Contained and Collected

Like most scrapbookers, I started out small. I stored all of my supplies in plastic containers that were easily hidden under the couch. Then I "upgraded" to a small table with just enough room beside it for Target crates to hold my 12" x 12" paper. Then it happened. We moved. And, I got a room all for ME!

I share the space with the computer, and a TV (my hubby's one and only claim to the room!). Since it's not an overly large room, to maximize space I keep things pushed back against the walls so that there is plenty of moving-about space in the center of the room.

The wall directly across from the door holds my main desk and the computer desk. I like to keep my most commonly used tools right at my fingertips on top of the desk in a plastic container. Things like my favorite pens, adhesives, inks, and paints can always be found in here.

Beside my main table, I have a smaller table that holds projects I'm in the middle of, and usually where I toss my new supplies before they get put away. Underneath and beside the smaller table I keep two large plastic containers with pull-out drawers. These hold my ribbon, larger sticker sheets and larger embellishments that won't fit anywhere else, as well as my cardstock and patterned paper scraps. I love how easy it is to pull the drawers out, and having them down at my feet while I'm scrapping, makes it so I can just toss the scraps in as I go. I keep an open photo box on top for current photographs as well.

Above the smaller table, I have two shelves. These are handy because all I have to do is stand up to reach anything on them. They hold my favorite idea books, my Dymo labeler, all of my chipboard letters (in the little blue plastic containers), and my Primas. The small drawer containers hold things like ink pads, tools, rub-ons, adhesives, and extra pens. I keep a larger plastic container on the shelves to hold older photos and other mementos that will hopefully one day get scrapped.

Underneath the main desk I use yet another set of plastic drawers. The top drawer holds mini albums, page protectors, and envelopes. The bottom drawer holds all of my foam stamps. I use the top of the drawers to store my design team projects that I'm working on.

The computer sits beside the desks, which makes it convenient to roll my chair over for a little Scrapjazz surfin' or computer journaling. I show off some of my favorite layouts on top of the desk using plate holders that I painted black.

Beside the computer desk, I have my trusty Target wire cubes for all of my 12" x 12" paper and cardstock. Beside that sits a small dresser that I refinished to store all sorts of embellishments. I keep things like composition books and empty scrapbooks in the larger bottom drawer.

Last but not least is my shelving unit. I use it to store my 8.5" x 11" cardstock, paints and paintbrushes, scrapbooks in progress, loose flowers, stamps, my magazines, and binders that hold all of my alphabet stickers and other flat stickers.

I've come a long way from my little containers under the couch. I finally have my own space, a space to be creative and a place to have some "me" time. What more could a girl ask for?