Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Stored In My Studio – Stencils & Then Some


Hi friends! It’s Belen of Art & Whimsy here to share with you some behind the scenes peeks at how I store my stencils and some of my other art supplies.


Finding a storage method that works for you is a very personal choice. One valuable lesson that I learned in my many attempts to figure out my own studio storage was that I needed to place less importance on what I wanted my studio to LOOK like in favor of creating a space that was functional and fit with how I create. 

For me, that meant having various baskets & bins and long open shelves where I can store things out in the open. I love the thought of having supplies tucked away behind closed doors, but I’m definitely one of those people that needs to have things out and visible or I tend to forget that I have them. I can’t begin to tell you how many supplies I’ve purchase duplicates simply because… out of sight, out of mind!


Here is an older picture of my studio. I've changed things around a bit and now have a full wall of workspace, but it gives you an idea of what my open shelves look like.
When it comes to my stencils, my storage preference involves large 12 x 12  3-ring photo albums with various sizes of clear page protectors.


I sort them into categories for ease of use and have now added a third binder this is dedicated solely to StencilGirl® stencils because I'm THAT obsessed with them! 


I use 12x12 sheets with individual 4x4 pockets to store my mini stencils.This allows me to store 9 per page.




For my 6x6 stencils I use regular 8.5 x 11page protectors and usually add 2 per page protector.




For my larger 9 x 12 stencils I use 12 x 12 page protectors. I actually store 2 stencils in each of these page protectors by slipping a piece of paper in between the two stencils. This helps to keep intricately cut stencils from tangling and the contrast of the paper also helps me to better see the design.


I like to create batches of painted papers to use in my various projects and when putting together my small Painty Papers Journals, but it drives me bonkers to have piles of papers lying about. To keep these somewhat neat and tidy I use a basket that I picked up at my local craft store.


I love to use misc. bits of paper and ephemera when I art journal. But again, I needed to find a way to store it that was convenient for me to use and fit with how I work. I came across this slotted organizer at of my local craft store and it ended up working beautifully. It helps me see what I have and it helps me limit what I keep on hand.


I also use various baskets to store things like paints and ink pads, like you see here. Again, things are contained but still allow me to have them out in plain sight.





On my main work counter, I use a variety of containers to hold various mediums, brushes, tools, paints, inks, as well as powdered & solid pigments. It might not be the set up that I envisioned in my original planning, but after much trial and error, I've found what works for me and that's what's important.

Thank you for dropping by, and allowing me to share my creative space with you. 

Happy Arting!
-xo, Belen

7 comments:

  1. Thank you Belen for sharing your beautiful craft space, and way of storing all your stencils!! Always useful to compare our creative ways and tips! :)
    Corinne (from France)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by, Corinne. Happy stenciling!

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    2. Where did you get the 12x12 binders and the page protectors with the 9 pockets? Love them; must have them

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  2. Love your work space. Had to chuckle over the mug. I have the same one, well, I have three but that's another story. LOL. Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Debi. Haha I bought 2 of them, 1 to actually drink out of. Lol.

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  3. lovely! enjoyed the peek behind the scenes!

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  4. Your studio looks wonderful! And loved your storage options!!

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