Make It

Creative Re-use

Like many of you I'm trying to build a business on a budget. One of the key ways I do this is re-using and re-purposing items I already own and not purchasing anything unless I absolutely have to. I'm quite proud of my latest idea. After selling off and giving away the bulk of my costume jewelry collection before moving last year, I was still in posession of two hanging jewelry organizers. I no longer had the jewelry to fill them but I hung on to them in the hopes they'd come in handy down the line.  And you know what, they finally did. The small pockets are perfect for holding mini soaps. And the clear plastic allows me to see my inventory at a glance. It all hangs on the back of my closet door; a perfect storage solution for my small apartment.

Trashcans as storage

I made an IKEA trip this weekend with a friend and picked up some storage-type items for business stuff. I'm kind of excited about these (new, never used) white trashcans that I've repurposed into gift wrap holders. I put a wooden board on top of the radiator to make it a usable shelf and just put the trashcans, ahem, paper display receptacles, on top.

Getting Organized

Ping Mag has a roundup of ten ways to get organized. The list gets a little less relevant to my own life as it goes on (the personal robot butler is not for me) but there are some good and basic suggestions for ways to organize your life.

http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/10/26/the-art-of-efficiency-10-ways-to-organise-your-life/

This would have added a whole new element to that SATC episode

How cool are these massive post-it notes from Megasticky!

I see lots of potential for this in a craft studio setting. Jot down ideas and sketches in full-size and slap 'em right up on the wall. 80 sheets is $12, which seems pretty reasonable to me as you probably won't have all 80 post-its up on your wall at the same time...right?

via Apartment Therapy

(You guys know what Sex and the City episode I'm talking about, right? It's a classic!)

Reader Question: How to organize stamps and paper?

And while we're on the subject of paper crafts, take a look at this question from a reader named Donna and leave any suggestions for her in the comments:

I am looking to build a stamp/craft room and I am trying to find out the best way to organize rubber stamps and paper etc. I also scrapbook. Any help would be appreciated!

Donna, first things first, congrats on putting together a room totally devoted to crafts. Color me jealous. As for storage and organization, why don't you try using the plastic boxes made for jewelry/bead storage to keep your stamps. Most of these kinds of boxes have a clear top, place the stamps in rubber side down so that when you pull the box off of your shelf, you don't even have to open it up to see what is inside. Group the rubber stamps together according to subject matter. Keep all letters and numbers in one box, keep flora and fauna scenes in another, keep modern abstract stamps someplace else. Then you won't spend wasted time  digging around for that one great stamp that you really need.

Other suggestions?

Craft Studio Inspiration from Amy Ruppel

Check out these amazing pics of artist Amy Ruppel's studio.

I love her use of pegboard. Amy has a huge studio but peg board can be used in smaller spaces as well, like this, this, and this. It's a great way to combine storage and design (I think they look cool), which is key in small spaces.

Installing a pegboard.