On December 31, my husband, Scott, and I closed on a new home (still in Tucson) that will have less yard (a free standing townhome), no pool and fewer responsibilities. Our dream is to simplify our lives and have more time to enjoy travel and personal time! However, that means my wonderful Stampin' Pretty Ultimate Stamping Zone will belong to a new owner and I need a new, uber cool place to play with paper, stamps and ink, right?
So, are you ready to go on another journey with me as I build my new stamping studio? It began as my scribbles on a plan of the extra bedroom I will transform into a stamping studio. See top photo above. The bed will be a murphy wall bed that hides in the closet except when company comes. We went from 4 to 3 bedrooms (one of those sacrificed for my studio) so needed another sleeping option for visitors!
Here's what the cabinet plan looks like for the empty room shot. You are looking straight at my main crafting area. I used my current stamping space as my model for what to store where, with a few tricks I learned along the way (of course, I'll be sharing). I just love those little drawers on the right and left.
Here's my desk area to the left of my main crafting area. It's desk height and is where my computer and work time will be spent. My "postal" area (stamps, scale, packaging) is to the left and stamps will be housed in the open sheving on the right wall cabinet. I'll share much more in detail along the way.
These little sketches are tacked up on the wall for the electrician who today added outlets just above cabinet height plus wiring for under cabinet lighting. My cabinets are expected in about a month but you will see some of the progress (paint, cool storage ideas, the thought process) along the way.
Although I'm not too excited about spending the next month working off a table with many of my products in a heap, my love of crafting and great organization will keep me inspired.
JOIN MY CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK! I'll be sharing additional photos and ideas for my stamping studio plus "makeovers" in other parts of the new home on my Stampin' Pretty Facebook page. I posted the photo above which shows the new cooktop opening that was cut (oh, so delicately) into the existing stone kitchen counter top. Please be sure to "like" me on my Stampin' Pretty Facebook page so that you don't miss anything (includng lots of other stamping tidbits)!
the new stamping space will be about the same size (19 x11) but i will have more cabinets!
m
I can only imagine how hard it must be to leave your fabulous stampin room but looks like you are creating a smaller but equally as wonderful new stampin room! Good luck with everything!
Fantastic! Since we are all always redesigning our stamp room, I hope to pick up a couple of “tips” with your new design. Enjoy and thanks for sharing. Good luck in your new home.
Go figure! i didn’t realize you are in Tucson [I’m in Casa Grande] and are practically a neighbor! 😉 Your drawings for the new space are fabulous~ All that cabinetry is amazing — I am looking forward to following along as you create this awesome space!
Congratulations and look forward to seeing your new “nest”. I have such a tiny space (showed you one time and I think you may have gotten the “vapours” – ha, ha) but I love being near a sink whilst crafting. Also, hope you keep that kitchen sink cutout they come in very handy for crafting!
Wonderful you and your husband are so forward thinking! You have a great time ahead:) xoxo judi
Congratulations! I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see the finished product! I know it will be fabulous and a great place to get your creative juices flowing.
This post on your blog explains what I didn’t understand from your FB posts. We are on our way home from a snowbird check-it-out trip. I love the total creating process in card making. I gave that up for this time and took a couple of Paper Pumpkin kits and the Everyday Occasions kit. It was enjoyable and had me looking at color combos I haven’t used and a few techniques. Good luck in creating your temporary space until your Cadillac craft room is ready for you. Think how much easier it is this time with all you learned in creating Ultimate Papercrafting Space #1:) ENJOY!
Congratulations Mary! How exciting. Buying your home would be like winning the HGTV dream home with that stamping zone you created there!
Your space design looks amazing….green with envy over here!!!!
So happy for you, Mary. It is difficult to “downsize” but you’ll still have a great stamping room! Enjoy life-the things you want to do. My son went to the University of Madrid for a year while a student at CAL, Berkeley. We were fortunate to visit Spain and have our personal tour guide! Do as much as you can while you are there. We also visited my husband’s family in Costa del Sol, friends in No. Spain and Barcelona. My son returned to study for his Masters degree in Burgos area. What an opportunity for young people! I hope your daughter enjoys her time there!
Diane Gil
I will love, love, love seeing your progress on your new studio. Your last one was my ‘dream’ crafting space so will love to see your ideas and solutions come to life. Congrats!
Mary, I was watching your blog when you did you last craft room and I was in awe then. I am excited and happy for you and your hubby, to be able to downsize but yet still have your space. We girls need our space, don’t we? Congratulations and I can’t wait to see more! Next time I take a trip to Tucson (I’m in Gilbert), I would love to see you.
Congrats to the less work of homeownership! Your stamping zone will be UBER UBER COOL! I have used so many of your ideas! You are such an inspiration!
Congratulations! You always have the most innovation and inspiring ideas when it comes to redoing your craft space. Thanks for letting us see what the plans are and for your continued inspiration.
Congratulations, and good luck in your new home! How does Caroline feel about giving up the pool?
First off, congratulations on your new place! What a great opportunity to have more freedom! I am so excited to witness the progress of your creative space. I know the challenge of continuing to create with limited space, as we had a flood in our home a few years ago that ruined my craft room. But what I got after the flood was SO worth it! A bigger, better, brighter space that continues to inspire me 🙂 I hope yours’ does the same. Think of it as your ‘butterfly’..I look forward to seeing your progress 🙂
Wow Mary….how cool is that!!! Good for you Girl!!! I will keep dreaming! Thanks for sharing!
Congratulations Mary and many blessings for patience in your major move and here’s to much happiness in your new and organized space. I am looking forward to watching your progress. I am excited for you!
Mary – I live in Washington and am going to Tucson for a month – part of March and April. We love it there. Staying at Worldmark. Will be watching your progress on your new craft room. So excited for you. We too are looking to simplify our lives. Have thought often that we might make the move to AZ ourselves. Going to check out places down there while we have our visit.
Awesome! I’ll be watching it come together and drool. I’ll be honest though that I like being out in the living room right smack in the way and not tucked back into my own room. That doesn’t mean I can’t still be envious though.
I’m so happy for you….and SO envious!
I’m so happy for you, I know how you have worked to get to this place. Congrats!
I can’t wait to see the new craft area. Take lots of pictures.
How exciting! Looking forward to all the updates and seeing your new Studio when completed! 🙂
Hi Mary Ann:
We have the blow up beds as well . . . but like the idea of a stationary bed so it feels more like a bedroom. good suggestion!
Mary have you ever considered using one of the blow up beds for company instead of using your space for a Murphy bed. My husband and I have slept on them many times in different homes and they are very comfortable. I have a Queen and a Twin for company. When they leave you just deflate and store the little round bundle in a closet. No space taken at all. Your plans look fantastic. I’m excited to follow your journey with you.
Awesome, Mary! This will be a fun journey to take with you!
SUPER Mary! Maybe your next career could be designing stamping spaces! You are getting quite good at it!!
I am so happy for you! I am sure that your new “heaven” will be beautiful and very functional. 🙂 May I ask the dimensions of your new craft room?
I purchase the cabinets through Interior Innovations. Carol, who did my first crafting space, helped me. The cabinet brand is Kitchen Craft (the Aurora line–less expensive. I didnt need a lot of bells and whistles).
I know with your many talents that this new craft room will be even better than the last. I’m excited to see progress as it goes. Thanks so much Mary for sharing.
Congrats Mary!! Your plan looks awesome. Where did you purchase your cabinets? How big is your room? I am also downsizing and planning my craft room.
That’s awesome! You are both blessed!!
I understand they are both crafty people. Shes an artist and apparently swooned when she saw my stamping space!
Hmmm . . . good question, Carolyn. Maybe promising that a nights sleep in the craft room would get the creative wheels turning would be a good way to encourage more visitors!
One of the items on our bucket list this year is a trip to Spain in the fall to visit my daughter (who will be studying abroad for the semester). We cant wait for the ability to get up and go. However, I truly enjoy planning and plotting a new stamp space. Always looking for new ideas and an even more organized and inspiration space.
So… if a visitor sleeps in the craft room… would some of your awesome craftyness be absorbed while sleeping ?! LOL – congrats on your new space 🙂
I so understand your motives to move and your new stamping zone will be fabulous. TFS.
Congrats Mary! I too may be moving out of my large home/yard so we can travel/enjoy life. But, I too, must have a room for all my Stamps/Cards/Stuff! Enjoy, Diana
Congrats Mary! Looking forward to seeing the progress!! I would soooo move to AZ just to buy your the home with your “old” stamping space!!!! Seriously, I sure hope the new owner is a crafter!!!!
So excited for you! Looking forward to watching you create another wonderful craft space!
Mary, So happy for you!!! Can’t wait to see it start to finish! Less yard work means more Stampin’ & family fun! Congrats!
Diane from Illinois-we too are down sizing and I am looking for ideas for my craft room. I will watch your progress and take ideas from you. Love your designs
i am so happy for you and your family !! it will be awesome and fun to work in. more beautiful cards and ideas coming out of your new space. congratulations.
What fun. And you certainly have your priorities in line. Best wishes and I can’t wait to see the ultimate result which will be to die for, I am sure!
Wow! The ULTIMATE Ultimate Stamping Zone is about to appear! Isn’t it exciting? Many Congratulations to you and your sweet family, Mary. I couldn’t be happier for you! 😉
Congrats to you but noooooo, I can’t imagine a Stampin’ zone without Miss Isabel! Good luck, moving is a lot of work, and having your supplies packed away, not fun. A new space can bring lots of inspiration though.
Can’t wait to see your fabulous new crafting room……I’m sure it will be WONDERFUL. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful.
Congratulations on the new home and new crafting room!
Stressful time but it will be wonderful when it is completed looking forward to seeing pics of the finished project. good luck!!
Hugs Helena
Very exciting Mary! Looking forward to the progress. 🙂
Congrats, Mary! Downsizing is on our “list” in the near future too! It will be fun to see your ideas!
Be sure to take a peek at my Ultimate Stamping Zone video linked in my post above, Kellijo. There are storage ideas that can be done on a inexpensively as well as maximize limited space. My new (and existing) cabinetry may not be on everyones budget (I have worked hard to make it happen). However, the organization and flow should inspire ideas on every budget! I remember starting with a closet in a bedroom once upon a time!
Hugs, M
AWESOME!!!!! Best of luck and looking forward to tricks… Renter here so you know how that limits spaces!!!!! I will live vicariously through you! LOL