Cricut Cartridge Storage

So, I'm trying to get my scraproom organized... like really organized.... so I can actually scrapbook in here vs all over the house.  I've been slowly trying to do things and do them right.  What I actually need is a professional organizer to just come, do it and get it over with.  Wishful thinking!

I have amassed quite a bit of Cricut cartridges.  I love using my Pink Expression , and no, I can't leave out my Create.  I usually take my Create when I go to my crops.  In talking with one of my good scrapbooking buddies Karen (check her out on Still Young and Croppin ), we were discussing space issues.  She challenged me to get rid of the cricut cart boxes because they were just taking up space.  So, I posted on my local scrapbook group website that I had boxes to give away and people emailed me to say how many they wanted.  At the next crop, I loaded them up in the car and off they went.  Now, I had valuable space for something else.

I had bought a Gypsy which I'm trying to use more often and have no need to carry all of those carts with me everytime I go to a crop.  I have them in 2 separate storage containers... one being the Cgull cartridge bag.  This was not working for me, so I set out to find a better system.

My dear friend Shirley ... who's head is big enough, so lets not even brag too much on her... with all of her awesomeness... has created some wonderful .cut files for Design Studio over the years... created a cut file for cartridge boxes.   Check her out on Okieladybug .  You'll be amazed.  I had the good fortune to meet here a little bit back and boy did we have fun.  I have the pictures to prove it (blackmail... lol) .  She found some storage at Staples for these boxes called "Really Useful Box" in the 9L size.  They will hold 84 of these cartridge boxes.  If you go here , you'll even see the video that she put together.  Didn't I tell you she was awesome! 

I thought to myself... self, I think this is going to work.  I pulled out that old crappy paper that I've had for years from when I first started scrapbooking and didn't know any better... lol ... and decided to create my boxes out of that paper.  It's called "using your stash" .... and yes, I have lots of it.  But that was a lot of cutting to the point where I actually wore out a blade on my Cricut.

So, without further ado... here are my cricut cartridges in their new home.

Yes, there are some empty spaces.  I seem to have hidden some cartrridges in my room from myself.   And I created space holders for some new cartridges that I have on order.

I also found these labels that fit perfectly on the boxes.   They are the Avery 5422 Multi-Use Labels.  There are 42 sheets for a total of 840 labels.

One last thing, I store my overlays and books in those photo boxes that you can get at Joann or Michaels.  They work out perfect for me.

Cigar Box Swap #2 - Sewing Theme

We've been having oodles of fun over at Stampin Dymonz Scrap Shack .   A second cigar box swap was announced and I snuck in barely.  Who could miss out of the fun!  Surely not I.  This one really took off.  One of the requirements was to make a pin cushion to go with the goodies to your swap mate.  Again, you don't know who has your name, but you can add a comment of your wants and needs, etc.

Along comes Ms Dee from Dee's Special Things with so much enthusiasm and creativity.  I don't know where she gets the energy nor the time.  She had shared some creations she'd done in the past on making hat pin cushions, and that just got everyone to creating.  So I went searching for a video on how to do them, posted it and Ms Dee put one together for us to view.   She put dimensions in her video which made it quite easy to follow.  And, of course, we all had to try our hands out at this.  So I put together these:

 So of course, I had to see if I could make it smaller and off I went and produced the little purple one.  They are too cute.

Then, back to the task at hand.  I needed to decide on how I was going to create this cigar box and make it worthy of giving to someone.  I think it turned out quite well.

Then Lia, had to show us what she was creating for a pin cushion in the form of a dress form.  So amazed at the talent that these ladies have.  You can find Lia here .  I'm planning to bottle up these ladies energy.  Seriously.  So off again I went to create my dress form pin cushion.  I haven't finished the final details on this, but want you to see it.

I burned the crap of my finger with the hot glue gun.  Word of advice... watch what you're doing when there are holes in what you're gluing, for hot glue will come out of the other side.  LOL!

Well, I found all sorts of goodies to buy for my swap partner.  I can't say who is getting this box because she hasn't gotten it yet and I want it to be a surprise.  I'll update this post later with the actual pics of the box, but for now, here is what she is getting.

LOL!  I know thats mean , but I just love my packaging.
I posted this little video as a teaser.

A Vintage Cigar Box Swap

I've been crafting, but no time to post what I've been up to.  So, I'll try to play catch up this week.
Recently, I've been doing some swaps over on Stampin Dymonz Scrap Shack and having lots of fun.  Although work has been keeping me busy, I've been trying to make time for myself as time permits.


I signed up for an altered cigar box and had a wonderful time doing it.  It was an anonymous swap, so the person whom you were creating for did not know who had their name.  You were asked to send in your favorite colors , along with a wish list of things you'd like to have.


Wouldn't you know it.  I was given the blog owners name and really wanted to do something special for her.  I had originally met her on the Cricut messageboard and have corresponded with her since she first started scrapbooking.  She really took off flying on her creativity.  I'm not sure where she gets the time to do it all, but I'd sure like to have some of her energy.


Her favorite color is green and I found this awesome K& Company paper that just had her name written all over it.  Then I sat out to find an authentic cigar box.  I found one at one of the local smoke shops here and have been going back from time to time to get more to add to my stash for future alterings.


I should have taken a before picture of the box, but I forgot to do so.
Well, here are the pictures of what it all looked like at the end. 

This is the box prior to finishing it up.

Showing the side of the box

I used the Tim Holtz feet to lift it up

Final outcome of the box.  I think it was tastefully elegant.

Inside of the box.

Recipe: 

Original Cigar box

Tim Holtz Feet

Fringe ribbon from local fabric store

Flowers from local fabric store

Lacy Trim

String Pearls

K& Company patterned paper

Recollections Rhinestones

Paint

Mirror

It's Been a Long Time

Work is interfering with my leisure life.  I have been crafting, but not having time to update my blog.  I will try to do better.