Lots of crafters do tours of their craft rooms, showing you their beautiful wall to wall Kallax units, and co-ordinating furniture and accessories. My space is not like that, but I thought I would invite you in anyway. In this post I give you a glimpse of how I store things and the stories behind some of my storage.

My Craft Room

Our conservatory actually serves as my craft room. The floor needs sanding and sorting. There is a hole in the roof that is covered with some plastic to stop the rain coming in and one wall is bare breeze blocks. It is not pretty, but it is mine.

The desk where I sit and create and record my Facebook Lives and where I am sitting typing this, is an off cut of worktop that we picked up on Ebay. It rests on the windowsill and has 2 legs screwed into the front. Underneath it are a variety of drawers. On the top to the right of this picture are a couple of shelving units, holding files, notebooks and all my embossing powders, stencils, pigment powders etc. Sitting here, I look out over my garden, which is in a terrible mess. However, it is full of lots of garden birds and passing neighbourhood cats ( as long as the dog doesn’t see them.) I am also visited by squirrels occasionally.

Under the Worktop

As I sit on my swivel chair (which was a present from my children), down by my feet there is a stack of boxes containing my pens, some larger tools I use infrequently, spare blocks, small punches and some card blanks and envelopes. The boxes sit in a plastic frame, which means I can take the whole thing to events when needed.

Resting on top of the set of wooden drawers that sits underneath the worktop and right in front of me, is my box of current ribbon. This box, with its lift up lid, belonged to my late Father-in-law and used to hold audio cassettes

Along to my right are 2 drawer stacks. Resting on top of the one nearest me are my blocks and trimmer. The first set of drawers contain my embellishments, as well as a variety of other eclectic craft materials. The second one along houses some paperwork, my ink refills and retired punches.

Look Right

If I swing round on my chair to the right, I will find my fabulous new, mint green, trolley. This was my Mother’s Day gift from my children last weekend. My die cutting machine sits on the top, with all the additional plates and punch boards stored underneath. Also in my trolley are my tools, aqua painters, adhesives just ready for me to grab. I have also stored my stamparatus, tool bag, watercolour pencils, pencil case and baby wipes on there. This has been such an asset this week as everything is to hand and not quite so liable to get lost on my desk.

Look Left

Immediately to the left of my desk is a long table with my boxes of current dies and embossing folders on the end nearest me. The rest of the table is groaning with cards and projects I have created. My die box was a wooden box that my late Dad made, so that has great sentimental value.

If I swing a little more to the left, I see my double sided, wheeled, book trolley that I bought as a bargain from Ebay. This contains all my current stamp sets.

It’s Behind You

If I swing right round, just to the right of the door is my stamp pad storage. The solid wooden unit was a present from Mike not long after I joined Stampin’ Up. I have all of my punches stored here too. This unit rests on top of one of two low level cupboards that I have in my craft room. They are both 70’s G Plan cupboards that belonged to my Father-In Law. Think these are quite on vogue these days! Mine contain non-Stampin’ Up stamps and ribbons and also retired Stampin’ Up stamps, dies and embossing folders.

In between these 2 cupboards sits another set of plastic drawers and on top is all my Designer Series Paper, plus foil, glimmer card and Memory and More pockets.. These card racks were collections I bought from a shopping channel about 12 plus years ago. They were a set of 2 drawers, one containing 12″x12″ papers and the other coordinating stickers, embellishments and card bases. I had a set of three -Spring, Summer and Christmas. I have one set of drawers remaining and then the carcases of the set of the other two are now filled with 12″ cardstock and DSP stored in our scrapbook pockets.

And Beyond

My A4 cardstock is all stored in these plastic racks that I acquired when I was working in a local craft store and they were having a clear out. They are on the floor, under my table and away from direct sunlight.

All my card oddments live in a large plastic box. The box is sub-divided into the colour families and each colour has its own poly pocket. White and black oddments have their own small box.

Also in my craft room is a dresser, a full length wooden unit, a filing cabinet, more drawer and some shelves. None of it matches, little of it was designed as craft storage, but I have been creative and utilised it.

Is my room tidy -no. Do I look at other people’s craft rooms with envy – yes. However, I know that I am truly blessed to have this space and all it contains. When I think about the stories behind some of these items – gifts to me from loved ones, treasured memories of those no longer with us – I can’t help but smile.

Keep safe, keep well

Helen xx