Fall in Love with your crafting space

This is a special area in your home that is your retreat, your own special little haven where you can play with paper, scissors and fabric. This spot needs to be comfortable and functional.

Start with the simplest of things first- Color. Find a color that works for you- be it yellow which is high energy. My first official scrapbook nook was a yummy yellow which was great for that small space. Or your tatses may take you to choose a subtle Aqua which is tranquility, which by the way is the color of my current Scrapbook Nook. Keep in mind that the color you choose will be all around you and can have an effect on making the room feel larger or smaller not to mention your mood. Check out this article on the meaning of color, it delves into the emotions/feelings that are associated with a particular color. I have used this as my reference point when teaching color theory classes to scrapbookers, the class has been a sell out every time I offer it. And for those of you who are wondering...yes I do plan on teaching scrapbooking and other crafting classes once I move to the UK.

Form follows function- that's furniture. I like to start with the basics...shelving is essential to storage, and my favorite shelving has to be hands down the chrome shelves that you see in places like Sam's Club and Cooking Stores. These kinds of shelves are adjustable and can hold more weight than you can ever put on them! Wood is great and all, but tends to warp, metal is your best bet- after all paper, cardstock and wood mounted stamps can be quite weighty. Don't like the color of chrome? Many now come in white and a matte black. Me, I prefer the industrial look, it's also a finish that won't scratch or flake off.

If this is a place where you will be sitting make sure to have a comfortable chair. Too many times I see crafters with the worst kinds of chairs. This is where to spend your money. Get one that is comfortable but also has an adjustable lumbar support and seat height. There's nothing worse than back pain when you're trying to craft. If you prefer to stand while you craft then invest in one of those thick cushy mats, I'm currently looking into that for my kitchen... actually, I'd like to have my entire kitchen floor covered in that stuff, LOL! But that's another story :-)

What I'm getting at is this- make your space comfortable. Look on-line and see what others have in their spaces and how it works for them then think about what will work for you and your space. Don't be afraid to ask people where they found the items that work for them- nice people share ideas and welcome questions. There are tons of great crafting rooms out there to look at- webshots is a great stepping stone, go out and look around and gather ideas!