My CRAFTING CAVE ...

Welcome to my Crafting Cave!

Recently a stamping friend in Illinois (Hi Bette!) asked me about my 'crafting cave' ... so today while I was cleaning up a bit from putting together kits for an upcoming card class, I thought I'd take a few photos and share them with her & you!!  

(click on any image to enlarge)

Mind you, I've now taken over 'HALF' the basement (hence 'cave' reference) and LOVIN' every moment I'm down here. I AM A VERY LUCKY GIRL!!  I have it set up so I can have friends over and seat 8 people comfortably.  (that is once I clean up MY workarea ... you know how easy it is to s-p-r-e-a-d out as you work!  LOL!

I probably stand to craft as much as I sit.  And when I do, here is where I do it.  My husband, Mark, built my shelving & counter tops as well as put up all the peg board for me.  LOVE being able to see what I have to work with.

(Here is a close up of most of my ribbon ... 

there's more hanging around here & there!)

I started buying these 3-drawer 12x12 cases several years ago when I started scrapbooking with my daughter.  It's hard to believe, but at one time I could go to a crop with just 3 sets of these drawers ... THEN I started making cards ... well ... enough said!!!  Most of these 3 drawer cases now house my stamps and 12x12 paper.  Of course, if you notice, I also have paper shelves (right) for my paper packs too.  

The tall shelving unit came from Lowes and the nice thing about it is when you're putting it together, you adjust the shelves at 1" increments ... which made it possible to have less wasted space.  I have my 8 1/2 x 11 papers in clear plastic boxes sorted by color ... with the exception of my SU paper ... it's on the bottom row in original packaging to remember the names of the colors easier.

I really like having the pegboard down the side of the steps.  Gives me room to hang so many of my embellishments that I would otherwise probably forget I even had!  The pegboard was hubby's idea and a darn good one too!  LOVE it!

This is my little Cuttlebug work station.  A lot of my Spellbinder dies are housed in CD cases on the stand right next to this station (see photo below) ... and all my embossing folders and other dies are on the shelves lower shelves.  

Having all the 'plug in' type things in the same location works great for me.  The only problem is when we need to get into the breaker box (big gray thing in the background that I use to stick things on with magnets). 

Now mind you, I have to have somewhere to put the OVERFLOW ... so along the back wall is this shelving unit which I have pretty much filled to the brim!  LOL.  

This is my way of categorizing and storing my cards until time for the local craftshow.  This is also easier when I get requests to do a card class or bring cards to show (family usually) ... I can just lay them down, put the lids on ... stack and go!


Well, there you have it!  My little corner of the world and the place you will find me most every day of the week!  Thanks for taking the tour and please feel free to STOP BY AND PLAY anytime you are in the Akron, Ohio area!  REALLY!!  


HUGS,
Darlene ... the crazy lady in her crafting cave!

UPDATE:  Here's what it looked like back in 2007 when I first got SERIOUS about crafting!  Notice there was only ONE table ... LOL!!

 Click image to enlarge.