|
Home / Hobbies / Arts and Crafts
Taming Of The Tools
By:Tina Parker
Oh tools of mine you cut divine,
you slice through paper like butter
on projects you save me such time
but on my workspace you create such a clutter.
In the never ending battle of workspace clutter, our tools are often the number one culprit. There are scissors, trimmers, hole punches, paper piercers, bone folders, craft knives, decorative punches, rulers, templates, etc., etc. The list goes on and on; if you add adhesive dispensers to the inventory you are soon up to your neck in loose tools. What is the best way to tame all these indispensable tools? The solution.....drum roll please, ORGANIZATION!
Uh oh, there it is, that dreaded word that makes most of us cringe. It takes away all hope of midnight elves coming in to put away our tools and clean up leftover scraps at the end of a long day of scrapping. It means (gulp) I have to do it. Take heart! the process can actually be quite enjoyable. The trick is start with something really fun - SHOPPING! For those of us with limited budgets, finances do not need to be a deterrent. There are ways to shop that won’t cost you a cent. One of those is to shop through your own home for what you need; another is to shop at mom’s or any other willing family member’s home.
Your shopping mission is to find containers that can be adapted for tool storage. The containers need to be compact enough so as not to take up valuable scrapping space, yet roomy enough to store bulky tools. The trick to finding a suitable container is to look at each vessel and imagine your tools inside. To help you decide if a particular container will fit your needs, ask yourself these questions: will my tools fit inside? can I get them out and put them back in easily? will it fit well at my workspace without getting in the way? The containers should always offer easy access to the articles stored inside; otherwise you will be tempted to leave them laying loose on the workspace. Some options for slender tools, could be wide mouth canning jars, short flower vases, clay or metal pots, or any other container that would allow tools to stand up right. For tools that are a little bulkier, vertical bill sorters make for a nice storage solution. File racks that hang on the wall are a good solution for cutting mats, rulers, stencils, and templates. Over the door canvas shoe hangers make for great tool storage when your scrapping space is limited. You are only constrained by your imagination, when it comes to creative tool storage solutions.
Once you have found the containers to suit your needs, the fun begins in earnest. This is a great opportunity to use your scrapping supplies to bring beauty and functionality together. Paper, stickers, and ribbons are great for decorating found-containers and bringing to them a little beauty. Material, ribbon, and a little spray adhesive can turn a shoe box into a gorgeous storage container. So go ahead! Get creative! Tame all those loose tools.
I would love to see your creative storage solutions post a picture to our layout gallery showing your favorite, functional piece.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: scrapbooking, scrapbook, scrapbooking ideas, scrapbook layouts
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Tina is a member of the design team and contributing writer for www.craftyplaces.com. She is also a certified SDU instructor for EK Success.
|
|
| Top Arts and Crafts Articles |
- 1). How to Make Lanyards By : Seth Miller
Creative types may be curious to learn how to make lanyards. If you are able to follow simple directions you will be able to produce your very own lanyard for personal use or to give as a gift. Whether for yourself or a as a gift, lanyards are a great way to secure your keys, cell phone, badge, or whistle.
In learning how to make lanyards it is important to choose the right material.
|
- 2). Quick Halloween Craft Idea - Witch's Hands! By : Lindsay Small
Quick Halloween Craft Idea - Witch's hands!
This is a handprint craft with a difference! You need only a few inexpensive supplies which you will probably have lying around the house. It is an easy craft to do with a crowd of children and the results are great for decorating the house or classroom. Best of all, you will end up with a fun memento to keep and look back on as the children grow.
|
- 3). Making A Twig Wreath By : Dawn Keadic
This twig wreath makes a very attractive decoration for inside or outside and one in which you can take great pride. The materials which you will require are a wire coat hanger, craft wire, I like to use about a 22-24 gauge wire, twigs, I like to break them into five inch lengths, berries, dried flowers, pinecones, whatever seems right to you, you are the creator so you are the one to be pleased.
|
- 4). Make Money Creating Wedding/Memorial Scrapbooks By : Jenny Harker
If you're familiar with creating scrapbooks then you have a work at home business waiting to be opened in your lap. Scrapbooks are a wonderful way to treasure wedding memories or the memories of a lost loved one.
To create a wedding scrapbook for a client you will need to attend the wedding or reception in order to gather photographs and quotes from family and friends of the happy couple.
|
- 5). 10 Tips for Peaceful Crafting with the Kids By : Angela Billings
Are you looking for ways to keep craft time with your children simple and fun? If so, I hope you will put some of the following suggestions to use.
1. Find the craft the kids want to make and then make a list of all the supplies you will need to make the craft.
2. If you do not have everything on hand add the supplies you need to your shopping list so you will not forget them.
|
- 6). 3 Little Known Tips For Shopping For Craft Supplies Online By : Amy Metz
Let me ask you a question. Did you ever think that the internet would become so powerful and pervasive, that even craft supplies would turn into big business online? Neither did I. But it's true. You can actually find just about any type of craft supplies that you are looking for if you look hard enough through the different search engines (or your local retail store).
|
- 7). Crochet - Hook Up For Fun! By : Ken Wilson
The Dutch called it Haken and the Spanish called it Labor de Ganchillo, but call it Crochet and it looks just as delicate and. Today the word, with its roots in medieval French Croc or croche meaning Hook, has come to signify one of the most popular fabric crafts for men and women across the globe. Yes, I did say men…because an increasing number of men are now turning to this highly structured and organized craft for finding creative satisfaction.
|
|
|
- 9). Custom Embroidery Tips By : George Royal
There are important considerations you have to bear in mind before creating or ordering your own, custom embroidery designs. For D-I-Y (Do-it-yourself) people, it is easy to get yourself a hi-tech embroidery machine complete with digitized programs, but the quality of your work will depend on your own artistic instincts and knowledge of specific embroidery techniques.
|
- 10). Woodworking - The Art of Crafting By : James Hunt
Woodworking is the art of crafting things out of wood and people have been known to make sculptures, cabinets and statues. Anyone can take up this craft but it...
|
| New Arts and Crafts Articles |
|
|
- 2). Candle Making Lessons By : Mike Eggert
Please note, this is NOT a guide on how to make candles, it is just a story about someone who did.
This is a story about My Wife. She loves candles. All candles, particularly smelly candles.
|
- 3). Learning Ceramic for Own pleasure By : Mitch Johnson
Success cannot be achieved unless we have interest and pleasure in what we are doing. Due to the lack of interest and pleasure many people fails to achieved their goal. When you entered in ceramic world, to fulfill your passion for ceramic, there are some important points which you have to remember, read on the article and find how to achieve your goal.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
