StarLitStudio

Doodlebug Paper Frills Storage Idea

Doodlebug's Paper Frills are die cut strips of single-sided colored cardstock from the Doodlebug palette - Paper Frills coordinate with all Doodlebug products.  At the time of this writing there are seven colors to pick from.  

These strips are excellent for adding a quick detail to card fronts, tags, gift bags and so forth. 

Everyone's organizational needs differ. I needed to organize this embellishment by color, and have speedy access to the product.  This product arrives in a clear, handy storage sleeve, but I wanted something sturdier.  As with any embellishment, if I can get to it quickly I will use it.

One organizational idea I had was to use clear test tubes, arranged in a wooden holder to sit on a shelf, and store the die cut strips like flower stems.  The drawbacks to this method for me are: the strips would flop over; I would pull one out and a bunch more would pop out; I'd need to dump the vial/tube to sort through what I wanted to use....and then put them all back.  Too time consuming for me.

Then I thought of shallow desk organizers in clear acrylic. I found these on Amazon, in a set of eight.  The length fits these Doodlebug Paper Frills perfectly.  They stack nicely and sit on a shelf ready to use, and add a nice pop of color to the space.  Easily visible, easily sorted, easily used.

Hope this idea helps you in your desire to be organized with our papercrafting wonderworld!

armature wire storage hooks

1/8 inch diameter armature wire - create any size hook needed for hanging storage in the craft area.

I wrapped armature wire around a sturdy cylinder (I used an old Prima bottle that held mulberry flowers) and folded/tucked the raw end as shown using flat jewelery pliers.  You could use needle nose pliers too.  By making this little loop you are protecting your hands from getting scratched over time when reaching for the item on the hook...and it adds a finished look to the hook.

If you're wondering how I got these armature wire hooks to hang from the shelf support brackets....the little metal loop insert is part of a binder clip:

 

I have these wire hooks in other areas where I work - very helpful.  Happy organizing!

tidying art supplies - flow chart

Because I always wanted to try making a simple flow chart. 

 

I plan to KonMari my art supplies this weekend!  Loved her book.  Best wishes for the Labor Day weekend!

more desk organizer sets

More about these in this previous post.

A store on Main Street here in town wishes to carry my desk organizer designs exclusively, so these will not be available in the market nor in my etsy store.  The store owner had such kind words for me about my work, which is always wonderful.  

I wish to thank Stampington for ignoring my submission email and photos of this concept - I thought it was pretty darn good. 

new studio shelf and altered tags

Bob built another cabinet I designed to hold products I use frequently, making them simple to locate.


Here's the Distress Wrinkle-Free technique - process of altering tags with color - just add water and presto!

Heat tool was altered a few years ago with Ranger alcohol inks then sealed.  I love this tag progressing...


add sparkle with Perfect Pearls mist.

all dried and so purtty and sparkly...


I love edging tags with Brushed Corduroy...


Any ink left on the craft sheet is re-spritzed with water then sopped up with white seam binding - traditionally I heat set and fluff and scrunch - sometimes I just let it air dry.


end result - 5x8 notebook (October Afternoon Apple Cider)


more 5x8 notebooks (October Afternoon Milk Money & Apple Cider lines).  Hey it was up to thirty degrees Fahrenheit today - heat wave goin' on!  

die storage and organization

Wanted to share how I now store my dies - the wafer-thin, steel ones.

I designed this cabinet around my crafting needs.  Drawers feature full extension slides - soft close style.

Magnetic drawer inserts are from Master Magnetics - Mary Sisemore was very helpful in getting the exact power of magnet sheet that I needed, and had them all cut to size to fit the drawers.

My handyman and local cabinetmaker Bob Deichler, or Bob the Builder as my kids refer to him, built the cabinet to coordinate with the cabinets he built previously in the room.  My studio is a standing studio - I prefer not to sit when creating.

It's awesome to put it mildy.  No more going through magnetic books or bins.  Ready at my fingertips, at a glance.

Several months ago I converted my desk/computer area to a standing workstation.  Will update with before and after photos soon. Merry Christmas!  

standing journal and organizing distress glitters

This was a gift - I saw a photo on an Australian blog - students in Tim Holtz's Artful Flight class made a similar canvas.  The canvas was around four inches square; the feet make it taller.

Here's a photo of the back.

Side - screw hook and eye closures came with the canvases.  Chain of Swivel Clasps was shortened; Locket Key and Bauble added.  This idea was from one of Tim's Compendium books.

Here's the journal opened - ready for photos or journaling or both.  Pages are accordion folded and adhered together.

Heart was cut free-hand from a Journaling Ticket and inked up.

Glossy Accents was applied to the heart, then Clear Distress Glitter - allowed to dry.

I store Distress Glitter in its own drawer (labeled) near other glitters I use; drawers are located in the corner of my studio.

Since one views the contents of the drawer from above, I labeled each glitter container appropriately, for both speed in location of a particular color and selection when deciding what color to use.  When done this way I don't need another dang color chart.

Canvases were covered with Distress Ink, then printed tissue paper was adhered using Multi Medium.

Metal components were coated with white paint, allowed to dry a smidge then wiped down with a paper towel to remove a bit of the paint.

More hardware (Sprocket Gears, Game Spinners) added to the now dry, glittered heart, then wrapped with burlap string.  Metal tassel and Game Piece added to the front.  Top metal corners are from Kaisercraft.  Adhesive used for metal pieces:  E-6000.  Hope your week is off to a great start!

washi tape storage

Wood tray is from amazon.com - an inexpensive, repurposed utensil tray.  Vertical, stacked storage for washi tape to me is impractical - if I can't reach it quickly I just don't seem to use it - so horizontal storage was a given.  With the tape stored this way I can get what I want quickly, use it, and put it back where it belongs (you know - my OCD and all that) and continue creating.

Tiny tag storage is in the front compartment and frequently used punches are within arms' reach as well.

My friend and neighbor Alice who runs the Boston Marathon every year (I believe this was her 18th) is safe and on her way home.  She was stopped short of the finish line and redirected.  Very, very thankful she and her family are safe and on their way home - heartfelt thoughts go out to those affected by this unthinkable tragedy.  

useless into functional

So the timmy trays (as I have always called these in-house) have become storage devices.  Frankly these uniform, machine-made printers trays have always been too large for any project I would want to tackle - would simply take up too much of my time to alter and finish.  When they arrived I actually visualized them as flat storage.

I debated about using a vintage printers tray for this style of storage, but the ones I have are too large to be practical for my worksurface, and the vintage ones can't do this:

The individual cubbies pop out for re-organizing (yep, OCD runs rampant!) or when I want to dump them out and peruse while creating.  

Bear in mind these trays are not designed to be moved around as a whole - too dangerous (ha) to spill the contents.  They pretty much sit in the previously unused corner of the L-shaped countertop in my studio.  

...and I like how these trays from Advantus neatly stack.  It makes my inner OCD smirk with joy...

If product is out, neatly displayed and visible, I seem to use it.

 

Those dang Studio Calico wood embellishments that I'm addicted to are now nicely organized. They were previously stored like this - not very accessible but visible:

The configurations print tray makes them both visible and accessible.  Washi tape storage tomorrow - happy Monday!

spice organization

Inspired by this post; I sourced and purchased air-tight containers from specialtybottle.com.   

Here's the before a few weeks ago - they were kinda alphabetized - I had to keep the short containers in the front to be able to read the labels.

And here's what it looks like now.  All alphabetized, just like I like it.  I used an easy-to read font (ITC Bookman Light) versus script, which I initially printed out but found difficult to read quickly.

Anyone playing Draw Something?  I'm StarLitStudio - let's draw!  I had a bunch of new players show up a few weeks ago - found out my fourth-grader told all her friends my username...hilarious.  Happy Tuesday guys!