I shared how I like to create in
my Creative blog hop post,
so I thought you might like to see where I create too. Normally this
would be the last thing I'd blog about, but thanks to a new
shelf, lots of re-arranging & a guest coming to stay in the room, a
tidy miracle occurred so I took some pics to celebrate.
I'm so fortunate to have a lovely, light space of my own to create in. It's been re-arranged many times over the years & still needs more sorting & culling, but the set up suits how I like to work. I'm a very messy creator so it probably won't look this tidy for long (as anyone who's been in there will tell you), but I hope sharing it here may help someone trying to work out what they'd like to do in their own space. So, enough talk... this is my desk area (
click on pics for bigger images).
Most of my furniture & storage is by those amazing Swedes at Ikea, including my most recent purchase - a
Ikea Kallax cube shelf. This helps me keep my most used & newest goodies nearby &
has a happy little shelf to display some things that make me smile.
What's working for me?
- Cardstock & DSP - I have a pack of white, vanilla & crumb cake card, plus a couple of sheets of each colour cardstock within arms reach, divided by SU colour collection. Card packs live on my bookcase shelves. I store 12x12 paper & other packs in zip lock bags here too.
- Card scraps live in the pink
tray box - a tray for each SU colour collection.
-
Blendabilities markers live above the scrap box. I unboxed them & made some quick dividers to separate colour groups. Not perfect, but so far so good.
- My
Project Life
albums & cards live here too.... although they're spread out on my Big
Shot table at the moment - yay! Actually, the Big Shots don't usually live where they're shown - the room was doubling as a guest room when I took the pics.
Under the desk are two narrow
Ikea Helmer drawer units, which are brilliant to hold tools & accessories I use often but don't want to see. Here are a couple of open drawers showing my SU markers (in clear stamp cases) & ribbons.
I keep my paper trimmers in the narrow space between the desk & drawers.
Desktop
My
SU ink pad colour caddy lives on the desk within easy reach. My trusty laptop is often found on the right side of the desk (& not just so I can watch-listen to Sherlock while creating).
Who knew I had this much desk space? It usually gets smaller & smaller while I'm making something until I HAVE to clean up... to start on a new mess :-) I always have SU grid paper on my mat (it really helps me stamp straight). My SU stamp blocks are in front of me in 2 recycled boxes (thanks Apple!). I have lots of blocks for easy class sharing & because I'm a very impatient stamper.
My essential tools & adhesives are in little coloured pots - the colours just make me happy.
Most of my other stamps, punches, Big Shot dies, card & paper packs, crafty publications etc live on my brilliant, ancient
Billy Bookcases (arguably Ikea's best product ever!). They hold tons, are so strong & have adjustable shelves. These babies are over 20 years old & still going strong!
Bookcase what's what?
- A4 card packs - in magazine holders - in SU colour collections.
- Big Shot dies - in Ikea clear boxes (sadly no longer available).
- Punches, envelopes, spare supplies etc - in white
Ikea Kassett boxes.
Fave box storage tip - store lid under the box for easy access without moving the box off the shelf.
- Retired ribbons are in the kraft DVD storage boxes with coloured circles - I have way too much ribbon!
I've cunningly hidden the bottom shelf from the pic - it has lots of stuff to be sorted out in front of it (shocking I know).
Comfort & company
Lastly, I have this super comfy lounge (evidenced by puppy Jaz sleeping happily/keeping me company on it). I lucked out thanks to our sofa bed being too wide to fit the space. There's also a Billy bookcase filled with books beside it. I love the beautiful crossstitch on the wall, made by a dear friend.
Well that little tour took longer than I thought. Hopefully you haven't fallen asleep & may have seen some ideas to try in your space. If you have any questions about anything, just leave me a comment.
Back soon with some Christmassy projects - about time I know :-)
Inky wishes, Di
.png)
