I am extremely blessed to have my very own stamping space, and my heart jumps a little every time I think about how lucky I am to have this amazing room.  The “room” is actually an area of our garage, located between two parking bays, and it was originally supposed to be a showroom for my husband’s heating and cooling business, but it works for me!  It doesn’t look like much on the outside, just a garage, or as we say here in Wisconsin, this is our “shed”.

Here’s what you see when you first come in and look to the left.  Behind that wooden door is where I park my vehicle, and chances are there is a tractor in there too.  I shopped at IKEA for the storage unit, it’s very sturdy and holds all of my Big Shot supplies, along with other goodies in the storage boxes.  One of my favorite things on the shelf is the beautiful pitcher I received as a gift from Stampin Up while on a Getaway Trip to San Diego. The card display frame on the left was originally black but I painted it Bermuda Bay to match the Pool Party room. (please tell me I’m not the only one who relates every color I see to the Stampin Up color palette!)  On the back of the frame, I stapled some twine and added clothespins to show off some of my all time favorite swaps.

The drop leaf table on the half wall (also from IKEA) is the perfect place to use my Big Shot, but when it’s not in use it works great as a chalk message board.  The square IKEA storage unit matches great and you would be surprised how much it holds.  It’s just the right height to display the “grateful tree” we made…each time someone enters my stamping room, they are invited to grab a tag and write down something they are thankful for…even my UPS man played along!  He said it was the strangest request he’s ever gotten in over 20 years but he was a good sport.

More storage from IKEA!  These are actually all book shelf units with doors added on.  Simple and effective and didn’t break the bank.  I would be lost without the rolling IKEA cart on the right, it holds all my favorite Stampin Up tools that I use on a regular basis.  One of the treasures on the shelf is a certificate of promotion from Stampin Up which states I am a manager, yay!  Also on that shelf is a pretty cup and saucer I got from my great aunt, I use it to hold my business cards.  The sewing machine has never been used to sew fabric, only paper.  The old time rotary phone and the typewriter are real vintage items I was so fortunate to find…and they work!  The silver colander on the bottom shelf once belonged to my grandmother, and now it holds lots of colorful washi tape.  Lots more goodies hiding behind the doors, that’s where I store bags, boxes, notebooks, magnets, and other crafty supplies we might use in classes.  Don’t mind the big white bags on the floor, these photos were taken just before a big stamping event.

One of the hardest things for me was trying to decide how to store my stamps.  I use them on a regular basis so I don’t want to have to dig for them; this seems to work just right!  I have a little station below the stamps just for catalogs and order forms.  The desktop space is where we set up our stamping supplies during classes.

Along the back wall of the room is where I have my paper displayed.  Stamp-N-Storage is THE place to shop for the most amazing storage solutions when it comes to paper, ink pads, punches, ribbon, etc.  I debated asking my husband to try to build me something to hold my paper, but these were worth every penny…and I know I would still be waiting if I had asked my husband.  The oval frame on the wall is an old Home Interiors piece that I repainted.  The frame and the blackboard part were easy to do, it’s the chalk lettering afterward that I struggle with!

More wonderful pieces from Stamp-N-Storage on this counter top. All of my punches, stamp pads, ribbons and adhesives are organized here, and when this space is clean I sure do feel creative!   When I was deciding what storage solutions I needed in this space, I made a phone call and got help figuring out what would fit where from the builder himself, he was so patient and helpful.  Now they offer a Studio Designer app that is a lot of fun to play with.  Again, I have to mention that the creativity flows better when everything is where it belongs, and that is truly priceless!

In our stamping area there are two 8 foot tables, and 4 people per table is ideal.  For team days and special events we might squeeze in a few more.  The big frame on the wall displays swap cards, and it’s made with sheet metal covered by a bed sheet inside of an old frame I painted white.  Magnets hold the cards in place and I switch out the cards monthly.  The colorful banner is Stampin Up’s chalkboard banner (now retired).  It’s portable and I sometimes use it at craft fairs.  Stampin Up now carries canvas banners that would work great for this purpose, hooray!  The smaller frame holds Stampin Up’s “statement of the heart” which states “To love what we do and share what we love, as we help others enjoy creativity and worthwhile accomplishments…in this we make a difference.”  So true!  As a Stampin Up demonstrator I love to share, and it’s exciting to see a new stamper admire a card they just created and hear the words “I can’t believe I just made this!”  Receiving a handmade card in the mail can really make someone’s day; it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes…One simple act of kindness creates an endless ripple.

If you are in the area, I would love the chance to get to stamp with you.  Check out my schedule and give me a call!