Upcycled Envelope Mini Albums

Here's a sneak peak of what I've been working on the past couple of weeks. They are all made out of junk mail envelopes and decorative paper from my stash. No two are alike and they were a blast to make. There are more than what you see in the picture, but I'm having brain freeze about getting the flash to stay on while taking closeups. The one closeup is of a double-embossed cover that's made to look like leather. First it's embossed on the Cuttlebug, then with extra thick embossing enamel powder. What do you think? I saw a tutorial somewhere using this technique to make wallets and thought it would work equally well as an album cover.

Transformation To-Do List

Here's how far I've gotten so far this week. I got a to-do list created. TA-DA!!! Hey, at least I got that done, and being the type of person who needs to have some structure to keep her on track, this was an important first step. The actual list has squares to the left of each number so I can check them off as they get done. There's also a line going all the way down about 2 inches from the right side of the page so I can scribble notes if needed. As you can see, this is quite a project. Tomorrow morning DH and I are going garage saling (sailing looks better, but that's not how it's spelled) with our DD and SIL, then when we get back DH is going to a baseball card sale, so maybe I'll get started on it while he's gone. Of course having received some books from the library in the mail today I might be a little distracted, especially by this one:

Pretty Little Patchwork

My To-Do List

Desk

• 1. Take everything off
• 2. Sort and categorize
  Paper crafts
  Computer supplies
  Books – relocate (see bookcase)
  Misc – relocate if not craft or computer
• 3. Put storage items in bottom drawer of metal file cabinet
• 4. (There's a blank line under each category for last minute tasks.)
  
  Bookcase
• 1. Categorize books
  Keep – catalog
  Scan – put in other den
  Donate – put in box
  Sell – put in box
• 2. Relocate non-book items
  Keep
  Toss
  Sell
  Donate
• 3.
  
  File drawers
• 1. Remove and shred outdated material
• 2. Categorize and label all files
• 3. Organize files in drawers by category
  Personal
  Household (i.e. receipts & warranties)
  Crafts
  Business
  Other (i.e. travel)
• 4.
  
  Closet
  
• 1. Remove boxes and cases from floor and sort/toss/etc.
• 2. Remove clothing not worn in past year
• 3. Evaluate magazines and notebooks on shelves and toss if not needed
• 4. Install rail on floor or remove doors (?)
• 5.
  
  Other
• 1. Organize craft table
• 2. Organize wire cubes
• 3.

Before the transformation

As you will see when you look at these pictures, my craft room is in dire need of a major overhaul. It used to be my den until my computer died and I took over, er, shared my husband's den so I could use his computer. It was around that same time that I got invited by a co-worker to go to a StampinUp open stamp night and well... the rest is history, or memories in the making as I like to say... That piled-under table under the window was out in my MIL's garage for years until we rescued it, still in the box unassembled. It measures about 26 x 30 with a sort of slate top, so is perfect for paper crafts. Of course that requires that all my junk isn't piled on top, but I had to relocate a few things in order to shoot some pics of my stamp storage to show someone.
The bookcases are packed full of assorted craft, cooking, health and other books, many of which have never been opened beyond the day I bought them. My plans are to donate or repurpose a bunch of them to free up space for craft supplies that aren't as heavy as the books which have caused slight bowing of the thin shelves. Oh, did you notice the Cricut Expressions to the right of my paper bin on the desk? My dh bought that for me after listening to me carry on about all I could do with it. Isn't he a dear!
Closer shot of the side desk. The wooden thing holding my stamp pads came from a church garage sale, only cost something like 25 cents and works great. There are shelves underneath that hold my small stamp container, punch container, various paper files, notebooks and two plastic stacking drawers holding more... you guessed it... PAPER!
Every crafter has to have her tv for background noise, right? The repurposed notebooks on the right hold most of my printed instructions for just about any craft you could think of. Yeah, I'm a pattern collector!
This is just way too embarassing, but hey, if you make a public commitment to change, it has to happen, right? That timer (yellow thing) is there so when I've got something going in another room (laundry or cooking) I can make it ding to remind me. On the right are a couple of my photo storage boxes that, unlike many craft rooms I've admired, are NOT matching. My style is more what some would call bohemian, ecclectic, shabby chic (?) or some other word. For now it's just pure trashy and needs to be fixed. I'd love to hear comments and suggestions and promise to keep you posted as I dive in to the transformation!