Stamping
Breaking Down the Craft Room
I must admit that I much more productive when I’m working in an organized office space. I envy people who can keep a tidy workspace because I am not a neat person by nature. So, I’m sharing where I purchased all the furniture for my craft room in case it helps someone else get a little bit more organized. 
1. Floating Shelf: SmartFurniture.com
2. Ribbon Organizer: Etsy Seller OrganizeMore
3. Magnet Board: Umbra at the Container Store
4. Pencil Cups and Rod: Ikea Grundtal towel rail, Asker containers, and Byger “S” hooks
5. Desk: Ikea Utby underframe and Vika Amon table top
6. Drawers on Casters: Ikea Helmer
Miscellany: Allison asked about my lamp (not shown) because my office seems bright. The light source is a cheap hand-me-down from a friend, but I use daylight bulbs instead of regular bulbs, which makes the room brighter. The ribbon tree is from my old craft room, also purchased on Etsy. Now It houses ribbon spools that I use less frequently.
And just to prove to you that my neatness is all a charade, I’ll share some pictures of my messy craft closet:
Yikes! Piles of stamps and knick knacks stuffed into boxes. Yes, that hanging contraption is typically used for clothing storage. No wonder it’s about to fall apart with the weight of my wood stamps.
Stamps, stamps, and more stamps. Wood stamps take up SO much space. I’m very glad that Stampin’ Up released a line of repositionable clear stamps.
This file box is the only organized section of my craft closet. I separate my card stock by hanging file folders labeled with a tiny swatch of color.
My stamp collection is overflowing and my closet is bursting at the seams. I have a secret plan to take over the husband’s side of the office. I don’t think he’ll mind studying in the hallway, do you? 
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I’m Baaaaack… :)
Helloooooo, blog world! Does anyone still read this? I’ve been out of the blog scene for so long, my poor blog has been dreadfully neglected. I lost my voice for a while and it took me three months to find it again. But I’m back (for real, this time) and I have so much to share!
My first announcement is a shiny new blog! I’m diving head first into the world of professional photography and I started a spankin’ new blog to document my journey. I know it’s kind of silly that I just got back from a long blogging hiatus to announce that I started a new site. But, after an inspiring weekend photography workshop, I’ve found my vision and my voice, and I’m ready to keep TWO blogs updated, at least semi-regularly. So check my photography blog out, and if you feel so inclined, leave a comment every now and then! I [heart] comments very much. www.kellychaublog.com
The second project I want to share is the completion of my office space! During the six months after Hubs and I moved into our new condo, my “office space” was our kitchen counter. With crumbs and food bits everywhere, a kitchen office was not conducive to doing paper crafts. I use this excuse as one reason I haven’t had any projects to post.
Last month, Hubs helped me set up shop in our second bedroom. I’m really happy with the way we utilized our limited space.
Above is my little corner of our shared office. I purchased a counter-height table for my workspace because I like to work standing up when I do paper crafts. Standing gives me more leverage and makes stamping and using a paper cutter easier.
Since the Hubs and I had to sell my beloved Blu Dot desk when we moved, I only have one third of the desk space that I had in my old craft room. I knew that my tiny new desk would need to serve two purposes: photography computer station for dual monitors and craft area. I really needed to have my craft stuff accessible, but get it off my desk so it wouldn’t take up precious real estate. Well, I found some unique storage solutions and now I have so much more storage space than I used to, I don’t notice the smaller desk area because I keep very little on my table.
I purchased two mini drawer units that are so handy. They are absolutely perfect for storing small items, like craft supplies or hardware. They are a tad shorter than my counter-height desk, so I decided to store my ink pads and Sterilite storage drawers on top to even out the height.
Here’s a peak inside one of the drawers. Most of my punches fit into them.
Punch drawer number two. Yes, I have an addiction to paper punches.
Above is a peek into one of my embellishment drawers. The upside down containers at the bottom are tubes of embossing powder. I store them upside down so I can easily view the colors.
I use some of the drawers for stamps that don’t belong to a set. All of my Stampin’ Up sets are stored in our closet. I’ll share photos of my closet space soon.
Finding a good system to store ribbon was one of most difficult things about planning my workspace. I came across many cute storage methods, but I was really picky about my ribbon storage. I needed it to be both accessible, roomy, and attractive. This ribbon organizer was perfect because it was wall mountable, solving my small space problem, and the spools could be removed easily. I love it!
Last, but not least, I’m sharing my favorite storage solution. I found this Ikea hack on a blog somewhere and absolutely loved it. The metal rod is a kitchen towel bar from Ikea and the white containers are mini planters, which store my pens, pencils, and other necessary tools within reach while getting them off my desk. I can’t take credit for this idea because it wasn’t mine, so if I find the blog again, I’ll share the link!
Above the towel bar storage, I nailed a metal magnet board where I can showcase my latest creations and keep inspiration clippings nearby.
So, that concludes a tour of my new office space. I hope it was useful. If you have any questions, leave a comment and I’ll answer them as best I can!
Stampin’ Up Holiday Extravaganza Sale
Hello folks! Long time no blog! I haven’t had a chance to breathe lately, let alone stamp, but I wanted to pass along the info for a Stampin’ Up holiday sale going on right now through November 30th. The sale includes stamping bundles from 30-50% off with some really cute stuff. Some pretty good deals to be had! The item numbers are listed below in case you want to look them up, but everything is posted on the shopping portal. Just click here to shop (select “shop now” in the top right corner). Now if only I could get the husband to study in the kitchen instead of my craft room…
| Item | Description | Regular Price | Discounted Price |
| 120280 | Framed with Love Bundle
|
$43.90 | $21.95 |
| 120281 | Thank You Kindly Bundle
|
$29.90 | $14.95 |
| 120976 | Thank You Kindly Bundle (French)
|
$29.90 | $14.95 |
| 120282 | Animal Crackers Bundle
|
$25.90 | $12.95 |
| 120283 | Corduroy Button Bundle
|
$49.75 | $24.88 |
| 120284 | Game Night Bundle
|
$40.90 | $20.45 |
| 120285 | Four Square Bundle
|
$30.90 | $15.45 |
| 120286 | Heart to Heart Bundle
|
$49.85 | $24.93 |
| 120310 | Heart to Heart Bundle (Spanish)
|
$49.85 | $24.93 |
| 120311 | Heart to Heart Bundle (French)
|
$49.85 | $24.93 |
| 120287 | Chipboard Letter Bundle
|
$25.90 | $12.95 |
| 120288 | Double-Stitched Ribbon Bundle
|
$17.90 | $10.74 |
| 120289 | Ultimate Stampers’ Starter Bundle*
|
$127.70 | $76.62 |
| 120290 | Build-A-Brad Bundle
|
$40.85 | $24.51 |
| 120291 | Enjoy Every Moment Bundle
|
$43.85 | $26.31 |
| 120312 | Enjoy Every Moment Bundle (French)
|
$43.85 | $26.31 |
| 120292 | Cheep Talk Bundle
|
$42.85 | $25.71 |
| 120293 | Sock Monkey Bundle
|
$58.85 | $35.31 |
| 120313 | Sock Monkey Bundle (French)
|
$58.85 | $35.31 |
| 120294 | Alphabet Bundle
|
$87.90 | $52.74 |
| 120295 | Simply Said Bundle
|
$52.85 | $31.71 |
| 120314 | Simply Said Bundle (French)
|
$52.85 | $31.71 |
| 120296 | On Board Bundle
|
$42.85 | $25.71 |
| 120927 | Christmas Décor Bundle #1
|
$74.85 | $44.91 |
| 120298 | Christmas Décor Bundle #2
|
$74.85 | $44.91 |
| 120299 | Christmas Décor Bundle #3
|
$74.85 | $44.91 |
| 120300 | For All You Do Bundle
|
$36.90 | $25.83 |
| 120315 | For All You Do Bundle (French)
|
$36.90 | $25.83 |
| 120316 | For All You Do Bundle (Spanish)
|
$36.90 | $25.83 |
| 120301 | Striped Ribbon Bundle
|
$47.73 | $33.41 |
| 120302 | Bling Bundle
|
$43.80 | $30.66 |
| 120303 | Fresh-Cut Bundle
|
$37.85 | $26.50 |
| 120317 | Fresh-Cut Bundle (French)
|
$37.85 | $26.50 |
| 120304 | Pendant Note Bundle
|
$39.85 | $27.90 |
| 120318 | Pendant Note Bundle (French)
|
$39.85 | $27.90 |
| 120319 | Pendant Note Bundle (Spanish)
|
$39.85 | $27.90 |
| 120305 | Sporting Bundle #1
|
$67.90 | $47.54 |
| 120306 | Sporting Bundle #2
|
$67.90 | $47.54 |
| 120307 | Sporting Bundle #3
|
$67.90 | $47.54 |
| 114864 | Ginormous Flowers I Décor Elements | $39.95 | $27.97 |
| 114863 | Ginormous Flowers II Décor Elements | $39.95 | $27.97 |
| 112534 | 5/16″ Neutrals Jumbo brads | $7.95 | $5.57 |
| 112533 | 5/8″ Neutrals Jumbo brads | $6.95 | $4.87 |
| 112081 | Scallop Square punch | $15.95 | $11.17 |
| 113693 | Full Heart punch | $15.95 | $11.17 |
| 113694 | Heart to Heart punch | $15.95 | $11.17 |
| 112091 | Scallop Edge punch | $15.95 | $11.17 |
| 112571 | Circle Designer brads | $5.95 | $4.17 |
| 112579 | Flower Designer brads | $5.95 | $4.17 |
| 112572 | Star Designer brads | $5.95 | $4.17 |
| 114785 | Small Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements | $39.95 | $27.97 |
| 114786 | Medium Wonderful Flowers Décor Elements | $69.95 | $48.97 |
| 114791 | Small Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements | $39.95 | $27.97 |
| 114792 | Medium Wonderful Leaves Décor Elements | $64.95 | $45.47 |
Christina’s Bridal Shower Invitations
Summer is wedding season and it’s keeping me quite busy with creative projects. Christina, my FSIL (or future sister in law for the non-wedding obsessed), is getting married to my little brother this fall. All of the bridesmaids decided to host a ultra fab Hawaiian themed bridal shower for her. Since I’m widely known for my paper obsession, I was commissioned to make the invitations. I picked some fun and spunky colors, representative of the cheerful Hawaiian islands. I designed a quick invitation on Illustrator and printed it on my Gocco, inspired by Miss Gloss on Weddingbee who kindly shared her font resources. Coral envelopes were made from scratch out of sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock. I texturized them using a Sizzix embossing plant and my Sizzix machine. Those cute little blue flowers were cut and embossed out of turquoise paper using a Sizzix embosslit die (they emboss and cut a shape out in one pass through the machine).
Tutorial on the coral pocket to come! I’ll share the photos for now.
Simple Joys
Hello, hello!
These last few days have been beautiful, and hot, hot, HOT. 85 degrees in SF is as common as snow in July, especially in the Sunset district where Hubs and I live. Last night, we opted not to eat in and instead took a long walk to a delicious Chinese hole in the wall restaurant about a mile from our house. I love walking with the Hubs. It’s true quality time for us because we have no TVs, computers, or video games to distract us. It’s just us and our shoes as they hit the warm pavement.
After a satisfyingly salty bowl of beef noodles and black bean chicken, we stopped by a yogurt shop to reward ourselves for “working out.” As we slurped our melted treats on the stroll back to the Sunset House, I listened to Andrew as he chatted about his day. And, I couldn’t help by think, at that very moment, there was nowhere else I wanted to be or nothing else that would make me more content. Not a new condo, not a dream job, or even a winning lottery ticket. All of those would be meaningless without someone to share them with.
Life is truly about the simple joys of loving and being loved.
Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Cheers to You stamp set, kiwi kiss, whisper white, pacific point, summer sun cardstock, basic black ink, Sizzix tag die, oval punch, good morning sunshine designer paper, kiwi kiss ribbon, colored pencils
Trade Offs
The house/condo hunting journey that Hubs and I are on (that is also driving us nuts) is a true testament that life is about trade-offs. Buy a new property for prime $$? Or get a less expensive, older property that needs work? A large house with a yard in the burbs? Or tiny condo in the heart of the happenin’ city? Everything is a give-and-take.
Over the weekend, we found some super affordable, spankin’ new housing developments with hardwood floors, huge floorplans, large bedrooms, the works! The catch? They’re in a city that I don’t want to live in. I mean, I really, really don’t want to live in this city. I don’t like it at all. But, if we purchase one of these units, Hubs said that we could afford it on one income (his income) once he finishes grad school. That means I could devote myself to our future family and possible budding business enterprises, like photography, design, crafts… oh the imagination runs wild! I can’t imagine calling any city other than SF our home. However, the idea of not working a corporate job is almost irresistible… It’s most definitely a trade off.
What would you do?
I miss my craft time quite a bit. Yesterday, I got out the tools and whipped up a quick card. I love this stamp set (Trendy Trees). Sometimes I sell my used stamp sets after they’ve been retired, but I’m keeping this one for sure.
Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Trendy Trees and Absolutely Fabulous stamp sets, kraft, whisper white, bashful blue card, chocolate chip stock & ink, corner rounder punch, white gel pen, button bouquet, kiwi kiss ribbon, stampin’ dimensionals, white twine from Michaels
Tutorial: Top Note Die Box
I love blogging. I’ve kept an online diary in various forms for at least ten years now. Blogging is a part of my everyday life that I doubt I will ever give up. Unfortunately, when life gets busy, blogging is also the first activity to fall by the wayside. It takes a chunk of time to craft a project, photograph it, edit pictures, and then write up a post–anywhere from one to three hours. I love sharing info. I just wish I had more hours in the day to blog more consistently.
That long paragraph is my excuse for blogging less regularly than I usually do. I hope you’ll forgive me!
Today’s post is a belated one for Justine, who requested a tutorial for the Top Note die box that I made a few weeks ago. Sorry for the delay! I hope you (and everyone else) find this useful.
Start out with a 9″x6″ sheet of paper. Score one inch in on each side. Then, along the 9″ side, score at 4″ and 5″. Cut the folds 1″ to the score line along the middle score line and on one side.
Next, cut away the two scored sides of the opposite box end. This portion will be the box lid.
Fold the box into shape, tuck the little tabs that you sniped along the inside, and adhere with sticky strip. For my box, I also rounded the edges of the box lid to finish it off.
You can use whatever you like to keep the box closed. Here, I used a magnet that I purchased online. You can use a bit of Velcro too, which is easy to find in craft stores.
Now, cut four Top Note die shapes using the Sizzix. Two of the shapes should be with normal card stock because it’s thicker and two should be cut with patterned paper, if you want to decorate the outside of your box. The two layers will give the cover a little more strength. Then, adhere these covers to the top and bottom of the box that you made.
You can stop here if you like, but if you want to create dividers for the box, those can be easily made. To divide the box in half, cut a 3″x6″ sheet of paper. Score and fold at 2″, 3″ ,and 4″. Insert into your box.
Here’s the box divided into two sections. You can adhere sticky strip to the divider to keep the center from puckering up.
Now, for the other dividers. Cut two sheets of 2″x5″ paper and score at 1.5″, 2.5″, and 3.5″. Fold and insert into your box.
Voila! Finished box.
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