At Last!! My Craft Room Reveal! (Oh, and a Giveaway too!!)

NOTE: This is a "sticky post" and will remain at the top of my blog through June 28th. Please scroll down to read newer posts - thanks!

Hi, All! This is a pretty lengthy post, but I finally finished redoing my craft room so thought I'd share the pictures with you today. Also, by simply leaving me a comment at the end of this post through June 28th, your name will be entered in a drawing to win the 3 issues of Simply Handmade shown in the photo at the end of this post. (It's one of my faaaaavorite crafty publications, and these issues are packed with lots and lots of great projects and inspiration!!) The winner's name will be drawn and posted on June 29th!

Anyhoo...let's get started with the craft room reveal! First off, here is a photo of the room as you enter through the door:

I just love vintage fabrics, and have several pieces, so that was the color inspiration that I used throughout the room...shades of red, aqua blues, greens and yellows. The table is topped with a vintage tablecloth that my mom gave me. (She has photos of me on my first birthday sitting in front of my birthday cake on her table topped with this very tablecloth!) Mike had a piece of glass cut for the tabletop to protect the cloth and give me a firm work area to work on my scrapbooks and paper craft projects, or to set up my sewing machine. (Trust me, my work area is rarely this clean...so I thought I'd better take a photo before it looks like a craft supply bomb went off in there - ha! ha! ha!)

I found the red chair cushions at Wal-Mart for only five bucks each, and I made the "CREATE" sign above my work table. The frame was on clearance at Hobby Lobby for only a buck - SCORE! - so I purchased some burlap and MDF wooden letters, (which were on sale!), and went to work. I started by painting the edges of the letters with black paint. I traced the letters onto some of my favorite retired CTMH designer paper, cut them out, and Mod-Podged the paper to the letters. Using spray adhesive on cardboard cut to fit the frame, I attached a piece of burlap. I then overlapped and staggered the letters and attached them to the burlap. TADAH - a cute and inexpensive sign...costing me only about ten dollars to make!

In previous posts I revealed that the old crates on the wall hold my stamp pads, acrylic stamps, button jars, acrylic blocks, etc. The cubby storage unit, which was a birthday present from my folks, houses all kinds of goodies such as jars of ribbon, some wood mounted stamps, cutting tools, Xyron machines and adhesive, spools of ribbon, etc. (Click HERE and HERE to see close-up photos from those posts.) On top of the cubby unit is my Cricut machine as well as a couple of cute and functional metal planters, which hold scissors, adhesive, rulers and other tools.

Here's a close-up photo of the corner shelf seen in the photo above:

My terrific father-in-law made this awesome corner shelf for me many years ago, and I just love it! The jars on the shelves, (which I purchased at Tuesday Morning for only three dollars each!), hold some more of my wood mounted stamps, lace, brads, and other miscellaneous embellishments. The old crock sitting on the floor was given to me by my mom as well, and I store rolls of kraft paper there. Throughout the room you'll see lots of vintage ladies handkerchiefs...all of them belonged to my grandmothers and Mike's Grandma Minnie. I just love the prints and colors of them, even though some of them are faded and worn from lots of use!

On top of the corner shelf, on either side of the geranium arrangement, you'll see more jars...yes, yes, I know...I have a "jar hoarding problem"! LOL!! Here's what they look like up close:

My mom found these jars with the unusual lids at a yard sale, and bought them for me. I think they are perfect for holding jute twine...and the lids make it easy to pull and cut off what I need when I'm crafting!

On the opposite side of the room, across from my work table, is a comfy chair and ottoman next to the window. (My dear friend, Linda H. gave these to me when she moved last fall and was down sizing - thanks Linda!!) I love sitting here working on needlecraft projects and reading! The pillow on the chair was crocheted by my Grandma Franklin, and she gave it to me several years ago. The long shelf on the wall was built by my father-in-law as well, and it holds some of my favorite little things. (My collection of Willow Tree figurines, my Grandma Franklin's old glasses, my Grandma Buckallew's old quilting thimbles and fabric tape measures, my silver baby spoons, an antique lock and key from my Grandpa Buckallew's workshop, etc.) The framed photos on the wall are some of my favorites of Justin when he was a little boy.

The old pottery bowl, sitting on the small stool next to the book shelf, holds my yarn, crochet and knitting needles. (For when I finally have time to teach myself how to crochet and knit - ha! ha!) The bowl belonged to Mike's grandmother and the little 3-legged milking stool was made by my father-in-law as a gift to Justin when he was just a toddler.

As you can see, my sweet little dog Tony likes to hang out with me in my craft room! Here are a couple more pics of Tony hanging out with me:

Such a silly dog...he likes to crawl under the ottoman and nap...here he's only half-way under it and doesn't think I can see him!

And here's my good boy posing for me...gosh I love this adorable little guy!! Anyhoo...moving on...

This book shelf was also given to me by my friend Linda H. when she down-sized, and it houses some of my scrapbooks and craft books, along with bins and baskets of more crafting supplies. The pretty apple plate displayed on the top shelf was given to me by my brother-in-law Don's mom, Opal, who was a painter. (She was such a lovely and talented lady!!) On the wall to the left of the book shelf are ribbon boards that I am always tucking pictures of friends and family and memorabilia into. It is one of those things that just makes me smile every time I look at it!

Behind my work table is the closet which houses more craft supplies. To the left of the closet is a basket tree that my father-in-law built for me too. (I am SO FORTUNATE to have a terrific father-in-law who likes to do woodworking projects and makes me things!!)

The little stool also used to belong to my friend Linda H., and I inherited it as well. It is the perfect place for my radio/cd player to sit, and I added a couple of cute vintage handkerchiefs to the top. I made the cross-stitched piece on the wall and gave it to Mike back in 1990...I just love those cute little bunnies and the 'Happiness Is' saying:

I haven't had time to finish cleaning out and organizing the closet where I keep more supplies, but I'm going to show you photos of it anyway! In the first photo you can see that I have several tilt bins hanging on one of the closet walls to hold small embellishments. I also keep my Cropper Hopper and some drawers full of supplies in there as well.

Here is a photo of additional drawers and shelves of supplies in the closet. Like I said, I am still working on/organizing the closet space, so it's not "perfect" yet!

Now for the giveaway information! If you leave a comment for me on this post, sharing your favorite craft or organizing tip, your name will go into a drawing to win these three issues of Simply Handmade. You have until June 28th to post your comment...please leave your contact information in the post as well, so that if your name is drawn I will know how to reach you! The winner's name will be posted on June 29th.

Thanks for taking the time to "tour" my craft room...I hope that some of the storage ideas that I shared will help you create a fun and functional space of your own!

Wishing you a blessed day!