(That is some fantastic alliteration, y’all.)
My creative space is incredibly large. In my head. As far as actual physical space to create stuff in? I don’t have much. Mostly because what used to be my scrapbooking room is now what we call “The Nursery.” The things we give up for our kids, am I right or am I right? Hint: I am right. So since my baby needed a place for things like her crib and her clothes and all four hundred and seven of her pacifiers (they multiply. They seriously multiply.) I packed up all of my scrapbooking supplies and shlepped them down to the basement, where they sat untouched for months while I changed diapers.
A few weeks ago I persuaded my husband to haul my favorite piece of furniture out of our basement and into our kitchen. We had just enough space in the corner for this vintage Hoosier Kitchen that I picked up at an antique store early in our marriage. I am completely in love with this piece. My husband sort of hates it but that might be because I keep making him carry it up and down two flights of stairs. He’s a very patient man. Here is what it looks like tucked away in my kitchen:
The fantastic thing about this is that it sort of looks like it belongs in the kitchen. And it’s great extra space for placing serving platters, etc. on when we are hosting guests.
But then if my guests feel like getting their craft on, I can open the doors and be like “BAM! GLITTER AND LETTER STICKERS, Y’ALL!” What? You have the urge to make a shadowbox using rhinestones and felt flowers? “BOOM! RIGHT BEHIND THIS DOOR! AND ALSO THIS DOOR!”
It’s like one of those seeing eye puzzles where you think you’re seeing one thing but really there is a whole ‘nother picture inside the picture. The baskets hold large embellishments while the small embellishments reside in a little white box with dividers. I keep the stuff I need for my weekly Project Life pages in the blue box and a stamp binder separates my stamp collection. (Bonus points if you spotted the milk bottle of prima flowers circa 2004. I told you I’m a hoarder.)
The bottom cabinet is very large so it houses my paper trimmer, which conveniently fits in the space where I assume a shelf used to sit. This is just more confirmation that Hoosier Kitchen? You were meant for me. And I was meant for you. (Also, I am a big fan of Jewel.) I also have a few Making Memories boxes that house my paper collection separated by color. It’s great to have such a big space to fit all of those in without needing separate shelving. Plus, if I am ever involved in an epic game of hide and seek, I will totally win.
The drawers hold essentials like tape and glue dots and my favorite stamps that I like to have easy access to. I use really fancy supplies, like those hard to find Elmer’s Glue Sticks.
They also store my Scraponizers, which are pretty much my favorite scrapbook organizing supply ever. I also have a large cutting mat that I put on top of the table to protect it while I work. The table top is metal and pulls out so it gives me a good amount of working space when I need it. Which is often because I am not what you would call a “non-messy” crafter.
Here is where I need your help. My husband hates the “primitive” look and so I promised him I would spruce this piece up. My plan is to introduce it to a coat of new paint and some shiny new library handles. I can’t decide, however, if I should paint it a nice glossy white or a bright, glossy red. What color would you paint it? I can’t decide. I am torn, just like Natalie Imbruglia. I am listening to my 90’s compilation mix on Spotify while writing this post, in case that wasn’t totally apparent. Glycerine.
If it helps, I totally plan on chalkboard painting the inner part of the top doors. White paint a la pottery barn or glossy red paint a la this dresser I saw in a magazine the other day and want to marry? What should I do?
*P.S. I originally wrote this post because 2Peas had a call for guest bloggers talking about their creative space. But then I read it and thought to myself “Self, the people at 2Peas might think you are a whack-a-do if you send this to them” and so I just posted it here instead. Probably the people at 2Peas are heaving a huge sigh of relief that they just dodged that bullet, because no one wants to send a rejection letter to a whack-a-do.
** I wish I had your good luck charm, and you had a do-whacka-do
