Tins and Turnabouts

Tins for holding art embellishments is not a new idea. I thought I would share with you how I did it cheap. The magnet board is from Pottery Barn ... and yes, I picked it up at the PB outlet. I saved money by purchasing wedding favor tins and using a 40% off coupon at the craft store then stuck my own magnets on back. The three large tins are spice tins from Ikea and come with the magnet. Below is a Tool Turn About from the company that I work with. You know, that popular home Cooking Show company. (Legalities keep me from mentioning the name.) Turn Abouts are great for art rooms, baby supplies, garage tools, office supplies and kitchens.

Kids Art and Drying Rack

A six foot curtain rod was installed on one wall of my art studio to display the ever rotating art created by my children. The art is hanging from small curtain rings. This rack also works great when drying wet art before it is finished in an altered book or scrapbook.

Art Paper Storage

There are endless options for paper storage available at the craft store, but I found mine free in my storage area. This used to be a pot lid and cookie sheet storage unit. Recycle and reuse. This type of storage works great for me because it is out in view and I can easily see what I've got on hand. I like to keep large pieces of craft paper rolled loosely in a wicker plant container.

Ribbon Holder

This is a shelf and drawer unit I picked up at the Pottery Barn Outlet. I probably shouldn't tell you I purchased it for $10. But the point of this storage and display idea can be done on any shelf unit that uses a peg system for the shelving. Cut your dowel about an inch longer than you need it. To get the tip of the dowel to fit into the peg hole, sharpen it with a pencil sharpener. Careful--don't sharpen it too much or your dowel will end up too short. Paint the dowel to match your shelving unit.

Knife Magnet for Art Supplies

As mentioned when I showed off my art studio I would show you around and share with you some specific storage and display ideas.

This is my old farmhouse table. Yes, I was married in the 80’s so remember the farmhouse table? You may have one yourself. I don’t create my projects or scrapbooks sitting down. I’m always moving from the paper cutter to the die cuts to the ribbon to the embellishments. If you know me, I just don’t sit down anyway. (Try to get me to sit and watch a 2 hour movie.)

I wanted the table higher and I was going to rework the legs with new 4x4 lumber, but the solution was easier than that. I just put the table on bed risers I found in storage. Viola--the perfect height!

I am organized – yes. But if a supply or embellishment is stored away in a cute little box or in a drawer I may not remember that I’ve purchased it. Especially if it has been months since I’ve created a project.

I find I use all of my supplies much more when I can see them. If I come to a creative halt, then I can just stare at what I’ve got and maybe inspiration will pop out at me.

These are two knife magnets mounted next to each other. All those little do-dads such as tags, wire, rub offs and decorative staples are stored and easily viewed in small zip bags. I use a small binder clips to keep them stuck to the magnet. How easy is that?

My Art Studio

I have to admit I have just as much fun shopping and organizing my art supplies as I do physically creating. This last week I moved my art studio from a room in the basement to an empty bedroom on the main floor of the house.

I decided on the move because I wasn’t using the old space. This area was near the guitar hero, the PS3, the punching bag, treadmill, the DVD wall with 3 built in televisions. Many times in the old studio I would want to listen to jazz and sip wine while I worked on my altered book, made a card or worked on the years of photos I am behind in cropping -- but was competing with the media room next door.

In my new art studio, the morning sun streams in through the windows just barely missing my rows of paper. The carpet is soft on my bare feet and it is only steps to the coffee pot. I have already found myself wandering into the space dreaming of what project I want to begin next. Already Kasidy has completed a project and has moved on to her second. John spent a couple of hours in the studio the other night altering some pages in yet another book.

As mentioned, I enjoy the art of organization and I have some pretty creative storage and display ideas in my art studio. I’ll be sharing these with you over the next couple of days. Be sure come back and check them out.