Wednesday 1 February 2012

Whats On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #139





Wednesday has come round fast again, but no complaining from me because it means I get to Look (snoop, be nosey) around all the wonderful crafty desk’s and why do I do this I hear you cry, well if you are from Mars and have no idea what I am on about you might cry it but otherwise you will know, because everyone knows it’s WOYWW, you see on a Wednesday Julia from The Stamping Ground, hosts a weekly party that is WOYWW and us nosey crafters can put pictures of our desks/tables/laps/floors, on our blogs and then we all have a good look around other peoples crafty spaces, leave a few comments and enjoy it a lot!!!. Last week I managed 168 desks and left comments on almost all of them, Thank you for all your lovely comments it was lovely to hear from you.

So onto my desk firstly is my laptop, at the back is my little blue bucket with my every day tools in, also at the back is a little glass, my daughter decorated for me many moons ago, and that holds my Sukura pens, my 2 fine tip glue’s, are always on my desk, (I use these all the time) some double sided tape oh a few stamped images and the copics that I haven’t put away from colouring the image on the tiny card in the front, in the wooden box is CD cases filled with the small free sets of stamps you get from magazines, on top of the box my newly acquired blending tool and some distress inks, (got to learn how to use this) and to the left is my ruler and scissors and the remnants of the card I used for the tiny card in the front, so no new crafty stash, no lovely layouts or artistic journals or a wonderful sewing project, no knitting, not much at all really

So I decided after showing my Marker hints and tips book, last week, I would show you another book that is always on my desk.



Card designs are always something I have always struggled with, either lack of mojo, or I just can’t ‘think’ (a problem that many CFS sufferers struggle with) so a couple of years ago whenever I saw a card sketch I liked I would save it to my computer, well that wasn’t much help because I could never find them again, or by the time I had looked at them all, I was either fed up or too tired and couldn’t craft, so I started printing them out and sticking them in a book, In hindsight, I should have printed the sketches much smaller and kept a better record of where they came from and who designed them, and the date I found/printed it, but whenever my mojo is hiding, I look through my book of ‘inspirational sketches’ and I can always find one that suits the situation. Image or design papers, and now I am never stuck for ideas, it sort of gives my brain a little kick and I might turn the sketch around, I might add or take away something, I usually simplify it because I like simple cards, but I am not wonderfully gifted like many of the card makers out there, I cannot look at an image or some papers, and a great card design instantly pops into my head in fact this hardly ever happens, so these great sketches, that wonderful people with lots of skill and talent create, I keep in a handy book, so I am never without a layout idea. It is a huge help and stays on my desk along with my marker hints and tips book.

I also thought I would show you how I store my Spellbinder Dies, as I explained before, my craft room is really my Sons bedroom so when he comes home from university during the holidays I want all my crafting ‘stuff’ to be put away in the cupboards so he can have his bedroom back.

I use Old DVD Cases (again recycling otherwise would be rubbish)

As you can see I have two strips of Magnetic tape stuck on the inside of the case and the sets of dies ‘stick’ to this so aren’t loose, so don’t get lost, and then on the outside of the case I have used copy paper, printed the name of the die set, and a layered the shape (square in this case) and also included the sizes of the dies, to show me what’s in each DVD case –Having the layered shape also helps me know/notice if there is one missing!! I had heard of people using CD cases but I had lots of old DVD cases and thought I would use those and again it works really well for me, the larger rectangle and label dies fit in them and they stack nicely in the cupboard with easy to read labels on the spines.

I hope that by sharing these ideas with you, they might be of help to someone.

I did warn you I can ‘waffle’ on my blog header lol if your still with me, Thank you, :-) pop along to Julia’s and leave her some love, and see how many others have joined in this week.

Thanks again for visiting and for your comments, it really does mean a lot to me that you take the time to leave me a message. Hope you all have a great crafty week.



78 comments:

  1. Love your storage of your pens and the nestibilities! Danielle #22

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  2. I really like how you store your dies. That is one clever idea. I don't have a die cutter, but I sure like the idea. And I only have one Sakura pen, but I am in love with it. I can see why yours are easy to reach on your desk. Happy WOYWW and feel free to drop by if you are interested in taking my free altered book classes. I'm # 30 this week.

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  3. Loved your card sketches book and the spellbinders storage.

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  4. fab ideas.. i love the dvd storage for your nesties
    Lisa x

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  5. Well done, you have the one thing i've been meaning to do forever, A very handy sketch inspire book, now i've seen yours maybe i'll get my act together and get on with one of my own!!!
    Happy Wednesday
    Minxy x

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  6. How organised you are Lou--love the idea of saving the sketches as I just love to do the sketch challenges and find them inspirational..I only have one set of nesties so don't need a special place to store those lol

    xxx

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  7. Love your storage, and look at those pens! Hope you enjoy this WOYWW. Zo x 89

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  8. Good to see someone doing "my" thing with the sketches. I keep them in a file-case and go through them once in a while...but still have tons of sketches in the PC :-)

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  9. Hi there. Great to have a peek into your crafty world this morning thanks to the wonders of WOYWW! Hope the rest of your week goes well too.
    Neil #48

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  10. Great storage ideas! I too have ME and have set up files on my computer to hold the various templates, measurements etc cause I lay my notebooks down or loan them out and don't remember so it is a backup of sorts! I am offering up some blog candy so come leave a comment on my blog and get a chance to win! Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Vickie #87

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  11. Fantastic storage tips I have lots of empty dvd boxes, and love the card map book what a great idea, Have a agreat week, Hugs May x x x x

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  12. Hi there Kezzy, thanks so much for sharing your great ideas - do love the idea of book with layouts have one but don't use it enough naughty me one day will get organised too many fingers in too many pies I think! Happy WOYWW! Shaz in Oz. x #21

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  13. old dvd cases are a great idea, I do use the cd cases for dies and stamps..love the card map, have a great week happy woyww,
    ((Lyn)

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  14. Great tip and I think I might just start using DVD cases myself. Great way to store those dies. Thanks for that...
    JoZarty x

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  15. Great storage tips and fab ideas :) I too print out and add sketches to my craft organiser as they are always handy when you need a few ideas :)

    Have a great WOYWW, Luv Karen xx

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  16. Love the crafty space, fab, Happy WOYWW Hun, hoping this posts as I have had issues all week!!

    Lou P

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  17. What a busy desk today, You will have to have an organised room so that your by can use it when he comes home. I see you have copics I had a go with a friends they are so great to use. Have a lovely Wednesday. Laura

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  18. Love how you are so organised but I'm fascinated by those pens and how they're all sorted - fabulous! Happy Wednesday!

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  19. You are organised!!!have a crafty week hugs teace x no53

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  20. I love your waffle!! Your sketch book idea is brilliant, I may have to steal it!! I have the same trouble as you with the CFS mind block so the sketch idea will really help. Will start searching some out as soon as I can. Thank you xx

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  21. You have some amazing storage soloutions.

    I have a notebook in the style of a file folder and I have a section for scrapbooking, cards, quotes etc.

    Laura #86

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  22. thanks for this week's crafty snoop lou...that is one creative space...hugs kath (63)

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  23. Thanks for a great crafty snoop this week. Loving those idea binders
    hugs
    Enfys

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  24. Having the sketches to hand like that is a good idea and like your CD storage for your dies -(Hazel, WOYWW #10) x

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  25. thanks for the peak!!
    Hope you had a happy WOYWW !
    Hugs Marleen #50

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  26. Hi Lou
    oh what a great idea to print them out, like you i use to save them on the comp, much better to have them printed, lovely card, thanks for the mooch, happy WOYWW,sue,x(54)

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  27. Your "colouring-in" is wonderful Lou ... such super shading! Also LoVe your workspace too ... everything to hand - including your laptop! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier ... it was great to have you visit. Love Debbie xXx #84

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  28. Hi Lou...thanks for stopping by :) you have a vast collection of markers in the background, wow, i don't own 1!...mind you i've only made 2 cards so far!...your storage tips are fab too...have a wonderful week...Mel :)

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  29. Hi Lou, what a lovely orgarnised desk you have, what a lotof markers you have. What a fab idea to save all the sketches think I might have to do something like that thank you for showing
    Anne-marie x no 136

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  30. Wonderful setup - I'm lusting after your markers and pens!

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  31. Hi Lou
    What great tips on having the card layout book and the CD cases for die cuts so organised :)

    Thanks for sharing
    Becky (160)
    x

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  32. great idea to have a book of sketches and like your nestie storage solution too!
    Have a great week!
    Happy WOYWW Debxx #8

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  33. Oooh, I like the idea of printing off the ideas into a book, nice and accessible. I might pinch that! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  34. Your cards are fab and I love the idea for storage in dvd cases - brill. x Jo

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  35. love your neat workspace and the laptop close by.
    Bridget #72

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  36. You certainly are on top of your storage solutions Lou, aren’t you.

    I love the fact you have your card lay out in a book and always ready to hand. I also keep some on my computer and have some laminated sheets with ones I’ve printed off from a site called Page Maps. If you’ve not seen this site it’s well worth a visit because not only do they have card maps but scrapbook LO’s as well.

    Happy Crafting!
    Sue
    x

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  37. Nice tidy desk and thanks for sharing your fantastic organizational skills!

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  38. Great Ideas Lou
    Thanks for sharing
    and for passing by my space x

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  39. Lovely workspace and I love your pen and marker collection.
    I have been using CD boxes with magnetic sheets to store my nesties. Good idea for the bigger ones to use DVD cases.

    Carol

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  40. Now that is a very smart way to store those spell binders, Mine are still just barely hanging onto the original cards. Thanks for the peeks and ideas.
    Keep smiling and creating and thanks for stopping by

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  41. I love all your storage tips and pics!

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    1. Brilliant tips - I especially love the one about keeping ideas for layouts/sketches as I do often struggle there. another idea for the list once the stamps are organised - just give me a year :) Happy WOYWW and thanks so much for hopping in the say hello. Di xx

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    2. Brilliant tips - I especially love the one about keeping ideas for layouts/sketches as I do often struggle there. another idea for the list once the stamps are organised - just give me a year :) Happy WOYWW and thanks so much for hopping in the say hello. Di xx

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  42. Well Lou...
    Thank you for visiting my blog and thanks for WOYWW for introducing us! And, Bless your heart! Good Grief Girl! You do such MARVELOUS WORK (and in your condition), I whine at having to get up by 8:30 am. HA! You run circles around all of us! I'm a retired nurse but was not familiar with ME. A quick internet search educated me.
    I'll be back to visit soon.
    Hugs!
    kat

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  43. Hi Lou, great to see your space. It was really interesting to see your storage tips and to look at your ideas book. Take care, Judith xx

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  44. Wow great tips, think I may have to use the sketch one, I am a non die user at the moment, I have resisted but there are soooooo many pretty ones now I may have to succumb to the big shot!, Thanks for sharing, Happy Crafting, Sue xx

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  45. You must spend ages sorting things out! It is a fabulous idea for the nesties, I suppose spending that little extra time sorting out before you craft makes the crafting quicker and easier!
    I also have that copics colour chart filled in with the copics I have (showing me the copics I want!) that I can see in the background.
    I'm attempting to visit everyone on the WOYWW list this week. t'is a daunting task but at least I'm trying!

    Sheena
    xxx

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  46. I love how this little mouse with the flower card turned out! Sometimes it pays to be behind in visiting because you get to see how the card turned out, lol!
    Great idea for the card sketches and the storing of the dies. So far I don't have that many dies so I just keep them in their packages but it is a pain to pull them off that sticky tape and I am worried I will break one!
    Thanks for the visit to my blog! I missed your first comment before you took it down, I know it is easy enough to think you are on someone else's blog when going thru the hundreds of WOYWWers!
    xoxo Karen

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  47. Why did I not think of that sketch idea ...brilliant ...I too go totally blank when I have to make a card ...it would even help with LO's too giving a jot to the idea cells. ...I like the front for your dvd storage...much needed info ...and the storage ...gutted that DD has just thrown out loads of cases in an effort to thin things out.
    Such a cute card xx

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  48. I love your idea of saving the card sketches, when you're in a hurry or your mojo has gone they could be a lifesaver! Saves having to trawl through your magazines. May have to start my own sketch book :) x

    CraftingUpAStorm

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  49. Just popped back to say I had to smile at feeding time below ...just imagine our place ... 3 in the front room ...4 in the kitchen (these are the ones with issues lol) and 12 in the hall and up the stairs ...yep you counted right lol.

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  50. Yet another great idea with the sketches book! I hadn't thought of printing them out! I have a book but I draw them in and it gets a bit scruffy, so I may start sticking print out's in instead :o) lot's of lovely goodies on your desk this week.

    You asked about the glimmer mists I made, if you search "home made glimmer mists" on you tube there are a few tutorials.

    But here are my recipes too:
    For the Pink Glimmer Mist I added the following to a mister bottle:
    Water
    Pink (or red if you don't have pink) food colouring
    A little White Acrylic Paint
    A little Pearlescent Pearl Acrylic Paint
    Small squirt of PVA glue

    For the Brown Glimmer Mist:
    Water
    Red, Yellow and Blue food colouring
    A little Pearlescent Pearl Acrylic Paint
    A smidge of Gold pigment powder
    Small squirt of PVA glue

    As long as you've got something for colour, something (very fine) for a bit of glimmer and the pva to seal it, it should work fine. Have fun x

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  51. That dvd box storage idea is very clever! And I'm jealous of your enormous marker collection!

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  52. Great storage ideas there well done you. I never work from sketches so no need for that onmy desk lol Love Cynthia #2 x

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  53. I love your idea of printing out and keeping the card sketch ideas in a book. I too always struggle when it comes to think of what card to make and the sketches are so useful. Love your storage idea with the old CD case too.

    Thanks for already visiting my desk this week.

    Sherry (139)

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  54. Your have a lovely organised desk there, Lou.
    I save sketches to the computer too as I struggle with layouts but have never thought of printing them out, what a great idea. I'm off to do that right now and make myself a book like yours. Thanks so much for the tips.
    Happy WOYWW
    Hugs Lisax #116

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  55. Wow!!! That is some kind of organized!!! Glad to see I'm not the only one who needs a bit of help in the layout department. I frequently run into road-blocks, and need a bit of inspiration. Have a great week!

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  56. Love your desk, and the card itself is great so no self deprecation of how great your desk isn't cos it is, ok?

    LOL

    Great storage ideas there too! TFS...


    Thanks for stopping by.

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  57. That is such a good idea for storage in those DVD Cases. Sadly I donated all my spare ones to a friend so I shall have to think of another method. Thank you for your visit and you kind comments. Have a good week. xx Maggie #112

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  58. Oh thats a good idea, put all your favourite sketches in a book, might have to borrow that idea!

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  59. I so wish I could be a organised as you. thanks for visiting me I'm a bit behind in my return visits!

    Hugs Pam x

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  60. Not a boring desk at all, lots of lovely stuff to see. You have a lot of marker pens for a start! Great idea with the dvd cases, might try that myself! And I print out sketches too, the pink folder on top of my unit contains sketches, I think I need a bigger one now! Also I posted a little tutorial on amking the tissue flowers today if you're interested.

    Hugs
    Brenda 115

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  61. My goodness I am a very lovely shade of green right now. You are so organised!!! Wish I could say the same!
    Happy belated WOYWW

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  62. Thanks so much for sharing these fabulous tips and for taking the time to stop by my site and leave a comment! I'm sort of an organizational nut myself, and love the idea of the book of sketches and DVD storage for dies. I'm not new to stamping, but am new to the whole web/blog scene/sketch challenges, etc., and now to the world of Cuttlebug, so setting these things up in an organzied fashion right from the get-go makes me very happy! I'm joining your site for future inspirations I'm sure you'll have and to catch up on your back posts. Thanks again. Take care!

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  63. Hi, your card designs book is a great idea - perhaps if I had one I wouldn't have lost my mojo! Will check out your marker tip - sounds interesting. Thanks for visiting the Cupboard, enjoy your week. ikki

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  64. I like your mix of Copics and Pro Markers, must be fun to combine the two.
    Aeryn (181)

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  65. great idea with the nesties
    thanks for sharing
    janet #6

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  66. Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. Love the idea for the die cut storage, I just got some, will have to hunt down some old dvd cases.

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  67. Well, thanks for all those tips. I think the Sketch book is fantastic and one which I will certainly take on board when I return home from my vacation. Gosh I am using American words, been here too long - need to get home. But ... oh I leave this lovely weather and go home to snow!

    Thanks for commenting on my blog and for sharing your workdesk etc. Hugs, Neet 151 xx

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  68. I think the sketch book is a great idea... I save all sorts of stuff to the computer and then never revisit, a book would work really well!!

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  69. Jealous muchly of your fab amount of pens!! Great to have a peek at other people's desks.....love the idea of the cd box containing your free stock of stamps from craft mags.....may have to steal that idea! have a great day! xx

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  70. Great storage ideas and I think you feat of visiting most of the woyww's is amazing.

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  71. Wow, love your organization! Some great tips, thanks for the peek. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Sue #142

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  72. I can look at a stamp and have an idea now and then, but I cannot 'see' a finished card in my head. A skill, for sure. I think it's great that you're so organised, and especially that you're maintaining your sons space....i agree about the book too, browsing the computer is not an inspiration, and as you say, by the timeyve found anything..exhausted!!

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  73. I love your book of inspiration! And the DVD case for storage of the dies is awesome!

    Thanks for stopping by, I'm sorry to be so late on my commenting. A stomach bug had me knocked out on Wednesday, and Thursday too :(

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  74. You are a good one for lickle books. I have a similar one for scrapbook layouts. If I see a sketch I like I print them if I am in work, or if at home, I copy them to a document on my computer (saves paper and ink!). I started one for my stamps but I know I am way behind on that one at the moment and can't be bothered to sit and stamp in there as I would rather be making! In fact I have done that, stamped in my book then pulled the page out to make someting there and then!! LOL

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  75. I was wondering what to do my my new dies for storage - thanks for the inspiration.

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