Travel Journal

 Summer is coming! Let the vacations begin!

 I just wanted to share this fun little Travel Journal I made for a friend. I am so loving the cork self-adhesive stickers from CTMH. I want to use them on everything!

At first I was having trouble with this particular map paper, just couldn't quite figure out how to embellish it, but as I kept playing and staring at it I think it came together. And then once I added some bling...I was in love. ;) I really like the very subtle city scape on the bottom too. Did you see it before you read this? I cut it out with the Cricut.

Inside there are 4 sections of lined paper for journaling, 4 sheets of card stock for adding pictures or what not, and two double sided pocket pages. I also included some coordinating pre-punched tags to add as the user sees fit, a matching pen and a bookmark.

I think it turned out really well and it was a super fun project!

My Creative Space

 First of all please forgive me as I am NOT savvy with my pictures on my blog here. Also this is a post I have actually been wanting to share for a couple of years. But I wanted to get everything perfect first. Then this week I got some new goodies from Stamp n Storage and I thought, I am just gonna share, my area is never gonna be perfect. Plus I am one of those who is always changing things around!

These pictures really don't have any order, so I'll just describe what's in each one. This is the left hand side of my desk with my favorite tool caddy, my brand new 60 ink pad holder from Stampnstorage.com and an ikea dvd holder in the corner to hold a bunch of Stampin Up clear mount stamps.

Also on top of my ink pad holder is a little box with my clear blocks and stamp cleaner, tape and my beginning collection of Close To My Heart ink pads. I am going to order a 36 ink pad holder to go next to this one. I hang a cute little bucket from an Ikea bygel rack to hold my markers. I don't really use them very often. And I hang my embossing heat gun.

Another view of the left corner of my desk. On the bottom left hand shelf you can see my stack of TayloredExpressions.com Key Ingredients kits! Love those! A bunch of 8 1/2 x 11 card stock from Papertreyink.com and most of my 12x12 patterned paper from CTMH and SU.

Moving down the desk, I store all my embellishments in the shoe boxes from the Dollar Tree. Each color has it's own box. So for example I keep all my 'green' buttons, ribbon, rhinestones, pearls, etc. in one box. Then when I'm working on a card or journal and I need something green I grab my box and everything is together!

In the right hand corner I use the bygel ikea racks for my punches and I am planning to buy the lock down punch holder from Stampnstorage.com to house all my lock down punches. I also use the bygel ikea racks to hang and store my clear acrylic stamps from various companies. I love how they are off my desk and so very handy.

 

Also I just added the new hanging paper storage rack from Stampnstorage.com to the left of my desk. Pretty handy for that small wall space.

In case you hadn't noticed, my office is built into a closet. The entry way closet of our rowhouse to be exact. We live in a rowhouse on a busy street. Since there is no parking out front we very rarely use this entrance. So when we bought this house I knew this would be a perfect place to house my crafting space. Also it is open to the rest of the downstairs great room space. I have always been able to keep an eye on our kiddo's and craft at the same time. It's been one of the best uses of space in our home and one of my pride and joys!

Opposite of my desk in an Ikea Hemnes dresser which I totally Ikea hacked with a shelf on top. It adds so much more work space! My lap top is stored there and perfect for when I am 'casing' a card idea, I just open the laptop to see the picture and it's right there to refer to while I work.

So much is stored in those drawers; wood stamps, cricut cartridges, chipboard and my bind-it-all, all my dies and embossing folders for my big shot. ...Tons! Maybe I'll share the drawers another time!

This picture really lets you see how I can use my craft space while still being a part of our home. Watching the kiddo's and still being present. It's the only way I'd be able to get any crafting done.

Eventually I'd like to get another Hemnes dresser and put it under the desk. The space under my desk is really wasted. I mostly stand up when crafting so I'd like the counter to be higher up. The dresser is the perfect height for that. And it would double my storage!

Move views of my shelves. Really not that pretty. But very functional.

The view of my office from the dinning room.

The view of my office from the living room.

This is me from earlier this month at our town's Third Thursday artisan event in Downtown Gresham. Such a fun time and great opportunity. Thank you for stopping by and visiting my crafting area. I love what I do and I love to share! I hope you are inspired and get some new ideas for your own crafting spaces. It really does make a difference to have a place to do your crafting and spread out. I am so thankful for my space.

Perpetual Calendar and Card Organizer

 I love making these card organizers. They are simple and always turn out beautiful. It's so fun to use lots of paper too! Who doesn't have a ton of patterned paper sitting in drawers and on shelves. Making these make me feeling like I'm using some of my stash in such a good way!

 I often use the paper that I've picked up from my local craft store at bargain prices. So much fun! I also bought the spiral bindings and chipboard from a manufacturer at bulk prices so I have everything on hand and can just go to town!

Here's what they look like with cards in store. You can track all your birthdays and anniversaries. Then I include two pockets in the back for misc cards; baby, sympathy, graduation, etc. It's always so nice to have extra cards on hand to be able to pop in the mail at a moments notice.

New Prayer Journal with TE stamp

 I made this journal last night and used my Taylored Expressions stamp for the first time! Man, it works awesome for embossing!

This paper is My Minds Eye Bloom and Grow. So beautiful. The flowers and borders were from their accessory sheet, so they are punch outs ~ so easy to use.

Super excited how beautiful this turned out. If' I had more paper I'd probably make another one just for the fun of it. ;)

I wanted to share another awesome tool that our family has recently discovered. This little book, Big Truths for Little Kids, takes kids thru the Catechism. We have done this together as a family for the last two nights and already it's so fun and amazing what the kiddo's know and listening to their answers and praying together. I love it, so I just wanted to put this little blurb out there for ya! ;) I'd definitely recommend it!

My Taylored Expressions April Key Ingredients Kit Creations

 I made all of the following creations with my TE Key Ingredients April kit. I simply love these kits that come in the mail. ;)

 Fun textures on this beauty, made with an embossing folder and my Big Shot.

 I know I've shared this journal before, but I'm just so please with how it turned out. And I think it's gonna be on it's way to a good friend shortly. ;)

This one was pretty much CASED from someone on either the Taylored Expressions gallery or SCS, sorry I can't remember exactly and didn't save the link. Oops. The gorgeous metal brad is from CTMH and so is the washi tape. Have you tried Washi Tape yet? I am becoming a real fan!

Keeping Busy

 Here is another journal I made while at Jonah's Crafting Getaway! My happy place. I miss it already. ;) This journal was again designed with my Taylored Expressions April Key Ingredients kit. I am so loving this paper! I had to buy extra! The scripture stamp is from Verve Stamps. And the beautiful flourish in the corners is from TE's In The Word set. Love it!

 I haven't been focusing on cards much lately. But my new TE Key Ingredients kits are inspiring me! This one was made with Aprils kit.

 And this card was totally cased and made with May's kit. So cheerful and lovely!

This journal is made from SU paper and another beautiful Verve scripture stamp. And you cannot be weary when looking at it. ;)

Thanks for stopping by today! God bless you!

More Journals

 I have recently subscribed to the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kits (again!). And I am so inspired by Aprils kit. Such lovely papers and embellishments.

 The patterned papers, ribbon and rhinestones were in this kit. I added the stamp from Verve. They offer awesome scripture stamps! The doily, flourish and label dies are also from Taylored Expressions. I am such a fan! ;)

This journal I made with some discontinued SU flocked paper. Just gorgeous. I love this stamp from CTMH. And their Silver Embossing Powder is superior to anything else out there! It's like liquid surprise. Just love it.

Again, I had so much fun and Jonah last weekend. And I am so please with all my new journals. Thanks for looking today!