Progress or a BIG Giant Mess???

Welcome to some of my stamp room......this is just as you open the closet door....this cabinet houses a lot of my specialized 8.5 x 11 cardstock and most of my 12 x 12 CTMH scrapbook Level 1 & 2 kits.  As you can see I try to utilize every nook & cranny.....my scrapbooks are stored on the top of the cabinet, labels facing out so that I have some sort of clue of what's in those boxes.....

 

 

Just to the left of the paper cabinet I now have 6-foot shelving pretty much from floor to ceiling that runs the length of the rest of the closet.  As you can see I'm still fiddling around with how to space the shelves for maximum storage of stamps, accessories AND stitching AND crochet stuff (which is currently located in the hallway...sigh...).  I've got containers in a wide variety of sizes so it sort of feels like putting together a big  puzzle...

 

 

Another shot of the "long wall"....



 





A shot of the stacks of wood-mounted stamps that I've stacked into "categories".  Oh, and I'm pretty pleased with that stool from IKEA - that will allow me to sit and browse through my stitching charts, fabrics and fibers at my leisure (wellllll, once the charts & stitch stuff are actually IN the closet......)

 

Here's a view of the "short wall"...  and the wall to the left will eventually have 2 or 3 stamp cabinets (they mount to the wall) that my Dad made years ago.......they hold "loose" wood-mounted stamps that I use frequently like background & texture stamps.  I still need three more 3-foot shelves to complete this short wall but I'm pleased with how it's going so far.  Obviously the label maker will be getting a good work-out once all the containers and stamp sets are on the shelves.....

This stuff is pretty much blocking the closet doorway.  Bob is loving the easy closet access - he likes to keep up on the nearly constant changes in the stamp room.....

Yet more wood-mounted stamps that will be housed in the closet, right now they're just hanging around the closet door.....waiting for their "room assignment".  Oh look - could that be an open space on the yellow bookcase my Grandpa built (it's probably older than me....yikes!!)???  Nooope, I'm just a piggy-girl and haven't put the embossing folders back in their proper place.

Ok, now we're getting to the nitty-gritty.....the HUB of the stamp room.....my desk.  Yessss, there is a desk there - somewhere.  It's rather a Sherman Tank of a desk - something I purchased at a garage sale at work....it's huge and metal and clunky and you just about need a crane to move it......but for $25.00 it was a bargain that we couldn't pass up (and could barely get into the van)!! 

Obviously I'm all about adjustable shelving.....while they're not the prettiest storage option, they're VERY functional AND affordable.  I have both 6-foot AND 2-foot shelving on the wall behind me & my desk.  I also have two paper racks and a couple of additional 2-foot shelves that fit PERFECTLY in this space.  I've surrounded myself with the stuff that I use most often so when I'm in a creative frenzy, I don't have far to go to get what I need. 

 

Most of my CTMH acrylic stamps are in CTMH containers that fit on the shelves (stacking two containers makes them easy to get to and utilizes space most efficiently).  Of course NOW I'm converting to the larger containers that CTMH has so the shelves will be changed a bit AND will look much more uniform when this conversion is complete.  The very top shelf holds holiday-themed stamps and two containers of roller stamps from Stampin' Up (I'm definitely an equal-opportunity stamp procurement specialist!!)

 

 

And while I'm sitting at my desk, I have a 4-foot shelving area to my right - this houses my most-used inks, punches, scissors, adhesives, etc.  The top shelf will eventually be filled with decorative items as it's a scary scene to try to get up to those top shelves.......  In the  lower right you can see where most of my clear stamps (other than CTMH) are kept (by category & on large binder rings and then housed in a few plastic containers to keep control of the chaos).  I also have most of my larger Marvy & Stampin' Up punches on towel rods/racks from IKEA directly under the corner shelves.

I didn't take any photos of the view from my desk, but I have another large window and a TV along the opposite wall that are positioned well for getting inspiration from nature and for watching our favorite DVDs......there's also a loveseat, an ottoman. two tall paper racks and a narrow folding table that Creepella has commandeered along with her section of 2-foot shelving.  Once things are a bit tidier, I'll continue the tour......................

Whew, that mini-tour just about wore Bob out.......after all, he's also the keeper of this blog and oversees the creative efforts that happen in this stamping/crafting room!!



 

Thanks for visiting.....now we're off to get busy stamping!!!