Friday, October 21, 2011

My Craft Space

Welcome!  I thought it was about time I invited you all in to my craft space for a look around...  :-)  

Just a warning, this is a photo heavy post.

When we starting planning our house a couple of years ago, the idea was that I was going to have a built-in desk/cupboard in the study for my gear.  As we got further into the planning, I was getting more and more into stamping, and my *ahem* collection of gear was growing...

I'm very fortunate to have a husband who has been able to see that crafting for me has literally been a life-saver.  There have been countless times when my health hasn't been great, and being able to "lose myself" in this hobby, was is a much needed time out from myself, not to mention one of the very few things I get enjoyment from.  

So... I've kind of taken over the study!!   We all spend time in here though.  Quite recently, my husband came across our four year old daughter sitting at my desk with her finger tapping her cheek thoughtfully... then she asked "Dad, can you please pass me a block?".  ;-)  She knows all the ins and outs!

Anyway, on to the tour!


Craft Space Layout 

This is my built-in workspace (the original version just consisted of this bit...).  My husband has made a couple of modifications over the past year as I've been figuring out the best arrangement for everything.  He installed the roll-away shelf under the desk, the shelf that the TV is sitting on, and the ink storage system.  :-)


The chest of drawers was originally from our bedroom, but we didn't need the extra drawer space once we moved in here.  More about the drawers further down.  I've also moved a desk and chair in for Olivia, because she loves crafting as much as I do.  She still kicks me off my desk though...  ;-)


The bookshelves house my stamps and Big Shot dies, and the table in the corner is permanently set up for photographing cards, as well as cutting card stock and using the Big Shot.  I posted a little while ago about the light tent/set-up I used to use for my photos, but since upgrading my camera, I'm able to take much better photos in lower light settings.  So this works just as well.


And we're back around to the beginning.  You can see a punch stand that my husband made tucked away there...


So... want some more details?  Read on!


Fabric Covered Decor

We went to Ikea on a recent trip to the mainland, and one of the best things we bought was some great fabric.  Great quality, and an even better price.  I had something else in mind for the fabric I've used here, but the colour wasn't quite right... but it was perfect for making a few accents for my craft space!  I found this fabulous tutorial on covering the frame of a notice board, the only difference is that I covered a noticeboard that already had the cork inserted.  It made it a little tricky to get the fabric under the inside edge, but I managed!


The simplest room accent to do is a covered canvas.  I just bought some inexpensive art canvases from a discount store, cut the fabric to size, then used a staple gun to attach the fabric firmly at the back.  Easy!

Not as easy, was covering this desk chair.  I originally planned to make a slip cover, but the curves made it difficult.  So I pulled it apart instead.  I'm thrilled with how well it turned out.


Inspiration Showcase Canvas

You've probably seen this one before - the canvas I made from Jennifer McGuire's Inspiration Showcase on-line class.  I love how this turned out! 



Prismacolor Pencils

My babies...



Prismacolor Sampler

This is a sampler I started working on recently.  I originally started doing one in a book, but found it was awkward for me.  So having sample on a ring made a lot more sense.  I've used the same image, Gorjuss Dropped, on all sheets (many more to come!) so I can see at a glance the way the highlights work with different colour combinations.  They're laminated too... that's the ex-teacher in me!



Ink Storage

This in the ink storage my husband built for me.  We planned it together, and decided that having the individual slots for each colour was more effort than it was worth, so hubby bought some thicker materials so the shelves could hold more weight.  And this way, I can fit five Stampin' Up! ink pads across, or six Distress Inks.  I can even fit seven across when it comes to Versamark and Memento inks!




Card Stock Storage

One of the things I really wanted when planning my workspace, was a couple of filing drawers to fit 12"x12" paper.  All we did was have a standard filing drawer put in, but with a taller front panel, so the drawer above sits up further.  The papers are all in Creative Memories Power Palette Folders, in regular hanging file folders.  


Regular card stock is in a filing cabinet under the desk.


One thing that I do with card stock often gets a giggle from some people, but there are good reasons for it...


Yes, I have a drawer full of pre-cut and pre-scored card stock.  Ready made card bases.  I know, it seems a little over the top, but I have two good reasons for doing it.  There are lots of times when I'm not feeling at all inspired, but I need to have some time out.  Instead of getting frustrated by not being able to pull a card or page together, I do little organising jobs like making card bases.  I get to be in my space (which helps me health-wise) and be productive, and when I am feeling inspired again, I don't need to stop to make up card bases.  :-)  Win-win!

The filing containers I've used in this drawer are the insert boxes from the Creative Memories PowerSort Boxes.  Each box can be taken out of the drawer without disturbing any of the other cards.  :-)


Ribbon Storage

Ahhh, ribbon... how I love thee...


Sorted by colour, and the rows are divided up by little panels I made with some of the packing cardboard sheets from packs of patterned paper.  


Punch Storage

Another of hubby's projects...  



Stamp Storage

This is a bookshelf my husband had custom built for him long before he met me.  It gives me a giggle to think that he had no idea that it would eventually be filled with stamps!!


The little stickers on my SU! stamps are something I did when I was a demonstrator.  It's so I could see at a glance which sets were retired (silver), which were hostess sets (gold), and which were current.  And the baskets house stamps like Gorjuss, The Greeting Farm, CC Designs, There She Goes and Papertrey Ink.


Tech Stuff

My lighting set-up!  I'll do a post on the whole thing soon, but basically I just use cool white or daylight globes in a few lights to give enough light to take photos at any time of the day.


And perhaps you noticed this in the very first photo?


I've been wanting to try doing some video tutorials *gulp* for a while, but I wasn't happy with any of the ways I could figure out for mounting the camera.  Until I saw this little baby...  It works brilliantly!  It allows me to have my camera pointing straight down at my workspace, without a tripod in the way.  Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do tutorials on... any requests??  ;-)

Last, but not least, the quote I have above my workspace.  :-)


I hope you enjoyed my tour of my craft space!  Thanks for visiting!  :-)


Links



Danielle 

41 comments:

  1. Oh, Danielle, I have major envy happening here! Your craft space is SUPER! I love how organised it is. And it is so full of pretty things. :-) Looking forward to the video tutorials. My request - colouring with pencils.

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  2. It's official. I have pencil envy. I crave those pencils of yours!

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  3. Oh WOW! Love your craft room...I will only ever have a room like that in my dreams! Makes my overflowing tiny cupboard in the corner of the dining room look insignificant! You have a beautiful room to make your beautiful cards Danielle. You could do a video just making a card...I love to see people make their cards.

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  4. Your space Danielle is amazing, would so love to be there crafting with you, and Wohoo! on the videos, looking forward to that..hugs

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  5. Really enjoyed the tour Danielle and I love the idea of all your pre-folded card basses :)

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  6. Dan I really need to fly you up here to help me organise my craft room. Yours looks amazing. So well-organised!

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  7. Oh Danielle, we may have been separated at birth. I so understand your way of filing, colour coding and premade card bases (sometimes I think I get just as much pleasure from organising my stash, as I do using them *insert embarrassed little laugh*). What a marvellously organised space you have, love how Olivia has her work area there too. Hope you get to enjoy many happy moments there!

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  8. I really like the prefolded card idea! I have to borrow your idea, Danielle! Love your craft space. Neat and very well organised. Thanks for sharing :)

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  9. Absolutely beautiful.. Thanks for sharing this. You have so many great storage ideas that I will definitely be using to help me get organized!!! Can't wait to see videos from you! I love to watch videos that involve using distress ink techniques. :)

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  10. Thank you for sharing your passion!!!! I really love reading your blog, it is so inspirational! Thanks and keep posting your beautiful work!

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  11. Wow! What an amazing work/creative space! I can really appreciate your need for organization. I recently reorganized my stamp/ink/adhesive storage...and it was so much fun!
    Thanks for the tour :)

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  12. Beautiful! I really enjoyed this tour; thank you. It is as tidy and super-organised as I expected (and this is something you should be proud of). Love your idea of pre-folding card bases; I'd be interested to know what you store those in (can't quite tell from the pic). Oooh, video tutorials ... exciting!

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  13. Hi

    I am still playing catch up in blogland after bieng away on my hols. I have enjoyed looking round your blog and checking out all your gorgeous creations that I have missed while I was away.

    I have loved looking round your crafty space, I love the fact it is bright and light .... and wow you are so well organized!! I think thats fabulous though I spend half my time phaffing about trying to find stuff .... I LOVE all your ink storage, and the fact you have so many lovely inks. Also I love your colour chart idea! Thank you so much for letting have a nosey round your gorgeous crafting space!

    Hugs Juls

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  14. Danielle - you have left me totally inspired!! I am an ex-teacher but I certainly don't have the organisational skills that you clearly have!! I love your whole room and I particularly love your photographing setup and your prefolded card bases. I would love to see a video on using your prismacolors - I am about to purchase these soon! Thanks for the fantastic tour!!
    Kerry

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  15. I can't even put into words how awesome I think your space is. So I'll just say "You rock." and leave it at that. :)

    Thanks for sharing!

    Brandi

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  16. Holy moly Danielle - your craft room is FABULOUS! Just an amazing, organized, wonderfully workable space! I love it! TFS!

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  17. Thanks so much Danielle, your craft room looks fab!!! I love Prisma coloured pencils too and recently invested in a large pack. I would love to see videos on shading as your shading is AMAZING!!!
    Thanks so taking the time to do this!!!!

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  18. This is just amazing Danielle. Great storage ideas - I really love the punch stand. It has given my some ideas to build one too. I would love to see some video tutorials - watercolouring with inks and pencils please.

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  19. love it Danielle... can't say I'm not just a touch envious... my little space is in front of my pc so looking at your craft space is just WOW!!! And your canvas from Jen's class is really beautiful :)

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  20. A beautiful space, well deserved. xx You lucky girl! Thanks for the tour.

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  21. oh. my. gosh! I'm SO JEALOUS I could cry! Your stamp room is amazing, so organized and clean!! If you saw my tiny counter of a space you'd cry, too!! can I come over and live there?

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  22. Wow ... so amazing ... love your room, love your organisation skills ... love everything!!! Beautiful ... oh and, your fabric covered frames, noticeboard and chair ... absolutely brilliant!!!

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  23. Dan, are the drawers either side of your desk the ones from Ikea? If so, are they specifically for filing or are they just regular drawers. I keep looking back at this and marvelling at it. Love your room!

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  24. Oh wow!! I'm gonna keep coming back to keep looking at those gorgeous photos you took!! amazing space!! Thank you for being so kind to share it!!

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  25. This is gorgeous. And I feel the same way about my husband who totally indulges me and my hobby for my health reasons too. It's a great release!

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  26. I love your craft space, it looks well organized and functional. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    circlebenterprises.blogspot.com

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  27. From one lucky craft-space-owner to another, I love what you've done with the place!! And swoon, what an amazingly talented husband you have! His creations are to die for! I hate putting exclamation points after every sentence, but what can you do when you're truly amazed?!

    I do the folded ready-to-go cardstock too, which has made it wonderfully easy for the grandsons (and me) to grab a card and make one, so I don't think it's strange at all.

    Also, I've had your work in my Binder of Inspirations for a very long time, so thank you for all your great ideas over the years. I thought you'd like to know that.

    Finally, I have a question about how to make a Pinterest page on my blog. I just started a Pinterest account so it's not very interesting yet, but I like the idea of having it as a tab. You can email me or leave a comment on my blog if you'd be so kind. Email is darnell.knauss@gmail.com and blog is www.djkardkreations.com.

    Thank you! Take care!

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  28. What an amazing craft space, so neat and tidy.

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  29. I have been looking for just the tripod clamp you bought! I also love your room.

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  30. Beautiful space, Danielle! Love all of your storage ideas. :)

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  31. After seeing dozens and dozens of craft spaces, this is the one that does it for me! I'm so jealous!

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  32. After seeing dozens of craft spaces, this is the one that really speaks to me. I'm jealous!!!

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  33. Lovely space! Do you think you will share your prismacolor samplers soon?

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  34. oh what a totally bodacious craft space - i am so impressed - i am also really hoping you will do some prismacolor videos as your coloring is to die for and i need all the help i can get - LOL - kym xx

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  35. Wow! Thanks for the tour! Everything is so organized! It was very interesting to see the lighting setup as well cuz that's something I need to work on.

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  36. Very well thought out, and beautifully carried out, and for any card crafter or scrapper the new and innovative ideas are always welcome~~there is always "someone" who has a more logical way~~thanks so much for sharing and will revisit in the future with hopes of more new things to come!

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  37. Hi, just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed the tour of your craft room. I signed up for your blog so I can see more of your art and ideas. I too was a SU demo but wanted to spread my wings and explore other product. Boy I thought I had a lot of stuff/supplies...you got me beat. I loved the idea of pre-cut card bases and I'm going to use that idea right away. I too come into my studio just to putter and cut paper/cardstock for future projects but I like your idea of making them ahead.

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  38. Thank you for such a detailed viewing. I LOVE pictures of work spaces, so I was happy for all of them!!! I would love to see more videos of Copic marker demos. I have some and need some help on shading, stamping them, etc.
    Thank you again for the pictures. I have subscribed to your newsletter and hope to see many more!
    cyrilla

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  39. This is a fabulous craft room. I love how you used the insert boxes from the Power Sort box to organize your card bases. That's a great idea! I have a ton of those that really need to be repurposed, so I might have to "lift" your idea. Thanks for sharing your craft space.

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