Home Made Pen Storage unit

After a recent clear up my craft room desk looked something like this:

I had all the pens that can be stored upright in those pots from IKEA hanging off the rail.  That was great, but there are lots of pens that have to be stored horizontally.  Double ended pens, Pitt pens, etc.  I had those in the box and pencil case marked by the red arrows.

That was fine, but every time I wanted a particular pen I had to sort through both the box and the pencil case to find the right one.  I knew I had seen various pen storage methods, both purchased and DIY versions, so I decided to make something myself.  I didn't want anything that I would have to buy too much stuff for and if I could get away without buying anything at all, so much the better.  That ruled out any of the ideas made from plumbing pipe and also anything made from Pringles tubes, etc as I would have to go get those too.

Then I realised I have lots of off cuts of foam board from when we have made Bible Story props for Open the Book.  So I went looking for ideas that would help me use that.  I found whole Pinterest boards devoted to craft desk storage ideas made from foam board.  Amazing.  The site I ended up using was on My Magnolia World.  I took her instructions and I changed the dimensions to fit my desk.

If you go to her site the instructions are really clear for how to put it together.  Copics are shorter than a lot of the double ended pens I wanted to use and I didn't have as much space to play with as she did, so I went with these dimensions in the end:

Cut two at this size for the Top and Bottom - 5 1/2 inches * 8 1/4 inches
Cut 6 at this size for the sides and each of the shelves - 5 1/2 inches * 8 inches
Follow the instructions on the linked site and you will get a smaller unit than hers that is deeper front to back to allow for longer pens.

The unit sits in the same space the box and pencil case occupied.  Well maybe with a few things pushed up just a little bit to one side.  And now I can see all my pens straight away and grab exactly what I need quickly and easily.  I know it doesn't look really smart, because being offcuts, some of the pieces already had paint etc on them, but it does the job and that is what matters.

Yes, that's a computer monitor on my wall.  Don't I have the best husband in the world?  I have a computer in my craft room now.  It didn't cost us anything because it was one someone else had previously given away.  Let's face it, I don't need it to do a lot up there, access the internet for craft videos, and print the occasional thing to the printer downstairs.  That's about it really. He even bought me a wireless keyboard and mouse so that I don't have to take up valuable desk space with them when I am not using them.


I'll make a post later in the week about the cd rack, which is where I store my unmounted stamps and another about the text in the picture frame.

I also hope to make a post about the progress I am making with the hand made journal with fun edges I posted about the other day.


You can check out the sites I link up to over in my sidebar. Before you go, why not check out my recipes index page, or my craft projects index page, I am sure you will find something there to interest you.

Read More

Hand Made Journal with Fun Edges

Let's make a deal, I won't talk about how long I've been away from this blog and you won't even think about it.  OK?

I just started a new online class from Valerie Sjodin.


I took a full sheet of 140lb (300gsm) watercolour paper, and tore it Teesha Moore style to make a journal.  I only wanted 1 fold in page, so I cut the extra pieces off and used them to make mini pages between the layers.

Here's a tip I learnt from another bookbinding class or webpage.  When it comes to piercing the holes in the spine of your pages so that you can bind them, lay your folded pages on top of an open book or catalogue so that the spines match.  Then, when you push through with your awl or pushpin, you go into the gap between the open pages.  This is much easier than trying to push through onto a cutting mat or other flat surface.

Also, if you haven't got any bookbinding thread or other strong thread, you can use unflavoured waxed dental floss.  It works just as well, but I have used the bookbinding thread on this occasion.

So, to start with my journal looked like the top photo in the above image.  All square edged pages, with one flap to come over the front page.  In the class Valerie uses multiple French Curves to get the curves she wants.  I only had one, as you can see.  I thought I had 3 but I couldn't find the others.   I had to do a bit of drawing curves by hand to make up the difference between what I wanted and what I could get from that French Curve, but all in all I think it turned out well.  I used a little pot to hold the pages down while taking the photos.

So there you have it.  I forgot to get a photo of that very last smaller inset page, but it is very like the front page.

I shall be sharing more as I work through the class.
I will also be sharing some of the work I am doing for other online classes I have been taking.


You can check out the sites I link up to over in my sidebar. Before you go, why not check out my recipes index page, or my craft projects index page, I am sure you will find something there to interest you.

Read More

Alex Jones Now A Longhair?

We've followed the beautiful Alex Jones on this Blog since bursting onto our screens on the One Show. She originally sported am immaculate bob haircut but for the past 2 years has been growing that out. We've got some pictures of her current length below. Longhair? Let us know what you think.

Cute Side-Pony

Classy Waves

Another Side Pony

Long Layers

Read More

Peacock Fairy Costume Dress

I finished this peacock fairy costume yesterday.  With the sunset getting later and later this time of year, there was plenty of time to head out to the arboretum for a photo shoot yesterday evening.  

I'm really pleased with how this costume turned out!  

I wear fairy costumes for a living so I designed this costume to be really versatile.  Instead of a dress, it's made up of 7 different individual pieces so I can mix and match with some of my other fairy costumes to create a lot of different looks.

The skirt is 4 layers.  There's an iridescent two-tone taffeta as the main part of the skirt.  The ribbons at the front are functional gathers, so I can let the skirt out into a floor length gown or gather it up for a saucy fairy look.

There's a lighter blue ruffle bustle that attaches to the skirt.  The bustle is really long, and can be let out into a ruffle train which follows me like a peacock tail, or adds a lot of shape when it's bustled up.

Layered over that is a tutu made of purple, blue, light blue and black tulle.  The tulle is edged to give it a lot of definition, and I used my new embroidery machine to embroider peacock feathers here and there in the tutu's layers.  This might be my favorite part of the whole costume.  I'm having SO much fun with that machine.

The 4th layer is another bustle / hip scarf that ties on with gold ribbon.  It's a lovely stretchy animal-print fabric with gold flecks.  This fabric was actually the inspiration for the whole costume.  It's simply gorgeous.  I also added a row of super bright LED tape to the underside of this piece, so in low light the LEDs shine down into the tutu and give the whole skirt a subtle glow.

There are 3 pieces to the top.  There's a sheer off-white blouse, an under-bust corset and a peacock bra.  The bra is covered in shiny gold fabric with real peacock feathers layered onto it (spray glue FTW).  

The corset is made from a sparkle velvet (left over from my Merida costume) has triple lacing in the front and is cut low in the back to accommodate my green Fancy Fairy wings.

Read More