Inspiring craft spaces

I have been really lucky to have had a whole room to call my craft room for the last 15 years. Whilst it isn't the prettiest room by any means it holds all my different craft supplies plus miscellaneous other stuff from around the house.
It also means I can leave things out while I'm working and if I need just close the door to shit away the mess.

There are so many craft spaces or rooms, even "she sheds" that are just so well organised and pretty I though I would share with you today some of my favourites.

http://thehappyhousie.porch.com/craft-room-makeover-reveal/

http://www.woodtex.com/blog/she-sheds-are-all-the-rage-and-have-been-for-years/

http://allaboutmeandmyscrapbook.blogspot.com.au/p/tour-around-my-scraproom.html

I  you want to have a closer look at any of the spaces just click the link under each photo.

Thanks for visiting

Lis :)

Vintage craft storage

How adorable is this little vintage sewing basket? I was lucky enough to find this on one of my thrift store visits for a really low price. Ive had it for awhile now and its held a few different bits and pieces. I decided recently that I was accumulating quite a few mini cross stitches and already had a fair bit of Aida cloth.
The little basket was the perfect home for them, the padded lid is great for needles and after a bit of tweaking I arranged everything so that I can see it all easily.

I may of course out grow this little basket, but I'm sure I will always find a use for it.



Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

March Creative goals

March already I feel like it was just Christmas not that long ago. I'm am happy to report that my creative goals are all complete from last month and I even got a start on some projects for this month.
I'm looking forward to very soon having someone to come scrapbook with me, much nicer than scrapping on your own.

So, goals for March are as follows;
4 birthday cards
scrap the boys challenge
jot mood board challenge
First birthday card
art journal page

secret scrapbook project (cant give away too much as they read my blog)
I might possible be helping out with 1st birthday decorations too.

The weather is still in the 30-34c here which is unusual for this time of year so hopefully it will cool down some more and make for much better crafting.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

February Creative goals

The begining of another month and time to set my creative goals, but before we do that lets have a look at how I went last month.
I completed all but one gift from my list and I have almost finished the last gift. Pretty happy with considering the weather here has been so hot and humid its been hard to get normal things done let alone any crochet or scrapbooking. Think sweat dripping of all parts of you - not a great look let alone all over your projects.

So weather permitting, is currently 37c here today and expected to be that again tomorrow, here are this months goals.
2 female cards
2 male cards
Jot mood board
Scrap the boys layout
finish gift from last montsh lists
birthday gift for a sweet lady
start on more baby items ready for up coming baby showers
work on a gift ready for April

So praying for soeme cooler weather to get this list done!


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

January Creative goals

Time again to set some goals, as I did last year - because it worked so well - I'm going to do monthly creative goals instead of a full year.
I mentioned last year how it was more realistic for me to set goals each month rather than a full year. I was able to achieve alot more and be honest about what I was going to be able to achieve each month.

So here we go January creative goals are as follows....
Finish baby shower gifts
10 yr old birthday card
Scrap the boys challenge
4 ladies birthday cards
Jot Mood board
3 birthday gifts (ladies read my blog so keeping hush for now)

Wish me luck

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Favourite projects of 2015

Looking back over 2015 and all the creative projects I managed to complete, I was pretty impressed with myself. Nothing like tooting your own horn, but I achieved alot more than I ever thought I would.
I decided to go through and pick my favourites for this post, whoa wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. There were lots of baby crochet, crochet and knitted washers, blankets both large and small, scrapbooking, art journaling, and the odd bit of cross stitch.
It took me way longer than I expected to pick just a few - wouldn't want a blog post full of every creative thing I did haha - I did manage though.
So here are just a few things from my creative projects from 2015.

What were your favourites from all my projects this year, did I include it in this post or was it something different?
What was your favourite project that you completed, please share with me.

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Where I get Creative

Thought I would share with you all my craft space in our new home. Whilst our house living areas have a little more room I don't have the luxury of a huge rumpus room which I had in the last house.
I'm still lucky enough to have a nice area to create in and it has a door so it can all be hidden away if needed! When we moved I sorted my whole stash and gave away alot of things, but I still had alot to get into a room half the size of what I had.

My main concern was making sure that my extra large desk fitted, it did!!
The next step was to work out what I would use all the time and making sure that was easily accessible and then working from there.
Its not the prettiest but its functional and I can create which is all that matters.

My desk holds pretty much everything I use on a daily basis for whatever craft I'm doing, I'm the type that has to be able to see things or they  don't get used.
No doubt things will get moved around as I work out what suits best but for now this works and I'm enjoying having room to create!

Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Sophies Universe part 7 & 8

Sophie's Universe blanket challenge has certainly lived up to its name, its definitely been a challenge. I  love to crochet but pretty much like to keep it simple, not pushing myself to learn anything complicated or take on anything to ambitious.

Maybe if I had seen what this blanket was going to look like at the end or even read through the different parts before attempting it, I may Never of started!
I can blame myself for that, I'm not huge on reading alot of instructions just pushing on thinking Ive got this, sound familiar to anyone ?

I'm so glad that I did start it though, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone ALOT and there have been times where a whole lot of unpulling was done, but I've struggled on, gotten advice and learnt so much in the process.

I have already completed part 9 and getting ready to start on 10, really looking forward to getting to the end and seeing what it looks like.
Then comes the deciding if i keep it myself or gift it to someone!!


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Organisation - craft room

The space that never stays clean and never is organised the way you need for productivity! Sound like your craft space? Its definitely mine so after being in this house for a few years I decided that I needed to sort, purge and organise in a way that better suited how I create.

First step was to pull everything out and start with clean empty storage units. I also moved my desk from the far wall to over by the window, this gave me a better natural light during the day.
I made some noted about what i used the most which helped with where I put everything. The top photo is the before shot and the one just above is the room after. Still not perfect but much better.

I have a designated computer desk with the phone and printer close by but also close to where I create so I'm able to multi task.
Beside my computer desk and right behind my craft table are two storage units with papers, and embellishments I use all the time.

I then have two larger storage shelves holding various containers of everything else, from scrapbooking  products to paints, material and various other mixed media items.
I also store all my albums along the bottom shelves as well as a large tub of yarn on the top.

My desk is a nice large size (great for when a friend comes to create with me) and has plenty of space to create but still have my journal and planner and utensils close at hand.
I love that I can now look out the window whilst I create and am able to see anyone coming and going up the stairs and into he rest of the house and not have my back to it.
The boys quite often come and sit and chat whilst I work.

Now after getting this room how I wanted it we have found out we have to move, so stay tuned for another post about my new craft space. Fingers crossed we find a home with a space that I can use.


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Gift wrapping station

Gift wrapping can be one of those jobs that you either love or hate. Some of us love to get really creative and make the gift look as pretty as its contents.
If your anything like my boys then you find the nearest thing that will cover the gift and you sticky tape it all together.

Personally I love gift wrapping and making it all pretty and am constantly looking for ways to keep all my supplies together not just so its easier for me, but maybe the boys might take a bit more care too (I can dream haha).
Recently I was given a couple of these filing drawers, and I had one more than I really needed after looking at it for a few days I realised it would make the perfect wrapping station.

The large bottom drawer is perfect for all those gift bags, I have the larger ones in the back and have used a couple of small containers to house the smaller bags. Ive also put a couple of gift boxes I had in their as well. The middle drawer holds all my wrapping ribbons, its just the right depth for the large spools to stand up, the only thing I'm going to do is add a little sticker to the top of each spool so I know at a glance which colour is which.

The top drawer will eventually hold all my gift toppers and other smaller bits and pieces, at this stage they are in the middle drawer until I find containers small enough to fit in the top drawer.
The top of my drawers holds all my gift wrap, a thrifted basket which holds all my rolls of paper and another basket which holds all my flat gift wrap and tissue and cellophane.

So far its working well with everything in one place.
Do you have cool or clever storage for your gift wrapping ? Please share with us in the comments below.


Thanks for visiting
Lis :)

Lets get organised - crochet hooks

Since I started to crochet I have accumulated quite a number of different size crochet hooks. I did have them in a jar on my desk, but needed something that I could transport to the lounge of a night and in the car if needed so I chucked them all in a zipped bag.

This system worked for a little while until the OCD in me got annoyed with having to take all the hooks out to see which one I needed.
I tried a crochet holder but wasnt happy with that, next I got a hook holder from Lincraft which honestly was useless. It didnt hold any of my larger hooks and it was small.

I happened upon this smiggle pencil caseon one of my thrifty ventures, when I opened it up I had a little light bulb moment.
I brought the case got it home and Yay!! It is the perfect size,holding all my hooks large as well and I can fit scissors and measuring tapes as well.
The next thing I have to do is put a little needle holder in there and it will be the perfect transportable crochet case!


Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Lets get organised - Gift wrapping

 

Its almost that time of year again when we all have a zillion presents to wrap up. October and November are busy birthday months for me so the next 3 months I will be going through alot of paper, bags, ribbon and tags.

 I thought I would come and share how I organise and store all my gift wrap supplies. Its by no means a fabulous system and im sure there are better out there but this works for me.
I tend to buy paper by the roll, its easier to get the amount of papre required. I store all my rolls in an upright container, nice and easy to see what you have.

 I have a small container that holds any paper I get not on a roll, along with tissue paper and cellophane, it sits on a shelf beside my desk.
I have a plastic crate filled with ribbons, bows, pom poms, large tags and anything else I might use to decorate the outisde of a package.

 Beside my plastic crate on a shelf I have this basket I thrifted which holds all my bags, paper and plastic.
This system works for me and its easy for the boys if they need to wrap things.

What sort of system do you have for all your wrapping supplies ? Would love for you to share your ideas with me, leave me a msg below with all your ideas.

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Enough yarn to last a year

 Look at that huge big bag full to the overflowing with gorgeous yarns....a year, longer I reckon. It didn't fall of the back of a truck or come from a thrift store but pretty darn close!

A dear friend of mine is downsizing ready for a move to her (and her family) very own island paradise! I thought I was a hoarder lol but this beats me, there is seriously so much yarn I didn't have enough containers to store it all and had to resort to pulling out the sports bags!

 Will you just look at all the colours, some from all parts of the rainbow and the photos don't even really do it justice. It looked so pretty all over my lounge room floor whilst I sorted through it.

 Looking at it all I thought to myself, there is way too much I don't even know what or where I want to start using it haha. My youngest son solved this dilemma coming home as I was sorting it declaring I needed to make a scarf for his lovely girlfriend Bailey!

That project complete I randomly chose a colour and flicked through my bookmarked favourite patterns and have a new project on the go, will share soon.
Whilst all this gorgeousness didn't come free it is certainly the best bargain Ive snapped up in a few years. Thank you Angel for this awesome gift you certainly are an angel :)

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Organising - Greeting Cards

For many years now I have made my own cards for all occaisions. Not only has it been cheaper Ive found that my friends and family love the fact that I have put time and thought into making one instead of just picking out a store brought one.
When we moved 2 years ago all my cards got put into a box and pretty much stayed that way. I finally got sick of sorting thru them each time I needed a card and decided it was time to organise them into some sort of sytem.

First thing I did was tip all those cards out onto my desk (realised then I need to made some more) and sorted into some categories.
Next I grabbed some card and cut to size and made tags for the top then prettied them up with some washi tape (love this stuff).

Next step was categories, this bit tokk a little time as i couldnt decide which ones i wanted. I finally went with the following;
Thank you
Just because
Male birthday
Female birthday
Dad's
Girly general
Baby
Gift Cards
Kids
Christmas
Special Occaisions
then made a couple more up for inserts and blank cards.

Next step was to sort out my cards I already had into the categories and put them in the container. Not entirely happy with the container they are in, but wasnt able to source anything I like at the time. That bit wont be hard to switch over when I find something prettier to put them in.

Do you make your own cards ? How do you organise and store them ? Would love to see.

Thanks for stopping by
Lis :)

Craft room tour

Just after we moved into the new house I took some photos of my new craft room setup, it was sooooo neat and tidy I didnt think it would ever look this way again lol
I share the room with hubby, he has one side and I have the other...well its not really half, I have the majority of the room.
So have a little tour around my place with me.

Looking in at my space from the bottom of the stairs.

Where the mess gets made.

Closer view of how I store all my pens, markers, paint brushes, scisors etc.

My printer/scanner sits on the end of the desk, nice easy access, Under is a box made for me by my boys that has all my 12x12 cardstock.

Around to the right of my desk is this cupboard which hold all sorts of supplies, adhesives, large punches, stamp pads, art journals and misc bits and pieces.

To the right a bit more and is my computer desk, plenty of room to be comfortable but close enough to my scrap desk for inspiration.

The behind me is a large white shelf that holds pretty much my entire stash.


Top shelf, chipboard alphas, paper embellishments, journal blocks and cards, scrap papers, some mini albums and our personal files.


2nd shelf holds all my 12x12 pattern papers in the black binders, my acryllic stamps, photos and stickers, the plastic containers hold ribbon, buttons, twine, brads, more alphas, metals and other misc bits and bobs.

The last two shelf has some of my binders and albums(where my scrap pages end up) and some art displayed.

A shelf on another cupboard (used by Hubby) holds more albums and all my paints. Containers made by my kids at school.

Lastly, sitting on top of the filing cabinet, plastic containers holding all sorts 0f bags, knitting needles, and a basket of my mini albums.


So there you have it, my scrap room, and I was right it didnt stay this clean for very long at all (do they ever) but a messy room is a productive room right ???
Thanks for comming on a little tour of my room with me :)

Cheers Lis :)