My Family Studio

I started off as a "closet scrapbooker," but as my supply stash grew, my hubby knew it was time for a room specifically for scrapbooking, a place to contain my mess, where I could easily just shut the door. In our new house, we knew we wanted to make a great place for scrapbooking, but also wanted to utilize the room for homeschooling as well. We have accomplished that and more! My room has become a place where my family loves to hang out. I scrapbook while the rest of the family is doing their own thing. My oldest daughter makes crafts, my hubby plays on the computer, and my 2-year-old dances around the room to ABBA. My son runs in and out bringing costumes and swords with the motive to terrorize his sisters. Overall, the room is still my room, and I have no problem kicking people out for some quiet time either.

What was your inspiration? How did you get started?

My original inspiration came from BHG Kids Rooms magazine. They painted a boy's room with green, blue and black. I loved it. MOD paper was my inspiration for painting the circles on the wall. I wanted splashes of color on the black wall, and I wanted the room to be way retro. Most of my items were from garage sales or discount stores such as IKEA. I spraypainted everything black to give it a fresh new look. My colored totes were purchased from a scrapbooking website that was going out of business. I bought things I liked and I just made them work. My small white shelf that sits on my black desk is actually a shoe holder flipped on its side.

Describe the set up of the room.

The room is about 18' x 15'. When you walk in, there is a big open space for cropping tables. To the right of the room is my desk area. To the left of the room is my daughter's homeschool desk area. She also scrapbooks with me. If you walk into the room, your back is facing the computer/craft/music area.

How do you store the following items?

Cardstock & Patterned Paper - My papers are currently stored in color-coded folders. For example, the purple papers go in the purple folder. All of the folders are stored in my black paper holder. My Doodlebug patterned papers and cardstock are stored by theme with matching stickers in the Vertical Paper Holders by Cropper Hopper.

Stamps - If the stamps are unmounted, I trim the stamps from the rubber sheet and store them in labeled CD cases or baggies. They are stored in one of my large purple totes on the shelf. I ran out of room, so I also have some foam stamps in one of my small blue totes on the shelf.

Punches - I only own a few punches, so I store them all in a large purple tote on the shelf.

Magazines/Idea Books - My magazines are in my magazine racks on top of my large white shelf.

Die cuts, Stickers & Rub-ons - For stickers and die-cuts, I use 8½" x 11" clear page protectors inside one of my magazine holders. In each page protector, I store all similarly-themed stickers and die-cuts. My rub-ons are stored in a large Ziplock baggie which fit inside a Vertical Paper Holder.

Ribbon - My ribbons are color-coordinated inside individual Ziplock baggies. All the baggies are inside a large green bin at the bottom of the shelf.

Tools - My tools are stored in various totes around the room. The tools that I use most frequently are always on the white table in reach. I don't care if it looks messy. I like to sit down and start where I left off.

Letters, Embellishments & Charms - I store these in individual containers inside a fishing tackle box as seen in the picture. Doodlebug letters are organized by color and shape. My other letters are organized by the letter itself, in another tackle box. Charms and small embellishments are organized by similar theme. Embellishments that are too large for my tackle box fit inside small totes that are in my small white shelf that sits on my black desk. These large embellishments are organized in each colored tote by type such as tags, sequins, frames, wood, etc. My Doodlebug tokens and KI Icicles are stored in a blue tote.

Chipboard - My chipboard is stored in my green totes, organized by company and color.

What about your desk area?

I predominantly scrapbook on the long white table. I like to spread everything out all around me. I use my black table more for holding supplies or planned layouts. When I finish a layout, I move it to the black desk and grab another project from underneath the black desk. To the right of the black desk is a locker from IKEA. It holds my sewing machine, mini albums in progress, and more paper holders for specific projects. Directly above my desk are two magnetic boards. The black one holds round tins filled with color-coordinated silk flowers and letters. I specifically need the letters in sight because I'm trying to use them up right now. The silver one holds magnetic notebooks for me to write down what I'm working on or great title ideas as they hit me. Deadlines are also listed on my silver board. Directly under the black desk are my purple photo holders, trash can, Doodlebug work in progress, planned layouts and my XXL. Underneath my white desk is a large blue bin. It used to hold my patterned paper, but now it holds junk items I'm saving for altering.

What about the decorative touches?

I purchased the black clock from IKEA. It sits above a white cabinet filled with homeschool books. The colored circles on the wall are actually cork boards that I painted to match the room. There are color-coordinated push pins stuck on the circles. I posted a fake note to show they are cork boards. I will use the cork board for reminders and rewards for my daughter in regards to homeschooling. I have picture frames with black-and-white photos of my kids above my desk for inspiration. The empty frames are for the kids I haven't had yet! I have a scrapbook layout on each side of my desk. All frames were purchased at IKEA.

I LOVE my room, it's just me.