Monday, January 25, 2010

my creative space



welcome...

...to my new creative space.

I'm super excited to finally be able to share it with you. Two and a half years in the making since hubby and I were standing in a hole beside the house under where our porch used to be. We were pacing it off and planning the bedroom that we'd need to get baby #5 out of our bedroom and over top would be our new back hall and eating area. It went a little something like this...

She said: Hmmmm.... looks like a pretty big bedroom to me. Does child #3 really need a bedroom this large? It's larger than our master bedroom.

He said: No...we could make it two rooms. One nice sized bedroom and a smaller room...for studying, maybe?

She said: We have a study that we already have the computer in and the older kids all have desks in there rooms. (she hesitates a little and gingerly suggests) What about a craft room? It's not as large a space as I'd like but I think I could make it work.

He thinks.

She holds her breath.

She said: It would get all my stuff out of the family room....

He said: OK We can do that.

She said: (scream) I'm so excited! I love you! You are the best hubby ever...blah, blah, blah, blah.....

(she jumps up and down, runs over, big hug and kisses etc.)

You get the idea.

In the meantime we've been busy with more crucial parts of the addition/renovation.... whole story here.... and while we worked away, I planned out my little creative space eking out the most use from an 8x8 foot room. Here's my plan...






And finally welcome to my space...


It turned out just as I designed on paper and I couldn't be more thrilled. I think what makes my room so workable for me is that I really considered how I design, exactly what my needs were for workspace and storage and how best to squeeze it into my creative space. Hubby agrees with me that the photos actually make my room look larger than it actually is. Two people would have difficulty working in this space together. It could be done but as I usually create alone, this works for me. I can turn around in my chair and reach into the drawers behind me, pull things out of the storage carts to the side or quickly stand up and grab my cardstock from its shelves.



My desk is the place were I spend most of my time. It usually doesn't look like this. I usually have some stamps, ink, a paper cutter, scraps and a project in progress. I have everything I use most within reach. My desk isn't terribly pretty but it was a gift from a friend who no longer needed it. The drawers are great and it has a great large worksurface. I'm thinking it may get a makeover down the road but for now...it works for me.


One of my favorite storage solutions for crafting is this Making Memories Storage Carousel. It's amazing how much it fits into one space, I can see and find my most used items and I think it still looks pretty. Love how it smoothly spins around. I picked mine up at Michael's with a 50% off coupon and liked it so much, I bought another next time it was on sale.


Above my desk within easy reach is my ink pads. Ink pad storage has been a bit of a trial for me since I started stamping about 7 years ago. They can be difficult to store and if you stamp a lot, you'll want easy access. I tried a few different solutions but this one is the winner for me. I have three ink pad organizers that each hold 48 ink pads. I know, I know...that's a lot of ink but I do use them all. I still have a few empty spaces but they are great for holding various acrylic blocks, twine and I have a row saved for some new Distress Ink colors being released soon. Organize More is a fabulous solution for me. They also sell ribbon organizers and other craft storage solutions.



When hubby installed my ink storage for me, I got him to make a nice little shelf to go over the top. I have some pretty frames, my clock and some crafting items up there. Things that make me smile. One of them is this stamp I've saved from an old Stampin Up set. For me it's the perfect decoration... inspirational, unique and using what I have.



Here's my magnet boards where I keep receipts, work in progress and sometimes a layout I like.


In the corner of my craft room, just behind the entry door, I have a little cupboard to store extra things. I have magazines, alterable items and other misc. craft things in there.


If you come back to my desk and turn left this time, you'll find two of my favorite craft storage pieces. I am totally amazed at how much these hold in one area. So much better than drawers and iris carts. The drawer units are from Best Craft Organizer and the shallow drawers are fabulous. I keep embossing powder, paint, rub-ons and just about anything small in these drawers. If you pull them out, they will also stack if you want to bring them to another area to work on. The area is a little tight and the area really only works because the carts are on castors. I knew this on my original plan but with my smooth hard floor, they easily move closer to my desk if I need better access into the cupboard on the left.

My two Clip-It-Ups fit perfectly on top of the craft organizers and are invaluable. One of them I ordered from the US and the other, I purchased at my local scrapbook store with a store credit I had. They are a little expensive but worth it for me. I can see what I have and use it rather than it getting creased or dated in a drawer. One of my Clip-it-Ups holds my unmounted stamps and the other, embellishments.




I like to keep my counter space as clear as possible so that I can have additional space to work. This end I use for die cutting.


This side holds various craft supplies and a circle cutting system.


My counter is 8 feet long and just barely squeezed into my space. I had originally planned on a different counter top but one Saturday after installing the counters, hubby told me I could order one and wait for it to come in or go to Home Depot and pick one from stock. He would install it that night. Hmmm.... I rushed off and this counter was quite similar to my original plan. I love the subtle color variation and texture. I did splurge a little on the hardware and I'm glad I did.

You can see where I did cut some corners in this photo...I've reused my old kitchen fluorescent light fixture. My flooring is also pretty much non-existent. It's just the concrete floor painted with epoxy paint designed for garage floors. We decided this was the best solution for me as I've been known to drop permanent ink pads onto flooring and drop adhesive glue dots on it too. This is so easy for me to clean up by sweeping up scraps, my chair slides easily and if I stain it...I can just repaint. My floor is also super warm as it has infloor heating. With the bright south-facing window, I hardly feel like I'm in the basement at all.




One of my biggest problems in my old corner was paper storage. I love patterned paper and like to store it in these Iris cases from Michael's. They work great and I can pull down the case I need and then put it right back. I designed this shelf system to hold them and hubby did a great job of giving me exactly what I needed. It's not the prettiest storage (hubby wanted to put doors on it) but making things easy access is key to me putting things away and finding exactly what I want. It's only functional if it works for you.


And now we're full circle at the door and you can see my last storage area. This space backs onto the basement stairs and we were able to carve out a little space to hold my cardstock. I'm thrilled with how easy it is to find what I need. Each shelf will hold a 12x12 stack of paper and an 8.5x11 stack as well.

That's my space and I hope you've enjoyed the tour. I'm thrilled to finally share it with you and I hope you've found a few ides for your own space.

Do you like my space? Was it worth the wait?

Thanks for visiting!


This post links up with the Twice Remembered Cottage's Make Your Monday.


Metamorphasis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Make it for Monday at Cottage Instincts

First Big Project of the New Year at Sanctuary Arts

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land



50 comments:

  1. I think your space looks totally fabulous....you must be sooooo thrilled. I so wish I had a special space. Love you realistic storage solutions too. tfs....

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  2. I am so glad that you posted this. I have a large bedroom that has become my scrap room and I haven't set it up yet. I love how organized everything is. It looks great. Thanks for the ideas!

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  3. What an terrific craft/creating room. All of your shelves and cubbies are so great. I can only dream of having a room like that.

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  4. What a fantastic craft room. It looks absolutely perfect. You and your husband did a great job! Congratulations!
    Christine in Ottawa

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  5. WOOHOO!!! That looks AWESOME, J! Big congrats, my friend!! I'm so glad you have YOUR space now! You deserve it and it rocks (just like you).

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  6. Julia!!!! It's fabulous! I am green with envy. I love that room. You are so very lucky.

    Tell your husband from me that his work is incredible. I'm showing this post to my hubby for some inspiration :)

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  7. Wow - absolutely fabulous!! Love your space and all your storage solutions! Enjoy!

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  8. Looks divine. I am in the process of changing our bonus room into a craft room. What color is your paint?

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  9. Oh my goodness! I'm not coveting, no I'm not! Your space is just wonderful! How marvelous you were able to design it just the way you wanted and it seems you've thought of everything!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;0

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  10. Oh what a great room. Thanks for sharing.
    Have a Blessed Week,
    Sherry

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  11. Hi Julia,
    What a lovely craft space. I enjoyed all the little touches you added to your room especially that great shelf above your stamp pads & the little banner hanging in your window. Great job & TFS! Sheila

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  12. Wow what a great space for creating! Love the colors you used, and how everything has it's place. Wanna come help me with my cra(p)ft room?

    Glad you linked to Mi4M!

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  13. SOOO jealous!! What a great space!! Great job :)

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  14. Just beautiful. I'm very envious of your space. It was totally worth the wait.

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  15. I am SO happy for you! Congratulations on completing your craft room. You did a great job on designing it - it looks very functional and yet beautiful too - well done!

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  16. It's just wonderful! I love that you made it so customized to your specific needs. It will help you to keep it tidy. Great job! Lisa~ www.livingmybestlifeii-lisa.blogspot.com

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  17. What an awesome space! I am jealous!!! It's fantastic!

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  18. OH it's absolutely fabulous, Julia!! Love it!

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  19. Awesome space Julia! Congrats!
    Diane Cooper
    diane7@rogers.com

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  20. You space is beautiful and looks like an organized dream... Don't you wish is was always this clean?

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  21. Love it, you must be over the moon!

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  22. It looks so lovely! And I love that little joy banner over the window. Really cute!

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  23. Wooohoooo Julia, congrats on finally getting into your fabulous new space!! Thanks so much for sharing every detail... I LOVE to see how other crafters organize their spaces, particularly storage solutions. This looks so very well thought out, plus it's just so pretty, too. Now I'm thinking I may need one of those sets of drawers on casters... hmmmmm :)

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  24. I think this is one of the best and creative uses of space in a room this size that I have ever seen, Julia! I knew I was going to love it from your first picture. It is obvious that you put a lot of thought and consideration into how you would use the space and your storage is wonderful. You did a wonderful job here!

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  25. It looks fabulous, and fabulously organized too. I love that you added some accessories like the clock, gives it some great personality. I am currently working on a similarly sized craft room (our spare 4th bedroom upstairs) and reusing some second hand cabinets we purchased.

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  26. Julia, it's beautiful! It's your space! I'm so glad for you and yes, just a teeny bit envious!

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  27. o.K. i'm totally jealous!! What an amazing room! I love it. I finally got a closet...LOL

    i have a party every Thurs. and would love for you to come by!

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  28. im so jealous but so happy for you! what a fantastic space!!!

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  29. That room is fantastic! I'm getting a craft room done up by my hubby as we speak but it's slow going.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  30. What a wonderful space and to have everything at hands reach sounds great, love your ink storage, mine are still in the carts all thrown together.
    Thanks for sharing!

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  31. Congrats on your fab space, Julia. I have a room - just need to clean and organize (sigh).

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  32. Oh, it is just beautiful!

    Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

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  33. Love your crafty nest! I am far from designing mine but thankful to have a room just my own. One day it will get some attention.

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  34. Perfect creative space! I must feel great to create in a fresh new space. I love every detail. I love your ink pad storage.

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  35. Congrats on getting your own craft space. It is so lovely and organized. Organization is a foreign concept in my world, although I keep trying. I must simplify! Have fun creating. Best wishes, Tammy

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  36. oh so CUTE! i hope i will have a space like that when i grow up :)
    did you say what the paint color was and i missed it?? do you mind sharing?
    thanks:)

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Thanks for stopping by Finding Beauty @ Home. And thanks for your lovely comments. I appreciate each one. Have a beautiful day!

Julia