A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

July 18, 2012

WOYWW 163 ~ SNOOPY; CASology #2 ~ HAPPY!

Howdy!

It's actually Wednesday morning and I'm linking to the amazing Julia over at What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday on Wednesday.  In twelve hours you can go from number 38 to number 138!  It's that popular!  For a great snooping adventure ~ check it OUT!

Here is my workdesk yesterday:


It's a right blooming mess, complete with papers on the floor, and overflowing waste paper basket, because I am trying out a new system for storing my dies.  There are more pictures and info below for those who want it.  For those on the run (just why are the cops chasing you?), see you next week!  Have a great WOYWW tour!

I'm also linking a card today with the fah-uhn new CASology challege, where the secret word is HAPPY!


This is my go-to Happy-As-All-Get-Out card:



What could be happier than a chicken on a swing?  Especially a chicken who looks like she's had a few!  This card makes me as happy as, well, her!

~~~

When I first got my Cuttlebug and some embossing folders and some dies a few short months ago, I made some room.  Then I got more.  Dang things are like rabbits!  At first I thought this was an awesome idea:  put magnetic tape inside empty CD holders and the Nestie dies nestle, as it were.


But, truthfully, it didn't really work, not for me anyhoo.  For one thing, they kept popping open.  Maybe my tape was too think, but you really need to use deeper DVD holders, if you can find them.  Then I saw someone had their dies snuggly in a CD disc soft-sided binder that holds a million of them.  I went to Wally World and they had a smaller version of what I had in mind, but holding it in my hands let me visualize that this wasn't "me" either.  I'm more of a look-over-my-shoulder-and-see-it-right-there lazy kind of a girl.  A flip-through-my-fingertips kind of girl.  You know, like money for crafts flips through my finger-tips.  Ssssh.

Then, I happened to buy a couple of used stamp sets and dies from Suzanne Dahlberg and she sent them to me in paper CD envelope sleeves.  Hmmm.  I liked that idea and so I am going to try it out for a while.  I actually only had a few of the envelopes and (again) being too lazy to get in the car and go buy more, er, I mean, being cognificent of the environment, I just made some out of patterned 12 x 12 paper.
 



Here they are in their new location.  The binders hold embossing folders.


This morning I moved them out of the ratty old blue box into a prettier box, because a photographer from "Ink My Stamp" is coming out to do a feature on the Playhouse.  Shut My Mouth.  I'm A Big Fat Liar.

So that's it.  If I like the system, I'll probably type labels and find identical envelopes so they all line up like little die soldiers to satisfy the OCD secretary in me.  You might think I need therapy for that, but what you need to understand is that IS my therapy! 

I'm curious how many of you use a similar system and thanks Suzanne for sharing the idea with me!!

Enjoy!  As always, thank you for stopping by to visit.   Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave a comment!
 

Paper:  SU white; real read
Stamps:  Whippersnapper Designs:
  Chicken on Swing CY850, and
  Oh Happy Day HZ307; Accents by
  Stamps by Judith
Ink:  Memento tuxedo black;
   Marvy markers

35 comments:

Kara Lynne said...

I'm liking your system, it makes me as happy as a chicken on a swing! It's always great to see what works for others. I don't have any dies yet, so no system for me. I think I need to revamp my paper storage (because vamping didn't work).

Katie said...

Love the new system! It looks very nice and organized :) The chicken on a swing is very fun - love her!


Katie (136)

Redanne said...

Hi Darnell, no I am not a Princess, just very lucky old girl, I have trained my family well over the years - they all say, I wanted to buy you this or that but I know you would prefer craft goodies - and it worked! Love the chicken on the swing, such a happy card.

Storage for dies? I have some 9" x 12 boxes that are about 1.5" thick. I use full size magnetic sheets in the boxes and keep the dies on those, doesn't work for large Sizzix dies though, I just have those shoved in a cupboard - literally. Thanks for your visit earlier, always lovely to hear from you. Anne x #9 (couldn't sleep)

Kim S said...

I can't say that a chicken on a swing is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think "happy".... But if she's had a few, that's a different story!

Tracey McNeely said...

Love your happy card Darnelle, that chicken swing is the bomb! I hope you like your new system. I store all my dies in CD envelopes and I find it so easy

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh happy day! I am loving that fun card. It would make me happy too. And how secret is the secret word if you just out and told us like that? Maybe you should be the one on the run from the cops??!

Die storage! ugh! I started with the magnets inside CD cases too. Doesn't work. I live in an apartment complex and we all get phone books every few months left at both the front and back doors. We all pile them up for recycling. They often come with a magnet advertising some business or another so I swiped all the magnets. My dies were always coming unstuck and the cases opening so I was unhappy.

Now I have this CD case, it is a little fancy cardboard box with a hinged lid. Inside it has little tiny hanging file folders that are like your CD sleeves. I put dies in them. If I want a die I just pull that whole "file." They are numbered so I can put them back nicely. I made an index that I taped inside the lid. I have them semi alphabetical. That is a bit too organized though because if I buy I Butterfly die now, well I have to move everyone down.

Victoria said...

I don't have many dies so I don't have a storage system... yet! I live in perpetual anticipation :) A chicken on a swing sure makes me happy! Thanks for your compliments about my amazingly realistic 3D cat creation! What can I say? I'm just talented! ;-p

Unknown said...

Hi Darnell.......well not sure if it's something that you would like but I have sooooooo many dies and tried so many storage methods that didn't work...and I came across this system that works perfectly for me. Now I know that Uk speak and US speak doesn't always correlate but hopefully....... well we'll see! I bought a metal personal filing box - the ones that have those green hanging files with little clip on see through windows that you can add the name of the file in....... are you still with me? Okay - now take out all those green hanging files and cut tyherm down the fold line to make two hanging files. Now I always store my dies on magnetic sheets and all I do is to use red liner tape to stick the magnetic sheets with the dies on onto the green file sheets. I add a label to the see through plastic windows so I can see what's on that particular sheet and if they are things like leaves, flourishes, flowers etc - I just stick a die cut onto the top of the hanging file - et voila you can see exactly what you've got. It's amazing how little space they take up when 'filed like this. If you need more info let me know and I can send some photos.....

Hugs.

Karen x

Carole said...

Swinging chickens...what a hootin' happy card.
http://carolescreativecritters.blogspot.com/

Ardyth said...

That chick is swingin'! I'm so happy you're playing along with CASology again!

As for dies, I have those expensive folders that are magnetized, but I think I like your idea better. What about dies (I'm thinking border dies) that don't fit into your envelopes? Or just make them all big?

What I'd really like is a big magnet wall so I could put them all up and see them all instead of having to hunt for them!

Ali H said...

Nothing like a good sort out & file to calm the mind !! Well done ! I need to have a record of my dies to carry in my handbag to craft shows or shops etc - so I don't buy more of the same !! have a fun week using some of hose dies ! Ali#53

Mynn xx said...

An absolutely happy card!!! LOVE it--your chicken is darling! Thanks for the idea about how to file dies, too!!! An amazing idea! :) I hope to see you join in the fun at Technique Tuesday as well--I'd love to see your creation for this month's challenge! :)

Kathyk said...

I am LOVING your LIM card and your filing system!

Kathyk

Shoshi said...

Loved your post, Darnell! Your journey to the perfect filing system was to die for (sorreee...) - it appealed to the OCD in me too! What you've ended up with is a great system. I like being able to flip through things like that. I've got my embossing folders standing up in an open-topped box like that, with the embossing plates at the back, and it doesn't usually take me too long to find what I want, although they are not labelled. I keep telling myself that one day I shall decorate all the grotty boxes I use to store things in but there always seems to be something more important to do!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #3

Kim Heggins said...

Your card is just too happy, love that adorable little chicken! I have to say that when I saw your blog post title I was excited to see what you had to share about Snoopy-the dog and had to read through and find nothing, LOL. Always love seeing your desk, it always makes me feel a bit better about my mess.

Carol L said...

If I owned a swing, I'd be there with your cute chickie downing a couple to get "happy" :) Both are cute and fun cards! I'm slapping my forehead with the CD envelope idea - why didn't I think of that before? It's so easy and uncomplicated!

Bonnie said...

Love that swingin' chick! How fun! I don't have very many dies and they're mostly Spellbinders. They are still in the cases they came in and I've put magnetic sheets in them to hold the dies. I can easily see the dies, all 4 sets! I do the same thing with the SU ones. I'll be interested to know your new system works in case I get lots more dies.

Shoshi said...

Thanks for your comment, Darnell - I warn you, if you get into these Dylusions inks, you'll be hooked! They are just fabulous...

Shoshi #3

Sandy said...

Hi Darnell you have been busy organising again. I dont have many dies so its not something I am worried about yet... I'm sure the time will come. Love your chicken on a swing it made me smile. Sandy :) #57

Eliza said...

Love your messy desk, not normally you is it? I store my dies in an A4 binder with half pocket pages and in the pockets I have magnet sheets that my dies stick too. I also have a little velcro strip at the top to stop the dies from coming out. It has taken me a few years to be happy with this system, this way I to can flip through like you do, I do it too. I hope your system works for you.


Happy organizing
Eliza #11 again can you believe it.

Kath Stewart said...

Hi Darnell...thanks for sharing what you're up to ...happy woyww hugs kath xxx

shirley-bee said...

Love that happy henny, Darnell! And that fun sentiment.

My Cuttlebug lives in a gardening bag. Not quite as gruesome as it sounds. It's a funky pink and candy striped bag from Tesco with pockets around the outside. The Cuttlebug sits on the plates in the main section of the bag, and my Spellbinders sit in the outside pockets still in their original folders. Embossing folders and Tim Holtz dies sit in the other pockets. Small Sizzix dies live in a box in a cupboard. My dining room is my craft room so I need to be able to move things out easily, so this works for me.

Di said...

Great storage system. Mine are on A4 magnetic sheets in a binder - man that thing weighs a tone! I now have muscles like Popeye :(

Belated Happy WOYWW. Di xx #10

Laura said...

Hehe! It's a chicken on a swing!
This so made me smile!
Laura

Melissa said...

You're too funny! That swinging chicken makes me laugh! Love how your die storage has evolved! I think I'm always changing things in my craft room!!! (secretly, I enjoy it...)
Here's what I use for storing my dies: http://www.smudgetime.com/2010/12/friday-favorites.html

Thanks so much for joining us at CASology!! :)

Suzanne said...

YAY Darnell! Glad you got a good storage idea! So far, it's the idea I like best but if you ever switch to something you like better, I would love to hear it. :)

Jen W. said...

Your posts always make me happy, Darnell, because I know I'll get at least one Lai out of them! :) that chicken is hilarious and really looks like she's good and happy!

As for die storage I currently have mine in binders stuck to 8.5 x 11 magnetic sheets. It's not great but it works for now...

Anonymous said...

Lol to the chikkin! Love your storage system for the dies, that's something simple that even I could manage! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, thanks for popping by!!

Hugs
Brenda 8

JoZart Designs said...

Happy post in many ways, thanks for sharing and cheering and thanks for popping by mine too,
love JoZarty, xxx playing catch up now my family has gone home to Germany

SandeeNC said...

Love your post, very happy and cheerful. The chicken card just makes my heart cluck! lol It's very cute, and you know they should come out and do a feature on your cute little play house. Through WOYWW, I have seen some amazing little craft space, truth be know, y'all could probably fill up a magazine! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

Julia Dunnit said...

Totally get that for a system, I'm a flip through and select gal too. Mine are on sheets of magnet stuff stuck to sheets of chipboard and stored in a magazine file...flip flip select. Works so well for me. Makes me as happy as a chicken on a swing. Much like your posts do!

Patrice said...

Happy, happy! I hope you'll link up at 52 Card Pickup this week!

http://www.oldbackporch.com/2012/07/52-card-pickup-week-29.html

LeAnne said...

Your chicken card is a hoot, but the CD envelope idea has me intrigued. I have mine in CD cases too. I am so used to having them there, the way they are, I am not sure I could stand it to CHANGE!!! OMGoodness!

Karen Dunbrook said...

giggle...cute chicken card....
SO, So happy I am not the only one that makes a total mess of my space....or is it those pesky little gremlins that come in the night?? Sure wish I could get them to clean it all up.

Amy E said...

I hope your system works out the way you want it too! It looks like a great way to store a lot in a good compact way!!

Thanks for taking a peek at my desk last week. I'm running just a little behind :)


Amy E. #42
scrapthissavethat.blogspot.com