Stamping Brenda's Embellishment Holder

Stamping Brenda has such good ideas for cute things to use in her crafting room. I just had to share a couple that she sent me today. Look at this cute cutlery tray that she has mounted on the wall to hold embellishments. Actually, she has two of them. It's simple, but it works and looks really nice.

Thank you for sharing, Brenda!!

Stamping Brenda's Wine Rack

Stamping Brenda sent me a picture of her cool new marker holder. One of her friends picked this up in Canton for five dollars. Brenda added some 30 oz. plastic tumblers from Walmart, and now has a nifty new holder. I just had to share!! Thanks, Stamping Brenda.

Organizing Treasure

I just love a bargain!! I also love finding something in a resale shop and putting it to good use. I was just browsing in a resale shop in my small town the other day. I saw this little plant stand and immediately wondered if some of my punches would fit on it. I thought I could put it by the chair where I stamp, and it wouldn't really be in the way. I eyeballed the depth of the shelves and decided it might be a good fit.

Being the shrewed shopper I am, I dallied with the idea of buying it, but decided to come back later. It might even be marked down. I went back a few days later. They had moved it to the window with some cute things sitting on it. I decided that I'd best buy it if I wanted it. I invested a whole $12.00 in this little metal stand. Look! They fit. The punches exactly fit.

Then I was eyeballing that little piece of furniture and decided I might be able to add a rod to hold ribbon. I just happened to have a curtain rod and some of those little sticky backed hooks. After trying a few other things, I just attached the sticky backed hooks to the front legs of the stand and placed the curtain rod on the hooks. Tah-Dah!

I may have to get a skinnier rod at some point as the very small rolls of ribbon are a bit tight on the rod. Otherwise, I think it will work wonderfully well. I can easily take the rolls off too. If, in the future, I have too many rolls for the rod, I'll just add another rod a little lower on the back leg. I feel so..... ORGANIZED... and so SMART. I LOVE bargains! Yes, I do.

Matching Inks Tip

Crafting Ida blessed me with Printworks ink when she was luring me into this whole card making thing. She had gone over to Stampin Up and decided to share her old inks. Ida is good that way. I loved her little tip to me about how to keep track of ink and match it to paper.

She took a piece of white cardstock and sectioned off the paper adding labels: Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, and Brown. Then she took each of her stamp pads and grouped them together. Starting with Red, she numbered them on the stamp pads themselves with permanent blank ink. The matching numbers went on the cardstock. With a little heart stamp, she carefully inked each color.

Ida put her ink pads into plastic containers. One plastic container is labeled Red... another Green... etc. When I want one of the inks, I just look on this paper and can match exactly what I need. Then I dig in the appropriate container and pick out the Number. It is so simple and such a time saver.

I only have four Stampin Up pads so far, so my numbers will fall in different places. I got busy the other day and dug out my four SU inks and got my page ready to go. I really like this idea and it isn't hard to do. I'll continue that as I add more ink pads.

Quick Matching Tip

Today I started a little project that I keep thinking I should do. Crafting Ida, my Stampin Up Consultant, told me about this some time ago, and I thought it was inspired.

I assembled my tools: Crop-A-Dile (That funky what on earth is it? implement with pink handles used to punch holes or set eyelets, etc.), a punch (I chose a Creative Memory 1 1/4 inch octagon), a beaded chain, and a cute red Creative Memory card case that I-Needa gave me. I also needed a pen to write with... I chose my Creative Memory acid free pen.

The goal: To have samples of my Stampin Up paper to carry along in my purse. I hate it when I'm out and about and see great sales on ribbon and wonder if any of it will match my paper. I intend to put my paper chain in the little red card case and put it in my purse. Then I'll be able to whip out the paper and SEE if I have a match.

On each punched paper, I put the color name of the paper and labeled it with the collection it belongs to. So far, I've finished papers from the Earth Elements grouping of Stampin Up. So, each paper is labeled EE, for Earth Elements, and has the color name as well.

I started with scraps, but for a few colors, I had no scraps. It took courage to cut a corner out of a perfectly whole piece of paper, but I did it. Otherwise, I couldn't do this project. I think it will pay off in the long run!

I think Crafting Ida had a wonderful tip, and I just have to pass it on.

Punch Organizer

Stamping Brenda sent me a picture of her reorganized punches. I said, 'Pleeeeeese, Brenda, please may I post this?' She said, 'I don't mind you sharing the information.'

Brenda saw this idea on Splitcoast Stampers. She bought white curtain rods and attached them from stud to stud. She says they are very sturdy.

Brenda has been crafting memory albums and cards for years and years. She has a whole room devoted to her passion, and it is extremely well organized.

At the top of the picture, you can barely see some cards. Brenda has a wire hung close to the ceiling on all her walls. She uses it to display cards she has made. It is very attractive and she has easy access to ideas.

I've begged Brenda for more pictures of her organization and hope also to get some of the wonderful cards she makes.
Thank you, Brenda.