Crystal


    Quote:
    Take chances. Make mistakes. You might surprise yourself.
    Location:
    Canada
    My Crafts: Scrapbooking
    My Books: Cut Loose: Break the Rules of Scrapbooking - due out in July - hooray!
    My Magazines: Memory Makers, Domino, Country Home
    My Occupation: Author, Scrapbook Teacher, Designer
    My Other Hobbies: I am teaching some Scrapbooking workshops at the Great American Scrapbook Conventions in 2008 - info at www.greatamericanscrapbook.com - look in my photo gallery for a closer look.
    mycraftivity.com/crystaljrieger

My Groups

    Simple Storage Solution

    Thursday, May 15, 2008, 10:04 AM EST [General]

    I am not very good at organization.  I can admit it.  My mom likes to say an explosion follows me where ever I go.  And she is right.  Even now as a "grown-up" I still struggle with messes.

    I am trying to improve this but as any messy person knows it is an ongoing battle!

    So how can I possibly offer a simple storage solution? 

    Well, I have found a scrappy storage solution that really works for me and I figure that there has got to be other messy people out there who might like it. :)  Plus, since this post, I have had a lot of emails asking how I store my rub-ons all together.

    So here goes. (**warning** - photo overload ahead - I got a little crazy with the camera!!)

    Open baskets are my friends.  They give me visual reference to my supplies and they contain my messes.  I use these shelves from Ikea (baskets too).  I have two baskets for flat packages and they are divided by - alphas - and - embellishments.  Yup, that is the only classification they receive.

    They then get put into the basket with order only being determine by package size.  Small packages at the front - large ones at the back. (If you look at the first photo you will see I also stand a few items on the side that are too big for the baskets.)

    Pretty easy.

    Then I just flip through them and find what I need. (And I just know you are dying for an action shot so here it is!)

    Now the only other thing you need to know is I place a cardboard sheet at the back of the basket to support the packages that are too big to be put in sideways.

    This is so they don't flop around and get bent.

    There are two things I like best about this system.

    1) Easy access to my supplies.  A quick flip refreshes my memory and it is easy to pull out a few packages before deciding what to use on my page.

    2)  Clean-up is easy.  Complicated clean-up is the downfall of a messy person.  I know I need clean-up to be easy otherwise after a few times I start to slack.  It just takes a few seconds to pop the packages back in the baskets after I am done a project.

    I apply this system to most of my supplies and it really works for me. 

    And the last photo from snap-happy photo taking...an aerial shot ('cause I know you need it to understand this super complicated storage method!  LOL)

    So that's it folks - for today and until next week actually.  It is a long weekend this weekend in Canada (I think in the USA too) and we are making it an extra long weekend by taking Friday off too.  This means I will be back Tuesday with more ramblings...

    Have a great one everyone! :)

    (oh - if this posting has even more typos and spelling errors than usual blame the keyboard - a few letters are sticking and it is driving me nuts!!)

     

    Related Group Blogs: Scrapbooking + Papercraft
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    Doodle Impaired?

    Wednesday, May 14, 2008, 09:52 AM EST [General]

    I am.

    I can doodle on a pad of paper while on the phone but do I want these scratching on my scrapbook page?  I think not!

    BUT, I like how stylized doodles look on scrapbook pages.  You know the ones I am talking about?  The flourishes and swirls that are so popular in scrapbooking right now.  I love them but I am too afraid of ruining a page.  And the more nervous I am about ruining a page the more like I am to ruin it!  These type of doodles feel more like mini drawings to me and not really like doodles from the subconcious.

    So what's a girl to do?

    Well, this is what I do.  I use these.  They come in a variety of different patterns and are made from a sturdy plastic-like material which means you can use them over and over and over.

    I love that they come in a 12"x12" size and offer lots of variety within one page.  You can rotate them and flip them so the variety of "doodles" goes on and on.

    I find that they add just the right touch to a page.  See the page below.  Really simple in design but with the doodled circles the page looks complete.

    Or another example.  This page below uses two different templates.

    A flourish type doodle in white pen and the wavy lines for my journaling. (I did actually doodle the scalloped frame around the photo - that I can handle!)

    I love them as embellishment for my pages - not something to take over the whole thing.

    And you can use them for other purposes too.  You could trace and cut out the designs or even use them as a paint stencil.

    That's it,  my PSA for the day.  Let me know if you try it.  I would love to see. :)

    Related Group Blogs: Scrapbooking + Papercraft
    0 (0 Ratings)


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Latest Comments


    Leave a Comment | View All Comments

    My daughter added the background for me. She's much more computer savvy than I am!!

    Jessica
    May 15, 2008
    08:27 AM EST

    Glad to get a post. I'm really enjoying this site. It looks like it will be a lot of fun

    Yolande
    May 13, 2008
    06:27 PM EST

    Hi Crystal-

    This may seem like a silly question to you, but I've just got to ask, because I've been curious about it for awhile now-

    Why do you write cl****, instead of class?

    Is that a legit question, or am I a dumb***?

    Thanks for your humor- it often makes my day!

    Shannon S.
    May 12, 2008
    10:53 PM EST

    Yes I got the quilt done and delivered it to Jessie. She loved it!! Thanks for asking. Take Care!!

    Sherrie
    May 10, 2008
    08:01 AM EST