We're looking into the small yet super functional scrap space of Shimelle Laine today:
How is your scrap space organized? I think first by product, then by manufacturer, so that's exactly how I sort my supplies. I keep all my papers together on a paper rack, then divided by manufacturer, and sometimes by collection. I keep all my stickers together, all my die-cuts, all my tape - and then if it needs further sorting I divide by manufacturer. My best advice for finding the best place to keep your supplies is to listen to the voice in your head as you create. Does it say 'something blue would look good here'? Or 'something polka dot' or 'something whimsical' or 'that chipboard piece from Dear Lizzy Neapolitan'? This will help you know if sorting by colour, pattern, mood, or collection.
What products must you have within arm's reach? I keep my most used products in the three drawers of my desk: pens and basic tools in one, inks and stamping basics, and... Thickers! I keep them in colour order on their side so it's easy to flip through and find the set I want even though I have a pretty serious affliction when it comes to Thickers. Some girls like handbags or shoes... I'm rather fond of glittery, dimensional letter stickers!
What do you love most about your scrap space? Working in space that isn't tiny but isn't huge has made me choose just the supplies I love most and that has made me use my stash rather than collect it, and I love how that affects the style of my pages. I tend to keep supplies for about six months and after that I have to have a particular project in mind or they get set free. I donate a lot of my scraps and extras to the local children's hospital. Last year they even had a card making competition with all the papers and stickers!
How often would we find you scrapping? I scrapbook nearly every day - probably six out of seven. But it is a pretty big part of my job, so without getting pages made, I'd have some trouble paying the bills! I definitely love the crafting aspect of my job... though I'm excited that one day I might not have to share the space with the sofa!
What's unique about your space? I don't store anything in plastic. I'm really not a fan of plastic boxes and plastic files. If there were a way to make page protectors out of something other than plastic, I would swap in a heartbeat! Instead, I keep my supplies in vintage Pyrex bowls, paper boxes and files, and metal buckets. I love open storage like that so I can see all the options I have to embellish my next project.
Thanks for showing us around Shimelle!
TFS your space Shimelle!
Posted by: Megan Smith | Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 12:52 PM
Your Thickers collection is amazing! I love your bowl of tapes, too!
Posted by: Stephanie DiSabato | Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 12:58 PM
It is lovely to see a fellow Thickers lover specifically describe how they store them!! I have the same affliction and store mine in a basket at my feet by colour so I can easily see them all the time and have them at the ready. Cause they go on EVERY layout.
Posted by: Jen | Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 02:42 PM
wow thats a lot of thickers n papers!!
Posted by: Wai Sam Ho | Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 07:02 AM
Love your paper storage. Great ideas! TFS :)
Posted by: Karla | Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 07:54 AM
Like the way is orgonized.
Posted by: Judith Rodriguez | Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 08:08 AM
This article looks very emotional.
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Posted by: True Religion sale | Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 12:43 AM
I love your room Shimelle! Love your thickers drawer too, I´ve got a clip-it-up filled with thickers, it has no more room so I´m on a thickers break :-( Maybe the solution is to change my storage so that I have room for more!
Posted by: Siri | Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 03:52 AM