Poor Mans' Nestie Storage

I have quite a few Nestabilies, though I tend to use the same ones over and over, that I needed an inexpenive way to store them. AND..., of course, did not want to spend my precious craft money to store items, lol.

I have not seen this else where, so I thought I would share it with you. I took these photos after I made my second one with all the new Nesties that I got recently. YEAAAY for tax and bonus time (big smile here)

What I did was purchase a zipper binder on sale at staples and some magnetic strip tape from Amazon. I find that the magnetic tape at the scrap store does not hold much of anything well. Amazon has much better tape at an inexpensive price. The one I purchased you can find HERE.

For each page, I taped together 2 sheets of Walmart card stock to make the pages sturdy enough to hold the weight. All I had to do was add 2 strips of tape per side. Each side hold 2 sets, that is 4 sets per page.

To prevent the pages from sticking together, I used some of the USPS flat rate envelopes I had hanging around. These are free at your local post office :o) Each envelope makes two pages.

There is even room for the Spellbinder embossing sheets, one of which I think I ruined putting it through my Big Shot wrong, but kept anyway just in case it will work "good enough" next time, lol.

This binder is already holding 14 sets of Nesties. As you can see, there is still loads of room for more! The first is home to 26 sets, but for this one I used corrugated packaging sheets (I think that is what they would be called) which are much thicker than the USPS envelopes. Next time I go to the post office, I just may pick up more and change them.

Each binder only cost between $20-$25 depending on what each zipper binder cost me.  That is so much less than the magnetic folders that they sell just for the nesties. They take up very little room too.

Well, I hope that gives someone an idea of how to store these. If you have a unique way of storing yours, I would love to hear it :o)

Have a super day, Hugs,

New Challenge

As I was blurffing the other day, I happened to click on a link from someones blog. Whose, I don't recall, sigh, so I can not give credit...but...I can pass along the wonderful site that clicking brought me to. It is "STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST CHALLENGES".

I have seen loads of sites with challenges, but this is the first site that really got me excited to participate...well...other than the wonderful Splitcoast Stampers!

This weeks challenge comes from the bible verse:

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you:

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (NIV)

The Challenge: to create something about when God is "unseen". Such as a scrapbook layout representing how God never leaves you or an encouraging card to a friend reminding them that God will never leave them. Or even some home decor to remind yourself!

Now I knew right away what I wanted to do: a hanging calendar organizer with the scripture John 16:33. WHY? Well, I will share with you my past year...if you look at my recent posts, you will see that I have not posted for 7 months! Then only twice until today. I actually did not craft for those 7 months. I know.... you are thinking...YIKES! I am too! LOL

I had always suffered from depression and 10 years ago was finally put on some medication. It wasn't perfect, but better. One year ago I finally found out why it was just OK on the medication. I am actually bi-polar with depression. Now, it is the milder form of bi-polar than the one I knew about, so it never occurred to me this may be the problem. Others quietly thought so...the bums...they could have told me after all, LOL...but I just thought I would go through life being depressed...sigh

Well, after the diagnosis came the trial and error of finding the right medication(s) and the right amounts of them.  It took 13 month!!! At first it was not so bad as I was weaning off my old meds and onto some new ones, but by early spring I was a total mess. Pretty much useless to say the least...my poor family.

I have finally come through the fire and am now on the correct "cocktail" of medication. The Lord never forsook me through this past year. There were days that I thought I was alone, but I knew that if I was, I would not have made it the past hour. He is so good to me!

So this challenge spoke to me about the trials of this past year. I wanted to be reminded that when things get rough next year, He will be there with me. An organizing calendar that I can hang on the fidge was the perfect project.

Here is the finished project. I apologize for the poor pictures. I don't usually post with poor photos like this, but no matter what I did, no picture would come out "good".

 
I had previously purchased a 3-pk of painting boards from AC Moore which turned out to be perfect for this project. They are chipboard with a canvas like finish on one side.

I also had purchased a jar of chalkboard paint which I had yet to use...I know...I should have used it right away like a good crafter, LOL...but it was waiting for just the right project and here it is.

I used some of the 1/4" thick cork that I had..yes...again...previously purchased for just the right project, some magnetic stripping left over from another project and printed out the 2010 calendar. I also got to use one of my favorite SU papers that had retired, Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper. Love this stuff, LOL

Here is the wonderful verse the Lord gave me. It is perfect and I had...yup...you guessed it...previously purchased this stamp for just the right project! I am not sure where I purchased this set of rubber foam mounted verses, so I can't pass along the link. If I find it I will definitely let you all know :o)

This verse reminds me that He has already overcome the world. All of it. He overcame it so that we could lean on him through the tough times. And...when we do, we will be all the better for them, because of what He already did!

 

  So now my organizer has a chalk board, a cork board, the 2010 calendar AND a magnetic strip! The tiny yet super strong Magcraft magnets I purchased from Amazon. These babies are so very strong and you get a container of 40 for only $8.99. Now that is a super price for magnets that actually work! Here is a link to the ones I used>>>magcraft.  Best of all, it has this wonderful verse to remind me daily that He is with me no matter what I may face that day!

Now, there is one thing I do not have...that is flat thumb tacks.  I will actually have to purchase some to put on the cork, LOL.

I really encourage you to check out the Stampin' Sisters Challenge blog. There are prizes for each weekly challenge too. That only makes a great challenge better!

I also made a card to go with this challenge, so do come back tomorrow. I would love for you to see it!

Till then...hugs

Keeping Track Of Challenges

Now that the Christmas rush is done and we can take a breather, how was yours? I hope it was a blessed time for you and your family!!! We had the most wonderful Christmas visiting relatives. My daughter who was 5 days late for the birth of her first child (and our first grand baby) stayed overdue. This was very much not to her liking, LOL. As of today she is one week late :o( SIGH...no rushing the Lords appointed time! 

How many of you take advantage of the many challenges offered on blogs, forums, stamp stores, etc. on line? I have lately. I find that they are a good starting point to spark creativity. Sometimes I like to design my own project, other times I can used a challenge as a starting point.

Finding the Daily Dare sure was a blessing. Now I have a few that I participate in, and have been having so much fun!

Today I would like to share 2 challenges from the same site, The Sweet Shop Blog which is part of the Sweet 'n Sassy stamp company. They carry the most wonderful unmounted and digital Christian stamps, including verses, as well as some acrylic blocks.

The first challenge was due on Dec. 26th, but was extended a week. Phew..with Christmas just before, I was late. I am guessing I was not the only one, LOL.

This challenge was called "sketch with a spin". We are to make a card with a pocket. I am not sure if my project can be called a card, but I am hoping so {{{wink}}}

Since I have been doing several challenges I needed a way to keep track of them. What site, the challenge and the date due. This project fit the bill perfectly!

I used the template from Lauren Meader called "recipe wrap" which is sold by Papertrey Ink. I decorated the front following the challenge sketch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has 6 pockets in which I added the Papertrey Ink Recipe cards. They were slightly to wide, therefore I had to cut 1/4" off. I also decided to tie the bows on the left instead of on the right. I decided that this was easier than having to tie the bow each time I used the folder. Doing so required me to come up with a different way to hold the folder closed. I decided to use one of the Stampin' Up mini library clips. They are sooooooo adorable, LOL

The second challenge was to make a card following a sketch that is VERY similar to the one for the above project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This stamp is from Cornish Heritage farms. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. If you click on either photo, you will see that the bees are smiling and carrying buckets to collect the pollen, tee he he. Sooo cute. I added alot of shimmer with my glitter gel pen to match the wonderful glimmer of the Paper Temptress  iridescent and white gold paper. I also went over the smiles with a glitter pen which caused them to appear quite large, LOL. They are VERY happy!

Thank you for stopping by. I am excited to share my "recycle" project with you tomorrow, so please stop by :o) Till then, hugs, Sandy O