Storage - Scraps

In the effort to be more 'eco-friendly' and 'cost-efficient', I have a scrap storage system that works really well for me. I purchased these plastic 3-drawer containers mostly at Hobby Lobby, but Walmart also sells them. I would usually get them at HL because I could use a coupon on them.

These sit on the left side of my studio table up against the wall. The first two stacked on top of each other hold my scraps and the other two on the right hold mostly patterned paper that I like to have within reach when I am creating (bottom going up: adhesive refills, polka dotted paper, floral & swirl paper, checks & gingham paper, striped paper, and scrap cuts from my cricut). Scrap cuts? You know... all those things you cut and then don't use on your project? I love my scrap cut drawer because sometimes I will just open it up and design a card from what inspires me in that drawer.

Each drawer is color coordinated to hold two colors that are usually associated together. Except for the black & white drawer. I use so much more black and white than any other color that they each needed their own drawer.

The center label identifies the drawer as a Scrap drawer and the colors are listed on the left hand side.

This is the 'Purple/Blue' drawer and it holds not only the solid colors, but patterned papers as well. Whatever the main color in a pattern is... is what color it will get filed under.

Now... let's revisit that scrap drawer of mine. You know how you will make cuts with your cricut and then decide you want it to be a different size or the diecut just doesn't look quite right for that particular project? Well, I use to throw those cuts away, but some of them are too stinking cute! Hence, my scrap cuts drawer.

I guess it might look like a mess to most, but to me... it's like the land of lost toys!

Just lying around waiting for someone to use them. It's a drawer full of inspiration and sometimes I just like to dig around and see what might go with what and just make something out of them.

This cute airplane tag is from NEW ARRIVAL. That cartridge makes the round tag foundation and will cut any image in a circle to be shadowed and will fit the foundation. I made a bunch of these as luggage tags for my daughter when she moved to Alaska. Put her contact info on the back and laminated them. This one was an extra. Too cute to throw away... I am sure I will use it somewhere someday.

Here is a simple tag, I had cut it out to use on a project and then decided that I liked the patterned paper tag better.

The word 'Sweet' (from the new SIMPLY SWEET cart) gives me an idea...

Let's pick a piece of blue paper from the scrap drawer...

And some ribbon to match. I keep all my spare ribbons and buttons in these jars that sit right next to my scrap drawers. What do you do with all those extra buttons that come with some of the clothes you purchase? I just put them in the middle jar. Very rarely have I ever had to use one on the shirt it goes with, so I use them for projects.

Emboss the paper and put it all together, then add a sentiment... and viola! I just made a cute birthday gift tag totally out of scraps!

Storage - Cricut Cartridges

I love to scrapbook...
I love to shop for scrapbook supplies...
But, what I don't love... is having looking for the stuff I buy because it's disorganized.

I think that being organized is one of the biggest challenges that most of us scrapbookers struggle with. I am a pretty organized individual (maybe even a little OCD bout it at times), but it can be pretty challenging for me, too. I am not creative if my studio is a mess. I just can't seem to do anything in there... don't feel inspired. But give me a clean table and my papers all where I can find them... my cricut at my elbow and my cartridges right below and I am a scrapbooking fiend! I know... I know... not everyone is like that. One of my good scrappin' pals, Marianne can create masterpieces out of a pile of stuff and when she gets done... lol... it looks like a woodpecker just made a nest! There are paper pieces everywhere... and she works well like that... it's her 'thing', and her pages are awesome.

So, I would like to do a few posts on organizing your scrap (sscrubby calls is 'crap' by accident sometimes... do you think its by accident? hehee) book stuff. Let's start with my favorite thing... my cricut and all those cartridges:

Above is a picture of my 'Cricut Center'. My chair sits in front of this and my studio table is to the right so that when I am working on stuff, my cricut is at my left elbow. These are those Crop-In-Style cubes stacked two high and three across. There is an altered bulletin board in the back that hides the cords to the lights that were installed underneath the bottom shelf. The cricut sit centered with my jukebox on the right and my laptop (for DS) on the left.

I store all of my cartridges in these spinner bait tackle boxes underneath my cricut.

I have my cartridges stored alphabetically within the cases and each case is numbered. Each case holds 16 and I am now filling up my 6th case... there's only two in it right now, so if you do the math... I own 82 cricut cartridges! I know... I know... some of you freak out over that, but remember... I teach cricut classes and host scrapbook retreats for a living!



All my Disney cartridges are grouped together in the 'D-H' box.



These spinner bait tackle boxes originally had 32 slots with 8 rows like the one in my hand above. I have seen many people online who use these boxes with all 8 rows and they store the keypad overlay and handbook in a separate container. I personally like having the cartridge and overlay together so I removed every other plastic row (they were just snapped in) and put the keypad overlays that go with the cartridges right behind them. Each plastic row flips up to give access to what lays behind it.



You might be able to see the little white squares under each cartridge... those are a foam makeup wedge cut in half and placed in the slot so that the cartridge doesn't slide down too far. The wedges fit snugly so they do not move around at all. The cartridges fit perfect in each slot and the 'teeth' are protected from dust and damage.



I store all the handbooks in the container below.



The handbooks are not in alphabetically order...



I actually hate them. I much prefer the notebooks that I have made for my cricut cartridges. I have printed each handbook out in 8.5"x 11" and most are in 3 prong folders are stored in a magazine rack. There are a few that I have filed inside a three ring binder because they include pictures of projects made with that particular cart and project sheets. You can see them on the shelf above my cricut.



Hope this helps someone. There are many ways to store your cartridges and several are really good. This one just works well for me because I have so many and as you can see it minimizes the space used.
Let me know if you have any questions. I would also love to know how you store your cartridges. Happy crafting!

I have been asked about these flipsider tackle boxes... so here is a LINK to them on the Bass Pro website. The one I use is model 3714 and has 32-compartments. Remember I take every other row out, so mine hold 16 cartridges. They cost only $14.49 online plus s/h. I pay only $12.99 in the store... so you decide which is better... gas vs. shipping.

SIMPLY SWEET - Heart Feature w/CENTERPOINT

Many of you know that my oldest son is in the Army... well, he is coming home tomorrow for a visit!! I am so lucky because this is his second visit this year!! Not a common thing for these Army boys. Of course, he said he was coming home because my birthday is next week... but I think it might have more to do with this cute young lady who has his interest here. Shhhh... I don't care the reasons anyway... I'm just super excited that he will be here! So, I am trying to finish some of the pages in my older scrapbooks so he can see them.



These pictures are from May of 2006... is anyone else as far behind as I am!? I chose all solid colors and only 1 print for this layout. Used a license plate stamp that I just love because of how versatile it is... a little bit of ribbon, some snaps and now I am ready for the journal box... or I should say, 'journal heart'. I used the HEART feature on the new SIMPLY SWEET cricut cartridge. This feature will cut any of the letters or images into the top left part of the heart. As you can see below, I selected the 'Thank You' image (Key 52).



First I printed my journaling on white cardstock, then I used the creative feature - CENTERPOINT for the journal heart by placing my blade housing centered over the journaling and setting my size at 7.5". I then selected the HEART feature on the SIMPLY SWEET cart and chose the 'Thank You' image. It was then shadowed in brown.

Here's a look at how I store my colorbox cateye stamp pads...



It's a floss caddy that has removeable dividers...



I love it because it is portable and fits right inside my toolbag and goes anywhere I go.



I used Cranberry to ink the edges of my heart journal box. I love the 3-prong applicator from Pebbles, Inc for those hard to reach spots.



You just dab the little pom pom onto the inkpad and rub it in the small spaces. It works well with chalk too.



I also cut a set of keys from the LOCKER TALK cricut cartridge. I like how this page came together and I think Patch will like it too.



BLOGGER AWARD!



Jennifer over at JENNIFERSCRAPSHACK gave me an award! Thanks Jennifer!

Here are the rules:
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Most of the blogs that I selected for this award are from my followers list (thank you for following my blog!!) and are fairly new blogs or at least new to me. They all have great content... cute projects and LOVELY BLOGS! I encourage you to check them out... and when you do, tell them that LADYBUGDIVA sent ya!

AshleeM Ashlee has some really cute ideas... She is a Marine Wife and the cutest little boy, which gives her wonderful scrapbook material. She is also building a business with her SWEET SENTIMENTS... so go visit her and give her your support!

MelissaR Melissa scraproom rocks! She is a 'dog-person' like we are and has the cutest little fur babies. I like her card designs and the paint bucket decorated with Hello Kitty. Go say 'hi' to her four footed babies... her Oreo looks like our black lab, Harley.

Renee Renee is another blogger from Oklahoma. She has some cute cards and layouts, but my favorite is the little mailbox that she altered for Valentine's Day and put a gift card and goodies in it.

LisaLisa Lisa has got it going on! She is def not new to the blogger scene, but I am a new follower of hers. She is a SU demonstrator and teaches alot on her blog. I love how she gives step-by-step instructions with pictures for each step! I personally prefer that to watching a video because I don't have to rewind or take notes! LOL! You've got to see the Fourth of July party decorations she made! I will def be scraplifting those! LOL!

Nilda Nilda moderates the CUTTLEBUG SPOT. It is a challenge blog for the cuttlebug! I am always so busy with my cricut, that I forget sometimes to use my cuttlebug (i know! sad!). So I joined the followers here to help me do more with my cuttlebug. Her designers are so talented!
Need encouragement with your cuttlebug... go check them out!

Mary Mary is a SU demonstrator from Arizona. Like most SUs, she has some great instructions on her blog. Anybody want to learn how to make a Tri-Shutter card... then hop on over to her blog, cause she has the step-by-step instructions!

Mardenz I have just discovered Mardenz! And became a follower! If you like SCAL or DS and you are looking for some cute files... for free! Then you definitely need to hop over to Mardenz. She has over 266 cut files! I didn't see a donate button, but she does have adsense... so give her some love while you are there!

Noreen
Noreen has a cute little blog! She loves to make shadowboxes like I do and her designs are really nice! She is from Florida (i'm just a little bit jealous!) and has a link to a great coupon site on her blog (TFS that one!)

Michelle Wow! What a beautiful blog. Michelle's background and layout of her blog is just so pretty... it is like going to a tea party when you visit her blog. And she has some of the cutest scalloped dresses... go check her out!

Jenny What a sweet sweet blog Jenny has! She made some of the cutest notepads for teacher gifts! I was looking for a card idea for some birthday cards and I plan on using THIS ONE that Jenny made! Hope you don't mind me scraplifting that one Jenny, but it is SO cute!

Emily Emily is the Scrappin Butterfly and also has an Etsy store as the Paper Butterfly. She has some beautiful designs. I especially like her Rose Invitation design that she makes for wedding invitations. So, if you know of a bride shopping for invitations... send her to Emily, her prices are very comparable too!

Janis Pause Dream Enjoy... perfect name for this blog. Janis has a little bit of everything. You can tell that she enjoys reading other blogs and is wonderful about sharing the special ones on her blog. Want some blog candy? Janis can tell you where to find it. I especially like the little therapy sessions that she has... I may have to write a "Dear So & So" letter myself! Make sure you have time to browse and blog hop when visiting Janis... you could get lost over there! LOL!

ZooKeeper I don't know the Zookeeper's name, but she has such an inspiring blog. The mom of three kids, two of whom have autism, she struggles with MS herself and is able to share her ups & downs through her blog. This particular blog is not scrapbook related, but could be so inspirational and supportive for others who face the same issues.

Janet Just a cute little blog from the north! Janet writes from Michigan and can definitely keep you updated on where the blog candy is!!! She has a cute little matchbox project on her latest post... real cute!

Deb I had to leave my good friend Deb for last! She was the chairperson for the charity event that I just sponsored for the Dallas Police Dept. She is also on the design team for my favorite local LSS the Scrappin Bunny up in McKinney, Texas. She's fairly new to blogging, so go show her some love and tell her I sent ya! You've got to see the BRIDE wordbook she has posted... she did REAL good!

Vinyl Scraps - Wedding Frame

My mom bought this beautiful frame to give to my daughter (who got married in December) for her birthday. She asked me to put a picture in it for her... and I did. But, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to use some of my scrap vinyl pieces and personalize the gift.

I must confess... I am a bit of a packrat. Most of my friends would have thrown this piece of vinyl away... it measures about 2"x 8" and has a crease in it. But... no... not me. I cut a piece of this off (because I don't need the whole thing) and peeled the backing off and stuck it right on a cricut matt that had lost it's stickiness.

I used HANNAH MONTANA for the year and STORYBOOK (of course) for their last name.

I use to use rub-ons to personalize picture frames. But, now I wouldn't use anything but vinyl. The main reason is because of how 'forgiving' it is! I cut the word 'the' from the CALLIGRAPHY cartridge then decided to use the STORYBOOK instead. If I had been using rub-ons, I wouldn't have had the option to change my mind about something. Once you've rubbed it on... it's there! Not so with vinyl... you can peel it off if you make a mistake or just want to change it.

My speed is on the slowest it can go because I am cutting these letters out at 1/2". I also set my pressure at LOW so it wouldn't tear my vinyl... remember I took the backing off of the vinyl. But, I was surprised at how fast this cut... even on the lowest setting. Watch the video clip...

Okay... so I'm not great at videoing (lol!), but you get the point. Because it wouldn't go any slower, I had to cut a couple of the letters out several times just to get one that didn't tear. But, no big deal... it's just scrap vinyl and I got what I wanted in the end.

Here is the final result...







Not a big project... took me all of 15 minutes start to finish to complete... but I really think she is gonna love it! She was a beautiful bride!

STAND & SALUTE - Airborne Graduation

Have I told you lately how much I love this cartridge? Goes right along with something else I love dearly... my Army son. Up to this point, all the projects done with the about to be released STAND & SALUTE cricut cartridge have all been patriotic. Well, I've decided to switch gears and concentrate on some military pages.





I started with an 8x10 photo of my husband and I standing in the drop zone (at Fort Benning) with our son who just jumped, not once, but three times from a perfectly good C130! His last jump symbolized his graduation from Airborne school and gave him the honor of wearing 'wings' on his uniform. What an exciting day that was! The traditions of the graduation run deep and as a mom (who is prior military herself) I just could not have been prouder! My son, who left our home only a year before this photo as a teen... was suddenly a man before my eyes. Words can not describe the emotion.






Okay... back to the layout. I am on a mission to use up some of the papers and embellishments that I have so neatly stored in my scrappin studio. So, nothing on my layout is necessarily new except the cricut cuts. I chose a brighter color scheme than I normally use on my military layouts because I wanted the 'importance' of the day to stand out. I have the typical army colors brown and green... but focused on a brighter green this time and added the blue to symbolize the sky that day.


STAND & SALUTE has some great military cuts... I know, I know... Many of you are disappointed that there are not more branch specific cuts, but trust me... you will still be happy with what this cartridge offers. I knew exactly what picture I was going to use when I saw this page of the handbook.







At first, I was going to use the helicopter with the paratrooper cause it is so cool... but my son reads my blog too... and he would surely correct me because he jumped out of a C130. So, I used the plane instead... like a good Army mom, LOL!




I cut the plane at 3" in brown and cut the shadow in the royal blue. I then flipped the image and cut is again because I wanted planes flying in both directions.





Many of the military images on this cartridge are more shadowy than detailed. I liked that because it will allow more room for creativity when embellishing them. For my cuts today, I merely outlined the detail lines with my white signo pen.




The other embellishments I used are from Creative Cafe. I bought them a year or more ago when felt was all the rage in scrapbooking. I like how they pulled the colors out of the striped paper.





So, there you go. My layout of my son graduating from jump school. Still amazes me that he does this and has to jump so many times a month in order to keep his wings. I just cover him in prayer.

INDIE ART - Skull Layout

I have 3 kids... my youngest is in high school and very active in Theatre Arts. Musically talented and (imo) very cute! So, INDIE ARTS is a perfect cricut cartridge for my layouts of him.

I used Paper Studio's black & white polka dotted paper from Hobby Lobby. Cut the skull BLACKOUT in white and the skull itself in a teal blue. I love the Pebbles, Inc 3-prong applicator and pom poms to ink around corners and inside holes and stuff... so I used it to ink the edges of the skull in black.



The hinges are cut from the FABULOUS FINDS cricut cartridge in a silver cardstock and attached only to the teal blue skull head.

I typed my journaling on my computer and printed it out on white cardstock, cut it to fit and adhered it to the white blackout image of the skull. I scored a foldline across the top of the skull. Using silver snaps I attached the bottom part of the hinges to the skull only and the top part of the hinges all the way through the skull, blackout and polka dotted paper. That made the skull head itself like a door to the journaling underneath.

To bring the whole layout together I placed a matching set of hinges at the bottom and place a 12x12 black & white picture (purchased at costco for only $2.99!) of my son on the opposite side.

If you click on the photo you can see that I used blue stickles to enhance the matching skull on his hat... added a touch of stickles to his eyes (because they really do sparkle) and a rubon on the top right corner. He loves this layout and so do I!