The Momma-Cave Pt. 2

Hey everyone!  Welcome once again to The Momma-Cave and Part 2 of the tour (PART 1 is the previous post), and don't believe for a second that there will be fewer pictures this time around!  Part 2 is more about the details of where and how I store my tools and supplies;  but for me, that is all about making them pretty while also being organized.    So here we go!

Come in, come in!

                                                                                       

As I mentioned, the island has tons of storage space.  The top drawer holds my assortment of craft glues, tapes, modpodge, etc.  Another drawer holds extra glue sticks & my old electric knife for cutting foam.  The 3rd drawer is EMPTY!  The door area is due for another shelf, but is a great space for my "handy-girl" tools, beading/jewelry-making supplies, etc.  The extra shelf will be a great place to hold those "in-progress" projects.

The wicker basket next to my laptop holds things that I am currently working on or using at the computer.  The Jetmax cubes hold all my printer paper, inks, mailing supplies, camera and equipment, floral needs, painting supplies, a drawer full of felt, a drawer that holds my handmade cards and envelopes, and across the bottom are my magazines -- quilting, scrapbooking, and card-making.

                              

I love having storage that is also pretty, like this cute flower pot holding an assortment of brushes.

The Man originally built this little shadow box to hold my stamps, but my stamps out-grew the space, so now it holds my craft paints and a few little cutsie things that I enjoy looking at -- this is right above my laptop.

This towel bar (IKEA) is right between my desk area and my sewing area.  I like having my sharp tools hanging from this, because it is far enough back that little people cannot reach it.  I also decided that I needed to have some of my most often used twines more easily accessible, so I hung them up.

These two shelves (also IKEA) are mainly for displaying more of the things I love seeing, family photos, some cute artwork, etc.;  but the large jars hold some sewing necessities -- zippers, elastic, velcro, and all those extra buttons that come with new clothing -- yep, gotta keep those!

This bank of drawers sits between my desk area and my sewing area.  The top drawer holds desk related items -- stamps, return address labels, you know about that stuff!  The rest of the drawers hold my sewing supplies.

                               

In case you can't tell, this is my scrapbooking/cardmaking area.  Now, it may look messy to you, but it is very organized according to how I work.  This work surface is covered with an old cutting mat from 

years ago.

I already had my ribbons sorted into these plastic jars that I bought years ago at Walmart (for just a couple of bucks), but I wasn't satisfied with how I had my flower embellies stored.  Then this idea popped into my mind -- I had these lotus bowls that I hardly ever used and decided to stash the florals in the bowls and sit them right on top of the same color ribbon.  

It's colorful and very easy to get what I need.

I reach for these little ink pads all the time!

I found these cute little melamine bowls at HL a couple of weeks ago for super-cheap and knew they would be perfect for washi tape, baker's twine & the sentiment stamps that get used most frequently.

I've had this little ceramic egg crate (from World Market) for awhile and like using it here to hold little things I'm working with, especially when I'm working on cards; but I just recently made this tiny pincushion to fit in one of the little spots -- this is so handy!

This desktop carousel is an item I had been wanting for a long time and finally purchased it as a Christmas present to myself in December when they were 50% off -- YAY!  It holds a ton of things, and I LOVE it!

The IKEA Expedit right above my scrapbooking work area holds mostly paper, paper sets, card stock, some page and card kits, and some blank minnies.  The ones I reach for the most often are in the first row of cubbies and I have them labeled.

This bank of drawers holds all manner of supplies and tools.

                                    

My ink pads have now been mounted on the wall in CD/DVD holders that I ordered from Amazon.

Back in this little "no man's corner" is where I am now keeping my wrapping paper, a large gift bag filled with smaller gift bags, and tissue paper.

I mounted some command hooks on the wall and hung my tissue paper from pant hangers.

All my bows, shred and gift tags are in one of the IKEA boxes in the Expedit.

I put all of my narrow gift-wrap ribbon in this large jar -- colorful and handy!

These plastic stacking drawers have been great for sorting scrapbooking/cardmaking supplies and embellies.  I have them all labeled by seasons, holidays, and other categories that make sense to me.

I used some of the chalkboard contact paper cut into a cute shape to make the labels.  I have little containers in some of the drawers to hold small embellishments -- you know, divide and conquer!

I think these IKEA Expedits are just about the best thing since sliced bread.  I could easily have fit the next larger size which is 5 x 5 cubbies, but that would have put the top of the piece out of my reach without using a stepstool -- that would have been a pain!  The large boxes are from IKEA and are sturdy and fit perfectly.

I love decorating the top of this Expedit, but also making the decorative items useful.  Okay, the picture of "Moi" isn't necessary or useful, but the dang thing is too big to store any place else (under the mattress didn't seem like a very good place....hmmmm?) --  it's almost an antique you know.....lol!  I love having the apothecary jar filled with cute paper cupcake liners, a wire basket filled with ephemera, and a double turn table holding jars of buttons.

This side holds more cuteness -- jars filled with extra clothespins, beads & itty bitty labels, plus a cute photo of Little Miss and Littlest Miss, and that handsome young man with the pompador hairstyle is The Man when he was in high school!

                                 

By most scrapbooker standards, I really don't have a lot of major tools, but I love and use the things I do have, and they fit nicely here in the cubbies.  My Sizzix and Cuddlebug are easily accessible & my small selection of rubber stamps are on risers so I can see what I have.

        

These cubbies are always getting reconfigured, because they are so versatile.  Almost all of my baskets and bins are from the $Store.  This one holds my clear stamps.  I have a couple of these plastic boxes that I found on sale at Walmart a few years ago.  This one is perfect for my Alphas.

We used to drink a lot of Crystal Light (actually it was Walmart's version), and I simply could not throw them away.  Then one day I got the idea of cutting them down to use for dividing up some of my crafting supplies.  Here they are perfect for dividing the alphas.

This is how I store and organize my paper scraps -- first by holidays and then by color.  I don't even bother putting the lid back on this box, because I am reaching in here constantly when I'm making cards or working on pages -- waste not, want not!

Another cubby box contains some basic crafting supplies, like styro balls, coffee filters, tiny little blackboards, and extra wreath forms when they go on sale.

The next time I'm at the $Store, I will be looking for a container to hold my quickly growing yarn supply.  I am learning to crochet online, so I've gotten very excited about yarn.  Yeah, I know, it doesn't take much to excite the old girl, does it?  LOL!

These folders hold photos of different events that will eventually be scrapbooked -- at least for now, they are sorted and divided.

Whew....... I should have offered you a comfy place to sit and prop your feet up long before now, but I do hope you survived this lengthy tour.  If you stuck around for one or both of these posts, I will be forever grateful.  If not, well, we are still friends anyway!  Y'all are truly the best, and I hope you will come back again soon!

I love to party here:
Karen at Sew Many Ways for Sew Darn Crafty

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Dawn at Creative Cain Cabin for Budget Decorating Party
Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays
Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Table Top Tuesdays

Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired

Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays

Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

Amanda at Serenity Now for Weekend Bloggy Reading

The Tablescaper at The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays