Getting Organized...

Soooooo, those of you that are familiar with me, know that I moved my crafty space up to the main floor of my home, after a few run-ins with some unwanted house guests... Since then, I had gone through a VERY long creative dry spell, and now that I'm getting back in the game, I'm trying to get my space organized, for as little investment as possible.  So far, so good, really...I've not invested too much $$, but have spent a little time, and honestly I think it's worth it.  I think I'm going to like my new set up, once it's finished, of course.

So, my next two posts are going to be dedicated to some of my 'home-made' organization.  I made my own color cubbie out of foam core board...that will be my next post, but today is about die storage...

I've been hemming and hawing over die storage for a while.  I wasn't sure exactly HOW to go about my dies and embossing plate storage.  I wanted something that was compact enough, but easy to see what I have, and it had to be NEAT.  My friend Barb, had a cool system, where she put her nesties on magnetic sheets, and filed them in metal dvd cases, and those were filed in photo storage boxes...and then there's Dawn, who made the most adorable die storage for all of her PTI dies...so I thought, and thought and thought, and then POOF!!  I finally figured out how I was going to store my dies.  I took elements from Barb, and Dawn, and made my own system.

 I went to Home Depot, and bought these Magnet vent covers.  They measure 8"x15", and 3 come in a pack for less than $5!  I cut each cover in to 6 4"x5" magnets... (so that's 18, count them, 18 magnet sheets for less than $5)

Then I cut some Kraft CS 4.25"x7.25" and mounted the magnet on one side, and I've written the name of the dies on the tab with no magnet.  Eventually, I'll cover those with nicer labels, but I've at least got them all labeled for now, so I know which dies are which.

 

ETA: the magnet on the card with the number dies measures 4X6.5 (or 6.75, I can't remember!) In order for me to fit them all on one card, I cut the magnet larger :)

Then, I broke out a photo box, and used some of the foam core that was left over from my color cubbie, and made a couple of dividers for the box (they measure 4.25" x 7.5") and I hot glued them in place.  I've organized my dies/embossing plates/folders as follows:  Spellbinders are up front, PTI dies are in the center, and all of my embossing/impression plates are in the rear.

 I was so proud of my little creation, I shared it with hubby (who was SO enthused, I might add) but he was curious what I was going to do with the vent covers, so he got what he asked for, right??  Anyway, while he was sitting there, marveling at my work(*snicker*), I took my PTI rick rack die, and just laid it across the PTI section.  You see, it's too wide to fit sideways in the box, and I still want to be able to put the lid on the box.  So, I was just going to lay the die, diagonally in the box.

Hubby says "you're going to leave it like that?"
I reply, "Well, yeah.  I'm not sure how I'm going to store it yet, look, it won't fit".
So hubby says "I can't believe you are going to go through all of that, and leave that thing like that".

Then, all of a sudden... POOF! (it happens alot around here) hubby had a BRILLIANT idea.
Hubby: "Babe -- do you have a piece of magnet left??"
Me: "Yes, I have this larger piece that I haven't cut yet"
Hubby: "You should glue that to the inside lid of the box.  Put the long one on that magnet.  Then it will still be in the box, but stored neatly."
Me: "WOW -- that is a FANTASTIC idea, and I'll have plenty of room for more!"...

then of course, he sat there, all satisfied with himself for the rest of the afternoon ;).

So, there you have it...my die storage... oh, and I'm slowly but surely procuring enough white photo boxes that I will soon be able to build a fort with them...and I will share my plans for them with you, as they happen...

Until next time...thanks for stopping by, and make it a great day!!