Love a bit of craft storage!

Recently I've been trying to sort out my craft storage. I've got so much stuff it getting a hidden and unused then I find things I didn't even know I had!

It started with a new shelf for my sewing books and patterns, then little drawers for small bits (from Homebase), a ribbon shelf (handmade from a seller on eBay) and now a paper organiser. These are in addition to my craft drawers, adhesive storage unit (made from an old wine box, husbands idea) and shelving unit. 

And yes that is a guitar in my craft room....hubby has over 5 guitars dotted around.

My most recent purchase was the Totally Tiffany Paper Manager and Storage Tote. I'd seen it on Create and Craft TV and it's £19.99 for a sturdy holder, 3 plastic sleeves for 12 x 12 papers and 3 plastic sleeves for 12 x 12 papers plus pockets on the other side for embellishments. Currently my 12 x 12 papers are leaning on my shelf and aren't organised at all, I have to get them all out to find the one I'm looking for. 

The storage came this morning but had no instructions at all which usually wouldn't be a problem but trying to put the bottom of the storage together seemed impossible, but luckily a quick search on YouTube and I found a video by Totally Tiffany on assembly! 

My papers only just fit as I have quite a collection and will be organising them this weekend. I love the handles on the storage as it makes it easier to lift especially when it's full! 

Once I've sorted it I'll post a picture. It was definitely worth £19.99 in my opinion as it is very sturdy and needs to be as it is really heavy once full. 

I think craft storage is definitely my new obsession!

My First Craft Card Makes

I recently found this photo of some of the first cards I made after taking up card making. These were made in the days between my birthday on 9th April, and my wedding on 12th April this year. My husbands (then fiance's) family brought me a few card making kits which were lovely as it took my mind off of worrying about wedding plans! (and shut me up about talking about the wedding and annoying Lee)

A lot has changed since then, not just my last name! I moved my crafting from the kitchen table (pictured above) into the study after I started taking over the living room...boxes full of Crafty bits under the chair in the living room, Big Shot at the side of the sofa and cutting mat up against the other side of the sofa! My sewing machine and box still lives in the living room but that's hidden away.

Once I've tidied the study up after Christmas, and hopefully get more storage, I will post some photos of the study/craft room.

I'm also hoping to get the Ultimate Pro from Crafters Companion so I can craft away from the study if I want to (and let Lee play his guitars in the study)

Craft stash storage using old Glossyboxes

I subscribe to Glossyboxes and currently have my craft bits in 4 of them.

Box 1 - Promarkers

Box 2 - card blanks

Box 3 - finished cards

Box 4 - toppers (mostly things from craft magazines)

I've seen on a few cosmetic blogs that people have made drawers from the boxes and use this to store their make up in but I have another use for mine...

My husband (nearly wrote fiancé, still not used to calling him my husband) made some room yesterday for me in the study as I am turning the living room into a craft room! Sizzix dies all over the place, boxes on chairs and under them! I thought I'd make this set of drawers as a neat storage item in the study so everything is in one place without boxes falling over.

I used the below blog for instructions on how to make the drawers:

http://sorjanban.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/re-using-glossybox-es.html

I used silicone adhesive rather than superglue and then tapped everything in place to hold it more securely.

My boxes are all different colours but it doesn't matter as I want to cover mine with craft paper I have from magazines. As you will see from the photos, the top tray has the word 'cards' stamped on it and some drawers have marks on them from colouring on top of them so that's another reason I'm covering them.

I put glossybox ribbon loops on the drawers for handles and punched holes and threaded the ribbon through as the drawers are a tight fit and glued on ribbon would just come off when pulled.

The only thing I would like with these drawers would be to add runners as if you take the bottom drawer all the way out, the top ones would fall down but it's not to bad as I will just move the drawers around.

I'm going to use the top tray for my adhesives and scissors as they are then on hand whenever I need them. The other drawers I will use for my pens, card blanks and toppers. I have another spare box for my finished cards so I can store them separately.

The photos show the progress so far before I cover it with papers and the final product!