Everything in its place...

Part of my project this week has been trying to (re)discover all the cool stuff in my "stash". I have so many things, but once you have so much it's easy to let it become overwhelming!

I've wanted to create some kind of storage for all the inking sponges, holders, felt pads, and make-up sponges I use for inking. I found this cool (and CHEAP!) storage case at Hobby Lobby.


(the pic is linked to the online listing if you want more details)

I think it was with the crafting/beading storage, but I picked it up when it was 50% off (all storage) and it was only $1.99 to begin with!

It has nice small spaces to keep each of the colored sponges separately, and I could label them with my Dymo label maker. The only problem was that none of the spaces fit the handle/holder for my sponges or felts. The dividers are relatively tin, though and I was able to snip out a slot with a pair of heavy kitchen snips. The handle now rests in the groove I made.



So, what do you think? What's your recent "bargain" solution?

Starting to organize (again)!

I've been itching to do some more stamping and playing with my Copics...but first needed to do some prep work and organizing. I got the cutest set of red rubber stamps from CC Designs. I just needed to trim them all so they can be stored more easily.


First, I dug out some old CD cases. I traded out with newer slim cases, so that I could use the thicker ones for my project. The backs of the stamps already had foam and cling material mounting, so that made it easy.


I loaded the cases with the rubber stamps, printed inserts with the names for the spines and the front edge, and stamped an example image for the front.


I'll try and share a sneak of a digi stamp I'm working on later this week!

Let's get organized!

Okay, so I admit it! (that's the first step, right?) My scrap room is disorganized! I am trying to get back on track so I can use my things again...and first of, I wanted to get the ends of my Copic ciao markers labeled. I created a pdf with the numbers of each marker (in pretty tiny font - about 8 pt) and tried playing around with what media to print it out onto.
My first try was on the Georgia Pacific Cardstock I plan to use for stamping...but the cap on the markers has a little bit of a "domed" shape to it and the cardstock just couldn't mold correctly.
Take two was a sheet of waterproof polyester label designed for the laser printer. Ugggh! First of all it left "shadows" all the way down the printout even with the printer set to "label" so the fuser would be hot. I figured I'd try punching them out anyway...well, that was strike two for the label...it didn't punch evenly, in fact it "stretched" and tore around the edges.
I decided to settle for plain ole printer paper. Punched out the 144 circles, and used tacky glue to apply to the ends of the caps. Now I tried to be consistent and glue to the cap at the chisel end of every marker...but nobody's perfect...I think I have 3 or 4 on the brush ends, oh well! I swiped across the paper circle with the marker itself, so I have a little bit of an idea what the color actually looks like. Not as perfect a match as on cardstock, but good enough for me!
Here's a close-up of the yummy Copic goodness...


I think I'll try storing the markers in this Magpie cabinet that I picked up earlier this year at Big Lots for $3. I found that cutting a sheet of 8.5 inch chipboard in half fit nicely at a diagonal to divide the box into two halves for different color families.


How about you? What's your first mini goal for the New Year?