Creating Keepsakes: Creative Spaces Vol 2

There's a new special issue out from Creating Keepsakes magazine, and it's all about creative spaces. I love getting to peek into other scrappers spaces and to see how they organize their scrapbooking supplies. I'm an organizer at heart, so I eat up every nook and cranny of every photo. You just never know when you might see an idea from someone else that will end up working perfectly for you, your supplies, and your space.

 

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I was asked to share a little something about organizing or my scrap space today. I really should give an updated look at my space, since it's been a few years since my last share. But it's a true mess right now and needs some loving attention. So I thought I would share an extention of my scrap room ... my scrap island.

Some of you might remember when I had my scrap space in our upstairs loft. The piece of furniture I would get asked about the most is my scrap island. It's huge, at 4 feet by 8 feet in size. When I moved my space back to the downstairs bedroom, my scrap island (which is now used for like 10 different purposes) ended up in the playroom (actually the living room/dining room area, which is our "playroom" for my daycare business). It's only about 10 steps away from my scrap room, so I'm always working on the island as well.

For years, I've just had piles of stuff on this island. I try and make it look neat and organized, but it still comes off looking like "piles" and kind of like a random mess. It's such a large island, that it's hard to make it look semi decorative, but still have room to work. A few months ago Sarah decided to get rid of the desk in her room, and this white wooden hutch piece was sitting on top of the desk. I wasn't willing to get rid of it, since it's an old Pottery Barn piece.

I had it sitting on the island until I had time to take it out to the garage, and it finally dawned on me that I could make it work right where it was. I positioned it in the center of the island, pushed further to the back since I don't work on the backside of the island. I added a few decorative greenery pieces to the sides to use up even more space and try and make it look more homey.

The great thing about this hutch piece is that it has two small drawers on each side, and 4 compartments across the center. I had some old metal tins that I got in the dollar section at Target ages ago, that fit perfectly in the compartments. I use those to store extra adhesives and small tools so that when I am working on stuff out on the island, I don't have to drag all the basics out from my scrap space. I shove larger things (like an extra Xyron sticker maker) in the drawers.

I love, love, love that my external hard drives fit in one of the drawers. I was always stuggling to find a good spot to store these, since I do use them constantly and like to have them handy. I have three external hard drives in that bottom drawer. Perfect! I have some extra camera stuff in the top drawer.

This aqua wooden tray was something I found at Hobby Lobby. I have it in two sizes, and this is the larger one. It had been off to the side of the island all along, and when I realized it tucked into the open area in the center of the hutch perfectly, I was thrilled. This tray holds totally random stuff, and it always changing. Usually, I have completed layouts stacked on one side that I add to as I create.

Right now, I have a CD I need to put away, Alyssa's music and academic blocks that she earned at school that need to go into her school album (decided against a letterman's jacket, knowing she wouldn't wear one), copies of scrap magazines, paperwork that needs to be put away, extra photos, etc. Just random stuff. But I like that it looks organized, all because it's in a tray!

And I topped off the hutch with this fun "Happy" sign. Because after years of this scrap island looking like a misplaced piece of massively large furniture, it now looks like it has a purpose. Which makes me HAPPY!

 

Comments

[Laura G]

Loved the first volume---can't wait for this one! Thanks for the chance!

[Lynne]

My whole room unfortunately, is a mess right now. But I am working on organizing it!

[Beverly Jordan]

Love that you have a great big table!! My problem is I got a bigger office desk for my scraproom, but even though I have a deep deep drawer for all my ribbons, etc, it never is going to fit them all. I need a larger desk top as well!

[Misty M]

Oh wow! I sooo need this book! I am currently storing all of my scrappy stash in 12 Jetmax cubes in a corner of our master bedroom and have to pull projects to the kitchen table to work on them. I am looking for a creative way to make a work surface amongst my cubes that will not take up much more room. Surely I could find an idea {or two} in this publication!!!

[Kim Olea]

Let's see, I think the counter next to my work table is what I have a hard time keeping organized.

[Diane]

My problem is that I don't put supplies away when I'm finished with them. My New Year's resolution is to try and keep my area once I have finished with a project. Thanks for sharing.

[April W]

What a great idea Laura! I struggle with keeping my little bits organized...the tags, envies, diecuts, etc. I keep them in a drawer but it takes SO long to find the one I'm looking for...
- April W

[Gina Lideros]

How exciting to be part of this issue and your space is so fun! Love your wall, and your happy sign.

[Melinda T]

I lost my scrap room to my girls, so now all my stuff is all over the house and in my husband's man cave! I'd love to get it organized and in one space! Would love to be inspired and get it done soon!

[Julie Mitchell]

As a Librarian, everything has a place and is well organized by type and colour. My only problem may be that I have so much old material that I can't seem to remember everything I have!

[Mary Ann Jenkins]

Love the peek into your scrap space, and want to see more! :) I think the hardest area to keep organized is the little titles and phrases (like all the fun pieces by My Minds Eye) I've tried a few different things but I'm not happy with any of them so far. Ideas??

[Jennifer O]

I have a lot of older stickers/die cuts/phrases etc. stored in sticker binders. They are organized by theme but I tend to forget what I have.

[JosieK]

I'm short on space..1/2 of my bedroom is scrapbook material...my poor husband...and I use our bed to create on..and not the kind it should be used for..ha! So I have to finish what I start so I can put everything back.
I long for a space to call my own..even if it's a work desk..where I can leave a project and return to it later..I'd create more if I had that!

[Bernadette]

LOVE what you did & that aqua tray is stunning! My alpha letters are my problem .... I wish I could find a way to store them. I've tried storing the fabric ones separate from the paper and so on, but that's not working either!

[Becki]

One area I struggle with?!?! All of it right now....I'm crossing my fingers that I get a new space in the coming months. I've outgrown the small corner in my living room. I think I struggle with is photo storage...Thanks for the chance to win :)

[Lori P]

I have a hard time organizing my pictures. I have 3 older kids, so I have tons of pics in photo boxes, but they are not easy to organize for some reason. I go thru the boxes and and it seems I find some to do a layout one and then later forget what is in the boxes and have to re go thru them.

[ginny]

So excited about a new issue of Creative Spaces! My biggest struggle is dealing with piles of paper on my desk--scraps, inspiration pieces, and memories to save. I'm working on it, but I haven't finished the task yet.

[Wendy A]

I loved the first issue and can't wait to get this one. I have a hard time keeping up with all the layouts i create, they have taken over ti put it mildly!

[Leigh Penner]

Great space! I struggle with putting things away before starting on the next project-- which leaves it in quite a mess!
Thanks for the chance to win!

[SandraA]

This CK issue would help me so much. I'll go with; letters, stickers, stamps for starts. I can use so many ideas...

[Mandy S.]

I have so many small odds and ends that can't organize.

[AnitaP]

Love seeing a little piece of your space! I struggle with all the different embellishments and haven't figured out the best way to organize them so I remember what I have and also use them. Maybe I just need to have less stuff! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

[Sue D]

I like your Happy space! I need help with what to do with ongoing projects when I need to work on something else.

[Kim K.]

I scrap at crops alot, but I wish I had a space at home where I could scrap without taking 2 hours to get everything together that I need. Love your Happy Place Laura.

[Rhadonda]

I love what you have done with the desk. Your wall art in the background looks cool too! Recycle, reduce, reuse right? I struggle most with organizing the little clear stamps like from Michaels or clear stamp sets like from Ali Edwards. Thanks!