Handy Craft Idea for the New Year

Well Happy New Year everyone, sorry I have been a tad snowed under - if you pardon the pun.  Yes we did have a White Xmas here in Leicestershire, however the low temperatures and hard frosts are getting just a bit too much now.  I was out a few hours ago, taking my Son home - or should I say letting him drive the car, while I clung on like grim death - nail imprints can be found in the door handle on the front passenger door.

Anyway - onto more pressing stuff - CRAFT - I knew that would make you sit up and listen, I was in my local Home Bargains last week, when I spied a Gift Bag Organizer by Hallmark - I have checked out their website but can not find the item. So I have scanned the label that was round the item.

As we all know Crafters always think outside of the box, and therefore everything has more than one use.  The size of this Organizer is 19" x 18" x 12" deep when fully expanded.  Plenty big enough for those who have a passion for Scrapbooking or those just starting out Scrapbooking and wishing to take items along to a Scrapbooking meeting.  It also comes with a set of handy labels for the tabs so that you can organise your sheets and other accessories.  This handy carry case cost me all of £1.99GBP.  Further down the label, it does say that in USA it will normally retail at $14.95 - which converts to £9.28GBP - so you can see just how much of a saving this item really is.  I think I will go back next time I am in town, and get a couple more, as they are well worth the £1.99GBP.  Obviously like all Home Bargains stores, you have to take what you can get when you see it - they frequently have Fiskars items - at vastly reduced prices - it does beg the question why Fiskars charge so much for the items, yet Home Bargains can sell them so cheaply.  Whatever way you look at it - the person getting the bargain in this case is us the Crafter.

All the best for 2010.

Be Crafty

Be Happy

Think outside the box

How the Craft Shed came into being

Like most crafter's my stash started in the living room, which was fine for a while, and then in Summer 2008 I realised that in no way was the living room big enough for 2 things my craft stash and living in - especially with 2 dogs and 5 cats. It was starting to look like a scud missile had been let loose in there, despite me constantly re-arranging it all.

So off to the garden and empty the smallest shed - I didn't dare take the big one, I wish I had now, but still it can't be helped. Once it was empty, it was then the process of cleaning it, filling in all the joints and any holes so that mice and other things couldn't get in. This having been achieved, I then set about insulation - Winters here are never very good, it would be a miracle if they were. Once the insulation was in place, I then was lucky enough to be gifted some hardboard via a local Freecycle Group, this was then pinned in place, so I have nice smooth walls - these will be painted in the Spring of 2009, as by the time it was all in place it was far too cold to paint.

The ceiling has been covered with some of the metallic insulation bubble foil, which helps to reflect the light from the Halogen spot lights. The door is also insulated with the same metallic insulation bubble foil. I have some vinyl floor tiles that are also going to be put down in Spring 2009, I want to make sure everything is dry before I stick them down.

Early December saw us having to replace the roofing felt after a stormy night wreaked havoc with what had been on there, and had caused a slight ingress of water. I purchased a small Halogen heater and this heats the shed up very nicely, so the damp was soon cleared up and dried out from the inside with the heater. Once this was done, the big move could begin.