cardmakingandpapercraft.com

[Styles_12]

Hello I'm new here and joined today.

I have a few basic card making things in a box in the bedroom and no particular table to work from as such. I tend to sit on a cushion on the floor and use the blanket box at the end of our bed to make cards...not very comfy I know!

I would like to be more organised and start by making all the birthday cards this year. But lack of storage and a comfy work space means it's not very easy & very time consuming. I have looked at some storage boxes but haven't made a final decision on what's best for me.

How have you organised your craft space and how much time do you put aside to make the cards ?

Any tips will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[RDZphoto]

until recently i was a bit like you. i used to do my crafting in the living room on the floor mostly because i preferred that to the dining table. Just before christmas my sister came and emptied the rest of the stuff from her bedroom so i was able to use the desk in her room to do the cards. i find this great as the bits i'm using i can leave on the bed etc and not worry about having to tidy it up. I've got my craft stuff organised into groups, so i have a shoe box with the tools in like sticky pads, scissors etc, then i have a box full of my stamps, a box full of ribbon, a box under the bed with all my paints and glitter glues in and things. it helps me to separate my things like this so i can easily find something when i want it

[BusyBee]

I have to admit I use the dining room table - but I live alone so only have to keep one end clear to eat off. It does mean a major putting away, etc., when friends or family come for a meal unless it can be eaten in the living room. However I also have monthly class - that involves clearing away any unfinished projects of my own but not all the craft stuff as they will be using it too. I find A4 and A5 plastic boxes very useful for storage and I also have a couple of boxes on wheels with 3 deep drawers in them - one of these was actually on sale as a toy storage box when I bought it. I won't comment on time as being retired I have rather more than most of you!!

[Styles_12]

Thank you ladies for your replies.

My kichen/dining table can't be used as it means I have to bring everything down and take it all up to the bedroom. So for now I think I'll split the stuff into different shoe type boxes for ease of use.

One other thing, how much time do you normally put aside for making cards ?

Thanks in advance.

[BusyBee]

I think we need to know a bit more about you to answer that one in a helpful way. Do you work full time or part time? Do you have young children? When mine were young cardmaking was a bit of a hit or miss affair when I could involve them in the process. Later I took to cross stitch and silk ribbon embroidery as I could do that while sitting with the family watching TV. Pressing stitched items was done when I did the family ironing. Mounting when I had a few moments to myself. When I first retired I set aside a few hours each week. As I get older I spend more time on this one hobby but that's much easier to do now all my space is my own 90% of the time.

[Bwitched]

I usually only get time at the weekends although if I have a particular order I will make time during the week. I am lucky enough to have a large spare bedroom so I have a desk and space....but...it's usually such a mess I work in about a square foot of space! lol

[CaroStaton]

I work full-time and have a 4 year old who has recently started school so my husband and I have a routine which gives me an hour to myself every evening to do whatever I want and that is usually when I craft. We live in a small 3 bedroomed house and turned the third bedroom into a study (we therefore don't have a spare room) which my husband and I share between us (His and Hers desks etc!). My crafting things are stored mostly in clear plastic boxes of various sizes that allows me to see what is in them, although i do have a couple of Ikea storage units as well. When I get a chance I will show you a photo of my little crafting corner! Is there anyway you can put a small desk and shelves in a corner of your bedroom for crafting?

[lilbuddha]

We've just moved to a slightly larger house so I've got the spare room downstairs for my crafting. However I haven't unpacked all my crafting stuff yet but I've just discovered that the wardrobe the people left behind is beyond repair so I'll need shelving units. At the moment, my crafting stuff is in boxes, the Really Useful ones are really useful (surprisingly) although they're expensive but I've got bits and pieces on a table that will ultimately have to go back to SIL. As to when I do my crafting, I'm quite lucky at the moment as I'm looking for work so I can do it whenever I want, but when I was working full time, I did my crafting on an evening, using a tray on my knee instead of the dining room table which was full of craft stuff...
Keep us posted and let us see your finished examples
x

[thumpa2011]

hello styles
i have just bought a house with my boyfriend and we have a spare room but he took that room as to be used as a gym but hasnt been in there since he put his thing in so i have resorted to a corner in the sitting room here is a picture


and most of my craft stuff is in the spare room in boxes so have to keep goin up and down the stairs.i only get a chance to do about a couple of hours 2 nights a week as work late and doin house work but i really enjoy them couple of hour and try and make an excuse to have more time to do them lol

[Styles_12]

Thank you ladies for your replies.

I work part time but the shop is closed for 2 weeks at present. So I'm on leave and have some time to get organised . I am lucky enough to work term time so I can look after my 8 year old. My partner is a civil servant and works unsocial shifts. So the bedroom, together with my craft stuff is out of bounds when he's on lates & night shifts.

I only usually get a couple of free hours once my daughter is in bed around 8 - 8.30pm. But if my partner is not working, we usually spent the time together watching films (big fans) and drinking wine . And when he is working lates or evenings, I use the time to catch up on housework and some early nights.

But I am trying to get organised and do something for myself. As I feel I don't really do anything for me anymore since moving to the country.......my memory is getting worse and brain is turning into mush .

On a positive note, since joining I have sorted a few bits into boxes and in fact made a few cards tonight as I needed to go and let of some steam. They are really simple stick on ones but hey it's a start, I'll try posting a picture over the next few days.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, it's good to know I'm not alone