I think everyone enjoys getting to peek into other designers scraprooms, right? It's fun to see how others store and organize the same types of products and tools that so many of us have. And while many of us have totally different ways of setting up our spaces, or have totally different types of spaces that we're working with, you never know when you'll see a new way of storing or organizing products that you can incorporate into your own space.
Scraproom Tour, by Kelly Holbrook.
My scrap space is also our entry way. The front door is to the right of the computer, which you can kind of see part of in the lower right hand corner. What you can't see is hooks filled with coats, and a cubby filled with shoes :) It was the best place for my craft stuff, as the room was kind of empty before I claimed it...now it's a little crowded for my liking, but it works.
The cabinet that holds the majority of my scrapbooking tools is actually an office/ computer cabinet. It was my parents' while growing up...and when they wanted to get rid of it, I had the perfect purpose for it. Although, I have to purge often for lack of space, it beats hauling everything out to the kitchen table when I want to work, which was my previous arrangement.
It opens up with a fold out table, a large filing drawer, a tray that's suppose to be for a keyboard, and mail cubbies...which I've re-purposed to fit my craft storage needs. This is what it looks like the majority of the time...I almost never close it up.
I've been stamping since 1998, and have probably given away at least twice as many stamp sets that you see here. I don't have room to hoard, so if there is something that I find myself never using...it finds a better home. The baskets hold:
Top Left: extra adhesives, ones that I don't use on a regular basis, like sticker makers, Modge Podge, glue sticks and hot glue gun refills. Top Middle: spools of ribbon, baker's twine, washi tape. Top Right: extra embellishments like die cuts, brads, and gems that go with certain paper collections.
Bottom Left: punches, Bottom Middle: more punches, and decorative scissors. Bottom Right: Ink refills, glitter, and paints.
Here's the little roll out tray that's suppose to hold a keyboard...it holds my paper trimmer. These baskets hold: Top Left: ink pads; Top Right: miscellaneous chipboard and flowers; Bottom Left: embossing folders and dies; Bottom Right: miscellaneous tools such as paper crimper, Crop-a-dile, stamp scrubber, paint tray, etc.
Here, I'll start at the bottom with the cubbies from left to right: The first one hold long tools like rulers, a hammer, and a 12x12 trimmer; next is rub ons; the third is letter stickers ( I keep 12x12 sheets with my 12x12 paper), and the last one is envelopes, notecards and tags. The little set of drawers hold every thing I reach for the most: the bottom is pens and markers; the middle is things like my paper piercer, pencils, erasers, stapler, double stick tape, foam tape, needles, etc; the top is staples, paperclips popsicle sticks, mini clothespins, etc.
The black basket in the back holds all of my clear stamps, the little Rubbermaid container in front of it holds gems and tools that I need to keep together and handy for DT work. The next shelf up holds flat tools like a big circle cutter, Coluzzle system, stencils, and cutting mats.The top shelf from left to right holds: More tools that I need to keep together/handy for DT work; a basket of my printed photos, and embroidery floss containers that actually hold brads/eyelets, beads, and ribbon left overs.
Under the table there is a big filing drawer. The shelf on top of it holds recent papercrafting magazines, and a basket of cards.
The big filing drawer holds all of my 8.5x11 cardstock sorted by color.
This cabinet was made by my husband's best friend as a wedding present. It used to hold books, but we aren't big readers...so up those went to the attic, and now it holds my 12x12 paper.
I keep all of my 12x 12 paper together by collection...it's just easier for me that way. If any of the collections come with bulky embellishments...they go in the embellishment basket from photo #4. The big basket has all of my Bella collections and embellishments because they're special :) But, I'm quickly out-growing it.
I also store all of my Bella paper by collection, and have all of the like embellishments stored together in bags. Then, if I have in mind what I want to use, I can just grab a collection or two, and the embellishments that I want to use with it.
This shelf has all of my albums...don't be fooled, only about half of those are completed. I try to have an album for each year of my kids' life, except for the girls (twins). I started out doing theirs together, because they were always in pictures together. So, that's just the way I've kept doing it. I'm actually kind of glad, because I don't know where I would put 12 more albums if I had started each their own books. Albums are expensive, and since I do so many...I actually use 2 1/2 inch office binders, which explains my preferred 8.5x11 style. They're only a few bucks, and I can customize the outside myself.
Thanks for touring my favorite spot with me! I hope I've been able to share some ideas for those with limited storage.
I love love love your space!! Loving how you kept/re-purposed the cabinet that belonged to your folks!!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | March 22, 2014 at 08:55 AM
I love your repurposed cabinet too and how well everything neatly fits into it! I'm feeling a bit sheepish about the amount I hold onto now because I think I could fill 5 of your cabinets. You definitely have me re-thinking what I should get rid of at this summer's yard sale--My space has the room to hold it all, but I definitely don't use some of it very much anymore. It's just so hard thinking that "someday" I might "need" it. LOL! ;)
Posted by: Mendi Yoshikawa | March 22, 2014 at 03:24 PM
Nice job making good use of a small odd spot. My Craft area is also in a small odd spot, but I have a handy hubby so he put up shelves and built custom things for my tools. I love how everything seems to be at your fingertips! Since we are snooping, you didn't mention what things are in the 8 baskets in front of the window, lol. I love your use of baskets, they seem to keep you organized. Although I see your space issue I just have a hard time envisioning giving stuff away!
Posted by: Alicia Somers | March 23, 2014 at 01:49 AM
I didn't mention the things in the baskets in front of the window because that is my knitting stash :) They hold yarn mostly, and some needles/crochet hooks.
Posted by: Kelly Holbrook | March 24, 2014 at 02:08 PM