My Craft Room…..

Many years ago, this room started out as two bedrooms; I used one room for my quilting and crafting and the other room was a guest room.  One day, I had an idea (this is how most projects around the house start) and looked at my DH and said "I have an idea", he looked at me and said "Oh no, not again?"   I told him about my plan and with a heavy sigh, he said OK (and something else under his breath that I did not quite hear). My plan was to eliminate the wall between the two rooms (we didn't need a guest room), and make one giant craft room with a large arched opening, a central island with cabinets underneath and lots of storage.  The room turned out just how I had envisioned and was the perfect sewing/craft room; last year it went through a major revision since I had gone from quilting to stamping and paper crafts.  Storage was the issue, I had floor to ceiling baskets from the Container Store filled with fabric, but stamping was completely different.  My baskets were full of punches, ink pads, embossing powders, stamps (wood and cling) and, well, you know, everything else you need/want.  I couldn't find anything it was all jumbled!!! 

I was on Splitcoaststampers one day and saw a review for a wonderful storage system called Stamp-n-Storage.  I liked that their units were made of wood and not plastic AND as a bonus, free shipping. I told my DH I had an idea…..at this point in our marriage he just says sure, go for it.  I did the research, decided all the baskets of fabric had to go and made a large donation of fabric to Project Linus.  I re-worked the area that housed the fabric and had a counter made with new mesh baskets from the Container Store.  I then started taking measurements for the Stamp-n-Storage units.  My first order was for the lock down punch holder, 60 ink pad holder and the Distress ink pad holder.  My order came, beautifully packed, quality workmanship; I couldn't wait to make my next order.  Well, several orders later, my room is finally organized and since it is a large room there will always be space for one more storage unit. Here are a few pictures of my room and I can't thank Stamp-n-Storage enough for their well thought out storage units.

Fun Valentine's Card…..

Here is a quick Valentine's day card, inspired by a sketch from Katie, one of Stamp Fevers design team members.  This card uses a Spellbinders M-Bossabilities embossing folder for the background.  The rest of the card was easily designed with Paper Smooches Love Word Die and Hearts Die.  The Love word was glued using the new (to me) E6000 Spray; works great for intricate or small pieces.  The individual heart cut outs dangle from the mini heart banner using silver wire left over from my jewelry phase.

I Won!!!

My card, for Impression Obsession's  Blue Challenge, won!!!  Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw my card on their blog;  I won a gift certificate to use in their shop, hmmmm what should I get, LOL.  No problem here, I was at CHA this past weekend, saw the new releases in IO's  booth, picked up a catalog and have been making a wish list ever since.

Speaking of CHA, WOW!  I'm lucky to live in Orange, it's only 15 minutes to the Anaheim Convention Center where CHA is held each year.  By teaching and being on my local stamp shop's (Stamp Fever) design team we are given the opportunity to attend CHA, which is a "to the trade only" convention.  The convention features the new designs from known companies, new products to try out and bring into the shop and a peak at up and coming companies.  We took classes, talked to designers and just had a great time, not to mention sore feet; it's a huge convention.  Although the convention is held over four days I managed to catch a bad cold and could only go for two; OK, can't wait for next year.

So, with a bad cold, I did what any stamper would do…..stayed in my craft room and made cards!  Here are two cards I made for Valentine's Day.  The first card uses Memory box dies, Petallics Cover stock pearlized paper (Beargrass) from Worldwin, matte silver paper from Bazzill and the red paper with heart/words is from Authentique Paper. I used the inlay technique for the word Love and the red heart is also inlayed into the Memory Box die (Silverdale Heart).  The heart is raised up using 3D foam squares and the card is finished with rhinestone stick ons.

Again using the inlay technique for the word "Love" (Memory Box) I used Petallics Cover stock in a soft peachy/pink. The beautiful heart die is the Whispers-Viney Heart from Die-Versions.  Both the word love and the heart use the matte silver paper from Bazzill. The card is embellished with pearl 

stick ons.

                                           

Impression Obsession "Blue" Challenge…..

Here is my submission for Impression Obsession's "Blue" challenge.  With Valentine's day approaching my craft room has been covered in red, pink and white; this challenge was a welcome change.  I have several Impression Obsession stamps and dies which made this card easy and fun to design.  I used a BoBunny dot tone on tone for the background and banner; a small floral print was edged using Impression Obsession Border Duo 1 die.  One of the dies from Impression Obsession's Flags die set was stamped with a special delivery stamp from Impression Obsession's Going Postal clear stamp set. Using the same stamp set, I stamped the envelope outline, the sentiments were stamped using Impression Obsession's Warm Fuzzies clear stamp set.  The little heart on the postage stamp is from the Impression Obsession Heart of Hearts die, I knew I was saving all those little heart cut outs for a reason.  The card was finished with a heart shaped button tied with bakers twine.

I'm back!

I had such good intentions to post at least every week, but…..sometimes life just gets in the way.  The holidays buzzed by and I am still a bit dazed.  This week I am going to CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) in Anaheim; my first time!!!  This convention features all the new products and releases from many of the manufactures of stamps, dies, papers and such.  As a member of Stamp Fever design team one of the many perks is the ability to attend this show, which is not open to the public.  We get to see whats new with our favorite companies, we can place orders at the show and get the new catalogues but we don't go home with merchandise, darn!  On Friday I will be taking classes from Sizzix and Hero Arts, can't wait to share what I learn with you.

I have been busy re-doing my craft room which was my quilting area for many years and will share pictures with you in future posts.  In the mean time I have made a few cards for Valentine's Day.  The first card features paper from Authentique and Crate Paper which I machine stitched onto kraft paper.  The circle dies are from Taylored Expressions (layering doilies medium and small), tag die is from Jillian Vance designs and is embossed with a small heart embossing folder from "the Paper Studio" and the small heart die is from Sizzix.  A narrow banner die (Fishtail Flags Layers STAX) from My Favorite Things is stamped with a sentiment from Avery Elle (Oh Happy Day) using Distress Ink (Fired Brick).  To finish the card I used hand dyed bias tape, heart ribbon from East of India and buttons.