2.26.2010

My former Kraft Room

Here are some of the few pictures I have of just one of my former craft rooms.

I made this door-hanger with Christmas ornaments.


Here's the Before.
Before I like to clean, I need to make a mess first. When organizing a room, I like all of my options open to me, therefore I need to first make a mess on the floor.



And here's the after!
This is the closet; holding mostly scrapbooking stuff. Some larger craft pieces were stored in there as well.


Here I stored long ribbons in the closet doors. The shelves hold other smaller craft stuff. I made the clock and pencil/marker holders. I bought the Create sign on ETSY. On my desk I stored new embellishments I wanted to use. The green caddy was purchased at Michaels. I painted it up. It holds markers, pens, scissors, and adhesives.


Here's an up-close of my closet and all of my ribbon. I need to start using it. Some is hung on a curtain rod, some is on rolls on the curtain rod, some is in boxes, some sitting on my Making Memories shelf. I stored pictures and books on the bookshelf. The black trays hold all of my scrap papers, mini albums, stickers, and rub ons. Three drawers are for scrap cardstock, separated by neutrals, cools, & warm colors, and another for scrapped pattern paper. The rest of my 12x12 pattern papers on the white shelves. The white curtains were also found on ETSY.

Here's my drawers of fabric, which were full! There are also jars of buttons, christmas crafts, and my board games. Love Monopoly!

2.24.2010

Pumpkin Krafts

Ahh I cannot wait to be home with all of my craft stuff. I just want to sit down and cut paper over and over and apply glue over and over and emboss this an emboss that. Not to mention playing with all the wonderful scrapbook tools they have out there. Just play and play and play and create and craft and just do it. I would look like a child, 6 years old, and Christmas had come early. And Birthday. And Easter. All at once.

But since I cannot, here are some pictures I have of past projects I have made. Some I still have, waiting to be sold, some were re-done. And others I have no clue.



A couple of years ago, when I worked for Michaels in Fairbanks, I was asked to make some store demos with the fake pumpkins. The elephant was from an idea sheet, but the giraffe...the giraffe was mine. Of course the elephant needed a friend, and I have him one. And I absolutely loved that giraffe. He took me forever, had issues with the hair, and the legs, and all kinds of things. And then I always have a hard time deciding. But I finished him and he looks amazing! The elephant does too. But the monkey Jennifer made was awesome too! haha And he was kinda pose-able.




And Whoo look at that messy craft room. Ahh I loved that room. The bright yellow walls, that I had to paint twice, always made it bright and cheery. I always felt crafty when I walked in there. I loved that room. Except the spiders. I had to clean out the screen and window sill twice a year to get rid of the spiders. Yuck! But this was still my most favorite house, well condo actually, that I ever lived in.

2.23.2010

Becoming Kraftie

Guru(n) - [goo-roo] a teacher, an intellectual or spiritual guide, any person who counsels or advises, mentor, recognized leader in a field, an acknowledged and influential advocate, etc.

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I've always been creative. I used to want to be a Kindergarten teacher so I could make art stuff all day long. And I love kids. But after babysitting for a few years that idea has long been gone.

I've always loved dollhouses, but my mom could never afford a big one. So once after we had just moved; I took a bunch of boxes, stacked them, taped them together, and then painted the insides a different color. They were just tall enough for Barbie to walk in. I might have even attempted windows and doors. But let's just say that I literally put my blood, sweat, and tears into it. Now usually one wouldn't have a blue floor, green floor, red floor, etc. But I didn't have the money or the experience to be painting in rugs, pictures, lights, etc. But it was good enough for me at that age.

My grandma is really crafty too. For the longest time she made everyone in the family Christmas presents. And we have a big family. She's made us a blanket, pillow cases, Easter baskets, dolls. She has even made costumes, wedding dresses, and just about anything else you can think of. My first trip into a craft store, Ben Franklins, was probably with her.

And then I started working at Michaels the Arts & Crafts store in high school. And I stuck around for THREE years. THREE! Ahhhh! Let's just say I saw people come and go. And I saw my money go bye bye as well. There weren't many days I went home without some new thing I just had to have. I picked up on just about every hobby they came up with too. I did just about everything! Or I could combine them to make just about everything. And thanks to my folks for moving into a 3-bedroom, I had my own craft room to expand into. And I did.

And so to the woman who has inspired me from the beginning,
for giving me a step up into this market,
for which I now want a career in,
I dedicate this blog to my grandmother
For whom without I'd be lost in a world of nothing.