Archives – May, 2012
DIY crafting is popular at many levels, creating exciting opportunities for young and old to express themselves artistically. There are so many crafting mediums to consider, creating a never ending need to store materials. One person will focus on specific types of crafting projects while another will try anything and everything available. In either case, it’s important to have sensible systems for storing your crafting supplies so that they are easy to find and so that they are in usable condition for your next project:
Filing Systems
There are many filing systems that can be used for storing your DIY crafting supplies. File cabinets are easy to open, and file folders are effective for holding flat materials. Paper products and other slender materials fit well into file folders for storage. File envelopes work well for more bulky materials, able to hold fabrics and tools.
You can also use upright file systems. Drawers pull out to open up for storage of stamps, paints or scrapbook tools. Small file boxes are perfect for storing materials that belong together and need to be ready for transport. Filing in any fashion allows for sensible organization so that your crafting tools and supplies are easy to retrieve.
Recycled Containers
Many crafters are skilled at making the most of food containers and product packaging for storing their supplies. Frosting containers, yogurt cups and coffee canisters are excellent examples of recycled craft storage. Paints, soft materials, crayons, brushes, glues and more can be placed in these types of containers for storage on a shelf. These are inexpensive and they facilitate keeping some products in top condition. This is especially true with paint and marker products that depend on correct position for usability.
Bins
Plastic bins come in all sizes. Most are rectangular in nature, making it easy to store smaller bins inside of larger bins. Small plastic bins are able to hold individual crafting products ranging from sequins to beads to pins. Larger bins can be used to hold all products related to a particular project or type of craft.
Cabinets
The dedicated DIY crafter may need a significant amount of storage space, whether specially built cabinets or portable cabinets are used. A dedicated craft room is especially well-suited to custom cabinets. If extra space is limited, though, a portable crafting cabinet can be purchased. Many of the modern portable cabinets include both shelf and drawer space, making it easy to store supplies and close the area.
Cubbies
Cubbies are very popular because they can easily be rearranged. A system of box shaped shelves combines with baskets or specialty bins to create storage that can be uniquely customized for individual needs. Cubbies make it easy to create and use personal storage units for your do-it-yourself crafting ventures.
The satisfaction in creating your own décor or gifts is wonderful, but crafting supplies have a way of overtaking a home as a DIY crafter becomes engrossed in a project. If you need to take control of your craft supplies, there are solutions that can be inexpensive and easy. There are also specialty solutions that can accommodate a more extensive passion for crafting. Fun and fulfillment are at the heart of the DIY craze, and with a little planning your craft room can be easier to work with because of your storage approach.
May 30, 2012
Plastic, see-through containers are wonderful for storing like-items. Today, I decided to make one to hold our tote bags. This container will easily hold about 20 tote bags. Whenever we need one, they’ll all be in the box and we’ll be able to choose whichever ones suits our needs.
I also designated the same type of container for shopping bags. We always keep the nicer, heavy-duty paper and plastic shopping bags when we go shopping. They’re perfect to have on hand when you need to carry things from one location to another, or to give to house guests when they’re carrying presents or leftovers home.
Also, take notice of the label. This is a chalkboard label, and I think it’s one of the greatest ideas since sliced bread! You simply stick these on your containers, shelves, etc. The ones I use are removable in case you change your mind. Using chalk or a chalk pen, you write on the label. Here’s the best part: If you change your mind about the contents in that particular container later, there’s no need to remove the label and deal with all the messy residue that’s going to be left behind. All you do is wipe the chalk off the label with a wet cloth, and you can write your new category on…Love it!
May 23, 2012
I love to go to the hair salon and get my hair cut and styled. It’s a treat that always makes me feel great. My appointment this past Monday was wonderful, as usual. Not only did I have a nice chat with Colleen, my hairdresser, but I left with the happiness of knowing that I wouldn’t really have to fuss over my hair for the next few days.
Taking care of hair can definitely take some time in your day. Here are a few shortcuts I use to minimize time invested with my hair.
1) I go to the gym nearly every day. If I don’t want to wash my hair when I get home, I use a scrunchie to get it off my neck while I’m working out.
2) If I feel like my hair needs to be ‘freshened’ when I get back from the gym, I use a dry shampoo that I picked up from my hair salon. I spray it on, leave it on for a few moments, and then use my hands to work it through my hair.
3) When I do wash my hair, (every other day) I generally do so at night after dinner when I know I’m going to be home for the evening. This way, I can let it air dry for a few hours, and then just blow dry it for a minute or two before bed if needed.
4) I shower every day, but I wear a shower cap on those days I don’t want my hair to get wet. Once I dry off after my shower, the shower cap is removed and I use some hair product to spruce my hair up a bit.
5) My morning hair routine is comprised of either pulling my hair back in a ponytail (if I’m going to the gym or coming back home afterwards, or simply planning to work behind my desk in the office) OR using the flat iron to straighten it out (if I’m going to a business meeting or meeting a friend for lunch, for example). On the days I use the flat iron, that adds about 15 minutes or so to my morning routine, so I plan accordingly.
6) If I know a special occasion day is coming up, I call my salon and make an appointment to just have my hairdresser wash, dry and style it. It’s one less thing to worry about on those days when it’s very important that your hair looks nice.
May 18, 2012
Despite all the wonderful notes I receive on a regular basis, every once in awhile I get an ‘Ouch! Note.’ The other day, was one of those days.
One reader wrote because, apparently, there was a typo or grammatical error in one of my newsletters. First, I know that sometimes one can read an email with a ‘tone’ that the writer did not intend. That being said, it was difficult for me to read this note in particular without a ‘negative tone’ from the writer based on some phrases she used like ‘I am tired of,’ ‘if you truly are a professional,’ and ‘include the time and effort and self-respect to double check your work.’
Here was her note word-for-word, excluding her name and contact information:
Thanks for the tips. I enjoy the newsletter, however I am tired of the typos and grammar mistakes! If you truly are a professional, you should double check your writing before you send it out. In this issue alone, I spotted TWO very easy-to-fix errors. It makes me take you and your ideas less seriously. I am an English teacher, so I feel that being organized (your entire purpose for the newsletter) must include the time and effort and self-respect to double check your work.
(Deep breath.) Ok…
1) We are human here, and occasionally a grammatical error or typo is bound to get past our editors. It happens in newspapers, major magazines, even books. (Yes, I realize I just wrote an incomplete sentence.)
2) To give our articles a friendly feel, we write the way we speak. In doing so, we may break grammatical rules by starting our sentences with the words AND or BUT, writing a run-on sentence, or other similar grammar no-nos. (We hope no English Teachers are fainting right now.)
3) Our main goal, while we try our best to get each issue out error free, is to provide the very best organizing information we can.
Why am I writing about this reader’s note in my blog? Not because I’m offended that she called us on an error, but instead because of the phrases she used and the ‘tone’ of her note.
I hope that’s not the way she would approach one of her students, as they may be scared to death to write another word, rather than being encouraged to write–and improve throughout their lives.
Now, I’m not writing this blog entry today because I’m mad or sad, or because I want to make the person who wrote the note that encouraged this blog entry feel bad, or anything like that.
In fact, I want my readers to write to me with their feedback, both positive and not-so-positive. I love receiving notes and it’s amazing how even a critical note can be written in such a way that the reader is thankful that the person who wrote it did it in such a helpful manner.
In fact, positive, encouraging, solution-oriented notes have helped us continuously improve over the years, and we appreciate them!
The tone we use in our notes, no matter who we’re writing to, will set the stage for a happy or mad/sad recipient.
We thank all of our readers who take the time to read their notes ‘with tone in mind’ before they’re sent out (whether those notes are to me or someone else), and who care enough to think about the feelings of the person who is about to receive their helpful feedback.
P.S. Yes, I read this note 3 times and I apologize in advance for any spelling or grammatical errors. (Smile.)
May 2, 2012