everything I want done.  (except for all of my Non Stampin' Up! paper and collections) see photo of paper storage.  I think it is awesome except I now want to have some sort of planner/binder with printed out copies to have within reach when I am in a creative mood.  I have seen lots on Pinterest where they emboss paper to show what they have, photos of the stamps (good idea) my Stampin' Up! products are easy it is the others that give me grief figuring out storage etc.

DSP Storage

Stampin' Up! Cardstock

Misc paper etc.  still needs sorting

I just have to remember to use it when making supply wish lists and to take a copy with me when purchasing certain things.  

Being a bit of a computer geek, I have a Copic app on my phone and iPad, it is awesome way to know what you have. I also found a bunch of printables on the Ranger site and  there is a printable for the Blendabilities on Pinterest.  Go check it out!  The link will take you to the page where there are a ton of color sheets and label sheets to print out and use to help organize your stuff.

Copics inside one of the bins

My desk top.....

Promarkers

Blendabilities

Spinning Tool Caddy with my scissors, Stampin Up write markers etc.

Stampin Up ink storage

Love my new jar for my sponges (also label each sponge with colour name)

I sold most of my Cricut cartridges last year but I do have a list of my Cricut Cartridges.  I double spaced it so that I have room to add more.  (Wish I had a Silhouette Cameo instead - insert sad face)

Cricut boxes

For now I am hoping to put together a full size three ring notebook even though this size will be hard to handle.  LOL (I have a lot of stuff, but I have been crafting for decades)

To store my Dies, I start by cutting the tabs of each set when I get them using the Steel Snips.  The Die sets that come with multiple pieces are often attached, and the Steel Snips make quick work of separating them.  I place all of my Stampin Up Dies and larger Die sets into the Sizzix Storage Pockets.  I label each set using an inexpensive Brother Label machine. Pictures of my dies...all divided into categories of company (Dividers are in process of being made).

Dies storage - medium box

Oversized dies and some embossing folders and Stencils

Embossing Folders.....

Embossing folders

Punches ....

Stampin Up Punches

..and more Stamps, OH MY!

Various stamp collections

Unity Stamps

Embellishments ....

Embellishment Holder and my Embossing powder holder

Embellishments and ribbons

And, I now have to have a washi tape collection inventory. 

Washi tape dispensers, already need another unit

Stickles....

Stickles, I need to inventory which ones I have

Under desk, Stamps of Life binder and scrap paper storage

Mixed Media storage

To be organized.....

More craft stuff to organize in spare bedroom

Bags of stamps, embellishments and books to sell

Misc Scrapbooks, felt, bags etc.

I am also going to organize my knitting, crochet and cross-stitch supplies (they are in the basement).  I will need the information for that also!

What do you think?  (Not about how much I have hoarded in the last 2 years and stuck in every nook and cranny of my house!  What do you think about my spreadsheets, Apps and eventually my book?  Hee Hee!) Believe it or not I still cannot find things ie: 2" circle punch

Stay crafty, and ORGANIZED, Peeps!

Hugs, Karen