the table-top crafters…
- posted by: Legends
- posted in: Uncategorized, My Life
- on: November 28, 2007
I’ll be the first to admit that I am totally, 110% blessed in my crafting space. We bought this house 5 years ago keeping in mind that someday we hoped to have 2 kids, and that I’d want my own room for crafting. So, it’s been a long time, but I too was once a table-top crafter. Keeping things in a box until it was time to play, then having to put it all away so that others could ____ (eat, do homework, make dinner…)
Today I just wanted to give you a little glimpse into my world, and share that I have (temporarily) gone back to table (in this case counter) top crafting. Life has been so busy here that I haven’t been crafting AT ALL (except some gift tags) for 6 weeks. SIX WEEKS! That’s a lifetime record for me, I think. Anyhow, when I got my new kit from mosh-posh I knew that I’d get to put scrapbooking on my to-do list, and (WOO HOO!) carve out some time for scrapbooking. So that’s what you’re seeing here on my countertop. My projects for the kit. I am having a total blast creating… but at the same time I miss my space. I would LOVE to hear some tips and tricks that you goddesses of table-top crafting have to share on keeping organized, how you do quick tear-down/set-up, etc… I’m sure we can all learn from each other!
The projects I’m working on will go up soon, and shortly after that I plan on re-claiming my space (which has been eaten alive by christmas goodies, wrap, etc!) but for now I’m a happy camper getting to create on my counter…
janetrivs says:
November 28th, 2007 at 10:21 ami always had some space…. I am too scared to scrap on the table or counter for fear of juice boxes, food flecks going on my ooh so pretty papers… So I tended to use my computer desk but now underneath my chaos I do have my own area… * i believe pics are in profile still * anyhow, glad you found some MOJO to scrap those mosh posh kit papers are gorgesssss! Cant see what youc reate!
Bethany says:
November 28th, 2007 at 12:02 pmMy husband is okay with me storing a little stuff on the back wall of our dining room (after all, his guitars, amps, picks, etc., are all over the house!
But, what I don’t have against the back wall is in a series of plastic drawers from Target ($9.99 for a three drawer set that hold 12×12 paper and are about 3″ deep). I keep one set of drawers that have ‘themes’ in each…currently, one holds Halloween/Fall/first visit from DD’s aunt, one holds Christmas card stuff, and one holds stuf from my vacation to Minnesota. Other drawers are dedicated to stamps, one has all my most important tools and adhesives, etc.
So, when it’s time to scrap, I lift the themed drawer that I want out, and my tool drawer, I raid whatever else I need, and walk it out to the living room. (Everything extra is stored on the opposite wall in my animal room). I would have room in that room to scrap if I really wanted, but I like being out in the main area of the household…I imagine that I will *always* be a tabletop crafter, b/c I just like being where the family is. And my parrot would have a spaz if I spent too much time in the animal room…if freaks her out in there, and when I sit at the table, she sits on her stand, and comments on my work. (actually, she mainly says things like “Shut up! Step up, C’mere pretty puppy, and calls my dogs, but, that’s another story!! hehe)
=0 )
Bethany
Tara says:
November 28th, 2007 at 12:48 pmShoeboxes work great to keep items in and are easy to put away and to organize particular projects within them. Have fun!!!
Tara
mariah says:
November 28th, 2007 at 1:00 pmSee through shoe boxes, or those small 3 drawer things, some have carry handles on top, good luck May, that’s a very good question.
E #375 says:
November 28th, 2007 at 1:22 pmI just recently figured out an AWESOME solution for organizing my stuff for table-top crafting… Photo boxes! Mine are from Micheals (I think they were 2 for $3 on sale when I got them) and I have one for punches, one for scissors and adhesive, one for chipboard and one for other embellies. I just grab the box (or boxes) I need off the shelf and when I’m done, everything just gets tossed back in them, top goes on to hide any mess in it and back on the shelf they go! If I don’t want to put them on the shelf, I just put the lids on and stack them on the table. Also, the lids are great for containing little pieces while I’m working. If I’m interupted, I just put the lid under the box to keep stuff from getting knocked out by little hands. I stumbled into using the boxes and now I absolutely LOVE them! An added bonus is that they are cheap and can be altered!
Jennifer Muller says:
November 28th, 2007 at 3:02 pmWith our little house, I am a table-scrapper. Sometimes it’s great…I can “set up shop” anywhere I want to be…but then there’s the downfalls. I don’t really have much advice (I would actually love some myself!), but one thing I do that I think is helpful is putting all the stuff for a project in giant ziplock bags and then keeping a portable “tool kit” available with all my necessary goodies that I need every time I craft. This way I can just grab the ziplock bag that I need and my tool kit when I only have a short time.
Paula says:
November 28th, 2007 at 6:26 pmI’m blessed to have my own space as I’m definately not a table top scrapper. I love to leave my projects sitting on my desk so that I can just come back to them when I have a few minutes to spare. Enjoy your crafting May - I went through a stage recently where I didn’t scrap for 2.5 months - I had no inclination but now I’m back with avengence LOL
NANCY says:
November 28th, 2007 at 7:20 pmI USE PLASTIC BINS OR BASKETS TO GATHER ALL MY SUPPLIES IN WHEN I’M TABLE SCRAPPING- I’LL ALSO USE TRAYS-IT’S EASY TO QUICKLY PICK EVERYTHING UP WHEN NEEDED
Cherie says:
November 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pmI am like Paula too I have my own space and can’t table top scrap (although the exercise would be good going up and down the stairs with supplies) I started small with the three drawer plastic carts on wheels and it worked for awhile but now that I have found Fiskars - forget it I needed more storage. Hope you find you nique and enjoy your scrappy time. That line of Kit you are working with is so nice!!!!! Please share your projects with us.
Jennifer #1626 says:
November 28th, 2007 at 11:06 pmI have a 12×12 (slightly bigger, actually) cardboard box that I keep my current projects-in-progress in. I have a nosy cat, so I have to put everything away, and quickly putting stuff into the box really helps. I use my Lazy Scrapper for my tools, and I keep my rolling tote under the table. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve, but the ones mentioned are the ones that keep me organized.
Jessica Sim says:
November 28th, 2007 at 11:13 pmMay, I used to be a table craft table, and then my laptop and printer took it over! lol most of the time i scrap on the floor or on my bed. I have my cutting mat nailed to the wall for easy access, a tote that is small and open that i got from hobby lobby for my essentials like scissors adhesive etc, and ive got my pegboard and shelf. I have t take everything out and put it all away when i scrap so it is very tedious! I have to force myself to because of this sometimes, but once i get going its great! i cant wait to one day have my own space though!
Lanita says:
November 29th, 2007 at 5:39 amEven though I do have my own space, I have small kids so I can’t leave things out. I get out what I need and I put it away as I am working so when I am done, almost everything is back in it’s rightful place. I like to keep my area neat and in order. That gets difficult but I manage.
Turtlelady~Sandy#1715 says:
November 29th, 2007 at 8:35 amThe MoshPosh things are awesome!! I love the circles paper. Not your straight forward holiday apper. Can’t wait to see your creations.
Sandi says:
November 29th, 2007 at 9:12 amI wish I could add to this in some way. I have a sb room,but I can not use it because my youngest DD is two and too young to leave and scrap upstairs. I set up a card table and I work downstairs. I have most of my stuff in totes and I run it up and down the stairs. Most of the time the stuff is spread out all over the dinning room.
One of the ideas I have is to get a hutch to put the supplies in while she is so small and later move this to family room to use as a desk when the girls get older so we see what they are doing on the pc.
Julie Overby says:
November 29th, 2007 at 1:27 pmI use little fabric baskets (from Walmart) to sort my different frequently used supplies. Some examples would be one basket for all my alphabet stickers (they just stick out the top real tall but it works!) Then I use one for my stickers words, one for my ribbon, one for my thickers ect. Then it’s all ‘out’ and ready to grab, instead of in a drawer in my craft room/area.
Lynda #1749 says:
November 29th, 2007 at 6:00 pmCan’t wait to see what you made… I have my own space, but this time of the year it gets overtaken by pretty much everything…especially because all the holiday decorations are stored in the closet in that room…(of course in the very back so everything has to come out!)
Hiroko says:
November 29th, 2007 at 6:04 pmMy scrap table (the entire room actually) is so messy right now that I don’t have much table space to work on. I had to use the family room table to work on some cards so I totally understand you.
Sara R. says:
November 29th, 2007 at 7:16 pmI am a true living room floor crafter. Unfortunately due to Christopher’s mobility I am being forced to use the kitchen table. I am in no way organized! Sigh…maybe someday.
Deborah says:
November 30th, 2007 at 11:06 amMay to make time for me and my crafting I just do it. I may only get five minutes each day to scrap but it is gonna happen! I deserve this and so do you…plus I am a much happier person when I get my time. It really helps me to have a group of things I am working on such as lo’s already placed into sleves with the photo chosen, pp, embellies, etc and all I have to do is glue, cut, and think. Even if I just look at a magazine for my scrapbooking time I have to or I am an ogre, lol!
Deborah #2644
Sandy #1781 Wilkins says:
November 30th, 2007 at 11:28 amYou look pretty organized to me! My tabletop experience was short lived, while living on our sailboat and in our bus. I didn’t have the supplies, tools, or embellishments I have now. Just paper, scissors, and glue. I didn’t have any stores to buy from (in Mexico), so I gathered items and made my embellishments for one page at a time, it was never a problem. I was a very slow scrapper. Of course, the minute we returned to the states, that all changed rapidly. Now I’m buried in my own room and I LOVE IT!!!
Kelly Jo says:
November 30th, 2007 at 12:03 pmCongratulations on making the Mosh Posh DT!!!!!! You so deserve it!
I have no advice to offer on table top scrappin’; I am lucky and have my own room. Well, my DH uses the computer on the desk from time to time, but it’s basically my room. =)