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...

Distress Ink Swatches

Make your own Distress Ink swatches by inking up and labeling some plain tags. Put them on a Binder Ring for easy access.

Don't forget to label them. I always arrange colors whether it be ink, paper or pen in the order of the color wheel. I like to start with yellow and end in black.

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.

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...

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.