by 14 comments

I wanted to share a couple of pictures with you so that you can see one of the tasks we finished during my mothers visit.  In fact, she did quite a bit of the work.  I have quite a few of the original sizzix die cuts – you know, the bulky ones – and because I had to search through each an every one to find what I wanted to use, I rarely ventured there.  

 

Mom  ran each of them through  my Cuttlebug to get a sample and glued them down to paper, numbered them and filed in sheet protectors in a notebook. 

We put the corresponding number on the spine of the die so that it can be located easily.  The reference book is kept at my desk and when I need to find a particular die now, I can get to it in seconds instead of the hunting for considerably longer .

 I know this seems so simple, but I could never find the time to do it.  It was a great investment and I have many similar projects like this to tackle.  One by one,….  Part of the triumph of finishing, is getting to share.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Posted in Organization
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  • JanineJune 11, 2008 - 5:45 am

    WOW !!! Doesn’t it feel good to get stuff like this done!!
    Looking forward to your next creation with these dies!!ReplyCancel

  • Sharon in NEJune 11, 2008 - 8:14 am

    Do you rent out your mom by the hour or day? I could really use that help!!ReplyCancel

  • Kay McBrideJune 11, 2008 - 8:39 am

    nice job. I have been org. myself some more ribbon, and things i get in kits. it does take time but is well worth it when u are done. love this idea. i dont have that many so it would not take me too long. LOL . I will share this. for my clear stamps i get at michaels and single ones not in sets. I got baseball card sheet protectors and put a round sticky velco dot at the top of each insert, so i can put those $1 stamp sets from michaels into a compartment and my single ones like from autumn leaves pink paisley etc… by putting the velcro they dont slip out when u turn the pages. and i put them in a 3 ring binder… how bout that!! course im sure u already have a wonderful system… i also did that with little pieces of ribbon i get in kits and wrapped the ribbon on little 1X2 pieces of thin chipboard/cardboard. then labeled the compartement with what kit the ribbons came with. usally i can fit 2-3 ribbons in one compartment. then they go into a 3 ring binder. now i just need to figure out have to store other stuff…
    have a great dayReplyCancel

  • DebJune 12, 2008 - 2:30 pm

    You would have made one heck of a good librarian !!!! Now all you need to do is copy & distribute your catalog – add check-out cards to each case – & check them out to us (for a fee of course) – hint – hint !!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • MarciJune 13, 2008 - 8:47 am

    Would love to know what type of shelving you are using for your sizzix dies. Thanks, Marci.ReplyCancel

  • heather the mooseloverJune 14, 2008 - 8:30 pm

    Great organizational idea. Sometimes the simplest ideas help the most.ReplyCancel

  • Becca FeekenJune 14, 2008 - 10:21 pm

    Marci, I found that a large CD cabinet works perfectly because the shelves are adjustable. This one was destined for the trashbin because it was so large and I had nowhere to fit it in the house – I think the original size was 32″ wide and 50″ tall. Then it went to my studio where we sawed it in half, replaced the top and snugged it under the end of my work table where it is totally out of the way at 32″ wide and 30″ tall. I hope this helps!ReplyCancel

  • Charlene Austin (Willow01)June 15, 2008 - 8:33 pm

    I don’t have any Sizzix….BUT….can you send your mom over so she can help me with my ribbon???? LOL. Speaking of organization…as you know I still want to do the ribbon storage like yours. I was at Michaels but could not find sheets of the mat board. Did you buy it off the shelf or from the custom framing dept?? Have a great day my friend!!ReplyCancel

  • Victoria MartinJuly 3, 2008 - 11:40 am

    wow this could also be used to tame the stamps everywhere !!
    I like it thanksReplyCancel

  • NancyJonesOctober 5, 2008 - 8:51 am

    Does your mom do house calls? I could sure use her to do my scrap room hahahahaha. This is amazing!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Anne PavloskyNovember 6, 2008 - 12:25 pm

    BECCA, this is really a great way to organize the big dies. You and your Mother are trully talented.. Thanks for sharing all your amazing, wonderful ideas. Your card take my breath away they are so well done and thought out. I truly thank you for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • KathleenNovember 18, 2008 - 8:23 pm

    Great idea. Sounds like the sort of thing I’d do and DH would sneer and say it was just another list to add to all the others!!
    Must do something like this with all my stamps too!!
    KathleenReplyCancel

  • SandyFebruary 8, 2009 - 10:51 pm

    Becca,
    That is a very good idea. I have sizzix, but never saw any of the ones you show here. If I had seen those I would have bought alot more. LOL Where did you get them if I may ask. Thanks
    SandyReplyCancel

  • michelleJuly 21, 2010 - 1:41 pm

    becca this is how i catalog all of my SU stamp sets..
    next on the list…my ridiculous collection of sizzix dies..
    having the binder to refer to is so easy.and keeps me organized
    TFS!
    michelleReplyCancel

by 2 comments

 My goodness this week is flying by, life could not be busier and I have company coming this weekend.  I’m having a proud mother moment….my oldest is graduating from college this weekend.  In retrospect her growing up has flown by just like my perception of this week – in the blink of an eye.  I know I will be scarce while I try to focus on the events at hand and our company.  Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments and email you’ve been sending…they bless me and keep my spirits up. 

I’ll be back on Monday, thanks for hanging in there with me.

:30

Posted in Chit Chat
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  • debApril 28, 2008 - 3:48 pm

    You must be so very very proud !!! What an accomplishment your daughter has achieved. I’m of the belief that women absolutely need an education to get ahead. It’s a very hard world. Hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends. I know you and your husband are very proud.
    hugs, debReplyCancel

  • Kay McBrideApril 29, 2008 - 1:04 pm

    its monday and im looking forward to having u back. hope u had a good weekend. congratulations to your daughter are in order.
    kayReplyCancel

by 11 comments

Previously I showed you the swatches that I use with Copics, Prismacolors and color samples of stamp pad ink.  For anything that I have a few of, as time permits, I make a list or swatch pages to help me with colors or to help me remember what I already have.  Well, for my ribbon outing, I was intent on not duplicating any ribbon I currently have (truth be known, I can look in my ribbon drawers and have three of several kinds – guess I really liked it).

This is a notebook that I carry with me in the car and then it goes back to my studio; it helps remind me what I have.  I’ve just added the ribbon swatches since I can’t really go by name.  In this case it doesn’t contain every ribbon I have instead it just covers the basics in satin, grosgrain, stitched grosgrain, dotted grosgrain and specialty series at Michaels where they have a spread of colors.  When I made my last ribbon purchase at Michaels, this little baby kept me straight.

I belong to a group of women who are “list maniacs”, it’s a good thing (LK are you listening?)  Many of them put me to shame and have gotten me over my “fear of listing”.  Seriously, the front end investment in time, keeps me from always hunting for things and in the end means more crafting time.  Who can’t use more crafting time?….I’m just sayin’.

I’ll be back later with some new organization I have developed for keeping track of challenges and sketches.

Posted in Organization
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  • Heather the MooseLoverApril 14, 2008 - 6:35 pm

    This ribbon notebook is fantastic! So organized- and I see you are like me and that you sort by type and not by color- which is how I think too.ReplyCancel

  • Debra BarkerApril 14, 2008 - 8:48 pm

    This is just to much, I like it . Keep up the organization. I am loving it.
    This is a good idea.ReplyCancel

  • Lynnette FlaglerApril 14, 2008 - 11:13 pm

    Great idea. Love the organizational ideas. Need all the help I can get.ReplyCancel

  • Savor the Journey * TexasGrammyApril 15, 2008 - 1:17 am

    No kidding!! You are so entirely organized!! Eeeek!
    Becca … you could package these up & sell them! Honestly!
    Way to go!

    ~BevReplyCancel

  • Mary KApril 15, 2008 - 11:47 am

    That’s a great idea. The last time Michael’s had a ribbon sale I bought 5 spools and when I got home I realized I already had all 5 of them. Your idea would’ve prevented that, but my sister-in-law might not like her free ribbon supply being cut off. I give her my duplicates. LOLReplyCancel

  • Linda KlebackApril 15, 2008 - 4:06 pm

    Yes, LK is still making lists! Now I want to create a list of all my acrylic stamp sets…ReplyCancel

  • nancy bApril 16, 2008 - 8:27 pm

    or you could package these and give them as Christmas gifts to your favorite RLs.ReplyCancel

  • Charlene Austin (Willow01)April 23, 2008 - 1:50 pm

    Becca, this is awesome! It scares the daylights out of me to attempt this but I do love it!ReplyCancel

  • KathleenNovember 18, 2008 - 8:40 pm

    A woman after my own heart. My mum used to call me the list queen.
    I currently have a book for both the card and paper stock I have and how much of each (not patterned papers, just plain).
    I must make a record of the stamps, punches, dies and ribbon I have now!!
    KathleenReplyCancel

  • emilyApril 3, 2010 - 7:41 am

    Oh Becca, I always aspire to make beautiful cards like your, now I will have to aspire to be as organized as you, too??!? :D
    Found this on the Crafty Storage blog today so I had to come back and visit you twice. No problem with that at all!
    Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great Easter weekend! :o)ReplyCancel

  • Shelly B.April 3, 2010 - 7:20 pm

    I LOVE binders and notebooks for keeping track of what I have! This idea is great. I will keep checking to see when you post keeping track of challenges……. because someday I am going to enter one. :)ReplyCancel
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