Short of craft space? 6 useful tips for crafting in small spaces

I wrote a post for social media and it grew so long that it wouldn’t fit! So here it is!

 

One of the things I hear most from my Stampin’ Up!® customers is how they struggle for space. This is a LONG post but well worth saving for the future as it has some fabulous tips for keeping your craft collection under control and freeing up space to actually create.

After 30+ years of crafting I finally have my own craft room but if the last 30 years have taught me anything, it’s that you don’t need a huge space to get creative.

Determined crafters will always find a way: a few years ago, one of my lovely Stampin’ Up!® customers was unable to use her craft table because it was needed elsewhere. She found a solution by making cards on her ironing board!

Here are my six top tips for Stampin’ Up!® fans who are short on space. Number six is the best one for those who can’t bear to reduce their stash!

I've included product codes as these are universal. UK customers: there’s a handy link at the bottom so you can find all the products mentioned easily. 

Stick to a theme

 

Instead of buying everything you love – or being frustrated that you can’t – why not set yourself some informal “rules” such as sticking to a theme.

I love woodland images. Trees, leaves and woodland creatures are some of my favourite themes – and this makes it easy to put products together.

Your theme could be coastal, floral, geometric, or something else entirely.

Of course you will stray from time to time and that’s fine, too. But if you have a solid collection of themed products, you will almost always be able to mix and match to create unique projects.

Create a signature colour palette

Do you really need ALL the Stampin’ Up!® colours? If the answer is yes, skip to the next tip.

But if you find yourself to the same few colours, a signature palette makes sense. Sounds complicated? You could stick to a Stampin’ Up!® colour collection, all of which conveniently feature colours from across the spectrum. 

 

This way just a few ink pads and a small supply of cardstock will mean coordination is always be at your fingertips.

A word of warning: 2027 will bring a colour refresh, so Stampin’ Up!® colour collections are likely to change.

Scale things down 

Stampin’ Up!® sells smaller versions of some staple products which are perfect for the cramped crafter.

Ink pads

No room for a big collection of ink pads? Stampin’ Spots (small square ink pads) are one solution and there are three ways to collect these:

So Chic Classic Stampin’ Spots assortment (167967) is a serene mix of five subtle and neutral colours, while the So Bold assortment (167966) features, you guessed it, five bolder colours. 

 

Uninked Stampin’ Spots (141822) allow you to create your own signature collection by inking them up in your favourite colours. Tip: when it comes to inking these tiny little pads, less is more!

 

Build up a collection of Stampin’ Spots via through our Kits Collection,  many of which include one Stampin’ Spots. The Pretty Party Kit (167998) is a great example, as it includes a versatile stamp set and a Cajun Craze ink spot. 

You can also subscribe to Paper Pumpkin craft kits and build up your Stampin’ Spot collection that way.

Designer Series Paper

If you don’t scrapbook in 12x12, and usually cut up your Stampin’ Up!® Designer Series Paper, why not skip a step and choose from our 6x6 papers? These are perfect for 6x6 scrapbooking and cardmaking.

Don’t want to limit your choice? You could cut your sheets down to 6x6 as soon as they arrive, or go further by embracing the #loveitchopit movement and cutting them down to 4"x3", which is perfect for cardmaking. Trust me, it will be so much easier to use that precious paper once the first cut has been made!

Best of all, 4"x3" pieces fit in our Standard Stamp Cases (119105) which come in packs of four. 

Or, if you have a growing stash, you can fit two stacks of 4"x3" pieces side by side in a craft kit box.

Colouring tools

No room for a full set of Stampin’ Blends markers? 

 

The most space-saving colouring tools are our watercolour pencils, available in two collections. Assortment 1 (161700) and Assortment 2 (149014) each span the colour spectrum so you can manage with just one pack, or expand your options by purchasing both.  

 

For a beautifully shaded effect, use your pencils with a blender pen (102845) or a water painter (168253).

All are compact enough to fit in a pencil case. If you prefer uniformity, a Standard Stamp Case (119105) holds a full set of pencils plus a blender pen.

Die-cutting

 

Taking up less than half the space of a standard die-cutting machine, the Mini Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine (150673) takes smaller dies and embossing folders. The plates measure 8.7 cm x 17.7cm (3⅜" x 7") which means very many dies will fit in it, and it’s lightweight and cute, too!

Grid paper

Designed for our new stamp-positioning tool, the Stampin’ Positioner Grid Paper (169442) measures 17.2 x 22.2 cm (6-3/4" x 8-3/4"), making it perfect for crafting on the go or in a small space.

Get your kit on

Paper Pumpkin and our Kits Collection are perfect for really cramped spaces as they have everything you need; just add scissors.

My favourite Stampin’ Up!® kits are the ones which include a stamp set. Some of my most-used stamps originally came from kits. These stamp sets are small, which means you can pack a few of them in a Standard Stamp Case, and they are a great way of building up your collection – particularly of greetings – without taking up too much space.

And don’t forget, kits are packaged in a neat box which is perfect for storing craft supplies afterwards.

Have a clear-out

 

How many stamp sets do you really need? People are shocked when they see my modest selection.

The American author Christopher Paolini said: “Books should go where they will be most appreciated, and not sit unread, gathering dust on a forgotten shelf, don’t you agree?”

Similarly, in my opinion, unused stamps are wasted stamps so, once I think I won’t use them again, I try to move them on to someone who will love them.

I sell my retired supplies (Vinted is way easier than eBay), use them as prizes or donate them to organisations which can use them.

I know what you’re thinking: you’re worried about regrets.

Honestly, I have only ever regretted getting rid of ONE stamp... and that was in the years before I was a Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator. I only “needed” it back for one card – and I soon got over it.

Hate this idea? You’ll love the last tip...

 

Slim down your storage

 

Keep the stamps but slim down the storage. New Stampin’ Up!® stamps and dies come in slimmer sleeves. These same Stamp & Die Organizers (167772) are available to purchase in packs of 10 so you could transfer your older stamps into new cases. One of my team has done this and now her vast stamp collection takes up a fraction of the space. 

Find all of the products mentioned in my store in one handy list

 

 

Moonlit Flora Suite tutorial using Fern & Flora Stampin’ Up!® bundle

I absolutely love the Moonlit Flora Suite, and spent a happy day making 10 simple projects using this lovely new Stampin’ Up!® Suite. 

10 cards - 10 card sketches 

These projects are now available as a PDF of instructions for all 10 cards using the Fern & Flora bundle from Stampin’ Up!®, with the same designs as 10 sketches which can be adapted to any stamps and paper. 

The tutorial is available in two formats: 

A4 cardstock, featuring measurements in metric and imperial.

US-style cardstock with measurements in inches only. 

As you may have noticed, I am currently unable to keep up with the blog. Something had to give and I’m afraid the blog was the victim. However, I am still an active Stampin’ Up!® demonstrator and still busy on 

Facebook: All Things Stampy

Instagram: All Things Stampy - here you will find a reel from March explaining just some of the reasons for not keeping up!

Real life! I am still running an easy monthly class and relaxed all-day classes four times a year, both here in Derbyshire, and online classes on an ad hoc basis for papercrafters based anywhere in the UK. 

Details of all of these can be found on my socials.   

Nine projects with the North Pole Delivery Suite from Stampin’ Up!®

Christmas projects, to me, should be jolly and colourful and make people smile. Which is why I love the North Pole Delivery Suite from Stampin’ Up!®

It was the perfect choice for my Christmas Craft Day last week, where guests had the opportunity to make lots of fun Christmas cards and 3D projects using Stampin’ Up!® products.

My craft days are very relaxed. Everyone receives a set of tutorials to work through at their own pace, choosing the projects they like best and ignoring the ones they don’t fancy. No waiting for others to catch up!

Let’s walk through the projects of the day...

Six easy card ideas with Autumn Toile paper from Stampin’ Up!®

Trees? Yes please! When I saw the beautiful Autumn Toile Designer Series Paper in the latest Stampin’ Up!® Mini Catalogue, I knew it had my name all over it.

I love autumn colours and tree images, so this gorgeous Designer Paper just had to land in my Stampin’ Up!® shopping basket.

I knew my nature-loving customers would feel the same so held an online craft class for them, so they could enjoy this great product and add to their masculine card stash.

We made six cards in one evening – no mean feat but the designs were very simple, as you can see here.

Nine projects with Peace on Earth from Stampin' Up!®

Are you making Christmas cards yet? Want a change from traditional red and green?

The gorgeous Peace on Earth dies (165924) and coordinating Peaceful Garden Designer Series Paper (165917) from Stampin’ Up!® are ideal for making serene cards which will stand out from the crowd.

I used these dies and this lovely Peaceful Garden paper at my recent all-day class here in Derbyshire. I did not use the Peace on Earth stamps because the sentiments don't exactly scream Christmas to me.

We spent a relaxing day crafting, with a buffet lunch (SO many sandwiches!) to fuel our afternoon.

I created a tutorial of nine projects (10 if you include the handmade envelope) for people to choose from. Some cherry-picked their favourites, ignoring the tricky ones. Some only made the tricky ones, working on the theory that I was there to help if needed. And I believe some of them managed to make them all!

Three ways with Party Alphabet Dies - plus TWO ways to get them for less

 

Have you looked at the Party Alphabet Dies from Stamping’ Up!® and wished you could justify ordering them? Read on for some great inspiration – plus TWO ways you could get these fabulous dies for less. 

Get ahead with these very easy Stampin’ Up!® Christmas cards!

 

What kind of Christmas card maker are you? Do you focus on one Stampin’ Up!® stamp set or bundle and make them all the same?

Do you throw all your Stampin’ Up!® supplies at your cards and make lots of different cards?

Have you started already and have a firm plan? Or do you leave it to the last minute?

If you’re like me, the answer will probably be a combination. I relate to all of the above apart from the first one because I don’t like making cards all the same. 

Even though it’s still summer, I have made some cards already... but I know I will still have a last-minute rush to ensure I have enough to send.

Important changes to Stampin’ Up!® products and packaging

 

This is not my normal type of post but I think it’s important to know as soon as possible about some changes coming to Stampin’ Up!® products. There are a lot happening at once so I have created some fact sheets to help you. 

Eight tips for finding your papercrafting and cardmaking mojo

We’ve all experienced this at some point: the utter inertia that comes from losing your crafting mojo. Yes, even Stampin’ Up!® demonstrators experience this from time to time.

It can be so dispiriting. You want to craft – you may even have new Stampin’ Up!® supplies – but nothing happens. You find yourself browsing Pinterest for ideas but never make any of them. You may even get as far as starting stamping but nothing you make looks right to you.

Help is at hand! Here are my tried and tested methods for finding that elusive mojo – and no, “buy new stuff” is NOT one of them!

10 projects using Celebratory Sips Suite

 

In my opinion, one of the best ever Stampin’ Up!® Suites never to appear in the catalogue is Celebratory Sips (165600), featuring the Cheers & Sips bundle (165594) of stamps and dies.

This fabulous suite is a Stampin’ Up!® Online Exclusive, launched in May. It was the theme of an all-day class I held in June and I’ve only just realised I never shared the projects here, so buckle up for 10 very different projects using this lovely Suite.  

The day was a mix of simple and more complicated projects. I like to give people options! All my craft days are relaxed events where people work at their own pace from written tutorials. This means they can skip any projects they aren’t keen on and, if supplies allow, make extras of their favourites.