Saturday, January 15, 2011

My New Stamp Room! A.K.A Why I Haven't Stamped Much Lately!

  I've been bugging my husband for a while that I wanted to spruce up my stamp room and make it more organized and pretty.  The paint was still the yucky builder's grade off white that it was when we moved in more than 3 years ago.  The "desk" was my parents old kitchen table and all the storage was just a hodge podge of plastic rolling bins, and random containers to hold all of my stuff.  My poor Big Shot and paper trimmer were on the floor just waiting to be abused by my boys.  About the only part of the room that was organized was my ink pad holder that my husband built for me last Christmas.

  So for my Christmas present this year Matt painted the walls and the ceiling...


This is the corner where my desk goes
 And then put up crown molding....

Look at all those punches!!
And then he built me a desk.....
All wood will turn into a desk...I promise!

The corner desk top

Cardstock file cabinet on the left Small drawer storage on the right
 After we moved the pieces upstairs to the stamp room I had to work on a few projects so I couldn't wait for the desk to be completely finished.  I was so paranoid that I was going to dent the top or drop an ink pad face down on it!  Matt kept reminding me to be careful with it and wait until we got the glass top for it...It's definitely his baby!
In the Stamp Room with paint, waiting for drawer hardware

Drawer fronts and Cup Pulls with label holders

Just waiting for the glass top
  We've since gotten the glass and I've proceeded to fill the drawers and cover the top with all my piles which I'm slowly starting to find new homes for.  You can barely see the top now but I LOVE all the extra room I have.  My husband is so talented!!  I showed him a desk that I had seen on built-it-yourself website, Ana White (formerly know as Knock Off Wood) and told him I wanted file cabinets on one side for my cardstock and smaller shallow drawers on the other for tools, accessories etc.  He took a look at the plans and altered them for the changes I wanted and Voila!  Well maybe not that fast, all in all the whole room painting, molding, desk building took a few weeks throughout the Christmas holiday.

  I still had the old kitchen table that I was using as my desk and it was looking pretty beat and tired.  My parents used it for many many years when we were growing up and I'm sure it wasn't new then as my mom is a great yard sale hunter so it was probably already second or third hand at this point.  I thought it would be great as a Big Shot, paper trimmer & sewing machine table.  The random cut out piece is so I can set my sewing machine down in it so it is flush with the table making it easier to use. When I'm not using the sewing machine the cut out piece of wood fits back in so there isn't a gaping hole.  My dad did that part when they gave me the table.

Ready for a new look

Side View...the carved details on the legs were hard to sand!
  We took it outside and sanded it down...

Now it looks even more sad!

A good healthy coat of Kilz...

I can't decide if it's looking better or worse!


 And 3 coats of semi-gloss, and 2 coats of poly...

Look at that good looking table.  The Big Shot is excited to have a real home!



 And here is the table with all the gear on it as well as this hutch thing I got when my father-in-law closed down his office which I had been using the same way before the room redo but it made the table kind of shallow and I couldn't spread out much.  I want to paint it to match the rest of the furniture but it's that weird laminate particle board stuff....sturdy enough but I just don't know how to paint it.  Any suggestions welcome!  My husband says he can just build me a set of shelves to mount on the wall so we'll probably do that someday.  For now this works for some extra storage and display space.

The work table
  See those long tall things leaning against the wall...well those are the supplies for my curtains; fabric, liner and rod.  I'm not much of a sewer and don't enjoy it nearly as much as stamping.  I think it's such a long process to sew curtains as opposed to knocking out a few cards which is much more immediate gratification at the end.  So my mom is going to help me out when I go visit them next month, she's the sewer in the family.  The plastic bins are the same ones that I've been using for years to store my stamp sets.  I really need to sort them all out between, current, retired, hostess etc. but that's a project for another day.  The small little wire cart over on the right has odds and ends and is where I store my 12X12 paper.  Ultimately I'd like to clean out the closet enough to fit that in and then have a book shelf in that corner.

  I'm now on the hunt for an old picture frame to paint and hang up above my desk so I can have an idea board with all my scraps of paper and pictures ripped from magazines.  Right now they are all stacked up on the desk or shoved in a binder which isn't very inspirational.  I'm also trying to figure out the lighting for the desk.  There is a spot already set for a ceiling fixture but I'm afraid that since it is behind me it would just cause a shadow from my head right on my work surface.  Right now I have a short table lamp that's OK but I think a taller one would be better.  The OTT lights on the hutch above the work table are sufficient for that space for now.

 If you've made it this far....WOW!  Thanks for taking a look at my new and improved stamp room.  I'll be back to posting cards soon now that I have the organization almost finished and I have to finish designing the projects for my January stamp club!  I'll try to remember to post any other changes so you can see how it's going.

  Here are some of the room details in case you're wondering.

Wall Paint: Valspar Coffee n' Cream (satin)
Primer: Kilz
Molding, Desk & Table: Valspar White (semi-gloss)
Corner Desktop Plans
Base Unit Plans altered as needed
Punch Organization: Over the door shoe organizers from Target
Ink Pad Storage

Thanks for looking!  Happy Stamping (or building or organizing!)




15 comments:

  1. Congrats on your lovely room - I see you think organization like I do!!! Hope it brings you tons of hours of inspiration.....and dollars and dollars of slaes!!

    Peggy
    http://stampinpegcadillo.blogspot.com

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  2. Ok, I'm so jealous!!! That desk is my DREAM DESK!! It looks just like the Pottery Barn desk!! I LOVE it!! Your parent's table is absolutely awesome!!! You did a great job refinishing that!! Oh, for you hutch, I would suggest some spray paint I've heard of that covers slick surfaces. I can't remember the name but I'm sure it's at a local hardware store, Lowe's or Home Depot. I really like the color you chose for your walls too. I can't wait to see your curtains!! The fabric looks fabulous. So far, I think your room is beautiful!! I think it helps that you have that big window too. For lighting for your desk, why not get 2 more OTT lights? That's what I use and I really think it makes all the difference in the world! I have 3 on my desk...lol! Please keep posting pics as you work on the rest of your room, I would love to see everything and drool. LOL Thank you for the desk and ink pad storage plans. Who knows, maybe someday I'll build myself a sweet room like yours!! Thanks again for the great post!!
    Lorraine Castellon-Rowe
    Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Fremont, CA :0)

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  3. Great job..... how creative you both are!

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  4. Love your workspace. It looks like the sort of place where you can get your creative juices flowing. Lucky you.

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  5. I love the re-painted table! I just may go garage sale hunting myself now. My scraproom is such a mish-mash right now. :( Thanks for all the inspiration though!!

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  6. Very nice ... wish I had a handy hubby, but mine is not allowed to pick up a hammer - LOL! He is not very handy at all. I do most of the repairs and refinishing and even they plumbing, but most of that has come to a halt since I have bad knees and can't get down on them now. Luckily, my sons have taken after me (I took after my mom, as my father was also not allowed to use a hammer (Snicker!). My youngest does things for me when he is home, but I don't know what I will do if he ever moves further away. Guess I will either have to force myself to do it again, or hire someone - Ugh! TFS! Look forward to seeing more.

    Cynthia Ferenz
    Proud Parent of 2 Soldiers

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  7. Oh my goodness, Amanda! You really HAVE been busy! What an amazing room! Your husband is a definite keeper! Everything is so beautiful AND functional. I love that you repurposed the dining table too. How much fun! Cannot wait to see what you turn out in this fabulous room! You are already so stinkin' creative, and now you have a wonderful studio to create in! Many compliments to you and your DH - great job!

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  8. Good for you! Your unstoppable now! ")

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  9. Your husband did a fabulous job! The room is looking terrific.

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  10. I am in awe....I just happened upon your site and am so impressed. what are your punches stored in...they look like clear shoe holders. thanks so much for sharing, you inspire me. Marie

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  11. looks awesome! I'm a little jealous. And for your bookshelves, I would just prime them real good and then paint them. I wish I lived closer, I'd help you with the sewing. Make sure to keep posting pictures!

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  12. WOW!!! LOVE your brand new stamp room, your brand new desk, and love how the table turned out!!!! Beautiful! I know you will have many happy hours stamping in that gorgeous room :)

    Barb

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  13. WOWZERS!!! What an awesome room. I'm sure you will enjoy many hours in there! TFS

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  14. Wow! I am jealous...your room is awesome! I would love to have the sunny, big space...and that desk is great! Lucky you to have such a talented husband!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment!