winners and studio photos

Hello Friends, How has your week been? I wanted to post a few photos of my studio and announce my latest winners. Sometimes I have a difficult time finding the winners emails.
 If you don't have a blog it's a good idea to check back here or subscribe to my blog .
I am still waiting to hear from winners Nikki and Cardscandy in this post. 

The large bulletin/pin board is waiting for me... I am planning on creating an art piece. Stay tuned for more photos in the next few months. ( I will share more info with descriptions etc :)
Something in the photos I will be sharing tomorrow..so excited! Do you want to guess??

Tomorrow an awesome blog hop for Simon Says Stamp. Simon will be giving away over $500.00 in gift cards!! So fasten your seat belts :)
And now...the 

WINNERS:
Simon Say's exclusive stamp that I used in this post. Congrats to Marianne! (I emailed you)

The Utube giveaway as seen in this post. Congrats to Karen Ladd ! (please email me I wasn't successful finding your email through UTube)

The Studio Calico star giveaway as seen in this post. Congrats to Carol Gibson! ( I emailed you)

Until tomorrow and congrats to the winners. Hugs, Kathy

basic grey and studio photos

Hello Friends, How are you today?? Today I am sharing a sneak peek of four gift card holders for any occassion. I made all the embellishments and enjoyed every minute of it. You can check out the "how to" on The BasicGrey Blog today.

On another note....now that the holidays are behind me I am finally starting to get organized in the ole' studio. I thought I would share a few photos.

 I had three of the Ikea drawer units built in, raised up and added a counter top. The lamps are from Crate & Barrel. The pin board will become a piece of art when I get time.

These "photo" shelves flank each side of the door and displays cards, photos etc. They are still in the works. Looking forward to sharing more soon. Thanks for your visit. Hugs, Kathy

new studio

Hello Friends, It's me again :) I think after blogging for a few years you can tell that I am a pretty private person? I am so grateful for your support that I couldn't help sharing my new studio with you all. I promise to keep you posted as I add my antiques and all my stuff if you want?
This photo of the new studio is in the bare bones stage. I am looking forward to basking in white space and lots of light. I tell everyone that once I am moved I will roll on the floor cause I am so dang excited!!

The vintage globes on the antique table I shared in Part 1 of my OLD studio. (look in the top left corner on the photo). In Part 2. I shared the antiques I collected and put to use. In Part 3. I showed you my prize antique for my buttons. Part 4. was how I stored my copics and inspiring cards from friends.

It will be fun to see how different everything looks in the new studio and how it all comes together. I can't decide of I should do a large bulletin board again but, feel like I need it all behind me again??

Can you spy the Ikea drawer units??

Thanks for letting me share. Have a great day, Kathy
P.S. I think it's safe to say Thanksgiving WILL be in the new house :)

My Studio Part 4. Copic storage and inspiring cards

Hello Friends, This is my last  post with my crafting space and I would love to hear what you are doing in YOUR studio and what's working for you.... OR if you have any suggestions for me to make my space even better.

I never throw a card away that was made for me. If my CD storage fills up then I transfer the cards into a notebook. These are CD storage sleeves that I sewed together and nailed to the back of my door. This also works great for clear stamp storage.

I was lucky enough to take one of Jennifer McGuire's classes last year at my favorite LLS.Yes, it was awesome!!  I keep the cards I created in her class here too along with some stamps from Lawn Fawn and a few other clear stamps that I have.

I love markers and over the years have built up my Copic stash. I do wish I started with the sketch though. It bugs me they are mixed up and you can't see the numbers on the Ciao however, I am grateful to have all of these after all my blog is named "The Daily Marker". Lately I haven't had time to color daily but, my markers are very lucky...they go on vacation with me. I take them with me when ever I might have a few minutes to color. 

A sweet friend of mine, Jana uses this swatch book to plan out her cards. With Jana's influence I find myself using this all of the time too..... The  Copic Color Swatch Book...LOVE having this. You can find them here at Simon Says Stamp. I use a paper clip to keep all the pages nice and compact.

The wonderful ladies in my Penny Black stamp club at my LLS use this and carry it with them with shopping for Copics so they don't purchase colors they already have!! These are the last of my studio photos and finally I will have a card for you on Friday from Lily Pad's Color Palette. I am always grateful that you stop by. Hugs, Kathy

My studio Part 3. Button Storage

Hello! Me again. I hope you are finding my studio photos helpful? A month ago my friend wanted to go antiquing for her B.D. Sounded good to me because I wanted to look for some  antique buttons.

Well...I didn't find ONE button but, I saw this in a dark corner. When I laid my eyes on this "Replacement parts" stand I knew it had to be mine.

This is it's new home and gives my corner a nice shot of color. Before I show you more buttons I want you to notice the pencil cans to the left of the lamp where I store my colored pencils. It's so easy and so rewarding to create your own storage cans. If you want to see how to make them go here and here .

 The acrylic boxes on the left are hold my special antique buttons.

Here is a close up of these yummies. I find it difficult to use them because I enjoy looking at them so much.

One rainy lazy day I should make some molds of these. That may never happen but, it's fun to think about.

In the top sections are clear glass buttons, milk glass and some plastic buttons. Such great details.

This is the second box containing the metal ones. Love these too :)

and I have to leave you with a close up. If you are interested you can see three antique buttons cards I created here , here and here. Thanks for letting me share my studio with you. Tomorrow I will show you what I do with special cards from friends. Thanks again! Hugs, Kathy

My Studio Part 2. Going Vintage

This is a vintage ladder I discovered in a little gift shop. It was used as a towel rack but, I thought it would work even better for ribbons.

I tried to get some extra wrungs but, wasn't able to. Keeps me from stocking up on to much ribbon.I display/store some of really elegant ribbon on this antique table.

I store some of my pre-cut paper from Penny Black's mix and match card stock in these acrylic "file" organizers. To the right is my white paper ,watercolor paper, kraft paper and some doilies. Below is envelopes & boxes for mailing, felt, catalogs and some books.

My sister bought me some bracelet holders so I turned them on their side and used them for ribbon. I love looking to the right of my desk and seeing all of these pretty colors.

Lots of cords in this photo but, it works. This antique table I purchased 20 years ago? and it's perfect for my sewing machine. Since I no longer sew quilts this is the perfect set up for a quick card. I just pull up a small stool.

You never know what you will find when you go antiquing.  I love this antique letter holder to hold images that are waiting to go onto a card. Here is a card I made with this blue flower.

This is what it looks like empty. Love the thick glass. Found this with some special friends in Canada!

I found this antique frog recently and thought it was perfect to to hold my go to pens that I use ALL the time.  I am excited to share my favorite antique with you tomorrow. Thanks again for stopping by. Hugs, Kathy

Part 1. My Studio

Hello Friends, Do you have any plans for the weekend or week?
We are heading to the beach so I thought it would be fun to share my studio with you while I am gone. Every other day I will have a series of four posts to share how I organize and antiques I incorporate into my crafty world.

I know what you are thinking...this is a cram jammed room. I so agree but, it's cozy and works. I took over our guest room a few years ago and haven't looked back. This is always a work in progress and I am always tweaking and refining it. I just gave the lamp on my desk to my mom and it really opened up the room.

Let's get started with my desktop and tomorrow I will show you the antiques on the right and left of my computer screen.

I love this self healing mat and one of the great things I can cut directly on this without any worries. Eventually I want to replace mine with this one. I like the lines on it better.

This isn't the best photo but, gives you an idea. I am a big believer that you can't find a bulletin board big enough...or...have enough lamps and light!!  The "create" letters on top are from Anthropologie and they have a special memory that goes along with them. It's the special things like this that I like to surround myself with. My wonderful husband cut and welded the "I love U" sign below on the top shelf. Vintage globes and vintage bingo cage.

I should have removed the stuff under this but, it looks better now. This is a antique postal desk that I found at Anthropologie. Often they will have one of a kind antiques. I watched this for a year and finally took the plunge and purchased it.The stool swivels and there is one drawer on the left.

I fill the cubbyholes with paper sorted by color and matching scraps underneath that matches. The CD holders contain my beloved Spellbinder Dies. They are organized by shapes. For example, dies that are round are together, then square, all the labels etc. The bottom cubbies hold my embossing folders, and paper trimmer etc. The top has envelopes, Tim Holtz dies and 6x6 paper packs.

I have to finish lining the CD cases. Each shape category has a color and it's name of I can find what I am looking for rather quickly.

This is the other side of my room across the desk. I store my stamps in this by category and do my distressing, stamping & embossing. This was a gift from my husband, he purchased it here. My husband is a builder and was so impressed with the workmanship. I use butchers paper to protect the top. My goal is to get glass one day instead.

The butterfly picture is my Ranger Distress "Chart" here and I refer to it all the time. My daughter drew the city scape and the mouth clock she created out of clay. The shelves hold flowers, distress inks and some Penny Black stamps that I love to use and look at. On the left standing up are some backgrounds that I haven't used yet and my "craft spinner" that I use almost daily.

This silly dear was inspired by "Juicy" clothing stores. I found this deer bust a long time ago at Pottery Barn and painted it to match my stamp desk. Added pearls, lips, eye shadow and eye lashes. When I sit at my desk she smirks at me when I look up.
Thanks for your visit and I'll be back with more on Monday. Have a happy weekend! Hugs, Kathy