11/28/11

MFT's November Creative Chat




It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were asked the following questions:

Show us your desk. How do you have things set up, and why?

What are your "go-to" tools? Tell us what you can't live without.

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.


This doorway is a little dream come true for me!! If you read my blog you probably know that I have four daughters. With four children you are lucky enough if they can have their own rooms at some point! My office/stamp/scrapbooking/sewing room as always been in an empty corner of the different homes we have owned. Well, as my daughters have slowly graduated from college, gotten jobs, and have there own first apartments, I finally have a room of my own! With a door!

I just started moving into my new space last week. I painted and bought new furniture. The room needs to meet a number of needs. First is a stamping/creating room! But it also needs to be a home office. I do work from home at times and I need a place to organize my household files that have been sitting around in piles waiting to filed!

I just starting moving into my room and have a long way to go before I am settled. But I will share with you what I have accomplished up to now. 


I really wanted to have two work areas so I purchased two desks, one with additional storage. I wanted to be able to swivel between the two areas. I do plan to have glass cut for the top of desk so I don't have to worry about damaging the desk during the creative process!



On the far right I have two stacking paper trays. Each one holds the stamps and dies for new releases I am working on at the moment.  Next is a Lazy Susan that holds many of the tools I use all the time, like paper piecers, pencils, glue pens, scissors, glitter and gel pens. Love this!

Next is another desk organizer that holds stamp blocks, my Crop-A-Dile  and corner rounder, punches, etc.


I couldn't live without my OttLite. The large dome gives great light for coloring and creating and I like the styling of the lamp.

I also keep my laptop on my desk. Need it for work but love to watch shows on it while I work!


I keep my copics to the left of my desk. I have them divided into color families in pencil cups from Staples. I like that I can grab the cup of Copics I want to work with and set them next to me on my desk.


My desk has two file drawers. I have my paper stored in the two drawers in hanging folders. I labeled the colors because sometimes at night I find it hard to tell the difference between papers that are close to each other in color and I do a LOT of my creating late at night. Yes, I can be a night owl!

I have another file cabinet that will store my work and personal files.


Another desk drawer houses all my favorite, can't live without adhesives! Jodi's boosters and red line dots, Scor-Pal tape in a number of widths, glue dots, Tombow liquid and tapes, etc.


I debated on where to store my inks, but decided I really wanted them in reach so I am trying them in a drawer. I rarely make a card that doesn't have Tim Holtz Distress Inks on them somewhere!



Next to my desk I have a storage unit that stores my dies. On the top in cups are my border dies. My drawers are divided into categories like doilies, flowers, outdoor themes like the sun, clouds, grass, etc, and then a couple of drawers that store stamp sets with coordinating dies. I do plan to label the drawers when I have a chance.


In some of the drawers I added dividers.


On my other work surface I have my Scor-Pal, a Martha Stewart Paper Cutter, my Janome Sewing Machine, and my old, but dependable Cuttlebug.

It is important to me to have my sewing machine out and ready to go. My Janome is a DC3050 and it is a tool I couldn't live with! Not only to I sew on my cards, I have other sewing projects going at times. I have material ready to go for new valances for my new stamp room! Just be sure to change sewing needles on your machine if you have sown on paper before you sew on fabric.

Well that is it for me! I will share more pictures of my new room as I get settled. Be sure to visit the other designer's blog for even more inspiration!

Melody


13 comments:

  1. I love that you have moved into a room with a door! And that hutch and desk are so fabulous - LOVE that lamp!!

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  2. Love how you can just swivel in your chair and you are ready to use your sewing machine or whatever you want on that desk. Your room is looking awesome, love those desks!!!!!

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  3. yeah, for a room with a door! loooove this space, it's gorgeous. great choice on the desks. thanks for sharing!

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  4. I love that you have moved into a room with a door! And that hutch and desk are so fabulous - LOVE that lamp!!
    Thanks for sharing with us.

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  5. Congratulations on your GORGEOUS new room!!! It is SO beautiful Melody! I am sure you will LOVE having your very own stamp room!!

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  6. What a gorgeous new room! Congratulations on finally getting a room all to yourself! You have earned it!!! I would love to see what your room looks like this time next year! ;D I'm sure it will be just as organized and spotless!
    Thank you for sharing your room with us!

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  7. Ummm, I'm moving to YOUR house.

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  8. Ummm, I'm moving to YOUR house.

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  9. Oh girl. This is turning out soooo well. I cannot wait to come over and see it in person! It's going to be so pretty when you finish! Yay for you!!!

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  10. Congratulations Melody! I know how long you have been waiting to have a room dedicated to all of your amazing projects. Have fun decorating!

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  11. Woo hoo!! Congrats on your own space. It looks fantastic. Love how you have made use of all the desk drawers.

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  12. Congrats on your new room, Melody! Your furniture is beautiful! :)

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  13. Your craft room/office is beautiful. I love the desks!!!
    Thanks for sharing.... :)

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