March Creative Chat- Stamp Storage

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were asked the following questions:  

Show us how you store your MFT Stamps.

When I first started stamping, I was a Stampin' Up Demo, so I had TONS of wood mounted stamps in boxes. I bought a white bookshelf, and started storing them on it, til it was so full I thought it might collapse. As I started to venture out into the world, I discovered many other stamp companies, and LOTS of new FAVORITES!! 

I bought lots of single wood mounted stamps that I now keep in a drawer, but never use. I really need to sell them, but it sounds exhausting, LOL!

My unmounted rubber stamps that I bought individually, before I came up with my system now, are still in their original packaging, in another drawer....that I never use. 

From this, I discovered-I don't play with what I don't see-and then I saw what Jodi Collins does/did!! 

For most of my design teams, I get my stamps as sample sets, without packaging, so I had to find a way to make them to where I could see them, and what they are. I decided, thanks to a picture from Jodi Collin's stamp room, to store them in clear standard jewel CD cases. I buy them in bulk from Super Media Store, which is the most cost effective way I can see to get them. I bought a label maker, and my new system was born. 

Now when I first started, I used the handheld, turn and click kind of label maker, but recently upgraded to the one pictured above....best decision ever! I finally, after a TON of time, and LOTS of label tapes, got all my sets relabeled. I put the name of the set on each one, and then they are separated by company, and then in alphabetical order. 

That's my shelf in all it's glory...about to run out of space. And yes, there is another shelf you can't see....it's just as full, I just couldn't get it all in the picture(tinyapartmentsyndrom)I still have my Taylored Expressions stamps in their original packaging, but rubber stamps aren't ideal for CD case storage...you end up using at least two per set and THAT'S not space efficient. As you can see, after I am done making my cards/projects, I prop them up on the shelf for inspiration. It also helps me not to repeat the same paper over and over, which I tend to do, lol.  That clear card box on the second shelf is full of empty CD cases, so I always have some available for my new stamp arrivals, and stamps for future releases. :)

Any tips or tricks on organization? 

Besides all the tips I have shared above, I would say my BEST advice is to keep on top of your organization. Always putting things up where they go, and immediately putting new arrivals into cases will eliminate any backlog. Since I am OCD, and they have to be in ABC order, some month's I do a LOT of moving. For My MFT stamps, I tend to put all the a la modes, and Pure Innocence stamps from each release into the same CD holders.The PI's don't always fit into one, but I try. That means that SOME of those cases you see hold up to five sets.....I think I may have a few, what do you think?

Well, that is it for me for now!! Thanks for stopping by!

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team. 

February Creative Chat- Ribbon

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

Show us how you store your ribbon?

Well, that question is a time consuming one to answer. First of all, it has evolved over time...for many reasons. The biggest reason is the way I purchase ribbon, second to HOW I purchase it.

I, like a lot of you, started out as a Stampin' Up demonstrator. I purchased all my ribbons as spools. I have always kept those in rubermaid containers....as you can see, it doesn't really work that well.



So, then I bought these nifty embellishment boxes from Oriental Trading Company. I used all my favorite Stampin' Up ribbons, and filled up all these little boxes with ribbon I hand rolled...boy, that was time consuming. The only plus side to this, is I used to go on a TON of crops, so it was the most convenient way to take my ribbon with me when I went. I have two more like it, maybe not as full...but still.



Then I left Stampin' Up, and started buying ribbon kits from My Favorite Things, and other places. Those came by the yard, so I went out to Michael's, and bought some doll pins, and wrapped them on those...here is one drawer full...I may have two, I can't lie. I still leave them on these, but I have a new method now.



I am still LOVING buying ribbon by the yard, and I started to get QUITE the collection of it. This ribbon, from The Ribbon Carousel, comes by the yard, and neatly wrapped with paper. The BEAUTIFUL thing is that she sells these darling little spools, that you can either purchase OR have your ribbon wrapped on for you.

Pin It




Which leads me to my NEW favorite way to store my ribbon...the Ribbon Carousel! These are the old versions, but the new versions are JUST as fabulous! They are customizable so that you can use them as an 8post or 4 post, or whatever your heart desires! I use my 8 post carousel for my twine, seam binding, and whatever else I decide to wrap around a spool...which is ALL of it! They take up VERY little space, and as you saw above, I could use about two more...but hey, all in good time!

Pin It



Here is a shot of both of mine, both the 8 and 4 post, sitting on my shelf behind me. I put full spools of ribbon on my four post, which are a mixture of PTI, SU, and random stuff bought at Michael's. Word around the street is that MFT has their card stock back WITH matching ribbon...it makes my heart so happy!!!

What are your favorite types of ribbon?

My favorite types of ribbon...well, all of them! I tend to lean toward solid colors, and anything that I can make a bow out of. If the ribbon gets too wide, I can't always make a bow work, so I usually stick to about 1" or smaller. I lean mostly towards white, black, and brown, but with all the YUMMY colors of seam binding out there, I get swept away, and often!

Any tips or tricks on how to use ribbon on stamped creations?

I use ribbon on almost everything I make....EVERYTHING. I absolutely love it, and would list it in my top three favorite embellishments. I use it for bows, to separate papers(like a dividing line to cover up paper seams), and to add color. My FAVORITE way to use ribbon...well, on a spiral clip, of course!!! You can add those ANYWHERE, and they often add that finishing touch that I REALLY needed.

Well, I hope I haven't bored you to tears!! Oh, and I hope you come away from here with some ideas...if not from me, from one of my team mates!! I'm anxious to see what Jody Morrow has done...she is my organizational IDOL!!

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team!!!

December Creative Chat- Embellishments

Oh My Word....this is embarrassing. LOL!!

When I saw that we were doing embellishments, I thought...sure, NO problem. Wow. I have a TON of stuff. I am almost ashamed of the sheer volume of stuff I own, but don't use.

I NEED AN INTERVENTION!!! LMAO!!

Anywho, welcome to this months Creative Chat!!

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

Show us how you store your embellishments.

Well, the answer to that is.....a lot of different ways, LOL!! First of all, I found these super cute containers at Michael's. They are clear, which I love, and hold lots of goodies with a screw on lid.

In these I keep my FAVORITEST thing EVER, SPIRAL CLIPS!!!




I also keep random buttons, brads, tags...just whatever I want that doesn't have another home.



For all my buttons that I had purchased at MFT at one point, and all my SU goodies(see picture below), I used these long white trays. They hold the clear round containers that they come in perfectly. You can usually pick these up at any Dollar Store, or Office Supply store in packs of two or three pretty cheap....I have...a few of them, lol.


As I said above, I also have this on my stamp table. It holds all my SU embellishments: brads, corduroy buttons, eyelets, buttons, you name it!



In some MORE of the white trays, I keep all my Stickles, Smooches, Flock, Dew Drops, Glimmer Mist, and random other things in jars.



Behind my desk on the shelf, I have a table top three drawer chest( I couldn't' find a white one, but it would be like this one). In the top drawer, I have all my extra silver brads, spiral clips, and other miscellaneous brads.



In the second drawer, LOTS of googlie eyes, wood buttons, and all my bling/stickers!!



In the bottom drawer, I have some flowers....see those cute crocheted ones? Yep, Danielle Lounds LOVES me!!



The rest of my flowers are in a plastic storage container, like the one I had my buttons jars in before. It also has bags of buttons, and some dew drops.

See, I told you...LOTS OF STUFF!!

What are your absolute favorite embellishments?

Well, as I ALREADY said before, and if you are familiar with my work at all, any one of you can guess the answer to this, lol!! I LOVE SPIRAL CLIPS AND SILVER BRADS!! I do, I actually get panicky when the drawer starts to get semi empty....nerve wrecking it is!!

Any tips or tricks on how to use embellishments on stamped creations?

What I try to do when using embellishments is decide on EVERYTHING else first. I decide on image, colors, layout...and then, the magic happens. If I use a brads, they are always in the corner, or in threes...just a thing I have. I also try to keep some balance. If I put a bow on one side, I put the spiral clip on the other to balance it out. I also have a corners rule. If the bow is in the bottom corner, the spiral clip must go opposite in the top corner. It's all about balance. Some people subscribe to the less is more idea...but not me. I like MORE!!

Well, that is it for me for now!! Sorry if I scared you with all my stuff!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.

November Creative Chat

Hey everyone, and welcome!!

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

Show us your desk. How do you have things set up, and why?

What are your "go-to" tools? Tell us what you can't live without.

This is a picture heavy post, so settle in, and let's get to it!!

First of all, I would like to start by saying thank you to my fellow team mates for participating in the chat, today. There was a lot of back and forth about having to clean, and needing to be more organized, but really, I think that's the WHOLE point of this!! I mentioned how sorry you would all feel for me having SUCH a small space, but then Julie mentioned how NICE it would be for others to see that you CAN work with a small space, especially those who aren't lucky enough to HAVE their own space! I took that to heart, and have really gotten over my woes of not having my own stamp room for the time being.

I recently moved to a one bedroom apartment with my boyfriend, and we LITERALLY have my stamp space in the "dining" area of it. So much so, we had to get rid of the table. I now HAVE to clean up between EVERY card, and after I am done, as well. I was always pretty good about it, but now I have NO choice. You walk in the front door and my space is directly opposite it.

So the first picture shows my desk....a.k.a. a folding table that I bought at Wal-mart. I like having everything at arms reach, so it's actually kind of nice having such a small space. My supplies literally surround me, and there is no getting up, and having to look for things. I am forced to be VERY organized!! SO I guess that answers the why.....no let's get to the good part!!

As for my GO TO tools, well, there are lots!!

Copics...need them, love them, got to HAVE them! I have them arranged in a cabinet I bought on Overstock.com for $20. I remember Jodi alerting me to their existence, and location, but I don't Remember where SHE saw it. Unfortunately/Fortunately(mixed emotions here), I am about out of space and have had to combine color families. When I have a bigger space, and more money, I will upgrade, but for now...this works for me!! I have a mixture of both Ciao and Sketch...one day, I hope to have all Sketch, but for now, I am content!!



To help me match marker colors to paper colors, I use this Copic Color Chart, I downloaded and filled in with the colors I own...I'm almost there!!



And what are markers without STAMPS!! I have an old crate style CD holder sitting upright on my desk holding all the current releases for the companies I work for. I like putting them in CD cases, and labeling them for easy access.



For my workspace, I work directly on top of my Scor Pal. I bought the mat for it, and it is PERFECT for a sturdy work surface, although, I don't recommend stamping your images on it. They tend to bow a little, so you don't get a crisp image.



I just got a new paper cutter from Fiskars, purchased at Michael's. I LOVE the larger work surface on it!! My dream is to one day have a table top, guillotine style paper cutter, but until I have a larger work space, this is PERFECT!!



My newest toy is the Scor Buddy, and I am in LOVE!! I leave it on the shelf, with my Cuttlebug, and pull it down whenever I want to score something. Otherwise, I have to clean off my work mat, move the mat, score, blah blah blah. This way is MUCH easier, and creates a perfect fold.



Up next, my Cuttlebug. I dream of one day having a better die cutting machine, with a larger work surface, but for now, I will keep cranking away at my old and trusty Bug!! I picture my Xyron with it for a VERY specific reason....it's my secret weapon! Well, I am sure everyone else has probably figured it out, but I use that handy dandy little guy to turn my Border Die-namics into stickers....they stick SO much better this way!!



Pampered Chef is the maker of my Tool Turn-a-bout, and I LOVE it. It holds ALL my favorite goodies...ruler, sander, adhesive remover, hand held punches, bone folder, MY PAPER PIERCER(lol), crystal effects, scissors, and SO much more. These are the tools I turn to EVERY day, so they are ESSENTIAL to have open, and ready to rock!



Without this basket, I would be LOST! It holds ALL the things I need the most: my Memento ink pads, my adhesives(TomBow, Glue Dots, Red Line Tape, and Dimensionals), spiral clips and my trusty silver brads, and my paper piercing mat and guide. LOVE THESE!!

These last two photos were of my jar of twine, and PTI buttons(just a small look at the 1000's of buttons I own), and my Ribbon Carousel! I am in LOVE with this carousel, and can't wait to get one of the eight post ones to put all my wooden spools on!!

And last but not least, and don't laugh, but I call these my head tools. The first: a notebook where I write down what I have to stamp, by day, for the entire month. It helps to keep me organized by showing me what day, what company, what sets, what time, etc., I am responsible for posting things. It has been a LIFE saver!! It is hand written, and I even draw in the sketches....so 1985 of me, I know!! LOL! The other photo, well, it's to keep my mind from getting too cluttered, and keep me calm....my iPod, and Excedrin Migraine. I suffer from some pretty awful headaches/migraines, and this medicine is the only OTC that works for me.

Well, that is it for me for now!! Thank you SO MUCH for sticking in there for the entire post....I know it was uncharacteristically long! Hugs, and have a great day!!







Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.

October Creative Chat-Patterned Paper

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

How do you store and organize your patterned paper?



I recently moved to a one bedroom apartment, so this first photo is from there. I use the same system at my apartment...except it's tucked away in a closet, and I have to use a flashlight if I want to see anything. It's super sad, but it is what it is. In this holder, which was purchased at Target, I keep all my 12x12 paper. It is mostly from SU, and some loose sheets I have purchased along the way.

I do keep each paper pack in it's on envelope, purchased at Michael's. It has a one button closure on the top, and can expand pretty wide. They are sold 10 in a package, and I slowly collected them by using my 50% off coupons. In this envelope, I keep my packs of paper, and as I get scraps, I throw them in with it. For the few 12x12 pads that I own, I keep them in the vertical slots at the top of the picture.



For my 6x6 pads, which I am mostly leaning towards, I keep them in these nifty little milk crates that I purchased at Wal-mart. They are perfect size for keeping the pads upright and together. I have seeeeveral pads, so they take up about 3 bins, working on 4. Yikes!!



I also purchase sampler packs of paper, from Die Cuts R Us, and those I put into a ziploc baggie when they come. They are usually shipped bundled together, so I put a piece of paper in with them, so I know what company made them, and what they are called. Saves a TON of time searching for names!

How do you store your scrap patterned paper?

I am quite certain you will be seeing some version or another of this method of storing scraps, but Jodi Collins told me, and it works quite well. I take a 6x9 envelope, and cut off the top to fit the back of the paper packs. I then use some form of glue(Helmar, Tombow, Red Line Tape...etc.) to adhere them to the back.


This method allows me to slip the scraps in as I use them, and that way they are all together. Before Jodi told me about her envelope method, I had scraps EVERYWHERE!! Now, with them being right there with the pad, I am much more likely to use them, and not have to search for them.

Well, that is it for me for now! Thanks for taking a look at my storage, and I hope it wasn't too boring for you, lol!!


Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team!

September Creative Chat-Card Stock

Hey everyone!!

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

How do you store and organize your card stock?

How do you store your scrap card stock?

How do I store my cardstock? Well, I am about to show two things: my grossly HUGE collection of card stock, and my OCD(or CDO as it should be), LOL!! For my card stock, I keep them in stacking portable file storage containers....the big ones, LOL! You can purchase these at any office supply store, or places like Target or Wal-mart. Here are some from Office Depot, which are VERY reasonably priced. I have four of these containers...three to hold open packs of paper(and some back stock), and one that holds the rest of the back stock that wouldn't fit with the others. I won't tell you that there is a whole stack of back stock in my closet...nope, won't tell you that at all. Sheesh...

As you can tell from the very first photo, and now onto this one, I have my card stock arranged by color, ROY. G. BIV, to be exact. For those of you without OCD, or with an allergy to science, ROY G. BIV is the acronym for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet....the rainbow! I told you I was OCD. I used to have my card stock completely segregated by company, now, I have it all mixed together and I am SO much happier. When I need a pink, I can see all the shades that I have, and chose accordingly. Plus, with them all together, there is no more digging into one spot for my MFT card stock, one for my SU, and one for my PTI, they are all there together.

Each color is put into a separate manila file folder, with it's name and company name written on the tab. These can also be purchased at any office supply store, but I linked to the ones I used from Office Depot. This eliminates that moment of CRAP, where did this color paper come from??? What's it's name? Blah, blah. I do leave my paper in the original packaging for as LONG as I possibly can. Most paper comes shrink wrapped, and those will only last so long, but that's the beauty of the file folder, it keeps it all contained. What I like about these storage containers is you can stack them up, so they don't take up much room, or have them all set out, so that you can get to all of them easier. I have a VERY small craft space, now, so it's nice having the ability to make them take up as little space as possible.

How do I store my scraps? For me, it is easier to keep my scraps with the original paper, thus again, eliminating the guess work. I have so many different colors, and some are VERY similar...to have to hunt down what it is when I am blogging would be SO annoying!! What I normally do, is trim off any unusable edges, like if you were to run a piece through a die cutting machine, and there is very little around it left over. I then put them back into the original packaging with the card stock or into the file folder with it. This keeps all my scraps with the full sheets, and forces me to try to use them first, before cutting a full sheet of card stock. I've been known to make an entire card from nothing but scraps!!

Well, that is it for me for now! Thanks for taking a look at my storage, and I hope it wasn't too boring for you, lol!!

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team!

****Just wanted to thank you all for your sweet comments, and well wishes. Jonah is doing a little better, but everyday is a new day for him. Some days he progresses, some days he stays the same, and others they find one more thing to fix. As long as they keep finding fixable problems, and none of those NOT fixable problems, I am considering it a victory for now. Casie got to hold him for the first time since he was born for about 10 seconds the other day. I wish I could have been there to see. Breaks my heart:( *****