Freshly Made Sketches: Tall Type Birthday

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by me and here’s what I did with it!

 

I usually put my sketches together with a very strong idea of what I'm going to do with it (if not actually having the card made in advance!)  This card was not it.  I had planned on a long narrow image and a tiny little sentiment in the strip. But I have been in the midst of a major re-org and these alphabet dies popped out at me.

I have kept my dies in three-ring binders in the clear pockets that Martha Stewart used to sell.  They were 8 1/2x11 and they had four pockets each with a flap. For sets with lots of pieces, I used magnetic sheets to keep the dies displayed in the pocket.  As my die stash got bigger (and as Martha Stewart quit selling the pockets), I started putting dies on the back side of each pocket and it became harder and harder to get to them.  I had to lift the flap from the front but pull dies out from the back.  Ugh.  Consequently, many of my dies almost never came out to play because it was just too darn hard.  (And who am I kidding - new dies keep coming into my house too!)  A big problem were alphabet sets. Now my new organization method makes it all SO much easier and this alphabet came out on this card.

I decided to go with pocket sleeves and came up with these on Amazon (equivalent to Avery Elle) and for slimline dies, I'm using these. I also use these magnetic sheets.  Note that they are strong sheets but they aren't quite the right size.  The sheets are 8x10 so cutting them into 4 pieces is only 4x5 and the standard-sized pocket sleeves can fit a wider piece.  But they are the cheapest and strongest that I've found so that's what I use! (ETA - I just noticed that the price is higher on these right now than I usually pay.  I also see these which are $10 cheaper and the specs are the same.  I've ordered them but won't be here until tomorrow to compare.)

Then I had to figure out how to file them. I was going to go with refrigerator bins and they'd probably still be easier, but I saw these at Target and thought they would be gorgeous in my craft room. 

The first two notebooks I changed over were the word dies and the basics, then I used some of my favorite cardstock colors to add dividers. The flaps on my pockets are up - I think I'll leave it that but it was more because the magnetic sheets I took out of my 3-ring binders were just slightly too tall for the pockets and I just wanted it done so didn't take the time to shave off a bit from the top so my pockets closed. 

I saw something else at Target that I'm experimenting with.  I have tall spaces for storage and the pretty little bins in the above picture don't stack.  I combined a bathroom shelf with some containers with handles for this storage.  It's not quite as convenient but it fits my space!  I just got started on floral dies and still have space for leaves and Christmas!

Sometimes I think that "organizing" might be my favorite part of this hobby (I'm obsessive that way), followed by "collecting" (I'm compulsive that way) - with the actual card creation coming in third!!  Actually it's all a really nice mix - my left brain and my right brain are both involved!

So back to my card (since I'm guessing all of you already have favorite storage methods and probably not my level of obsessiveness!)  I do love this alphabet set by Concord & 9th.  I love the look and I love the coordinating tagalong sets.  The tagalong dies have the balloon I used and also things like a rainbow and a star and a pumpkin - it works for everything! Then the tagalong stamps have words like "birthday". So the combination gives you everything you need. I just pulled out my favorite colors and put together a cheerful "happy birthday"!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches. I just love seeing the creative and unique ideas in the gallery!

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Concord & 9th Tiny Tagalongs

Dies: Concord &9th Tall Type Alphabet and Tall Type Tagalong

Paper: Stampin' Up Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green and Coastal Cabana, Taylored Expressions Cupcake

Other: Studio Katia pearls in Lemon Burst and Apricot Glace, Pretty Pink Posh pearls in Sea Foam