Ribbon Swatches

How irritating is it to muddle through a bunch of different spools of ribbon just to find the right one for your project. I've had this problem more than once. So what to do besides pull your hair out? Make Ribbon Swatches! I know this isn't a new concept, but I didn't really put two and two together until I saw a rendition of them at Costco for their ribbon display. Here is my take on them.

You'll need:
Deck of playing cards from the Dollar Store (or other sturdy card stock)
Binder Rings
Staples
Pinking Shears or Straight Scissors
Candle (optional for sealing edges)
Standard Size Hole Punch (I used a Crop-A-Dile)

Here is how I did it...

Ribbon Storage- Several Options

I've looked around and tried a few different things. Each example has it's positives and negatives. You'll just have to look at the space you have and what would work best for you.

RAIN GUTTERS

Materials
White plastic gutter (4in x 10ft) from Home Depot $6.98 They also come in brown, $1 more I believe.
White end caps $5.78 (comes in a pair) Also in brown with added cost.
White vinyl hidden hanger $1.72

After you buy your gutter the nice people at Home Depot will cut it for free. I asked them to cut my gutter into 2ft sections. I ended up with five sections.

I also decorated mine using  black vinyl cut out on my Cricut. The nice thing about this set up is the ribbon can stay on the spools. You just need to pull out the length that you want. Here is a top view.

Another example

Galvanized Gutter

Click below to see more ideas...

DIY Copic Organizer

I finally invested in some Copic Sketch Markers when Micheals had an awesome sale. Daily deal was buy one get one 50% off and I also had a 25% off total purchase. So after all was said and done the markers were 50% off...OMG I bought one of each. But now where to put them... Recycle cans, foam board, plastic containers? I wasn't really happy with any of those choices. And then it hit me, I still had 3 plastic gutters sections that were left over from my ribbon storage project. Thank goodness for my hoarding tendencies. Here is what I came up with.

White plastic gutter (4in x 10ft) from Home Depot $6.98 It also comes in brown, $1 more I believe.
White end caps $5.78 (comes in a pair) Also in brown with added cost.
 
Here is how I did it...

DIY Magnetic Tweezers

Does it ever drive you crazy having to spill out your mini brads to get to just the right one? And then trying to pick it up with your fingers or your tweezers? Maybe it's just me, but what a hassle! Solution? Magnetize your tweezers! Yep think back to elementary school when you made that compass with a needle, cork, and water. So simple, but it's a time and sanity saver.

Here's what you need. I used one of those really strong magnets, but I'm sure any magnet will do.

Clip It Up Knockoff

It's been a long time. Things have finally started to settle down at work and I can post again... Yay!

Stickers... I am overloaded with stickers. I tend to make everything from scratch, but who can resist when stickers are 40% off at JoAnns/Micheals or 65% at Tuesday Morning?! Not I. Just like all crafters Sale events are my weakness. So what to do with all those dang stickers? I first tried putting them in a three ring binder with sheet protectors and plastic envelopes. This worked well for a while until I evolved into Scrapbooking. Doh! I swear they multiply when I'm sleeping.

Here's a awesome solution that I found on YouTube

From this video I created my own Clip It Up knock off with a couple different tweaks.

Blending Tool Holder

If you are anything like me you like to have tools you use often well within your reach. I decided to buy the Micheals Desktop Carousel ($29.99 on sale) for more organization. The problem was where to put my Inkssentials Blending Tools? Solution: Pedicure Toe Separators!

What?! Pedicure Toe Separators?! Why yes, they work awesome and they are super cheap. They were a $1.29 for a set and I had a coupon for buy one get one free at Sally's Beauty Supply.

I started off with Micheals Desktop Carousel and 5 Toe Separators. *Note there are several different types of Pedicure Toe Separators. Some are rounded or don't have a straight end. You can use these types, but I preferred the look and stability of the squared off ones.

Distressing w/ PediPaws

So as most males do, my husband succumbed to "As seen on TV" advertising when we were at Petco. "Oh that PediPaws thing would be so much easier than cutting Tatonka's nails (our very big boned English Bulldog). I was very skeptical, but whatever he can give it his best shot. LMAO is all I can say to the fiasco that was trying to grind the nails of a fully awake, very strong English Bulldog.  Needless to say the PediPaws went into our Bermuda Triangle drawer of misfit gadgets.

Forward to a few weeks later when I was working on a scrapbook and needed to distress oodles of cardstock. I was heading out to the garage to grab my Dremel when I thought, wouldn't it be nice to have a battery operated grinder... Whoa! wait a minute... didn't we have something like that?! Oh my, yes we do... and its called a PediPaws!

You do have to unscrew the orange guard, but it works great. I use it on pictures, paper, and cardboard. It really saves my nails from using sanding blocks and emery boards. But just like other grinders watch your fingers and if you are doing multiple items use a mask. And I suggest you practice first to get a feel for the grinder. Here are some examples...

Desk Organizer

I went grocery shopping the other day at Safeway and as my hubby and I were walking around the produce aisle I spotted several empty plastic produce bag rolls. I can only speculate as to why there were so many. Maybe because it was late at night, the staff were to busy to replenish the rolls, or thieving plastic hungry gnomes got to them before anyone noticed. In either case, I gathered them up since I'm positive they don't reuse them. (just to be safe the checker girl said they would just toss them so I was free to take them home). Here is what I made with them...

A Desk Organizer!! Why yes, I try to minimize clutter as much as I can because for me at least I feel more productive. lol. Besides before this little holder I was laying everything out and holding my glue upside down in a roll of foam tape. Not a very efficient use of space.I like this so much better and the best thing was I had all the stuff to make it for free! Here's how I did it...

DIY Sponge Daubers

I saw this tutorial on luvleescrappin and thought it was a great idea. However, I used a different foam applicator because that's what I had in my stash. I also used plastic bands from the dollar store to attach the foams. **UPDATE** There has been some discussion on how to prevent the foam from ripping when you distress. I found that covering the foam with a small piece of swimsuit material keeps the foam from fraying and does not effect the look of the distressing.

Nestabilities Storage

On Splitcoaststampers there are several threads on how to store Nestabilites Dies. Some people use photo boxes, CD cases, binders, page protectors, cork boards, etc. the list goes on and on.  However the common thread is magnetic strips or sheets that hold the Nestabilites Dies in place. Here is what has been working for me.

I use a 3" D-ring binder that I got at Costco (2 in a pack for $5.99). Page protectors from Office Max (I had this in my stash from years ago, but I found a package of 25 for $7.18 at Walmart). The cardboard is from the backing of tablets of paper and paper packs from my work. Since they would eventually recycle or throw them away I got those for free.

Ruffled Ribbon

I often visit the remnants bin when I go to JoAnn's. You can get some really good deals and fabric choices. After the holidays they had a nice selection of organza fabric. Here are a couple.

Make ur own Blending Tool Foam

So I'm cheap sometimes. I totally believe that if you're going to eventually throw something away then why does it need to be hella expensive? Take the Ink Blending Foam Inkssentials for example. Retails for about $6, if you have a store coupon you'll probably get a max of 50% off. So that means $3-ish after tax for 10 foams. And how many foams can you go through in just one project if you really like to distress? Lots as I regrettably found out.


My solution? Why not make your own? I did and for super cheap. Here's how...


I found some fabric backed foam at Joann's in the remnants bin. I believe it's used for car seats and car roofs. 1.5 yards for like $8! You can also find it in the upholstery section of the fabric store under Headliner Foam. Link to JoAnn's Fabric- Headliner Fabric
You can buy it from other sites like Amazon but the cost is almost the same and you can't use a 40%-50% coupon.