Storing scrapbook papers - Ikea Expedit Hack!

Like a lot of people around the World I use the Expedit shelving unit from Ikea to house my art and craft supplies amongst other things. When I first got it I loved it because it was exactly what I needed and I had great fun stocking it all up and getting things how I wanted. As time has gone on and I have lived with it for a while I realised that it wasn't working for me quite the way in which I wanted it to.

Looking on the Ikea website the seem to have changed the name to Kallax but this is what came up when I searched for Expedit.

I love the large square spaces but sometimes they are just a bit too large. I do have boxes and drawers but sometimes they don't quite work for me.

I was expressing my frustrations with Mr B and after nearly risking his own life on opening my paper cupboard (well he did ask if I had any paper!!) we came up with an idea to customise or 'hack' my Ikea unit to suit me.

I filmed the making of it as it is so much easier to talk my way around the unit and show you how it is all looking and what goes where etc.

Basically what Mr B did was cut some wood down into just a little bit larger than 12x12 paper. He then drilled some holes into the side of my unit, pushed shelf supports in and then placed the wood on top.  Rather than my messy cupboard of paper that was turning into a right old jumbled up mess and the paper was getting ruined, I now have a nice neat stack of shelves for my papers to go on.

Each shelf houses a different kind of paper, for example one shelf is plain card, another is glitter card etc. Each thing is seperated so I can easily find what I need when I need it.

I liked it so much that I got him to convert another space for me and in this space I am storing my paper cutter on one shelf, substrates for painting and on the lowest shelf I have 12x12 sheets that are not complete but are still quite large. I have moved my scraps into one of the draws.

This simple project has given me so much peace it is unbelievable. I never knew looking for paper could be so stressful until this system came along. Thank you so much Mr B!!

The only downside is that this has given me lots of ideas in which I could further customise my unit but if it works that can only be a good thing.

Do you have any tips, tricks or storgae solutions for your art and craft materials? I would love to know!

My Desk Organisation for my Filofax / Planning Items

I thought it might be fun this week to spin the camera around and show you what my room looks like from the other side, the side that I see when I am filming and you don't! I thought I would show you some of my desk organisation but more specifically where I store my Filofaxing supplies.

I am really lucky that I have a good size desk that was here already when we moved in, I just 'Annaised' it, i.e. I painted it to make it look how I wanted it too. It is covered in paint and ink splotches from all of the painting and crafty pursuits I have indulged in but I love it, I like to feel free to create and not have to worry about protecting a surface or putting anything down and it all shows character. If you would like to see a full room tour you can here.

The light today is so bad, it is really grey so I have had to put my lights on but of course that creates pretty nasty shadows :(

At the back of my desk I have two cardboard boxes, one of which was an old Glossy Box, bottom, I like to recycle and reuse things wherever possible and this is just perfect in size and colour.

On the right hand side I have my most used items as I can reach these quite easily when I am sitting at my computer and that mainly consists of little notelets, mini note pads, sticky notes and sticky flags. I use these when I need to make a note of something, or in planning tasks, they come in handy in lots of different ways.

On the left hand side I like to keep all my inserts ready to use in my planner, to do list sheets & pads, extra paper and my dashboards and page markers. I like to keep my larger paper clips that I use for page markers on the outside of my box so that I can see them more readily and they make me smile as they are so cute! The ribbon paper clips that you can see in the bottom right are from XILE Creations.

I use the old dividers that I used to have in my filofax prior to owning a laminator in the box to act as a filing system, some I have re-named but on the whole I have kept them as they were when they were in the Filofax and they store the relevant inserts ready and waiting to go into my Filofax as and when I need to grab them. If you do print your own inserts I really reccommend printing extras and having them on stand by like this as it means you can grab and go without having to worry about printing all the time.

One of my storage must have items are plastic envelopes. I love them and use them all the time for many different things. I like them as they are clear so you can easily see what is inside but they keep everything all neat and together and don't get all dog earred. I like everything to be neat and orderly! Inside the plastic envelopes I keep my dashboards and page markers but I also have some that I have hole punched as I use them in my Filofax itself from time to time and I find them really very useful.

These are just my key items / storage so please do watch the video for more information and a closer look at these areas plus others.

I love looking at how other people store and organise their items in their house as well as on their desk because I am regularly changing how I work and what works for me and I take a lot of ideas and inspiration from other people. So I was browsing the net as I do frequently for some ideas on desk storage as I would like something that is a little larger and a bit more comprehensive when I came accross this:

Image Credit: http://craftroomsecrets.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/project-life-organization.html

I wanted to share it with you because I myself love it and I know if you are like me, you will love it too! I can really see it working on my desk and most importantly I love it because it is made from recycled packaging so not only is it good for the environment it is budget friendly too! I am on the look out for either a box that is this shape or a box that is the right size that I can cut the sides down now. Please do go and have a look at Craft Room Secrets Blog as this is where I found this image.

No piece of rubbish is safe now and I am looking at everything wondering if I can make it work as storage!

If you have a storage system that you would like to share with me I would love to see it, or maybe you would like to guest blog about it on here? Either way please do leave me a comment and let me know!

See you next week :D

March 2014's Craft Space Envy

March's craft space envy is well A-MA-ZING! I am going to send you over to the website of Studio Calico becuase there is a whole wonderous blog post all about her room and it is lovely and the photography is wonderful too. Here is a sneaky peak and you will have to toodle over there to see the rest ; )

Just click on the image to be transported

http://studiocalico.typepad.com/studio_calico/2013/02/workspace-.html

February 2014 Craft Space Envy

Really like the unit you see right at the start of the video!
A nice and calming colour.
A place I could see myself creating in!

January 2014 craft space envy

Me likey likey! Why, well it is purely and simply for the retro cupboards! I mean seriously they are absolutely scrumptious and that painted brick wall so yummy! Such a perfectly formed space, I can see someone spends many a happy hour in there! I just wish I knew who to credit for this picture.

December Craft Space Envy

I love being nosey don't you!

How & Where I store my art supplies

The most frequently asked question that I receive is about what is in the unit that forms the backdrop to my videos. The second most asked questions is how and where I store my art supplies. The answer to these questions is actually the same so I thought it was about time I did a tour for you.

Now this is a long video, I just warn you now as not everyone likes long videos, it lasts about 40 minutes but then as you know I do talk alot. Alot!

The unit itself is the IKEA Expedit and all the boxes, drawers and cupboard doors are also from the same range. I love it and find it really versatile. I still have some "wiggle" room to so it is not too overloaded or cluttered. My only one very slight downside is the smaller white boxes, if you want the one on the bottom you have to take the one from the top out first. This isn't a major issue really just me being picky. Some of the items are small so I didn't want them in one of the massive boxes where it would become a great big rummagey mess. I wanted to be able to access stuff really easily. And I can. I am a big messy but then you are seeing the true me! I contemplated tidying it all up first but then I thought it wasn't very representative of how I actually do use the unit.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the tour!

November Craft Space Envy

This month's craft space envy:

I love having pots and jars around, there is something really comforting about that and a great way to recylce.

Craft Space Envy

This month's craft space envy...

This reminds me of a lovely class room and would be great for communal crafting!

September's Craft Space Envy

August's craft space envy...

mmm.... oh to be able to walk into a space that is this clean, fresh, light, airy and tidy! oh boy! Part of me thinks it is too tidy (I know it was probably just for the photo shoot) but at least you could find everything you wanted and everything has its own place. For me whilst I love it, I thing I need a bit more colour and chaos in my life!

August Craft Space Envy

August. Another craft space envy tour!

I was amazed by the amount of stuff! I don't consider myself a really materialistic person but just looking at that stuff I so want! OK get level headed. Sometimes I feel restricted by the craft and art products that I have, sometimes I feel like I need more materials, well I do after looking at what other people create anyway! Bad I know. But then I am tight. I very rarely buy supplies and when I do I try to make them last as long as possible for as many different pieces as possible.

Anyway, enjoy and envy all those stamps and stuff!

My art and craft space room tour

I know it has been a long time coming but I have been working really hard on my little room and I can now finally show it to you! Yay!

It isn't tidy and I don't think it ever will be all that tidy because it is a working room. I don't want to worry about keeping it tidy and not feel free and able to create in it that would just be too stiffling.

The video is fairly long but I wanted to give you the brief and the mood board and the reason behind it as well as doing the actual tour.

July's craft space envy

July's craft space envy

So lovely and bright and Summery. I am not sure if I could live with it myself as it might be too bright but I do love just looking at it and drooling.

I can look at art and craft room pictures in the same way I can pieces of art. Sad I know!

Have your art and craft space feature for Craft Space Envy!

As regular readers will know, I have a feature on my blog on the 29th of every month and that is Craft Space Envy where I show you a different photo(s) or a video of an art space / craft room / office that is really inspiring for its beauty or its design or its organisation style etc.

Until now this how just been from what I have found on my internet searches but I am now opening it up to you the readers so....

If you would like your space featured on Craft Space Envy just get in touch! I am looking for either photos and / or a video and some blurb about your room.

I look forward to hearing from you xx

June Craft Space Envy

This is probably a little too sophisticated for my liking but I do like how everything is all neat and organised. And far too clean and crisp. I need more colour in my life lol!

What I particularly like the idea of is how she uses magnets to secure her bottles upside down under the cupboards so that is pretty cool. Might have to try that one!

My Art & Craft room / Office "BEFORE" tour

We are in the new house. Finally. Whooppppeeeee!

We love it and it has felt like home since the moment we got in which is lovely. I haven't been arting for a while as I have been busy sorting stuff out in the house BUT... I do have a video to share with you.

This is a room tour of my new office / studio / art & craft space BEFORE it has been decorated and customised to my taste. This is exactly how it was when we got the keys. I thought it would be fun to show you!


Here are some stills for you too:

The filing cabinet, memo board, desk, shelves and lamp shade were all left for us by the previous owners. The bottle green mottled crapet and blue / lime walls are not to my taste so I am in the process of redecorating. Watch this space for after shots!

May's Craft Space Envy

This one make me drool!! I love the calmness of the colour and the vintage wallpaper in the background. This one is great to admire and it does look convininent all combined but I do wonder whether the enclosed-ness of it would make me feel boxed in? Great for tidying it all away though!

Some exciting news....

I have some exciting news... after months of waiting we now have a (potential all being well) moving date of 7th June. I am so excited and can't wait. I am so looking forward to the house move, I really am. Most of all because I get a bigger kitchen so that I can actually cook and not fall over myself but I also get a room of my very own as my office and art room so we get our dining table back again for family use. Whooooppppeeeee!!

Anyway that does mean that for a little while I may go a bit quiet. We have lots to pack up and sort through and then there is the actual move and I don't know how soon it will be before we get access to the internet again in the new house.

I am going to try and schedule a few blog posts in over the next month so that at least you will have something from me. It may mean that I do go quiet though but don't fear I will be back again as soon as I possibly can.

Wish me luck lol!

image from Home Staging SOS

April Craft Space Envy

I really like the idea of a display area. That is kinda cool. I could put all sorts on there. I also like the idea of using kitchen cupboards and tidying it all away neatly.

WOYWW - 24th April 2013

I haven't done a WOYWW for ages so I thought I would do one today. For a giggle as my desk is soooooo untidy and I mean super untidy. But that is the fun of it right? After all don't they say that the sign of a clean desk is a sick mind? Or something like that anyway. I like to think of it that it is because I have been creative. It is the sign that I have been busy doing something and well quite frankly that is OK with me!

So are you ready for the mess and chaos? There was no moving of anything this is exactly how it looks. Today. Right at this moment. A whole heap of messy stuff plus a canvas work in progress of a bunny! My signature lately is bunnies in this style. I just don't seem to be able to stop painting them. They pop up everywhere!

 

I told you it was super messy. It doesn't help that I have a small desk. Not for long though, whilst we still don't have a moving date, things are progressing along nicely and we will be moving house very soon I am sure. 

And if you would like to see how I create little bunnies like this, here is the vid I made for youtube last week as you may have missed it on my blog:

Happy Wednesday everyone and happy arting and crafting. I am off to see what everyone else is up to for WOYWW!