Thursday, June 28, 2012

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!

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22 comments:

  1. OMG, I am in LOVE with your crafting space, Becky! What an beautiful, practical, and comfortable setting to create in ... I'm sure you'll spend many happy hours in this space!

    And WoWzA, I love those unusual canning jars ... so handy for twine and what-not! I'd love to find some of those!!

    Congrats on such a great craft room!

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    1. Thanks, Deb! It's been a fun room to work on...incorporating old with the new. :)

      I was really glad that my mom scored those unusal jars...I've never seen any like that before. One of the jars had a glass topper that went under the metal slotted lid - like the metal toppers we use on canning jars now - but I put it away so that I could use the slotted lid(s) as dispensers for twine.

      Have a super day! :)

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  2. I love the way you've incorporated the old things you love with the new items used for crafting. It is such a nice blend and workspace!

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    1. Thanks, Joyce! I'm pretty sentimental, especially about the things that used to belong to my dear grandparents. :) I love that I am surrounded by their things while I am crafting...it's a good feeling. :)

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  3. Becky, this is a beautiful room! I love the jar that holds your jute twine. I've never seen a lid like that! I also love the old crock!

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    1. Thanks, Ann! I had never seen jars/lids like that either, but they work perfectly for dispensing twine. :) I'm going to be on the lookout for more when I go to estate sales, flea markets and yard sales! Let me know if you come across any in your area, too!

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  4. My goodness your room is so organized and pretty!! So many memories too with each item...I just love that sort of thing! My fav storage idea is those cheap IKEA railings to hang my punches on...I can see them all and grab what I need in a snap! :)
    Hope your enjoying your summer...it is going way too fast already!

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    1. Thanks, Stacie! I'm a pretty sentimental gal, so I love surrounding myself with old things that I've been fortunate enough to inherit from my family. :)

      I have seen those IKEA racks and I love the way they look! Are you fortunate enough to have an IKEA store close to where you live? The closest one to me is in Dallas - so sad! (Although my bank account is probably really glad that there isn't one closer - LOL!)

      Hope your summer is going great - mine is! - but you are so right...much too fast!!

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  5. Great use of space Becky! I especially liked your 'create' sign, soo cute! And I absolutely love how you have used old items from other people around the whole room. I'm sure a lot of memories are rekindled just by glancing here and there! Thanks also for the giveaway! My tip for staying organized: Make lists! I love lists and that probably keeps me the most organized, haha.

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    1. Thanks, Justine! I am really enjoying my "new" space! I, too, am a list maker...I always have at least one going and I have even started using the notes AP on my Iphone to make lists on too! ;)

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  6. Love it.. great room, my fav. thing.. the twine in the ball jar.. love that lid too. Great organizing!~

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    1. Thanks, Kimberly! I hope that I can eventually stumble upon some more of those cool jars and lids at the Tulsa flea market or at an estate sale...I love them too! :)

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  7. Your room looks soooo comfy!!!! I started recycling glass candle jars and use them for my sponges (which I use very often) and scraps of ribbon. I'm hoping to decorate them:)
    Alice Snyder

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    1. Hi, Alice!! It's so good to hear from you! :)

      Thanks so much for your kind comment! I'd love to see pics of your recycled candle jars once you've gotten them decorated! :)

      Have a fun and safe summer!

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  8. Love your room! So warm and inviting! Have fun this summer creating!

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    1. Thanks, Tammy! My "new" room makes me smile every time I just walk by the door and peek in! :)

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  9. Fab U Lous!! How can you not be creative when you walk into that adorable space? Love it! I too have a canning jar fetish. In addition to using some of mine for button, ribbon, and fiber storage, I use them in the kitchen for canisters. Mine range from jelly jars to half gallon canners, but I love the glass-lidded, wire-baled ones best.

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    1. Thanks, Jill! I use canning jars in my kitchen pantry too - looooove them!! I really, really like old canning jars...especially the glass/wire-bale lidded ones and the zinc lidded ones. :) The way that my canning jar collection keeps growing, I may need a 12-step program - LOL!! ;)

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  10. Becky too cute!!!!!! Looks like a great room to curl up with a book too. Love it all, I've started mine, but need to purge more stuff...that's the hardest thing for me!

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    1. Thanks, Pam! I have been known to curl up in that chair and read...it's such a cozy place to retreat to, so I sometimes take a little cat-nap in there! ;)

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  11. Love your room Becky! I too am moving my studio, from a huge room to a much smaller room to give my kids more "play" space. It has been a good thing though since too much space means you have a lot of stuff you don't really "love". I am finding the things I really love and having them out again, makes me really happy. I think when I'm happy, my artwork reflects that. Thanks for sharing!!!
    Terrie

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    1. Thanks, Terrie! I agree with you wholeheartedly about our artwork reflecting our happiness, which is one of the reasons why I love having a "girlie" room full of some of my very favorite things to work in. :)

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment; I truly value your thoughts, ideas and opinions! Have a blessed day! Becky B.