Welcome to My Creative Space!

It's that time of year when Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage hosts the "Where Bloggers Create" event, so a multitude of creative people can take a virtual tour of others creative, crafty spaces.  I've always enjoyed this event and look forward to it each year.  Speaking of 'each year', you can visit my other posts My Creative Space 2014  and My Basement Scraproom 2013.  

WARNING!  This is a very. long. post!   If you just want to scroll through and not read all the captions, feel free.  I tend to post a lot of pics when I participate in this blog hop.

Most of my room, which is located in the basement, is pretty much the same as it has been for the last two years.  I had great intentions of changing it up a bit the past year, but unfortunately, life threw me a few curveballs and I never had the opportunity to do some of the projects I had planned.  One of them was to paint the walls, another was to organize it a bit better than it is right now.  Oh well.  Since last year's party, I've been working full time, found out my daughter was pregnant, holidays, planned a baby shower, then my husband needing surgery, working 40 hours a week and babysitting for 20+ hours---ahhhh, the list goes on.   

Most of the items you'll see in my room are thrift finds from flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores.  My room is not the prettiest, nor the most glamorous, or the most 'all-together' room where everything matches, but it is functional.  I live in a small ranch and I was very fortunate to have the space I have.  Hubby built shelving units to create a 'wall' separating my space from the rest of the basement.  He also hung white sheets over the ceiling to give me more light and to 'dress it up a bit'.   

Throughout the room, I've added touches of 'me', so to speak.  There are birdhouses, paper crafts, swap items I've received, mementos, a few items from my childhood--things that make my space feel special.  I've wanted to add items to make it look whimsy and colorful, but I'm still working on that.  I also covered the fronts of all my storage containers so it looked a bit 'cleaner' and better organized.  Most of the drawers are labeled.  That's also another work in progress.   

So....without further adieu, here's my room:

This is what you see when you're standing at the basement door.  Last year, I think I had a desk from my childhood where the white table is now.  My husband wanted to toss out the table, but I told him I'd find some use for it---oh yeah, another spot to dump things!   

My husband built a tone of shelving units for me to make it look more like a room.   To hide the mess of one of the units (you'll see it later), I nailed up some foam board, covered with green contact paper and hung a portion of a pocket organizer.  The pink pocket organizer holds my glue guns, my heat guns and a paper drill.  The apron hanging on the left is signed by Tim Holtz himself!  I wore this apron during an event several years ago in Topsfield, Mass. where he taught a class (will show that later as well).  All those boxes hold photos--no lie!  Tons of them.  On the top shelf, are containers holding flowers and below that are all my scrapbook albums.   Sitting on that small table (a yard sale find)  is my daughter's bridesmaid bouquet that I made along with a garden doll and some spiral flowers I made for my daughter's bridal shower two years ago.   

Last year, I had my childhood desk sitting in this spot, since then I found this item (not sure what it's called) at a yard sale for $15.00.  It holds punches, but most of the drawers are empty. Sorry for the blurriness.  On top of this unit is an old strainer holding an assortment of tiny mini albums that I've collected through various swaps over the years.  Also I have an old ceramic gravy boat holding heart-shaped rocks.
For some reason, when I posted these pictures, they came out in the wrong format.  Sorry.

          

As you can see, I've used the bottom of the table for storing my other craft supplies, most of it paints and painting supplies which, unfortunately, I rarely use.

Another view of the room, showing the right side.  The white garland was leftover from my daughter's wedding.  She was going to throw it away, but I wanted to hang it in my room.  

Again, we're standing at the basement door looking into my room, slightly to the right.  My table is 8 feet long and that shelving unit in the back was made by my husband so it would create a wall and be useful for storage.

Here's the view standing at that small table mentioned above  (apron, pocket organizer)

Standing by the door and looking directly to the right you'd see this view.  Straight ahead are two shelving units left over from an old entertainment center we had.  The shelves are strong and, again, hubby was going to toss them out, but I found another use for them.   

To the right of the above unit, is this little bookcase that once belonged to my daughter when they were very young.  Neither one of them had use for it, so I snatched it up.  This is where I display all the mini albums that I've received over the years from various swaps---and this isn't even all of them!

Next to the white book case is this brown bookcase which was also in my daughter's room.  I think it might've been my husband's at one time when he was single.  This bookcase stores some mini albums, small paper packs, chipboard, plastic envelopes (for storing paper), and the bottom shelf is my Project Life stuff and my daughter's albums.  Beside the book case is a paper stack.  Oh, and the top of the book case displays more mini albums from swaps and a Travelogue I made (the black one)

These are the two shelving 'towers' from the entertainment center from a side angle.  One unit hold boxes storing embellishments, photos albums, blank journals, etc.  The other unit stores magazines and books all relating to scrapping and altered art.

       
This green wooden 'thingy', purchased at a yard sale, holds some of my stamps, the ones I use most often.  I have other stamps in boxes.  The other photo shows my placard I use when making YouTube videos (which has been a long time as well.)

This is the view on the back wall behind my table.  

These are the items sitting on my table.  A spinner rack for my paints, a gorgeous repurposed box I received in a swap, a painted ceramic dog that I received from my friend Debbie as a Christmas gift when I was 11 years old, a wooden jewelry box that holds embellies and on top of that is a display of items collected through swaps.  To the right is a hand made 'clip it up'.

     
Here is a close up of the clip-it-up.                    This photos shows a close up of what is displayed on top of the wooden jewelry box--another yard sale find.  Above the table is my 'mood board" (which I need to update):

The mood board which displays tags, cards, embellies, anything that strikes my fancy at the moment.  Most of these items were from swaps as well.

        
To the left of the back table is another book case (another yard sale find), which holds photo CD albums; button jars; bead jars, baskets and boxes holding an assortment of other things, that to tell you the truth--I can't remember!  Geez, I've got to look through them again.  To the left of the book case are two items purchased at thrift stores--a tiny brown wooden shelving unit displaying my favorite stamps, and on top of that sits a mini cabinet displaying my tiny teddy bears (I used to collect them).  In front of that is a wooden 'birdhouse', again, bought at a yard sale.     Next to the book case is a wooden rack that was once used for hanging clothes, I think--not sure.  Anyway, I just recently decided to use it for storing my small collection of Washi tapes.  The sign "Scrap Room" was made by me several years ago for my old scrap room in the other house.

The above four photos ---a side view of my Washi tapes; to the left of the narrow white book case begins my "wall".  The photo in the upper right is another white book case (from my daughter's room) that holds all the small Sterilite containers which fit perfectly!  These are labeled with the types of embellies in each box.  The bottom left photo shows my Sterilite units stacked one on top of the other to create part of the wall of my room.  Each box is covered in paper and labeled with the contents.  The bottom right photo is the wooden unit between the stacks of Sterilite containers and the white bookcase (upper right).  My husband basically built the 'wall' around the containers--LOL!

The left photo is the lower half of the 'wall' The bottom Iris containers hold layouts yet to be completed and other projects.  The photo on the right is my table which is 8 feet long.  I wanted to cover up what's hiding underneath, so I found some fabric that I had hoarded for the last 25 years (yes, that long!) and made a continuous skirt by hot gluing (no sew) the panels together and then gathering them on the top using glue as well.  I then attached the skirt to the table using velcro dots and covered the raw edge with fabric ribbon.  The chair is covered in an old sheet with a piece of fabric over the back and a seat cushion covered in some left over fabric as well.  When I was doing this, I wanted to add color and some 'shabbiness' to the room.  Not sure if I succeeded.

          
Here's a close up of the chair (wanted to hide the black) and the next photo is taken from the corner where the two brown 'towers' stand.  Now, let's see what I have on my desk:


Sitting on top of yet another yard sale find--a white two level shelving unit, is this wire item of which I don't know what it's called.  I only know that it spins.  This holds my Ranger ink pads, alcohol inks and chalk paint.  The other picture shows the other side of the top of the unit.  This is actually a 'necklace hanger" but I used it for holding my vintage embellies.

Here's a better picture of the shelf.  The assorted baskets hold all kinds of assorted tools and items I'll need when working on my projects.

                    
To the left on the table is an old wooden bed tray (another thrift store item) which holds two antique sewing baskets full of trims; teacup pin cushions I've received from swaps and an altered cigar box.  Beneath the bed tray I have terra cotta pots holding paintbrushes.  In front of the bed tray is a wooden lazy susan holding altered tin cans which store my colored pencils, pens, scissors, rulers and a host of other tools.  Beside the lazy susan is my troll which I've had since I was 9 or 10.  Next to him is a ceramic 'purse' which olds markers then there are two other tin containers (dollar store) holding more tools and colored markers.

This is the brown book case to the right of my table.  It is a mess!  This holds a ton of unfinished projects my daughter and I have.  So, so many!

Here's the backside of the Lazy Susan--these are altered salt shakers from a swap last year.

And here are the two items we (my daughter and I) made with Tim Holtz.  The one to the right is mine which I have to fix.  It fell on the floor and two of the things on the top broke off.  The blue one is my daughter's.  The trap cup lying on its side is also from a swap and needs to be glued onto it's glass base.  Haven't found the right glue to hold it together.  The little pewter bowl holds sea glass and sea shells.



I forgot to mention that beside the white table on the back wall sits my oldest daughter's old computer table.  Again, she didn't have use for it, so I snagged it.  I use this to store my machines--Cricut, Cuttlebug, Big Shot, mini sewing machine; my binder machine, sewing machine, sewing basket and parts to go with them.  An old rag doll (another item I used to collect) sits comfortably on the Cricut.



The right photo is a close up of that small square table sitting against the foam board 'wall' which hides the mess you see in the next photo.  Believe it or not, these are bags and bags of kits that my daughter and I have purchased over the years from the Creating Keepsakes Conventions that we've yet to finish.  A lot of them are from The Button Farm.  I need two more lifetimes to get through all these projects!

Here's another view of the "mess".   The bottom shelf holds some photos, but most are the old negatives we used to get with developed film.  Remember those days?

And lastly, this is another unit my husband built to store some of his stuff, but because it was closer to my room, I took it over--LOL!  Because it is an unsightly mess, I covered it with a fabric shower curtain I no longer use.  Behind the curtain is this:


Just a bunch of stuff that I'll use "someday".  Actually, I have used them, found something better or different and put the item back here---just in case I have use for it later.


Well, that's it!  Thank you so much for visiting:

I hope you enjoyed the tour and I do hope you'll come back and visit again.  I've been lax in my scrapping, but I hope to have some layouts posted soon, along with some other projects.  If you like what you see, please follow me.  
Lori

My New Creative Space

I've gotten alot, and I mean ALOT, of visitors to my blog post "Where I Create" found here: http://scrapmomsmusings.blogspot.com/2010/06/where-i-create.html---

and I appreciate all the wonderful comments I've received.  But.....this isn't my creative haven any more.  We moved a little over a year ago and, although I miss my old creative space, I have a new one.  This one is in the basement.  It's not as "fancy" as the other space, but it's much bigger and I'm able to have everything in one room, not in 2 rooms as I had before (my bedroom and basement in the other house).    I do love my space:

 Here are some pics to share:

Here's the view when the basement door is opened:

My husband put up an old sheet to cover the wood and wires, etc above my head.  Plus it reflects the light and makes it so much brighter.  The work table is lined with a table skirt that I created using up yards of old fabric that's been in my sewing stash for YEARS!  I finally had a good use for it.  I'll share more pics of the work desk later. 

This is the view walking from the door to the left to give you an idea of the entire room.

Turning towards the door slightly to view the paper stacks.

 

Still moving to the left and back a little.  Unfortunately the ugly metal post cannot be removed.  Oh Well.  The wicker chest is a very old storage unit bought at a yard sale.  The concrete floor had been painted red by the previous owner and I hated it.  For now, hubby put down a white carpet on the other side.  Someday, the floor will be painted.

To the left are the shelving units my hubby built that holds all my storage containers.

Turning just a bit to my left to show you how far out the shelves extend.  The small table is covered in batternburg lace table cover and the box is a yard sale find that holds all my laces.  The jar in front is a fairy jar received in a swap.

A shoe bag organizer (or whatever you call it), that I cut in half and attached to this 'wall' which was made using foamboard and covered with contact paper.  This organizer holds my heat guns, glue guns, and drill.

Just a few of my photo boxes.

I covered the inside of all my containers with paper using the colors pinks, blues and greens (the colors in my room).  I then labeled them with tags bought at the dollar bin at Michael's. 

Okay, so picture yourself on the other side of my work table, standing in the middle of the carpet and looking around going from right to left:

This is standing in the middle of my room looking toward the cellar door (right of the photo).  The small white bookcase displays alot of mini albums that I've received in various swaps and some that I've made as well.  The brown bookcase stores paper packs, and alot of other items that is too long to list here.  Beside that are 3 paper stackers. 

This is looking directly at the bookcases mentioned above.  To the left are two tall units that came from an old entertainment center which was dismantled.  These units hold photo albums, tons of books and magazines, and boxes full of goodies!

Here's the view standing by the cellar door looking to the back.  These are the two units mentioned above.  To the left is a small table that my daughter gave to me which houses my Cuttlebug, my sewing machine, my Cricut, a mini sewing machine, the Slice,  a sewing basket and my Cinch.  Two very large cutters stand between the table and the tall unit.  You'll see to the left of the little black table is another table which is covered in a white flat sheet.  On top of that is my homemade 'clip it up' shown below: 

Here's a close up of the bookcase holding all the mini albums (at least some of them):

Another view of the table:

 

Here's a better view of the table holding my clip it up.  I also keep my punches in a small suitcase and an old strainer.  This table was supposed to be used for my machines, but not yet!  Beneath the table, hidden by the sheet is a box storing tools and a Rubbermaid 3 drawer unit holding Sizzix dies, Cuttlebug folders, etc.

Here's my Inspiration Board above the table (above).  I've put up tags received from swaps and pictures, etc that inspire me.

This is what's hiding under the table.

The suitcase and strainer holding my punches.  I don't own many.

This is the view standing by my work table.  The tall white book case was given to us from a neighbor and it stores CD albums of my photos, buttons, lace, and baskets and boxes of more goodies.  To the left of the bookcase is a smaller one displaying my favorite (and unused) stamps as well as a wooden house and another wooden unit with doors that displays little bears and other mementos.

 

 

 

Even the smaller boxes are covered!  I find that it gives the room a cleaner look.  I like seeing what I have, but I don't like the 'cluttered' look of so many containers holding so many items.  So, I covered them with the same papers I used for the bigger containers.

This is how I store my bigger flowers.  I do have one more box that's been added that stores all my handmade flowers that I've received from various swaps.

 Here's a look from the middle of the room showing a very big white bookcase (another yard sale find) that hold all my smaller storage units.  Most are labeled.  If there isn't a label, then the container is empty. 

Continuing to move to the left, these are all the '3 drawer' containers (Sterilite, I think) with the wheels and frames removed.  I just stacked them.  When my husband made the shelves he measured these containers by height and width, giving me the room I need.  They are snug and can't move at all.  No worries at all that they'll tip.

Now we turn and viola'!  My desk/work table.  This is where I sit and create.  I covered my ugly black chair with a sheet, a king-sized pillow sham and a chair pad.  Someday I'll make a better chair cover, but that's it for now.  Let me show you around the desk:

This unit is at the right of me when I'm sitting there.  There are containers holding everything I need to use from pens, glues, stamps, inks, sponges, staplers, small tools, etc. Loads of little things.

This is the top of that unit.  There's a family of turtles all lined up that were given to me from my oldest daughter.  Of course, these turtles represent all of us in the family--LOL!  I have two spinners on the top--one came from Marshall's and is supposed to be used for jewelry, but I always repurpose items for my scrapping use anyway.  This spinner holds some nice ephemera that  I love to look at.  In the middle is a box that holds every card I've received in a swap.  And the black spinner on the right holds Ranger Inks, daubers and alcohol inks.

 

 This is on my desk.  The gnome I've had since I was very young and is supposed to bring good luck.  The ceramic 'purse' in front of the gnome is filled with assorted hand tools from scissors to piercers.  The item next to it is a lazy susan holding jars of colored pencils, paint brushes, glue sticks, and another jar holding blades.   I altered two tin cans and store pins, and other loose items.

 

To the left on the table is an antique bed tray that I bought at a yard sale and is perfect for displaying two vintage sewing baskets that hold lace and ribbon goodness.  In the front is an altered cigar box received from a swap last year.  There are also two altered tea cups holding some beautiful stick pins.  These were also from a swap.  I love to have swap items around me!

Another angle of the jewelry boxes and one of the tea cups.

This vintage sewing box holds some of my favorite laces and trims.  The two bracelets are made by a good friend of mine-Sandra Knapp who creates these from vintage typewriters. 

This is the back of the bed table.  A terra cotta pot holds foam brushes and beside that are a couple of old baking pans that I use for heat embossing.

Sitting on the table against the wall is my DIY clip it up. 

 

This little piece is a vintage jewelry box--another yard sale find!  The drawers hold business cards, clips for my clip it up and Cricut blades.  Sitting on top of the box are more altered items I've received from assorted swaps! 

Around the room, I've placed lots of items from yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets because..well....they make me happy.  Above is a vintage suitcase filled with stencils (that I never use!), sitting on top of the suitcase is a metal birdhouse-an iron anvil (I think it was a door knocker at one time), and a 'cake slice' made from paper.

These birdhouses and bird cage sit on top of one of the book case towers.  Again--yard sale finds!   I just LOVE birdhouses!

 

That ends the tour of my basement scraproom--better known as my "Happy Place".  Thanks for stopping by and I hope I might have inspired you.