Craft Room Redesign - Part 1

Hello Bloggers,

First off, I'd like to wish you all a safe and Happy New Year.  I've been MIA this past week, but have been super busy with part 1 of my craft room redesign. 

My original plan was to clear out and reorganize the closet and to also remove the wallpaper and repaint.  Well, I got the closet part done, but realized that a tag swap that I had joined back in November was due by January 15th, so I decided to leave the painting portion of the project until after I finish the tags for the swap.  I plan on working on those tomorrow and Monday (I already have the design planned out) and then will start ripping down wallpaper.  I have some days off planned in mid-January, so will finish up the painting at that point, until then, here are some pics of my closet reorg.

Before

My first challenge was to try to find room for all of the clothes in the closet.  Most were my summer work clothes, but since I now work 100% remote, most were not needed.  

One contractor bag of trash and two bags for good will, what I kept fit nicely into the dresser in my spare bedroom...

There's actually some craft supplies up there.  What's up with the bag of sticks?

During

Took all of one day, but...

...all cleaned out!

After

Yes, much better...  After much thought, I decided to go this route instead of installing shelving.  It ended up giving me tons more storage and it was much more economical.

These are closet units from Target.  This one is for shoes.  Note the ribbon in the background, I have them on a pants hanger.  Got the both ideas from Pinterest.

This unit is for sweaters and larger items.

Just some totes filled up with items that are not used regularly.  Everything was on sale!

Oh, and here's a sneak peek of part 2.  I've already started ripping wallpaper, so there's no turning back now...

Merry Christmas!

OMG-So Good

Hello Bloggers,

Wow, a double post tonight.  To celebrate Hanukkah, I decided to make some latkes and followed a recipe that I found on Pinterest. OMG, this was the best recipe ever!! Here's the link to the recipe for Cilantro-Jalapeno Latkes.  I took some pics because they turned out so great.  The weren't too hot, just the right amount of heat.  You've got to give them a try, well worth the effort...

Yummo!!

I provided the link to the original post, but thought I would also share the recipe.  Thanks Prudence Pennywise for the wonderful recipe.

Cilantro Jalapeno Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream
Estimated Cost: $4.00 for six servings
6 tablespoons light sour cream
1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
3/4 teaspoon grated lime rind
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
6 cups shredded peeled baking potato (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup grated fresh onion
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
1 large egg
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
Preparation
1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
2. Combine potato and onion in a colander. Drain 30 minutes, pressing occasionally with the back of a spoon until barely moist. Combine potato mixture, flour, and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl; toss well.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Spoon 1/4 cup potato mixture loosely into a dry measuring cup. Pour mixture into pan; flatten slightly. Repeat the procedure 5 times to form 6 latkes. Sauté 3 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Remove latkes from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and potato mixture to yield 12 latkes total. Serve with sour cream mixture.



The Final Three

Hello Bloggers,

Well, we're getting down to the wire.  I've just finished up the final holiday projects for 2011 and thought I would share.  Some are repeats, but the color/paper/design is just slightly different.  Have a great pre-Christmas eve evening...

I posted this box last week for my team members.  This is one I created for my hubby to bring into work.  It's a bit more elaborate as I  only had to make the one.  What's nice about the Silhouette, is that I can change the design.  I added the snowflake to the four sides, which was not on the original 9 I made.  This is filled with some yummy truffels.

Some pop-up gift card holders I made from the tutorial posted by Mary over on YouTube.  Check out her tutorial, it's awesome and can be used for any time of the year.

A couple more paper rosette angels.  I love making these!!  Check out Laura Denison's tutorial.

Copic Christmas Cards

Hello Bloggers,

I've finished up the last of my Christmas cards this evening.  I just had to get some copic coloring in before putting all of my Christmas stamps away.  With the Holiday Card Boot Camp and the Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas, my copics took a back seat, but I pulled them out and colored up a couple of cards that I'll share with you tonight.

I have one more gift box and possibly another paper angel to make and then I'm done with Christmas crafting for the year.

This little cutie is a Sweet November Stamp designed by my favorite copic colorer, Amy Young.  I didn't realize when I purchased the stamp, sentiment and die that Amy had used all three on a card she colored up a few months ago.  I checked out her blog the other night to get some inspiration and loved the layout she used, so I decided it worked for Amy, it will work for me.  Here are links to her YouTube Channel as well as her blog.  Check her out, she's wonderful!

I used the Merry Days Christmas 6x6 paper stack by My Minds Eye.  You can purchase this stamp, as well as other Sweet November Stamps All That Scraps.

This is the Holly Jolly stack from My Mind's Eye too.

This is a digi stamp from Tiddlyinks, my fave place to get digi's.  She was super fun to color up!

I used the Jovial stack from Basic Grey for the papers and made use, once again, of the $1.00 Studio G stamps.  I sure got my money's worth this year.

These papers are from the Holly Jolly Christmas stack from Echo Park.

Another $1.00 stamp.  I followed a layout of one of the designers over at the Tiddly Inks site.

Paper Crafting Projects

Hello Bloggers,

Just a quick post tonight to share some paper crafting projects that I've just finished up.  I made up some cute paper rosette angels to add some gifts that I'm sending out to my nieces and also made some extra special gift tags using the paper that the gifts were wrapped in. I got the inspiration for both from YouTube; I'll share the links to the videos below each picture. 

You all have an awesome Monday...

Aren't they adorable?  They're made of paper and vellum for the wings using just punches.  The little pointsettias are from my stash.

Here's the link to Laura Denison's wonderful tutorial.

The stamp is another of the $1.00 Studio G stamps, either from Joannes or AC Moore.  I colored him up with my copics.  Here's the link to the Stamp TV tutorial.

They really dressed up the packages.

Christmas Gift Bags

Hello Bloggers,

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.  Well, were getting down to the wire now, Christmas is only 8 days away!  I had to take a break from creating my last Tim Holtz tag. I have #11 complete, but will wait until I finish #12 and will post them both at the same time. I need to finish up with some card making, gift bags, gift tags and other assorted projects.  They need to get out in the mail - I'm cutting it a little close, but everything should be out first thing Monday morning.

Tonight I thought I would share some treat boxes I made for my team members at work.  I cut them out with my Silhouette and filled them up with some yummy truffles.  Added some twine, jingle bells and little gifts tags and they were set to go.

Here's 5 out of the 9 that I made.  I have a couple more to make for my husband to take in to the office.

A Studio G $1.00 stamp colored up with my copics.

Cute snowman from Stampin Up.

The Silhouette does a great job cutting out detailed images.  I just love it!

12 Tags of Christmas-Tag 10

Hello Bloggers,

One more for this evening then I'm calling it a night.  Here's tag #10.  This was quite an involved technique, but the results are amazing.  Hope the camera pays it justice.  Tomorrow's the last day, I can't believe how fast it went and that I was able to complete as many as I did.  It was fun and I learned tons.  Here's the link to Tim's step-by-step instructions.  Enjoy your evening.

I won't even begin to explain the technique, you really need to check out Tim's blog.  The technique is awesome.

I cut "Believe" with my Silhouette using different fonts and sized.  I used grungepaper.  The silver balls were from a spray that I cut apart. 

It is hard to see the full detail, but it is very pretty.

12 Tags of Christmas-Tag 9

Hello Bloggers,

I'm back again with tag #9.  I fell a little bit behind, but I'm catching up.  I just have a few final touches with tag #10 and will post later this evening, then off to complete #11.  Not much else to add, so on with the tag.  Oh, here's the link to Tim's step-by-step instructions.

I didn't have the die Tim used, so cut the candlestick out on my Silhouette.  Tim used grungeboad, but my Silhouette can't cut through it, so I used grungepaper and cut two images out and glued them together.  Ends up being the same thickness as the grungeboard and the Silhouette cuts through the grungepaper like "butta".

The technique for the background is awesome, you need to go check it out!

Cut "Peace" out with my Silhouette too.  I used some Prima bling on each side.  I knew I eventually would sneak some in.

I applied a double layer of glossy accents on the candle and I have to admit, it was accidental.  I stuck my finger in the first layer before it dried and smeared it, so I added a second layer.  It made it really look like wax.