Three Things : On My Table

Threethings

My work table is a total disaster right now (not to mention the floor around my table).

Piles of things I have pulled out from the lockers; pieces of paper with notes jotted on the front and back of concepts and ideas I want to implement (these notes are currently keeping me sane); punches; adhesive; paint. Projects in progress.

Messydesk

Yes, it could be more of a mess. I've seen worse around here. But for someone like me who was really getting the hang of cleaning up everything after completing a project this feels like one big mess that just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

These days those longer chunks of time are harder to come by (hence the very messy table) yet the ideas and the passion is definitely still there. I am relearning how to get things done & how to work in minutes rather than hours. In between feeding and changing and playing with Anna I am scanning and uploading and printing and adhering and painting. Less concerned with the mess than attempting to get some creative work done in the moments I have available.

Luckily, in the midst of all those piles, I have been inspired by a bunch of new-to-me products including the three shown above. All found on my table this week:

1. Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Edge Punch. I noticed last week that Scrapbook.com now carries some of the Martha Stewart craft products. I ordered this one last week and am really excited to put it to good use.

2. Tim Holtz Mini Paper Clips. Looking forward to using these to attach some real life ephemera. The size is just right: not too big + not too small.

3. Jenni Bowlin Pearl Flowers. These little gems have made their way on to a couple of my projects for the magazine recently including the layout featuring the Anna's playlist. It's a great little touch.

What's on your desk or table today? Are you working in the midst of a mess too?

Dottedline

[ Three Things is a weekly product series : check out the archives here. ]

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131 thoughts

  1. Carol H says…
    04/14/2009

    I just moved - so my table has odds and ends covering it looking for their new home. I thought moving would be a great opportunity to sort and arrange everything -- but what do you do with all of these oddball items. Unpacking is becoming more of a chore now. But halfway there!

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  2. Tiffani says…
    04/14/2009

    Thanks for sharing "reality." Ashamed to say that the December Daily project is still in progress on my table...but it is progressing...gradually!

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  3. April says…
    04/14/2009

    Well, I have to keep my desk cleaned off for 2 reasons...first, it's smack dab in the middle of the living room, lol, and second, it's also my computer desk. In order to use the computer, I have to clean up the mess each time I'm done working. ;)
    Three new-to-me things that I'm LOVING are Making Memories Tiny Alphabets, Tim Holtz Grungeboard and the EK Success Corner Rounder (I looked for it forever!!).
    - April

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  4. Meka says…
    04/14/2009

    I WISH I could develop at least mild OCD so I'd more often have the urge to clean. It happens some time, but not enough!

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  5. Kristin Rutten says…
    04/14/2009

    My table - my whole office, in fact - seems to be always in a mess ... not because of my projects but because of my "helpers." It seems to be the dumping ground for everyone's stuff - school papers, Skylar's toys, LEGOs, clean but unfolded laundry, my son's daily cartoons and book he uses with his blog, unpacked store bags from our weekend trip ... the list goes on and on. Today it's stuff from the Easter baskets, plus my newest "toy" acquired over the holiday - a heavy-duty corner rounder by Zutter that will cut through chipboard. So, if I ever find my scrapbooking stuff under all the other clutter, I might give it a try!

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  6. Suzette Ladouceur says…
    04/14/2009

    On my desk: Pages in progress, cut up cardboard to modge podge into mini albums, misc. pictures that need homes, a circle punch, corner rounder, and a big bag of trail mix.

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  7. Meka says…
    04/14/2009

    LOL! Tiffani, I had to chuckle. I gave up on my December Daily dreams a long time ago. Now, if only I could finish that Thanksgiving album...

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  8. Sharis says…
    04/14/2009

    i am re-doing my scrap room right now, so things are a mess. My scrap table is rather small, so a lot of the mess has sprea on the floor. Honestly, I function better with a certain level of mess.
    Three things I like right now are:
    chipboard hearts
    buttons
    scallop edge punch
    These are all in a bag on the floor next to my table.

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  9. Meka says…
    04/14/2009

    I'm starting to get over the must-do-12x12-rule, too. For a long time I was faithful to it, and the double-page layouts. They were a must. But who has time for all of that?!
    I think I'm going to start doing 8 1/2 x 11s or even 8 x 8 LOs. It just seems easier, and the size is more practical.

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  10. Meka says…
    04/14/2009

    Ha! I can't last a whole day without the mess returning, let alone a few days!

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  11. Meka says…
    04/14/2009

    On my desk right now...
    A square punch, paper trimmer, and patterned paper for a collage I'll be starting soon.
    A box of I'll-put-this-away-later stuff.
    Some bright spring-colored flower pots to house my markers, paint brushes, and other high-use tools.

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  12. Melissa says…
    04/14/2009

    Currently, I am using your "week in the life" idea for my scrapbook of the Mission: Savannah trip I took last summer. My desk is covered but I haven't been working on too much lately. I am waiting until September when I can reclaim part of my house and make my scrap space a little bigger.

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  13. Michele Wellman says…
    04/14/2009

    Mine usually isn't a mess, but with 3 different themed LO's going on, there's no way around it. I was inspired to order the different sized page protectors from last week's post so I am having fun! I did a 6x12 last night & I really love it! I can't wait to get all these different sizes into an album.So many stories, so much fun!

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  14. Candice Warnke says…
    04/14/2009

    You're 3Things posts always enable me! I am going to have to go get that MS punch! And the paper clips too! Thanks for sharing :)

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  15. Malea says…
    04/14/2009

    Too Much Junk!! I've recently been inspired to start some sewing projects (found some really cute baby shoes patterns), so I've got all my sewing stuff out. Plus piles of pictures that are waiting to be scrapped and a million other little pieces of things. Found out yesterday that we're going to have to start cleaning out the house to try and sell it, so I've really got to get in the cleaning and organizing mode!!

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  16. Heather says…
    04/14/2009

    My craft table currently has baby food, mail, and bibs on it...it's actually my kitchen table, and there aren't enough hours in the day to get around to cleaning of the table to create anything the last few weeks. I'm hoping things calm down in the next month or two and I can get some fun stuff done.

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  17. Ali Edwards says…
    04/14/2009

    Such a huge project Susan! I need to remove some photos from my parents albums - another "on my list" project.

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  18. Tona says…
    04/14/2009

    I always clean up my work space after I complete a project. I just don't function well surrounded by clutter. Right now on my work space there is a pack of rub-ons that a friend sent me in the mail yesterday.

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  19. Mel says…
    04/14/2009

    Ali, it's so nice to hear honesty and reality hitting the blogs...I get so discouraged sometimes, thinking I'm the only one who lives in chaos and "creative mess". Sometimes it gets so discouraging, it just kills any desire I have to create. Thanks for the honesty and encouragment.

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  20. tere says…
    04/14/2009

    Mine is clean but only because I haven't done anything! Concidentally I also have a martha Stewart punch I got yesterday at WM, it is a leaf puch, I love making clusters of flowers and I've been wanting this ouch for a long time.

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  21. Ali Edwards says…
    04/14/2009

    That sounds familiar to me too Sara :). I think I am close to a major clean if I can find a couple spare minutes.

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  22. Ali Edwards says…
    04/14/2009

    I really like those spiral journal pages too. One of those is under a pile on the table - planning to use it soon - I like the ragged edge.

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  23. Ali Edwards says…
    04/14/2009

    I know about that reality too :). I have a few of those sorts of projects hanging around here as well. No need to be ashamed!

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  24. Ali Edwards says…
    04/14/2009

    There are lots of little "evidences" of Simon's existence in here too :).

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  25. Mary Jo says…
    04/14/2009

    Holy cow, my counter space is a mess right now! I also love to clean up between projects usually but that is just not happening right now. I have a few to many projects going on at the same time and that is what is keeping me from giving it a good straighten.
    Right now I have a lot of Scenic Route Sonoma product since I'm working on a mini-album of a little trip my son and I took together. Plus a pile of new product from CHA that I just can't seem to put away yet. And several Studio calico kits that I need to put away into my stash :0)

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